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A wave of disturbing domestic violence incidents reported in Benue State over the past week has reignited urgent calls for stronger community action, law enforcement intervention, and public awareness to curb what activists describe as an escalating crisis in marital and household abuse.
Social media activist D’nkaked Elder Sughnnen Yaaya highlighted four separate cases documented within days, underscoring what he called an unacceptable and growing rate of violence against women in the state.
In the first reported incident in Konshisha Local Government Area, a woman died after sustaining severe injuries allegedly inflicted by her husband. She was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her wounds. The matter is currently under investigation at the Konshisha Police Station.
The second case involved a woman whose hand was reportedly broken and badly wounded after she opposed her husband’s decision to marry a fourth wife. The altercation left her hospitalised with visible fractures and lacerations.
A third victim, who is eight months pregnant, was allegedly beaten severely by her husband. The case has been reported to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), which has jurisdiction over certain forms of gender-based violence and exploitation.
The fourth incident involved another physical confrontation between a husband and wife, with the altercation escalating into visible injuries. Details remain limited, but it was included among the recent examples shared publicly to illustrate the pattern.
The activist described the frequency of such reports as “much” and “getting much please,” expressing deep concern over the normalisation of marital violence in parts of the state. He stressed that the time has come for collective responsibility to raise awareness, support victims, and demand accountability.
“Help stop domestic violence in Benue,” the post urged, calling on individuals, communities, religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, and government agencies to intensify efforts against the trend.
Domestic violence remains a persistent challenge in many Nigerian states, including Benue, where cultural, economic, and social factors often intersect to discourage reporting or effective prosecution. Women’s rights groups and gender-based violence responders have repeatedly called for stronger enforcement of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP), better access to shelters, psychosocial support for survivors, and sustained public education campaigns.
No official consolidated statistics for the week were immediately available from the Benue State Police Command or relevant ministries, but the public sharing of these cases has once again placed the issue in the spotlight, prompting renewed conversations about prevention, survivor protection, and justice for victims across communities.
