INTERROGATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NIGERIAN MILITARY CYBER WARFARE TECHNOLOGIES IN CURBING BOKO HARAM’S CYBER PROPAGANDA IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The presence of Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria’s cyberspace has facilitated their cyber propaganda and virtual training, thereby posing a major security challenge to the nation. In response, the Nigerian military established the Cyber Command and conducted cyber operations to combat the insurgents’ online activities. Following the Command’s operations, it appears that Boko Haram’s cyber propaganda has been reduced. To investigate this, research questions and objectives were formulated to guide the study. These objectives were addressed using descriptive statistics, while inferential statistics were employed to gain deeper insights. A sample of 100 participants was selected from an estimated population of 10,000. The participants comprised serving and retired military personnel from the Nigerian Army School of Cyber Warfare, the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, and the Ministry of Defence, as well as members of the academia and the Defence Intelligence Agency. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources, including literature, questionnaires, and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). The questionnaire data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, and mean scores to answer the research questions. Data collected from the KIIs were analyzed through thematic analysis, while the Chi-square test was used to test the hypothesis at a 0.05 significance level. The results of the Pearson Chi-square test and Likelihood Ratio indicated a statistically significant association between the employed cyber technologies and the curbing of Boko Haram’s cyber propaganda. The study revealed that the Video Network Surveillance System (VNS), SVS Satellite System, and Extended Detection and Response (XDR) technologies were among the cyber warfare tools employed by the Nigerian military. It was also found that the major strengths of these technologies include tracking and blocking Boko Haram’s cyber propaganda videos. The study recommends that the military ensure personnel develop cyber skills and the ability to interface effectively with technical experts to improve the human–machine interface. The study concludes that there is a need for adequate cyber technology for defensive operations in order to effectively protect Nigeria’s cyberspace from Boko Haram’s cyber attacks.