#JusticeForChristianah, which was birthed due to the tragic murder of Christiana Idowu, highlights Nigeria’s escalating crisis of gender-based violence (GBV), and another reason to enforce or amend, not repeal the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.
Development Diaries reports that Christiana, who was a 300-level student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, was abducted by kidnappers on her way to observe her industrial training.
While security agencies have arrested the suspect who has confessed to the killing, there is more that should be done.
Her abduction and subsequent murder, followed by the public outcry on social media demanding justice, underscores the pervasive nature of violence against women and girls in the country.
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) has long been a critical issue in Nigeria, affecting women and girls disproportionately.
The National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) of 2018 found that 31 percent of women aged 15 to 49 had experienced physical violence and nine percent had at least one instance of sexual assault in their lifetime.
Whether as spouses, girlfriends, or domestic helpers, women make up the majority of those who experience this preventable domestic abuse. SGBV has not spared even newborns and young girls.
In Christiana’s case, her murder adds to the growing number of women who have been kidnapped and assaulted across the country.
Kidnapping, particularly of female students, has risen sharply in recent years, and many of these cases involve sexual violence, exploitation, or murder.
Just last month, a graduate of the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Mojisola Awesu was murdered after been invited by a male to act as his girlfriend at a party for a fee of N15,000
In June, a fresh graduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Glory Adekolure, was reportedly raped and killed at Iyowa Community, Benin City.
In late 2023, it was reported that a certain Damian Okoligwe a 400-level student of the University of PortHarcourt in the faculty of engineering, killed his former lover, Justina Otuene, a 300-level student of biochemistry, in the same university.
These are just a few.
Nigerians’ outrage on social media, expressed through the #JusticeForChristianah hashtag, reflects a growing societal concern over these incidents.
This is why advocacy against SGBV in Nigeria has gained momentum, with activists pushing for stronger enforcement of laws like the VAPP Act, of 2015.
The VAPP Act seeks to address all forms of violence against persons, including domestic, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse.
Unfortunately, the Nigerian Senate’s recent move to repeal the law, instead of amending it to address identified gaps, threatens to weaken the progress made in addressing violence against women and girls.
Beyond social media outcry, it is essential that justice is served swiftly, both for Christiana and other victims of GBV.
Development Diaries calls on the Nigerian police to ensure timely investigations, and for citizens to hold them accountable to ensure transparent convictions of GBV cases.
We also reiterate our call to the Senate to strengthen, rather than repeal the VAPP Act.
Photo source: Mbahdeyforyou
