This snapshot is intended to offer an overview of inter-religious issues present in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, identifying emerging narratives, key actors, tactics, or techniques used in conversations related to communal clashes and religious groups. The overview is the sixth in a planned series of social media analytical reports by the Build Up and local partners that seek to empower youths in Bauchi, Plateau, and Gombe to advance inter-religious tolerance and freedom of religion. The report was written by Allan Cheboi, Data and Digital Technology Lead at Build Up.
Executive Summary
The following are the main findings of Build Up’s social media analysis in the months of January to June 2025:
- Recurring religious massacre allegations in Plateau: Viral posts allege repeated Christmas- and Palm Sunday-season massacres targeting Christians in Plateau State by Islamist Fulani militias. These narratives, framed with religious imagery and claims of global neglect, foster a sense of victimhood and abandonment among Christian communities.
- Bokkos and Kidan Ado attacks spark outrage and self-defence calls: Highly engaged content recounts alleged mass killings and destruction in Bokkos and Kidan Ado, triggering calls for Christian communities to arm themselves. The rise in self-defence rhetoric underscores a growing mistrust in state protection.
- Secessionist and media bias claims: Nnamdi Kanu is portrayed as a prophetic figure warning against Fulani domination, while other posts accuse Nigerian and international authorities of selectively ignoring Christian suffering. These narratives deepen regional and religious alienation.
- Bauchi polarisation intensifies: Influential users such as @LabaranDawa promote exclusivist religious identities, asserting Bauchi as a “Muslim land.” Content across platforms reveals a surge in territorial and identity-based boundary-making, mutual accusations of violence, and selective outrage over incidents involving Christians and Muslims.
- Gombe as a symbol of religious vulnerability: Resurfacing of past killings (e.g., Christiana Oluwasesin) and recent incidents (e.g., Pastor Amos’ death and the Easter truck crash) reinforce a narrative of impunity and injustice. This is juxtaposed against official narratives of peaceful coexistence, fueling distrust.
- Education and governance fuel division: Debates over the Almajiri bill and Ramadan-related school closures reflect broader anxieties around religious bias in policy-making. These are seen as emblematic of systemic exclusion of minority religious communities.
We recommend that Influencers and CSOs prioritise coordinated responses to counteract sectarian narratives, promote inclusive governance, and amplify credible interfaith voices. Key attention should be paid to the emotional resonance and spread of grievance-based content which increasingly drives offline tensions.
The section below expands on the core narratives, the main actors identified and the main social media channels used to propagate them. At the end of the report, we make suggestions for particular narratives or techniques that warrant ongoing monitoring.