The Taraba State chapter of the National Council of Women Societies, NCWS, has raised the alarm over what it described as the increasing cases of blackmail, intimidation and cyberbullying targeting women occupying leadership positions in the state.

The President of NCWS in Taraba, Mrs. Mercy Daniel, raised the concern on Tuesday during a press briefing in Jalingo, where she called for stronger measures to protect women in public service from what she described as gender-based digital violence.

Daniel said the development was particularly troubling at a time when efforts were being made to promote inclusive governance and greater participation of women in leadership.

She alleged that coordinated digital campaigns, personal threats and defamatory attacks were increasingly being directed at women leaders, with the objective of silencing, discrediting or forcing them out of public service.

According to her, the attacks often take the form of cyberbullying and harassment through the use of social media to flood women’s public and private accounts with gender-based insults.

She also identified systematic intimidation and blackmail, including the alleged use of doctored photographs, deepfakes, hacked personal information and leaked private banking details to damage the reputation and professional standing of women leaders.

The NCWS president listed some of the women she said had been affected by the trend as Dr Aisha Shehu, Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo; Dr Echuseh Audu, Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TSEMA); and Mrs Dorcas Dugule, Provost of the College of Nursing Sciences, alongside serving female commissioners.

Daniel described the attacks as gender-based violence, arguing that targeting women leaders online goes beyond individual victims and could undermine public confidence in institutions and discourage women from seeking leadership positions.

She specifically criticised the publication of alleged private banking details of Dr Audu by SaharaReporters, describing it as an invasion of privacy and calling for an investigation into how the information was obtained.

“We specifically call out Sahara Reporters 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,” she said.

Daniel urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and security agencies to investigate the alleged leakage of confidential banking information and, where appropriate, prosecute those found responsible.

She, however, stressed that the NCWS does not support corruption in any form, saying allegations against public officials should be investigated and prosecuted through the courts rather than subjected to what she described as “trial by social media.”

On Dr Audu, Daniel said the TSEMA executive secretary had voluntarily submitted herself to the authorities when allegations were made against her and that the matter was now before the court.

She therefore urged all parties to allow due legal process to take its course instead of continuing what she described as media trials and character assassination.

Daniel commended Audu for her reported interventions in assisting flood victims, displaced families and widows across the state, while also praising Dugule for her efforts to improve nursing education and institutional development.

The NCWS also called on cybercrime authorities to identify and prosecute individuals allegedly involved in the harassment, blackmail and bullying of women leaders, including their sponsors where established.

The council further urged media organisations and digital platforms to enforce their terms of service and remove deepfakes and defamatory content while cooperating with law enforcement agencies.

Daniel also commended Governor Agbu Kefas for appointing women into key positions in his administration and promoting what she described as gender mainstreaming and equity.

She assured women currently serving in leadership positions in Taraba of the council’s support, while warning perpetrators of online harassment that the law would be applied where violations were established.

“Taraba women will not keep quiet and will not allow digital mobs to dictate who serves our communities,” she said.