In a deeply concerning trend in Nigeria, young, underprivileged women are increasingly becoming the targets of harassment by certain social media content creators. One such individual, Victor Ameh Enemona (aka @spanner_boii), has gained notoriety for humiliating and assaulting unsuspecting women in public spaces, particularly in the markets of Lagos State. His actions have ignited outrage, drawing attention to the broader issue of gender-based violence and the unchecked behavior of some content creators who exploit vulnerable women for viral content.

Harassment, Humiliation, and Abuse

Ameh’s videos, which he posts across social media platforms, show him engaging in disturbing acts of humiliation and violence. In one such act, he removes the wigs of women without their consent and pours an unknown substance on them in public. The women, caught unaware and unprepared for his actions, are often left feeling distressed, confused, and humiliated. These incidents typically occur in busy market spaces, where he gathers a crowd—mostly men—to verbally abuse and degrade the women, all in the name of creating content for his growing social media audience.

In a video response, Aina More (Morenike Aina Olukoga), a prominent British-Nigerian singer, MC, and activist, exposed the troubling trend and directly confronted Ameh. When asked about his actions, Ameh justified his behavior by stating, “I just don’t like how they are dressed.” He claimed that his intention was to “sanitize the streets” by confronting women he deemed as improperly dressed, thereby rationalizing his abusive actions. His conduct, however, raises several serious legal and ethical concerns, and Aina More insists that harassment, assault, and humiliation of any kind—regardless of the victim’s socioeconomic status or gender—is illegal and unethical.

The Bigger Picture: Gender-Based Violence

Unfortunately, this type of harassment is not isolated. A 2024 National Demographic and Health Survey revealed that one in three Nigerian women has experienced some form of gender-based violence (GBV), a problem that remains widespread due to weak legal systems and funding gaps. For example, in 2025, of the US$15.7 million required to fund GBV services, only a meager 9.8 percent was secured, leaving the country facing a US$14.17 million shortfall in funding for such services.

Furthermore, over 10,000 cases of GBV were reported between January and September 2025 alone, though it is widely accepted that many incidents go unreported due to fear, shame, and stigma. The harrowing truth is that, despite numerous laws and advocacy efforts, the harassment and exploitation of young women continues unabated, largely due to a lack of accountability.

The Role of Content Creators and Social Media

The rise of social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook has given birth to a new form of entertainment—shock content. The “shock factor” sells, and it is often achieved by creating controversial or sensational content at the expense of victims’ dignity. In Ameh’s case, his videos, which amass significant engagement, expose the dangerous trend of content creators using the humiliation of others as a means to generate views, likes, and followers.

This exploitation of women in public spaces is particularly harmful because many of these women are economically vulnerable and do not have the means to resist or defend themselves. In some cases, social media followers—many of whom are men—encourage and validate such abusive behavior with emojis or comments, further emboldening the harassers. The fact that Ameh has gained a following of 14,000 on Instagram and 2,000 subscribers on YouTube highlights a disturbing trend of social media platforms tolerating such abusive content and failing to take accountability.

Aina More’s Call to Action

In response to this disturbing development, Aina More has vowed to support any woman who wishes to press charges or report harassment by content creators like Ameh. She calls on bystanders, both online and in real life, to take responsibility and speak up when witnessing such acts of violence. She encourages women to report content creators who engage in harassment, and she urges the public to use resources like the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency to help victims of harassment.

However, while these resources exist, they are not enough. There is an urgent need for a task force in every state across Nigeria to address the growing issue of harassment and exploitation by content creators. Active citizens, business leaders, and government officials must collaborate to ensure that laws protecting women and girls are enforced and that such content creators face real consequences.

A Wider Crisis: Cultural Misogyny, Joblessness, and Social Media Exploitation

The exploitation of women in public spaces is deeply rooted in cultural misogyny, economic hardship, and unemployment. As of September 2025, 80 million Nigerian youths are unemployed, many of whom resort to social media as a means of earning a living. However, the lack of jobs and opportunities has pushed many to seek shock content to sustain an income, further perpetuating the cycle of exploitation.

In this context, the rise of content creators like Victor Ameh is symptomatic of a much larger crisis—the normalization of abuse in the name of entertainment. Without significant action from both social media platforms and government agencies, these problems will persist and continue to affect young women across Nigeria.

Conclusion

The situation is dire. If we are to protect women from ongoing harassment and exploitation, society must take a strong stand against content creators who exploit vulnerable individuals for entertainment. Social media platforms must enforce their policies and hold creators accountable. At the same time, governments and activists must work together to ensure that women have the resources, legal protections, and social support they need to fight back against these violations.

It is time for us all to take action—not just to speak up but to demand change for a future where women are not treated as objects of public humiliation for the amusement of others. The harassment of young Nigerian women must stop now.