The Rising Tide of Femicide in Nigeria: A Silent War Against Women
Introduction
According to the United Nations, every 10 minutes, a woman is killed, a sobering statistic that underscores the global crisis of gender-based violence. In 2023, Africa bore the highest burden of intimate partner and family-related femicide in the world, with 21,700 women tragically losing their lives. In Nigeria, femicide continues to be an issue that is frequently under-reported, normalised, or dismissed. In Nigeria, 401 women reportedly died as a result of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in 2022 alone. According to data from the DOHS Femicide Dashboard, there were 135 femicide incidents resulting in 149 deaths in 2024. As of the time of this report, there have been 17 incidents and 19 deaths in 2025.
From domestic violence escalating into fatal assaults to the brutal murders of women at the hands of both intimate partners and strangers, the growing prevalence of such killings reveals a crisis deeply rooted in societal, cultural, and systemic failures. Weak legal protections, ingrained gender norms, and inadequate law enforcement responses have allowed this violence to persist with little consequence. The normalisation of misogyny and the silencing of victims further exacerbate the issue, creating an environment where perpetrators act with impunity.
Beyond the headlines lies a critical question demanding urgent attention: What forces are driving this surge in violence against women in Nigeria?
A Global Crisis with Local Realities
At the heart of Nigeria’s femicide crisis is the entrenched perception of women as second-class citizens, a belief system that permeates social, economic, legal, and political structures. Deeply rooted patriarchal norms reinforce the notion that women are subordinate to men, limiting their rights and agency while fostering a culture of impunity in which perpetrators of violence face little to no consequences. Police officers often meet survivors of gender-based violence with indifference or even hostility, dismissing their cases as private family matters. In some instances, victims are pressured to reconcile with their abusers rather than pursue justice.
The tragic murder of Augusta Osedion in July 2023 by her partner, Benjamin Best Nnanyereugo, infamously known as ‘KillaBoi’, exposes the deep-seated failures within the law enforcement system in addressing gender-based violence. Despite fleeing Nigeria, Nnanyereugo was eventually apprehended in Sierra Leone by Augusta’s brother. However, the Nigerian authorities were sluggish and failed to bring him back to Nigeria to face judgment before he escaped during an outbreak at the prison where he was held in Sierra Leone. To this day, Augusta’s killer remains at large, a grim reminder of the systemic impunity that enables such violence to persist.
The New Challenge: The Rise Of Online Misogyny
The influx of digital media, particularly social media, has further exacerbated the problem. The rise of misogynistic online communities, including those promoting “red pill” ideology, has created echo chambers that radicalise young men. These spaces frame feminism and female autonomy as threats to male dominance, fuelling resentment and normalising violence as a means of reasserting control. Social media platforms have also witnessed a surge in users celebrating acts of violence against women, with some even justifying or trivialising femicide.
Studies by Ging (2019) and Marwick & Caplan (2018) suggest that exposure to such digital rhetoric can desensitise individuals to gender-based violence, increasing the likelihood of real-world harm. One stark example is the online glorification of figures like Andrew Tate, whose content, widely shared on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, promotes hyper-masculinity, objectifies women, and often dismisses the seriousness of abuse. His widespread influence, particularly among teenage boys, illustrates how algorithm-driven platforms can amplify harmful ideologies, making them appear mainstream or aspirational. This not only reinforces regressive gender norms but also contributes to a digital environment where violence against women is minimised or even celebrated.
The Roadblock to Reform
Several factors contribute to the increasing level of femicide. For example, women’s financial independence remains restrained by systemic economic barriers, reinforcing gender-based violence and deepening societal inequalities. Discriminatory employment practices limit women’s access to well-paying jobs, with the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report (2023) noting that women earn about 20% less than men for the same work. In sub-Saharan Africa, the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlights that women are overrepresented in informal, low-wage jobs without social protections, making it difficult to leave abusive relationships. Property ownership and inheritance laws further entrench female dependency, as UN Women (2021) reports that customary laws in several African nations prevent women, especially widows, from inheriting land or property. In Nigeria, Igbo customary law historically barred daughters from inheriting property, a practice only recently overturned by the Supreme Court (Ukeje v. Ukeje, 2014). Such economic marginalisation forces many women to remain in unsafe situations, unable to seek legal recourse or financial independence.
There is an urgent need for reform however, reforms come from the political space where women's voices are also lacking. Despite making up nearly half of Nigeria’s population, women occupy less than 10% of elective positions at the national level. This underrepresentation contributes to the lack of urgency in addressing gender-based violence and the inadequate policy responses to femicide. This underrepresentation contributes to the lack of urgency in addressing gender-based violence and leads to inadequate policy responses to femicide. Evidence of this is seen in Nigeria, where, despite enacting laws such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) to protect women from violence, implementation remains weak due to institutional bias and ineffective law enforcement.
Recommendations
Addressing femicide in Nigeria requires urgent and multifaceted action. Strengthening the implementation of existing laws, ensuring swift and impartial investigations, and holding perpetrators accountable are critical first steps. Law enforcement agencies must be trained to handle cases of gender-based violence with sensitivity and professionalism, ensuring that victims feel safe and supported when seeking justice. Recently, there has been a call for Nigeria to enact a comprehensive law on femicide due to the recent spike in cases. Research by Chinonye (2024) states that the absence of a legal framework specifically addressing femicide has exacerbated underreporting in Nigeria and diminished the perceived severity of the crime.
Comprehensive education and awareness campaigns are essential to challenge patriarchal norms and promote gender equality. Schools and community programmes should teach respect, empathy, and non-violence from an early age. Additionally, empowering women economically and socially can reduce vulnerability to abuse and increase their likelihood of escaping dangerous situations. This includes providing access to vocational training, financial literacy, employment opportunities, and support for women-led enterprises, ensuring they have the resources and confidence to make autonomous decisions about their lives. For example, the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP) aims to improve the livelihoods of 324,000 women across targeted states by enhancing their access to sustainable economic opportunities.
Furthermore, social media platforms must take greater responsibility for moderating misogynistic content and preventing the spread of harmful ideologies. Persons who continuously spread such content should be banned and not be allowed to reopen another platform.
In addition, a cultural shift is necessary to dismantle the societal norms that perpetuate violence against women. Communities must reject victim-blaming and hold perpetrators accountable, while public campaigns should highlight the devastating consequences of gender-based violence.
Finally, the absence of reliable data on femicide rates in Nigeria for 2023 highlights the need for a comprehensive and systematic data collection framework. To address this gap, government agencies, civil society organisations, and research institutions should work together to gather and maintain up-to-date statistics on gender-related killings. This will support evidence-based policymaking, enhance accountability, and strengthen efforts to prevent femicide and gender-based violence in Nigeria.
Remember that nothing changes if nothing happens. The rising tide of femicide in Nigeria must be addressed to create a society where women are valued and protected. Until these root causes are tackled, the silent war against women will continue, leaving countless lives tragically cut short.
Valeria Ogide is an Asst. Programs Officer at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa).