A community after Boko Haram attack | File photo
Joshua Ocheja, a scholar and communicator specialising in Nigerian and African military documentation, says Boko Haram insurgents deploy spiritual tactics to beef up their incursion.
In an op-ed published over the weekend, Ocheja noted that the militants combine strategic spiritual intelligence (SSI) and strategic empirical intelligence (SEI).
“SSI operates in the intangible realm, focusing on supernatural entities and forces such as angels, gods, and spirits,” he explained.
“In contrast, SEI is grounded in tangible, empirical reality, relying on planning, formulation, and execution based on available information. It is primarily physical.”
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Ocheja said the insurgents often have spiritual leaders who offer prayers and sacrifices for them and advise them on when to attack.
“For example, their spiritual leader can make them invisible to the military until they reach a certain radius, catching the military off-guard and accomplishing their mission,” he said.
“They can also be fortified with rings, bracelets, incisions, and other items that deflect shots and bullets. They can also burn incense that either hypnotizes the military or causes them to lose coordination during battle, resulting in heavy casualties. Often, things are deeper than what is reported in the news.
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“The recent resurgence in Boko Haram attacks on military bases in the Northeast could be used as a case study.”
Ocheja encouraged the military to add SSI to its tactics.
“This would increase the chances of success in battle,” he noted.
“From an SSI perspective, the battleground is in the mind, where beliefs take shape.”
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Ocheja advised that such concepts should not be taken for granted, particularly in a region shaped by intricate religious influences.
