Ololade Ajayi, the founder of DOHS Cares Foundation, has raised the alarm over the increasing number of femicides in Nigeria, stating that 76 cases of women and girls being murdered by intimate partners, relatives, or acquaintances have been recorded this year alone.
“These killings often stem from minor disputes or rejections, highlighting deep-rooted gender inequality,” Ajayi said, describing the situation as a “pandemic.”
She criticised the Nigerian justice system for its failure to hold perpetrators accountable.
To combat femicide, the Foundation has submitted a bill to both the Lagos State and National Assemblies, calling for stricter legal penalties.
Ajayi stressed the need for concrete legal reforms and societal change, stating, “We must move beyond social media outrage. Women’s lives depend on it.”
She added, “This case is part of a disturbing trend, reminding the nation that urgent action is required to combat gender-based violence and protect the lives of countless women across Nigeria.”
Social media has erupted with outrage under the hashtag #JusticeForChristiana, urging authorities to take more decisive action to protect women.
Femicide rates have reached unprecedented levels across Africa, with Nigeria witnessing a significant surge. In 2022, the continent reported the highest global rate of femicide. Systemic failures, weak legal enforcement, and cultural norms are contributing to the increasing violence against women.
Some recent femicide cases in Nigeria for 2024 include the April 27, 2024 stabbing of Kumapayi Arinola to death by her husband, Onipede Dare, in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, over alleged infidelity; April 2024, Lukman Adejoju, a 63-year-old man from Osun State, allegedly killed his 100-year-old mother, Aminat, over a disagreement related to palm oil sales; May 2024, Ocheze Ogbonna, a young female crane operator at Inner Galaxy Steel Company in Abia State, was allegedly pushed to her death by a Chinese national after rejecting his romantic advances; and July 2024, 23-year-old man, Samson, allegedly stabbed his elderly mother to death in Obiaruku, Delta State.
Ajayi’s call to action comes at a critical time, as the country grapples with increasing violence against women and the urgent need for stronger legal and societal responses.
