CITIZENS COMPASS—Stakeholders have identified femicides – the intentional killing of women and girls – as one of the most important gender-based violence in Lagos and across Nigeria. They also highlighted that the paucity of data is a major stumbling block to prosecution of cases and reduction of the crime rate, National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) can report.
This assertion was made yesterday at the presentation of Nigeria Police report focused on the study of femicides within Lagos State in the last 5 years. The book provided a brief five-year retrospective examination of femicides in Lagos, utilizing the United Nations’ statistical framework to assess gender-related killings of women and girls between January 2020 and December 2024.
Titled “Measuring Femicide in Lagos State: Data, Advocacy and Action”, the report captured 1,666 unnatural deaths recorded in Lagos within Year 2020 – 2024. Of these, 1,316 (79%) were men while 350 (21%) were women. About 230 deaths (66%) were homicides. Among female homicides, 200 were classified as intentional, with 70 (35%) identified as femicides. Nearly half (47%) of the femicides were committed by intimate partners. Most victims were aged between 15 and 44, the most productive stage of life.
Speaking at the event, Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Moshood Jimoh called for stronger and more reliable data systems to combat the rising cases of femicide across Nigeria. He added that Nigeria’s fight against femicide was being undermined by poor record-keeping, weak forensic investigations, and low prosecution rates. “These gaps have hindered efforts to fully eradicate violence against women, despite Lagos recording comparatively lower femicide rates in this study,” Jimoh said.
According to the Commissioner, the Lagos Police Command has now established a specialised unit under its Gender Department to focus on femicide and domestic violence cases. Initially donor-funded, the unit is currently supported by the Lagos State Government.
He noted that officers in the unit had been trained to identify early warning signs of domestic violence and respond with empathy, confidentiality, and professionalism. “Gone are the days when victims were subjected to humiliating questions. Our officers have been trained to respond with empathy, confidentiality, and efficiency.”
CP Jimoh hailed Force Pathologist, Dr. Keshinro and his team who performed an exhaustive examination of available data, resulting in the findings presented which will undoubtedly bolster the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force. “We are delighted that the research emerged from within the force, under the leadership of Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, at a time when femicide cannot be disregarded. Our officers have received comprehensive training to identify and address potential threats, including domestic violence. We have implemented operational modalities to support our officers and take prompt action within the law to prevent femicide, both within and outside the context of domestic violence.”
The Nigeria Police Force
Pathologist, ACP Samuel Keshinro who presented the report stressed that reliable data was vital to understanding the drivers of femicide and developing effective interventions. ‘This publication aimed to measure femicide in Lagos State, examining its extent, since we recognize that reliable data is necessary for developing effective strategies. The project commenced a year ago, focusing on creating awareness and advocating against gender-related violence and Violence against women and girls (VAWG), prevention of Gender Based Violence (GBV), and including femicide.”
The lead pathologist ACP Keshinro added: “The findings based on Police records from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, revealed that out of 350 female deaths, 70 were categorized as femicide. Further analysis disaggregated variables showed the patterns of femicide, including intimate partner and family related femicide, with intimate partner femicide being the most prevalent.”
Dr Keshinro pointed out that this illustrates the vulnerability of women, especially in situations where they should feel loved and secure. “The timing is appropriate, given that November 25 is the United Nations’-declared day for eliminating violence against women, starting the 16 days of activism. This concludes on December 10, coinciding with Human Rights Day. Today’s event has attracted a diverse group of attendees, including high-ranking officials from the Nigeria Police Force, academics, and development partners like the UN.
The contributions, we hope, will not be limited to data collection but will effectively help prevent heinous crimes such as GBV, BWG, and femicide,” he said.
ACP Keshinro discussed the research challenges, emphasizing that one of the most significant hurdles was the hard copy format of the data, which posed difficulties, particularly given the five-year scope of the data, dating back to 2020. The data’s integrity was compromised due to faded ink, leading to the recommendation to create a data collection tool and implement a robust electronic homicide record to safeguard the data against deterioration and facilitate inter- agency collaboration.
Furthermore, the team leader, noted that the team drew inspiration from the electronic medical records that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has implemented in Lagos and across states in Nigeria, facilitating seamless operations, particularly in the medical services of the Nigeria Police Force. “We are endeavoring to replicate this model to ensure effortless access to information and data, ensuring us to prevent crimes and mitigate escalation.”
The six-man team led by Dr Keshinro lauded the Lagos CP, specifically for sanctioning data escalation tools, which Lagos has identified as vital and approved for implementation, with the expectation that this success will expand nationally and aid in crime prevention by facilitating real time data collection.
In his address at the event, the Chief Judge of Lagos, Hon Justice Kazeem Alogba commended the Nigeria Police Force and observed that this initiative could lead to notable improvement in the quality of police services and improved court proceedings. He underscored the importance of this research project that it would provide valuable insights for the judicial system of Lagos State.
“Reliable data helps us understand the causes of femicide and ensures that judicial processes are both fair and firm,” Alogba said, pledging the judiciary’s partnership with researchers and civil society groups.
Additionally, the Lagos Chief Judge mentioned that he frequently advises his fellow judges and magistrates that matters before then affect real people’s lives, beyond being legal transactions. He urged law enforcement officers, lawyers, and judges to adopt a human-centred approach in handling femicide cases and also stressed the importance of evidence-based data in shaping judicial responses and ensuring justice for victims.
