IWD 2025: CAPPA, Others Call For Femicide As a National Emergency
…pushes against the suspension of Senator Natasha
Tracy Ohovwore, Benin City
Civil society organisations, including Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately declare the alarming rate of femicide crisis in Nigeria, explaining that it has become “a national emergency and threat to national security.”
In a statement issued on International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 on the theme “Accelerate Action,” the organisation looked at the emergency in removing perceived structures of violence and patriarchy as well as oppressive norms that continue to endanger the lives of women and prevent them from harnessing their potential.
Addressing the rising cases of Femicide, discussions were made surrounding the controversy between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Oduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, condemning Senator Natasha’s suspension by the National Assembly’s upper chamber.
Speaking, the Executive Director of VisionSpring Initiative, Ngozi-Juba Nwosu, stated that “Despite Nigerian women’s historical and ongoing contributions to national development, they remain systematically undermined, subjected to unchecked violence, and forced to live in fear in many instances.”
“Femicide, which manifests as the deliberate killing of women and girls simply because of their gender, has recorded an alarming growth in recent times. Since the start of 2025, nearly 30 women have suffered gruesome murders, but these are only the cases that made it to the public eye. Countless others remain unheard, their stories buried by silence, institutional neglect, and impunity. “
Also, Betty Abah, Executive Director, Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE), further expanded, “these reprehensible attacks should unsettle every person with a conscience. Women are the backbone of economies and entire communities. When they are constantly under attack, our nation suffers. Women constitute about 49.5 percent of Nigeria’s population—no society can prosper when nearly half its citizens live in perpetual fear of extermination.”
Furthermore, the statement identified certain factors responsible for the promotion of femicide and gender based violence in Nigeria, which include insecurity, lack of access to education, and institutional misogyny, which are enabled by the poor law enforcement in the country.
In addition, the statement further expressed that “Domestic and intimate partner violence remains rampant, fueled by cultural and religious beliefs that uphold male dominance and discourage women from exiting abusive relationships. Economic disempowerment further exacerbates the crisis, as poverty and limited access to resources often leave women vulnerable to exploitation and fatal violence.”
The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) advised that the adoption of a multilayered approach in tackling the crisis of gender based violence, ritual killings, and Femicide will make a significant difference.
“This is why we welcomed the National Film and Videos Censors Board’s (NFVCB) historic 2024 legislation prohibiting the glamorization of smoking and ritual killings in Nollywood films. This policy shift aligns with our longstanding campaign to cleanse our screens of narratives that normalise and reinforce an unhealthy culture. The Regulation, though a step in the right direction, is far from sufficient,” said Zikora Ibeh, Assistant Director, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation.
