US EditionJihadists in Nigeria Turn to TikTok to Spread Propaganda
- Jihadist groups in northeastern Nigeria surged in April 2025, killing at least 100 people mainly in Borno state, the conflict's epicentre.
- The violence has persisted since 2009, displacing around two million people and killing over 40,000, while armed groups now use TikTok after a Telegram crackdown.
- AFP reviewed accessible TikTok videos of apparent jihadists flaunting weapons and cash, who broadcast live shows and justify violence while threatening critics.
- Former jihadist Saddiku Muhammad said jihadists adapt by speaking the language of youth on TikTok, and analyst Malik Samuel called showing faces 'strategic' to show fearlessness.
- TikTok stated it partners with Tech Against Terrorism to detect extremist content, removing many accounts though some remain active, indicating a challenge to Nigeria's government.
55 Articles
55 Articles
Nigeria’s armed groups recruit via TikTok
Insurgents in northeastern Nigeria are increasingly using TikTok to disseminate propaganda and recruit new fighters for their surging campaigns. In April alone, attacks claimed at least 100 lives, with Borno’s governor stating the state is losing ground to armed groups. Apparent insurgents openly display weapons and cash in TikTok videos, also broadcasting live with preachers of anti-Western ideologies, reminiscent of early Boko Haram videos. Cr…
Islamic Theocracy in Nigeria? Why Jihadists Can’t Win—But Can’t Be Defeated
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The Evasive Funding Channels Sustaining Boko Haram/ISWAP in Nigeria
Beneath the violence that has come to define the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) lies a highly organised financial ecosystem sustaining their operations. Fuelled by a complex blend of taxation, extortion, smuggling, and ideological justification, the groups have transformed parts of northeastern Nigeria into a conflict-driven economy. For over a decade, terrorists have waged war against Nigeria and its neighbouring countries, displaci…
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