Manipulative and Recruitment Strategies in Boko Haram Terrorist Statements

Ayo Osisanwo

doi:10.1177/00219096241228795

Manipulative and Recruitment Strategies in Boko Haram Terrorist Statements

Ayo Osisanwo^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Institute of English Studies

University of Ibadan

Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper investigates the discursive strategies deployed by Boko Haram terrorists (BHTs) to manipulate targets to accept their ideologies. Drawing insights from the discursive strategies by Reisigl and Wodak in critical discourse analysis, 10 BH statements released between 2009 and 2021 were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed. This paper examines the discursive tools BHTs typically deploy to authenticate their activities and manipulate their target to win and invite them to their side. Examining BHT accounts using this approach is capable of building opposing accounts capable of reducing terrorism in Nigeria, and by implication, in Africa and the world over.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Asian and African Studies
Volume	60
Issue number	5
Pages (from-to)	3303-3318
Number of pages	16
ISSN	0021-9096
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/00219096241228795
Publication status	Published - 08.2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Research areas and keywords

Boko Haram terrorism
critical discourse analysis
Discourse strategies
manipulation
recruitment
English
Literature studies

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Development
Geography, Planning and Development

Access to Document

10.1177/00219096241228795Licence: CC BY

Georg Forster-Forschungsstipendium für Postdoktoranden (gefödert durch Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung)
Barron, A. (Project manager, academic) & Osisanwo, A. (Project staff)
01.09.22 → 31.12.24
Project: Research

Cite this

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title = "Manipulative and Recruitment Strategies in Boko Haram Terrorist Statements",

abstract = "This paper investigates the discursive strategies deployed by Boko Haram terrorists (BHTs) to manipulate targets to accept their ideologies. Drawing insights from the discursive strategies by Reisigl and Wodak in critical discourse analysis, 10 BH statements released between 2009 and 2021 were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed. This paper examines the discursive tools BHTs typically deploy to authenticate their activities and manipulate their target to win and invite them to their side. Examining BHT accounts using this approach is capable of building opposing accounts capable of reducing terrorism in Nigeria, and by implication, in Africa and the world over.",

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AB - This paper investigates the discursive strategies deployed by Boko Haram terrorists (BHTs) to manipulate targets to accept their ideologies. Drawing insights from the discursive strategies by Reisigl and Wodak in critical discourse analysis, 10 BH statements released between 2009 and 2021 were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed. This paper examines the discursive tools BHTs typically deploy to authenticate their activities and manipulate their target to win and invite them to their side. Examining BHT accounts using this approach is capable of building opposing accounts capable of reducing terrorism in Nigeria, and by implication, in Africa and the world over.

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KW - critical discourse analysis

KW - Discourse strategies

KW - manipulation

KW - recruitment

KW - English

KW - Literature studies

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M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85185682729

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SP - 3303

EP - 3318

JO - Journal of Asian and African Studies

JF - Journal of Asian and African Studies

IS - 5

ER -

Manipulative and Recruitment Strategies in Boko Haram Terrorist Statements

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Research areas and keywords

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Projects

Georg Forster-Forschungsstipendium für Postdoktoranden (gefödert durch Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung)

Cite this