Nigerian News Coverage of Intimate Partner Violence, 2011–2022

Intimate partner violence is a prevalent problem that affects both men and women not only in Nigeria, but around the world. According to the ManKind Initiative, one in three women and one in six to seven men have fallen victim to domestic violence. Due to these large numbers, there has been an increase in news coverage, which has had both positive and negative impacts on how intimate partner violence has been defined, expressed, and handled. Aje-Ori Agbese’s book sheds light on the news coverage of intimate partner violence in Nigeria, including the hidden menace of female-perpetrated violence against men through an analysis of three national newspapers and two news blogs from 2011 to 2022. The analysis determined that women are the prominent victims and face of intimate partner violence in Nigeria, excluding many male victims. In fact, if the victim, either male or female, was not killed or did not die due to a violent attack, it was very unlikely for the mass media to cover it. Agbese explores why this is happening and provides information on how journalists and bloggers can become more inclusive in order to redefine the narrative and help manage intimate partner violence.