Bulama Bukarti, a security analyst and senior fellow at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, has raised concerns over Boko Haram’s increasing presence on major social media platforms, including TikTok.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday 20th April, 2025, Bukarti revealed that the extremist group is now using video clips and live streams to spread its ideology and justify its violent actions. His warning comes just days after Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) disclosed that Boko Haram attacks had claimed the lives of 100 soldiers and 280 civilians in Borno State within six months.
Bukarti, who has extensively researched the terrorist group, stated, “Right now, if you go on TikTok, you will find accounts operated by Boko Haram members. They host live programs where they promote their extremist beliefs—justifying violence—all in the Hausa language. They even engage with their audience, responding to comments and questions.”
He further disclosed that a Boko Haram member recently posted a 10-minute video on TikTok targeting him for speaking out against the group’s escalating attacks.
Beyond social media propaganda, Bukarti highlighted the insurgents’ growing military capabilities. “Boko Haram now operates unmanned drones to surveil military formations in the Northeast. In the past three months alone, they have launched over seven attacks on Nigerian military super camps, including in Sabon Gari. They have overrun these camps, killing and capturing soldiers, seizing weapons, food, and medical supplies before retreating into the bush.”
The security expert’s revelations underscore the evolving tactics of the terrorist group, posing new challenges for counterterrorism efforts in Nigeria. Authorities are yet to respond to these latest developments.
