Winning the Mind War: FRCN DG Backs Defence HQ’s Shift Toward Psychological Operations to Combat Insecurity

Winning the Mind War: FRCN DG Backs Defence HQ’s Shift Toward Psychological Operations to Combat Insecurity

By Ayshatu S. Rabo

The Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr. Mohammed Bulama, has thrown his full support behind the Nigerian military’s intensified focus on psychological and influence operations as strategic tools to address the country’s evolving security challenges.

Speaking during the Defence Headquarters’ maiden Psychological Operations Workshop, Dr. Bulama commended the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, for his foresight in convening what he described as a timely and mission-critical event. He emphasized that winning the war against insecurity in Nigeria requires not just bullets, but bold ideas and targeted communication to win the minds of citizens.

“This workshop is not just another gathering of security experts; it is a vital intervention aimed at crafting sustainable, non-kinetic responses to threats that continue to evolve,” he said. “The Armed Forces have done remarkably well, but it is time we amplify our efforts through psychological strategies that disarm ideologies and build national unity.”

The FRCN boss acknowledged the gallant sacrifices of Nigeria’s military personnel in the fight against terrorism and criminality, even amidst strained resources. He stressed the importance of real-time, fact-based messaging in countering misinformation and rebuilding public confidence.

“We must prioritize psychological operations because what we are fighting now is not just on battlefields. It’s in hearts, on screens, and in conversations. Influence and perception matter,” he added.

Dr. Bulama highlighted three core functions psychological operations must play in today’s asymmetric warfare environment: counter-radicalization, winning the trust of conflict-affected communities, and managing crises with timely, credible information. He emphasized that extremist groups often win recruits through narratives, not just arms.

“This war will not be won by firepower alone. We must challenge toxic ideologies and replace them with emotionally resonant, culturally rooted counter-narratives, especially for our vulnerable youth,” he said.

He also called for investment in psychological warfare training, localized content creation, strategic partnerships with media and civil society, and the adoption of digital analytics and artificial intelligence to monitor and guide public sentiment.

The FRCN, he assured, will continue to support the Armed Forces through objective reporting and dissemination of verified news that celebrates military achievements and fosters unity.

Also addressing the gathering, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. CG Musa, underscored that traditional combat methods are no longer sufficient to deal with Nigeria’s fluid security threats. He maintained that psychological operations are now central to shaping outcomes in the country’s joint operational environments.

“Today’s threats transcend the battlefield,” he said. “To protect Nigeria, we must influence minds as effectively as we deploy troops.”

Gen. Musa reaffirmed the military’s commitment to synergizing kinetic and non-kinetic strategies in its operations, with psychological operations serving as the bridge between state action and public perception.

In a goodwill message, retired Maj. Gen. Adeleke Ayannuga, former Commander of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, emphasized the growing overlap between information warfare, artificial intelligence, and psychological strategy. He urged the military to harness technology not just to monitor threats, but to actively shape narratives that weaken enemy resolve and bolster national resilience.

“Modern warfare is about controlling the flow of information. Platforms like social media are battlegrounds of their own. If we want to win, we must learn to fight and influence in these spaces,” he said.

The workshop, themed “Optimizing Psychological Operations for Efficiency in a Joint Environment,” brought together top military brass, security experts, and communication specialists. It aimed to develop a unified framework for psychological operations that aligns with Nigeria’s broader security architecture.

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Dr. Bulama concluded by urging participants to produce actionable strategies from their deliberations and charged all stakeholders to work towards building a peaceful, lawful, and inclusive Nigeria.

“Peace is not imposed it is built. And the foundation is the mind. Let us win this war by changing minds, not just defeating enemies,” he stated.

Winning the Mind War: FRCN DG Backs Defence HQ’s Shift Toward Psychological Operations to Combat Insecurity