How social media proliferation fuels misinformation, worsens security crisis in Nigeria

For decades, Nigeria has battled a security crisis that has resulted in widespread property loss and the deaths of thousands of Nigerians, according to a report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), at the hands of various militant groups. The crisis, which began with the Boko Haram terrorist group, predominantly in Northern Nigeria, has given rise to different armed groups, including the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), Lukurawa, Ansaru, and other unidentified armed groups. 

According to 2024 data by the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria has recorded more than 600,000 deaths between 2023 and 2024. Beyond the casualties, the data further stipulated that within the same period, Nigerians have paid over N2.2 trillion in ransom to kidnappers, which surpasses the country’s 2026 budgetary allocations of several states. 

In 2024, Nigeria Watch recorded an increase of over 1,452 deaths linked to rural banditry, cattle rustling, and related government operations, compared to 2023, which recorded over 890 cases, with the highest fatalities in Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna states.

Despite the concerted effort of security agencies to curb this cycle, the number of casualties linked to terrorism in Nigeria continues to rise, with figures increasing yearly.

As Nigeria continues to grapple with incessant killing, kidnapping, terrorism, and communal clashes, a new wave of an overlooked digital disinformation crisis is evolving.

As technology advances, social media has become a hub for people of all ages to interact and engage with information from around the globe. This has led to a significant increase in social media use in Nigeria. Daily, thousands of pieces of information are pushed across different social media platforms in Nigeria, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok for publication and consumption, but not all this information is validated and authenticated as true. 

With increased internet usage, many users have pivoted to spreading false and unverified information online, leading to a growing pandemic of information disorder. The rise of social media has created an avenue for sharing manipulated visuals, fake reports, and false information about security incidents. 

Security disinformation spreads faster

Compared with other forms of misinformation and disinformation, security-related falsehoods spread more rapidly because of the country’s ongoing security crisis. 

For many, social media has become a hub for getting information about current events. Consequently, when an attack, killing, or kidnapping happens, most people turn to social media for updates, placing thousands at risk of consuming false information and misleading narratives.

On May 15, 2026, unknown gunmen on motorcycles stormed multiple schools in Oriire Local Government Area, Ogbomoso (Baptist Nursery & Primary, Community Grammar School, LA Primary, and others), abducting dozens of persons, including pupils, students, and teachers.

The incident, which shook the nation, was marred by a lot of disinformation online, as social media became a hub for sharing unrelated, old images and videos to portray the incident. In one instance, a Facebook user shared a video showing some tortured students claiming to be the Oyo students. However, a report by mainstream media debunked the video as old and unrelated to the Oyo student abduction.

In another instance, posts claiming that the student has been released were accompanied by images that were later discovered to be AI-generated. 

Beyond misinforming the public, fake news can create unnecessary fear, panic, and tension among citizens, which could result in harm and destruction. 

Lagos State mob incident 

On Monday, June 1, 2025, a viral claim spread across social media alleging that armed bandits had invaded  Ibeju-Lekki, Imota, and Oke-Afo areas of Lagos State. 

The rumors, which circulated widely on social media alongside manipulated graphic images and videos, raised fear and panic among residents. During this period of fear, a commercial motorcycle rider, Kulaha Ayuba, was attacked by youths who labeled him as a Fulani bandit and assaulted him to death. 

The Lagos police further reported that the victim’s motorcycle was allegedly stolen, while his body was later discovered in a swamp, confirming that there was no security crisis, coordinated attack, or invasion of any community or school in Lagos State.

Although the police were able to secure the arrest of 15 persons linked to the lynching, the reality still remains that false information is becoming an infectious pandemic in Nigeria.

Misinformation and false alarm 

Following the Oyo school abduction, rumors of attacks in schools started circulating across social media. Earlier in June, posts across media claimed that some students had been kidnapped in Akure, Ondo state, which was later debunked by the Ondo State Government as a false alarm. 

A similar incident was also debunked by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police following rumors of kidnapping in a school in the state. Still in June, reports that herdsmen attacked a school in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State circulated until they were refuted by the Enugu State Police Command as false and misleading.

On Thursday, June 18, 2026, the Kwara State Police Command warned against false security alerts following a false claim that bandits invaded the Oke-Oyi community, triggering panic among students, teachers, and residents. 

Although the police have threatened to punish purveyors of false security alerts, the trend continues to scale both online and offline as Nigeria faces serious security challenges. 

Beyond creating unnecessary panic, misinformation is eroding public confidence in security institutions, with many relying on social media to get information. They tend to believe what they see online more than information from reputable outlets or organizations, thereby affecting cooperation between communities and security agencies.

Consequences and way forward 

In an interview with Caleb Ijioma, executive director, Roundcheck, a fact-checking media outlet in Nigeria, stated that misinformation can make security agencies put resources into false insecurity situations instead of going after real threats, which could further lead to a mistrust in security agencies.

“In cases of insecurity, the police and other security agencies should be a source for confirmation, but when misinformation flourishes, this can create mistrust and push a narrative that the security agencies are complicit,” he stated. 

In confirmation, ‘Kúnlé Adebanjo, an editor at Code For Africa (CFA) and an investigations editor at Humangle Media, added that false information erodes trust in authorities and corporations required to fight terrorism. He further noted that misinformation sometimes propagates terrorist propaganda by promoting narratives that instill fear and can lead to divisiveness.

Misinformation and disinformation also widen existing cracks and could lead to more people taking up arms against others, whom they perceive as enemies, because of the narratives they’re consuming on the internet and through other channels.

Speaking on addressing this challenge, Kunle stated that training journalists and news organizations, providing more comprehensive security data and updates, and reinforcing content moderation mechanisms will curb widespread disinformation. 

Moreover, he encourages investing more in human oversight, especially with a focus on local languages as well.

Meanwhile, Caleb stated the need for collaboration between fact-checking organizations, tech companies, and the government to ensure that misinformation is adequately handled.

He concluded, saying, “The government must start to see fact-checking organizations as partners in the fight against misinformation that has proliferated in our media space, and undermines security efforts.”

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