Global Rights, UK-ISF warn of growing digital violence across Nigeria, push for community action

Global Rights on Wednesday night convened activists, community responders and development partners in Abuja for a showcase aimed at exposing the growing threat of digital gender based violence across Nigeria’s cities and rural communities.

The event brought together storytellers, performance artists and members of community gender based violence response teams supported by the organisation.

The goal was to make digital harms more visible and to help communities understand how online abuse is shaping real life relationships, safety and peace.

Noya Sedi, programme officer, Global Rights, opened the evening with a warning that online violence is no longer an abstract issue.

She said many survivors still do not know where to report digital abuse or how to get help. She added that this silence allows violence to thrive in communities that are becoming increasingly connected.

Sedi explained that the organisation’s field work has shown that harmful behaviours online now affect community engagement and personal safety in ways that mirror physical abuse.

She said it is therefore urgent for local GBV responders to recognise new patterns of digital harm and to speak about them in language that resonates with the people they serve.

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Also speaking, Cliff Gai, senior programme manager, UK Integrated Security Fund (ISF), said the rise of digital gender based violence is one of the unintended consequences of increased online connectivity.

He commended Global Rights for pushing the issue to the forefront and urged participants to leave the event more conscious of how their digital actions affect others.

Gai noted that beyond the screen, online harassment and manipulation have deep impacts on victims’ lives. He called on citizens to become activists within their digital spaces and to support safer online communities.

The showcase featured performances designed to break down complex forms of digital harm into relatable stories.

According to the organisers, the aim is to equip community responders with insights they can take back to their states where awareness remains low despite the rapid expansion of digital spaces.

The event closed with a call for stronger community conversations and deliberate action to address the fast evolving landscape of violence both online and offline.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.