Father kills one-day old daughter over gender preference

The death of a new-born baby, who was allegedly poisoned by her biological father, left residents of the Doka community in Tofa LGA, Kano, in a state of shock and grief.

Three months after allegedly perpetrating the crime, the suspect, 28-year-old Misbahu Salisu, was arrested.

Misbahu was said to have confessed to feeding the new-born poisoned tea that was mixed with a substance known as “fiya fiya”, according to the deputy commander general in charge of operations, Dr Mujahid Aminudeen.

Aminudeen explained that “he said before committing the crime, he had given the baby’s mother a cup of tea that included sleeping pills.”

Misbahu had explained that he would have preferred a male child, but because his wife had given birth to a female, he felt compelled to kill the child.

What is femicide?
Femicide refers to the intentional killing of women or girls because of their gender. It is a subset of gender-based violence and represents a severe violation of human rights.

Femicide can manifest in various forms, including domestic violence, honour killings, dowry-related killings, and other acts of lethal violence primarily targeting females.

Causes
Femicide in Nigeria, as in many other parts of the world, is driven by deeply ingrained societal norms, gender inequalities, and cultural practices that perpetuate violence against women.
Domestic violence often escalates to femicide. Women and girls are at risk of being killed by their partners or family members in cases of intimate partner violence or familial disputes.
In some communities, perceived violations of family or community honour can lead to honour killings, where women or girls are murdered for actions that are seen as dishonourable.
Legal Framework: Nigeria has laws against domestic violence, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, passed in 2015, addresses various forms of gender-based violence.

However, enforcement and awareness of these laws remain challenges.

Accurate data on femicide in Nigeria is often limited due to underreporting, cultural taboos, and a lack of comprehensive tracking systems.