Written by Idris Mohammed
In the Lake Chad region, visual misinformation plays a vital role in glorifying terror groups and spreading fear among the populace. By manipulating images and videos, these groups create a distorted narrative that exaggerates their power and influence. They instill fear and uncertainty in local communities and undermine efforts to counteract their activities.
Recently, the use of social media platforms, notably TikTok, has become increasingly common among the terror networks in communities that have been targeted, especially in the northwest region of Nigeria: Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Sokoto have been particularly vulnerable to these distorted narratives, video clips, and images of the terror groups.
Security expert Ahmad Lawal Magami, who resides in Gusau City, Zamfara State, described the training these armed terror groups, particularly as bandit leaders, undergo to handle digital tools. “They invest in the operation of these tools because they understand the significant role visual misinformation plays in glorifying terror groups, exaggerating their power and reach,” Magami said.
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Magami added that such content often portrays their actions in a heroic light, attracting sympathy and sometimes even enlistment from vulnerable individuals.
Bello Turji, Mai Jikka, and Kachalla Baleri are some of the most powerful bandits in the region, adding to their ability to use digital tools to issue threats and create fear.
Hassan Fari, a commercial vehicle driver in the Kankara community of Katsina state, has revealed instances where bandits have been targeting civilians using doctored videos and audios of distorted narratives to gain trust and manipulate locals, exploiting their grievances against the state and the lack of government support.
“One common tactic is the use of doctored videos showing staged battles or exaggerated claims of successful attacks,” said Fari.
Social media platforms and encrypted messaging apps frequently distribute these videos, making it challenging to trace and counter them.
“For instance, a recent video of notorious bandit leader Gwaska displayed how a terror group allegedly punished one of his boys over an allegation of sexual assault on a kidnapped victim,” Fari said.
Kunle Adebajo, head of police investigations at HumAngle, who has also studied disinformation tactics, argued that “bandits and other terrorist gangs have always utilized social media platforms, especially TikTok, YouTube, and Telegram, for their propaganda campaigns against civilians ”
Ansaru’s technological advantage in the fight against democracy
The terrorist group has used social media platforms to spread distorted narratives about democracy and Western civilization to its target audiences. There is evidence of their activities, including operating groups with open membership on WhatsApp, creating spaces for discussions through various initiatives, and reaching a broader audience participation and engagement on Telegram.
In July 2020, a few months after the 2019 general elections in the country, the group released a video clip in the Hausa language cautioning people to stay away from issues concerning democracy, equality, human rights, and any other form of Western civilization. The group further extended the invitation to other fighters in the northeast and northwest region, urging them to understand the true task of establishing an Islamic caliphate and the threat they are facing from the so-called promoters of democracy in the country.
One of Ansaru’s primary objectives on social media is the dissemination of its radical ideologies. Through carefully crafted messages, videos, and images, the group aims to recruit individuals who may be susceptible to extremist viewpoints. By spreading their ideologies, Ansaru seeks to create a climate of fear and uncertainty, undermining the democratic principles that promote open discourse and tolerance.
The group has also threatened democracy, referring to it as a “corrupt and outdated system” that requires overthrow. They often use mosques, marketplaces, and village head arenas as their means of passing the information to the communities of Tsohuwar Kuyallo, Tsohuwar Gwari, Shaho, and many other rural communities of Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna state.
They issued a warning to residents of rural communities not to partake in any electoral process. Those who disregard their warning and display campaign posters and banners in their homes and places of business face the threat of beatings, lashes, and other forms of punishment.
According to reports, Ansaru used specific social media accounts to undermine democracy by disseminating distorted content that urged Nigerian Muslims to boycott the democratic process. They base their argument on the notion that an Islamic Caliphate system, not democratic elections, is the only way to address Nigeria’s challenges.
Taking advantage of moments of unrest in the country, such as the reported stoning of President Muhammadu Buhari in his home state of Katsina, these accounts disseminated their messages and exacerbated the chaos.
Ansaru`s anti-democratic posturing is not surprising, given the group’s ideology. The group adheres to a strict interpretation of a radical and extremist version of Islam. For instance, they reject Islamic orthodox sources of information that oppose democracy and other Western forms of civilization. The group believes that only an Islamic state can provide true justice and equality, and it is willing to use violence to achieve its goal.
During the presidential elections, Ansaru interfered with and infringed upon people’s voting rights, especially in villages like Shaho, Kwadaga, Kuyallo, and Damari, where they reside and have significant influence. They scattered some polling units and described the voting exercise as a corrupt and unjust system that held residents in abject poverty and hunger.
Amidst the barrage of messages and propaganda, supporters of the Islamic State in Nigeria also sought to assert their presence by employing similar tactics to members of Ansaru.
Using Tikok to Build Loyalty with Locals
In Nigeria’s northwest region, bandits and other terrorist groups have increasingly turned to TikTok as a tool for gaining sympathy with members of local communities. Chinese company ByteDance, based in Beijing and registered in the Cayman Islands, owns TikTok. By leveraging the platform’s wide reach and engaging format, these groups disseminate propaganda and other messages that resonate with local grievances. These bandits use this tactic to portray themselves as protectors and benefactors of people in the local communities.
Recently, a notorious bandit leader, Bello Gudde Turji, released a video clip on TikTok and other social media platforms attacking Ahmad Sani’s Sharia law introduced in Zamfara State from 1999-2003. In the video, Turji asserts that Ahmad Sani specifically designed the system to penalize the Fulani people in Zamfara and other northwest regions. Turji has been using social media for his propaganda campaign against Hausas and other groups in the region.
Bashir Lawalli Moriki, a youth leader and a member of the peace talks with bandit leaders in Shinkafi, said that “bandits like Turji have been using these tactics for years and they are successful in recruiting many young Fulani fighters.”
Moriki has engaged in numerous negotiations with bandits who have demanded a certain amount of money for his village’s safety. He further claimed that
“The groups are also exploiting TikTok’s live streaming capabilities to make people feel unsafe and distort the truth. By broadcasting real-time footage of their activities, they create a climate of fear and intimidation.”
In March 2024, a bandit leader appeared live on TikTok, flaunting cash purportedly collected as ransom from their victims.
Commenting on the videos that ignited widespread anger, Zagazola Makama, a counterinsurgency expert and security analyst, lamented that “TikTok has given room for insurgents to promote their campaign of terror without being restricted.”
“The account’s user has 3,000 followers,” he continued. Some of the followers openly display their rifles and wear military or police uniforms.
Observations reveal that these live streams frequently include threats, violent acts, and misinformation, all aimed at exaggerating their power and control. This not only spreads panic among the local populace but also undermines the credibility of official sources, making it harder for people in the affected communities to discern fact from fiction. Furthermore, the strategic use of social media allows them to gain support, recruit members, and establish a foothold within communities that might otherwise resist their influence.
Equally, Ansaru’s success has been attributed to its effective engagement with local communities, filling a void left by the failure of democratically elected officials in rural areas. The group provides security by shielding these communities from Fulani armed groups, commonly known as bandits. Additionally, Ansaru supplies agricultural products, including fertilizers and pesticides, especially in Kaduna, Katsina, and parts of Zamfara state.
Residents, such as Hassan Maigwari from Gwandu, commended Ansaru for defending the people without seeking gifts or rewards. He said the group virtually used social media, especially TikTok and Telegram, to share information about their activities. Many people appreciate the group’s presence and share this sentiment, Ansaru released a short video showing members of the sect distributing food items during Ramadan to people in the communities where they have a strong following.
The psychological effects of misinformation on the locals are significant.
The psychological and social toll of misinformation disseminated by bandits and terrorist organizations in Nigeria is alarmingly severe.[1] These groups not only glorify their violent acts by deliberately spreading manipulated images and videos, but they also instill widespread fear and anxiety in the local populace.
“Bandits and other groups are strategically deploying manipulated images and videos. These groups already understand that this content has the potential to foster distrust and confusion among the public. Umaru Musa,
The executive director of a Youth Initiatives Network in Gusau is involved in civil-military relations in some areas of Zamfara state.
“This constant exposure to graphic and misleading content exacerbates anxiety, disrupts daily life, and undermines trust in local authorities and media,” he added.
The relentless exposure to terror-filled visuals has far-reaching consequences for locals in the affected communities.
The sad trend is also disrupting the mental well-being of locals, eroding trust in constituted authorities and the media. The resulting atmosphere of fear and uncertainty appears to leave a lasting impact on the social fabric and resilience of the region.
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development and the Open Society Foundation provided support for the completion of this report.
