Nearly half of Nigerian women experience online stalking, ActionAid warns at multi-stakeholder dialogue on rising technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

ActionAid Nigeria has raised the alarm over the rising cases of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TF-GBV), revealing that 45% of women in Nigeria have experienced cyberstalking, while 10.6% have suffered doxing — the malicious disclosure of private information to expose victims to danger.

The statistics were presented in Abuja during a National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on TF-GBV, convened by UN Women, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, ActionAid Nigeria, and other members of the Development Partners Group on Gender as part of the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

The dialogue brought together government agencies, technology companies, security institutions, civil society, digital rights advocates and survivor networks to confront the escalating violence faced by women and girls online.

Presenting an overview of TF-GBV trends, Niri Goyit, Women’s Rights Programme Manager at ActionAid Nigeria, said activists, journalists, politicians and influencers are among the most targeted.

According to her: “In Nigeria, 45% of women have experienced cyberstalking, especially women in public roles, and 10.6% have faced doxing.”

“Nigeria’s internet adoption has grown faster than the safeguards needed to protect users. Survivors as young as fourteen now seek help.”

Goyit identified patriarchal norms, low digital literacy, poor law enforcement capacity and weak platform moderation as major drivers of TF-GBV.

She said digital abuse mirrors offline gender inequalities, noting that adolescent girls aged 12–17 and young women aged 18–35 are particularly vulnerable due to early and frequent social media exposure.

Goyit explained that cyber-violence forces many women to self-censor or withdraw from public spaces, reducing civic participation.

“TF-GBV causes fear, anxiety and trauma. Some survivors withdraw from communities due to shame. Others lose jobs or avoid opportunities. In many cases, online threats escalate into physical danger,” she said.

She added that prosecution of offenders remains weak because digital evidence handling, platform responsiveness and cross-agency coordination are inadequate.

Goyit stressed the need for collaboration. “Government must provide clear reporting pathways. Law enforcement needs digital skills. SARCs must work with cybercrime units. Civil society must support survivors, and tech companies must improve takedowns. Only a coordinated approach can protect women effectively.”

She argued that Nigeria does not need entirely new laws but must update existing legislation to reflect modern digital realities.

ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to ending all forms of GBV, saying the group continues to challenge harmful norms and support survivors nationwide.

Representing the Minister of Women Affairs, Special Adviser to the President on Women’s Health, Dr. Adanna Steinaker, said:

“Technology should be a tool for empowerment, not a weapon of abuse. We are committed to building systems that protect women and girls in every space, including digital.”

UN Women’s Acting Deputy Country Representative, Ms. Patience Ekeoba, added:

“Technology-facilitated violence is one of the fastest-growing threats to gender equality. This dialogue is a critical step toward a coordinated national response.” (AriseNews TV)

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