Police Rally Stakeholders Against Femicide, Release 5-Year Lagos Report
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that the Nigeria Police Force has called for a multi-sectoral action to further reduce femicide, unveiling a five-year report that highlights patterns of gender-related killings in Lagos State.
The report, titled “Measuring Femicides in Lagos State: Data, Advocacy and Action”, was presented on Thursday at an information dissemination programme in Lagos by the Force Pathologist’s Office. It covers cases recorded between January 2020 and December 2024, using the United Nations’ statistical framework for tracking the gender-related killing of women and girls.
Assistant Commissioner of Police and Force Pathologist, ACP Samuel Keshinro, said the study categorised 70 femicide cases out of 350 female deaths analysed within the period. He noted that intimate partner killings were the most prevalent.
“The report confirms that the home, where women should be loved and protected, is often the most dangerous place,” ACP Keshinro said.
“Femicide prevention requires government commitment at both state and federal levels, backed by civil society, the private sector and international partners. The economic and social costs of femicide far outweigh the investments required for prevention.”
Keshinro emphasised that the study was not merely an academic exercise but a practical tool for crime prevention.
“Today is about the power of data. Data helps us recognise patterns, strengthen police response, and prevent gender-based violence before it escalates to femicide,” he added.
The Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, reiterated the command’s resolve to prioritise prevention and detection.
“Femicide is not something to be disregarded. We have trained our officers to recognise early warning signs, particularly where domestic violence may lead to femicide,” Jimoh said. “Where prevention fails, prompt detection and prosecution are essential to send a clear deterrent message.”
He praised the report as “a product of internal police research that will help us greatly to raise our game” and assured that action plans had been drawn up in line with the findings.
Justice Kazeem Alogba, Chief Judge of Lagos State, commended the collaboration between the police, academics from the University of Lagos and development partners.
“The team has demonstrated Lagos excellence,” Alogba remarked. “For us in the judiciary, this is an eye-opener. Every case file is a human life, and data of this kind will help us handle cases with a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of femicide. What we do with this data is key.”
The report identified six urgent action areas: legal reforms, prevention programmes, healthcare and survivor support services, community-based initiatives, debriefing sessions for investigating officers, and improved data systems.
Stakeholders from the judiciary, academia, civil society, and international organisations, including the United Nations, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Vital Strategies’ Data for Health Initiative, attended the event.
The report comes ahead of the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November, which launches 16 days of activism leading up to Human Rights Day on 10 December.
