The Force Pathologist’s Office of the Nigeria Police has revealed that intimate partners commit 47% of femicide cases in Lagos. This new information was provided through a five-year study titled “Measuring Femicide in Lagos State: Data, Advocacy, and Action” and conducted through the collaboration of Data for Health Initiative, Vital Strategies, and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Femicide is the intentional killing of women and girls due to their gender. It is a global social issue instigated by misogyny, systematic violence, and inequality. The new study was conducted from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2024. It utilised records from the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Nigerian police force. It focused on female unnatural death, using the United Nations’ statistical framework for measuring gender-based killings.
According to the key findings of the study, a total of 70 femicide cases were recorded, with intimate partners responsible for 47%, family members has 16%, and other perpetrators have 37%. The most affected age groups were 15-19 years and 30- 44 years, with March having the highest number of femicide cases due to the emotional and financial stress of Valentine’s Day celebration.
Notably, there was a surge in femicide in 2020 due to the COVID-19 restrictions, domestic violence, and economic stress. Also, many of the women and girls were killed in a private residence. Furthermore, the study emphasised the urgent need for systematic reforms to address gender-based violence. It suggests establishing standardised and accurate data collection systems to address underreporting and provide reliable information analysis, strengthening investigative procedures, and conducting autopsies to ensure thorough documentation and analysis of femicide cases.
Summary
The Force Pathologist Office of the Nigeria Police has revealed that intimate partners commit 47% of femicide cases in Lagos. The study emphasised the urgent need for systematic reforms to address gender-based violence against women and girls.
