Activists in Nigeria are urging the government to declare a state of emergency in response to a significant rise in gender-based violence (GBV). Reports indicate that 22 women have been killed so far in 2025, which is a 240% increase in deaths in comparison to January 2024. For this year, the Femicide Observatory documented 17 cases in January and an additional five by mid-February, highlighting the urgency of the situation. Women’s rights groups point to lax legislation and prosecution of GBV, a lack of available data, and misogynistic online content as contributing factors to the problem. Civil society organizations are calling for immediate action to address this crisis and protect women's rights.
Compiled from: Eromo Egbejule, “Activists call for state of emergency in Nigeria over gender-based violence,” The Guardian, Feb.25, 2025.