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CITAD Laments Rising Cases Of Technology Assisted Violence In Nigeria

Published

4 years ago

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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.

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“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 Unveils Digital Multimedia Department, PR Directors’ Forum

Published

2 hours ago

on

June 16, 2026

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The Kano State Government has launched a Digital Multimedia Department under the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs as part of efforts to modernize government communication, improve transparency, and strengthen public engagement through digital platforms.

The Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, announced the development during an unveiling and inauguration ceremony held on Monday at the Ministry’s headquarters within the Audu Bako Secretariat in Kano.

Speaking at the event, Waiya described the establishment of the Department as a significant institutional reform designed to bridge communication gaps between the government and citizens in an era increasingly driven by digital technology.

He explained that the creation of the Department followed extensive consultations and institutional assessments, which identified the need for a dedicated structure capable of effectively documenting government programmes, publicizing achievements, disseminating policies, and countering misinformation through credible and timely communication.

According to the Commissioner, modern governance requires a robust digital communication infrastructure to ensure that government information reaches citizens efficiently and accurately.

“The Digital Multimedia Department represents our response to the growing demand for modern, efficient and professional government communication. It will ensure that the voice of government remains visible, accessible and authoritative across all communication platforms,” Waiya stated.

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He noted that the Department would function as the central hub for content creation, digital engagement, online publishing, documentation of government activities, and strategic media management across the state.

Waiya further commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for approving the establishment of the Department, describing the move as a reflection of the administration’s commitment to responsive governance and effective public communication under its Kano First Agenda.

The event also featured the inauguration of the Forum of Directors of Public Enlightenment and Public Relations Officers, bringing together communication heads from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the state.

The Commissioner said the Forum was established to enhance coordination among communication officers, encourage professional collaboration, facilitate information sharing, and ensure strategic alignment in the dissemination of government policies and programmes.

As part of efforts to support the newly inaugurated Forum, Waiya announced a donation of N1 million to strengthen its operations and enable it to effectively carry out its mandate.

In separate goodwill messages, communication experts and media stakeholders applauded the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that would strengthen the state’s information management system and improve public access to government activities.

Among those who spoke at the event were Professor Nura Ibrahim, Associate Professor Hassan Alhaji Ya’u, Dr. Saminu Umar Rigiyar Zaki of the Faculty of Communication at Bayero University Kano, Chairman of the Heads of Media Organizations Forum, Ado Sa’idu Warawa, Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mustapha Gambo, and the Chairman of the Forum of Directors of Public Enlightenment and Public Relations Officers.

The speakers commended both the Commissioner and the Kano State Government for establishing the Digital Multimedia Department, noting that the initiative would significantly enhance the state’s digital communication strategy, improve information dissemination, and foster stronger engagement between government institutions and the public.

The launch marks a major step in Kano State’s efforts to adapt to evolving communication trends and leverage digital technology to promote transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance

The Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs Director of Special Duties Sani Abba Yola signed the statement

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Troops Rescue Wife of Former Defence Spokesman

Published

11 hours ago

on

June 15, 2026

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Troops of the Nigerian Army, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, have successfully rescued Mrs. Amina Abubakar, wife of the late Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, following her abduction by bandits in Katsina State.

According to military authorities, the rescue was achieved after weeks of intensive search-and-rescue operations conducted by troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA across bandit-infested areas of the state.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said troops intensified offensive operations against criminal elements, placing sustained pressure on the bandits and restricting their freedom of movement.

He disclosed that troops made contact with the kidnappers at Tunga Village during one of the operations, leading to the successful recovery of Mrs. Abubakar.

“During sustained offensive operations and pressure mounted on the criminal elements, troops made contact with the bandits at Tunga Village, leading to the successful recovery of Mrs. Abubakar,” the statement said.

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The military revealed that during the encounter, the fleeing bandits shot Mrs. Abubakar before abandoning her as troops closed in on their location.

“In the course of the encounter, the bandits shot Mrs. Abubakar before abandoning her and fleeing due to the overwhelming pressure from advancing troops,” Major General Uba stated.

Following her rescue, Mrs. Abubakar was immediately evacuated to a military medical facility, where she is currently receiving treatment.

Military authorities said she is responding positively to medical care and that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are providing all necessary support to ensure her full recovery.

“The leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains committed to ensuring her full recovery and is providing all necessary support to her family during this difficult period,” the statement added.

The military also reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing those responsible for the abduction and other acts of terrorism and banditry across the country.

According to the Defence Headquarters, troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA will continue ongoing operations aimed at tracking down and neutralising the perpetrators, while intensifying efforts to restore security in affected communities.

The rescue operation is being viewed as another significant breakthrough in the ongoing military campaign against banditry and terrorism in the North-West region, particularly in Katsina State, where security forces have sustained pressure on criminal groups in recent months.

The Armed Forces assured Nigerians of their determination to rid not only Katsina State but the entire country of terrorist and criminal elements threatening national security.

 

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Kano Govt Declares Tuesday as Public Holiday to mark the New Islamic Year

Published

15 hours ago

on

June 15, 2026

By

Kano Map

 

The Kano State Government has declared Tuesday , June 16, 2026, as a public holiday to mark the beginning of the Islamic New Year, 1448

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf congratulated the Muslim faithfuls on witnessing the New Year, which begins with the month of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

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The Governor called on the people of the state and the Muslim Ummah to reflect on their actions over the past year and to use the occasion to offer special prayers for peace, unity and prosperity for the state and the country at large.

He also reassured the people of the state of his administration’s commitment to improving their living standards through dedicated and people-oriented governance.

Signed:
Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya
Honourable Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs
15th June, 2026

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