Nigeria Records 10,326 Cases Of Gender-based Violence In Nine Months – FG
•By Admin
ABUJA – HAJIA Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, said on Friday that the Federal Government recorded no fewer than 10,326 reported gender-based violence cases between January and September 2025, with 2,444 survivors receiving care in recovery centres and 511 survivors supported with livelihoods and empowerment interventions.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim, revealed this at
the National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TF-GBV) in Abuja, organised by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with members of the Development Partners Gender Group (DPGG), as part of activities to commemorate the 2025 Global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria.
Recall that the Nigeria Police Force said it attended to no fewer than 17,415 cases of gender and domestic-based violence in 2024.
The Police explained that out of the reported cases, 15,692 were charged in court while 409 convictions were secured.
It stressed that despite the number of reported cases, the majority of gender and domestic violence were unreported.
The minister at the event, represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health, Dr. Adanna Steinacker, also lamented that technology-facilitated gender-based violence has remained unreported due to its complex nature.
She highlighted that TFGBV, including sex torture, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, online blackmail, and manipulation of digital platforms, has caused severe trauma and, in some cases, fatalities to women and girls.
As part of the measures to tackle the challenge, the Minister said the Federal Government had concluded plans to re-launch the National Electronic Dashboard on Gender-Based Violence, vital for tracking trends, patterns, and improving case management and coordination nationwide.
She further revealed that her Ministry was
prioritising the establishment of an Emergency GPV Response Fund, a ring-fenced mechanism to bridge funding gaps and ensure operational stability for shelters, SARCs, hotlines, emergency response, and survival rehabilitation.
She therefore urged all stakeholders to actively participate in growing this fund.
According to her, “As technology evolves, so must our responses. Technology should be a tool for empowerment, not a weapon of abuse.
“As a nation, we are committed to building systems that protect women and girls in every space—including the digital world.
“This dialogue moves us closer to a Nigeria where online safety, accountability, and justice are guaranteed for all.”
In her welcome address, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, stated that
technology-facilitated violence is one of the fastest-growing threats to gender equality.
Eyong represented by Ms. Patience Ekeoba,
UN Women Acting Deputy Country Representative, reaffirmed the commitment of UN Women to working with Nigerian government and all partners to ensure that women and girls can participate in digital spaces without fear.
According to her, “This dialogue is a critical step toward a coordinated national response that protects rights, amplifies accountability, and builds a safer future for all.”
Many stakeholders who spoke at the event agreed that digital violence has become one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse affecting women and girls in Nigeria.
From cyberstalking and online harassment to non-consensual image sharing and technology-enabled exploitation, these threats increasingly limit women’s participation in public life and reinforce deep-seated gender inequalities.
While laws such as the VAPP Act and the Cybercrimes Act have strengthened national protection systems, responses to TF-GBV remain fragmented and in urgent need of coordinated action.
The dialogue brought together key government institutions, technology companies, civil society organisations,law enforcement agencies, development partners, digital rights advocates as well as survivor advocates to jointly review the national landscape, strengthen multi-sectoral collaboration, and co-create a National Roadmap for addressing TF-GBV in Nigeria.
UN Women, alongside members of the Development Partners Group on Gender (DPGG) including ActionAid Nigeria, Plan International Nigeria, GIZ, TETRATECH SPRING, and CARE International in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, convened this landmark National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TF-GBV) in Abuja.
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