UN Sounds Alarm On Nigeria’s ‘Epidemic’ Of Gender-Based Violence

Abuja, Nigeria – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has issued a stark warning about the escalating crisis of gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria, describing it as a nationwide epidemic demanding immediate action.

In a press conference today, the agency revealed staggering statistics: over one million GBV-related crimes were reported to Nigerian police in 2022 and 2023, accounting for a shocking 20% of all reported crimes.

UNODC Country Representative Cheikh Toure stressed the urgency of the situation, highlighting that these figures likely represent only a fraction of the true extent of the problem.

“The significant underreporting of GBV cases due to stigma, fear of reprisal, and lack of faith in the justice system is a major obstacle,” Mr Toure stated.

He emphasised the critical need for government intervention and systemic change to address the root causes of this pervasive violence.

A particularly alarming concern highlighted by Mr Toure is the severe lack of reliable data on femicide across many African countries, including Nigeria.

This data gap severely hampers effective prevention and response strategies. To combat this, the UNODC is implementing Femicide Reviews, a comprehensive analysis of these killings aimed at identifying patterns and risk factors and informing the development of targeted preventative policies.

The UNODC’s call to action has garnered support from both Nigerian officials and international partners.

Representatives from the Nigerian government pledged continued commitment to tackling GBV, while representatives from France, among other international partners, reaffirmed their support for initiatives aimed at ending the violence.

The consensus among attendees was the need for holistic systemic change to address the deeply entrenched gender inequality that fuels GBV.

This includes strengthening law enforcement capacity, improving access to justice for survivors, and implementing comprehensive awareness campaigns to challenge harmful social norms and promote gender equality.

The fight against GBV in Nigeria, it was agreed, requires a multi-faceted approach involving government, civil society, and international partners working in unison.