Writing By Teddy Daniel; Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
Security agencies in Kaduna State have been urged to treat misinformation, disinformation and hate speech as serious security risks capable of undermining peace and stability.
The call was made by a facilitator, Mr. Austin Aigbe, during a two day workshop organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) for security agencies in the state which focused on practical ways of countering false information and harmful narratives to promote peaceful coexistence.
Mr. Aigbe explained that the training was designed to strengthen the security architecture by improving how agencies respond to information, noting that false and deliberately distorted content often fuels tension and violence at the community level.
According to him, participants drawn from the Nigerian Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kaduna State Vigilante Service, Civilian Joint Task Force and the Joint Task Force were exposed to practical tools for verifying information before responding or amplifying it.
He highlighted tools such as Google Reverse Image Search, TinEye and InVID, explaining that images and videos shared online should always be independently verified to avoid spreading falsehoods.
Mr. Aigbe stressed that while misinformation may be shared unknowingly, disinformation is a deliberate act intended to cause harm and should be treated as a criminal offence, warning that lumping crimes along ethnic or religious lines amounts to hate speech and escalates insecurity.
He also noted that group discussions during the workshop produced strong feedback on improving responses, particularly by lead agencies, and called on security personnel to set aside personal biases when handling sensitive information.
The facilitator further urged citizens to support and trust security agencies, while also constructively pointing out lapses when necessary.
He emphasised that peace can only be achieved through collaboration, community engagement and responsible information management.
Mr. Aigbe concluded that building trust between communities and security agencies remains critical, noting that most security challenges begin locally and can be resolved early if misinformation and hate speech are properly managed.
In a remark, the CDD Assistant Programme Officer, Mr. Peter Yohanna, said the training formed part of a week long engagement in Kaduna involving youths, women, community based and civil society organisations.
According to him, many participants initially lacked a clear understanding of the difference between misinformation and disinformation, but the workshop helped clarify their roles in addressing both, as well as hate speech.
Mr. Yohanna said CDD’s goal goes beyond the training, explaining that the organisation plans to support community dialogue committees and encourage step down trainings to ensure sustainability and wider impact.
He added that misinformation and hate speech have eaten deep into the social, political and economic fabric of society, expressing confidence that participants would apply the lessons learned to strengthen peace, social cohesion and conflict prevention in their communities.
