- NEOCOLONIALISM AND THE DILEMMA OF THE THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES. pp. 1-7
- ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION AND THE STATE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA NATURAL RESOURCES, INSECURITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. pp. 8-25
- ECOWAS PROTOCOL ON FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS AND GOODS: IMPLICATIONS FOR NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY, SECURITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. pp. 26-39
- STATE FAILURE, TERRORISM AND INSURGENCY IN THE WEST AFRICAN SAHEL. pp. 40-47
- THE ROLES OF HISTORY EDUCATION IN STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA: INSIGHTS FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD. pp.48-58
- SYRIAN CRISIS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON INTERNATIONAL SECURITY. pp. 59-66
- NIGERIA-NIGER RELATIONS: BETWEEN CORDIALITY AND BRINKMANSHIP, 2015-2023. pp. 67-80
- HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION CONVENTIONS AGAINST AERIAL TERRORISM DURING THE COLD WAR ERA. pp. 81-90
- DIGITAL MILITIAS AND THE WEAPONIZATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY IN WEST AFRICA AND BEYOND. pp. 91-98
- CROSS-BORDER DYNAMICS AND TERRITORIAL RECONFIGURATION IN WEST AFRICA. pp. 99-109
- REGIMES, RADICAL INTERNATIONALISM, AND THE INTERNATIONAL LETHAL ORDER. pp. 110-125
Abstract: The rise of digital militias such as non-state actors exploiting social media for ideological propagation, recruitment and coordinated disruption of nation states has created a new layer of insecurity in West Africa and beyond. This study investigated how extremist groups, separatist movements and cyber-activists strategically use platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter) to shape public opinion, spread misinformation and weaken state authority. Deploying qualitative research methodology, the study combined case studies from Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon with primary data drawn from interviews involving military intelligence officers, civil society representatives and social media analysts. Findings revealed that digital mobilization allows hostile actors to bypass traditional surveillance systems, creating hybrid warfare dynamics that blur the boundaries between physical and virtual conflict. The study concluded that strengthening digital intelligence capabilities through a ‘Digital Threat Intelligence Fusion’ (DTIF) framework that is focused on early warning, inter-agency collaboration and cybersecurity integration would enhance counterinsurgency operations and regional stability. This research thus contributes to understanding the intersection of digital communication, hybrid warfare and national security in West Africa and beyond.
Keywords: Traditional security systems, banditry, Nigeria, community policing, and national security architecture