Police Data Reveals Over 1,600 Violent Deaths in Lagos

Police Data Reveals Over 1,600 Violent Deaths in Lagos
…350 Female Victims
Keshinro explained that about 70 of the female deaths were confirmed cases of femicide

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has revealed that at least 1,666 residents of Lagos State died in unnatural circumstances, including homicide, suicide and other violent causes, between January 2020 and December 2024.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that the disclosure was made by the Force Pathologist, ACP Samuel Keshinro, during the public presentation of a report on femicide in Lagos, held in Ikeja on Thursday.

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The event, themed “Measuring Femicide in Lagos State: Data, Advocacy and Action”, highlighted the scale of violent deaths and the risks faced by women in particular.

According to the report, of the 1,666 unnatural deaths, 350 were women, 1,306 were men, while the gender of 10 victims could not be determined. Data further showed that 230 cases involved female homicide and 11 were female suicides.

Keshinro explained that about 70 of the female deaths were confirmed cases of femicide, with intimate partners identified as the leading perpetrators. He stressed that the findings underscored women’s vulnerability to violence in environments where they should feel most secure.

Police Data Reveals Over 1,600 Violent Deaths in Lagos

“This shows how vulnerable women are, especially where they are supposed to be loved and protected,” he said, adding that the release of the report was timely ahead of the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25.

He recommended the adoption of electronic data storage and improvements in crime information gathering to strengthen investigations and advocacy.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olorundare Jimoh, noted that while the state’s femicide rate was relatively low compared to its population, preventive measures remained vital. He said the command had drawn up action plans informed by the report’s recommendations to further reduce gender-based violence.

“Femicide is not something to be disregarded at all. We have trained our officers to recognise and prevent cases of domestic violence before they escalate into femicide,” Jimoh said, urging the public to report violations promptly and assuring victims of professional handling of cases.

Chief Justice of Lagos State, Kazeem Alogba, commended the police for providing valuable data, noting that it would assist the judiciary in informed decision-making. “Every case file is not just a set of transactions; it is about somebody’s life or livelihood,” he said, pledging the judiciary’s partnership in proper data utilisation.