Boko Haram in Nigeria By Harry Zangouropoulos

Contents Intro Intro Where? Where? Background Background Who? Who? What Happened? What Happened? What Boko Haram Do What Boko Haram Do Why? Why? When? When? Timeline Timeline Statistics Impact On Daily Life Peace Keeping Actions Bibliography

Intro Boko Haram is a group of Muslims Terroists oporating out of Nigeria West Africa. The conflict is on going since 2009.

Where? The conflict is mainly in the north east of Nigeria (also the north central and central states). Boko Haram also operates in Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

Background Nigeria was governed by a series of ruthless military dictatorships from its independence in 1960 until the start of democracy in Nigeria has already had civil war from and there has been religious differences for a long time. Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy. In 2013 the population was 173 million! Nearly 2/3 of its population live on less than $1 (US)/day. It is a very corrupt country especially the police and politicians. Also, the religion of Islam has become more radical worldwide

Who? Boko Haram is an Islamic group which is against the Westernising of Nigerian society. It is a very strict Sunni sect that wants people to live under a strict form of Sharia law. Sharia law is religious law which is based on the Koran, and they have lots of very harsh punishments like cutting off hands, stoning people and beating and killing. Boko Haram translates to “western education is a sin.” It was started in 2002 in Maiduguri by Mohummed Yusuf. (Maiduguri is the capital of the north-eastern state Borno). He was killed in 2009 and was replaced by Abubakar Shekau

What happened For the first seven years things seemed to be pretty peaceful. Then in 2009 security forces arrested some BH members and confiscated weapons and bomb making equipment. This lead to revenge attacks on police. And by the end of July lots of people had been killed and police stations, schools, churches, prisons and offices were destroyed. All these things are still happening. It has also spread into country areas, with farms being destroyed. There have been lots of kidnappings for example 276 school girls in Borno. There have also been lots of bombings including the UN HQ in Abuja and suicide bombings.

What Boko Haram Do Boko Haram kill people who do things which are un- Islamic, like drinking alcohol. For the first 7 years it was more or less peaceful. Since then there have been many events including: bombings, burnings, killings of civilians and security forces and kidnapping. They have especially targeted the police with hundreds killed and police stations attacked. They have also done some prison breaks. They force boys to join them by threatening death.

Why?......Religion This conflict is all about religion. Over 50% of Nigerians are Muslims. Most live in the northern part of the country, for example, Borno State. About 48% of Nigerians are Christian and live mainly in the south. It is also about the big gap between rich and poor people and the corruption.

When BH started in Attacks started in Conflict is still on going with no end in sight.

Timeline 2002: BH started in Maiduguri. Mostly peaceful until: July Security forces arrest some BH and confiscate weapons and bomb making equipment, starting lots of revenge attacks November-. Mohummed Yusuf killed. At some point replaced by Abubukar Shekau 2010 December- First Christmas bombing in churches 2011 June- First suicide bombing (Abuja) 2011 August- UN headquarters in Abuja bombed (first Western target)

Timeline 2012 January- Bloodiest attack in a single day (Kano) 2012 July- First mosque bombing (Maiduguri) February- first kidnapping across the border (French people in Cameroon) 2013 May- first slaves captured. Level of attacks increases a lot 2013 June- $7 million (US) offered by USA for capture of Abubukar Shekau 2013 November- US state department add BH to list of terrorist organisations April-kidnapping of 276 school girls in Chibuk, Borno, bombing in Abuja May-UN adds BH to sanctions list 2014 September-Maiduguri about to stormed

Statistics

Statistics

Statistics

Impact on Daily Life Education Family life and housing Houses have been destroyed. Families split apart. Some boys have been forced to join BH or be killed. When they started they had a school attached to the centre which attracted poor families wanting free education. BH once locked boys in their dormitory then set fire to it. They kidnapped 276 girls (most still missing). Thousands of students and teachers have deserted schools from Cameroon towns on the border of Borno State.

Impact On Daily life Health and medical care Lots of deaths and injuries. BH attacked some polio vaccinators because they thought the vaccine stops you having babies. Doctors, nurses and pharmacists have fled from Borno State. Doctors and nurses have been kidnapped to treat BH. Food and water Farmers can’t tend their crops from the chaos (which is the main source of food). People have been chased into the mountains which forces them to eat wild fruit and roots to survive. Attacks happen in busy market places too.

Peacekeeping actions There haven’t been many peace keeping actions. President Goodluck Jonathon has announced a state of emergency a number of times and the security forces have had special training to counter and eliminate Boko Haram. In fact Nigeria has withdrawn its troops from peace keeping in other parts of Africa. Also the security forces have done some terrible things as well. In May 2014 some African leaders met in Paris to discuss “war on Boko Haram”

Bibliography Wikipedia Wikipedia NBC News NBC News BBC News BBC News Other news sites Other news sites Google Images Google Images