By Jonathan Ugbal
As the world marks the 2025 edition of the International Women’s Day, IWD, Project Alert on Violence Against Women, has lamented decried what it terms a “distressing upsurge” in the reported cases of femicide while the country is doing the opposite of what the whole world is calling for.
The theme for the 2025 edition is “accelerate action,” stressing the calls for rapid advancements in gender equality. But, Police Alert says the events of the last week in particular and since the beginning of the year is “of great concern to not only women’s rights activists, but Nigerian women in general.”
“Rather than accelerate action, the nation seems to be decelerating action,” read the statement signed by the Executive Director, Mrs. Josephine Effah-Chukwuma.
Titled: “Accelerate Action For Gender Equality Globally: Decelerate Action In Nigeria,” Project Alert said the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan who alleged sexual harassment against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has sent a strong message that, “sexual and gender-based violence thrives and flourishes in not only the upper chamber, but also in Nigeria as a whole.”
Project Alert posits that patriarchy and misogyny fought back and stifled the voice of a female legislator, hence, March 6th 2025 remains a sad day for feminists, women’s rights advocates; human rights advocates, Nigerian women, and men. The organization wondered why “the Senate President, who she alleged as having sexually harassed her, sat as judge and jury in the matter and announced the sentencing.”
Also, the organization said 2025 is a sobering one as there is nowhere that is safe anymore, especially after the comments of Senator Florence Ita-Giwa suggested that there was no way a female legislator could be sexually assaulted.
Furthermore, the organization disclosed that since the beginning of the year, Nigeria has been witnessing a distressing upsurge in reported cases of femicide in Nigeria. 24 cases of femicide were registered within the first 59 days of the year across the six geopolitical zones.
“Between January 1st – February 28th, there have been 24 reported cases of femicide from across the six (6) geopolitical zones in the country. Women, especially young girls, being burnt to death; killed and dismembered etc. As an organization committed to eradicating violence against women, we are deeply alarmed by the rising cases of femicide,” the statement read.
“Nowhere seems to be safe for women and girls in Nigeria. From their homes to schools, places of work, places of worship, Nigerian women continue to face attacks. Age, tribe, marital status, religious affiliations, educational level are no deterrence.
“It was thus very sad to hear a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, say on Arise TV, while being interviewed on the case of Senator Natasha’s allegation, that sexual harassment is not possible In the Senate. By this enabling statement, she contributed to the injustice that played out on Thursday on the floor of the Senate,” the organization said.
Read the full statement below…
Editor’s Note: 7:12PM 8th March 2025 – Hours after this story was published, we discovered that there was a typo which led to another Civil Society Organization being credited for this statement. We deeply regret this confusion and how it impacts on you, our esteemed readers. The correction has been made and reflected on our social media handles as well. Thank you for your understanding.
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