Jihadist groups in northeastern Nigeria, including Boko Haram, are increasingly turning to TikTok to spread propaganda and recruit fighters, exploiting the platform’s popularity among youth. Despite efforts by authorities to contain the insurgency, recent attacks left at least 100 people dead in April alone, highlighting a resurgence of violence in Borno State the epicenter of a conflict that has killed over 40,000 and displaced more than two million since 2009.
The alarming digital shift was revealed through a review of TikTok videos by AFP, which uncovered 19 accounts openly promoting extremist content. These included footage of men dressed as clerics brandishing rifles, grenades, and cash, while calling for violence against the Nigerian government. Many accounts posted content of banned jihadist preachers like Mohammed Yusuf and Isah Garo Assalafy, who was barred from public preaching for advocating violence against democracy and Western ideals.
“Now, Boko Haram members are hosting live TikTok shows spreading propaganda, justifying their violence, and threatening anyone who dares speak against them,” said Bulama Bukarti of the Texas-based Bridgeway Foundation. Bukarti himself was threatened in a now-deleted TikTok video.
Former jihadist Saddiku Muhammad explained that the switch to TikTok followed security crackdowns on Telegram. “They realized they need to speak the language of the youth—engaging, direct, and interactive,” he said, noting that live interactions and digital gifts on the app offer both ideological influence and financial incentives.
Security analysts see the tactic as a bold challenge to the state. Malik Samuel of Good Governance Africa noted, “By showing their faces, they send a message—they aren’t afraid. They’re making it personal and relatable.”
TikTok stated that it works to remove extremist content and previously partnered with UN-backed Tech Against Terrorism, though that collaboration ended in 2024. The platform reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing guidelines against violent content, but the jihadists’ growing digital savvy poses a complex threat requiring urgent and coordinated countermeasures.
