By Ibrahim Muhammad
Women human rights defenders, journalists and advocates in Nigeria have called for stronger measures to protect women from increasing cases of online harassment, cyberstalking, impersonation and other forms of digital abuse.
The women made the call at the end of a two-day digital safety workshop organised by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), with support from the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).
The workshop, held under CITAD’s Strengthening Digital Safety and Collective Resilience for Women Human Rights Defenders project, brought together women involved in human rights advocacy, journalism and community development from Bauchi and Jigawa states.
Participants were trained on how to identify, prevent and respond to digital threats, including cyberstalking, online harassment, impersonation and image-based abuse.
They were also equipped with practical skills on reporting harmful content, preserving digital evidence and strengthening the security of their online accounts and personal information.
A participant from Bauchi, Hajara Muhd, said the training had broadened her understanding of digital safety, stressing that online protection went beyond using strong passwords.
“I have learnt that digital safety is not only about having a strong password. It is also about being careful with the information we share, the people we interact with online and knowing what to do when we experience harassment or threats,” she said.
Another participant, Lucy Goteng from Dutse, said the workshop helped her understand the seriousness of online harassment and the importance of documenting incidents.
Goteng said victims could unintentionally destroy valuable evidence by deleting messages, posts and other materials related to online abuse.
Maryam Bello, a participant from Bauchi, said the training had made her more conscious of protecting her privacy and personal information while using social media.
She also welcomed the emphasis on self-care and organisational support, saying women subjected to online attacks should not be left to deal with the consequences alone.
The workshop featured practical exercises based on situations that women human rights defenders and journalists could encounter online.
Participants examined cases involving harassment, cyberstalking, impersonation and image-based abuse and discussed appropriate ways to respond, preserve evidence, report harmful content and seek assistance.
They were also introduced to Reportrix, an alternative reporting mechanism that provides another channel for reporting and following up on digital safety incidents.
The organisers noted that online attacks could have consequences beyond the digital space, including emotional distress, reputational damage, threats to physical safety and reduced participation in public discourse.
Participants were therefore encouraged to adopt preventive measures, including stronger account security, careful management of personal information, privacy-conscious online behaviour, evidence preservation and timely reporting of abuse.
The workshop further stressed the need for collective action and stronger institutional support for women human rights defenders, particularly in cases involving coordinated online harassment and threats.
The organisers said ensuring women’s safety on digital platforms was increasingly important as social media and other online spaces continued to play a major role in journalism, advocacy and civic participation.
The workshop ended with participants expressing greater confidence in identifying digital threats and responding appropriately to online abuse.
