As part of ongoing efforts to combat the growing menace of online gender-based violence (OGBV) in Nigeria, Nguvu Change Leaders engaged the Nigeria Police Force to explore collaborative approaches for addressing the issue, particularly in terms of reporting and responding.
In what was described as a high-level advocacy meeting, Nguvu Change Leaders met with the Commissioner of Police, Mr Uche Ifeanyi Henry, Director of the Nigeria Police Force, National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC).
At the meeting, Nguvu Change Leaders Grace Akhigbe and Jecinta Egbim explored collaborative strategies to enhance the visibility and utilisation of the E-Reporting Platform launched by the Nigeria Police Force, National Cybercrime Centre with the Police Commissioner. The E-reporting Platform was designed to provide victims of cybercrime with a safe and efficient avenue for reporting cases directly to law enforcement.
Jecinta and Grace, who have launched an online campaign advocating for safer digital spaces, urged the NPF National Cybercrime Centre to widely publicise the E-Reporting Platform to tackle Online GBV.
They reiterated the need for urgent action to mitigate the pervasive culture of trolling, sextortion, slut-shaming, and other forms of online harassment targeting women.
“Every passing day, women and girls in Nigeria are being subjected to severe threats, harassment, and abuse online, creating immense stress and duress to their physical and mental wellbeing. Women need a safe and sensitive space to receive their complaints against online gender-based violence. Publicising the E-Reporting Platform of the National CyberCrime Centre as widely as possible will be a huge step of support for women to access reliable support from the Nigerian police,” they said.
Commissioner of Police, Mr Uche Ifeanyi Henry, expressed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Nigerian Cyber Crime Commission (NCCC) to tackling the issue.
He explained that the reason the platform had not been widely publicised was due to its recent migration to a new site, but assured that efforts would be made to promote it across their social media channels.
The meeting also addressed the importance of public awareness and trust-building to encourage reporting through the platform. Both parties agreed on the need for joint campaigns to educate citizens about their rights and the resources available to them.
Stakeholders, including various Assistant Deputy Commissioners of NPF-NCCC, echoed the necessity for sustained collaboration. They pledged to support initiatives that strengthen the NPF-NCCC’s capacity and extend the E-Reporting Platform’s reach to underserved communities. The meeting ended with a shared commitment to continue the dialogue and collaboration.
The meeting was a key highlight of activities marking the ongoing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence for Nguvu Change Leaders and law enforcement representatives who stand united in finding actionable solutions to counter OGBV, which disproportionately affects women and girls in the digital age.