By Prosper Mene April 8, 2025
A pregnant woman was brutally murdered in her matrimonial home in Abuja on the night of April 6, 2025, The woman, who was five months pregnant, was killed by unknown assailants, leaving the community in shock and reigniting urgent discussions about the safety of women in Nigeria amidst ongoing protests and systemic challenges.
The incident was first brought to public attention by an Abuja-based X user, Aunty Halima, who shared the tragic news, prompting widespread outrage online. Details surrounding the murder remain scarce, with authorities yet to release an official statement on the investigation or the identity of the victim. However, the brutality of the crime has struck a nerve, particularly given the timing, coming just a day after nationwide protests in Abuja, Lagos, and Rivers State, where women and activists were among those demonstrating against the misuse of the Cybercrime Act of 2024, economic hardship, and increasing authoritarianism.
The Take It Back Movement, which organized the protests, has been vocal about the Nigerian government’s failure to address systemic issues, including gender-based violence. On April 7, 2025, protesters in Port Harcourt and Abuja faced teargas from police, a response that critics argue reflects a broader pattern of suppression rather than protection. Juwon Sanyaolu, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, stated during the protests, “We are resisting the increasing authoritarianism of this administration,” a sentiment that resonates deeply in the wake of this latest tragedy.
This murder adds to a grim tally of gender-based violence in Nigeria. A 2024 report by the DOHS Cares Foundation revealed that 133 women and girls were killed in gender-related incidents last year alone, with cases ranging from intimate partner violence to targeted attacks. The European Institute for Gender Equality defines such killings as femicide, often rooted in misogyny and patriarchal structures that devalue women’s lives. In Nigeria, where 30% of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical or sexual violence, according to the Minister for Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the crisis is undeniable.
Civil society groups are now calling for immediate action to address the systemic failures that enable such violence. Ololade Ajayi, founder of DOHS Cares Foundation, emphasized, “Femicide is a crime against life. It should be regarded as a societal problem.” Activists argue that the government’s focus on suppressing dissent—evidenced by the crackdown on protests and the misuse of the Cybercrime Act to target journalists and activists—diverts resources and attention from protecting vulnerable groups, particularly women.
The murder in Abuja is a stark reminder of the dangers women face in Nigeria, where cultural and systemic barriers often prevent justice. A 2024 study in the Terrorism and Political Violence journal noted that misogyny fuels violent intentions, particularly among men who feel a “sense of violated entitlement,” a dynamic that may contribute to such targeted attacks. Meanwhile, the government’s failure to address these root causes, coupled with a justice system that often lets femicide suspects walk free, continues to embolden perpetrators.
As the investigation into this tragic murder unfolds, the incident has already become a rallying cry for those demanding change. With protests ongoing and the nation grappling with economic and social crises, the question remains: will this latest tragedy finally spur meaningful action to protect Nigerian women, or will it become another statistic in a long list of unresolved cases?
