Terrorist groups in northeastern Nigeria are now using TikTok to spread their messages, show off weapons, and recruit young people, according to an AFP report.
This comes as new attacks in April 2025 left at least 100 people dead, especially in Borno State, which has been the centre of jihadist violence since 2009.
Videos reviewed by AFP showed men believed to be jihadists holding rifles, grenades, and cash, while preaching anti-Western ideas. Some of these men broadcast live videos, similar to how late Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau used to speak in the early years of the conflict.
“It started with bandits,” said Bulama Bukarti, a Nigerian analyst and Vice President at the US-based Bridgeway Foundation. “Now, Boko Haram members are hosting live TikTok shows — spreading propaganda, justifying their violence and threatening anyone who dares speak against them.”
He added that a Boko Haram fighter even threatened him in a video, which was later deleted by TikTok.
Although many of these accounts have been taken down, some are still active. A TikTok spokesperson told AFP, “Terrorist groups and content related to these groups have no place on TikTok, and we take an uncompromising stance against enabling violent extremism on or off our platform.”
The spokesperson added that TikTok has partnered with Tech Against Terrorism, a group backed by the United Nations, to help remove extremist content quickly.
AFP reported that 19 accounts were found showing men dressed like clerics, speaking directly to the camera and calling for violence against the government. Some of these accounts went live, answered questions from followers, and received digital gifts that can be changed into cash.
Some accounts also showed old videos of Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf and preachers like Isah Garo Assalafy, who was banned from public preaching in Niger State for promoting violence.
Former jihadist Saddiku Muhammad said the shift to TikTok came after security forces cracked down on the use of the encrypted messaging app Telegram. He said the terrorists are now using TikTok because it is popular with young people.
“Jihadists realised that to capture the minds of young people, they need to speak to them in the language they understand,” Muhammad said. “From all indications, it is paying off. They are reaching out to young potential recruits.”
Security experts say this is a major concern. Malik Samuel, a security analyst at Good Governance Africa, said the jihadists are showing their faces on purpose.
“I believe showing their faces is strategic — to show that they aren’t afraid and to let their target know that they are engaging with real people,” he said.
He also noted that while Boko Haram fighters now post openly on TikTok, the Islamic State West Africa Province still uses more formal and planned communication methods.
Nigeria’s jihadist war has killed more than 40,000 people and forced around two million to flee their homes since 2009. As the militants turn to social media to grow their influence, experts say more must be done to monitor online spaces and protect young Nigerians from radical messages.
