Fatshimetry revealed in a recent article the tragic story of Glory Adekolure, a student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), who lost her life in a gruesome manner after she was raped and killed on her way home from school. This incident added to a series of violent crimes against women in Nigeria.
In a similar incident, the Kogi State Police confirmed the brutal murder of a student of the Federal University Lokoja. Four people have been arrested in connection with the alleged murder, highlighting how violence against women remains a major problem in the country.
The FAME Foundation recently issued a call for urgent action to combat the alarming rise in femicides in Nigeria. Speaking at a press conference, Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, the Executive Director of the foundation, highlighted the urgency of the situation regarding gender-based violence and femicides.
“Today, femicide has become a pandemic,” Atoyebi said. “Girls, young women and adult women are at risk, and it is time to end the stigmatization of victims.”
With over 27,698 cases of sexual and gender-based violence recorded in the last three years, Nigeria is facing a major crisis in violence against women. Cases like that of Damilola, a 19-year-old girl killed by kidnappers in Kogi, and Christianah Idowu, a student murdered by a fellow student in Ogun, illustrate a worrying trend of gender-based violence.
FAME Foundation is currently raising awareness and advocating for legal reforms. “We must strengthen existing laws and ensure swift punishment for perpetrators of these crimes,” Atoyebi said.
She also stressed the need for public education programmes to challenge harmful gender stereotypes. “Engaging men and boys in conversations about gender equality is essential to changing these destructive norms.”
The foundation has launched several initiatives, including outreach programs in IDP camps and communities, to educate the public on gender equality.
“The time to act is now. Every woman and girl deserves the right to live free from violence and fear,” Atoyebi concluded.
This situation highlights the urgency of addressing violence against women and shows that concrete actions must be taken to protect women and girls in Nigeria and around the world. Awareness, education and strengthening laws are essential to combat gender-based violence and end femicide.