Boko Haram is an Islamic extremist group located in northeastern Nigeria that aims to rid western influence from Nigeria and surrounding countries. They also aim to overthrow the Nigerian government and substitute its policies for strict Islamic law. Boko Haram been involved in many clashes with Nigerian troops, suppressing some of the group’s power. In 2009 their influence was lessened in Nigeria and surrounding areas, but since 2014 they are beginning to execute attacks and kidnappings almost daily. Boko Haram was recognized by the U.S. as a foreign terror group in 2013.
Boko Haram was founded in 2002 by a group of like-minded radical muslims hoping to establish an islamic state in Nigeria. They were strongly against western culture in the area; the name “Boko Haram” means “western education is forbidden.” However, their official arabic name is Official Arabic name is “Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad”, which means "People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad.” Their leader was Mohammed Yusuf, who heavily opposed the nigerian government and western education.
The group was somewhat inactive until 2009, after authorities cracked down on Boko Haram, Yusuf called for an uprising by all his followers. They attacked police stations and had gunfights with Nigerian soldiers for five days until Yusuf was captured and killed. After a year of laying low, Abubakar Shekau became Boko Haram’s new leader. The group began frequent suicide bombings and insurgent attacks against Nigerian government targets. The first--a suicide truck bombing against a UN headquarters—left 23 dead and injured more than 80.
Boko Haram also targeted schools and schoolchildren to further their agenda. In 2013, series of attacks killed dozens of boys. One of the group’s most infamous attacks was in Chibok, where 279 schoolgirls were kidnapped, apparently to be sold or married off. Around this time, Boko Haram began to hold on to territory in northern Nigeria. They pledged their allegiance to ISIS and aimed to establish a bigger Islamic State. Nigeria’s response was swift. A task force made up of troops from Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Niger ousted the group from their lands and forced a retreat. Even with their holdings gone, however, Boko Haram still remains active in Africa.
Boko Haram is one of the hardest types of groups to prevent, but also actually one of the easiest to destroy. Since it was born from a small group of followers, it is mostly under the radar. This makes it hard to detect, and therefore, hard to stop at its source. But when Boko Haram became bigger, it could easily be destroyed. I don't mean "easy" in the common sense, as it would take a military force to remove the group, but easy as in the size of the repercussions of destroying the group. Removing terrorist groups like Hezbollah would leave a power void, which could leave to an even more dangerous group taking power. Boko Haram, on the other hand, could be removed without any power struggle afterwards. Nigeria could simply retake the land and be done with the fight.
To prevent groups like Boko Haram popping up and gaining power, I would suggest propaganda and education against terrorism.
Sources used:
https://africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-explaining-nigerias-boko-haram-and-its-violent-insurgency/
http://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/boko_haram.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13809501
Boko Haram was founded in 2002 by a group of like-minded radical muslims hoping to establish an islamic state in Nigeria. They were strongly against western culture in the area; the name “Boko Haram” means “western education is forbidden.” However, their official arabic name is Official Arabic name is “Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad”, which means "People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad.” Their leader was Mohammed Yusuf, who heavily opposed the nigerian government and western education.
The group was somewhat inactive until 2009, after authorities cracked down on Boko Haram, Yusuf called for an uprising by all his followers. They attacked police stations and had gunfights with Nigerian soldiers for five days until Yusuf was captured and killed. After a year of laying low, Abubakar Shekau became Boko Haram’s new leader. The group began frequent suicide bombings and insurgent attacks against Nigerian government targets. The first--a suicide truck bombing against a UN headquarters—left 23 dead and injured more than 80.
Boko Haram also targeted schools and schoolchildren to further their agenda. In 2013, series of attacks killed dozens of boys. One of the group’s most infamous attacks was in Chibok, where 279 schoolgirls were kidnapped, apparently to be sold or married off. Around this time, Boko Haram began to hold on to territory in northern Nigeria. They pledged their allegiance to ISIS and aimed to establish a bigger Islamic State. Nigeria’s response was swift. A task force made up of troops from Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Niger ousted the group from their lands and forced a retreat. Even with their holdings gone, however, Boko Haram still remains active in Africa.
Boko Haram is one of the hardest types of groups to prevent, but also actually one of the easiest to destroy. Since it was born from a small group of followers, it is mostly under the radar. This makes it hard to detect, and therefore, hard to stop at its source. But when Boko Haram became bigger, it could easily be destroyed. I don't mean "easy" in the common sense, as it would take a military force to remove the group, but easy as in the size of the repercussions of destroying the group. Removing terrorist groups like Hezbollah would leave a power void, which could leave to an even more dangerous group taking power. Boko Haram, on the other hand, could be removed without any power struggle afterwards. Nigeria could simply retake the land and be done with the fight.
To prevent groups like Boko Haram popping up and gaining power, I would suggest propaganda and education against terrorism.
Sources used:
https://africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-explaining-nigerias-boko-haram-and-its-violent-insurgency/
http://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/boko_haram.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13809501