Abandonment in marriage, also known as desertion, is a legal term that describes a situation where a spouse leaves the marital home without a justifiable reason or the other’s consent, otherwise known as actual abandonment. It could also be a scenario where the spouse is still physically present but withdraws support either emotionally, financially, or sexually, from the relationship.
In Nigeria, the sanctity of marriage seems to be under threat as the rate of abandonment, separation and even divorce soar to unprecedented levels. The toll is particularly heavy on women and children, who are left to bear the brunt of broken homes.
In this report, Habeebat Ajayi delves deeper into this growing crisis.
