Church raises alarm over cyberbullying, violence targeting women

The Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) has expressed concern over the rising spread of cyberbullying, harassment, and other forms of digital violence targeting women and girls across Nigeria, warning that the trend is worsening the wider problem of gender-based violence in communities.

National President of the OAIC, Elder Dr. Israel Akinadewo, while speaking in Lagos on Sunday, said digital platforms have become new tools for intimidation and abuse, noting that many women now face threats, stalking, and exposure of personal information online.

He stressed that the church is stepping up efforts to raise awareness, adding that the OAIC is partnering with UN Women and delivering the same message across several states nationwide during the global 16 Days of Activism campaign.
The public awareness drive, tagged #16DaysOfActivism and themed “Unite, Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls,” underscores what Akinadewo described as the Church’s moral responsibility to uphold justice, compassion, and protection of the vulnerable in society.

“On social media, you see insults, you see threats, you see bullying and people delivering offensive messages. Many of these attacks are aimed to intimidate women into silence,” he said. He added that digital violence has “expanded the breadth and length” of gender-based violence and now poses a serious challenge that must be addressed urgently.

Akinadewo explained that cyberstalking, online harassment, gender-based disinformation, and other abuses have pushed many victims into fear and isolation, stressing that the church, families, schools, and communities must work together to protect women and girls.

He outlined several forms of violence that continue to affect women, including physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and economic abuse, adding that harmful cultural practices and rising cases of femicide remain major concerns.
According to him, education and public enlightenment remain among the most effective ways to curb the trend. “Some people don’t know. That is why we need to educate them. And they say ignorance is not an excuse,” he said, calling for gender-based violence to be introduced into school curricula from primary to tertiary levels to ensure early awareness.

The OAIC President also urged families to train boys and girls with equal attention and values, emphasising empathy, responsibility, and respect. He noted that male and female children should receive the same opportunities for growth to reduce attitudes that fuel discrimination and violence.

Akinadewo added that digital literacy is essential, particularly for women and girls, to help them understand privacy settings, identify online scams, and navigate digital platforms safely. He said communities must build supportive environments where victims are not stigmatized.

Calling for stronger policies, he urged lawmakers to strengthen laws against digital and physical gender-based violence. “Why not? Since it’s a global issue. They should,” he said, noting that existing laws must be consistently implemented to protect women and girls. He added that the OAIC would continue to train women, engage men’s fellowships, counsel victims, and advocate across states and communities to address harmful norms and promote the ethical use of technology.

Source: The Sun