By Moses Omorogieva
The Nigeria Police Force Pathologist, Dr Samuel Keshiro, says comprehensive data collection and advocacy are effective tools for tackling gender-motivated violence, especially violence against women and girls.
Keshiro, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, said this in Lagos, when he delivered a lecture for officers and men of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.
This is contained in a statement by the department’s spokesperson, ASP Aminat Mayegun, on Tuesday.
Keshiro’s lecture was entitled: “Measuring Gender-Related Killing of Women and Girls (femicides) in Lagos State: Recommendations for Data Systems Improvements, Advocacy and Action”.
His presentation highlighted the need for comprehensive data collection to assess the scope of femicide, referencing the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes developed by the UN.
According to him, the classification aims to enhance the consistency and comparability of crime statistics internationally.
Keshinro said that one in three women experienced sexual, physical and psychological abuse, including trafficking and violence-rooted in harmful social norms.
He emphasised that Gender Based Violence (GBV), particularly Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), which predominantly affected women, was perpetrated by intimate partners such as husbands and ex-boyfriends.
The pathologist said that such had led to significant physical and psychological harm on many women.
“The most severe manifestation of this violence is femicide, defined by the UN as the intentional killing of a woman or girl motivated by gender,” he said.
Keshiro said that the presentation served as awareness-raising programme and a training programme for officers and men of FCID.
According to him, it aims at bridging statistical gaps and establishing a robust framework for measuring femicides within the force and associated agencies.
He said that the initiative sought to enhance policymaking in the fight against that form of gender-based violence and provide comparable data for global reference.
The organiser of the lecture and Assistant Inspector-General in charge of FCID Annex, Lagos, Mr Ogundele Ayodeji, commended Keshinro for the presentation which he described as insightful, and urged the participants to apply knowledge gained in their investigations.
Ayodeji emphasised the importance of intelligence-led policing, urging officers and men of the force to be committed to their assignments. (NAN)
