Horror As ISWAP Terrorists Hold Meeting With Residents To Recruit New Members, Reveal Their Main Target (PHOTOS)

Militants from the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, known as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have been organizing da‘wāt in several villages in Borno.

Da‘wāt refers to the act of inviting or calling people to embrace Islam.

In images released by ISWAP, members of the sect are seen publicly engaging with residents in areas around Lake Chad. These actions appear to counter claims by the Nigerian military that the insurgent fighters are on the run, with troops reclaiming significant territories previously controlled by the terrorist group.

During the Da’wat programme, the insurgents urged villagers to join their ranks and support their cause to establish an Islamic caliphate. They promised good governance, improved security, and basic amenities once their new state was established, according to SaharaReporters.

ISWAP also distributed welfare packages to numerous households as part of their recruitment efforts. The packages reportedly included rice, beans, millet, maize, sugar, spaghetti, and cash gifts.

A 2019 report by the International Crisis Group noted that ISWAP’s recruitment strategies have been effective. Despite splitting from the Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram faction in 2016, the group’s fighter population has increased, especially among lacustrine communities like the ethnic Buduma, many of whom are fishermen.

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) has echoed these findings, emphasizing the importance of understanding ISWAP’s recruitment patterns and operational methods to address the crisis effectively. ISS senior researcher Remadji Hoinathy highlighted the group’s recruitment capability as a significant factor in its expansion.

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