Boko Haram
Boko Haram, officially known as Jamāʿat Ahl al-Sunnah li-l-Daʿawah wa al-Jihād ("Association of the People of the Sunnah for Preaching and Jihad"), is a terrorist organisation founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria. The group opposes Westernisation, which it views as corrupting Islamic values, and seeks to impose Sharīʿah (Islamic law) across Nigeria. The name "Boko Haram," meaning "Westernisation is sacrilege," was coined by locals to describe the group's ideology, often interpreted as "Western education is forbidden."
Escalation of violence
In July 2009, following clashes with police and the extrajudicial killing of Yusuf, Boko Haram launched attacks on police posts and government installations, resulting in significant casualties. The Nigerian army intervened, leading to over 700 deaths and the destruction of the group's headquarters. After a period of dormancy, Boko Haram reemerged in 2010 under the leadership of Abubakar Shekau, initiating a campaign of assassinations and attacks targeting police, military, government officials, Christian churches, schools, and Muslims critical of the group.
Affiliation with ISIS and factional split
In 2015, Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), adopting the name Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). However, internal disagreements led to a split in 2016, with one faction retaining the ISWAP name and the other reverting to the original designation.
Impact and international response
Boko Haram has been responsible for numerous attacks, including the 2014 abduction of over 275 schoolgirls from Chibok, which drew international condemnation. The group's activities have resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions. In response, the United Nations imposed sanctions on Boko Haram members in 2014, including asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes.
Despite military efforts, Boko Haram remains a significant threat in Nigeria and the surrounding region, continuing to carry out attacks and maintain influence in certain areas.
