The Grassroots Mobilisation Initiative (GMI), on Friday, expressed concern over the growing spread of fake news and disinformation across Nigeria, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to national security and social cohesion.

The group accused what it described as “malicious elements and unpatriotic citizens” of deliberately manufacturing and disseminating false information aimed at creating distrust between citizens and the government, while fueling instability across the country.

In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Samaila Musa, the organization said the deliberate distortion of facts and outright fabrication of stories had moved beyond political propaganda and now constitutes a direct attack on Nigeria’s peace, unity and security.

According to GMI, Nigeria is already grappling with multiple security challenges and cannot afford additional threats from individuals who exploit digital platforms to spread misinformation capable of triggering violence and social unrest.

Musa said: “As a grassroots organization rooted in the realities of ordinary Nigerians, we are compelled to speak out. The deliberate twisting of facts and the outright fabrication of stories have reached a level that can no longer be ignored.

“Nigeria is currently dealing with serious security challenges on multiple fronts, and we cannot allow digital saboteurs to push the nation into avoidable crises through lies.

“What we are seeing today is no longer just the casual sharing of unverified rumors on WhatsApp. Mischief-makers and desperate actors are now using advanced technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to forge official documents, clone the voices of top government officials, and create deepfake videos of religious and regional leaders.

“These manipulated videos and audios are intentionally created in local languages to deceive the public, create panic, and trigger spontaneous violence in our communities. When people can no longer distinguish between a genuine statement from security agencies and a fabricated clip designed to cause trouble, our collective safety is in extreme danger.

“Nigeria is a diverse nation, and our unity is something we must guard jealously. When people sit in the comfort of their rooms and invent stories about ethnic attacks, military compromises, or artificial economic failure, they are not exercising freedom of speech. This is clear sabotage against the peace and survival of our country.”

The group identified three major areas where fake news and disinformation are causing significant harm.

GMI said the circulation of false military casualty figures, doctored videos of security operations and misleading narratives about the armed forces undermine the morale of troops engaged in frontline operations against insurgents, bandits, and other criminal elements.

Musa added, “The Dangerous Impact on Security Operations and National Unity
The real-world damage caused by this disinformation enterprise is already costing lives and destroying properties. GMI points out three critical areas where these fabrications are harming the country:

“The constant spread of fake military casualty figures, doctored videos of tactical retreats, and false narratives of complicity among our troops only serves to demoralize the brave men and women on the frontline. It gives undue confidence to bandits, insurgents, and criminals.

“In a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society like ours, an engineered lie can spark immediate reprisal attacks. We see a calculated attempt by online actors to pit the North against the South, and Christians against Muslims, simply to drive traffic, gain followers, or satisfy political sponsors.

“While every Nigerian has the constitutional right to criticize public policies and demand accountability, there is a clear line between constructive opposition and deliberate subversion. Forging official circulars, creating fake CBN policies, and inventing corruption stories to provoke the public into violent protests will only lead to anarchy.

“We cannot continue to fold our arms and watch digital mercenaries destroy the fabric of our society. The Grassroots Mobilisation Initiative calls for immediate action from all quarters:

“Before you click “share” or “forward” on any sensitive security or political news, ask yourself if it is from a verified, credible mainstream media house. If you share a video that ends up causing a riot or loss of life in another part of the country, you are just as guilty as the rioters.”

GMI also called on law enforcement and security agencies to strengthen the enforcement of existing cybercrime laws and ensure that individuals operating fake-news networks are identified and brought to justice, irrespective of their social status, political affiliation, or geographical location.

The organisation further urged major social media companies, including Meta, X, and TikTok, to improve their monitoring systems and swiftly remove harmful content, particularly misinformation translated into local Nigerian languages that could incite violence.

The group emphasised that while economic setbacks can be overcome through policy reforms and collective national effort, the consequences of ethnic and religious conflicts fuelled by disinformation could have far-reaching and lasting effects on the country’s unity.

“The Grassroots Mobilisation Initiative reminds all citizens that 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. Let us protect Nigeria’s security by refusing to be tools for spreading falsehood,” Musa added.