Femicide is the intentional killing of women and girls because of their gender. It’s not just “domestic violence”, it’s a targeted form of gender-based violence that affects daughters, mothers, sisters, and friends across Nigeria.
According to reports from Document Women, DOHS Cares Foundation, CDD West Africa:
- 13-17 cases were reported in January 2025 alone
- 88 cases were recorded in the first half of 2025
- 140 reported cases this year in Nigeria
- More than 133 women and girls have been killed in gender-related violence in 2024
- 401 women died from sexual and gender-based violence in 2022
- 1 in 3 Nigerian women experience physical violence by age 15
Deborah Moses, a 24-year-old interior decorator from Benue State, was recently stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend, Lintex Ogale. He disguised himself as a dispatch rider to gain access to her home. He evaded the estate security by scaling the fence and attempted to wreck her gas line before stabbing her multiple times. She had ended the relationship over a year ago due to domestic violence, but he continued stalking and threatening her after the breakup.
More data from the DOHS Cares Foundation reveals that non-intimate partner violence accounts for 76.9% of reported cases, while domestic violence makes up 15.4%. The states most affected include Lagos, Abuja, Anambra, Delta, and Ogun. Yet these figures understate the scale of the crisis, as many cases go unreported due to stigma and inadequate systems for protection and justice.
At the root of this violence are deeply entrenched patriarchal norms that continue to normalise abuse and diminish women’s rights. In many cases, legal protections remain inadequate and enforcement is weak, leaving survivors without justice. Cultural and religious practices sometimes justify gender-based violence, reinforcing systemic discrimination and power imbalances between men and women.
The forms of violence women face are horrifying. They include domestic, verbal, and physical abuse; rape and sexual assault; early and forced marriages; female genital cutting; acid attacks; and deliberate killings. These acts cause immediate physical and psychological harm, creating an endless cycle of trauma, fear, silence, and inequality.
To address this crisis, we need cultural and structural change. Specific femicide legislation is urgently needed, with better data collection and reporting systems to capture the reality of the problem. Legal protections must be strengthened and enforced. Education on gender-based violence must challenge harmful norms, with support systems for survivors. There must be a cultural shift in attitudes toward women, recognising their full humanity and rejecting the practices that make violence seem acceptable.
