AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA Yola, Nigeria

Tacit Weaponization of Historical Narratives in Adamawa State, Nigeria: Towards a Framework and Solution for Epistemic Resilience

A study revealing how subtly distorted historical narratives, spread through trusted family and religious communication networks, are used as a covert tool for social exclusion and political delegitimization among ethnic groups in Adamawa State. Drawing on in-depth interviews and multiple workshops, the research introduces two new tools: a “Tacit Weaponization Index” to measure the intensity of these narratives, and a “Digital Epistemic Justice Observatory” dashboard that reveals which narratives dominate the shared digital space.