By DEBORAH AKPEDE

A non-governmental organisation, DOHS Cares Foundation, has expressed concerns over rising femicide in Nigeria, urging tougher laws and stronger support for women and girls.

The Founder of DOHS, Mrs Ololade Ajayi, expressed the concerns in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

According to her, femicide is the intentional killing of a woman or girl because of her gender, often by intimate partners or close relatives.

“Femicide is becoming increasingly visible in the country due to wider media coverage and public advocacy,” she said.

Ajayi cited a recent case in Lagos where a man disguised himself as a dispatch rider to gain access to his estranged girlfriend’s room after she ended their relationship due to his abusive tendencies.

The suspect, who had earlier vowed that no one else would marry her if she refused him, allegedly stabbed her to death in her own home, a place that should have been safe.

She said that the foundation had documented over 140 cases of femicide across Nigeria in 2025 alone.

“Many of these women are killed by their partners or acquaintances, and in most cases, the crimes occur in their own homes. This shows the alarming level of danger women face in spaces that should protect them,” she said.

Ajayi called for stronger legislation, stricter punishments, and better support systems to protect women and girls from gender-based killings.

The founder stressed that perpetrators must face the highest form of punishment to deter others.

“The judiciary and legislature must send a clear message that once you kill your intimate partner, you will face the death sentence, and it must be enforced,” she insisted.

Ajayi further highlighted the root causes of femicide, pointing to Nigeria’s patriarchal system, entrenched gender stereotypes, and cultural norms that treated women as property.

“The inequality in relationships, traditional roles, and societal normalisation of violence against women all contribute to the persistence of femicide,” she said.

While existing laws on murder addressed violence, Ajayi argued that they did not adequately capture the gender-specific nuances of femicide.

Ajayi called for specific legislation to criminalise femicide and attempted femicide, alongside better enforcement mechanisms.

“We lack proper follow-up when domestic violence is reported. Victims often have no protection orders, no safe spaces, and no assurance that their abusers will be prevented from striking again. Very few cases result in convictions,” she lamented.

The DOHS boss emphasised that Nigeria must prioritise creating more safe shelters for women, enforcing protection measures, and ensuring perpetrators faced justice without delay.

“Femicide must be addressed directly in our laws and in our justice system. Anything less will continue to put the lives of women and girls at risk,” she warned.

NAN reports that DOHS is a female rights advocacy organisation that works to end Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, empower women, and provide support for vulnerable children. (NAN)