Nigeria: how Boko Haram factions are weaponizing AI for military operations

Defectors from two major Boko Haram factions in Nigeria’s northeast have revealed how combatants are integrating generative artificial intelligence into their operational strategies. According to a landmark study by the University of Cambridge’s AI Science & Policy Programme, fighters are no longer confining AI use to propaganda but are applying these tools to tactical planning, logistics, and technical problem-solving.

Beyond propaganda: AI’s expanding role in insurgent warfare

Interviews with 27 former Boko Haram members—including mid-level commanders and technical specialists—conducted between 2025 and 2026, show that factions such as the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) began adopting publicly available AI systems like ChatGPT, Claude, and Meta AI as early as 2023. These tools are now being used not just to generate propaganda but to analyze failed attacks, optimize movement routes, and troubleshoot captured military equipment.

One former commander disclosed that fighters would input hypothetical attack scenarios into AI platforms to receive tactical recommendations, while others used the systems to diagnose mechanical failures in seized weapons or design improvised explosive devices. The study notes that while AI filters occasionally blocked dangerous queries, users frequently reformulated prompts or switched platforms to bypass restrictions.

Structured AI cells trained by foreign operatives

The adoption of AI has become institutionalized within certain factions. Dedicated units staffed with engineers, bomb-makers, and logisticians now serve as go-to resources for frontline fighters, who submit technical questions to these teams. The specialists then query multiple AI systems before relaying vetted responses to operational commanders.

According to testimonies, ISWAP’s AI integration was directly supported by instructors linked to the Islamic State’s global network. These trainers conducted in-person workshops, provided encrypted laptops, and supplied paid subscriptions to premium AI services. Training curricula covered AI fundamentals, prompt engineering, and methods to circumvent platform restrictions—skills later disseminated through internal networks.

Rethinking counterterrorism in the age of accessible AI

The Cambridge report cautions that while AI has accelerated access to technical knowledge—reducing research time from days to minutes—its outputs remain unverified and potentially unreliable. The study emphasizes that armed groups with limited resources can now leverage the same tools as governments and corporations, raising urgent questions about security vulnerabilities.

Researchers call for collaborative efforts among tech developers, policymakers, and security agencies to strengthen safeguards against AI misuse by organized militant networks. They warn that the current approach, which focuses on individual bad actors, is insufficient against structured adversaries capable of bypassing restrictions through multiple accounts and platforms.

For Nigeria’s security forces, the challenge extends beyond detecting AI-assisted attacks to understanding how these technologies are reshaping insurgent capabilities. With factions increasingly invested in AI infrastructure and specialized training, the line between conventional warfare and technologically enhanced operations is rapidly blurring.