The Nigerian Red Cross Society,NRCS, has called for stronger, coordinated action to curb rising online abuse, stressing that the digital space has become a growing arena for violence, harassment, and exploitation—particularly against women and girls.
Ms Fatima Nasir, Director of Protection, Gender and Inclusion at the NRCS, made the call on Friday in Abuja during activities marking the organisation’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
This year’s theme, “No Excuse for Online Abuse,” focuses on the increasing threats individuals face in digital environments.
Nasir warned that technology-facilitated violence was accelerating faster than communities could respond. She noted that online harassment now takes many forms, including coordinated attacks, persistent tracking, intrusion into private information, and the manipulation of personal images to humiliate or intimidate victims.
“These violations undermine confidence, erode dignity, and push women out of digital spaces,” she said. “In their most extreme form, online attacks spill over into physical harm—with consequences that can be fatal.”
She stressed the urgency of building prevention frameworks, survivor-centred reporting systems, and sustained public awareness.
Nasir added that more Nigerians needed to understand that abuse was not limited to physical acts but could also occur in cyberspace through bullying, unwanted communication, and harmful messages.
“We feel that the Nigerian Red Cross needs to create more awareness so that people understand that abuse is not just physical but can also take place in cyberspace,” she said.
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Gloria Kunyenga, Operations Coordinator of the International Federation of the Red Cross, IFRC, also highlighted the need for cross-sector collaboration, describing online sexual violence as a broad protection issue that demands policy alignment, behavioural change and continuous education at the community level.
She said the IFRC remained committed to supporting the NRCS in strengthening protection systems and ending all forms of cyberbullying, especially as the 2025 activism theme focuses on ensuring women, girls and young children are safe and included in an increasingly digital world.
“You must understand that these people can be abused, and we want to create awareness so that these categories of people may be protected when they use the internet,” she said.
Kunyenga added that many women and girls were unaware that online abuse was a form of violence and urged sustained enlightenment efforts to expand knowledge of digital rights.
The 16 Days of Activism, held annually, aims to amplify awareness of sexual exploitation, abuse and other forms of violence affecting vulnerable groups, particularly women and young girls, both offline and online.
NAN
