By Murtala Issah
The North East Regional Minister, Ibrahim Tia, has expressed deep concern over the growing misuse of social media platforms to fuel tribal, religious and community tensions in the region.
Speaking at the Regional Accountability Forum at Nalerigu, the Minister said inflammatory comments circulating on platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and TikTok are threatening peace and stability in the North East Region.
“When you see one of the comments, you can’t even sleep,” he stated, describing the nature of some online posts as disturbing and dangerous.
According to him, the increasing spread of hate speech, misinformation and divisive commentary on social media poses a serious security threat to the region, which has in recent years experienced recurring tensions and disturbances.
Mr. Tia noted that the situation is particularly worrying at a time when some parts of the region continue to face security challenges, including the imposition of curfews in areas around Nalerigu-Gambaga and Walewale.
He cautioned residents, especially the youth, against using digital platforms to provoke violence or deepen divisions among communities, urging citizens to instead use social media responsibly to promote peace and development.
The Minister further called on community leaders, opinion leaders and the media to support efforts aimed at maintaining harmony in the region by discouraging the circulation of provocative content.
He stressed that peace remains essential for the development of the North East Region and appealed to all stakeholders to place unity and coexistence above political, ethnic or religious differences.
The Regional Accountability Forum brought together government officials, traditional authorities, civil society groups and members of the public to assess governance and development issues affecting the region.
