Disinformation in Civil War Nigeria altered history Obasanjo says today’s fake news may destroy national unity.
By: Amaka O. Daniels
The Forgotten Weapon of War: Obasanjo Speaks on Civil War Disinformation
When most Nigerians hear about the Civil War, images of bullets, famine, and division come to mind.
But at a recent high-level symposium in Abuja, former President Olusegun Obasanjo reminded the nation of a more silent,
insidious weapon that shaped the war just as much as any gun: disinformation.
Speaking at the Sixth Annual Nigerian Civil War Symposium hosted by the Army War College Nigeria (AWCN), Obasanjo peeled back layers of forgotten history.
His voice carried not just the authority of a former military general but the urgency of a statesman watching the past repeat itself in modern digital disguise.
“The war was fought with guns, yes but even more so with lies, narratives, and dangerous half-truths,” Obasanjo said.
His words struck a nerve. In 2025, Nigeria faces a new storm: digital propaganda, social media lies, AI-generated videos,
and organized misinformation campaigns by both local and foreign actors.
The ghosts of the Biafran War are whispering again this time through WhatsApp forwards and deepfakes.
Echoes of a Bloody Past: Why This Matters Now
The Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) claimed over a million lives, most of them civilians.
It was brutal, complex, and politically charged. But behind the carnage was a battle of beliefs one heavily manipulated by misinformation.
Obasanjo, who led the 3rd Marine Commando Division and accepted Biafra’s final surrender,
recalled how both sides of the conflict manipulated troop morale, public perception, and international sympathy using false narratives.
“We didn’t just fight a war of arms,” he told the audience. “We fought a war of falsehoods.”
Why bring this up now?
Because, he argued, Nigeria’s enemies today use the same tactics with more precision and speed.
Disinformation in Civil War Nigeria: A Weaponized Timeline
The tactics used during the war laid the groundwork for how propaganda works today. Let’s examine how the manipulation unfolded:
1. Radio Propaganda
The Biafran side ran a powerful radio broadcast system.
It sent emotionally charged messages claiming fake victories, exaggerating federal brutality,
and rallying international support sometimes successfully.
2. Staged Photos and Misinformation
Photos of starving children, some real and some staged, were sent to Western media.
These images sparked global outrage and affected foreign policy toward Nigeria.
3. False Military Intelligence
Commanders and soldiers were fed lies about enemy strength, positions, and reinforcements causing strategic blunders and avoidable bloodshed.
4. Ethnic and Religious Disinformation
Rumors claimed one ethnic group was planning mass killings of another.
These lies triggered retaliatory violence, panic migrations, and deepened distrust a damage still felt today.
These old techniques have found new homes in Facebook groups, YouTube videos, Telegram channels, and AI voice notes.
Modern Mirrors: Boko Haram, IPOB, and Social Media Warfare
Obasanjo drew uncomfortable parallels between the 1960s and 2025.
Boko Haram, for instance, uses social media to project strength, claim fake victories, and position themselves as protectors of the northern Muslim population.
On the other hand, IPOB (the Indigenous People of Biafra) has flooded platforms with edited videos,
fabricated narratives, and unverifiable stories to court global sympathy and stir local anger.
“History repeats itself first as tragedy, then as farce, and now as existential threat,” Obasanjo warned.
The result?
Riots based on false claims.
Public panic over fake military operations.
Mistrust between civilians and the government.
And a youth population increasingly radicalized through digital lies.
A Call to Action: Building National Immunity Against Fake News
Obasanjo didn’t just issue a warning he offered a roadmap for national resilience.
His Four Key Recommendations:
1. Digital Literacy in Schools:
Integrate fact-checking, media bias detection, and source analysis into Nigerian curricula at secondary and tertiary levels.
2. Military Counter-Propaganda Training:
Equip soldiers and officers with tools to detect and counter digital propaganda during operations.
3. Government Fact-Checking Units:
Establish independent, well-funded agencies to respond rapidly to viral misinformation.
4. Collaborate With Tech Platforms:
Build partnerships with Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) to monitor, label, and suppress fake content.
This is more than an IT or press issue it’s a matter of national defense, Obasanjo emphasized.
What the Military Is Doing: AWCN Takes a Strategic Step Forward
The Army War College Nigeria, under the leadership of Major-General B.A. Alabi, has made this issue a key pillar of national defense strategy.
“We must understand how information true or false alters battlefield outcomes,” Alabi said.
This year’s symposium marked the launch of a new curriculum combining historical case studies of wartime propaganda with training in modern digital warfare.
Examples include:
Fake ceasefire broadcasts analyzed in real time
Simulated AI-generated threats
Biafran radio propaganda deconstructed for military learning
Colonel Fatima Dauda, a psychological warfare expert, added a crucial dimension: women and children are the most affected.
“They consume the most news via smartphones. If disinformation corrupts them, we lose the home front.”
Global Examples: Nigeria Is Not Alone
Nigeria isn’t the only nation grappling with this digital crisis. Obasanjo pointed to global case studies:
Ukraine: Russia uses deepfakes and fake NATO communiques to manipulate local and global opinion.
Myanmar: Rebel and state groups clash more on Facebook than on battlefields.
India–Pakistan: Viral WhatsApp messages have triggered communal violence and international incidents.
Obasanjo’s message was clear: If these countries can fall victim, so can Nigeria unless action is taken now.
National Duty Beyond the Military
While the Army War College is taking the lead, Obasanjo stressed that everyone has a role.
Who Should Be Involved?
Teachers and Educators: Incorporate media literacy in lesson plans.
Parents: Teach children to question what they see online.
Journalists: Verify, contextualize, and avoid emotional triggers.
Tech Developers: Build systems that flag and track disinformation trends.
Religious and Community Leaders: Speak against digital falsehoods from the pulpit and podium.
The Bigger Picture: A National Framework on Disinformation
Obasanjo proposed creating a National Framework on Disinformation a legal and ethical guide for combating fake news.
Such a framework could:
Define what constitutes disinformation
Provide penalties for organized fake news campaigns
Encourage transparency from political figures and media outlets
Ensure platform accountability without stifling free speech
In essence, Nigeria needs its own digital defense policy rooted in historical memory and future urgency.
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Final Thoughts: Turning History into a Guidebook, Not a Warning
The Nigerian Civil War may have ended in 1970, but its echoes are far from silent.
“Disinformation in Civil War Nigeria isn’t just a footnote it’s a flashlight,” Obasanjo said.
It’s a reminder that truth, when corrupted, can kill. And lies, when amplified, can tear nations apart.
As Nigeria navigates rising political manipulation, religious extremism, and ethnic tension in 2025, studying the past is no longer a scholarly luxury it’s a civic necessity.
Have You Seen Fake News Cause Real Harm in Nigeria?
Share your experience in the comments. Let’s build a smarter, more united Nigeria one truth at a time.
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