Terrorists belonging to the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, known as Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have been conducting public meetings in villages in Borno State, SaharaReporters has learned.
In pictures released by ISWAP, members of the group were seen engaging with residents around Lake Chad.
The purpose of these gatherings appears to be recruitment and propaganda efforts, as the insurgents seek to counter statements by the Nigerian military about their alleged retreat.
During these meetings, ISWAP members reportedly appealed to villagers to join their ranks as militants and support their goal of establishing an Islamic caliphate.
They promised better governance, security, and basic amenities once their envisioned new country was established.
In addition to recruitment efforts, ISWAP distributed welfare packages to households as part of their recruitment drive. These packages reportedly included essential food items such as rice, beans, millet, maize, sugar, spaghetti, as well as cash gifts.
According to a 2019 report by the International Crisis Group, ISWAP’s recruitment tactics have been effective, leading to an increase in the group’s fighter population despite breaking away from the Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram faction in 2016.
The report noted ISWAP’s success in recruiting among lacustrine communities, particularly the ethnic Buduma, many of whom are fishermen.
The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) has echoed similar concerns, emphasizing the importance of understanding ISWAP’s recruitment patterns and operational mechanisms to address the group’s expansion. ISS senior researcher Remadji Hoinathy warned about the ideological aspect of the crisis and the need to counter ISWAP’s ability to exploit governance gaps by providing essential services in areas under its control.
ISWAP’s public meetings and recruitment efforts underscore the ongoing threat posed by the group in the Lake Chad region and highlight the challenges in addressing the underlying factors contributing to its resilience and expansion.