Amnesty International, the global human‑rights organization, has condemned the surge in ethnocentric narratives that incite tribal hatred on social media, according to recent reports. In a statement obtained by our correspondent on Sunday night, spokesperson Isa Sanusi accused influential figures—including journalists and political leaders—of sharing such incendiary posts.
Sanusi said, “Amnesty International has noted a shocking and significant rise in recent social media posts inciting tribal hatred—using ethnic slurs that have gone unchecked. Influential people such as journalists and political figures were among those sharing the inciting posts.” The organization highlighted that tribal bigotry has intensified on social platforms since the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections, and further escalated after voter disenfranchisement and targeted attacks on certain ethnic groups during the governorship and state House of Assembly elections on March 18.
Amnesty International called on Nigerian authorities to prohibit advocacy of hatred that amounts to incitement to hostility, discrimination, or violence. It also urged social‑media companies to rapidly expand their content‑moderation efforts. “Nigeria’s authorities have an obligation to prohibit advocacy of hatred that constitutes incitement to hostility, discrimination or violence. They must urgently denounce any statements, online or otherwise, that advocate violence against a specific ethnic group,” Sanusi added. “Social‑media companies also have a responsibility to swiftly scale up their content‑moderation efforts and ensure that the algorithms behind their platforms are not fueling tribal or ethnic hatred.”
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