The Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a new national security emergency, as part of broader efforts to intensify the fight against terrorism in the country.

The group also recommended that such an emergency declaration should include clear measures aimed at individuals who intentionally spread misinformation and fake news to inflame tensions within the polity.

In a policy statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Omoniyi Akinsiju, the think tank noted that the spate of fake news and false alarms in recent times are capable of distracting security operatives.

He said: “We must express our concern over the growing deliberate mischief and utter recklessness that permeate virtually all social media platforms by some unpatriotic Nigerians who have made it their morbid responsibility to publish and share fake news, most often, with insidious content.

“To protect the larger society from these social media delinquents, we demand that President Bola Tinubu declare a security emergency, all over again, with specific provisions to contain the excesses of irresponsible social media publishers, content creators, and bloggers, and to hold them accountable for the news they publish and share.

“We also demand an emergency-enabled law that restrains the reporting of terrorism cases at the risk of summary prison terms.”

The policy group acknowledged ongoing efforts to curb insecurity but urged the Tinubu administration to continue to invest in more sophisticated military platforms aside from addressing social economic factors in remote areas.

While acknowledging ongoing security efforts, the group said Nigeria’s armed forces are contending with increasingly complex asymmetric warfare, warning that terrorism and other forms of organised crime continue to pose a serious threat to national stability.

It argued that security personnel must be continuously empowered with advanced systems that integrate intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare capabilities, protected mobility platforms, and modern command-and-control software to enhance operational efficiency on the battlefield.

The group specifically recommended the deployment of unmanned aerial systems such as the CH-4 and Wing Loong II drones, which it said are capable of providing continuous day-and-night surveillance of insurgent movements and camps across difficult terrains such as forests and remote settlements.

It also advocated the use of real-time satellite mapping and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technologies to detect concealed hideouts, adding that such tools are critical for tracking insurgents operating in heavily forested or inaccessible areas.

In addition, it called for infantry units to be equipped with advanced thermal imaging scopes to enable night operations, as well as the deployment of vehicle-mounted and portable signal jammers to disrupt insurgent communications and prevent the remote detonation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The group further proposed broader technological integration, including interception and tracking systems capable of monitoring enemy communications and predicting coordinated attacks, alongside multi-domain platforms such as AI-powered systems that consolidate live data from drones, radars and thermal cameras into a unified operational interface.

It also recommended the use of advanced analytics tools to monitor extremist activity online, including the detection of recruitment networks and propaganda on the dark web, as part of efforts to counter radicalisation and information warfare.

Beyond technology, the group stressed the need for operational restructuring within the military, including the creation of new specialised units and strengthening existing formations to better respond to armed gangs and insurgent groups.

It, however, cautioned that military hardware alone cannot resolve Nigeria’s security challenges, noting that long-term success would depend on addressing underlying socio-economic drivers of insecurity, improving intelligence gathering, and strengthening the Nigeria Police Force to effectively manage internal civil security responsibilities.