The Digest:
A new police report has revealed that 1,666 Lagos residents died from homicide, suicide, and other violent causes between 2020 and 2024, with intimate partner violence identified as a leading factor in femicide cases. The data, presented by the Force Pathologist, underscores urgent safety concerns in Nigeria’s most populous city.
Key Points
- 1,306 men and 350 women died violently, with 10 cases gender-unidentified.
- 230 female deaths were homicides; 11 were suicides.
- 70 cases were confirmed as femicide, mostly linked to intimate partner violence.
- Force Pathologist ACP Samuel Keshinro emphasized poor data storage as a barrier to accurate tracking.
- Lagos Police Commissioner cited proactive measures for relatively lower femicide rates but acknowledged ongoing risks.
- Police pledged improved gender-sensitive training and faster response to violence reports.
- The report aims to guide advocacy and policy ahead of the International Day for Eliminating Violence Against Women.
The stark figures expose a hidden epidemic of violence in Lagos, demanding urgent institutional and societal action to protect vulnerable residents.
Sources: Daily Post Nigeria
