The DOHS Cares Foundation has raised serious concern over the increasing cases of femicide across Nigeria, reporting that 88 Nigerian women were killed between January and June 2025, amounting to one fatality every 49 hours.
The Foundation, through its Femicide Research Hub, disclosed this on Monday while calling on authorities at all levels of government to treat gender-related killings as a national emergency.
“These are not just statistics. These were daughters, sisters, mothers, professionals, and students — women with full lives cut short by gender-based violence,” said Ololade Ajayi, founder of the DOHS Cares Foundation. “Every week, three to four women are violently erased from our society. This is not a crisis we can afford to normalize or ignore.”
Ajayi noted that despite the existence of key legislation such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, a culture of impunity persists, with perpetrators often escaping justice, while survivors and victims’ families face intimidation or silence.
She reiterated the Foundation’s appeal for the proposed Femicide Prohibition Bill, drafted by DOHS, to be urgently introduced at the National Assembly for legislative action. The group is also advocating for the classification of femicide as a distinct crime within Nigeria’s criminal justice system and the creation of a national femicide register to improve data collection, monitoring, and early warning responses.
Ajayi further urged law enforcement agencies to ensure diligent and timely investigation of reported cases, while also calling on the judiciary to prioritize the prosecution of perpetrators in line with due process.
In addition, she called on traditional, religious, and community leaders to speak out against harmful cultural practices and social norms that undermine women’s rights and dignity.
“We will not stay silent,” Ajayi said. “We will mourn, but we will also mobilize, organize, and demand action. Nigerian women deserve to live, to be safe, and to be heard.”
As part of efforts to raise national awareness and encourage citizen participation, DOHS has launched a campaign titled #NoDeyKpaiWoman, aimed at mobilizing support for prevention, survivor support, and legal reforms.
Reporting by Niran Odufayo