Hope Behind Bars Africa,HBBA, on Tuesday unveiled a comprehensive research report analysing the lived experiences of women on death row in Nigeria and calling for urgent gender-responsive reforms across the criminal justice system.
The report, titled “Beyond Her Sentence: A Technical Analysis of Gender and Capital Punishment in Nigeria,” was presented in Abuja by the Executive Director and Founder of HBBA, Funke Adeoye.
The work was supported by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and the Agence Française de Développement and forms part of activities marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Adeoye said the 10-month research, carried out by Ms Ogechi Ogu and Prof. Ibrahim Bello of Bayero University, Kano, was strengthened by their expertise in criminal justice, sociology and human rights.
She noted that HBBA collaborated closely with the Nigeria Correctional Service to gain access to 10 custodial facilities nationwide where official records of 82 women on death row were audited.
The research team also conducted 60 trauma-informed interviews across 10 states. Facilities visited included the Old Benin Custodial Centre, Kirikiri Female Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Ibara Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Kano Central Medium Centre, Maiduguri Maximum Centre, Enugu Maximum Centre, Birnin Kebbi Medium Facility, Old Minna Custodial Centre, Suleja Custodial Centre and Uyo Custodial Centre.
Adeoye stressed that Nigeria still maintains the death penalty under statutory, customary and Sharia legal frameworks for offences ranging from murder and armed robbery to adultery and same-sex relations in some jurisdictions.
She stated that women caught in the justice system often experience gender-specific vulnerabilities, including poverty, cultural pressures, limited legal support and investigative bias.
She shared findings showing that nearly half of the women on death row were aged between 18 and 35, while more than one-third had no formal education.
Only 10 per cent attained tertiary education. Most were mothers, leaving children in unstable care arrangements after their incarceration.
The report further shows that over one-third of the women had experienced gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, child marriage and forced marriage.
Many had limited understanding of the laws guiding their convictions, and more than half felt their trials lacked transparency.
Stigma from family and community members heightened their emotional distress, particularly for those facing charges tied to sexual or marital disputes.
Despite their circumstances, over 80 per cent of the women interviewed believed rehabilitation was achievable.
Many had already been exposed to different vocational and educational programmes during incarceration, but felt the death penalty neither delivers justice nor deters crime.
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Adeoye said insights from correctional officers, civil society groups, defence lawyers and other justice sector actors shaped the final recommendations.
Key proposals include prevention through awareness campaigns on child marriage, domestic abuse and economic exploitation; improved legal literacy programmes for women; and gender-sensitive training for police, prosecutors and judicial officers.
The report also urges stronger referral pathways for survivors of violence to access counselling, legal aid and other critical services before they are criminalised.
It calls on the Federal Government to place a moratorium on executions as an initial step toward eventual abolition, alongside broader reforms such as gender-sensitive sentencing, review of discriminatory evidentiary rules, expanded legal aid and improved transparency in criminal trials.
Adeoye encouraged government institutions, civil society, legal practitioners and community actors to prioritise reforms that protect vulnerable women.
She added that HBBA plans to review compelling cases of women on death row for potential appeals, clemency or other interventions.
She emphasised that the experiences of women under death sentences reflect deeper systemic inequalities and that moving toward abolition is both a legal necessity and a moral responsibility.
HBBA, she said, remains committed to advocating for a justice system that prioritises rehabilitation over retribution.
In a goodwill message, the Controller General of NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche, pledged the Service’s commitment to addressing gender-related challenges affecting women on death row.
Represented by Dr Adenike Sheyindemi, Gender Advisor for the Service, he described the report as a groundbreaking study that highlights the pathways that lead women to capital punishment and sheds light on their lived experiences within custodial facilities.
He said the document serves not just as research, but as a vital advocacy and policy tool capable of shaping national discourse on justice and equality.
He added that the Service views the report as an essential resource for policymakers, legal experts, human rights advocates and the general public, expressing hope that its findings will drive positive reforms across the justice system.
Representatives from partner organisations, including the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and the AFD, joined other stakeholders in commending HBBA for the research effort.
NAN
