62 Results for:

July 21, 2021

Nigeria
Jihadis Claim to be Uniting in Northeast Nigeria

Boko Haram, the jihadi insurrection associated with some 350,000 deaths since 2009 in northeast Nigeria, was characterized by factions—conflict among which was bloody—though at times they appear to have cooperated tactically. Now, the faction associated with the self-proclaimed Islamic State, the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA), is claiming to have incorporated the followers of the rival faction led by Abubakar Shekau. (Weeks ago, Shekau died, apparently after committing suicide in a standoff with ISWA.)

A wall that has "Hate Evil" and "Boko Haram is Evil" scrawled on it.

May 27, 2021

Nigeria
Islamic State in West Africa Now Dominates in Northeast Nigeria

The Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) has announced that it has replaced Abubakar Shekau with Abu Musab al-Barnawi. Abu Musab "takes over all territories that were under Shekau. The immediate replacement of Shekau was a major revenge against the former Boko Haram leader that exhibited ‘highhandedness and ruthlessness’ against humanity in the Northeast." The announcement also included that ISWA had arrested thirty top commanders that were loyal to Shekau.

An image of an Islamic State flag.

April 17, 2019

Nigeria
Boko Haram Evolves and Persists in Northeast Nigeria

The Shekau and al-Barnawi factions of Boko Haram continue to evolve and even grow. Changes in leadership and tactics raise questions about the extent of their affiliation with IS and overall stability, but they also indicate that the movement is far from defeated.

Niger-Diffa-Boko-Haram

October 30, 2020

Nigeria
Northwest Nigeria Potential Jihadi Linchpin in West Africa

Up to now, radical jihadi activity in West Africa has been centered in Mali—with spillover to adjacent parts of Burkina Faso and Niger—and the Lake Chad Basin. The two locales are now increasingly br…

A crowd gathers in front of the Sultan Palace Hall Sokoto in Sokoto, Nigeria. Several cars can be seen.

April 4, 2018

Nigeria
Competing Ideologies at Play in Boko Haram’s Return of Dapchi Girls

Emerging evidence suggests that the faction released the girls only in exchange for a temporary cease-fire so they could bring the 105 girls safely back to their village.

Nigeria-Boko-Haram-ISWAP-Dapchi-Girls-Return