The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed that it uncovered facilities known as phone farms and arrested a suspect in connection with the spread of election-related misinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development was disclosed during a webinar organised by the PUNCH Media Foundation on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, focusing on the growing threat of artificial intelligence, misinformation and digital manipulation in Nigeria’s electoral process.
A representative of the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police Bashir Abdullahi, said the police had strengthened their capacity to identify, investigate and tackle the spread of misleading digital content.
He explained that the establishment of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre following the 2023 general elections had improved the force’s ability to monitor suspicious online activities.
According to him, the centre operates a security operations mechanism designed to identify and verify suspicious information, particularly content suspected to have been generated or manipulated using artificial intelligence.
Abdullahi disclosed that the police had also established working relationships with major technology companies, including Meta and TikTok, to support investigations into suspicious online activities.
He said the partnerships would enable investigators to obtain relevant user information, trace the sources of misleading content and preserve digital evidence for possible prosecution.
The police representative further revealed that operational teams had been deployed to investigate cases involving manipulated videos, deepfakes and other forms of digital disinformation.
He cited a previous incident involving an artificially generated video allegedly depicting President Bola Tinubu making statements he never made.
According to him, the suspect responsible for the content was traced, arrested and questioned by investigators.
He said the suspect reportedly claimed that he produced the manipulated material as an experiment.
Abdullahi warned that individuals who deliberately create and circulate false information capable of disrupting the 2027 electoral process would be held accountable under relevant laws.
The development comes amid growing concerns about the use of artificial intelligence and automated digital platforms to manipulate public opinion, spread fabricated political statements and undermine confidence in democratic institutions.
Phone farms, which typically involve large numbers of mobile devices or SIM cards operated together, can be used to generate artificial online engagement, amplify messages and manipulate social media conversations.
Such facilities can make misleading information appear more popular or widely accepted than it actually is.
However, Abdullahi stressed that the police would respect citizens’ constitutional rights to freedom of expression and would not arrest individuals simply for expressing political opinions.
He maintained that investigations and arrests would be based on credible information and sufficient evidence.
Also speaking during the webinar, Director of Programmes at Yiaga Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu, warned that deliberate disinformation could undermine public confidence in electoral institutions and discourage voter participation.
She stressed the importance of trust in ensuring citizens’ confidence in the electoral process.
The webinar brought together stakeholders from the security, media, technology, electoral administration and civil society sectors to discuss measures to safeguard the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
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