10 facts about militant group
Boko Haram
1. It was founded by Mohammed
Yusuf in 2002
Born in 1970, Yusuf was a Muslim
sect leader and founded Boko Haram
as its spiritual leader. He was killed
in the 2009 Boko Haram Uprising
while in police custody – a conflict
between the militant group and
Nigerian security forces that led to
more than 1000 deaths. He had four
wives and 12 children. There is some
discrepancy around how he died, the
Nigerian government claiming it was
during a fight but a video interview
of Yusuf in prison disputes this.
2. The group is now run by Abubakar
Shekau
Shekau served as deputy leader to
Yusuf and authorities believed he
had been killed in the 2009 clash,
but he appeared in a video in 2010
claiming leadership. He posts videos
online stating that he ‘cannot be
stopped’ and in his recent video
claiming responsibility for the
abduction of the 300 girls.
He described the girls as “slaves”
and said “By Allah, I will sell them
in the marketplace.”
3. It’s full name is The Congregation
of the People of Tradition for
Proselytism and Jihad
It is better known by its Hausa
name, Boko haram, loosely meaning
“Western education is sinful.”
4. It is designated as a terrorist
group
Gen Ham, commander of the US
Africa Command (Africom) believes
that there are links between Boko
Haram and al-Qaeda. He believes that
that they are sharing explosives and
funds.
On October 13, 2013, the US government
designated the group as a terrorist
organisation.
5. It was a peaceful group until
2009
Yusuf founded the group with the
intention of establishing a sharia
government in Borneo State. Sharia
essentially means the religious law
(including crime, politics and
economics) of a prophetic religion –
in English it usually identified with
Islam.
Yusuf set up a religious complex
that included a school where many
poor families sent their children.
Yusuf began recruiting future
jihadists, using the high
unemployment, poverty and political
corruption of Nigeria to encourage
people to join.
6. The Nigerian government launched
investigations in 2009 which brought
the beginnings of violence
With reports that the group was
arming itself, the Nigerian
government began taking action.
Several arrests resulted in deadly
clashes that resulted in the deaths
of more than 1000 people.
7. The violence is escalating
There were an estimated 3600 people
killed by the group between 2010 and
2013, while more than 1500 have
died in the insurgency this year.
8. Nigerian police, military and
government have contributed to its
success of Boko Haram
Despite Nigeria’s wealth due to its
oil, around 75 per cent of its
population is considered poor. The
police and military are known to
execute prisoners without trial and
there has been factional fighting
between the northern Islamic Fulani
and southern Christian Berom tribes,
that included a conflict between 2001
and 2004 that left more than 50,000
people dead.
9. The group doesn’t represent Islam
Boko Haram has come under much
criticism by Muslim leaders,
including Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu,
the Niger State governor and The
Sulton of Sokoto Sa’adu Abubakar, the
spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims,
as not representing Islam, and even
anti-Islam.
“Islam is known to be a religion of
peace and does not accept violence
and crime in any form and Boko
Haram doesn’t represent Islam,” says
Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.
10. Boko Haram kills both Muslims
and Christians alike
There are varied reports of how
many Nigerians are Christian or
Muslim – but the margin between
them is slim – with around half of
the population Christian and half
Muslim. Boko Haram has instigated
attacks on both Muslims and
Christians alike, indicating that the
group is not necessarily influenced by
religion, but also by corruption and
poverty. The group has blown up
schools, religious buildings, sports
venues and even family dinners.

source: http://www..com/10-facts-about-militant-group-boko-haram/

Ok

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