Revenge Porn in Abusive Relationships
LILIAN STORY
Lilian faced threats from her boyfriend Williams in Abuja, leading her to consider leaving the relationship. She discovered that he had been secretly filming their intimate moments together, further eroding her trust in him. When she finally ended the relationship, Williams retaliated by sending her explicit photos and threatening to release videos online.
Despite initially thinking it was a joke, Williams followed through with his threats, posting the videos on social media. Seeking help, Lilian confided in her mother and a friend who connected her with the Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF). DNF took the situation seriously, leading to Williams’ arrest and brief detention. However, he managed to flee the country after being granted bail.
Cases of intimate partner violence like Lilian’s are common in Nigeria, with DNF handling numerous instances of blackmail, threats, and revenge porn, categorized under Technology-facilitated GBV (TFGBV) or Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV). Technology-facilitated GBV is action by one or more people that harms others based on their sexual or gender identity or by enforcing harmful gender norms. This action is carried out using the internet and/or mobile technology and includes stalking, bullying, sexual harassment, defamation, hate speech, and exploitation. In February DNF often handles more of such cases from lovers and those in relationships, most times it is used as a threat to rape or sexually assault their victim.
To prevent such situations, women and girls are urged to be cautious about their relationships and seek help at the first signs of abuse. Warning signs can include controlling behavior, intimidation, coercion, economic abuse, and emotional abuse.
For those experiencing OGBV or intimate partner violent relationships, it is vital to recognize the warning signs and seek support. The Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF) assists survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria through access to medical, therapy, law enforcement, legal, economic, and shelter support.
If you or someone you know is going through Online Gender-Based Violence or Technology Facilitated-Gender Violence, please reach out to DNF for immediate assistance or more information; the DNF hotline can be reached at 07013333307 or 08147553343, while inquiries for partnerships and collaborations can be directed to info@dnf.org.ng
We welcome donations to support our work, and contributions can be made to Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF) at Zenith Bank account number 1014857963.
