Boko Haram Now Active On Social Media, Spreading Extremist Ideology – Security Expert
Security analyst Bulama Bukarti, a senior fellow at the Extremism Policy Unit of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, has raised alarm over Boko Haram’s growing presence on social media platforms, particularly TikTok.
Bukarti made the disclosure on Sunday while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
His warning follows a recent revelation by Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South District, who stated that Boko Haram was responsible for the deaths of around 100 soldiers and 280 civilians within a six-month period.
According to Bukarti, the terrorist group is increasingly using social media to spread its ideology and recruit sympathizers.
He revealed that Boko Haram members now run active accounts on TikTok, where they host live shows and share video content promoting the group’s extremist views.
“Right now, when you go on TikTok, you will see accounts operated by Boko Haram members.
“They host live programmes where they justify the group’s violence, often speaking in Hausa. They interact with viewers, answer questions, and respond to comments,” he said.
Bukarti added that he was recently targeted in a 10-minute video posted by a Boko Haram member on TikTok, criticizing him for speaking out against the group’s rising violence.
He also revealed a more alarming development — Boko Haram’s use of unmanned drones for surveillance. “We now know they operate drones to monitor Nigerian military formations in the northeast,” he said.
“In the last three months, there have been more than seven attacks on military super camps. In places like Sabon Gari, the terrorists overran camps, killed soldiers, captured others, and looted weapons, food supplies, medicine, and equipment before retreating into the bush.”
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
