Femicide cases rise sharply as nearly 200 women, girls killed in Nigeria
More than 197 Nigerian women and girls were reportedly killed in gender-related violence between January 1 and December 31, 2025, according to a report by the DOHS Cares Foundation. The foundation’s findings highlight a significant increase compared to the previous year. Several of the cases involved multiple victims in single incidents, illustrating the brutality of these crimes. The report has sparked renewed calls for legal reforms and stronger protections for women and girls across the country.
What happened
- The DOHS Cares Foundation documented 172 suspected femicide cases resulting in 197 deaths between January 1 and December 31, 2025.
- The number of deaths in 2025 marks a sharp rise from 133 reported cases in 2024.
- Notable incidents include the killings of Loveth Uloma in November, Rifkatu Yohanna in December, Opeyemi Bello, Edwolo in October, and Temitope Odu.
- The foundation’s founder, Ololade Ajayi, emphasized that femicide in Nigeria is a national emergency and often involves perpetrators known to the victims.
- Reports by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in November 2025 described femicide as an escalating crisis, calling for urgent legal recognition and action.
