Student perspectives of gender-based homicides in nigerian universities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37293/sapientiae111.04Keywords:
Gender-related Homicide, Preventive measuresAbstract
Gender-related homicide, especially femicide, is becoming a global challenge. Past studies have concentrated efforts toward alleviating these tragedies in homes, families, and society, with little attention on educational spaces such as universities. In Nigeria, for instance, cases of femicide have continued to rise, with reports claiming that such acts are a result of money-making rituals. This current study investigated the causes and effects of gender-related homicides as well as their preventive measures as perceived by undergraduates in three Nigerian southwest universities. Underpinned by the feminist theory, the study adopted the survey research design. The study population comprised students in Nigerian southwestern universities, with a sample of 315 undergraduates purposively selected from the sampled universities. The Perceived Causes, Effects, and Preventive Measures of Gender-Related Homicide Questionnaire (PCEPMGHQ) was used for data collection (α=0.96, 0.94, 0.94) for the sub-sections of the questionnaire, which was administered via Google Forms. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a t-test at a 5% significance level. Results indicate mental health challenges, feelings of abandonment, financial difficulties, substance and alcohol abuse, home-related factors, history of abuse, and violent relationships as students perceived dominant causes of gender-related homicides. Trauma, grief, stigmatization, and psychological and emotional distress were the effects of gender-related homicides highlighted by the respondents who advocated several preventive measures.
References
Airaoje, O.K., Uchendu, C.B., Akin-Odukoya, O.O., Aondover, E.M., & Obada, A.A. (2025). Gender-Based Violence as a Public Health Crisis: Consequences for Nigerian Women and Society. Britain International of Humanities and Social Sciences (BIoHS) Journal, 7(1), 75-92. https://doi.org/10.33258/biohs.v7i1.1243
Ajayi, C.E., Chantler, K., & Radford, L. (2022). The Role of Cultural Beliefs, Norms, and Practices in Nigerian Women's Experiences of Sexual Abuse and Violence. Violence Against Women, 28(2):465-486. doi: 10.1177/10778012211000134.
Aka, A. (2023). The Perception of Femicide from the Third Party’s Perspective: An Analysis on Justice/Injustice in Türkiye. Sociology Mind, 13, 123-144. https://doi.org/10.4236/sm.2023.133008
Airaoje, O.K., Obada, A.A., & Msughter, A.E. (2023). A Critical Review on Gender Based Violence in Nigeria: Media Dimension. Middle East Res J. Humanities Soc. Sci, 3(2): 9-16. DOI: 10.36348/merjhss.2023.v03i02.001
Azeez, F. A., Osiesi, M. P., Aribamikan, C.G., Doh Nubia, W., Odinko, M.N., Blignaut, S., Falebita, O.F., Olubodun, O. A., & Oderinwale, T.A. (2024). Exclusion of the Female Child from Primary Education: Exploring the Perceptions and Experiences of Female Learners in Northern Nigeria. Education 3-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2024.2308307.
Campbell, J. C., Glass, N., Sharps, P. W., Laughon, K., & Bloom, T. (2007). Intimate partner homicide: Review and implications of research and policy. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 8(3), 246–269. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838007303505
Campbell, J., Runyan & Carol (1998). "Femicide". Homicide Studies, 2(4).347-352. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088767998002004001
Cecchi, R., Masotti, V., Sassani, M., Sannella, A., Agugiaro, G., Ikeda, T., Pressanto, D.M., Caroppo, E., Schirripa, M.L., Mazza, M., et al. (2023). Femicide and forensic pathology: Proposal for a shared medico-legal methodology. Leg. Med., 60:102170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2022.102170
Chinonye, J. O. (2024) "Why Nigeria Needs a Femicide Law,". Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence, 9 (2), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.23860/dignity.2024.09.02.03
Conroy, A. A. (2014). Gender, power, and intimate partner violence: a study on couples from rural Malawi. J Interpers Violence, 29(5):866-88. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260513505907
Corradi, C., Marcuello, C., Boira, M.S., & Weil, S. (2016). Theories of femicide and their significance for social research. Current Sociology, 64(7), 975-995. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011392115622256
Dayan., H. (2020). Preventing gender-related homicide. Homicide and the law, pp.111-143.
de Ávila, T. P., Medeiros, M. N., Chagas, C. B., Vieira, E. N., Magalhães, T. Q. S. & Passeto, A. S. Z. (2021) “Better Prevention of Femicide: Evidence from Brazil”, International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 10(4), pp. 174-188. doi: 10.5204/ijcjsd.2073.
DeGue, S., Singleton, R., & Kearns, M. (2023). A Qualitative Analysis of Beliefs about Masculinity and Gender Socialization among US Mothers and Fathers of School-Age Boys. Psychol Men Masc., 25(2), 152-164.
Eckhardt, K., & Pridemore, W.A. (2009). Differences in female and male involvement in lethal violence in Russia. J Crim Justice, 37(1), 55-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2008.12.009
Ezenwa, V. C., & Gani, A. I. (2025). The Effects of Gender-Based Violence on the Wellbeing of Nigerian Women and Its Implications for Community Development. International Journal of Social Sciences and Management Research, 11(1), 110-118. https://doi.org/10.56201/ijssmr.vol.11no1.2025.pg.110.118
Fawole, O.I., Balogun, O.D., & Olaleye, O. (2018). Experience of gender-based violence to students in public and private secondary schools in Ilorin, Nigeria. Ghana Med J., 52(2), 66-73. https://doi.org/10.4314/gmj.v52i2.1
Fleming, P.J., Gruskin, S., Rojo, F., & Dworkin, S.L. (2015). Men's violence against women and men are inter-related: Recommendations for simultaneous intervention. Soc Sci Med., 146, 249-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.10.021
Garcia-Vergara, E., Almeda, N., Martín, Ríos, B., Becerra-Alonso, D., & Fernández-Navarro, F. A (2022). Comprehensive Analysis of Factors Associated with Intimate Partner Femicide: A Systematic Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health, 19:7336. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127336
Giorgetti, A., Fais, P., Giovannini, E., Palazzo, C., Filipuzzi, I., Pelletti, G., & Pelotti, S. (2022). A 70-year study of femicides at the Forensic Medicine department, University of Bologna (Italy). Forensic Sci. Int., 333:111210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111210
González Rodríguez, S. (2012). The femicide machine (Semiotext (e) intervention series; 11): Semiotext(e).
Gu, G. Y., & Zhong, H. (2024). The Relationship Between Gender Inequality and Female-Victim Intimate Partner Homicide in China: Amelioration, Backlash or Both? Justice Quarterly, 42(2), 336–362. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2024.2368135
Hernández, W. (2021). Violence With Femicide Risk: Its Effects on Women and Their Children. J Interpers Violence, 36(11-12), NP6465-NP6491. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518815133
Heyes, C. (2013). Feminist Solidarity after Queer Theory: The Case of Transgender. In S. Stryker & A. Z. Aizura (eds.). The Transgender Studies Reader 2: Routledge, pp 201-213.
Jaffe, P., Scott, K. & Straatman, A.L. (2020). "An Introduction to Domestic Homicide: Understanding the Diverse Nature of the Problem" in Preventing domestic homicides: Lessons learned from tragedies by Jaffe, P., Scott, K. & Straatman, A.L. (Ed's.). Elsevier Science & Technology, P.1.
Johnson, D.G. (2022). Intimate Femicide: The Role of Coercive Control. Feminist Criminology, 14 (1), 3-23. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557085117701574
Keyser, L., Maroyi, R., & Mukwege, D. (2022). Violence Against Women - A Global Perspective. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am., 49(4), 809-821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogc.2022.08.002
Lomazzi, V. (2023). The Cultural Roots of Violence against Women: Individual and Institutional Gender Norms in 12 Countries. Social Sciences, 12(3), 117. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12030117
Marcuello-Servos, C.C., Chaime, I., Corradi, A.A. & Consuelo, N. (2020). "Femicide: A social challenge. Current Sociology, 64 (7), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011392116639358
McFarlane, J., Campbell, J.C., & Watson, K. (2002). Intimate partner stalking and femicide: Urgent implications for women’s safety. Behav. Sci. Law, 51–68. https://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.477
Nigerian Coalition for the Protection of Women and Children. (2020). Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria. A stocktate of progress and challenges. https://ncpwer-based-violence-in-Nigeria-A-Stockate-of-progress-and-challenges.pdf
Ojemeiri, K. A., Aondover, E.M., & Aruaye, A.O. (2022). A Critical Review on Gender Based Violence in Nigeria: Media Dimension. J Gynecol Women’s Health, 24(2): 556135. DOI: 10.19080/JGWH.2022.24.556135
Okunzuwa, K. (2024). Femicide: Growing scourge in Nigeria, others. Premium Times. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/gender/758155-femicide-growing-scourge-in-nigeria-others.html
Onen, M. (2021). Research Design Explained. Holt.
Ortiz-Prado, E., Villagran, P., Martinez-Abarca, A.L. et al. (2022). Female homicides and femicides in Ecuador: a nationwide ecological analysis from 2001 to 2017. BMC Women's Health, 22, 260. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01839-2
Perrin, N., Marsh, M., Clough, A. et al. (2019). Social norms and beliefs about gender-based violence scale: a measure for use with gender-based violence prevention programs in low-resource and humanitarian settings. Confl Health, 13, 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-019-0189-x
Pulido, V.R., Martín, S.G., & Lucas, M.B. (2011). Risk profiles and peer violence in the context of school and leisure time. Span J Psychgy, 14(2), 701–711. https://doi.org/10.5209/rev_sjop.2011.v14.n2.18
Ramaccio, C. L., & Tholaine, M. M. (2023). Enforcement of Gender-Based Violence Legislation in South Africa: The Need for a Paradigm Shift. IntechOpen, 17-33. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1002790
Netangaheni, T.R., & Mhlanga, N.L. (2023). Psychosocial effects of gender-based violence among women in Vhembe district: A qualitative study. S Afr J Psychiatr., 29, 2012. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v29i0.2012
Ruegg., R. (2021). Survey Research Design. Allyn and Bacon Inc.
Sabri, B., & Young, A.M. (2022). Contextual factors associated with gender-based violence and related homicides perpetrated by partners and in-laws: A study of women survivors in India. Health Care Women Int., 43(7-8), 784-805. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2021.1881963
Shai, N., Ramsoomar, L., & Abrahams, N. (2022). Femicide Prevention Strategy Development Process: The South African Experience. Peace Review, 34(2), 227–245. https://doi.org/10.1080/10402659.2022.2049001
Silva, M., Anaba, U., Jani Tulsani, N., Sripad, P., Walker, J., & Aisiri, A. (2023). Gender-Based Violence Narratives in Internet-Based Conversations in Nigeria: Social Listening Study. J Med Internet Res., 25, e46814. https://doi.org/10.2196/46814
Standish, K., & Weil, S. (2021). Gendered pandemics: suicide, femicide and COVID-19. Journal of Gender Studies, 30(7), 807–818. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2021.1880883
Stassi, C., La Mantia, M., Lo Re, G.F., Martines, V., Zerbo, S., Albano, G.D., Malta, G., & Argo, A. (2024). Femicide Circumstances and Harmfulness: Case Report and Focusing Review. Diagnostics (Basel). 26, 14(13), 1360. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14131360
Sutton, D. (2023). Gender-related homicide of women and girls in Canada Statistics Canada Catalogue, 2018-2023.
Topcu, A.L., Gorgulu, T., & Erden, G. (2022). Causes of intimate partner homicide: Gender differences in empathy, psychopathy, and perceived social support. Dusunen Adam J Psychiatr Neurol Sci, 35, 207-216. https://doi.org/10.14744/DAJPNS.2022.00195
Ukoji, V.U., & Ukoji, V.N. (2023). Trends and patterns of violence-related mortality in Nigeria: evidence from a 16-year analysis of secondary data. BMJ Journals. Injury Prevention, 29 (6), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/ip-2023-044895
UNODC. (2015). International classification of crime for statistical purposes (ICCS) version 1.0. https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/statistics/iccs.html
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (2019). Global Study on Homicide 2019. https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/gsh/Booklet_5.pdf
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2021). Female homicide rates. 2021. 2023. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/female-homicide-rate.
UNODC. (2022). The 2018 United Nations survey of crime trends and operations of criminal justice systems (2018 UN-CTS). https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/statistics/Statistical_framework_femicide_2022.pdf
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (2023). Gender-Related Killings of Women and Girls (Femicide/Feminicide): Global estimates of female intimate partner/family-related homicides in 2022. https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/gender-related-killings-of-women-and-girls-femicide-feminicide-global-estimates-2022-en.pdf
Veenstra, G. (2011). Race, gender, class, and sexual orientation: intersecting axes of inequality and self-rated health in Canada. Int J Equity Health, 10, 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-9276-10-3
Vyas, S., Jansen, H.A.F.M. Unequal power relations and partner violence against women in Tanzania: a cross-sectional analysis. BMC Women's Health 18, 185 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-018-0675-0
Walz, C., Eifert, S., Görg, J., et al. (2025). Gender differences in homicides. A comparative analysis of 106 fatalities in forensic autopsy data. Forensic Sci Med Pathol, 21(1):193-202. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-024-00847-y
Wanjiru, Q. (2021). Causes and Effects of Gender Based Violence. A Critical Literature Review. Journal of Gender Related Studies, 2, 43-53.
https://doi.org/10.47941/jgrs.742
Weil, S. (2020) Femicide Across Europe. Journal of Domestic Violence and Human Rights. PP.10-36.
Whittington, R., Haines-Delmont, A., & Bjørngaard, J. H. (2023). Femicide trends at the start of the 21st. century: Prevalence, risk factors and national public health actions. Global Public Health, 18(1), 2225576. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2023.2225576
World Health Organization. (2021). Global and regional estimates of the prevalence of family violence, 2018. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/341338/9789240026681-eng.pdf
Zara, G., Freilone, F., Veggi, S., Biondi, E., Ceccarelli, D., & Gino, S. (2019). The medicolegal, psycho-criminological, and epidemiological reality of intimate partner and non-intimate partner femicide in North-West Italy: Looking backwards to see forwards. Int. J. Legal Med., 133, 1295–1307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-019-02061-w
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr Bolanle, Melanie Moen
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The content of the publications are of absolute responsibility of the authors and not of the Oscar Ribas University or the SAPIENTIAE Journal. The Journal allow the author(s) to hold the copyright of the papers.
This journal is Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International.
