Search

Nigeria – how pro-Russian influence networks sell military rule as the answer When Nigerians took to the streets in August 2024 to protest soaring living costs and frustration with government, some demonstrations acquired an unexpected symbol: the Russian flag. In Kano, Kaduna and other northern cities, protesters were filmed carrying Russian colours and calling for Moscow’s intervention. Some demanded a military takeover. What initially looked like an unusual expression of anger has since become part of a much larger picture. A September 2026 assessment by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies describes Nigeria as a major target of overlapping foreign information operations, with Russia the most active external actor in its information space. The report does not identify a single centrally controlled campaign. Instead, it maps an ecosystem in which genuine dissatisfaction over insecurity, corruption and living standards is repeatedly redirected towards a broader proposition: democratic government has failed, while the military-led regimes of the Sahel offer a more effective alternative. Turning a real protest into a pro-Russian message The clearest example emerged during the 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests. Nigerian investigative reporting found that a Kano-based TikTok influencer with more than 100,000 followers had been paid through a Telegram channel associated with African Initiative, a Moscow-based media operation linked by researchers to Russian influence activity in Africa. The influencer said the channel supplied photographs, videos and talking points for redistribution on TikTok and Instagram. Among the messages provided were phrases such as “Putin please come and save Nigeria” and “The army is the answer for Nigeria”. Influencers were encouraged to use Hausa-language hashtags including #Zangazanga – “protest” – alongside references to Putin and Russia. Investigators identified 38 accounts circulating similar pro-Russian and pro-military narratives during the demonstrations. Russian flags subsequently appeared among protesters in several northern cities. This does not mean the protests themselves were created by Russia. They were driven by genuine economic and political grievances, and Nigerian protesters gave different reasons for carrying Russian flags. The important feature of the influence activity was precisely that it did not need to manufacture the original anger. It could attach a geopolitical message to an existing domestic crisis. From frustration to the idea of military government The narrative fits a wider pattern seen across West Africa. Russia has developed close relations with the military governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, while pro-Russian media ecosystems routinely portray those states as examples of sovereignty, stability and resistance to Western influence. Nigeria, by contrast, has remained under constitutional civilian government since 1999. Africa Center researchers say information networks targeting Nigerians increasingly contrast these two models. Recurring messages depict elections as wasteful or predetermined, civilian institutions as incapable of protecting citizens and military governments as more decisive on security and development. Some content portrays the Sahelian juntas as delivering better roads, lower prices and stronger security even where available evidence points to continuing or worsening instability. Language is central to the strategy. Hausa is spoken across northern Nigeria and neighbouring Niger, allowing political narratives to travel across borders that are far less important online than they are on maps. HumAngle documented efforts involving Nigerien state-linked actors to cultivate Hausa-speaking journalists and distribute material favourable to Niger’s junta and hostile to France and Western influence. The Russian and Sahelian-junta information ecosystems are not identical, but their narratives frequently reinforce one another. Fake journalists inside real Nigerian media The campaign environment extends beyond social media. A 2026 investigation by Graphika and Code for Africa identified 44 ghost reporters and fake experts whose identities were used to place Russia-aligned narratives in African media. Thirty-eight were assessed with high confidence to be fabricated. Their articles or quotations appeared across 138 websites and were amplified by at least 113 Facebook accounts and Pages. Nigeria was one of the most heavily targeted countries. According to the Africa Center’s analysis of the research, Daily Post Nigeria carried 39 articles involving 14 identified ghost authors. Once published by a genuine Nigerian outlet, such material could then be cited by other websites, social-media accounts or even Russian official channels as though it had originated independently in Africa. This is information laundering rather than simple propaganda: the most valuable asset being borrowed is the credibility of the local newsroom. Generative AI added another layer. OpenAI and Meta separately disrupted a Russia-origin network that produced Africa-focused political content and operated Facebook Pages posing as local media organisations. One fabricated commentator, “Dr Manuel Godsin”, was presented as a European-trained geopolitical expert although investigators found no evidence supporting his academic biography. ChatGPT had been used to generate articles under the persona’s name, while Meta removed 37 Facebook accounts and 29 Pages connected to the broader network. Different networks, similar strategic direction It would be misleading to merge all these activities into a single Russian command structure. The African Initiative-linked influencer campaign, the ghost-reporter network and the AI-enabled operation disrupted by OpenAI and Meta were uncovered separately and used different infrastructure. Public evidence does not demonstrate that every actor reported to the same organisation. What connects them is a recurring set of themes and methods: portraying Western partnerships as exploitative, presenting Russia as an alternative security partner, amplifying failures of civilian government, and giving military-led rule greater legitimacy. Investigative reporting on leaked Russian documents has meanwhile described a much wider influence apparatus operating across Africa, involving political consultants, paid journalists, influencers and locally tailored campaigns intended to reduce Western influence and expand Moscow’s position. The underlying technique is less about inventing dissatisfaction than redirecting it. Nigeria faces real security threats, economic pressure and public frustration. Influence operators do not need to persuade Nigerians that those problems exist. They need only influence the explanation for why they exist – and which political model appears to offer the answer. That is what makes the Nigerian case significant. The most effective propaganda does not necessarily introduce a completely false reality. It takes a real crisis and changes where the audience is encouraged to look for the solution. Sources Africa Center for Strategic Studies — The Raging Information Battle in Nigeria https://africacenter.org/spotlight/the-raging-information-battle-in-nigeria/ Graphika — Umbrae Ex Machina https://www.graphika.com/reports/umbrae-ex-machina OpenAI — Operation “No Bell” https://openai.com/index/disrupting-malicious-uses-of-ai-no-bell/ TheCable — Ghost reporters in African media https://www.thecable.ng/ghost-reporters-how-fabricated-african-voices-carried-pro-russia-narratives/ HumAngle — Nigeria Is Facing an Information War in Its Own Language https://www.humanglemedia.com/nigeria-is-facing-an-information-war-in-its-own-language DAIDAC / CJID — Russian influence during #EndBadGovernance https://daidac.thecjid.org/how-telegram-tiktok-aided-russian-disinformation-that-led-to-incarceration-of-nigerian-minors/ FactCheckHub — How Nigeria’s hunger protest took a radical turn https://factcheckhub.com/from-economic-protests-to-coup-agitation-how-nigerias-hunger-march-took-a-radical-turn/ News24 — Fake Kremlin-linked analyst planted stories in African media https://www.news24.com/southafrica/news/ai-expert-exposed-fake-kremlin-linked-analyst-planted-stories-in-african-media-20260318-0560 Vanguard — AI ‘expert’ exposed https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/03/ai-expert-exposed-fake-kremlin-linked-analyst-planted-stories-in-african-media/ Africa Confidential — How Moscow wages social media war https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/15961/how-moscow-wages-social-media-war Keywords #DISINFORMED #Episode15 #Nigeria #Russia #RussianInfluence #RussianDisinformation #Africa #WestAfrica #Disinformation #InformationWarfare #InfluenceOperations #ForeignInterference #FIMI #Propaganda #MilitaryRule #MilitaryGovernment #Democracy #PoliticalManipulation #NarrativeManipulation #AfricanInitiative #EndBadGovernance #Hausa #LocalInfluencers #GhostReporters #FakeExperts #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #AIPersonas #SyntheticMedia #AIPropaganda #Astroturfing #SocialMediaManipulation #Telegram #TikTok #DigitalInfluence #SourceLaundering #NarrativeLaundering #MediaManipulation #Sahel #Geopolitics #OSINT #WRLD

President @vonderleyen has announced an increase of almost €100 million in EU support for ocean observation. #HorizonEU is helping turn this ambition into action: backing the science we need to predict climate impacts, protect marine ecosystems and support coastal communities. https://t.co/Yol9Bw5cnZ #OceanObservation #ClimateAction #MarineEcosystems #EU

Today, at #UNGA81 we have witnessed the international community’s dedication and commitment to global ocean observation: for healthier ecosystems, safer navigation, resilient supply chains, a stronger offshore economy and maritime security. More than 30 countries have joined the https://t.co/8wGzx7WSI2 #OceanObservation #SustainableDevelopment #MaritimeSecurity #Thetweetdoesnotmentionanyspecificcountriesbyname #sotherearenocountrycodestoreturn.

Humanity is speeding towards a climate catastrophe. That’s the stark warning from the latest @UNEP report. Every fraction of a degree of warming will cost lives, deepen inequalities & push ecosystems closer to irreversible damage. We must raise ambition, accelerate https://t.co/lRMtDWVXd2 #ClimateCrisis #ActOnClimate #Sustainability #Therearenospecificcountriesmentionedinthetweet.

Data powers the digital economy, but only trusted governance makes its benefits inclusive. @UNESCO's Data Governance Programme helps policymakers build inclusive, rights-based data ecosystems for the #AI era. 📘 https://t.co/1VcapTAMrd #DataGovernance #DigitalTransformation https://t.co/VODwwj5Pdz #DataGovernance #DigitalEconomy #AI #Therearenospecificcountrycodesmentionedinthetweet.

England’s ancient oak trees dying in extreme hot and dry weather, trees and ecosystems unable to adapt fast enough to the changing climate. To cope with the extreme conditions, many trees are undergoing “early autumn”, wilting and losing their leaves early https://t.co/ETQiGTB1Dy #ClimateChange #Drought #OakTrees #GB

Indigenous Peoples are guardians of cultural heritage, stewards of vital ecosystems & crucial contributors to our shared future. Yet across the globe, they face disproportionate threats. Their individual & collective rights must be respected. On #IndigenousDay, and every day. https://t.co/XKerxiSXto #IndigenousPeoples #CulturalHeritage #RightsRespect #Nospecificcountrycodesarementionedinthetweet.

Lithuania leads NATO Allies with defence spending equal to 5.33% of GDP. But our ambition goes beyond the budget. We're building one of Europe's fastest-growing defence ecosystems, backed by talent, innovation, advanced manufacturing, and long-term commitment https://t.co/NzUi3VHSx3 #Lithuania #Defence #NATO #LT

We launched the EU-India Startup Partnership, bringing together two of the world’s most dynamic ecosystems to help startups and investors turn ideas into solutions. Research, innovation and trusted technologies are at the heart of a stronger EU-India partnership. (2/3) https://t.co/mmz6v58SC3 #StartupPartnership #EUIndia #Innovation #EU #IN

We will bring together the best of our drone ecosystems underpinned by a drone deal. Ukrainian ingenuity, tested every day on the battlefield. And EU industrial strength, able to produce at speed and at scale. We will reproduce the same with missiles. https://t.co/6eIKdl96ua #DroneInnovation #UkrainianDefense #EUMilitaryStrength #UA #EU

Skills are Europe’s real competitive edge. Today, on World Youth Skills Day, the European Skills High-Level Board presented its first recommendations - SPARKs: Skills Partnerships for Adult Reskilling. Regional ecosystems where businesses, education, training providers and https://t.co/JeP28YVYDq #WorldYouthSkillsDay #SkillsForEurope #AdultReskilling #EU

The true impact of the Green Corridor lies in the opportunities it creates for people and communities while safeguarding one of the world’s most important ecosystems. This is what sustainable development through Global Gateway looks like: protecting nature by making it a source https://t.co/2aAQCnJkjc #GreenCorridor #SustainableDevelopment #GlobalGateway #Nocountrycodesarepresentinthetweet.

As #AIDialogue nears, #GenAI can drive innovation but also amplify bias and underrepresentation of diverse languages, cultures, and perspectives. How can #AI strengthen, rather than undermine, diverse and pluralistic information ecosystems? 📄https://t.co/SBOcLeE3oq https://t.co/caWdDxkJ2V #AIDialogue #GenAI #DiversityInAI #Thetweetdoesnotmentionanyspecificcountries.Therefore #therearenocountrycodestoreturn.

Trees grown decades ago are absolutely not adapted to current climate conditions, not to mention future ones. Expect rapid transformation of forest ecosystems. #ClimateChange #ForestEcosystems #Sustainability #Thetweetdoesnotmentionanyspecificcountries.Therefore #therearenocountrycodestoreturn.

Ramachandra Guha's sleight on Rahul Gandhi has made people reassess RG and it has worked in his favour. Looking back, I think I was wrong to see Guha's hatchet job as a sabotage. It might be a clever attempt to get attention on RG. Last night was revealing for other reasons too. India doesn't want to stand too close to Pakistan in these times. For a legitimate reason. India manages to keep safe distance from the Pakistani terror factories through a complex balancing act. Current government, despite its positive limelight at this time, has manipulated the actual mandate and undermined it. And that mandate is far more fierce and dangerous if they consider India as hostile or undermining their claim to power. There are things that India can still do, but then, I am too far out to send my brain farts. For now, it remains on Pakistan to find other industries that can overtake its security business importance. Not yet visible on horizon sadly. Americans are desperate to get a one up on China. And they need 3-4 years for it. Meanwhile, China is one, max two years away from ensuring its development model to continue irrespective of rest of the world, mostly the western world. One of the most critical components of Chinese capabilities is its EUV machine. For USA, the challenge is to delay it or sabotage it. And it is running out of time. The only possibility it has to disrupt China is to weaponize space. That will bring about a clash of titans. Chinese interference in Indian economy and politics will grow now. I had written in past also about the need for a strong India for a prosperous China. Unfortunately, the simulatenous rise of both power powers didn't happen. India chose a servile path to predictability alongside a crumbling empire. Chinese and Indian social media ecosystems are almost entirely separate. But Indians dominate the mass/volume of the global interface for the Chinese. Besides, the great Chinese wall isn't that unbreachable. Indians have responded with raising a terrible stink to Chinese attempts of infiltrating with their propaganda campaigns at higher levels. Chinese attempts for a high quality heli-dropping of propaganda has slowed down for now, but it will return. Indian side lacks the depths and variety in arsenals. My fear is Chinese side will sidestep the routine propaganda and go for serious below-the-radar sabotage where they have a massive edge now. Is it possible that India is looking at a situation where a clean face becomes the PM and the current prick face becomes the President for life sort of thing? Initial thoughts. This might be a simple way to get rid of the American blackmail of this moron. Or the more likely path of a massive crackdown and rise of single party dictatorship?

“We already know the AMOC plays a critical role in regulating climate and sustaining marine ecosystems, and there is growing evidence that it may be weakening." Uncertainty around its future is why long-term monitoring is more vital than ever. https://t.co/mkwj4LTE8Y #ClimateChange #MarineEcosystems #AMOC #Nospecificcountrycodesarementionedinthetweet.