Disinformation Worsened Nigerian Civil War, Says Obasanjo.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has highlighted the significant role disinformation played in exacerbating the Nigerian Civil War, a conflict that raged from 1967 to 1970. Speaking at the sixth annual Nigerian Civil War Symposium, themed “The Role of Disinformation in the Nigerian Civil War,” held in Abuja on Wednesday, Obasanjo underscored the detrimental impact of propaganda and psychological warfare during the brutal three-year struggle.
Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s military ruler before becoming a civilian president in 1999, addressed an audience at the event organised by the Army War College Nigeria (AWCN). He noted that disinformation, often deployed by a weaker force to discredit a superior one, intensified tensions and swayed public opinion during the war. “Disinformation played a significant role in the Nigerian Civil War, exacerbating tensions and influencing public opinion,” he stated, as quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The former president reflected on how such tactics prolonged the conflict, which might have ended sooner without the spread of false narratives. He suggested that the war, also known as the Biafran War, was complicated by “unphysical” challenges, a point he made during his address at the symposium.
Obasanjo also drew parallels to contemporary challenges, warning that similar strategies of disinformation are currently being employed by insurgents in Nigeria’s North-East and other violent groups across the country. He urged the armed forces to learn from historical events to better tackle modern security threats. “The armed forces must be deliberate about drawing lessons from historical events,” he said, commending the AWCN for including the study of the Nigerian Civil War in its curriculum to enhance the capabilities of operational-level leaders.
The symposium’s theme was described as particularly relevant in an era of asymmetric warfare, where misinformation can be as potent a weapon as physical force. Obasanjo’s remarks come as a timely reminder of the need to address the spread of false information, which continues to pose a threat to national security and social cohesion.
In his closing remarks, the former president praised the AWCN for its efforts to equip military leaders with the knowledge to apply lessons from past campaigns to current operational planning. The event, widely covered by local media, has sparked renewed discussions on the importance of countering disinformation in both historical and modern contexts.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with security challenges, Obasanjo’s insights serve as a clarion call for vigilance against the insidious effects of disinformation, a tactic that not only fuelled a devastating civil war but remains a potent tool for destabilisation today.
