Boko Haram's Use of Media Technology

Nigeria’s media was de-regulated in 1992 and communication and media outlets have grown since then. With the rise of the internet worldwide, Nigeria has seen a tremendous boost in connectivity and the Internet currently has the most impact on Nigerians. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s notorious Boko Haram group has also harnessed the power of the Internet.  

Boko Haram, a violent, extremist Islamist sect that rose out of poverty and frustration in Northern Nigeria, has been wreaking terror on both Christian and Muslim northern residents. Led by Mohammed Yusef, the group actively uses new media and mobile phones to promote and organize its activities. Its leaders and spokespersons contact journalists though telephone to present its message, threats and admit to attacks. They post propaganda videos on Youtube. The group also accesses Facebook to disguise its members and mission and reach out to people to recruit new members. Also use Internet to determine new methods for making bombs.

Boko Haram "have mobile phones like most Nigerians but they use their own to talk to their members and give them instructions about potential targets." (Musa A, pg. 120).

Musa, A. (2012). Socio-economic incentives, new media and the Boko Haram campaign of violence in Northern Nigeria. Journal Of African Media Studies, 4(1), 111-124. doi:10.1386/jams.4.1.111_1

Google Recognizes Nigeria's Internet Potential for Economic Growth

An article from This Day Live reports that Google says Nigeria has the greatest potential for Internet usage in Africa but has not yet realized its potential. In efforts to boost it Internet abilities, Google and Nigeria's Ministry of Communications and Technology launched the "Impact of Internet" study in the country. The purpose of this study is to observe the Internet's ability to impact Nigeria's socio-economic development.

Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, Google Nigeria's Country Manager, shared that as a follow up to the study, Google Nigeria will debut its inaugural Share Your Nigerian Content conference which will target content creators and encourage them to use the Internet to create locally innovative online content. 

Source: (2013). Google: Nigeria Yet to Harness Full Benefits of Internet Usage. This Day Live. Retrieved from http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/google-nigeria-yet-to-harness-full-benefits-of-internet-usage/149555/.

A Look at Internet and Technology Access in Nigeria:

• According to a report from The Next Web, internet access is set to triple this year, in 2013.

• The mobile phone subscription in Nigeria is the largest in Africa with an estimated 80+ million cell phone subscribers mobile internet is becoming the number one platform for young Nigerians.

• Sahara Reporters notes that Nigerian internet users have surpassed "Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and Kenya."

• Most internet users are young, educated and urban with Facebook as the most popular online destination, BBC observes.  

• As of Dec. 2011, internet users comprised about 29 percent of the population, over 45 million Nigerians. 

"Nigeria telecom sector is progressing because the Nigerian Communication Commission is very effective."

--Amos Kalunga, telecom analyst from the Computer Society of Zambia (Sahara Reporters)