THE IMPACT OF FEMICIDE ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA AND SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Femicide, the intentional killing of women because of their gender—represents one of the most severe manifestations of gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria, with devastating and cascading consequences for children, extended families, and communities. This paper examines the multidimensional impact of femicide on children and families in Nigeria, focusing on intergenerational trauma transmission, psychological sequelae, socioeconomic disruptions, and broader social consequences. Drawing on recent empirical evidence and theoretical frameworks, the study analyzes how the loss of mothers to femicide creates orphanhood crises, disrupts family structures, and perpetuates cycles of violence and disadvantage across generations. The findings reveal that children who lose mothers to femicide experience elevated rates of mental distress, sexual risk-taking, caregiver abuse, and peer violence, while families face economic collapse, social stigma, and fractured kinship networks. The paper argues that femicide in Nigeria is not merely an isolated criminal act but a structural phenomenon rooted in patriarchal norms, weak legal enforcement, and conflict dynamics that demands integrated policy responses combining child protection, trauma-informed care, legal reform, and economic support systems. Recommendations emphasize the need for specialized orphan support programs, strengthened domestic violence legislation, community-based trauma interventions, and longitudinal research to inform evidence-based prevention strategies.