Deadly Jihadists Boko Haram
By James Donahue
Among the most noticed and currently operating terrorist Islamic organizations is Boko Haram, a violent militant group operating in Northern Nigeria. This gang is robbing banks, kidnapping young women for sex slavery, and attacking and murdering men, women and children in entire villages.
Boko Haram, which has been operating since 2002, is believed to have up to 10,000 soldiers in its ranks. It recently pledged alliance to ISIL, which formally accepted the group within its ranks in March of this year, 2015.
This violent organization was founded as what appeared to be a more peaceful sect in Maiduguri, Borno, in northeastern Nigeria in 2002. It’s leader was Mohammed Yusuf, who opened a religious complex and school for poor Muslim families. Its original name was Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal’Jihad, an Arabic tongue twister which translated into English means “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad.”
The name was soon reduced to Boko Haram, which means “Western education is forbidden.”
Yusuf’s group was originally focused on opposing Western education, imposed during the British occupation of Nigeria. But the Islamic fundamental concerns went deeper than this. Boko Haram adopted a severe form of Islam that forbids members to take part in any political or social activity associated with Western society. This included such things as voting in elections and wearing shirts and trousers like people in most other nations of the world. Like other Islamic terrorist groups operating in the world, Boko Haram members recognize only Sharia law.
As the group’s numbers grew, Yusuf began training men for guerrilla attacks. His motive was to create an Islamic state and the school became a recruiting ground for jihadis. Boko Haram operated peacefully for the first seven years. Its members withdrew from general society into remote areas of the country. Some watchers grew concerned about the growing militant appearance of the organization, but because it remained quiet and appeared to keep to itself, the Nigerian government ignored the warnings.
Then in July, 2009, the Boko Haram uprising was launched. Militant forces attacked police stations and government buildings in the Nigerian states of Borno, Kano and Yobe. The attacks turned into an all-out civil war during which Yusuf was captured and then killed while in police custody. His deputy, Abubakar Shekau, also was killed in the uprising.
The new leader, Abubakar Shekau, appears to be even more malicious than Yusuf. Boko Haram seemed to withdraw and reorganize for the rest of 2009, then attack with even more vigor the following year.
The militants began kidnapping people and holding them for ransom, and conducting bank robberies, drug smuggling, pouching of elephant and rhino tusks and other crimes to raise money. Thousands of citizens have been murdered or driven from their homes. Boko Haram seized weapons left by fleeing military personnel as they advanced through not only Northeast Nigeria but neighboring countries of Cameroon and Chad.
The most recent atrocities have including bombings of public buildings and schools, and the kidnapping of hundreds of young girls for use as sex slaves and servants. They have attacked politicians, religious leaders, security forces and civilian targets. They have recently resorted to suicide bombings in the capital, on police and United Nations headquarters. The group has recently resorted to public be-headings.
Among the atrocities has been the forced abductions of hundreds of women and young girls, who have been repeatedly raped in what relief workers say has been a deliberate strategy to impregnate the women and create a new generation of Islamist militants. Women are being treated like chattel.
When Boko Haram carried its assault into neighboring Cameroon, the Cameroon military got involved and a strange jungle-style civil war developed. The militants now attack and then escape to hide in the jungle before emerging to attack somewhere else.
Under Shekau’s leadership, Boko Haram has grown in membership and its links to other terrorist organizations. In 2012 and U.S. State Department named al Qaeda as having ties with Boko Haram. Al-Qaeda has never acknowledged any ties to Boko Haram, however.
In July 2014 Nigeria marked 3,477 people killed in 146 different terrorist attacks, making that nation the deadliest place in the world. The Nigerian military was in shambles and claiming it was impossible for it to defeat Boko Haram. Since then it is reported that Nigeria has hired hundreds of mercenaries from South Africa and the former Soviet Union to help battle the terrorists.
Cameroon has been forming a coalition force with adjoining countries. The force will include 3,500 fighters from Benin, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria. Other troops from the Economic Community of West African States may also become involved. France and the UK has sent trainers and material help, and France is sending 3,000 troops into the region for counter-terrorist operations.
Israel, Canada and the United States also are offering support.
In recent months, several hundred enslaved women have been released from Boko Haram’s clutches and it appears that the organization is losing some of its grip on the region.
By James Donahue
Among the most noticed and currently operating terrorist Islamic organizations is Boko Haram, a violent militant group operating in Northern Nigeria. This gang is robbing banks, kidnapping young women for sex slavery, and attacking and murdering men, women and children in entire villages.
Boko Haram, which has been operating since 2002, is believed to have up to 10,000 soldiers in its ranks. It recently pledged alliance to ISIL, which formally accepted the group within its ranks in March of this year, 2015.
This violent organization was founded as what appeared to be a more peaceful sect in Maiduguri, Borno, in northeastern Nigeria in 2002. It’s leader was Mohammed Yusuf, who opened a religious complex and school for poor Muslim families. Its original name was Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal’Jihad, an Arabic tongue twister which translated into English means “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad.”
The name was soon reduced to Boko Haram, which means “Western education is forbidden.”
Yusuf’s group was originally focused on opposing Western education, imposed during the British occupation of Nigeria. But the Islamic fundamental concerns went deeper than this. Boko Haram adopted a severe form of Islam that forbids members to take part in any political or social activity associated with Western society. This included such things as voting in elections and wearing shirts and trousers like people in most other nations of the world. Like other Islamic terrorist groups operating in the world, Boko Haram members recognize only Sharia law.
As the group’s numbers grew, Yusuf began training men for guerrilla attacks. His motive was to create an Islamic state and the school became a recruiting ground for jihadis. Boko Haram operated peacefully for the first seven years. Its members withdrew from general society into remote areas of the country. Some watchers grew concerned about the growing militant appearance of the organization, but because it remained quiet and appeared to keep to itself, the Nigerian government ignored the warnings.
Then in July, 2009, the Boko Haram uprising was launched. Militant forces attacked police stations and government buildings in the Nigerian states of Borno, Kano and Yobe. The attacks turned into an all-out civil war during which Yusuf was captured and then killed while in police custody. His deputy, Abubakar Shekau, also was killed in the uprising.
The new leader, Abubakar Shekau, appears to be even more malicious than Yusuf. Boko Haram seemed to withdraw and reorganize for the rest of 2009, then attack with even more vigor the following year.
The militants began kidnapping people and holding them for ransom, and conducting bank robberies, drug smuggling, pouching of elephant and rhino tusks and other crimes to raise money. Thousands of citizens have been murdered or driven from their homes. Boko Haram seized weapons left by fleeing military personnel as they advanced through not only Northeast Nigeria but neighboring countries of Cameroon and Chad.
The most recent atrocities have including bombings of public buildings and schools, and the kidnapping of hundreds of young girls for use as sex slaves and servants. They have attacked politicians, religious leaders, security forces and civilian targets. They have recently resorted to suicide bombings in the capital, on police and United Nations headquarters. The group has recently resorted to public be-headings.
Among the atrocities has been the forced abductions of hundreds of women and young girls, who have been repeatedly raped in what relief workers say has been a deliberate strategy to impregnate the women and create a new generation of Islamist militants. Women are being treated like chattel.
When Boko Haram carried its assault into neighboring Cameroon, the Cameroon military got involved and a strange jungle-style civil war developed. The militants now attack and then escape to hide in the jungle before emerging to attack somewhere else.
Under Shekau’s leadership, Boko Haram has grown in membership and its links to other terrorist organizations. In 2012 and U.S. State Department named al Qaeda as having ties with Boko Haram. Al-Qaeda has never acknowledged any ties to Boko Haram, however.
In July 2014 Nigeria marked 3,477 people killed in 146 different terrorist attacks, making that nation the deadliest place in the world. The Nigerian military was in shambles and claiming it was impossible for it to defeat Boko Haram. Since then it is reported that Nigeria has hired hundreds of mercenaries from South Africa and the former Soviet Union to help battle the terrorists.
Cameroon has been forming a coalition force with adjoining countries. The force will include 3,500 fighters from Benin, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria. Other troops from the Economic Community of West African States may also become involved. France and the UK has sent trainers and material help, and France is sending 3,000 troops into the region for counter-terrorist operations.
Israel, Canada and the United States also are offering support.
In recent months, several hundred enslaved women have been released from Boko Haram’s clutches and it appears that the organization is losing some of its grip on the region.