Code for Africa

  • Children working in a rural area with tools and water containers, surrounded by dirt and trees.
    Abdullahi Abubakar, Ibrahim Adeyemi, Eric Mugendi, Talibeh Hydara, Rob Rose, Thomas Mukhwana, Vernon Wessels

    Civilians, Gov’ts on The Losing End As Gold Smuggling Booms in Africa

    Nasiru Adamu has a toxic relationship with terrorists operating in Zamfara, a state in northwestern Nigeria. In exchange for protection, he shovels the earth to dig up pieces of gold and gives the terrorists their share. Proud like a peacock, Adamu thinks his shady deal with the criminals terrorising his community brings him peace and […]

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  • Illustrative collage of two men, one in military uniform and one in a suit, with vote symbols and abstract grunge elements.
    Ibrahim Adeyemi

    Faiths Under Fire: The Conspiracy Theorists Inflaming Religious War in Nigeria

    He picks up news stories about the humanitarian crises in Nigeria and twists narratives with bloated headlines, adding some religious colouration to feed the tasteful yearning of his audience. On his social media accounts, he has shared countless distorted stories, blemishing facts with fiction — and many among his thousands of followers consume them, believing […]

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  • A stylized image with TikTok logo overlaying a collage of soldiers and military scenes in cyan and black halftone.
    Aliyu Dahiru

    Inside The Propaganda World Of Nigerian Terrorists On Tiktok

    Northwestern Nigeria, long bedevilled by terrorism locally referred to as banditry, now faces an emerging threat: the use of social media platforms, particularly TikTok, by violent non-state actors to spread propaganda, undermine security efforts, and incite violence. With an internet penetration rate of 45.5 per cent as of 2024, Nigeria has an active number of […]

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  • Aliyu Dahiru

    The Dark World Of Jihadist Propaganda Channels On Telegram

    Following the crackdown on Ansaru jihadist accounts on Facebook and WhatsApp in Feb. 2023, the group has shifted its operations to Telegram, a messaging app that has been a favoured platform for extremists due to the relative discreteness it comes with. In Jan. 2023, a group was formed and named Mahanga TV after some Ansaru […]

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  • Kunle Adebajo

    The IPOB Diaspora Network Pushing Disinformation In Nigeria

    One name that comes up often in the war against disinformation in Nigeria is the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist organisation whose controversial campaign has ripped through Nigeria’s airwaves and internet spaces for over a decade. Despite multiple attempts to muffle its message, it has continued to have a powerful presence both on […]

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