A security consultant, Kabiru Adamu, has cautioned that many young Nigerians cheering recent coups in Africa lack a real understanding of the harsh realities of military rule.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme monitored by DAILY POST, Adamu noted that Nigerians under the age of 30 have never lived under a military dictatorship and may be misled by online narratives.
“For anyone below 30 years old, they may not have experienced that,” he said. “There’s nothing at the moment telling me that the Gen Z in Nigeria understands the consequences of a military dictatorship, because I see them supporting the dictatorship taking place in Burkina Faso and Mali. They see those military juntas as heroes.”
Adamu pointed out that the growing admiration for coup leaders is driven largely by social media, where manipulated narratives are increasingly shaping public opinion.
He warned that disinformation campaigns portraying coup plotters as superheroes are gaining traction among youths, thereby influencing democratic societies like Nigeria.
“All of a sudden, you see disinformation and misinformation portraying these military leaders as superheroes,” he added. “They then gain followership within countries where democracy still thrives, unfortunately, including Nigeria. So yes, it is disturbing.”
The security expert urged governments—Nigeria included—to pay closer attention to online conversations that fuel misguided perceptions about military rule.
Comments