I was no longer free in my own room,” recalls Funke Ojosipe, whose neighbor spied on her for months. Her story mirrors a disturbing trend—voyeurs exploiting both old-school peeping and modern tech to violate privacy, leaving victims feeling powerless in their safest spaces.
Funke Ojosipe’s experience of being watched by a neighbor through her window in Lagos is just one example of a growing epidemic of privacy violations in Nigeria—a problem now amplified by technology. The 34-year-old entrepreneur, who now lives elsewhere, recalls the terror of discovering an electrician peering into her bedroom: “I was no longer free in my own room… he could have broken in to rob, rape, or even kill me.” Her ordeal reflects a disturbing trend where voyeurs exploit both low-tech peeping and high-tech surveillance to invade personal spaces.
The rise of cyber voyeurism—non-consensual filming and sharing of intimate moments—has taken a darker turn with the misuse of CCTV systems. A recent scandal involving an Abuja-based installer, accused of spying on female clients through their own security cameras, sparked outrage online. While the accused denied the claims, tech experts warn that many users fail to secure their devices properly. “Clients must always insist on being the sole administrators of their CCTV access,” says network engineer John Udoh. Meanwhile, victims like Ojosipe and anonymous hotel guests—some recorded without their knowledge—highlight how easily privacy can be shattered.
From spy cameras hidden in hotel air conditioners to blackmail schemes using illicit recordings, Nigeria is witnessing an underground trade in voyeuristic content. Psychologist Kolawole Afolabi links the behavior to hypersexuality and antisocial disorders, noting that offenders often escalate without intervention. Legal expert Agbo Obinnaya urges victims to report incidents immediately, citing Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act as a tool for justice. Yet, as one self-confessed voyeur admitted online: “I’ve tried to stop, but my spirit keeps pushing me.” For many Nigerians, the question remains—how safe are they in their own homes?