Abstract: Gender-based violence (GBV) is one of the notable human rights violations within all societies. Women and girls are more vulnerable to GBV during socioeconomic disruption and insecurity such as the lockdown induced by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic but how it occurred in different parts of Nigeria has not been completely documented. Thus, this paper assessed GBV among women during the COVID-19 lockdown in Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. A total of 400 copies of questionnaire were purposively administered to women in the study area. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that 67% of the respondents strongly agreed that emotional and psychological violence are the most common type of GBV against women. Furthermore, 83% and 75% of the respondents strongly agreed that economic stress and belief in male superiority are the major causes of GBV among women. The results showed that 98%and 97% of the respondents strongly agreed that the major consequences of GBV among women are its effects on women’s reproductive health and physical well-being and undesired pregnancies and illegal abortions. The study recommends among others that efforts should be made by government and non-governmental agencies to enhance people’s financial strength and palliative measures be provided during the lockdown through community heads to the poor. Furthermore, free counselling on how to reduce GBV should be provided by government to women and perpetrators.
Key words: COVID-19, Gender-based violence, Lockdown, Women