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CITAD Laments Rising Cases Of Technology Assisted Violence In Nigeria

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Malam YZ Yau

 

The Executive Director, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Yunusa Zakari Ya’u has lamented over the rising cases of technology-assisted gender violence in the country.

Briefing Journalists at the centre Wednesday in Kano, Ya’u said, the way in which technology is deployed specifically to harm women and girls, including harassment online, rape, kidnapping and killing facilitated via interaction and use of digital technology is disturbing.

He lamented that within the past two weeks, two very disturbing contents on the internet have been making rounds which degrade and dehumanise women and the individuals involved.

According to him, the first was a posting of sexual escape of students of Chrisland, Lagos in faraway Dubai which went viral, leading to the suspension of academic activities in the school.

The second concerned a lady in Ado-Ekiti who was invited her to a hotel room by her friend who had arranged with his three other friends and not only gang-raped her but also posted the act on the internet.

The third was a case of a lady who was kidnapped for money occurred earlier last month in Abuja when a man the lady befriended on social media invited her to his hotel, only for him and his friends to kidnap her, demanding N50 Million from her parents as ransom.

He said, “There have been many other such cases in which social media friends lured their female friends only to rape them and in some instances, kill them to cover up the crime.

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“Cases of young girls falling victims of this technology assisted crime have been on the rise and are contributing negatively to the efforts to address and overcome the gender dimension of the digital divide in the country, which casts women on the negative side of the divide and making it difficult for them to access and make use of the opportunities and benefits digital technology offers for educational advancement, economic empowerment and social inclusion.”

He added that, CITAD, has for the past five years been engaged in monitoring and countering gender violence online and take this very serious, because we have in an earlier research found that gender-based violence online has been a major factor inhibiting factor for the effective use of digital spaces by girls and women in the country as they have internalised the fear that harmful content online has induced in them.

“In another research, we found that harmful content online is targeted at female politicians and women in career such as female journalists and academics, with the aim of discouraging them from those spaces, thus furthering their marginalization in those spheres. For example, female politicians are subjected to social media abuse and intimidation and that in many of cases, they were forced to drop out of contesting of elections because of this.”

He called on parents and husbands using the same excuse to prevent their daughters and wives from using the internet to adjust in their thinking as the world is transiting into making the use of internet a most a necessity to all.

“In all these cases, it is the country and society that suffer from this criminal misappropriation of the powers of the internet. As learning, commerce, social interactions and government services move online, it means that those left behind digitally or are unable to access and use the internet, will equally be left behind in those other spheres.

“Women constitute slightly more than half of the population of the country. As majority of these women are remaining offline as a result of gender violence online and other harmful contents, it means that a large population of Nigerians is left behind.

“In this situation, Nigeria cannot achieve the sustainable development goals as most of them require effective deployment and use of the internet.

“Girls are at disadvantage in getting admission to higher education because they have been prevented from learning to use digital skills which are necessary for passing the entrance examinations to the higher institutions in the country.

“Yet, here in the North we complain of lack of sufficient number of female doctors and other health related professionals, even when we deny girls the opportunity to learn digital skills to gain admission to study for medical profession.

“Women are the majority of citizens who are identity excluded in Nigeria and consequently also financial services excluded, making it difficult for them to access financial services and progress in business. Lack of identity also is inhibiting their ability to exercise their freedom of movement as some important modes of travel cannot convey people without authenticated identity.

“It is for these reason that we at CITAD takes the issue of technology-assisted gender violence online as a serious national problem, that the government has to consider and take necessary means to address it.

“We note the recent empanelling of a Committee by the Federal Government to study and propose solutions to ensuring the protection of children online.

“While we welcome this action, we would like government to also consider and act in the same manner with respect to gender violence online. It is important to reflect that technology-assisted gender violence is pernicious as it is not easily visible, making the victims to suffer doubly as victims of violence and as victims of stigmatization when they report and make their suffering public. This is why victims do not report, allowing themselves to suffer in silence.”

In this respect, Ya’u, on behalf of the CITAD, called on the federal government as well as state governments to as a matter of national urgency:

– Set up a panel to study and propose solutions to technology-assisted gender violence, including proposing legislations on how to deal with it. In making this call, we would like to caution against throwing the baby with the bathwater.

– Government should not use this as an opportunity to inhibiting access to the internet for citizens but rather improve on how citizens are able to access and safely use the internet.

– The Federal Government should incorporate safety and privacy online in the computer studies curriculum of secondary schools. In this way, computer studies can then not be just done to get a credit for admission to higher institutions but also to get life skills that will prepare the students for successful emersion into the digital world.

– While we have made computer studies compulsory at secondary schools, we have not incorporated safety issues in the curriculum. This gaps should be addressed quickly because learning computer studies is not just for passing examinations but to gain skills that are needed to fit into the digital world of today.

– Lot of the criminal uses of the internet is relating to poor understanding of digital rights.
In particular, government itself has not shown proper appreciation of the importance of digital rights. Without a bill of digital rights, the use of the digital space can be counterproductive as we see it now. In this respect, the National Assembly should quickly pass the Digital Rights Bill and the President should sign it.

– The federal government should also come up with a national digital inclusion agenda that will address the many challenges that inhibit the effective access to and use of the internet. This will contribute greatly in addressing the various dimensions of the internal digital divide in the country.

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Kano Government Inducts 70 New State Counsel

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The Kano State Government has formally inducted 70 new state counsel into the Ministry of Justice, in a bid to enhance the state’s justice sector. The induction ceremony took place at the Institute of Anti-Corruption in Goron Dutse.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Haruna Isah, disclosed this while declaring the ceremony open. He emphasized that the 70 new state counsel will strengthen the state’s justice system, ensuring timely and effective justice services.

Barr. Dederi commended the incumbent administration of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf for employing 70 state counsel, a historic first of its kind since the state’s creation in 1967.

The 3-day induction training program covered essential topics, including court procedures, legal drafting, and advocacy. The training equipped the new state counsel with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively discharge their duties.

In his remarks, Barr. Dederi praised the Kano Ministry of Justice, describing it as a place of pride that produces reputable individuals who excel at state and federal levels. He emphasized that the ministry is not a dumping ground for lazy lawyers, but rather a hub for dedicated professionals.

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Barr. Dederi also commended the expertise of the resource persons and urged the counsel to continue tapping knowledge from their seniors.

The induction of new state counsel is expected to have a positive impact on the administration of justice in the state, ensuring citizens have improved access to justice services and their rights are protected.

The Kano State Government’s efforts to reform the justice sector are yielding positive results, promoting justice, stability, and economic growth in the state.

Earlier, the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary Barr. Mustapha Nurraddeen Muhammad, delivered a comprehensive overview of the Ministry’s historical background and functions. He emphasized the importance of the new Counsel maintaining sound moral character throughout their service career, setting a high standard for their professional conduct.

Barr. Muhammad also commended Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf for his efforts in addressing the shortage of manpower within the Ministry. This acknowledgement highlights the Governor’s commitment to strengthening the Ministry’s capacity and ensuring its effective functioning.

 

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2027: Northern Voters Cannot Be Coerced to Vote for Tinubu – ACF

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The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and other prominent northern figures have rejected a call by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, for the North to wait until 2031 before contesting the presidency.

The northern leaders asserted that the region cannot be coerced into re-electing President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Ganduje had made the remarks while receiving a delegation from the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre and the Tinubu Northern Youth Forum at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.

He argued that since a northern president—Muhammadu Buhari—had completed two terms, fairness dictated that Tinubu should also serve for eight years.

However, the ACF and other political figures from the North rejected this stance.

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Speaking to journalists, the National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, dismissed Ganduje’s statement as a reflection of the presidency’s “cult-like” nature, where total allegiance is expected.

He stressed that voters cannot be influenced by force.

“He or she or party members cannot influence voters by force. So, what he said was an opinion, and it’s up to the voters to endorse, reject, or modify it. In 2015, we were sold a dummy of anti-corruption. We were sold a dummy of many things, and people have realized that it wasn’t true. Then, of course, the Renewed Hope came in 2023, and the hope is turning into a nightmare,” Muhammad-Baba stated.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, also cast doubt on Tinubu’s chances, sharing a post on his verified X handle titled “2027: South West, Tinubu’s supporters playing with fire – Part 1.”

 

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Nigerian Photographer From Yobe Receives Guinness World Record Certificate

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Yobe state photographer Saidu Abdulrahman presented his Guinness World Record Certificate to Governor Mai Mala Buni at Government House in Damaturu.

The remarkable achievement was recorded by the young man last year when his 897 head shots in just 60 minutes won him the Guinness World Record.

Governor Buni who said it was a proud to the state emphasized that Saidu Abdulrahman’s accomplishment would served as an inspiration to the youth in the state and beyond .

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He encouraged him to continue striving for excellence and to use his platform to motivate others to pursue their dreams despite challenges.

The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting and nurturing talents across various fields, ensuring that as many young achievers would be given the recognition and opportunities they deserve.

The event marked a significant moment of celebration not only for Saidu Abdulrahman but also the state, as it has showcased Yobe’s potential on the world stage.

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