Understanding Nigerian citizens’ perspectives on Boko Haram Anneli Botha, Martin Ewi, Uyo Salifu and Mahdi Abdile ISS MONOGRAPH NUMBER 196 Contents Executive summary ....................................................................................................................... iii Acronyms .......................................................................................................................................v Tables and fi gures ......................................................................................................................... vi Tables .......................................................................................................................................... vi Figures ........................................................................................................................................ vi Chapter 1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................1 Chapter 2 Research methodology, limitations and structure ....................................................5 Chapter 3 The political context as a means of understanding Boko Haram .............................7 Voting ...........................................................................................................................................9 Trust in leadership and political institutions ...................................................................................16 Chapter 4 Who to call when in danger? ...................................................................................23 Faith in security forces .................................................................................................................23 Chapter 5 Reasons for joining Boko Haram ...........................................................................27 Citizens’ perceptions of the reasons for joining Boko Haram ..........................................................29 The need to belong and be respected ..........................................................................................32 Infl uence of family status on the decision to join Boko Haram .........................................................32 Where and how people are introduced to Boko Haram ..................................................................34 The infl uence of fi nancial incentive on joining Boko Haram .............................................................38 Lack of education ........................................................................................................................42 The role of religion .......................................................................................................................46 Infl uence of military responses on the decision to join Boko Haram ................................................48 The role of revenge ......................................................................................................................50 Analysis of social media ...............................................................................................................51 ISS MONOGRAPH 196 i Chapter 6 The security environment fuelling Boko Haram in Nigeria ......................................53 Chapter 7 How Boko Haram is fi nanced ..................................................................................57 What social media say about Boko Haram’s funding .....................................................................58 Citizen survey’s fi ndings on sources of Boko Haram’s funding ........................................................60 Politicians: patrons or fi nanciers? .................................................................................................63 The fi nancial support of other terrorist groups to Boko Haram ........................................................65 Armed robbery ............................................................................................................................66 Drug traffi cking and arms smuggling ............................................................................................66 Private businesses .......................................................................................................................67 Chapter 8 Citizens’ perspectives on how to deal with the Boko Haram issue .......................69 Chapter 9 Conclusion, recommendations and summary of key fi ndings ...............................73 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................73 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................76 Summary of key fi ndings of the study ...........................................................................................76 Appendix: Questionnaire of the fi eld study ..............................................................................79 Authors’ biographies ..................................................................................................................87 Notes ............................................................................................................................................89 ii UNDERSTANDING NIGERIAN CITIZENS’ PERSPECTIVES ON BOKO HARAM Executive summary Nigerians are divided over the factors that infl uence people’s decisions to join Boko Haram. However, some of the key factors that make individuals vulnerable to Boko Haram's recruitment are poverty and unemployment, their social groups (i.e. friends, family members, ethnic kinship and the almajiri system of Islamic schooling), lack of education and the religious institutions that they frequent. Contrary to expectations and conventional wisdom that, given the ferocity of the Boko Haram crisis and widespread corruption in Nigeria, people would generally be disillusioned and not participate in political processes, this study found high levels of participation in political processes, including elections, and interaction with the military and security forces. The study also found that people who are employed are more likely to participate in political processes, such as voting. At the community or local level in Nigeria, the social contract is extremely weak, as ordinary citizens relate very little to their local leaders. There seems to be a general distrust of local-government structures and their leaders. This distrust is particularly high in areas that experience high levels of Boko Haram activity. Similarly, at the national level, with the exception of the president, there seems to be very little trust in the institutions of the federal government, such as the National Assembly and the Senate. Again, with the exception of the president, the study found that Nigerians seem to have very little faith in politicians, who are seen as the catalysts of socio-economic and political problems in Nigeria. Most Nigerians believe that violent extremism, and especially Boko Haram, escalate because of the failings of politicians, who are also considered to be the fi nanciers of the extremist group. A signifi cant number of Nigerians believe that corruption is the biggest security threat to the country. Friends, neighbours, relatives and community meetings are viewed as the most likely arenas to recruit or introduce people to Boko Haram. Young people between the ages of ISS MONOGRAPH 196 iii 15 and 30 who are not married and with little or no education are the most vulnerable to being recruited into Boko Haram. Religion remains a huge factor in the Nigerian polity, which competes for legitimacy with the state. With the weak social contract, religion is what binds people in Nigeria. Many people who do not trust the government tend to trust religious institutions. Religion, however, has also been one of the factors that widens the north-south geographic divide in the country, an issue that continues to create tension among Nigerians. There are a large number of people who feel that they are deliberately excluded from political governance and do not have access to equal opportunities because of their ethnic or religious background. This was evident in the way religious groups and people from certain ethnic groups perceived government and politicians, who are generally seen to be corrupt and sponsors of Boko Haram. Interestingly, the study found that most Nigerians believe that Boko Haram is best addressed at the community or local level, rather than at the national or federal level. Nigerians are divided as to whether one should pursue military action or use non-military responses to Boko Haram. A signifi cant number favour military action, while the majority, who advocate non-military measures, are also divided over issues such as negotiation, amnesty, religious solutions, developmental solutions and a criminal-justice approach. The police are still a relevant factor, as a signifi cant number of Nigerians show faith in the police in dealing with emergency situations or when they are in danger. The military is also considered to be relevant, especially in the north, where a signifi cant number of Nigerians said they would call the military when in danger. Although there are certain distinctive elements in Boko Haram funding, it is also true that many of the group’s sources and means of funding are similar to those of other terrorist groups elsewhere in Africa and in the world at large, such as