By Omodele Adigun
The Nigeria Police Force has revealed that at least 1,666 Lagos residents died under unnatural circumstances, including homicide, suicide, and other violent incidents, between January 2020 and December 2024.
The Force Pathologist, ACP Samuel Keshinro, made the disclosure on Thursday in Ikeja during the public presentation of a report on femicide in Lagos State.
The event, themed “Measuring Femicide in Lagos State: Data, Advocacy and Action,” highlighted disturbing trends around gender-based killings.
According to the report, out of the 1,666 unnatural deaths recorded, 350 were women, 1,306 were men, while the gender of 10 victims could not be determined. Further analysis showed that 230 cases involved female homicide, while 11 were identified as suicides by women.
Keshinro noted that most femicide cases were linked to intimate partner violence, stressing the urgent need for advocacy and stronger preventive measures.
“We reviewed police records at the State CID, Panti, and found that about 70 of the 350 female deaths qualified as femicide. Intimate partner femicide remains the highest category. It highlights how vulnerable women are, even in spaces where they should feel most secure,” he said.
