COMMON ANALYSIS
Last update: March 2026
This profile refers to individuals perceived by the Nigerian authorities and/or by their communities to be affiliated with Boko Haram. Living in areas under Boko Haram control or having family relations to Boko Haram members could trigger perception of Boko Haram affiliation. The scope of this profile does not encompass members of Boko Haram, including former members, for which exclusion considerations would be particularly relevant (see 7. Exclusion).
The analysis below is based on the following EUAA COI report: Country Focus 2025, 2.13.; Country Guidance should not be referred to as a source of COI.
Step 1: Do the reported acts amount to persecution?
Some acts to which individuals with perceived links to Boko Haram could be exposed are of such severe nature that they would amount to persecution. More specifically, suspected Boko Haram members and affiliates face serious human rights violations perpetrated by the Nigerian security forces including extrajudicial killings, rape, torture and enforced disappearances. Elderly civilians escaping Boko Haram-controlled areas and children due to their own or their mothers’ alleged links to ISWAP have been also arbitrarily detained. Unlawful military detention against young women and girls escaping Boko Haram was also documented.
The severity and/or repetitiveness of other acts that individuals with perceived links to Boko Haram could be subjected to and whether they occur as an accumulation of various measures, should be considered. More specifically, they face severe challenges to reintegrate, especially women, due to the lack of community support. Furthermore, boys face greater discrimination because of the belief that they may have joined the group more willingly than girls.
Step 2: What is the level of risk of persecution?
A well-founded fear of persecution would in general be substantiated for individuals with perceived links to Boko Haram as they often face serious human rights violations by the Nigerian security forces.
Step 3: Is there a ground for persecution?
Persecution of individuals under this profile is highly likely to be for reasons of political opinion, since being perceived as having links to Boko Haram is seen as supporting an insurgent/terrorist group and/or as being critical of the authorities’ policies and/or conduct.