Some Boko Haram militants under the umbrella of a group formerly known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād have intensified efforts to establish an independent country, the Islamic caliphate.
The militants belonging to the Islamic State West Africa Province, faction of Boko Haram reportedly organised da’wāt in some villages in Borno states to invite people to embrace Islam.
According to reports, the insurgents appealed to the villagers to join the group as militants and support their cause to establish an Islamic caliphate.
Meanwhile, the militants had hoisted their flag in the villages, assuring them of good governance, better security and basic amenities as soon as they have a new country.
The militants revealed that their target includes those who do not believe in their ideology, Christians and even Muslims.
In propaganda leaflets earlier distributed to Geidam residents, the group stated that anyone who comes to them for forgiveness and stops fighting them would not be attacked.
According to a 2019 report by a non-profit think tank, the International Crisis Group, the ISWAP’s approach to recruiting new fighters had proved effective.