- For too long, vulnerable victims in Nigeria have suffered the consequences of systematic machismo, discrimination, inequality, lack of guidance and, above all, government inaction
- Amid social stressors including the worst economic crisis in a generation, peer pressure, parenting challenges, and social expectations, the most populous black nation on earth has seen an alarming rise in the number of femicides over the last year
- In this special report, TheTalk.NG takes a deep examination into the violation of human rights associated with femicide, documenting cases, and spotlighting ways to curtail the phenomenon
IWD 2025: Stakeholders concerned over the growing problem of femicide in Nigeria.
Photo credits: @AndrewSophia17, @asubirain, @oxygistSource: TwitterI stayed till 4 pm, I didnt see Ele (referring to Eleojo). We tried Ele’s number, but it did not go through. A call then came with Eles line informing us to come and meet them at Uke General Hospital in Nasarawa state, Patience Adaidu, Salomes sister, recounted on Brekete Family, a popular Abuja-based human rights broadcast platform.He (Ajayi) cut that body into more than 50 pieces, slain Salomes uncle, Adaji Samson, said with grief. When you look at the whole thing, he is preparing that body for consumption because he cut the body and put it in about six polythene bags. If you look at where people contribute money to buy cattle during the festive period and those times the Fulanis would come to share the cow among the people that contributed for it, that is exactly what he did in his room.Timileyin Ajayi is being tried in Nigeria after admitting to killing Salome Adaidu.
Photo credit: @NigeriaStoriesSource: TwitterSuspected ritualist kills female studentOn 11/02/2025 at about 1800 hours, a case of a missing person was reported at C Division Oja-Oba by her father, Mr. Ibrahim A. Lawal.Immediately, the police detectives swung into action, tracked her phone numbers to the suspects house in the Offa Garaji area in Ilorin, arrested Bello, and recovered exhibits.Upon further investigation, police discovered Yetundes dismembered body, hidden in a bowl, along with equipment used for the act.Undergraduate murdered by university student abductorOn that Sunday, the girl who normally goes to UNILAG on weekends to return home on Friday left her house as usual.While on her way, it began to rain, so she took cover in Ayomide (Adeleyes) familys shop which was just outside his house.The boy narrated everything in custody. She (Christianah) only wanted to stay out there for a while and head back to her destination, but he invited her into his house when the rainfall became intense.I killed her because I had financial problems, Vanguard newspaper quoted Adeleye as saying. I thought of the problems and decided to strangle her while she was busy going through my phone. I then called her mother claiming that she was kidnapped and she should pay ransom. She was preoccupied with my own phone. Then, it was drizzling, and a little noisy, so, I just grabbed her.Hello Madam, you have such a beautiful daughter. How much are you willing to pay to see her again? We have her in our custody.KillaBois fatal attack on girlfriendI got into an argument with my girlfriend @austa xxo which fight I mistakenly stabbed her and ran away out of fear and been suicidal since then (sic). I intend to end my life now cause (sic) I have lost the one I cherish so much. I want to do the right thing and turn myself in. I will gladly die by paying with my life now.A screengrab of KillaBoi’s post at the time of the crime.Source: Original20-year-old confessed killer influenced by TikTok native doctorI approached Damilola and she accepted. We started chatting. I already had it in mind that I wanted to use Damilola for money ritual. So, on September 4, 2024, I bought codeine and Sprite and mixed it up and gave it to her.I first drank it so that she would not suspect it. When she drank it, I told her to let us go to my house and she agreed. When she felt weak, I took her to an uncompleted building close to my place and strangled her to death. The cloth she was wearing, I used it to tie her leg and neck. I later dragged her to a nearby bush and removed what the native doctor told me to remove.The native doctor who resides in Ibadan sent a driver and brought a calabash and a knife. He used black and white cotton to wrap the calabash and a red cloth to wrap the knife. It is the knife I used to remove parts of her body, which are the eyes, tongue, lungs, intestine and some parts of her bottom. I put it inside the calabash and wrapped it. I now gave it to the driver who he sent from Ibadan to Lokoja.”So, the driver waybilled it back to Ibadan. After that, he now waybilled my soap back to Lokoja.”I met the native doctor on TikTok and I copied his number and later messaged him on WhatsApp. I went with my friend to Ibadan to see the native doctor.Hot-tempered Chinese lover kills local in KanoAbdullahi said: “That was when we knew something bad had happened. Geng was her boyfriend and had good relations with her family prior to that day. Before the incident, they were having issues as she was no longer interested and he didn’t want to let go.”Man bathes wife with petrol, sets her ablaze in AnambraAt the hospital, she explained that they had been having misunderstandings over the years. She said that on several occasions, her husband injured her with bottles and threatened to pour fuel on her and set her on fire, a threat he eventually carried out.She endured tremendous pain throughout the marriage.Gender-based violence and femicide interventionsYou say for better or worse. The worse, they didnt say you should be the one to kill me, the concerned activist told TheTalk.NG. Why cant two adults sit down and harmonise the way they want to live?Ironsi advised women to prioritise their well-being.
Photo credit: Bose IronsiSource: FacebookThere is a need for parents to listen to the voice of their daughters in marriages, because most times, this femicide happens with sexual partners,” she explained. “When a daughter tells you about the physical abuse she is suffering in marriage, please dont tell her to go to a war-torn zone without a gun. They (the parents) can even make such a man sign an undertaking that he will not lay his hand on the daughter anymore.She said: If you know you have anger management, there should be a psychotherapist that would talk to you. You should seek help. Dont put the anger on your partner.”For example, a friend of mine personally visited the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) multiple times to report cases of domestic violencephysical, emotional, and psychological. Each time, her complaint was documented, but follow-up was inconsistent. In one instance, when she reported a fresh case involving her husband, instead of immediate action, a mediation session was arranged between her and her husband. Shockingly, the official assigned to the case advised her to be patient and endure the situation.When I first heard this, I found it unbelievable, considering my experience working with the agency. I knew this was not standard practice. However, when the woman returned to report another incident, she was simply told that someone would contact her. Three days passed, and no one did. It was only after I personally called the Lagos State Emergency Response Service that meaningful action was taken. The case was eventually referred to WAPA, and after repeated follow-ups, some progress was made.These professionals require specialised training, and their recruitment and onboarding processes should ensure they are well-equipped for the job, she said. Continuous professional development is essential to keep them aligned with best practices in counselling, gender advocacy, and social work.Badewole speaks on improving social responses to counter femicide in Nigeria.
Photo credit: Oluwatomisin AdebukolaSource: FacebookAn empowered woman is a courageous woman, she noted. When women have access to basic necessities such as food and shelter, they are more likely to speak out against abuse rather than remain trapped in harmful situations.Abuse is not just a women’s issueit affects entire families, especially children who grow up in such environments. Establishing a strong social safety network would ensure that victimswhether abused by a spouse, parent, or other family memberscan find a safe space where their needs are met while they rebuild their lives.I think we should declare a state of emergency on femicide, because last year (2024) alone, about 100 women were murdered in cold blood, she bemoaned. And between January and now, it has gone up. And we are just starting the year. So, you ask: are women responsible for the hard times to be subjected to this kind of wickedness? Therefore, I think that it (femicide) is long overdue for a state of emergency.Travails of youthful Nigerian women divorces
