By Terna Chikpa
The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Nigeria, Taraba State Branch, and affiliate groups have called for an immediate end to media trials and intimidation of women in leadership positions in the state.
The group also called on relevant authorities to aggressively track, identify and prosecute individuals, their sponsors and media outfits engaged in harassment, blackmail and bullying.
At a press conference held in Jalingo, the President of the association, Mrs Mercy Daniel, lamented what she described as coordinated digital campaigns and personal threats against women in leadership positions in Taraba State, calling for an end to the trend.
Daniel, on behalf of the association, demanded that social media companies enforce their terms of service, swiftly remove deepfakes and defamatory content, and cooperate with law enforcement agencies to end the trend.
She said, “It is unfortunate that while the world is advancing towards inclusive governance, as exemplified in Taraba State by the gender-friendly Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, some retrogressive elements have made it their duty to harass women occupying leadership positions.
“The NCWS has observed an alarming increase in coordinated digital campaigns, personal threats and malicious defamation targeted specifically at women in leadership. These are not critiques of professional performance, but vicious, highly personalised attacks designed to silence, discredit and drive our hardworking and dedicated women out of public service.
“Notable victims include Dr Aisha Shehu, MD of the Federal Medical Centre; Dr Audu Echuseh, Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TSEMA); Mrs Dorcas Dugule, Provost of the College of Nursing Sciences; and female commissioners.
“We view these acts as pure gender-based violence. When female leaders are terrorised online, it is not just an attack on individuals; it is an assault on the entire institutional framework. It undermines public trust and signals to our girls that public service is unsafe.
“To be specific, we call out SaharaReporters for its brand of blackmail journalism. Publishing Dr Audu’s private bank account details, intruding into her privacy and alleging transactions without proven evidence and legal basis is not investigative journalism. It is blackmail, harassment and a gross violation of privacy.
“We are equally alarmed that confidential banking information is being leaked and published. We demand a full investigation by the Central Bank of Nigeria and security agencies, and the prosecution of the bank officials and their collaborators involved.
“The NCWS does not support corruption in any ramification. If a woman in leadership is alleged to be involved in corruption, she should be taken to court and tried according to law. We are totally against trial by social media.
“In the case of Dr Audu Echuseh, we wish to state clearly that when an allegation was made against her, she voluntarily submitted herself to the authorities for investigation. This is exemplary conduct deserving of commendation from any responsible public officer. The matter is now before the court. Why then continue the blackmail, media trial and character assassination instead of allowing due legal process to take its course?
“We commend Dr Audu for her dedicated service to humanity, particularly her swift response to flood victims, displaced families and widows across Taraba State. Her commitment to duty under pressure is worthy of praise.
“We also commend Mrs Dorcas Dugule, Provost of the College of Nursing Sciences, for her tireless efforts in raising the standard of nursing education in Taraba State despite unwarranted attacks. Her dedication to academic excellence and institutional development deserves support, not intimidation.
“We demand that cybercrime divisions aggressively track, identify and prosecute individuals, their sponsors and media outfits engaged in harassment, blackmail and bullying.
“We encourage social media companies to enforce their terms of service, swiftly remove deepfakes and defamatory content, and cooperate with law enforcement, just as we demand an immediate end to media trials and intimidation of women leaders.”
The NCWS also commended Governor Agbu Kefas for appointing capable women into his government and for promoting gender mainstreaming and equity.
The group pledged to firmly support women in leadership, saying they had demonstrated true dedication through their efforts to support flood victims and displaced families and raise standards in healthcare and education.