Nigeria’s enemy in the 21st century: Fake news, hate speech and kidnapping

By Mubarak Ibrahim

Fake news and hate speech are two mutually exclusive terms that mean different things. However, in the Nigerian context, the terms are often paired especially in inciteful media context. Most ethno religious conflicts in Nigeria are politically motivated, and coincidentally politics happen to be the bridge that brings fake news and hate speech together.

To compound the situation further, the internet emerged. This makes the production and distribution of contents to be easier. Unlike The days when the government was the sole owner of media and the sole voice in public domain. Once upon a time, in the period directly after independence, government owned all media, print and electronic.

Now with the emergence of The internet and the social media, New technology becomes the major sources of information especially for youths; they so much believe all the gossip they hear from the platform. Thus, there is high level of mistrust and a lot tension in the land.

Poisonous information and incorrect statement architect to poison their psychology are always on the increase. The volume and and intensity of such information are overwhelming.

On the other, kidnapping has became a lucrative business. One no longer need to be filthy rich to be kidnapped in this country, our children are afraid to go to school and only the bravest can ply the high ways in the night. Perhaps, is the institution of the state so weak to deal with this unending game of kidnappings?

Absolutely not, because the military is always almost busy settling one form of problem or the other in the same region, and according to the inspector general of police, some state governors are no longer helping matters.

The hypocritic nature of our society will not allow us to face the threat heads on.

Ethnicisation of conflict is another issue bedeviling the Nigerian nation as a whole.

The media especially the online version, have become so much free that NBC no longer frightens them. Because of this, they glamorises criminal activities like Kidnapping, violence crime, arm robbery, ethnic killings and challenges the military who are making great sacrifices for this blessed Nation. With such reportage, Sometimes one would wonder if at all, anything good is happening in this country as the online media is succeeding in eroding the remains of patriotism left in the upcoming generation; for, only a few individuals are proud to be called Nigerians. Sincerely, I pity my generation.

Against this backdrop, the professional media is not helping matters either, for its promote and add credibility to hate, fake and offensive speeches which consequently increased the confidence of wrong doers and justify hateful tendencies. For example, Northern elders forum was reported to have said ” Those who vote for Jonathan and the PDP will be considered an enemy of the North”. Vanguard, 15 October 2014.

Again, it was reported by the Daily post on 18 August, 2013 that the former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode has said “The Igbos are collectively unlettered, uncouth, uncultured, unrestrained, and crude in all their ways …. More acquisition of wealth is their sole objective and purpose in life”. The famous Nigerian writer China Achebe was also not left behind. In 2012 he wrote and I quote ” The Igbos culture being receptive to change, Individualistic and highly competitive gave the Igbo man an unquestionable advantage…. Unlike the Hausa/Fulani, he was unhindered by a wary religion and unlike Yoruba he was unhampered by traditional hierarchies “.

Occasion by the above, in 2017 president Muhammadu Buhari Complained on the upsurge in offensive hate and dangerous speech in the country. He said the situation has passed the red line in our nations space. With the this justifications provide a birth eyes-view of tension that parvade ethnic and religious relationship across different section of the country. Nigeria is bleeding and we alone can stop the bleeding. Nigeria is greater than any body’s ambition. The country can’t stand divided because of the activity of a few individuals who only represent their interests and nothing else.

Mubarak Ibrahim of the Department of mass communication, Bayero university, Kano