Amnesty International decries rising femicide cases in Nigeria, calls for urgent action

The Amnesty International Nigeria Supporters Group in Osun State has raised alarm over the rising cases of femicide in the country, revealing that at least 149 women were killed in Nigeria last year.

The group’s Coordinator in Osun State, Joshua Oyebode, disclosed this on Saturday during a street awareness walk in Osogbo, organized to mark International Women’s Day. He condemned the persistent violence against women and urged authorities at all levels to take immediate action to curb the menace.

“This year, Amnesty International deems it fit to raise awareness about femicide in Nigeria. We are trying to create awareness about this social menace,” Oyebode said.

Citing statistics from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), he noted that globally, an estimated 140 women and girls are killed every day, with Nigeria recording 149 femicide cases in 2024 alone.

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“Our aim today is to build public consciousness about femicide and to educate people on their individual and collective roles in addressing this issue,” he added.

Oyebode emphasized that while Nigeria has laws in place to combat gender-based violence, the real challenge lies in their enforcement.

“We have to look beyond the laws themselves and focus on their implementation. Nigeria has had a long-standing problem of law enforcement. Strengthening the enforcement of existing laws is crucial in making them more effective,” he stressed.

The awareness walk in Osogbo saw activists, women’s rights advocates, and concerned citizens rallying for stricter measures to protect women from gender-based violence.

As the country marks International Women’s Day, the call for justice and better protection for women remains urgent, with human rights groups demanding a stronger legal framework and proactive government intervention to prevent further femicide cases.