The Nigeria Police Force has issued a public reminder that abortion remains illegal under Nigerian law, with both parties involved subject to criminal prosecution.
The announcement came Tuesday from SP Josephine Adeh, the Federal Capital Territory Police Public Relations Officer, who outlined the legal framework governing abortion in a social media post.
Adeh pointed to two key statutes that criminalize the procedure: Section 232 of the Penal Code and Section 228 of the Criminal Code. Under these provisions, abortion is classified as a felony carrying potential legal penalties for anyone involved in the act.
“Both the man and the woman involved commit a felony” under current law, the police spokesperson explained, emphasizing that the legal liability extends beyond medical practitioners to include patients and others who facilitate the procedure.
The statement went beyond legal citations, incorporating religious arguments against abortion. Adeh quoted Jeremiah 1:5 from the Bible, a verse that discusses God’s knowledge of individuals before birth, to support the position that unborn life holds sacred value.
The police spokesperson urged Nigerians to consider both their legal obligations and ethical responsibilities regarding abortion, warning that violations could result in serious criminal consequences. She called on the public to respect existing laws and uphold what she described as fundamental moral values around the protection of life.
The reminder comes amid ongoing debates in many countries about abortion access and reproductive rights, though Nigerian law has maintained its restrictive stance on the practice.
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