Illiteracy and poverty as precursors to the prevalence of domestic violence in indigenous Nigerian communities

Indigenous communities in Nigeria are characterised by a negative pattern which pervades the domestic setting of family homes. The negative pattern of domestic violence has led to the breakdown of homes, displacement of family members, estrangement of parents from children, and in cases where physical violence is exerted and severe, it may lead to fatal injuries or even death. Since it is trite that a problem cannot be effectively rectified if its cause is unknown, this paper identifies illiteracy and poverty as the triggering causative elements of domestic violence in indigenous Nigerian family homes. Illiteracy and poverty are prominent features of indigenous Nigerian communities, and this paper posits that there is a direct correlation between these factors and the pervasiveness of domestic violence in these communities. Adopting a qualitative research methodology, this paper considers the positions of existing literatures on the subject matter. To check the frequency of the practice, this study recommends that there should be a sensitisation of the members of the public of the menace of domestic violence and its dangers, creation of an effective legal regime protecting and enforcing the rights of the victims, creating empowerment opportunities for the victims and strengthening the relevant institutions.