METHODOLOGY

How Naija Signal collects, verifies, and presents public safety security incident data.

Data Collection

Naija Signal aggregates security incident data from multiple sources including verified news reports from Nigerian media outlets (Punch, Vanguard, Premium Times, Guardian, Daily Trust, Tribune, Channels TV, and others), official government and security agency statements, and verified citizen reports submitted through our platform.

Verification Framework

Every incident undergoes a multi-tier verification process. Sources are cross-referenced for consistency. Incidents are classified as: Unverified (single unconfirmed source), Partially Verified (multiple consistent reports), Verified (officially confirmed), Multi-Source Confirmed (3+ independent sources), or Disputed (conflicting reports exist).

Risk Classification

Severity levels (Low, Medium, High, Critical) are determined by factors including: casualty count, geographic spread, type of threat, and verified status. Confidence levels (Low, Medium, High) reflect the reliability and quantity of available source material.

Incident Categories

Incidents are categorized into 12 types: Banditry, Kidnapping, Terrorism/Insurgency, Communal Clashes, Farmer-Herder Conflict, Cultism/Gang Violence, Armed Robbery, Police Brutality, Ritual Killings, Electoral Violence, Protest/Civil Unrest, and Disaster. Each category has specific severity and risk scoring criteria.

Geospatial Mapping

Incident locations are mapped to specific Nigerian states and Local Government Areas (LGAs) where possible. Coordinates are derived from source descriptions and cross-referenced with geographic databases.

Editorial Standards

All content is reviewed before publication. We maintain strict neutrality and do not attribute blame or motive without official confirmation. Language is precise and factual. We correct errors promptly through our corrections process and maintain a public corrections log.

Citizen Reports

Community reports help Naija Signal detect possible public safety incidents, but reports are not published automatically. A Naija Signal report is a signal, not a fact. It becomes public intelligence only after checks, moderation, verification, and safe publication rules.

Trust & Safety Engine

Each report may be checked for location consistency, duplicate submissions, sensitive information, spam patterns, source links, community validation, and trusted or official sources. Naija Signal may generalize exact locations, redact private details, delay publication, merge duplicate reports, request more information, or reject reports that are unsafe, unverifiable, or abusive.

Verification Labels

Verification labels help readers understand the current confidence level of an incident: Developing, Single-source report, Community-corroborated, Source-matched, Multi-source verified, Officially confirmed, Disputed, Corrected, and Retracted.

Location Privacy

Exact coordinates may be stored privately for review when a reporter chooses to share them. Public reports use generalized locations such as State, LGA, ward, road corridor, or approximate area unless an admin intentionally approves a safer public precision level.

This methodology is reviewed and updated regularly. Last updated May 2026. If you have questions about our methodology, contact us for clarification.