Social media being used to recruit criminals, spread falsehood – Defence Minister

Social media being used to recruit criminals, spread falsehood – Defence Minister

Christopher Musa, the minister for defence, has warned that social media is increasingly being weaponised to spread falsehood, recruit criminals and weaken national unity, urging Nigerians to exercise caution and verify information before sharing it.

Speaking at The Platform, a June 12 commemorative event held in Lagos on Friday, Musa said misinformation and disinformation have emerged as major threats to Nigeria’s security architecture, often amplifying fear and eroding public trust.

“We must reject misinformation, we must reject narratives that weaken our collective resolve,” the minister said. “Social media has provided the avenue to spread falsehood, recruit criminals, and distort the truth.”

Musa said while terrorism, banditry and kidnapping remain significant threats, the digital space has become another battleground where malicious actors exploit divisions and manipulate public opinion.

“Most times you see videos being brought, videos of other countries, old videos that have happened, and people make it look as if it is just recent,” he said. “And you ask, what is the intent?”

According to him, such content is often designed to heighten tensions, undermine confidence in institutions and create the impression that the country is on the brink of collapse.

“The question I always ask is, if Nigeria falls, what happens to you? What happens to me? What happens to our families?” he said.

The minister urged citizens to be discerning consumers of information, especially as the country inches closer to another election cycle.

Musa also questioned what he described as a recurring pattern of heightened insecurity during politically sensitive periods.

“Why is it that any time we have elections, probably in an escalationary year, we tend to have so much happening, so much insecurity? And it is almost becoming a trend,” he said.

“And the question is, why? Is it because you want the government to look weak? Or is it because you just enjoy that people should be killed? What is the intent? And that is very critical for us.”

Last month in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, terrorists invaded three schools and abducted 40 pupils and teachers, including children as young as two years old. One teacher was killed during the raid, while another was later beheaded in a video that circulated online, deepening national outrage and fear. The incident reinforced growing concerns that areas previously considered relatively secure are now vulnerable.

Security data from SBM Intelligence indicates that 4,326 incidents linked to insecurity were recorded in just the first quarter of 2026 alone, underscoring the scale and persistence of the crisis driven by kidnappers, bandits and other armed groups operating across multiple regions.

Musa said unity is key to defeating insecurity, appealing to Nigerians not to allow ethnic, religious or regional differences to be manipulated by those seeking to destabilise the country.

“When you sit down here, look, he is from the north, he is from the south, he is Muslim, he is Christian, he is this. These are the gaps that these individuals are using against us, and we must not let that happen,” he said.

“We are all Nigerians. God doesn’t make mistakes. He has a purpose for putting us together, and it is not for us to destroy ourselves, but for us to build a greater nation.”

While acknowledging the country’s security challenges, the minister expressed confidence that Nigeria would overcome them through unity and responsible citizenship. “We have a country that we should be proud of, that we are proud of, nobody can defeat us,” Musa said. “This evil will pass away.”

He called on citizens to complement the efforts of security agencies by exposing suspicious activities and refusing to provide cover for criminal elements.

“We have a responsibility to expose any act of evil wherever we see it,” he said. “True patriotism is not measured by words alone. It is reflected in our actions. Patriotism means doing what is right even when no one is watching.”