Spent the last few days in parts of Yobe state in NE Nigeria which has presence of Islamic State West Africa Province. I’ve spoken with a lot of people about what they feel about them and inter-relations between them and civilians.
A thread...

Everyone I spoke with says ISWAP don’t attack civilians but rather target military, police etc. They tell civilians they are not interested in them and they should be calm and not afraid. All of this is in line with what I’ve heard from Borno communities for a while now.

BUT some told of cases where ISWAP threaten rich men, that they should pay N5-10m by x date or die. They report to security forces - who do not act. The men sell their animals & pay rather than leave villages as they don’t want to be IDPs reliant on others for food, shelter etc.

Also heard of incr armed banditry. Some felt this was by ISWAP members (in some cases punished by ISWAP leadership) whereas others felt it was separate with people from Sokoto/ Zamfara taking advantage of insecurity & lack of govt presence to rustle cows, kidnap for ransom etc.

Some places see incr ISWAP recruitment eg Geidam after military closed market in Jan, severely affecting livelihoods. ISWAP come to villages, preach + offer financial incentives. More attractive as people struggling b/c market closure.

I asked a District Head of area where ISWAP recruits: If you’re not there (he fled as community leaders targeted) & there is no govt, police or military either, who is in control? He said Boko Haram & villagers have no choice but to live under them as their farmlands are there.

These conversations reinforce my view that military restricting economy (ban fishing, close markets etc) are counterproductive. Want to stop armed opposition groups earning money - but 1) they do through these + other means & 2) ^ poverty + anger at military > higher recruitment

Also heard of people in LGA HQ going to farm running across ISWAP fighters ~ 10km from town. Fighters ask civilians to sit down and talk with them: we won’t hurt you, please feel free to continue coming to farm here etc then let them go. They finish farming and return to homes.

While some people keep farming w/ ISWAP assurances they won’t hurt them, others say they are unreliable. “When they started, they only attacked military & police then they started attacking general people. Now they say they’re only attacking security? They can change any moment.”

Also heard how male fighters who surrendered, went through govt rehab, trauma, deradicalisation programmes then went back to communities are rejected. People tell them outright they don’t trust them & they should get away. Many leave in search of new places to start afresh.

Of course, women aren’t considered a threat (sigh) and go through no govt programmes and get no proper support. Mostly nobody wants to marry them. If they find someone, they can get divorce letter from sharia court after year away from fighter husband & get remarried.

I heard of cases of women who had no idea their husband was a member of the group when the family went to the bush. They escaped the bush and came back to their family. When the husband returned, they refused to resume the marriage - and were supported by families & communities.

Interesting to hear how fighters treated people w disabilities, even when killed civilians 4-5 yrs ago. They told me they were unable to run so were among those left in communities. Fighters did not kill but told them to be calm & unafraid & in some cases showed routes to escape.

I’ve only spoken with people in communities with ISWAP presence. Hear dynamics are different in places with JAS (Shekau headed group) presence with more targeting of civilians etc. Again, similar to Borno. Would love to go to those areas too but sadly not this time.