Boko Haram released a seven-minute propaganda video—the first of its kind in two years—showing the execution of three men whom the group accused of being spies for Nigeria's Directorate of Military Intelligence. The video was published by the faction led by Abubakar Shekau. In the footage, three men dressed in orange jumpsuits kneel on the ground as masked militants criticize President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian military's campaign against them. One man is beheaded, while the other two are shot. A militant addresses Buhari directly, stating, “These are your boys you sent.” Additionally, the group showcased high-grade military weapons, including what appeared to be anti-aircraft missiles, claiming that they still hold territory that the Nigerian army cannot recapture.
14 Mar 2017 · Borno
Deaths
3
Injured
0
Kidnapped
0
Total casualties
3
Perpetrators
Boko Haram
Response
Spokesman Sani Usman challenged the group to specify which territories it still controlled, stating: "Let them mention that part of Nigerian territory they are holding." He declined to confirm whether the executed men were military intelligence officers
Displacement
0
Socioeconomic drivers
The video was a direct response to President Buhari's December 2016 declaration that Boko Haram had been "crushed." By displaying captured military-grade weapons and executing alleged spies, the group sought to project strength and refute government claims of its defeat
Trajectory
This was the narrative resurgence phase. After months of silence following the loss of territory, Shekau used high-definition video to demonstrate that, although he had lost his capital, he had not lost his voice or his heavy weaponry.
Cycle notes
Mirrored earlier psychological warfare and propaganda productions by Boko Haram—such as its 2014 Chibok abduction propaganda footage and earlier public execution videos from 2012–2013, reflecting a recurring tactic of combining graphic executions, symbolic messaging, and military displays to project control and undermine state legitimacy; it also aligns with a broader pattern of media-enabled insurgency operations used to reinforce narratives of territorial resilience and intimidate both civilians and security forces during intensified military pressure in 2017.
Pattern
Boko Haram Propaganda
Related — Targeted Killing
ISWAP released a 56-second propaganda video showing the execution of 11 Christian men. The footage, produced by the Islamic State's Amaq news agency, depicted masked militants in black and beige uniforms standing behind blindfolded captives dressed in orange jumpsuits—a style familiar from previous ISIS execution videos. One captive in the center was shot dead, while the other ten were forced to the ground and beheaded. A militant speaking in Arabic and Hausa stated: "This message is to the Christians in the world. Those who you see in front of us are Christians, and we will shed their blood as revenge for the two dignified sheikhs, the caliph of the Muslims, and the spokesman for the Islamic State"
Two gunmen on a motorcycle tracked an operative of the State Security Service (SSS) to a barbershop in the Abbagaram ward of Maiduguri. The officers had been monitoring the area, and the security man, who was off duty, was receiving a haircut when the assailants entered the shop and shot him at point‑blank range. He was identified as Ibrahim Stanley Malgwi, an operative attached to the Borno State Command of the SSS. The attackers fled before a rapid response could be mounted.
Sheikh Ibrahim Birkuti, a prominent Wahhabi cleric known for his vocal and public criticism of Boko Haram’s extremist ideology, was assassinated outside his residence in Biu, Borno State. Two gunmen arriving on a motorcycle – Boko Haram’s signature tactical transport – opened fire on the Sheikh at close range before fleeing. A neighbour, Babagana Hanafi, told AFP: “A gunman riding a motorcycle stopped outside the house and brought out a gun from under his shirt and shot him twice at close range before fleeing.” Police confirmed the attack and blamed Boko Haram, noting that Birkuti had been one of the most prominent clerics to criticise the sect in Borno State.