Boko Haram

Founded by Mohammed Yusef in northeastern Nigeria in 2002, Boko Haram has been responsible for kidnappings, murders, bombings, corruption of public officials and the displacement of millions of Nigerians. The group’s aim is to establish an Islamic state in the northeastern part of the state. The group is based In Borno, Nigeria. In 2009, Mohammed Yusef was captured by the Nigerian Military and handed over to the Nigerian police which in-turn decided to execute the Islamic leader-the group has been led by Abubakar Shekau since 2009. In 2014, the group gained international coverage when 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped. The Islamic group campaign of terror can be traced to Niger, Northern Cameron, Chad and has established links with ISIS. One could say that the group is anti-democratic as the group has stated they are against western-education and reject anything considered to be influenced by the west. Years of British colonialism, years of military dictatorships, corruption in the Nigerian government which continues today, extreme poverty even though Nigeria has one of the biggest economies in Africa. All of the points stated are reasons why Boko Haram are in existence today. Nonetheless, the group has a force of more than 15,000 members. They have more than enough battle experience and intelligence to stage a successful guerrilla campaign against the government if they really wanted too. I deem the group a severe threat to the state of Nigeria But the state is too scared to wipe them out completely. But, what can the Nigerian government do when they themselves have been compromised by the Islamic group. They (the Nigerian government) too, are up to their necks with corruption and greedy politicians and misdeeds to confront the group. The Nigerian government must learn how to accurately distribute the wealth to the rest of the population then maybe you can begin to stamp out the Islamic group. You know what? My family was slaves in Mississippi as of every (throughout the south) other black American. Nigeria is the country where my family originally comes from. I hope to make the trip to the country of my family one day….to Africa. Hopefully, Nigeria can stop this group before it’s too late but one can only hope.