How Nigerian terrorists use TikTok, exploit country’s digital governance gap

A faction of Boko Haram, led by Sadiku, recently released a video on TikTok mocking the Nigerian government after abducting over 170 women and children. The 90-second clip, shared by a handler identified as Abu Muhammad Abba, accused the government of deceit for downplaying the number of kidnapped victims. The video and its originating account were quickly removed from the platform, suggesting a swift response, but the account has since reappeared, disseminating propaganda and sermons by jihadi ideologues.

This incident highlights a growing global challenge: extremist groups leveraging digital platforms and exploiting gaps in digital governance. These groups use such tools not just for propaganda, but also for recruitment, coordination, and projecting power beyond physical battlefields. Security experts increasingly view Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), the foundational systems enabling secure digital interactions, as critical for national security, not just for financial inclusion or service delivery. As governments digitize, extremist groups become more adept at exploiting the same digital ecosystems.

Malik Samuel, a security analyst at Good Governance Africa, emphasizes this evolving nature of conflict. "The war is not [only] about guns and bullets again," he stated. "It is now more of an information warfare." This shift transforms social media from mere communication tools into strategic assets for extremist organizations. From the Islamic State's media operations to al-Qaeda's Telegram channels and far-right networks in Europe and North America, terrorist groups worldwide have weaponized digital platforms to recruit, disseminate propaganda, raise funds, and shape public perception, operating on a global digital battlefield.

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The war is not [only] about guns and bullets again. It is now more of an information warfare.