Vigilance committees’ dilemma in the fight against Boko Haram

This research paper examines the role and challenges of civilian-led vigilance committees in Cameroon's fight against Boko Haram, highlighting their importance for early warning and the risks they face from both the extremist group and their own communities.

• Civilian-led vigilance committees in Cameroon's Far North and North Regions serve as informal, community-based volunteer groups that monitor village entry and exit to provide early warnings and prevent violent extremist attacks. They act as a buffer against Boko Haram recruitment and collaborate with security forces and administrative authorities.
• Boko Haram targets vigilance committees, traditional authorities, and their communities with kidnappings, executions, and attacks—including the October 7 kidnapping of four committee members in Kerawa—to discourage collaboration with security forces and remove the military's community-based advantage.
• Some vigilance committee members are suspected of collaborating with Boko Haram by providing operational and economic support, such as sharing army positions and food reserves or facilitating the sale of stolen goods, in exchange for money. This has led to community hostility and distrust.
• While vigilance committees are essential for short-term information and early warning, they are not a long-term security substitute. The authors argue for improved government civil protection capabilities and the gradual demobilisation of these committees in areas under effective state control.
• Boko Haram has attempted to seize new territories and commercial routes between Cameroon's Logone and Chari Division and Chad's Hadjer-Lamis Province to generate income from taxes, trade, and agriculture. A June 10 attack on the Darak island outpost resulted in 37 fatalities (21 military and 16 civilian) and was reportedly aided by locals.

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} }