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9. Radicalization in northern Nigeria: Stories from Boko Haram

  • David Ehrhardt
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Biographies of Radicalization
This chapter is in the book Biographies of Radicalization

Abstract

This paper explores the limits of the ‘conveyor-belt’ conception of radicalization, by analysing the life histories of (former) members of one of Africa’s most notorious ‘radical’ movements, northern Nigeria’s Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (a.k.a. Boko Haram). Through the stories of six people who in some way became part of the organization, the paper complicates the intuitive conveyor-belt narrative that violence is driven by ideological indoctrination. It shows that there are many different pathways that end up in violence, many of which are less intentional and more contingent than the conveyor-belt model suggests. Of course, religious conviction is often an important element of these pathways, as are family and friends, opportunistic incentives, and coercion. But the sequencing of organization membership, conviction, and violence can vary immensely, with serious implications for what it means to ‘radicalize’. Moreover, pathways into violence are often characterized by information gaps on the part of the ‘radicalizing’ individual, rapidly changing circumstances, and-perhaps most importantly-irreversible decisions with unforeseen consequences.

Abstract

This paper explores the limits of the ‘conveyor-belt’ conception of radicalization, by analysing the life histories of (former) members of one of Africa’s most notorious ‘radical’ movements, northern Nigeria’s Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (a.k.a. Boko Haram). Through the stories of six people who in some way became part of the organization, the paper complicates the intuitive conveyor-belt narrative that violence is driven by ideological indoctrination. It shows that there are many different pathways that end up in violence, many of which are less intentional and more contingent than the conveyor-belt model suggests. Of course, religious conviction is often an important element of these pathways, as are family and friends, opportunistic incentives, and coercion. But the sequencing of organization membership, conviction, and violence can vary immensely, with serious implications for what it means to ‘radicalize’. Moreover, pathways into violence are often characterized by information gaps on the part of the ‘radicalizing’ individual, rapidly changing circumstances, and-perhaps most importantly-irreversible decisions with unforeseen consequences.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. 1. Introduction: Biographies of radicalization–hidden messages of social change 1
  4. 2. ‘The heavens have already burned’: Reflections on radicalism 15
  5. 3. Pathways to home-grown jihadism in the Netherlands: The Hofstadgroup, 2002–2005 25
  6. 4. How Muhammad al-Wali developed a radical definition of the unbeliever 39
  7. 5. The jihad of Sheikh Ahmet Ismael Bichara in Kouno: An example of an outbreak of extremism based on religion 51
  8. 6. Ruben Um Nyobe: Camerounian maquis, radical, and liberator, ca 1948–1958 65
  9. 7. ‘It’s the way we are moulded’ 85
  10. 8. Radicalization processes and trajectories in western Chad 103
  11. 9. Radicalization in northern Nigeria: Stories from Boko Haram 114
  12. 10. A rebel youth? Social media, charismatic leadership, and ‘radicalized’ youth in the 2015 Biafra protests 134
  13. 11. Hamadoun Koufa: Spearhead of radicalism in central Mali 152
  14. 12. Central Mali: Toward a Fulani question? 174
  15. 13. Central African refugee Mbororo nomads in Cameroon: Cultural hostages? 194
  16. 14. Islam and radicalization in Senegal: A response in female preaching 216
  17. 15. Legacies of political resistance in Congo-Brazzaville 230
  18. 16. ‘Give the Youth a Voice’: A reflection on the Rencontres V4T@Dakar, 15–18 November 2017 244
  19. List of Authors 256
  20. List of Abbreviations VII
  21. Acknowledgements IX
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110623628-009

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. 1. Introduction: Biographies of radicalization–hidden messages of social change 1
  4. 2. ‘The heavens have already burned’: Reflections on radicalism 15
  5. 3. Pathways to home-grown jihadism in the Netherlands: The Hofstadgroup, 2002–2005 25
  6. 4. How Muhammad al-Wali developed a radical definition of the unbeliever 39
  7. 5. The jihad of Sheikh Ahmet Ismael Bichara in Kouno: An example of an outbreak of extremism based on religion 51
  8. 6. Ruben Um Nyobe: Camerounian maquis, radical, and liberator, ca 1948–1958 65
  9. 7. ‘It’s the way we are moulded’ 85
  10. 8. Radicalization processes and trajectories in western Chad 103
  11. 9. Radicalization in northern Nigeria: Stories from Boko Haram 114
  12. 10. A rebel youth? Social media, charismatic leadership, and ‘radicalized’ youth in the 2015 Biafra protests 134
  13. 11. Hamadoun Koufa: Spearhead of radicalism in central Mali 152
  14. 12. Central Mali: Toward a Fulani question? 174
  15. 13. Central African refugee Mbororo nomads in Cameroon: Cultural hostages? 194
  16. 14. Islam and radicalization in Senegal: A response in female preaching 216
  17. 15. Legacies of political resistance in Congo-Brazzaville 230
  18. 16. ‘Give the Youth a Voice’: A reflection on the Rencontres V4T@Dakar, 15–18 November 2017 244
  19. List of Authors 256
  20. List of Abbreviations VII
  21. Acknowledgements IX
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