Insurgents in northeastern Nigeria are increasingly using TikTok to spread propaganda and recruit fighters, fueling a new surge in violence.
In April alone, over 100 people were killed in attacks centered in Borno state, where officials admit they are losing ground to armed groups.
Videos reviewed by AFP show insurgents flaunting weapons and cash, broadcasting live alongside accounts promoting anti-Western ideologies.
The style echoes early Boko Haram videos by their late leader, Abubakar Shekau, signaling a disturbing revival of their messaging tactics.
These militants follow a pattern established by criminal gangs who once used TikTok to promote kidnappings and raids in northwest Nigeria.
Bulama Bukarti, vice president at Bridgeway Foundation, noted Boko Haram fighters now host live TikTok shows to justify violence and threaten dissenters.
Despite efforts to remove many accounts, some remain active, exploiting TikTok’s live stream feature to evade content moderation.
A TikTok spokesperson confirmed violent extremist content violates their policies, but acknowledged difficulties in fully quantifying removed accounts.
Among accounts seen by AFP were men openly calling for violence and showcasing weapons, frequently interacting with followers and receiving digital gifts.
Nigeria’s insurgent conflict, involving Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, has killed over 40,000 and displaced two million people.
Former insurgent Saddiku Muhammad said militants shifted to TikTok after crackdowns on Telegram, targeting young people with accessible, engaging propaganda.
Security analyst Malik Samuel said Boko Haram’s live videos demonstrate a boldness meant to intimidate and show they are real and unafraid.
TikTok partners with UN-backed Tech Against Terrorism to better detect and remove violent extremist content, reaffirming a strict zero-tolerance policy.
The rising use of social media by insurgents presents a fresh challenge to Nigeria’s fight against insurgency and violent extremism.