By Olatunbosun Obafemi
A recent investigation has revealed that the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a jihadist group operating in the Lake Chad Basin, earns approximately $191 million (about ₦291 billion) annually from a sophisticated taxation system imposed on residents and non-residents within its territory.
This figure, derived from a report by The New Humanitarian (TNH) published on July 24, far surpasses the ₦28.3 billion internally generated revenue declared by Borno State in 2024. ISWAP’s earnings come mainly from taxes levied on fishers, livestock owners, and farmers across areas it controls in Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
The investigation, which drew on testimonies from fishers and former ISWAP clerics, identified three main categories of taxation: zakat, haraji, and darayib.
Zakat, an Islamic tax on livestock, contributes about $3.7 million annually. Rates vary from 1% to 3.3%, depending on herd size.
Haraji is ISWAP’s most lucrative revenue stream, estimated at $183 million per year. It is collected primarily from fishers and farmers who enter ISWAP territory to conduct business but do not live there permanently. Entry into these areas requires a $13 fee, with additional charges ranging from $13 to $196 depending on the fishing area and method used. Before leaving, fishers must pay another $2.60 per 100kg carton of fish, with up to 3,500 cartons leaving during a normal season.
The report estimates that ISWAP earns $156,000 from entry permits alone each fishing season. However, income can be disrupted by military operations or internal group suspicions of collaboration with Nigerian security forces.
Darayib, a more arbitrary tax imposed on all residents – including ISWAP members – brings in another $4.8 million yearly.
Beyond revenue, ISWAP is reported to provide services such as clean water, healthcare, and local conflict mediation in the absence of state presence, effectively positioning itself as an alternative government. These activities, according to TNH, help the group entrench its authority and broaden its support base among local populations.
