1. The Making and Unmaking of Abubakar Shekau
Abubakar Shekau, a founding leader of the Boko Haram terror group, killed himself with a suicide vest four years ago at his base in Sambisa, during an attack by ISWAP, an offshoot of his group. Through archived materials and interviews with over ten individuals, including former associates, friends, bodyguards, and captives of Shekau, HumAngle’s Editor-in-Chief, Ahmad Salkida, penned what is arguably the most in-depth exposé into the life of the terror leader.
Following its publication in November, our website suffered a cyber attack that took us offline for a while, but it didn’t hinder a widespread reception of the story, which sparked a national discourse on the history of the insurgency that has gripped Nigeria for over a decade, and how the terror that Shekau ignited has outlived him.
2. Maitatsine: The Preacher of Fire (1927 – 1980)
Maitatsine is a Cameroonian and Kano-based Islamic preacher whose teachings and activities turned violent, birthing several cult-like movements in Nigeria’s North that radicalised and also influenced young people. In December 1980, his ideology culminated in one of the deadliest urban uprisings in Nigerian history. This ideology, the rejection of modernity, would later influence terror leaders like Muhammad Yusuf and Abubakar Shekau.
The exposé carefully examined the unhealed wound that Maitatsine created. It is yet another archival documentation that seeks to contribute to the understanding of Nigeria’s contemporary security challenges and how they emerged from unassuming places.
3. The Boys Lured into Boko Haram’s Enclave with Food Rations
When terror groups are referred to in the media, the description is often ‘armed men’, but that’s not always the case, as we’ve reported on women terrorists and this time, young boys. For this investigation, we spent time with Hassan Audu, a 16-year-old who, alongside his brother, was captured by Boko Haram terrorists, who in turn used food to keep him within their ranks.
The story offers insight into the terror group’s recruitment strategy for child soldiers and what the governance structure is like in their enclaves in North Central Nigeria, including in the group’s logistics department, where Audu worked.
4. A Robbery Incident Killed His Wife and Unravelled His Whole Life
We spent eight months tracking the effects of one tragedy on the life of one man and then represented the story in an interactive story that blends photos, videos, illustrations, and animations. Modu Bakura, a 30-year-old resident of Bama, northeastern Nigeria, was robbed three years ago. He lost his wife in the attack and also suffered several injuries that took months to recover from.
We penned a tender narrative of this incident, and the years that have followed, and how he continues to survive amidst debt and emotional hurt.
5. What Life Could Have Been for Leah Sharibu at 22
In May, Leah Sharibu turned 22. It was also her seventh year in captivity after Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) abducted her alongside 104 other schoolgirls from their dormitory in Dapchi, northeastern Nigeria. She’s the only one among the girls who remains in captivity, and has since become a global face of schoolchildren abducted in Nigeria during the reign of the insurgency in the country.
To commemorate her birthday, we sat with her only sibling to understand who she was before captivity and what she imagined her life would be like in seven years. That conversation gave birth to a speculative non-fiction narrative where we constructed what would have been, while also reflecting on her current reality, and how his family has continued to grieve her absence.
6. The Disappearing ₦aira
Two years ago, we interviewed everyday Nigerians to highlight the cost-of-living crisis that is faced in the country and how it has impacted their lives. This time around, we looked at the root of the crisis, not just the fruits. Through a data-driven interactive storytelling approach, we showed how the smaller denominations of the Nigerian Naira are disappearing
7. From Elephants to Warthogs: The Shadow Wildlife Trade Financing Boko Haram in Nigeria
Terrorism financing is one issue that comes up every time there’s a discussion about insurgency in Nigeria, and even across the world.
In this investigation, we uncovered how terror groups like Boko Haram are using wildlife to fund their activities in the country. Not only is this causing harm to communities, but animals like Elephants have also vanished in conflict-affected areas in the North East, prompting poachers and terrorists to turn to Warthogs, an overlooked species with tusks just as valuable.
8. Boko Haram is Tracking and Assassinating Defectors in Nigeria’s North East. Here’s How
Since the Nigerian government started the deradicalisation of terrorist deserters, we have extensively covered the struggle of reintegration that they face. But this report is different, it explores a challenge that is not often spoken about: the assassination of terrorists deserters by the groups they were once loyal to. Boko Haram, for instance, has created a spy network that tracks its defectors and assassinates them or forces them to return to their enclaves.
Through interviews with some deserters, we revealed how this approach has increased issues of recidivism and its impact on the Operation Safe Corridor programme.
9. The Intersection Between Healthcare and Loyalty to Terror Groups in Nigeria
In last year’s Atypical List, we featured the story of Mariam, who we used to represent women as willing participants in terror. We spoke to her again recently, and she is on the brink of recidivism. The recent USAID funding cut is making it difficult for her to access the anti-retroviral medications that were the very reason why she defected.
10. To Those We Miss
When we report on missing persons, we often tell you how they went missing and how their families are faring. So, we thought, how about we give the families of these missing persons the mic and allow them to bare their minds unfiltered? This gave birth to this heartwarming video, where families sent words to their loved ones who have gone missing, some for decades.
The provided articles delve into various socio-political issues afflicting Nigeria, highlighting key aspects of terrorism, personal tragedies, and socio-economic challenges. One article investigates Abubakar Shekau’s life and the terror he perpetuated through Boko Haram, which persisted even after his death during an ISWAP attack. Another piece explores Maitatsine, a preacher whose violent ideology influenced radical groups, affecting Nigeria’s socio-political landscape.
Further, the role of young boys being recruited into Boko Haram with promises of food, and the impact of terrorism on individuals such as Modu Bakura who lost his wife to robbery, are examined. Leah Sharibu’s continued captivity serves as a poignant reminder of unresolved insurgency impacts. Economic analysis discloses the disappearance of smaller Naira denominations amid a cost-of-living crisis. Additionally, investigations reveal Boko Haram’s reliance on illegal wildlife trade for funding and their spy networks targeting defectors. Healthcare access issues for former terrorists highlight the complex interplay between resources and loyalty. Lastly, a video gives a voice to families of long-missing persons, shedding light on their enduring hopes and struggles.