THE ROLE OF INFORMAL MECHANISM IN THE CONTROL OF

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA; CASE STUDY OF EGOR

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

BY

AISOKHINA IRABORNOSE SILVER

NOU120210890

A RESEARCH WORK PRESENTED TO; THE

DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINOLOGY AND SECURITY STUDIES,

SCHOOL OF ART AND SOCIAL SCIENCE;

NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA.

IN PARTIAL IN FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE

AWARD OF A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B. SC.)

DEGREE IN CRIMINOLOGY AND SECURITY STUDIES.

APRIL, 2015
 DEDICATION

This project work is dedicated to my lovely father, (late) Engineer Mr. Joseph

Okasiabor, who saw the vision that every child deserve to be educated, most my

mother (mama) Mrs. Maria Okasiabor for knowing; no dream should be

aborted and then to all lovers of education, who will one day find this piece of

article worth reading and implementing in their respective home.

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am indeed grateful to Almighty God, who spared my life for this favour;

He bestowed on me through his children. I appreciate the Lord who has

sustained me through my academic pursuit in the University. He has never let

me down, even at the cross road, he was there to protect, advice and guide me;

praise to him who has done this.

I owe my parent late Engineer Mr. J. Okasiabor and my lovely mother

Mama Mrs. M. Okasiabor my esteem, for this far they have brought this vessel;

I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the supervisor of this project Mr.

Idemudia Eguagie for the steadfastness in going through this work and

rendering necessary advice, assistance corrections that yielded the successful

completion of this work.

Special thanks also go to my siblings (Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Aisokhina, Mr.

and Mrs. P. Owenemu, Eng. Mr. and Mrs. E. Aisokhina and my little one

Happy Aisokhina) for their advices, assistance and continuous prayers through

the stay of my studies.

May I not fail to acknowledge the team of colossal who have impacted

me much with the tenet of criminology and security;among whom are Dr. Niyi

Adegoke, Mr. Igwe, D. O., Mr. C.A .C. Chukwunka, Dr. N. Nwabueze etc. I

am most profound to say a big thanks to my friends and associate who through

my studies where insightful and thrilling with wisdom sharing and lot more,
Miss Josephine Erahbor, Ms. OghenelukumeEjumeta, Ms. Aghedo Daniel, Mr.

Fred Lamarah among others.

Thanks a lot; I owe this piece of article to you all.

AISOKHINA IRABORNOSE SILVER

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to investigate the role of informal mechanism in the
control of domestic violence in Nigeria, with a central objective; to examine the
cause of domestic violence and appraise informal mechanism of control to
domestic violence.
A total number of 100 questionnaires were administered to five communities
within the case study (Egor local government area), having been selected using
a quota sampling technique, to elicit their views on the attitude of domestic
violence and informal control.
The response of this respondent after study revealed that domestic violence is a
prevalent issue to which all victim and perpetrator want to come out from,
however the best method to escape this abuse remain unknown to them; both
victim and perpetrator would be willing to adopt a method that would respect
their dignity, protect their institutions, save them cost and yet accomplish it
purpose. Amid this were the follow findings:
 That the tolerance of domestic violence is a compotation to demonstrate
the lack of faith in either institution having best mechanism to resolve the
challenge it pose.

 People would result to a mechanism of control that is void from bias,

favouritism and unfair practice in judgment. A mechanism that has
alternative for enforcing it decisions.

 Informal mechanism of control is proved to be useful with the help of

community (bond and attachment) response, such it help to capture the
trust which other mechanism of control may fail to capture due to general
perception of domestic violence as a family issue.
  The research shows that informal mechanism of control, at most serve as
a court of first instance for many, and the only court for the majority of
the average citizens.

It is therefore recommended that:

 A proactive step be taken to tackle this menace with swift intervention of
all stakeholders in the process - the communities, religious groups,
institutions, government at all levels etc., must be part of the entire
process.

 The school as principal agent for cultural re-modification has time out
during various school events and festival to address the issues of
domestic violence.

 The religious institutions, who are most religious incline and duty bond to
religious rituals and rites, saddle the religious centres with duty to the
control of domestic violence.

The community which serves as host of other elements of both formal and

informal and breeding ground for other instruments of control must continue to

mobilize efforts through sensitization and education to address this menace.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

All form’s of violence has impact on the society; social controls are put in

place to curb the bate of violence; look through the cause and tactics use in

perpetuating such violence by one over another (victim). Astonishingly, while

trying to trace the genesis of violence, it’s amazing that; when many writer’s try

to expatiate on the concept, they begin their write up from the field of violence

crime through the lens of domestic violence when “Cain killed Abel” Genesis 4
vs. 8, this singular act has placed domestic violence generologically through

same perspective as the root of hate and mother of other violent crimes.

Domestic violence though some have under-estimated the concept to

belittle, as wife abuse, child abuse or segmentry specks of domestic violence, a

“pattern of coercive and assaultive behaviors that include physical, sexual,

verbal, and psychological attacks and economic coercion that adults or

adolescents use against their intimate partner” (Ganley and Schechter, 1996). It

“is not typically a singular event and is not limited to only physical aggression”

(Dickson,2010) but a mix-combination of pervasive and methodical use of

threats, intimidation, manipulation, and physical violence by one who seeks

power and control over another in same relationship.

A broader term to refer to is; family violence, “often used to include child

abuse, elder’s abuse and other violent acts between family members

(Markowitz, 2000)”. To Gelles; Domestic violence is conceptualize as a

pattern of behaviour involving physical, psychological and/or sexual abuse

between two people currently or previously involved in an intimate

relationship. While trying to state this, one may ask?; it is essential that we take

note that the pattern and manner we describe the event and occurrence of event,

have the potency to aggravate or devaluate the perception and decision to be

reached on it, such many official/state agency has refer to the aggravated nature

of domestic violence as “Private matter” or lacking locus standi i.e. in the case

of wife abuse (wife beating and battering) previously used to address as the sole
domesticated violence, Dickson (2010), sited two reasons why it has lost it

locus standi as follow:

a) There is acknowledgment that many victims are not actually married to

the abuser, but rather cohabiting or in other arrangements (Waits, 1985).

b) Abuse can take other forms than physical abuse. Other forms of abuse

may be constantly occurring, while physical abuse happens occasionally.

c) Males as well as females are victims of domestic violence.

In Lupri and Grandin (2004), they observe “women in the developed

world who experience domestic violence are openly encouraged to report it to

the authorities, it has been argued that domestic violence against men is most

often unreported because of social pressure against such reporting, with those

that do facing social stigma regarding their perceived lack of machismo and

other denigrations of their masculinity”, this contention has raised to

acknowledge domestic violence as an all-encompassing event to include:

“all acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence

that may be committed by a person who is a family member or a
person that has been an intimate partner or spouse, irrespective of
whether they lived together” Council of Europe – Convention on
preventing and combating violence against women and domestic
violence (CETS No. 210).

Many believe domestic violence occurs because the victim provokes the

abuser to violent action, others believe the abuser simply has a problem

managing anger. However the cause of such violence, the perpetrator’s violence

is further supported when peers, family members, or others in the community

(e.g., co-workers, social service providers, police, or clergy) minimize or ignore

the abuse and fail to provide consequences;

In fact, the roots of domestic violence can be attributed to a variety

of cultural, social, economic, and psychological factors;National
Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC, 1997)
However the cause of problem; problems remains problem only and

unless we decide to take proactive steps toward addressing such; and in the case

of social problem as domestic violence social controls are best way to resolve it.

Oduwole and Adegoke (2010) “There are two major ways for a society to

control its members, formal and informal. A major goal of both forms of control

is to curb criminal behaviour. Formal criminal justice control uses the law and

official government agencies (e.g., police, courts, and corrections) to ensure

compliance. Informal criminal justice control uses morals and social

institutions (e.g., family, peers and neigbours)”.

Its fundamental to note within the Nigeria context, little or no work has

been done patterning the criminalization of domestic violence as an offence, as

the draft bill “Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) bill” still lies

hopeless at the cubicle of the national assembly, this has suffer much setbacks

since the 5th to 6th national assembly now before senate. Though some

government agencies as the police, courts and correction agencies has strides to

regard or address the issue in one way or the other, but have since not stop to

react to it as “family issue”.

 While prosecuting accompany issues associated with domestic violence,

Dickson (2010) noted that the cost of “formal legal system in Nigeria is very

expensive and out of reach for the majority of Nigerians,” stating the need for

informal justice, the need why many turn from formal to informal justice is “the

risk of secondary victimization, at the hand of criminal justice practitioners and

questions about the legitimacy of the state system –(Moult, 2005),” she went

forward to emphasize that “women are also dissatisfied with the outcome of

formal legal remedies because they fail to provide a sense of justice”

It therefore becomes imperative to consider the informal mechanism of

control, to weight it on same scale as that of formal mechanism and get social

response on same. In Pate and Hamilton (1992) citing Zimring and Hawkins

(1971) on deterrent effect of formal sanction they “contended that the deterrent

effect of formal sanctions may be enhanced if these sanctions are associated

with informal sanctions” Pate and Hamilton (1992) "for the majority of people

the most degrading aspect of punishment is the social message it conveys"

Zimring and Hawkins (1971, p.39). They advance further that "official actions

can set off societal reactions that may provide potential offenders with more

reason to avoid conviction than the officially imposed unpleasantness of

punishment" (Zimring and Hawkins 1973, p.174).

If Tittle and Logan (1973) research on deterrence should be consider,

then the possibility of stating that "formal sanctions can be effective only if

reinforced by informal sanctions"(p.386) would be valid. Elaborating on this

idea, Williams and Hawkins (1986) broadened the conception of the deterrence

process and posited that formal sanctions are augmented by the imposition of

informal sanctions like stigma (e.g., embarrassment); attachment costs (e.g.,

loss of valued relationships); and commitment costs (e.g., loss of job or

economic opportunities).

However the notes on what in specific and the contributory measure of

informal mechanism in the control system form the base of this research, such

we would try to make in clear terms the role of informal (non-state) actors on

domestic violence.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Research been define as to search again or repeatedly enquire into a

particular phenomenon such to be able to explain behaviour which is the chief

characteristics of social science research. Human behaviour, writing have

proven to be dynamic in nature as varies to scenario’s and circumstance,

research works in social science often face this problem, along other barbell of

problems . Below are some challenges encounters by the researcher in a bit to

produce a fine tune work as this.

1. Time:

The writer was faced with the problem of inadequate time to follow the

research work and process, due to the fact that he schooled and work,

coupled with the various reading, assignment and work load to be done daily
 to meet targeted expectations. Also the magnitude and quality of job need to

be done by the researcher to surpass expectations.

2. Finance:

The nature of research needed regular visiting of different local communities

within the catchment, and area for necessary data collections. This is money

consuming hence the capital invested into this project might have also hinder

the effectiveness and efficiency of work carried out.

3. Literature:

The array and silent nature of the topic have mostly affected the presence of

research works on the theme of writing, couples with this were the fact that

recent books relating to the research were not in the library, making it

difficult for the researcher to find enough claim to buttress his explanations,

the manner people go about the theme in such few write up the researcher

was able to lay hands upon where the part of what determine the veracity of

the research.

4. Respondent Attitude:

With the capricious nature of the topic under study and the lopsidedness of

people of the locality it was difficult to develop facts and data’s from them

as many take to their nature of engagement and count on insufficiency of

time to answers to few interview and questionnaire develop to gain useful

data’s. However there were those who were just too unwilling to let go some

issues they refer as privacy due to fear and other factors.

1.8 DEFINATION OF TERMS

Some of the terms used in the course of this work include the following:

Crime

The concept crime from criminological lexicon refers to any outlawed

behaviour which constitutes harm (physical, social, psychological…) to the

perpetuator, another party, the public or the state at large.

Violence

Most criminologists accept that produce by the National Research Council of

Violence as “behaviour by individual that intentionally threaten, attempt, or

inflict physical harm on others” (Reiss and Ruth 1993, p.2).

Domestic violence

The Observer (December 28, 2014: pg.26) cited Wikipedia (the free

encyclopedia); Domestic violence (also domestic abuse, spousal abuse,

battering, family violence and intimate partner violence) is a pattern of

behaviour which involve violence or other abuse by one person against another

in a domestic context, such as in marriage or cohabitation.

Control

Every society has sets of acceptable behaviour which it rewards and non-

acceptable behaviour to which it punishes, using the norms of the culture; “the

means by which they are instilled in us through socialization, and the ways in
which they are enforced in social institution-family, the school, government

agencies-establish a society’s system” are what we refer to as social control.

Formal

Oduwole and Adegoke (2010) see “formal” by virtue of their connection to the

governing body (or an international body) and because of the codified practices

that assure both procedural fairness and standards of accountability, based upon

a collection of cultural norms.

Informal

It’s used here to draw a distinction between state-administered formal

mechanism systems and non-state, administrated informal mechanism (Richard

1982).

Informal mechanism

Informal mechanism refers to a broad range justice mechanism outside the

frame of formal actors such as police, prosecutors, courts, and custodial

measures. However it should be noted for the purpose of this work that informal

is in terms of their role in justice delivery rather than according to the way in

which the organizations were constituted. Other problem solving mechanisms

such as social services, nongovernmental organizations, clinic sisters and the

like were also included within the context of informal mechanism in this work.

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 SUMMARY OF MAJOR FINDING

 Due to the African cultural context and perspective, some see domestic

violence as part of lifestyle and something that should be tolerated, others

perceive it, as minor or trivial which is part of customary belief and practice.

Common at some age bracket and shows up where there is a level of

interdependency or dependence in relationship, within such age bracket as early

teen, it progress and begin to experience decline at latter age, ranging from

thirty eight (38) years and above.

Why administering the instrument of data collection to respondent across

selected communities, the researcher was amaze at the potency and manner to

which he was confronted by a teenage, which drew attention to ask how to curb

the menace? Bringing to bear the fact that domestic violence is common in

major home and in majority perspective. However the schematic view of how to

curb it remain a predominate part of the people/population.

Why some respondent agree that informal mechanism is better treatment

to domestic violence, most still confirm reporting to the formal sector, thus

proving; there are important issues that needs to be address, why people refuses’

to choose and why some would choose informal mechanism; among such are

the issues of biasness, favoritism and unfair practice in the judgment’s.

Informal control mechanism is also found to have negative implication were it

decisions are not upheld as such it could lead to much greater violation and

untold negative implication for the battered (victim).

 With 74.73% agreeing, to a fact that informal control to domestic

violence is better-off; it further proved, that there are significant role informal

control mechanism can play in the instance of domestic violence. Among this

respondents alighted as essential elements of informal control, bonds and

attachment within the community could form audience that can increase

domestic violence occurrence, through their interpretation of the occurrence.

Informal controls strengthen bond and attachments tools to control

violence situation within the domestic circle; the family, church, peers or

colleague / community are all important tools within the informal control

mechanism disposal that can be influential in the control of a person’s action

and inactions.

Informal mechanism is most essential due to the perception that it is

internal, and there is a level of secrecy and confidence, respondent agree that it

would be easy for them to confide in with “family” members than with an

external party, revealing that most a time members of the informal communities

refer to themselves as family, which in some times are actual (extended

families) or factual (church, mosque, school, community etc.), due to the

number of times they interact and communication partner among them.

It can also be noted that the effect of domestic violence, where it is

physical or pro-occurrence (psychological) cannot be hidden for long, informal

control mechanism (elements) can be quick to notice it, and were such is

established, informal control mechanism are sometime quick to establish

proceeding to settle cases with or without formal invitation by the battered.

However there such cases were the battered feels there are needs to share

feeling with someone else, such to know how to come out of instance. Such

may also instigate the part to informal control mechanism.

The research also exposes the fact that informal control mechanism and

justice serve as the primary justice mechanism for majority, with interview

around the sampled areas; the researcher gathered that informal court (part of

informal control) serve most times as the court of first instance, and for many

the court of last instance. Informal control mechanism has helped most without

substantial material to justice to fair hearing and justice.

Apart from appending judgment on the batterer, which may lead to some

informal charges (fine and social response), informal control mechanism also

address an essential part of domestic violence, which is the victim, most

informal measure provides counsel and channels to remedy reoccurrence of the

issues. This is in view to place the victim within safe relationship and serve the

need to decide on palatable ground condition, to continue the relationship or to

quit the relationship. Without fear or dismal of actions or decision so chosen.

The nature of it environment and essential characteristics has also

continue to increase the role informal control can play in the control of domestic

violence, with the familiarity of tune (language), it has continue to bridge the

gap for access of justice for less educated, and it cheaper nature makes it to

provide justice for the poor; by proximity informal control mechanism is for
most a palatable way to access justice for those within the rural areas, and

flexibility to fit into those who are of the busy type. Informal control

mechanism is also most accessed by those with high profile and covering the

problem of stigmatization and secondary victimization.

5.2 CONCLUSSIONS

The study shows the role of informal mechanism of control, in domestic

violence. While revealing respondents attribute and perception toward the

problem, it is viewed that all categories of participant the batterer, victim and

audience all wants the problem to stop, yet do not know the best modal to

follow. While exalting the attributes of informal control mechanism and

distinguishing what is informal, it became crystal that there are specific roles

informal control mechanism plays in the control of domestic violence.

One essential character tends to stand at the margin of formal that begat

informal control; the element of TRUST, while formal control mechanism are

most times perceive as outsider, a largely open third party with the secretive

nature of domestic violence with in the Nigeria confluence. Many will result to

informal control mechanism due to the role “TRUST” play within the domestic

circle. Informal, which include control mechanism by partners or close

association, groups to which one share some level of relation and knowledge

about their background and personality.

5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS
 To remedy the situation of domestic violence in Nigeria, we must take

active step to involve all stakeholders in the process - the communities,

religious groups, institutions, government at all levels etc., must be part of the

entire process, seminars and workshops should be organized where necessary,

and trained counsellors with experiences be employed to assist in propagating

the anti-domestic violence campaign. As to recognizing the role informal

mechanism can play in the control of domestic violence, such we must engage

the socialization technique as necessary contributor to domestic violence. In the

light of this en-culturation must and should remain a watch word.

There is the need to create more awareness at all levels and forums, to

underscore the fact that violence in the home serves as a breeding ground for

violence in the society. The need to change the regard that domestic violence is

more psychological rather than a socio-cultural perspective should be

emphasized. People should be made to understand that adults can change the

social norms that justify domestic violence within the African/Nigeria

perspective, by observing the following;

(1) Being role models and working together to end violence in the home.

(2) Modeling non-violent relationship.

(3) Disseminating information which condemns domestic violence in the

community, religious centres, institutions, schools, etc.

THE SCHOOL
The school as principal agent for cultural re-modification has a lot to play in the

reshaping of the existing beast man (Uncivilized), to conform to the non-violent

world. Amid this are many instance the school management could take time out

during various school events and festival to address the issues of domestic

violence. For instance;

1. The children should be taught how to be assertive without being

aggressive.

2. They should be taught how to express anger and frustration without

violence. In such counselling individual students with anger problem,

they should be exposed to the various anger management techniques.

3. The school counselor should continuously organize group counselling

sessions for the different age groups and classes, on the advantages of a

violence free society.

4. The school could take time during Parents’ Teachers’ Association

meetings to give enlightenment talks, encouraging parents to use

disciplinary measures, which are non-violent on their children and avoid

exposing children to (Parent) domestic violent of any form which may

later form the violent circle of the child.

5. During school prize-giving day programmes or other joint events, where

parent, student/pupil, and school managements or staffs would have to

converge, it would be appropriate to include short talks on the issue of

 domestic violence, emphasizing its evil consequences and the need for

families to avoid it for a better society.

THE RELIGIOUS CENTRES

The religious institutions as Churches, Mosques and others, are also

important stakeholders in this transformation to a non -violence family.

African/Nigeria who are most religious incline and duty bond to religious rituals

and rites saddle the religious centres with duty to the control of domestic

violence;

1. They should organize seminars and outreach programmes where

professional counsellors are invited to enlighten the people on the need

for a violence free society with the home as the cradle.

2. Religious leaders too should vigorously teach against marital violence in

their places of worship.

3. Couples planning to get married should be guided on the ways to avoid

violence in the intimate relationship of marriage.

4. Comprehensive and extensive premarital counselling should be given to

couples on how to manage their marital relationship.

THE COMMUNITY

As an essential element and component of informal control mechanism,

the community serves as host of other elements of both formal and informal,

and breeding ground for other instruments of control. Mobilizing efforts such to

tackle domestic violence should be utilize and properly annexed; tracing the
story of victimization to domestic violence, the landmark of battered women

can never be overturned; thus, it most important to note that the battered women

organisations were community response to domestic violence, which; in actual

brought the issue of domestic violence to bear, actions as:

1. Raising the awareness of family violence and establishing a social norm

that makes violence unacceptable by publicizing family violence through

local Medias and events. Such as participating in community events and

exhibiting at conference, organize social events, speaking at local

colleges, collaborating with faith community,

2. Developing network of leaders within community through seeking out

non-traditional leaders, encouraging youth leaders, recruiting community

training.

3. Connect residence to service and informal support when they need help

by creating stronger connection to formal service. Creating informal

support, community group can work with agencies to offer service that

are culturally relevant and responsive to the need of domestic violence

survivor, which family , friends, and neighbors can be engaged in

advocating for and supporting domestic violence survivor.

The government should establish and fund counseling centres at the

community, and Local Government levels and employ professional counsellors

to help victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. Our cultural modification

and personality difference must therefore be tolerant through dynamism, giving

room and chances to cultural pluralism as against absolute or relativism. Control

to motion and transmission or control of power should be an important doctrine,

engaging people to the fact that there exist equal rights for all.

There is need to resuscitate the extended family tree, such her

contributory role in all process of socialization be effective and continuous even

after ones conjugal or new family. Informal control can be improved unbais and

less favouritism, such to capture trust of alternative relationship, which would

certainly improve access to it. Giving equal opportunity to both parties in

disputes.

Informal mechanism must try to accord dynamism to the problem so as to

accord it some respect from the speculative view of divinity and spirituality

romanticize with unbiased and unfair practice.

Advising victims and creating awareness programs or programs that strengthen

social bond and social attachment as family meeting, curtail parties, dinners and

others, within this view also includes continuous assessment of relationship and

public enlightenment through symposium on home management, building

lasting relationship etc.

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