Grim Toll: 80 Nigerian women lost to Femicide between January and June 2025, says DOHS cares

A troubling report by the international NGO, DOHS Cares Foundation, has brought to light the alarming number of women killed in Nigeria in the first half of 2025. According to findings from its Femicide Research Hub, at least 80 women lost their lives to gender-based killings between January and June—averaging one death every 49 hours.

Describing the situation as a national emergency, the foundation’s founder, Ololade Ajayi, urged both government and society to take immediate and decisive action.

“These women weren’t just numbers—they were family members, professionals, students, and pillars of their communities,” Ajayi said. “We are losing three to four women every week to violent deaths. It’s unacceptable, and it cannot continue to go unchecked.”

Despite constitutional protections and the provisions of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015, Ajayi criticized what she called a culture of impunity. “Too many cases remain uninvestigated. Survivors are silenced, victims are blamed, and justice is routinely denied,” she added.

Ajayi called on the National Assembly to prioritize the Femicide Bill proposed by the foundation, emphasizing the need to formally recognize and track femicide as a specific crime. She also advocated for the creation of a national database to document cases and identify trends.

She stressed that beyond legislative reform, a wider cultural transformation is necessary. “We need religious and community leaders to speak out against harmful norms that perpetuate violence against women. Silence is complicity,” she warned.

DOHS Cares Foundation has also launched a national advocacy campaign, #NoDeyKpaiWoman, to galvanize public support for femicide prevention, survivor protection, and comprehensive legal reform.

“We are grieving, but we’re not powerless,” Ajayi concluded. “We will raise our voices, demand justice, and push for a Nigeria where women can live without fear.”