Between January 2020 and December 2024, at least 1,666 Lagos people lost their lives to homicide, suicide, and other violent crimes, according to the Nigeria Police Force.
During the public presentation of a report on femicide in Lagos State on Thursday, ACP Samuel Keshinro, the Force Pathologist, made the revelation in Ikeja.
The event’s theme, “Measuring Femicide in Lagos State: Data, Advocacy and Action,” brought attention to alarming patterns in homicides that target women.
Of the 1,666 recorded unnatural deaths, the study states that 1,306 were male and 350 were female, while 10 victims’ genders were unknown. After more investigation, it was discovered that 11 of the 230 incidents were female suicides and 230 involved female homicides.
Since intimate partner abuse was implicated in the majority of femicide cases, Keshinro emphasized the critical need for advocacy and more robust prevention measures.
Of the 350 female deaths, we identified around 70 as femicide after looking through police records at the State CID, Panti. Femicide by an intimate partner continues to be the most serious category. It shows how exposed women are, even in places where they ought to feel safest,” he said.
In order to improve crime documentation and increase the precision of investigations, the pathologist advocated for the implementation of electronic data storage systems.
Speaking at the occasion, Olorundare Jimoh, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, noted that although the number of femicide cases seemed to be on the down given the size of the state, it was still a significant worry.
He assured that action plans for addressing gender-based violence will be developed using the results, attributing the comparatively lower numbers to the proactive efforts of the police and pertinent parties.
Our police are taught to spot domestic abuse and stop it before it turns into femicide. “To ensure better response and prevention, we are strengthening operational modalities,” the CP stated.
Assuring them that the police would handle complaints with tact and expertise, Jimoh advised women and girls to report any instances of gender-based violence to the police as soon as possible.
“The days of police stations asking victims degrading questions are long gone. He continued, “To make sure cases are handled correctly, we have expanded training to divisional levels, area commanders, and the criminal department.
The research, which was released in advance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, highlights the importance of institutional reforms, data-driven campaigning, and raised awareness in defending women in Lagos State.
