Amidst claims that it could have been vanquished by its rival, Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, the Boko Haram Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) loyal to Abubakar Shekau on Monday released a video to state that they are still active on the terrorism business.
The new video shows that ISWAP may be having trouble convincing some JAS fighters to join its rank.
In the video which was largely bereft of the bravado of Shekau, the Boko Haram terrorists brandished AKM(S)/Type 56 pattern rifles, Romanian PM md. 90 & PM md. 63 rifles, Zastava M21S rifles which analysts said are likely from Cameroon. They also displayed the PK/Type 80 pattern GPMGs.
But conspicuously absent is the lack of the Boko Haram logo which was always part of the terrorists’ propaganda materials.
Meanwhile, in a renewed move last week, ISWAP’s leader, Abu Musab al-Barnawi, intensified its campaign to get JAS fighters in Sambisa, Lake Chad, Northwest and Northcentral Nigeria to join the terrorists’ factional group.
To get their loyalty, ISWAP leader has been using Shekau’s words in his last audio message before his death where the late JAS leader stated that he would never renege on his 2015 allegiance to ISIS.
Al-Barnawi said in the audio message to the loyalists of the late terrorist leader: “Your Imam (Shekau’s) has confirmed that he also has a leader. Is this leader your leader as well? If yes, then he’s enjoined you all to come join ISWAP.”
David Otto Endeley @ottotgs, an International Security & Terrorism Consultant, confirmed that “Fragile #ISWAP is in trouble as reduced #HumanitarianAid is obstructing the group from stealing drugs & essential aid items. Also in need of human shield #ISWAP is begging locals to return to areas where it operates.
“The possible plan is for #ISWAP to infiltrate exposed #Resettlement communities & promise non- violent activities in exchange for refuge & a share in #Humanitarian supplies from local & #INGOs. Not ruling out stealing or roadside supply ambush where necessary.
“With heavy rains abound; #ISWAP is struggling to maintain supplies & it is targeting #IDPs who attract #Humanitarian supplies. Unfortunately it’s narrative is not yet popular. State intervention to deny #ISWAP access to #IDPs is a recruitment prevention priority.”
The Boko Haram video came as ISWAP, who on May 19 killed the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has embarked on new recruitment drive and enlargement of its areas of operation.
They have been cajoling refugees staying in Internally Displaced Peoples’ camps to relocate back to their villages so they live among them as human shields and also participate in sharing of their humanitarian aid.
Sources said that ISWAP, as part of their “consolidation drive” after the death of are reportedly assuring the locals of safety once they return to the villages they initially fled after the terrorists attack.
Sources said that most of their campaign for the locals to return are being carried out in Magumeri, Abadam, Kukawa, Monguno, Nganzai, Gubio, and Mobbar Local Government Areas, all in Northern Borno State.
According to the sources, unless drastic measures are taken by relevant authorities, the “welfarist” approach deployed by the terrorists could reverse some of the gains recorded.
There were celebrations in the security circles after Shekau was killed by ISWAP fighters but experts said it was too early to celebrate as ISWAP’s attention is no longer divided and they would most likely consolidate their gains through mass recruitment of followers in ungovernable locations.
“Yes, there is credible information that villagers and IDPs that were leaving in IDP camps and confined within parapet have started returning to their villages,” one of our sources said.
“Most of the IDPs are responding to appeals by the new ISWAP leadership led by Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the son of late Mohammed Yusuf, the founder of Boko Haram who is now the spiritual leader of the terrorists group.
“They ISWAP terrorists have promised the people so-called fairness, justice, safety, and security…You know there is a marked difference between ISWAP and Shekau’s faction. Shekau used to attack, raid and kill people.
“On the other hand, ISWAP fighters strive to win the hearts and minds of locals by not attacking them. Even though they have raided many communities in Borno and Yobe states, civilian casualty was not much…The fighters target security operatives and their sympathisers and their sympathizers among the civilian population as evident in what happened in Geidam in Yobe State and Dikwa in Borno during recent raids.”
Another source noted that ISWAP are finding it easy to consolidate their gains because of the absence of civil authority in many towns and villages.
According to a source, “military operatives including the Army, Navy and Air Force, have done a lot in clearance operations especially in the Lake Chad region but once they move to other locations, the terrorists return in full force.
“So, the only way to end this fight is to empower the police and other security outfits like Customs, Immigration and civil defence to take charge of liberated communities so that the people would not be at the mercy of Boko Haram fighters.
“The truth is that wherever there is no noticeable presence of security agents, the hapless returnees would be governed by ISWAP.
“It is not completely true that the ISWAP faction is a harmless group…No, they want to use the civilian population as human shield on one hand as a formidable platform of generating revenue on the other.
“Once the locals resume economic activities like farming and fishing, they would be paying taxes to the terrorists. This is why it is necessary for the federal government to establish civil authorities in the localities and continue fighting the terrorists until they have nowhere to hide.”