A new report has revealed that 136 spouses were killed in domestic v!olence incidents across Nigeria between 2021 and 2025.
The data shows most victims were women, with Lagos recording the highest number of cases.
A new report has revealed that at least 136 spouses lost their lives to domestic v!olence incidents across Nigeria between 2021 and 2025.
According to data compiled by the Daily Trust Library, the killings recorded in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory highlight a disturbing rise in fatal domestic disputes often triggered by arguments over food, money, infidelity, or phone-related issues.
The report shows that wives accounted for 96 of the deaths, husbands made up 39, while one case involved a fiancée. One incident saw both partners die. Analysts say the pattern underscores a deepening crisis of anger, mistrust, and economic stress cutting across regions, religions, and social classes.
Lagos State topped the list with 17 reported cases, 16 of which involved female victims. Edo, Ogun, and Adamawa followed with 10 deaths each. In Lagos alone, several women were reportedly killed by their spouses for reasons such as refusing to cook, requesting repayment of a loan, or asking questions about infidelity.
In Edo, motives ranged from financial disputes to refusal of intimacy and jealousy, while Ogun recorded killings linked to extramarital affairs and control over property. Adamawa, which had the highest number in the North, saw 10 deaths many of them women killed over domestic disagreements, including denial of sex or phone-related arguments.
Anambra (9), Delta (7), and Ondo (7) also featured among the states with high figures, showing that the problem cuts across both urban and rural areas.
The regional breakdown shows that southern states accounted for roughly two-thirds of the total (about 88 cases), while the northern regions recorded 46. The South-West led with 45 cases, followed by the South-South with 33, the South-East with 16, the North-East with 20, and the North-Central with 16. The North-West recorded the fewest with 10.
In Delta and Edo, jealousy and financial tension were frequent triggers, including cases where partners were killed over debts or perceived infidelity. In Anambra and Ebonyi, petty quarrels such as arguments over food or cooking methods escalated into fatal attacks.
In the North-Central region, cases in the FCT, Niger, and Nasarawa reflected similar tensions. One man in Nasarawa reportedly killed his wife for inviting a carpenter, while another murder in Abuja followed an argument over a phone charger.
The data further shows that domestic v!olence was the leading cause of spousal deaths, accounting for more than 40 incidents. Infidelity and jealousy were factors in about 30 cases, while roughly 20 deaths were linked to financial disputes, sexual denial, and hunger-related confrontations.
Analysts warn that the figures may understate the true scale of the problem, especially in parts of the North where such incidents are often settled privately without formal reporting. The findings, however, point to a nationwide crisis of domestic instability that continues to claim lives despite growing advocacy for gender equality and conflict resolution in homes.
