Across Nigeria, women and girls are being killed simply because they are women, yet these murders are often labeled as “domestic disputes” or “crimes of passion,” hiding the systemic nature of the violence. DOHS Cares Foundation’s Femicide Observatory documented over 133 women and girls killed in gender-related violence in 2024, and more than 330 cases by December 2025 — about one woman killed every 49 hours. With over 40 cases already recorded this year, the Foundation says Nigeria must start calling these killings what they are: femicide, as naming the problem correctly is the first step to solving it.
The group has launched an advocacy campaign to raise awareness on femicide patterns, gaps in government response, and the need for a Femicide Prevention and Accountability Law. It is also urging media organizations to use the term “femicide” in reports and calling on law enforcement to set up dedicated Femicide Response Units. Most urgently, DOHS Cares is calling on the National Assembly to review data from its observatory and convene public hearings on femicide within the next 30 days, on or before July 1, 2026.
Data shows Lagos, Delta, FCT, Ogun, Kano, Ondo, Oyo, Rivers, Edo, and Abia states have the highest femicide rates. DOHS Cares is therefore calling on Senators and House members from those states — including Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, Senator Ned Nwoko, Senator Ireti Kingibe, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, and others — to champion the hearings. The Foundation said the sessions should bring together victims’ families, survivors, civil society, law enforcement, and traditional leaders to develop prevention systems, accountability mechanisms, and legislation that recognizes the unique nature of gender-related killings.
