‘Fake News’ and ‘Half-truths’ in the Framings of Boko Haram Narrative: Implications on International Counterterrorism Responses

ABSTRACT

What concerns do official statements, especially government press releases on counterterrorism war against Boko Haram generate for countries outside Nigeria, and what are their counterterrorism responses to such sensitive military information? Nigeria’s official counterterrorism and military statements rarely met its intended objectives of improving military’s public image, applauding government’s counterterrorism efforts, and attracting international counterterrorism support. It, however, depicted government’s tendency in the use of ‘fake news’ and ‘half-truths’ in blanketing loopholes in its counterterrorism war against Boko Haram. This article argues that government’s adoption of ‘fake news’ and false statements, as ‘technology of security governance,’ in the framings of Boko Haram’s narrative and counterterrorism analysis is implicated in the shrinkage of international counterterrorism assistance (i.e. troop contribution, intelligence support, military financing, weapons supply, military trainings, cyber-security support, etc.), and consequently the intractability of Boko Haram insurgency. I elicit primary data from top military officers. I conclude by reflecting on a broad counterinsurgency information analysis model that will encompass new techniques for exclusive investigative inquiry in sorting out pieces of false information that are intricately mixed up in true statements.

RESUMEN

¿Qué preocupaciones generan las declaraciones oficiales, especialmente los comunicados de prensa del gobierno sobre la guerra antiterrorista contra Boko Haram para países fuera de Nigeria, y cuáles son sus respuestas antiterroristas a información militar tan sensible?

Las declaraciones militares y antiterroristas oficiales de Nigeria rara vez cumplieron sus objetivos de mejorar la imagen pública de los militares, aplaudir los esfuerzos del gobierno en la lucha contra el terrorismo y atraer apoyo internacional contra el terrorismo. Sin embargo, sí sirvieron para ilustrar la tendencia del gobierno en el uso de “fake news” y “medias verdades” encubriendo lagunas en su guerra antiterrorista contra Boko Haram. Este artículo argumenta que la adopción por parte del gobierno de “fake news” y declaraciones falsas, como “tecnología de la gobernanza de la seguridad”, en los encuadres de la narrativa de Boko Haram y el análisis antiterrorista están implicado en la reducción de asistencia antiterrorista (es decir, contribución de tropas, apoyo de inteligencia, militar, financiación, suministro de armas, entrenamientos militares, apoyo en ciberseguridad, etc.) y en consecuencia la intratabilidad de la insurgencia de Boko Haram. Obtengo datos primarios de mandos militares. Concluyo reflexionando sobre un amplio modelo de análisis de información de contrainsurgencia que abarcará nuevas técnicas para investigación exclusiva dirigida a separar piezas de información falsa que se encuentran intrincadamente mezcladas con declaraciones ajustadas a la verdad.

KEYWORDS:

• Fake news
• post-truth
• Boko Haram
• cyber-security
• Nigeria
• counterterrorism
• military and security

Palabras clave::

• Noticias falsas
• Posverdad
• Boko Haram
• Nigeria
• Contraterrorismo
• militar
• seguridad

Notes

1. Interview with Major General, office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). Abuja. 25 June 2018.

2. Interview with two senior military intelligence officers, Force Headquarters. Abuja 27–28 June 2018.

3. Interview with Major General, office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). Abuja. 25 June 2018.

4. Interview with two female military officers, attached to Nigerian Air Force Base. Maiduguri. 26 July 2018.

5. Ibid.

6. Interview with Major General, office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). Abuja. 25 June 2018.

7. Ibid.

8. Interview with military officer, 234 Battalion military base HQ. Mubi. 20 August 2018.

9. Interview with two senior military officers attached to the Nigerian Air Force Base in Maiduguri. 27 July 2018.

10. Interview with three Military officers, 33 Army Artillery base. Maiduguri. 23 July 2018.

11. Group discussion with three military officers, aged 30–48, attached to 234 Battalion, military base HQ, Mubi on 20 August 2018.

12. Ibid.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Victor Chidubem Iwuoha

Dr. Victor Chidubem Iwuoha is a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He also teaches peace and conflict studies in the School of General Studies of the same University. His research interests include: security and strategic studies, international politics, political economy, foreign policy and diplomacy, peace and conflict studies, and development studies. E-mail: [email protected]