A non-governmental organisation, Techsocietal, on Thursday said that cyberstalking was emerging as a serious threat to women’s safety.

The director-general of Techsocietal, Tope Ogundipe, noted that online harassment could escalate into physical violence if left unchecked.

Ms Ogundipe was speaking in commemoration of the National Stalking Awareness Day, which is usually celebrated on January 18.

Ms Ogundipe said that data from ActionAid indicated that about 45 per cent of women in Nigeria had experienced cyberstalking.

She said that in some cases, online threats had escalated to real-world harm.

According to her, cyberstalking should not be dismissed as a minor nuisance, warning that it can be life-disrupting and, in extreme cases, fatal.

“Modern technology has amplified stalking practices, enabling abusers to monitor victims through mobile phones, social media platforms, emails, applications and smart devices.

“Personal data can now be gathered and exploited without physical contact, making detection more difficult and increasing the risk to victims,’’ she said.

Ms Ogundipe cited the case of Peggy Klinke, a 28-year-old woman who was stalked by a former partner, and in spite of taking extensive safety precautions, the stalking had a fatal end.

“According to documented reports, Klinke reported the stalking to authorities, obtained a restraining order, relocated to another state and alerted law enforcement, neighbours and colleagues. However, six days before her stalking trial, she was located and murdered by the suspect,” Ms Ogundipe recounted.

The online safety advocate said the case highlighted the dangers associated with stalking behaviours, particularly in the digital age, where perpetrators could track, monitor and intimidate victims remotely using technology.

She urged individuals to remain vigilant for warning signs of cyberstalking, including unexplained access to private information, unusual device behaviour, unexpected authentication alerts and notifications about unknown tracking devices.

Ms Ogundipe advised users to strengthen digital security by limiting app permissions and enabling two-factor authentication.

She also cautioned against publicly sharing real-time locations and encouraged victims to keep detailed records of suspicious activities to support legal action when necessary.

The Techsocietal director-general called on technology companies and policymakers to prioritise safety by design measures.

According to her, stronger protections on digital platforms can help prevent surveillance abuse and reduce the risks of cyberstalking.

(NAN)