This snapshot is intended to offer an overview of inter-religious issues present in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, identifying emerging narratives, key actors, tactics, or techniques used in conversations related to communal clashes and religious groups. The overview is the first in a series of social media analytical reports by the Build Up with participatory insights and contributions from local partners – seeking to empower youths in Bauchi, Plateau, and Gombe to advance inter-religious tolerance and freedom of religion and belief (FoRB). The report was written by Allan Cheboi, data and digital technology lead at Build Up.
Executive Summary
The following are the main findings of Build Up’s initial snapshot/ baseline landscape mapping and research:
- Social media platforms: Facebook is the dominant platform used by 80.6% of internet users in Nigeria, significantly influencing digital habits and information dissemination.
- Information flow: Infomediaries such as local radio stations and community leaders play a crucial role in bridging the digital divide, spreading online narratives to offline audiences who often cannot verify the content.
- Plateau State violence: Extremist attacks and the call for self-defence by religious leaders have sparked mixed reactions, reflecting deep divisions and the need for government intervention and peacebuilding efforts.
- Government and military response: Allegations of military complicity in Plateau State’s violence have elicited significant debate, with some accusing the government of failing to protect vulnerable communities.
- Religious cleansing claims: Discussions on inter-religious issues in Gombe State have been prominent, highlighting deep-seated tensions and grievances within the region.
- Anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments: Arrests at an alleged gay wedding in Gombe State have sparked hateful and polarising comments online, reflecting the region’s cultural and religious stance against homosexuality.
- Kidnappings in Bauchi: Despite significant incidents, online engagement is low possibly due to low internet penetrations in the state, with commenters praising government efforts to counter kidnappings and related crimes.
- Influential actors on social media: Media-related pages dominate inter-religious discussions, followed by personal accounts, while government and NGO pages show lower engagement. Influential accounts on X play a crucial role in shaping inter-religious dialogue, with high engagement levels highlighting their impact on public discourse.
Key recommendations provided include enhancing digital peacebuilding initiatives by investing in hyperlocal platforms and creating community-specific dialogues, implementing continuous social media monitoring to understand content trends and address social divides, and addressing religious polarisation and anti-LGBTQ+ narratives through youth-led digital narratives.
The digital ecosystem in the three Nigerian states is extremely dynamic, with the rapid growth of messaging apps and social media, alongside expanding digital media on the open web.
The report expands on the core narratives, the main actors identified and the main social media channels used to propagate them. At the end of the report, we make suggestions for particular narratives or techniques that warrant ongoing monitoring.