The Resurgence of Ansaru

‘Jama’atu Ansaril Muslimina fi Biladis Sudan’, meaning the Vanguard of Aid and Protection for Muslim’s in Black Africa (or JAMB), is also referred to as ‘Al-Qaeda in the Lands Beyond the Sahel’. More commonly, the group is known as ‘Ansaru’ and its motto, Jihad Fi Sabilillah ‘struggle towards the path of Allah,’ is a reflection of their ideology and objective. Ansaru’s emblem has two Avtomat Kalashnikov (AK) style assault rifles and a black flag inscribed with the Islamic declaration of faith. The group is a breakaway faction of Jama’atAhl Sunnah li Da’wahwa’l Jihad (Group of the People of Sunnah for Preaching and Jihad), also known as Boko Haram. Ansaru declared jihad in 2010 and continues to wage a violent insurgency, and terror campaign against Nigeria and the neighbouring Lake Chad basin states.

Unlike Boko Haram, which has a dominant Kanuri ethnic composition and a localized Jihad view, Ansaru is more diverse in terms of its interests, the ethnic composition of its members, and the geographical spread of its activities across Nigeria. The group operates in the North West and North Central regions of Nigeria and also in the West African Sahel.

Ansaru first came to prominence on 27 January 2012, days after a deadly Boko Haram attack in Kano killed at least 178 people in Kano. To distance itself from the violence perpetrated by Boko Haram against Muslims, Ansaru circulated propaganda leaflets and videos. Although both Ansaru and Boko Haram share the same ideology and founder, the groups have expressed different views on conducting jihad and who constitutes a legitimate target. For instance, Ansaru is opposed to attacks on Muslims except in situations of self-defense, while Boko Haram believes all Muslims outside the group can be legitimate targets.