Women lawyers in Nigeria are raising alarms over rising abductions and murders of females and children nationwide. The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) made their grievance known on Wednesday in Abuja.
Eliana Martins, FIDA's Country Vice President, addressed the group during their Second Quarter National Executive Council meeting. She insisted the violence has become a national crisis that can't be ignored anymore.
According to Martins, kidnappings and abuse aren't random crimes. They represent a dangerous trend reflecting systemic failures across institutions, she noted.
Behind every case reported is a broken family and shattered life. Women lose their dignity while children forfeit their safety and future opportunities, the FIDA leader lamented.
"The frequency and severity of violations against women and children in Nigeria can no longer be treated as isolated incidents," Martins told the gathering. "They reflect a troubling national pattern that demands urgent and sustained action," she stressed.
FIDA documented alarming increases in rape, domestic abuse, and child labor cases across communities. Harmful traditional practices continue to plague vulnerable populations, the lawyers warned.
Survivors and their families face devastating physical and psychological trauma. Economic hardship compounds their suffering in many cases.
FIDA is calling on government agencies to act immediately and decisively. Security forces and courts must investigate perpetrators and ensure swift prosecutions, the group demanded.
Legal aid services need expansion to reach more victims. Support programs for survivors must be strengthened nationwide, FIDA insisted.
Enforcement of existing laws protecting women and children remains inadequate. Without urgent intervention, the violence will continue spreading, lawyers cautioned.
