According to a report by SaharaReporters, the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād, has released some photos claiming to show its sharia policemen (Hisbah) destroying batches of drugs suspected to be cannabis (marijuana) in an undisclosed location in Nigeria.
The photos show 3 members of the terror group wearing uniforms with the words "Islamic State" and "Hisbah" on them.
Though the location wasn’t disclosed, security analysts claimed the incident occurred around Lake Chad in Borno State.
In the photos, the men piled a number of black bags which presumably contained the drugs and then set them on fire.
SaharaReporters had in several reports in 2021 reported how the insurgents had been policing and taxing residents of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
Sources said the failure of the residents to comply with some of the directives attracts the death penalty.
The terror group in 2021 also distributed Ramadan welfare packages to the residents.
SaharaReporters gathered that the package distributed by the insurgents included rice, beans, millet, maize, sugar, spaghetti and cash gifts.
A security source had said the gesture was to induce the villagers to join the group’s ranks as militants.
Since the death of JAS leader, Abubakar Shekau, ISWAP has been consolidating its grip in locations around Lake Chad.
The sect’s membership has swollen with the defection of hundreds of Boko Haram fighters who were under Shekau.
The terror group has caused over 100,000 deaths and displaced millions of individuals mainly in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states.