Boko Haram is an Islamist terrorist group that originated in Nigeria and operates in the Lake Chad Basin region, which includes Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Formed in 2002, the group has engaged in a violent insurgency since 2009 with the goal of creating an Islamic state in Nigeria.
History and formation
- Founder: Mohammed Yusuf founded the
group in 2002 in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Initially non-violent, the group
attracted followers by providing welfare and preaching against corruption
and Western influence.
- Radicalization: In 2009, a military
crackdown on the group resulted in Yusuf's capture and extrajudicial
killing by Nigerian police. This incident infuriated followers and
radicalized the group, which then launched a violent insurgency under its
new leader, Abubakar Shekau.
- Insurgency: Under Shekau's
leadership, Boko Haram's attacks grew in frequency and brutality. The
group carried out bombings, targeted assassinations, and mass killings in
schools, churches, and government buildings. The 2014 abduction of over
275 schoolgirls from Chibok brought the group international notoriety.
- Affiliation with ISIS: In 2015,
Shekau pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS), and the group
rebranded itself as Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP).
- Schism and conflict: In 2016,
ISIS appointed Abu Musab al-Barnawi as the new leader, replacing Shekau
over his indiscriminate attacks on Muslim civilians. Shekau refused to
step down, leading to a major split. Shekau's faction reverted to the
original name, while al-Barnawi's became the recognized ISWAP. The two
groups became hostile rivals.
- Death of Abubakar Shekau: In May 2021, Abubakar Shekau died during clashes with ISWAP forces, reportedly by detonating a suicide vest to avoid capture.
Ideology and tactics
- Meaning of the name: The popular name
"Boko Haram" is a Hausa phrase that roughly translates to
"Western education is forbidden" or "Westernization is
sacrilege". The group sees Western influence as corrupting to Islamic
values and seeks to impose its strict interpretation of Sharia law.
- Tactics: The group's methods include:
- Using small arms and improvised explosive
devices (IEDs) against security forces and civilians.
- Mass kidnapping for ransom, forced
conscription, and using captives as suicide bombers.
- Divisive rhetoric: The group's leaders have used religious rhetoric to justify violence against anyone, including other Muslims, who do not share their extremist views.
Recent status
- Rivalry with ISWAP: Following
Shekau's death, ISWAP has largely become the dominant insurgent group in
the Lake Chad Basin, absorbing many former Boko Haram fighters.
- Continued threat: While weakened,
Boko Haram is still active, particularly in the Lake Chad region. Its
resurgence has been reported, with continued attacks and clashes with
ISWAP.
- Humanitarian crisis: The violence has led to a severe humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad Basin, with millions displaced and facing food insecurity. The long-term insurgency continues to cause widespread death, abductions, and human rights abuses.
Boko Haram, officially known
as Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad (JAS), is a Sunni Islamic
extremist group that originated in northeastern Nigeria in 2002. The group's
name translates to "Western education is forbidden" and reflects its
goal of imposing a strict form of Sharia law and eradicating Western influences
from Nigeria.
Ideology
The group's ideology is
centered on two main ideas:
Religious
exclusivism: Boko Haram believes all other value systems, including rival
interpretations of Islam and practices like democracy, are anti-Islamic.
Politics of victimhood: The group cites a perceived history of persecution against Muslims in Nigeria to justify its violence.
History
2002: Founder Mohammed
Yusuf establishes a religious complex and school in Maiduguri, Nigeria, which
becomes a recruiting ground.
2009: A brutal government
crackdown results in the extrajudicial killing of Yusuf. His deputy, Abubakar
Shekau, takes over leadership and pledges to avenge his death.
2014: The group gains
worldwide notoriety by kidnapping 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, triggering the
viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign.
2015: Shekau pledges
allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS), and the group is renamed Islamic
State's West Africa Province (ISWAP).
2016: Internal disputes
lead to a major split. A faction loyal to Shekau reverts to the name Boko Haram
(JAS), while another, more aligned with ISIS leadership, operates as ISWAP.
2021: Shekau dies during a clash with ISWAP militants. ISWAP attempts to absorb JAS fighters, but the factions continue to clash over territorial claims and supremacy.
Resurgence in 2025: Despite the death of its long-term leader and years of military pressure, Boko Haram has shown signs of resurgence in 2025, particularly in the Lake Chad region.
Renewed offensive: A South Africa-based non-profit reported evidence of a renewed Boko Haram offensive in the first quarter of 2025, killing over 500 people.
Border attacks: Throughout 2025, Boko Haram has escalated the scale of its attacks along the Nigeria-Cameroon border, capitalizing on deteriorating security and a weakened Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
Recent fatalities: In October 2025, Reuters reported that four Nigerian soldiers were killed after repelling a coordinated Boko Haram and ISWAP attack in Borno state.
Coordinated assaults: In May and September 2025, Boko Haram massacred close to 100 and 60 people, respectively, in attacks on Nigerian villages.
Motivations for
resurgence: Factors contributing to the group's renewed activity include:
Weakened
MNJTF: Reduced commitments and financial disputes have weakened the
effectiveness of the regional force.
Unsuccessful reintegration programs: Former combatants have rejoined extremist groups due to community rejection and limited government support.
Resource
gap: The group is filling its weaponry shortage by attacking military
outposts.
Recruitment: Poor socio-economic conditions in the Lake Chad basin, fueled by the climate crisis, make youth vulnerable to recruitment.
Atrocities and impact: Boko
Haram and its offshoots have been responsible for a devastating humanitarian
crisis across Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Their attacks
indiscriminately target civilians, security forces, and government
institutions.
Kidnappings: The group frequently abducts people, including women and children, for ransom or to use as conscripts and suicide bombers.
Civilian casualties: An estimated 35,000 people have been directly killed by the insurgency, with a total of 350,000 deaths when accounting for related causes.
Displacement: The conflict has displaced millions of people in the Lake Chad Basin. In 2025, over 5,000 civilians were forced to flee a Boko Haram seizure of a Nigerian town.
Food crisis: The violence
has contributed to regional food crises and soaring malnutrition rates among
children.
Religious persecution: Both Christians and Muslims perceived as collaborators have been targeted, though Christians are often systematically attacked, as seen in assaults in the Bokkos and Bassa areas in April 2025.
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Comments
Africa needs to eradicate its Islamic Terror Groups. The UN prefers that Africa remains dependent on their “lame” assistance. The African Union may be the vehicle needed to clean this up. Trump wants to clean up the UN.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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