Understanding Nigerian citizens’ perspectives on Boko Haram

The report examines Nigerian citizens' views on Boko Haram, identifying a complex interplay of financial incentives, lack of education, and a desire for belonging as primary recruitment drivers. It highlights a deep distrust of Nigerian political institutions and local government, contrasted with higher trust in the presidency and religious leaders. The study finds that while many citizens favor military action, there is significant support for non-military solutions and a strong belief that corruption is a primary security threat. Funding is perceived to come largely from politicians and other terrorist groups, though criminal activities also contribute.

• Nigerian citizens are divided on the factors influencing decisions to join Boko Haram, but key vulnerabilities include poverty, unemployment, lack of education, and social networks such as friends, family, ethnic kinship, and the almajiri system of Islamic schooling.
• There is a profound distrust of Nigerian political institutions and local government, particularly in areas with high Boko Haram activity, although trust in the president is significantly higher than in other government bodies.
• Recruitment often occurs through traditional social networks, with friends, neighbors, relatives, and community meetings identified as the most likely arenas for introduction to the group.
• Financial motivations are perceived as a primary driver for joining Boko Haram, with a large portion of survey respondents ranking the desire to make money or seeing the group as a job as top motivators.
• A significant number of Nigerians believe that the desire for revenge or retribution, often stemming from personal or collective grievances, is a major influence on the decision to join the group.
• Corruption is viewed by a vast majority of respondents as the most significant security threat fueling the presence of Boko Haram in Nigeria.
• Public perception of Boko Haram's funding is heavily skewed toward the belief that politicians and the government are primary financiers, outweighing the perceived contribution of criminal activities.
• While many Nigerians advocate for military force as a solution, a majority (51.46%) believe that peaceful or non-military approaches are necessary to resolve the crisis.
• The police are still viewed as a relevant and trustworthy agent for dealing with emergencies, though trust in the military is notably higher in northern regions where they are the first line of defense.

APA

Botha, A., Ewi, M., Salifu, U., & Abdile, M. (2017). Understanding Nigerian citizens’ perspectives on Boko Haram. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/monograph196.pdf

Chicago

Botha, Anneli, Martin Ewi, Uyo Salifu, and Mahdi Abdile. Understanding Nigerian citizens’ perspectives on Boko Haram. Institute for Security Studies, 2017. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/monograph196.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Botha |first1=Anneli |last2=Ewi |first2=Martin |last3=Salifu |first3=Uyo |last4=Abdile |first4=Mahdi |title=Understanding Nigerian citizens’ perspectives on Boko Haram |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=2017 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/monograph196.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{botha2017understanding, author = {Botha, Anneli and Ewi, Martin and Salifu, Uyo and Abdile, Mahdi}, title = {{Understanding Nigerian citizens’ perspectives on Boko Haram}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2017}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/monograph196.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }