The legal framework
The Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, amended in 2024, criminalises cyberstalking, which includes sending grossly offensive or indecent messages and material, and covers threats. The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act addresses related conduct, and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 applies to identifiable images.
Key points
| Statute | Cybercrimes Act 2015, amended in 2024 |
|---|---|
| Offences | Cyberstalking, transmission of indecent or menacing material, threats |
| VAPP Act | Covers harassment and related conduct in the states where it applies |
| Data protection | Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 for identifiable images |
| Enforcement | Police cybercrime units and the National Cybercrime Centre |
| Civil remedy | Fundamental rights enforcement application for breach of privacy |
| National Cybercrime Centre | Coordinates reports involving online offences |
| Extortion | Frequently accompanies image abuse and is separately punishable |
In practice
- Save the evidence before reporting: screenshots with the URL and date, the account name, and any messages.
- Use the platform's own reporting form first — it is the fastest route to removal — then report to the authority.
- Use StopNCII.org or Take It Down for intimate images: they create a digital fingerprint so participating platforms can block re-uploads without you sending the image anywhere.
- Do not pay a person demanding money to delete an image: payment almost always leads to further demands.
- Report to both the police cybercrime unit and the Data Protection Commission.
Where to go
- Nigeria Police Force cybercrime units.
- National Human Rights Commission.
- Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.
Worth knowing
The cyberstalking provision has been criticised for its breadth and has been used against journalists; the 2024 amendment narrowed parts of it. Frame complaints around the specific harm suffered. Framing the complaint as a data protection breach as well as a criminal matter opens a second, faster route to removal.
Official sources and links
- Nigeria.gov.ng — official government portal