Ambush as Terrorist Weapon: Living in the Mind of the Enemy

The great hope that the reported killing of Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Jamatu Ahli Al-Sunna lil Da’wal Jihad (Jas) faction of Boko Haram, would significantly reduce jihadist terrorism in northern Nigeria has not been realised. In the last few weeks, over 6,000 Boko  Haram fighters have surrendered to State forces following renewed counter-terrorism attacks and the supremacy struggle between JAS and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Despite this feat, ISWAP remains resilient, and it effectively weaponises ambush as a strategic tactic. Since it broke away from the original Boko Haram sect in 2016, it has killed hundreds of military personnel and members of the pro-government militia (Civilian Joint Task Force) in ambush.

Thus, this edition of Nextier SPD Policy Weekly examines the challenges posed by incessant ambushes of military personnel by terrorists and suggests ways to address the growing threat.

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