By Iroyin Yoruba Television
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has warned Nigerians against spreading unverified information, fake videos and propaganda capable of creating panic, provoking violence and worsening the country’s already serious security challenges.
The warning was issued on October 4 by the Commandant of the NSCDC Federal Capital Territory Command, Dr Olusola Odumosu, during a nationwide roadshow organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in Abuja ahead of the 2026 World Public Relations Forum.
The security agency said the rapid circulation of false information, particularly through social media platforms, had become an additional challenge for security authorities because misleading reports can create fear among residents, distort public understanding of security incidents and, in extreme cases, encourage people to attack innocent citizens.
Odumosu said Nigerians must understand that information shared online can have real-world consequences, especially when it concerns alleged attacks, kidnapping, banditry, communal conflict or movements of security personnel.
According to him, some people circulate old videos from previous crises and present them as current incidents occurring in another part of the country. Such posts can cause residents to panic, alter their movements unnecessarily and sometimes respond aggressively to people or communities wrongly identified as threats.
The NSCDC commandant specifically cautioned against the practice of taking old footage from previous security incidents and attaching a new location or current political development to it without verification.
He explained that such misinformation can spread rapidly because many social media users share content immediately after seeing it without checking when, where or under what circumstances the original incident occurred.
The warning comes at a time when security-related information is increasingly consumed through social media, messaging applications and other digital platforms. In such an environment, an unverified claim can reach thousands or even millions of people before authorities have an opportunity to establish whether it is genuine.
Odumosu therefore appealed particularly to young Nigerians, who constitute a large proportion of social media users, to exercise greater responsibility when creating, receiving or forwarding security-related content.
He said responsible communication should be treated as part of the wider effort to protect lives and maintain public order.
The NSCDC commandant's position reflects a growing concern among security and public-information officials that misinformation can become a force multiplier for criminals. False reports can cause residents to abandon safe routes, gather around dangerous locations, spread accusations against innocent people or interfere with legitimate security operations.
In communities already affected by insecurity, the consequences can be particularly serious.
Residents who receive an unverified report of an impending attack may begin fleeing their homes without reliable information about where they are going. Others may organise informal responses based on rumours, potentially creating confrontations where none previously existed.
False information can also damage confidence in legitimate security warnings. If people repeatedly encounter fabricated alerts, they may eventually begin ignoring genuine warnings issued by the police, military, NSCDC or other authorised agencies.
That creates a difficult situation for security organisations because effective public cooperation depends heavily on trust.
When residents know that official information is reliable, they are more likely to report suspicious activities, follow emergency instructions and cooperate with security personnel. When false reports dominate public discussion, however, genuine warnings can become difficult to distinguish from fabricated ones.
The NSCDC warning therefore goes beyond a simple appeal to stop sharing fake videos. It highlights the connection between information management and physical security.
Nigeria has experienced numerous security challenges involving terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence, cult-related attacks and other forms of criminality. In such circumstances, information can influence how quickly communities respond to threats and how effectively authorities manage emergencies.
A false security report can also undermine ongoing investigations.
For example, if an alleged kidnapping location is wrongly identified online, members of the public may converge on the wrong area, while investigators could be forced to spend valuable time responding to rumours rather than focusing on verified intelligence.
Similarly, false claims about the identity of suspected criminals can expose innocent people to harassment or retaliation.
The NSCDC's warning is particularly relevant to the growing use of old photographs and videos in contemporary online discussions.
A video recorded years ago can appear convincing to someone who encounters it without context. If a caption claims that the incident happened that morning in a particular Nigerian city, users who do not independently check the material may believe the claim and distribute it further.
Once such material begins circulating across several platforms, correcting it can become extremely difficult.
This is because corrections often travel more slowly than sensational claims. A dramatic video accompanied by an alarming caption can attract significant attention, while a subsequent explanation that the footage is old may receive far less engagement.
Security agencies therefore face the challenge of responding not only to physical threats but also to rapidly developing information crises.
The NSCDC urged Nigerians to approach social media communication with greater caution and to avoid messages capable of heating the political atmosphere or encouraging hostility between individuals and communities.
The agency's concern is not limited to political misinformation. It also includes fabricated reports about criminal attacks, kidnapping, banditry and other security incidents that could provoke fear or trigger retaliatory action.
The warning also comes as Nigeria prepares for a period of heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Political competition can increase the volume of information circulating online, while security incidents can easily become subjects of political argument. Without adequate verification, genuine security concerns can become mixed with partisan claims, exaggerated narratives or deliberately misleading material.
The NSCDC's appeal for responsible communication therefore carries importance beyond social media etiquette.
For security agencies, public cooperation remains an important component of intelligence gathering. Residents are often the first people to notice unusual movements, suspicious activities or threats within their communities. Promptly reporting such information through appropriate channels can assist security agencies.
However, there is a major difference between reporting a suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities and publishing an unverified accusation publicly.
Publicly naming individuals as criminals without evidence can expose innocent people to danger and potentially interfere with investigations. Likewise, circulating unconfirmed claims about an alleged attack can make it more difficult for authorities to communicate accurate information.
Responsible communication requires users to distinguish between what they know, what they have heard and what they merely suspect.
The same principle applies to photographs and videos.
Before forwarding a security-related video, users should consider whether the original source is identifiable, whether the location can be independently confirmed, whether the footage is current and whether reputable news organisations or government agencies have verified the incident.
Where such verification is unavailable, restraint is preferable to immediate distribution.
Artificial intelligence has also made the problem more complicated.
The increasing availability of tools capable of generating or modifying images, videos and audio means that visual material can no longer automatically be regarded as proof that an event happened exactly as presented.
This makes source verification increasingly important.
The National Planning Committee for the World Public Relations Forum also emphasised the need for greater responsibility in communication, particularly as artificial intelligence becomes more influential in the production and distribution of information.
The forum is expected to address broader questions surrounding responsible communication and information integrity, with thousands of delegates expected from countries represented in the Global Alliance.
For Nigeria, the issue has a direct security dimension.
The country needs reliable communication during emergencies. Whether the emergency involves a terrorist attack, kidnapping, communal conflict, natural disaster or major public disturbance, citizens need accurate information to make informed decisions.
False information can undermine that process.
The NSCDC's position is therefore that citizens have a role to play in preventing information from becoming another source of insecurity.
That role begins with verification.
Residents should rely on recognised government agencies, established news organisations and identifiable official sources when seeking confirmation of major security incidents. They should also be cautious when a message uses highly emotional language, demands immediate forwarding or provides no verifiable details.
Social media users should equally avoid adding unverified commentary to genuine incidents.
An authentic video can become misleading when a user attaches a false location or an invented explanation to it. In this way, misinformation does not always require completely fabricated material; sometimes genuine footage is manipulated through false context.
The security implications can be serious.
A video of an old attack may be genuine but still become dangerous misinformation if it is presented as a new attack in another state. Similarly, an authentic photograph of a security operation can be misused to suggest that an unrelated operation is currently taking place.
The NSCDC's warning consequently places responsibility on both individuals and organisations.
Individuals must exercise caution before sharing content, while media organisations, public institutions and other information providers must strive to provide accurate and timely clarification when false reports begin circulating.
For security agencies, timely communication is particularly important.
When authorities provide clear information about an incident, the public has a reliable reference point against which online claims can be assessed. Delayed communication can create an information vacuum that rumours quickly fill.
The challenge is therefore a shared one.
Government agencies must improve transparency and speed in their communication, while citizens must resist the temptation to spread sensational information simply because it appears dramatic or urgent.
Nigeria's security situation requires cooperation between authorities and communities. That cooperation cannot function effectively when fear is continually amplified by false reports.
The NSCDC has consequently called on Nigerians to treat social media as a powerful communication tool that carries corresponding responsibilities.
The central message from the FCT command is straightforward: information that can trigger panic, violence or attacks on innocent people should not be circulated without verification.
As security agencies continue efforts to combat kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities, accurate information remains an important part of the country's broader security response.
The public can assist that response by reporting genuine threats through appropriate channels, avoiding speculation and refusing to become distributors of unverified material.
The warning also serves as a reminder that combating insecurity is not limited to weapons, patrols and arrests. Public behaviour, community intelligence and responsible communication can influence the effectiveness of security operations.
At a time when a single social media post can reach a large audience within minutes, the decision to verify information before sharing it can have consequences far beyond the individual who presses the forward or share button.
For the NSCDC, responsible communication is therefore part of responsible citizenship.
The corps has urged Nigerians, especially young people who are highly active on digital platforms, to use social media in ways that support peace and public safety rather than intensify fear, division and violence.
The warning comes as another reminder that Nigeria's fight against insecurity is taking place not only on roads, in forests and communities, but also in the information space where perceptions of security threats can develop and spread rapidly.
Ensuring that this information space is not exploited to create unnecessary panic will require continued vigilance from security agencies, media professionals and ordinary citizens alike.
For Nigerians, the immediate responsibility is clear: verify before sharing, distinguish genuine warnings from rumours and avoid content that could place other people or communities at risk.
In an environment where misinformation can quickly become a security threat, responsible communication has become an essential part of protecting lives and maintaining public order.