Police Uncover ‘Phone Farms’, Raid Facilities Used to Manipulate Online Conversations Ahead of 2027 Elections
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The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered and raided facilities known as phone farms, allegedly used to manipulate online conversations and manufacture artificial public support for political narratives ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The disclosure was made by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Bashir Abdullahi, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, at a webinar organised by the PUNCH Media Foundation on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
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The webinar, themed “AI, Misinformation and Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Safeguarding the Truth, Protecting the Vote,” examined emerging threats posed by artificial intelligence, misinformation and coordinated digital manipulation to Nigeria’s electoral process.
According to Abdullahi, police investigations uncovered organised digital operations allegedly designed to influence public opinion and interfere with the credibility of the electoral process.
How the Phone Farms Operate
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Explaining how the operations work, Abdullahi said phone farms involve hundreds of mobile phones and automated social media accounts controlled by individuals or organised networks.
The devices are allegedly used to circulate identical messages, amplify political narratives and create the false impression that large numbers of independent Nigerians are supporting or discussing a particular political position.
He disclosed that the police had conducted targeted raids on some of the facilities and disrupted their operations.
In practical terms, a single individual or organised group could use hundreds of devices to manufacture online engagement, making an artificially coordinated campaign appear like genuine public opinion.
Police Arrest Suspect Over Political Misinformation
The police representative also disclosed that a suspect had been arrested for allegedly circulating false information about a political candidate from Nigeria’s South-South region.
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According to him, the suspect allegedly published misleading reports about activities that had either not happened or were still being planned, with the intention of influencing voter behaviour and damaging the candidate’s reputation.
He said the suspect was traced and arrested following a complaint and subsequent digital investigation.
Police Strengthen Surveillance Against AI-Generated Fake News
Abdullahi further disclosed that the police were strengthening their cyber-intelligence and digital forensic capabilities to tackle emerging threats associated with artificial intelligence.
These include AI-generated videos, manipulated photographs, cloned voices, fabricated audio recordings, fake social media accounts and coordinated online propaganda.
He also revealed that an election monitoring room had been established and intelligence gathering had commenced ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The police, however, maintained that legitimate political criticism and freedom of expression would not be criminalised, stressing that enforcement must be guided by existing laws.
The Bigger Concern Ahead of 2027
The discovery raises fresh questions about the growing influence of digital manipulation in Nigerian politics.
With social media increasingly shaping political conversations, public perception and campaign narratives, the ability of organised groups to manufacture online popularity presents another challenge to electoral transparency.
A political trend, viral endorsement or seemingly overwhelming online support does not necessarily represent the genuine opinion of the Nigerian people.
As the country moves towards the 2027 elections, Nigerians must be more discerning about what they consume and share online.
The battle for credible elections may not be fought only at polling units. Increasingly, it is also being fought on mobile phones and across social media platforms.
This report is based on disclosures by ACP Bashir Abdullahi, representing the Inspector-General of Police, at the PUNCH Media Foundation webinar held on November 11, 2026. Allegations against the arrested suspect remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.
