Civil Society Legislative Advocacy (CISLAC), an NGO, has urged Nigerians, particularly students, to use TIMBY App to report cases of sexual exploitation known as “sextortion’’.
TIMBY App is a platform for reporting cases of sexual abuse where victims can seek psychological support and redress.
Hajia Hadiza Kangiwa, a CISLAC board member, gave advice on a sensitisation programme for tertiary institutions in Lagos on Monday.
Kangiwa said that the programme was part of activities achieved by the NGO with the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation to address sextortion experienced by students in higher Institutions.
“The programme is organised to educate students of tertiary institutions in Lagos State on sexual exploitation, particularly from the anti-corruption perspective.
“The idea is for you to speak out, seek redress and psychological support as we are approaching it from an anti-corruption perspective.
“Some boys also experience abuses and harassment, hence, the stereotype by the society that females are the only victims of sextortion should be reconsidered,’’ she said.
The CISLAC official advised participants to take advantage of TIMBY APP to get justice, noting that some people are abused but are ignorant of the means to get help or apprehend perpetrators.
She added that it was in the quest to find solutions to reports of sexual abuse that CISLAC created an electronic channel known as TIMBY App, a physical complaint and reporting channel.
Meanwhile, one of the participants, Mr. Oluwaseun Waheed, a Lagos State University (LASU) student, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the programme was a wonderful initiative.
Waheed said the programme on sextortion has exposed him to an approach to assisting colleagues that are affected.
“I have learned about the ‘TIMBY’ App courtesy of CISLAC. The take-home which I will use in my position as a student union leader is to ensure that other students benefit.
“We are going to infuse five minutes pep talk in our orientation programme and student union activity week, to further create awareness on sextortion and how to access the App”,’’ he said.
The LASU student said there was a need to extend the awareness to primary and secondary schools to instill the knowledge in children early enough.
Also, Miss Ijeoma Edozie, Student, Harvard College Business and Management Studies, Abeokuta, said that sextortion had been a major challenge faced by students, particularly females in the course of academic pursuit.
Edozie said that TIMBY App would curb the activities of perpetrators since they would be apprehended and made to face the law if caught.
She said that the speakers had opened the understanding of participants for them to know when their rights are being violated.
“With TIMBY App, such cases will be tackled and the quest to eradicate sextortion in higher institutions will be achieved. There are legal bodies partnering with the NGO involved in this race,” she added.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Bathsheba Tagwai, CISLAC Legal Officer, said the programme was aimed at informing participants that sextortion was wrong and a corruption practice that involved both genders.
“The stereotype by society that females are the only victims of sextortion should be reconsidered, there are cases where males fall, victims, even though not so prevalent,’’ she said.
Tagwai said that the NGO had taken the sensitisation to Abuja, (North Central); Akwa-Ibom, (South-South), and Lagos, (South West) while plans are in progress to take the campaign to other states.
NAN reports that no fewer than 100 students from LASU, Federal College of Education, Akoka, YABATECH, Adeniran Ogunsaya, Michael Otedola College of Education, UNILAG, and Harvard College Business and Management Studies, Abeokuta, participated in the one-day programme.
