This Rising Epidemic Called “Femicide”
By Aremu Ebunoluwa Toluwani
As a young “vulnerable” woman, I am not afforded the same freedom to go out as much as the average teenager. When I do step out, it is often under strict conditions—accompanied by a cousin or a female friend, my age or older. On top of that, my mum insists on personally dropping me off and picking me up at places.
I assume many other young women find themselves in similar, if not more restrictive, situations. And, frankly, I don’t blame my parents. Nigeria’s insecurity worsens daily, particularly in the aftermath of recent devastating floods. Yet alongside this, there is an unspoken epidemic gripping our country — femicide, which continues to ravage the lives of Nigerian women and girls.
I remember my mum once sharing a horrifying story about a young rape victim who was unknowingly drugged with “Rohypnol,” a drug commonly referred to as the “date rape drug.” According to Drugs.com, Rohypnol erases the victim’s memory, leaving them unable to recall anything that happened during the assault. Even worse, it can impair their ability to conceive after the attack.
The long-term effects are often permanent and devastating. My mum told me this story as a cautionary tale to stop me from leaving my internship office to grab lunch next door. While it may have seemed overprotective at the time, these incidents happen in the least expected places and by the most unexpected people.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), femicide is the killing of any woman or girl, typically at the hands of men. In Nigeria, femicide is more than just a crime; it exposes the deeply ingrained violence and inequality women face. It underscores their extreme vulnerability to domestic violence, sexual assault, and oppressive cultural norms.
Despite Nigeria’s legal frameworks, the rising cases of femicide highlight a troubling lack of enforcement, accountability, and a society that, all too often, normalizes violence against women. Urgent action from policymakers and communities is needed to confront this crisis head-on.
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Earlier this year, Professor Violet Aigbokhaevbo, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Benin, published an article on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), stating that no fewer than 401 women have died from sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria. These alarming statistics point to the need for immediate social reforms to protect women and girls from further harm.
In a 2023 feature article titled “Five Essentials to Know About Femicide,” the United Nations Women noted a disturbing fact: “Women and girls are most likely to be killed by those closest to them.” This haunting reality was tragically demonstrated in the case of Christiana Idowu, a 300-level student at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), who was murdered by her friend, Adeleye Ayomide, a student at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and a member of her church.
Investigations revealed that Ayomide not only extorted money from Christiana’s family but was also responsible for the murders of his girlfriend and sister. According to The Punch newspaper, Idowu’s death marked the 76th known case of femicide in Nigeria this year. Unfortunately, her case is far from an isolated incident.
Ololade Ajayi, founder of DOHS Cares Foundation, noted, “From our research, we’ve recorded 76 cases of women and girls murdered by intimate partners, relatives, or acquaintances in Nigeria this year alone.” These killings often stem from minor disputes or rejections, underscoring the deep-rooted gender inequality in our society.
Too often, victims suffer in silence due to threats from their abusers and fear of being stigmatized, especially among young women. Femicide knows no boundaries. It doesn’t discriminate based on your background or which family you belong to. Like death, it can strike anyone in the most tragic of ways.
So, what can be done to curb this crisis? The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs must step in to protect victims and provide essential support. Government agencies like the National Orientation Agency (NOA), together with the education and private sectors, should collaborate to raise awareness about femicide.
Communities must be made to understand its devastating consequences and the importance of promoting respect for women. Families, too, must be vigilant, monitoring the media content and relationships their children are exposed to.
I urge the government to take immediate, decisive action against femicide and ensure that offenders are not just arrested but prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Justice must be served.
Aremu Ebunoluwa Toluwani is an intern at PRNigeria and can be reached via: [email protected]
