ASF France, an international human rights organisation, has revealed that 82 Nigerian women are currently on death row in various prisons across the country.
Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, Country Director of ASF France Nigeria, disclosed this on Wednesday during a workshop focused on gender issues related to the death penalty held in Abuja.
She stated that this figure is among the highest for women on death row in sub-Saharan Africa.
“We strongly believe these women, often neglected and forgotten behind bars, deserve their voices to be heard, considering their unique circumstances,” she said.
Uzoma-Iwuchukwu explained that the death penalty is not gender-neutral. Gender bias permeates every stage of the justice process—from arrest to conviction and incarceration of women sentenced to death.
Many of these women are survivors of domestic violence, and when their reactions result in homicide, the justice system fails to acknowledge their victimisation.
“What we see is that they face additional violence and discrimination within the system. They are often punished not just for their crimes, but also for being women who dared to offend,” she added.
Poverty is a key factor, as many cannot afford adequate legal representation, which greatly influences their likelihood of ending up on death row.
She cited a Katsina State case where a young woman was sentenced to death by stoning for out-of-wedlock pregnancy—a sentence later overturned on appeal after ASF France’s intervention. The court ignored the question of who impregnated her.
She called for a halt to executions and urged that women who survive gender-based violence be recognised as victims and fairly treated in sentencing.
Dr. Chioma Kanu, Executive Director of Mothers and Marginalised Advocacy Centre, highlighted the human cost: “Every inmate has a mother, wife, daughter, or sister who suffers when the system fails.”
She warned that not all death row inmates are criminals, citing confessions obtained under police torture and lack of legal aid. “We can free an innocent prisoner but cannot bring back the dead,” she said.
Their demand is justice for victims and protection for families.
