By Dare Akogun
The Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) has strongly condemned the shocking incident of domestic violence inflicted upon a pharmacist by her lawyer husband in Nigeria.
The incident, which was captured on video, has drawn widespread condemnation from various sectors.
The harrowing incident shows a visibly helpless woman, identified as Pharmacist (Mrs.) Kufre Ebong, being battered by her husband, Barr. Ekere Ebong. The man then forcefully evicts her from their home in the middle of the night.
The video of the incident has been widely shared on social media over the past two days, increasing public outrage and prompting statements from the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).
In a press statement, AHOA CEO Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje expressed the organization’s “total condemnation of the wicked and dehumanizing actions” inflicted on Mrs. Ebong.
The statement highlighted the irony of the incident occurring just days after the conclusion of the ’16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV)’, a global campaign that AHOA actively participated in.
AHOA commended the neighbors of the couple who intervened and brought the incident to public attention.
The organization is also calling for swift action by the Nigerian government, urging the administration of President Bola Tinubu to support an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
This protocol it says would specifically address Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Nigeria and globally.
The statement praised the previous support given by former President Muhammadu Buhari to the Optional Protocol and urged President Tinubu to prioritize the issue at both the African Union and United Nations General Assembly.
The organization also applauded the efforts of the Akwa Ibom State government in combating GBV but called for more action.
