Stakeholders cry out over killings of women, girls in Lagos

Sanwoolu

Stakeholders have expressed deep concern over the escalating cases of femicide in Lagos State, warning that it poses a serious threat to families, communities, and society if not urgently addressed.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Sunday, the stakeholders identified domestic violence as a major contributor to this disturbing trend.

Google defines “femicide” as the intentional murder of women or girls specifically because of their gender, often perpetrated by intimate partners or close relatives.

NAN reports that despite awareness efforts, violence against women in Nigeria continues to rise.

Recently, the Police Command in Lagos State apprehended a man who allegedly killed his girlfriend on September 3 in Oko-Oba.

The suspect reportedly disguised himself as a dispatch rider to gain access to his estranged girlfriend’s room after she ended their relationship due to his abusive behaviour.

Earlier, he had threatened that no one else would marry her if she rejected him. The man allegedly stabbed her to death with a knife.

The case is currently under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos.

This incident adds to the increasing cases of domestic violence among couples, often fueled by unresolved disputes and misunderstandings, sometimes escalating to injuries or death.

Similarly, on July 17, police in Lagos arrested a man who allegedly murdered his girlfriend in a hotel in Ayobo, a Lagos suburb.

Guests reportedly heard strange noises from their room at about 10 p.m., leading to his arrest as he tried to flee. The suspect confessed to stabbing her multiple times in the stomach, head, and ribs, claiming it was for ritual purposes.