The Grassroots Mobilisation Initiative (GMI) has warned that Nigeria could face escalating security challenges if urgent measures are not taken to address the rapid spread of artificial intelligence-driven fake news, deepfakes and other forms of digital disinformation.
The group said the increasing use of advanced technologies to fabricate official documents, clone the voices of public officials and produce highly realistic fake videos poses a serious threat to national security, public trust and social cohesion.
In a statement issued on Friday, GMI National Coordinator Samaila Musa expressed concern that disinformation campaigns are becoming more coordinated, sophisticated and difficult to detect, making it harder for citizens to distinguish between authentic and fabricated content.
According to him, Nigeria’s existing security challenges—including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal conflicts—make the country particularly vulnerable to the destabilising effects of misinformation.
“What we are seeing today is no longer just the casual sharing of unverified rumours on WhatsApp. Mischief-makers and desperate actors are now using advanced technology, including Artificial Intelligence, to forge official documents, clone the voices of top government officials, and create deepfake videos of religious and regional leaders,” Musa said.
He warned that manipulated videos and audio recordings are increasingly being circulated in local languages with the intent to mislead citizens, inflame tensions and potentially trigger violence in communities.
The organisation noted that one of the most dangerous impacts of fake news is its effect on ongoing security operations across the country.
Musa said false military casualty reports, doctored footage of operations and fabricated claims of complicity among security agencies can weaken public confidence and undermine the morale of personnel engaged in counterinsurgency efforts.
“The constant spread of fake military casualty figures, doctored videos of tactical retreats and false narratives of complicity among our troops only serves to demoralise the brave men and women on the frontline. It gives undue confidence to bandits, insurgents and criminals,” he said.
GMI also warned that disinformation is increasingly being weaponised along ethnic and religious lines, with false reports of attacks and misleading narratives circulating on social media platforms capable of triggering reprisals and deepening divisions.
While affirming the importance of free speech and constructive criticism of government policies, the group stressed that deliberate fabrication of information and forged communications must be distinguished from legitimate civic engagement.
It called on Nigerians to verify sensitive information before sharing it and urged security agencies to strengthen enforcement of cybercrime laws to deter individuals and groups involved in coordinated disinformation campaigns.
The organisation also urged major social media platforms, including Meta, X and TikTok, to enhance monitoring systems and remove harmful content capable of inciting violence, particularly content translated into local Nigerian languages.
Musa said that while economic challenges can be addressed through reforms and policy interventions, the consequences of widespread ethnic and religious violence driven by digital falsehoods could have long-term damage on national unity.
“A damaged economy can be repaired, but a nation torn apart by ethnic and religious violence fuelled by digital lies is difficult to rebuild. We must choose patriotism over viral engagement and protect Nigeria’s security by refusing to be tools for spreading falsehood,” he said.
The warning reflects growing global concern over the misuse of artificial intelligence tools to create convincing but false content capable of influencing public opinion or destabilising societies.
Nigeria has increasingly experienced cases of manipulated images, fake videos and forged statements circulating online during elections, security incidents and major national events, often requiring official rebuttals from authorities and fact-checking organisations.
