₦airaland Forum

Boko Haram has grown from a small terror group to a mini-country with its own territory, which can be compared to gains made by the Islamic State (IS). Boko Haram now controls an area the size of Costa Rica or Slovakia.

The militant group's territory now totals about 52,000 square kilometers, according to an estimate released by The Telegraph.

One of the latest towns to be captured by the group was Baga in the northeastern Nigerian state of Borno, close to Lake Chad. According to witness estimates, Boko Haram militants killed at least 2,000 people there, although the Nigerian military later put the figure at 150.

Amnesty International said the attack could be the deadliest by the group since it surfaced in 2009.

READ MORE: ‘2,000 killed in Nigeria’: Boko Haram’s latest attack deadliest yet, Amnesty says

“For five kilometers, I kept stepping on dead bodies until I reached Malam Karanti village [near Baga], which was also deserted and burnt,” a surviving fisherman told AFP.

The militants currently control over 11 local government areas with more than 1.7 million people, The Telegraph estimated. Their territory stretches from the Mandara Mountains, on the eastern border with Cameroon, to Lake Chad in the north and the Yedseram River in the west.


The group seems to be copying the moves of the Islamic State, which began capturing territories in Syria and Iraq in June 2014.

READ MORE: Boko Haram chief voices support for IS, claims deadly attacks in new video

Now the area controlled by IS is between 39,000 square kilometers (the size of Switzerland) to 90,000 square kilometers (about the size of Portugal), according to various reports.

READ MORE: ISIS declares creation of Islamic state in Middle East, 'new era of international jihad'

After the Islamic State proclaimed its caliphate in June 2014, Boko Haram did the same in the northeastern Nigerian town of Gwoza, which was seized by the extremists in August.

“There is a copy-cat element at work here,” Andrew Pocock, the British high commissioner to Nigeria, told The Telegraph. “If ISIL [now Islamic State, also known as ISIS] can declare a Caliphate, then so can we.”

According to Pocock, the group wants “to be seen by their peers as grown-up jihadis” and to show "we can control territory, we can control a Caliphate.”

“You need a place where you can base yourself and keep equipment and supplies and, indeed, captives. It means that you’ve got to hold territory,” he added.

Boko Haram's attacks are not limited to Nigeria; neighboring Chad and Cameroon are also among the militants' targets. In December, the group approached Cameroon's Far North region. However, the Cameroonian army managed to repel the attacks.

Last April, Boko Haram shocked the world when it kidnapped 276 schoolgirls during a raid on Chibok, a village in the northeast of the country. Its actions led to global condemnation with the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls going viral.

Sixty girls managed to escape. The remaining 219 were converted to Islam and “married off,” said the extremists.

According to the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations, Boko Haram killed more than 10,000 people in 2014 alone. The violence has displaced more than one million Nigerians.

According to UN estimates released on Tuesday, at least 11,000 people have fled into Chad in a matter of days.

Boko Haram says it wants to enforce Sharia law throughout the country. Nigeria’s population is both Christian and Muslim, approximately 50/50.

None. I used Sendo as my first phone.

O ga o.

Danny! This man don finish Nigeria. By the time the consequences of the current govt actions begin to show face, most Nigerians will bite dusts except if we all effect the CHANGE!

True but bitter.

Not again. Why is everything turning against Jonah these days?

Pdp go dey pee for body

Nicepoker:
another prized f00l. Did u win ur own 5tupidity in a competition?

Yes. You got first class the same year. Though I managed pass.

Odenson lawyer. This must be one of the lawyers with rag wigs.








[size=40pt]Jonah must show me his Pry Sch Leaving Cert![/size]

Lol. See dirty slaps.

Ok na. He will work alone soon.

It is a political stunt. The op came to show everyone how Fani guy talks from both mouth. He changes colour like chameleon while he sings on food.

herald9:
So we have refugees on NL ?

Lol. The guy is on refugee status.

FrancisTony:
In your recent post, you don't believe in God.
Believing in Jesus is the same as believing in God.

There's no proof that Jesus existed sef...

You just hit him there. The guy called billyonaire is one funny dude. He was severely dealt with in politics section. He is looking for a way of pitching his tent in religion section.

Any source?

They like to behave like hooligans. Though I am not going to vote Jo

Damn!

Hmm. These people ahn

eighTHREAD:
he lives in alaigbo cave but is more concerned about lagos.

I see. They like to claim other people's land.

chukwudi44:
Olodo LASAA were removing other party posters while leaving that of the APC.Bunch of idiots that is how you want to run Nigeria abi.
Thank God for Failbuhari , we cannot wait to elect Jk

Ode. I don't think you live in Lagos.

This Jimi falls my hand everyday. The guy cannot be trusted. The last governorship debate, he called other contestants like Fashola and Abonikoro "Same of the same". He is now part of the same of the same.

Now he wants his posters to dirty Lagos again. Does he know how Lagos became a clean state?

Phillfree:
Please, I need a good wireless printer and a huawei router. Which should I go for and why?

Thank you and remain blessed.

What is you budget? That will make me know what to recommend. There are ordinary wireless printers. There are MFP wireless printers etc. Your budget will make one understand what to recommend. Cheers!

As for PDP...


Their looting no dey give us assurance
Repentance no dey their plans eh
create annoyance for my heart So
Ala Oyi e!

The change is definitely on the horizon. The corrupt ones will be kicked out.
.
.
.

Their looting no dey give us assurance
Repentance no dey their plans eh
create annoyance for my heart So
Ala Oyi e!

DaBullIT:
I'm 2face*ing with you in the spirit my bro , we're tired of their looting , this shuffering and shmiling everyday.

same govt , same shiiît , New govt , new shîit. Let's try for the no nonsense taking new govt

APC
Buhari

Osinbanjo

Backed by mend , market women

Obasanjo

Barack Obama

They know why we need change , and we must get the change this February

Lol. Yobo don suffer

DaBullIT:
[size=18pt]One Òdè will come here now and tell us GMB sponsors and supports prostitution and say GEJ till something

I am waiting for that comment , I know one ediot will write it [/size]

lol


Their looting no dey give us assurance
Repentance no dey their plans eh
create annoyance for my heart So
Ala Oyi e!

Lol

Their looting no dey give us assurance
Repentance no dey their plans eh
create annoyance for my heart So
Ala Oyi e!

Their looting no dey give us assurance
Repentance no dey their plans eh
create annoyance for my heart So
Ala Oyi e!

Their looting no dey give us assurance
Repentance no dey their plans eh
create annoyance for my heart So
Ala Oyi e!

Their looting no dey give us assurance
Repentance no dey their plans eh
create annoyance for my heart So
Ala Oyi e!