How Social Media Is Fueling Fear, Ethnic Tension and Security Risks in Nigeria

By: Zagazola Makama 

Social media has evolved from a platform for communication into one of the most powerful tools for shaping public perception. While it has expanded access to information and civic engagement, security experts warn that it is increasingly being exploited by malicious actors to spread disinformation, incite violence and deepen existing divisions across Nigeria.

Against the backdrop of terrorism, banditry, communal conflicts and separatist agitations, viral videos and manipulated narratives can travel across the country within minutes, often reaching millions of users before authorities have an opportunity to verify or refute their claims. The consequences can be immediate, ranging from public panic and ethnic profiling to retaliatory attacks and the diversion of security resources.

Recent examples illustrate how social media is being weaponized to manipulate public sentiment. One widely circulated video portrays the seasonal movement of Fulani pastoralist communities across parts of Nigeria as evidence of forced displacement allegedly caused by threats from ethnic groups, government authorities and security agencies. Although the movement of pastoralists during the rainy season is a long-established and legitimate practice, the accompanying narrative presents it as targeted persecution.

Zagazola  warn that framing routine seasonal migration as ethnic victimization has the potential to inflame tensions, reinforce stereotypes and provoke reprisals against innocent communities. Similar grievance-based narratives have previously been exploited by extremist organizations across the Sahel to fuel recruitment and justify violence.

Another viral video claims to show Boko Haram fighters operating in Nigeria’s Southeast, with armed individuals threatening attacks against Christians, particularly members of the Igbo ethnic group. 

However, Zagazola  who reviewed the footage exposed  several inconsistencies, including linguistic anomalies, the absence of identifiable insurgent insignia and other characteristics that differ from Boko Haram’s known communication methods and operational style.

The assessment is that the video was likely produced by individuals seeking to spread fear and misinformation rather than by the terrorist group it claims to represent. Such fabricated content can create widespread panic, distort public understanding of security threats and potentially influence the deployment of security resources based on false intelligence.

Both videos demonstrate how genuine events can be manipulated and fabricated narratives manufactured to achieve political, ethnic or criminal objectives. By exploiting existing fears and social divisions, such campaigns can undermine national cohesion, erode confidence in public institutions and complicate efforts by security agencies to respond effectively to genuine threats.

The growing sophistication of online disinformation also presents a significant challenge for law enforcement and policymakers. False narratives often spread faster than official responses, allowing misleading information to shape public opinion before verified facts become available.

Addressing the challenge requires more than content removal. It demands continuous monitoring of emerging online narratives, rapid dissemination of verified information by government institutions, stronger collaboration between security agencies and technology platforms, and sustained public education on identifying and reporting misleading content.

Zagazola  also emphasize the need for citizens to exercise caution before sharing unverified videos or messages, noting that every repost of false or inflammatory content contributes to the wider circulation of disinformation and may unintentionally aid those seeking to destabilize communities.

Nigeria continues to confront multiple security challenges, the information space has become another critical battlefield. Zagazola warn that while terrorists and criminal groups operate on the ground, coordinated disinformation campaigns operating online can be equally damaging by spreading fear, provoking violence and weakening public trust.