Fame Foundation, a gender-focused Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has called for an end to all forms of femicide in Nigeria.
Femicide refers to the act of killing a woman by a domestic partner or a member of a criminal enterprise.
The Executive Director of the Foundation, Aderonke Atoyebi, speaking at a news conference in Abuja, stressed the need for the government and all stakeholders to collectively combat what she described as a pandemic in Nigeria.
She lamented that femicide is often concealed in Nigeria due to societal stigma and fear of retaliation, emphasizing the need to change this narrative.
Atoyebi said the Foundation is working tirelessly to raise awareness about the issue and advocating for stronger legal protections for women and girls.
“The girl child, young women, and young female adults are endangered in Nigeria. Femicide has become a pandemic, and a state of emergency needs to be declared on this often-overlooked issue. Victim blaming must end,” she said.
Atoyebi highlighted that over 89,000 women were killed globally in 2020, and at least 401 deaths were recorded from sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in 2022.
“The situation of femicide is now critical, as the Federal Government has recorded 27,698 SGBV cases in the last three years in Nigeria. At least five female murder cases were reported from different states this year; some of the cases received justice, while others remain unresolved,” she said.
Atoyebi, therefore, emphasized the need to strengthen existing laws addressing SGBV and ensure their enforcement. She also stressed the importance of adequately punishing perpetrators of femicide to deter future crimes.
