Vigilance committees’ dilemma in the fight against Boko Haram

The report examines the 'dilemma' facing Cameroon's community-based vigilance committees, which serve as critical early warning systems against Boko Haram but face targeted violence from the extremist group and distrust from their own communities due to allegations of collusion. While the author argues these committees are essential for short-term security and intelligence, they are not a long-term substitute for state security. The document recommends professional training, community awareness campaigns, and the eventual improvement of government civil protection capabilities to allow for the gradual demobilisation of these informal groups.

• Civilian-led vigilance committees in Cameroon's Far North and North Regions provide essential early warning and intelligence to security forces, helping to prevent violent extremist attacks and hindering Boko Haram's recruitment efforts.
• Boko Haram specifically targets vigilance committees, traditional authorities, and their communities with massacres, kidnappings, and lootings to discourage collaboration with security forces and remove the military's community-based advantage.
• Some members of the vigilance committees are suspected of collaborating with Boko Haram by providing operational intelligence on army positions and food reserves, or facilitating the sale of stolen goods in exchange for money.
• Vigilance committees are an important short-term security measure but cannot serve as a long-term substitute for state security; the government must improve its police, judicial, and administrative capabilities to eventually demobilise these committees in state-controlled areas.

APA

Hoinathy, R., Akum, F., & Taryam, E. (n.d.). Vigilance committees’ dilemma in the fight against Boko Haram. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/vigilance-committees-dilemma-in-the-fight-against-boko-haram

Chicago

Hoinathy, Remadji, Fonteh Akum, and Evelyne Taryam. Vigilance committees’ dilemma in the fight against Boko Haram. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/vigilance-committees-dilemma-in-the-fight-against-boko-haram.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hoinathy |first1=Remadji |last2=Akum |first2=Fonteh |last3=Taryam |first3=Evelyne |title=Vigilance committees’ dilemma in the fight against Boko Haram |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/vigilance-committees-dilemma-in-the-fight-against-boko-haram |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hoinathyndvigilance, author = {Hoinathy, Remadji and Akum, Fonteh and Taryam, Evelyne}, title = {{Vigilance committees’ dilemma in the fight against Boko Haram}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/vigilance-committees-dilemma-in-the-fight-against-boko-haram}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }