Author(s) :

GIDEON TEMITOPE AJETUNMOBI.

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Abstract :

Abstract This study examines the role of strategic communication in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts between 2010 and 2023. Against the backdrop of persistent security threats posed by Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), the research investigates how communication strategies have been employed by the Nigerian government to counter terrorist propaganda, shape public perception, and foster civic resilience. Anchored on Clausewitz’s Trinitarian Theory and adopting a mixed-methods research design, the study draws on data from structured questionnaires, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and policy document analysis to assess the effectiveness, challenges, and implementation gaps of strategic communication within Nigeria’s counterterrorism framework. Findings reveal that while strategic communication is acknowledged as an essential non-kinetic tool in the fight against terrorism, its application remains fragmented, reactive, and insufficiently localised. Terrorist groups have successfully utilised digital platforms and community narratives to influence and radicalise vulnerable populations, often outpacing government responses. Moreover, inter-agency rivalry, limited technological capacity, underfunding, and poor community engagement have significantly undermined the impact of state-led communication efforts. The study further identifies that public trust in official counterterrorism messaging is low, particularly in rural and conflict-affected regions. The study concludes that for Nigeria’s strategic communication to effectively complement its kinetic operations, it must be institutionalised, community-based, and technologically adaptive. Key recommendations include the modernisation of digital communication infrastructure, strengthening of inter-agency coordination, integration of grassroots voices, and capacity building for media actors.

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