A critical study of ideologies in selected Boko Haram videos

Abstract

Boko Haram insurgency has threatened the existence of Nigeria as the group has wrecked serious havoc on different parts of the country. This group has constantly claimed to stand against some issues, ideas, people, doctrines, and systems. They have demonstrated this in their activities. To further their engagements, they periodically release videos to the public and these videos communicate layers of meaning and ideologies. This study, therefore, highlights and discusses the ideologies inherent in Boko Haram Video. A total of five videos were selected from the Sahara Reporters TV, Premium Times, and legit.ng using a purposive sampling technique. The study adopted Fairclough’s Three Dimensional model of Critical Discourse Analysis as its theoretical leaning. Findings revealed that Boko Haram used both verbal and nonverbal semiotic resources in conveying their ideologies. Words like “infidels, tyrants, idiots, pagans and thieves” are used by Abubakar Shekau to show the negative out-group polarity of others while discourse elements like “we follow Allah, we obey Qur’an” are used to show positive in-group polarity. Various shots and expressions convey Boko Haram ideologies including monotheism, absolutism, anti-westernism, and masculinism. The study concludes that the semiotic resources used in Boko Haram videos covertly convey ideologies, power, (mis)representation and hegemony. Therefore, it is cogent that Nigeria’s federal government and the Nigerian military pay attention to the understanding of the operational ideologies of Boko Haram for effective deradicalisation of the sect and successful eradication of Boko Haram insurgency.