HATE SPEECH AND SECURITY CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA: THE 2011-2019 ELECTORAL VIOLENCE IN PERSPECTIVE

Authors

  • Usman Muideen Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • Badiru Ibrahim Yusuf Maitama Sule University Kano, Nigeria

Keywords:

Hate speech, Security challenges, Human rights, Freedom of speech

Abstract

Hate speech - verbal or written - on persons or groups based on shared attributes such as ethnicity, race, religion, political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, or disability, hinders peacebuilding, development, and peaceful co-existence among diverse groups in (not limited to democratic) societies. This paper examined the effects of hate speech on security challenges in Nigeria. The paper is anchored on structural-functional theory to provide theoretical orientation to the paper. The methodology of the paper is content analysis (i.e. rely on secondary data) from which analysis was made and a conclusion drawn. The paper concluded that Hate speech publicly incites violence against individuals or groups of people. It has exacerbated the security challenges and worsened the situation of peaceful co-existence in Nigeria. The paper recommends criminal sanctions should be used as a measure of last resort and, all along, a balance must be kept between fighting hate speech on the one hand and safeguarding freedom of speech on the other.

Author Biographies

Usman Muideen, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Department of Political Science & International Studies,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria,
08065537927

Badiru Ibrahim, Yusuf Maitama Sule University Kano, Nigeria

Department of History & International Studies,
Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano – Nigeria,
+2347032340923

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Published

2022-04-10