Outside doctrinal radicalization, Boko Haram commanders rely heavily on pharmaceuticals such as Speed, LSD and Amphetamines to inspire and motivate their fighters to combat.

Amphetamines so far appear to be the drug of choice just as in the case of ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria. Amphetamines are widely favored by Jihadist commanders because it provides for stamina, courage, acts as a strength booster while staving off hunger pangs and fatigue. But most importantly, the choice of amphetamines by Boko Haram is mainly for it's ability as an emotional blocker - a good thing if you intend to behead and rape women and girls in order to send a message that you are all out to terrorize the society at large towards achieving your warped political aims.

Amphetamines also provide unusual bravado and courage that a normal sane and sober person won't dare risk. The drug is also known to provide super human capabilities in stamina and even strength. US soldiers in Iraq noticed this during the siege of Fallujah where Al Qaeda linked militants remained standing and fighting even after being shot. The infamous siege of an Indian hotel by Taliban trained and Pakistani linked Islamist which saw over 300 civilians and security agents shot dead lasted for well over 60 hours.Autopsy reports and blood test results on both killed and captured terrorist showed the were high on a cocktail of cocaine, LSD and steroids. Boko Haram has learnt very well from their fellow Islamic jihadist and ever since they became an organized fighting force the use of pharmaceuticals has played a heavy role in their combat readiness.

I once saw a video released by BH where their members where casually strolling into combat towards a fortified Nigerian Army base camp. Despite being under attack and with some of their members dropping like flies after getting shot, the terrorist just kept advancing forward like a wave of real life zombies. Now imagine you are in the position of a Nigerian soldier facing such an assault-naturally superstition will creep-in and you will be assuming that the BH members attacking you have been heavily fortified with some sort of voodoo charm and from there you will assume that your best option is to flee.

The Nigerian Govt has to address the proliferation of such illicit drugs flowing to BH as the drug remains their cardinal weapon. The drugs maybe coming from Libya or being produced in Sudan and shipped to BH through Chad or Cameroun. There is also the likelihood that the drugs are being manufactured in Nigeria as I can recall a news article where the NDLEA raided and shutdown an amphetamine factory in Delta state sometime last year with the said factory being operated by Mexican nationals who I assume would be linked to the Mexican Mafia.

The war on Boko Haram will be largely won if the Nigerian security networks look deeper into curtailing or outright blocking the flow of such powerful hallucinogenic to Boko Haram.

Bump