Female legal practitioners under the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) have called for immediate intervention to stop the ongoing abduction, killing and exploitation of women and children in Nigeria. Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, FIDA Nigeria's Country Vice President, Eliana Martins, made the appeal during the opening of the organisation's Second Quarter National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting. The group described the surge in gender-based violence, child abuse, trafficking and kidnappings as a national emergency that can no longer be ignored. Martins stated that these incidents are no longer isolated but part of a dangerous and escalating pattern across the country. "The frequency and severity of violations against women and children in Nigeria can no longer be treated as isolated incidents. They reflect a troubling national pattern that demands urgent and sustained action," she said. FIDA attributed the crisis to deeper institutional failures and warned that every reported case represents a human tragedy, with women losing their dignity and children their safety. The organisation called on government, security agencies and judicial institutions to enforce existing laws, expand access to legal aid, and ensure prompt investigation and prosecution of offenders. They also highlighted rising cases of rape, domestic violence, harmful traditional practices, child labour and neglect, noting the lasting physical, psychological and economic toll on families and communities.
Eliana Martins condemns the pattern of violence against women and children while acknowledging institutional failures, yet her own organisation has not disclosed any concrete legal actions it has initiated. FIDA demands prosecution of perpetrators, but no named cases or ongoing litigation were presented to show direct intervention. The call for urgent action stands without evidence of past enforcement efforts by the group. Without measurable follow-up, the appeal risks becoming another statement in a growing list of unmet demands.
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