The Curious Case Of The ‘Unknown Gunmen’ And IPOB’s Internet Propaganda

What is the connection between the pro-Biafran separatist terror group and an infamously vague but violent militia? Here’s what we learnt from studying hundreds of social media posts by IPOB-affiliated accounts. Key takeaways: Ten years ago, the southeastern part of Nigeria was the country’s safest region. But that changed in 2021 as bubbling agitations for a breakaway …

Turning Grief Into A War Cry: The Women On The Frontline Against Boko Haram

Though the war on terror in northeastern Nigeria is often pictured with a male face and baritone voice, a lot of women are also putting their lives on the line in the hopes of seeing peace return fully to the region. Ever since Amina had to watch as her husband was killed, she’s made herself …

Four things the latest Digital News Report tells us about Nigeria’s media ecosystem

Every year since 2012, the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ) has released a Digital News Report, providing important insights on news consumption across the world. The 2025 edition (available here) is based on responses from nearly 100,000 people from 48 countries. What can we learn about the Nigerian media ecosystem from this study?

A bunch of things you might want to know about essay writing

I was recently invited by the Undergraduate Essayists Group to facilitate a workshop on — you guessed it — essay writing. Fun fact: The group has trained hundreds of young and aspiring writers across Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania. When the founder reached out via LinkedIn in May, he mentioned that many of their previous trainers …

Don’t be lazy, and 15 other random writing tips for journalists

I am very suspicious of the notion that I have something valuable to teach others. So you must understand how difficult it is for me to write an article like this because who am I to presume I have enough expertise to tell others what to do and what to avoid? But then, if I’ve …

From tiny sparks to wildfires: How misinformation sprouts in the internet era

The spread of misinformation on the internet can be likened to a wildfire. It begins with a spark. Then, it is picked up by another thing that catches fire and continues to spread until everyone is talking about it. As a researcher, you come across this fact, and because it is featured in so many …