The South-West Directorate of the Law Students’ Association of Nigeria, on Saturday, took to the streets to lead an awareness campaign against domestic violence.
In a press statement issued by LAWSAN, signed by its South-West zonal director, Richard Solomon, the students noted that the ‘Anti-Domestic Violence Campaign’ was a brainchild of a team of vibrant and conscious university undergraduates, with support from experienced personnel like lawyers and representatives from institutions with similar ideals.
The students, who rallied concurrently in the six southwestern states, namely, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Ogun, noted that they had identified that many individuals were misinformed and lacked the necessary information about domestic violence in Nigeria and were ready to bring the intricacies to the fore.
The statement read in part, “With cases of domestic aggression skyrocketing in recent times, it became necessary to propagate the concept properly and to show how toxic this societal anomaly is. This spurred Law students across the South-West zone into action, kindling their zeal to put an end to the social vice that has haunted the masses from time immemorial.
“Domestic violence is a menace that must be curbed in the society, as it is not only being experienced by the female folk alone but even the male gender. It includes physically abusive behaviors, and assault of any kind; ranging from pinching, pushing, hitting, or slapping, to choking, shooting, stabbing, and murder.
“Verbal, emotional, mental, or psychological violence is described as using words to criticise, demean, or otherwise decrease the confidence of the wife, husband, or other intimate partner victims; this aspect is also captured in the scope of acts of domestic violence.
“The ripple effect of the series of demonstrations and campaigns spearheaded by students of the South-West Zone is to ensure that an enormous is taken towards eradicating the societal menace, that is, domestic violence.”
It was gathered that students in Oyo State held their rally at the Trans-Amusement Park, Ibadan, with a collaborative effort of some members of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union, led by the Vice President and Oyo State Director of the body, Oluotanmi Zainab, and were able to reach out to hundreds of people, including market women.
Similarly, students from Osun State, led by Richard, took to the streets of Osogbo, the State capital. They journeyed from Freedom Park to Osiumbare and Alekwodo.
In Ondo State, the movement was led by the State Directors, the Presidents of Achiever’s University, and ELIZADE University who gathered at Democracy Park. They reached out to market women and the general public.
In Ekiti State, the students converged at Fajuyi Park, while students from Bowen University, Harvarde University, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Redeemer’s University, and Crescent University joined the campaign in their respective faculties.
In Lagos, the students took up the campaign on social media.
A Twitter Space meeting was held and in attendance were lawyers, namely Richard Okoroafor and Festus Ogun.