North east nigeria, in collective mobilisations in africa, edited by kadya tall, marie. The movement is unique in that it combines a sectarian, radical islamic agenda with violence. This led to the arrest of mohammed yusuf and his execution without trial. Boko haram is an islamist movement founded in 2002 by yusuf muhammad in borno state of northeast nigeria. Sep 26, 2019 as maceachern poignantly reminds us, the victims of boko harams depredations are only too aware of the historical parallel between their present plight and these earlier experiences of violence and exploitation. The best of the existing research contextualizes boko haram as a specifically african phenomenon with long historical and social roots in the region. The multinational joint task force against boko haram. Nation listing entry describes boko haram as an affiliate of alqaeda and also one of the organisations of alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim reuters, 2014. The kidnapping of chris mcmanus and franco lamolinara. For the past decade, boko haram has relentlessly terrorized northeastern nigeria.
The islamic state in west africa or islamic states west africa province, formerly known as jamaat ahl assunnah liddawah waljihad and commonly known as boko haram is a jihadist terrorist organization based in northeastern nigeria, also active in chad, niger and northern cameroon. People committed to the prophets teachings for propagation and jihad, from 2015 also called islamic state in west africa iswa or islamic states west african province iswap, islamic sectarian movement, founded in 2002 by muhammed yusuf in northeastern nigeria, that since 2009. However the group members call themselves jamaah alahlu alsunnah li aldawah wa aljihad. Yusuf also demanded the full implementation of the sharia in nigeria to usher in the perfect islamic state. A brief history of boko haram boko haram members prefer to be known by their arabic name jamaatu ahlis sunna liddaawati waljihad meaning people committed to. From this perspective boko haram falls within the tradition of jihadism in nigeria, although it is the most radical form. It is worth recalling that the clear intentions of boko haram were to destabilise the governments of the affected countries, institute sharia law and establish a caliphate in their area of influence. Pdf boko haram insurgency in nigeria as a symptom of poverty. The nickname boko haram was given by local communities to. While the full report moves toward publication, brookings asked him to publish excerpts for africa in focus, 1 explaining the emergence of boko haram, 2. View cnn s fast facts on boko haram and learn more about the militant islamic group based in nigeria, whose purpose is to institute sharia, or islamic law.
About 57% of all schools in borno state were closed due to the boko haram insurgency, affecting the education of about 3 million children. A short history of boko haram this morning, members of the boko haram movement attacked a dss detention facility close to the seat of power in abuja. Their intention was to implement sharia law in nigeria and. The origins of boko haramand why it matters by audu bulama.
The history of boko haram cannot be disentangled from the immense political change nigeria underwent during the 1999 transition to democracy. Check out our article on the history of boko haram in nigeria to understand the severity of the groups actions. It has been a growing force in nigeria for over a decade and has deep roots in the countrys social development going back even further. The violent boko haram attacks have left deep scars, both visible and invisible. The united states designated boko haram a foreign terrorist organization in late 20, but at times washington has withheld military assistance pdf out of concern over nigerias. History of boko haram in nigeria and their activities legit. Stabilizing northeast nigeria after boko haram carnegie. Suspected members of the hardline islamist group boko haram attacked a school in damaturu, nigeria, early tuesday morning, burning or shooting. While boko haram cant be neatly characterized as an insurgency or terrorist organization, its origins appear rooted in grievances over poor governance and sharp inequality in nigerian society.
Boko haram, islamic sectarian movement founded in 2002 in northeastern nigeria. To understand what led to the abductions one must first look backward, not only at the formation of boko haram itself, but also at the complex history of nigeria, islam in west africa and the deep corruption that has robbed the continents biggest oil producer, largest economy and most populous nation of even basic development, keeping the. History and ideology from 2002 to 2009, boko haram was led by mohammed yusuf, a charismatic imam in northeastern nigerias borno state, who preached that western education is sinful, which in hausa language translates to boko haram boko means book or, more broadly, western education, and haram. Muslim conflict, it can be seen that the intrareligious dispute adherents of islam played a key role in boko haram s creation. In 2015 the group began calling itself islamic state in west africa. This article will look into boko haram, its ideology, its methods, and its. Boko haram s sixyearold insurgency has pitted neighbour against neighbour, and cost more than 00 lives. The chronological depth of later chapters is less vertiginous, as maceachern moves from archaeology and history to current affairs. After years of tension and a series of minor incidents, things finally exploded in july 2009 when a prominent member of boko haram died, and a large number of them were on the way to bury him. History of boko haram founded in the muslimdominated northern nigeria in 2002 by mohammed yusuf, boko haram was originally labeled as the nigerian taliban because of its ideology and methods. Several members of boko haram were arrested in the following years and this led to a riot, which led to the death of up to 800 people. Since 2009 the group has carried out largescale acts of violence. Boko haram in particular and violent extremism in general.
Dfid nigeria, conflict management in northeast nigeria. Jun 09, 2014 view cnn s fast facts on boko haram and learn more about the militant islamic group based in nigeria, whose purpose is to institute sharia, or islamic law. Yusuf muhammads teaching propagated hatred toward western civilization. The history of an african jihadist movement supersedes everything that has been written so far on the development of this enigmatic jihadist movement in northeastern nigeria. Education is the key to national development in nigeria. Below is the most comprehensive history of boko haram insurgency in nigeria starting from the first attack in 2009 till date. Boko haram s origins lie in a group of radical islamist youth who worshipped at the alhaji muhammadu ndimi mosque in maiduguri a decade ago. Boko haram and the evolving salafi jihadist threat in nigeria pdf. Boko haram formed in 2002 when mohammed yusuf, a wellknown preacher and proselytizer of the izala sect of islam in the maiduguri region of nigeria, began to radicalize his discourse to reject all secular aspects of nigerian society. The word boko haram means western education is forbidden. The historical background of boko haram genocide watch. At about age eighteen, he moved to kano, in what is today northern nigeria, and began a career as a preacher. Boko haram s religious and political worldview by alex thurst on. The name boko haram is a hausa name which only the hausa peoples understood and is a compound name comprised of hausa and arabic.
Nigerias history of poor governance and extreme poverty in the north. The history of boko haram boko harams origins lie in a group of radical islamist youth who worshipped at the alhaji muhammadu ndimi mosque in maiduguri a decade ago. The rise of boko haram in nigeria combating terrorism. The state of insecurity engendered by boko haram insurgency in nigeria, especially in the northeastern part of the country is quiet worrisome, disheartening and alarming. The historical background of boko haram boko haram literally translated as western education is a sin is a genocidal criminal movement led by an islamist extremist, abubakar shekau, who has vowed to destroy every christian school in nigeria, and to carry out terrorist attacks on nigerian government police and government officials. Nigerias battle with boko haram council on foreign. This essay will explore a brief history and legacy of islam and colonialism in nigeria, and the current social and the economic conditions that gave rise to boko harams agenda. Boko haram is a radical islamist movement shaped by its nigerian context and reflecting nigerias history of poor governance and extreme poverty in the north. Nigerias battle with boko haram council on foreign relations. International journal of liberal arts and social science issn. Based on years of research in northern nigeria as well as his knowledge of a vast number of primary sources in both arabic and hausa, thurston is able to. People committed to the prophets teachings for propagation and jihad, from 2015 also called islamic state in west africa iswa or islamic states west african province iswap, islamic sectarian movement, founded in 2002 by muhammed yusuf in northeastern nigeria, that since 2009 has carried out assassinations and largescale acts of violence in that country. Boko haram draws, among other things, upon historical references to the islamic empire of dan fodios. Pdf claimed by boko haram and reduce violence linked to the group to levels seen prior to 2014.
More a mosque based community than a tightly organized movement, boko haram centered on the salafi preacher muhammad yusuf 19702009. Mar 31, 2014 a short history of boko haram this morning, members of the boko haram movement attacked a dss detention facility close to the seat of power in abuja. Facts, history, leaders, and origins of the terrorist group usa today usa today file this file image made available wednesday, jan. Therefore, this study aims to examine the threat of boko haram insurgency on nigerian national security system. Department of history, adeyemi federal university of education p. The anatomy of a crisis 10 since 2009 boko haram has become a metaphor for insecurity in nigeria after the government launched a clampdown on the group, which resulted in some 800 deaths, mostly of the sect members. Boko haram appeared in the consciousness of most westerners for the first time in april of this year. Boko haram in context the roots of boko haram lie in the islamic history of northern nigeria, in which for some 800 years powerful sultanates centered around the hausa cities close to kano and the sultanate of borno roughly the region of the states of borno and yobe together with parts of chad constituted high muslim civilizations.
Boko haram is one of the deadliest jihadist groups in the world, and the crisis surround ing it is one of the globes worst. Few if any explanations for the rise of this violent insurgent group look beyond its roots in worldwide jihadism and recent political conflicts in central africa. The boko haram insurgency the violent rise and resilience of the jihadist group boko haram in the lake chad basin since 2009 poses enormous security, humanitarian and governance challenges. It vehemently affirmed the infallibility of the quran as the uncreated and eternal word of allah. On 2 april, a boko haram attack on the outskirts of maiduguri resulted in the death of 18 people and another 84 wounded. After decades of vacillating between periods of military rule and democracy, punctuated by coups, the nigerian fourth republic began as general abdusalami abubakar peacefully handed over power to olusegun obasanjo after democratic elections. Boko haram was radical when it started, but it was not violent. This research explores the theoretical categorization of boko haram as a terrorist organization and the effects of extrajudicial killing and an ineffective judicial system in providing a fertile ground for terrorism in nigeria. Scholarship on islams history in the region is particularly helpful in contextualizing boko haram s ideological and historical roots. This essay will explore a brief history and legacy of islam and colonialism in nigeria, and the current social and the economic conditions that gave rise to boko haram s agenda. Boko haram itself was founded in 2002 in borno state by a group of islamic clerics. The origins of boko haramand why it matters by audu. The threat from boko haram and ansaru the henry jackson society 7 leadership have recently surfaced. Jun 06, 2014 boko harams story begins with a preacher named mohammed marwa, born in 1927.
Its founder was mohammed yusuf, who was a known fundamentalist and his thinking was influenced by wahhabi theology. The history of an african jihadist movement on jstor. This theory resonates with statements attributed to the leader of the boko haram, which claims that boko haram is fighting a religious war against unbelievers with the goal of turning nigeria into an islamic theocratic state. The violent rise and resilience of the jihadist group boko haram in the lake chad basin since 2009 poses enormous security, humanitarian and governance challenges. Pdf the geopolitics of boko haram and nigerias war on. The geopolitics of boko haram and nigerias war on terror article pdf available in geographical journal 1804 december 2014 with 2,152 reads how we measure reads. As one of the few organisations with fieldbased expertise in the greater sahel and on all four countries caught up in the insurgency. The nigerian armed group boko haram has gained international notoriety after the kidnapping of more than 270 schoolgirls in northern nigeria. The islamic state in west africa or the islamic states west africa province formerly known as. The hausa applied the term boko to western forms of education so when the term haram is appended to it the intent is. The emergence of boko haram is a symptom of the maturation of historical extremist and rejectionist impulses in the northeast and the failure of both governmental and customary conflict mitigation institutions. Boko haram gained more international notoriety in 2014 when the group kidnapped over 200 chibok schoolgirls for various purposes, such as prisoner exchanges and to sell them into marriage. A heavyhanded or solely military response will not bring peace and may be counterproductive. Boko haram reportedly released all but one of the girls by 21 march.
The roots of boko haram lie in the islamic history of northern nigeria, in which for some 800 years powerful sultanates centered around the hausa cities close to kano and the sultanate of borno roughly the region of the states of borno and yobe together with parts of. In 20, the nigerian military intensified its campaign against boko haram. Looking back at boko haram s history, which is marred by muslim vs. Boko haram was founded upon the principles of the khawaarij advocating sharia law. In 2002, an offshoot of this youth group not yet known as boko haram declared the city and the islamic establishment to. Pdf for the past decade, boko haram has relentlessly terrorized northeastern nigeria. Beginning in the late spring and summer of 2014, boko haram began seizing villages in towns in borno, yobe, and adamawa states. This paper aims to examine the historical evolution of boko haram, its causes.
The name boko haram is usually translated as western education is forbidden. Rise of boko haram world history free pdf download. The study presented the historical analyses of the effect of boko haram insurgency on educational management in northern nigeria. Boko haram and the islamic states west africa province. Boko haram and the islamic states west africa province boko haram emerged in the early 2000s as a small sunni islamic sect in nigeria advocating a strict interpretation and implementation of islamic law, and has evolved since 2009 to become one of the worlds deadliest terrorist groups. Boko haram has also been translated as western influence is a sin. Pdf nigeria has recently been confronted with increased terrorist activity by a group called. Boko haram was reported to have killed 380 people between april and september 2017 in the lake chad area.
A history of the continent since independence illustrated ed. The impact of boko haram insurgency on nigerian national. Boko haram took shape in the northeastern nigerian city of maiduguri in the early 2000s. According to a september 20 house of representatives homeland security committee report, the aqim boko haram collaboration is a mature relationship that allows boko haram an avenue to advance its capability, and. Since 2009, boko haram has transformed itself from a cultlike religious.
Timeline of boko haram insurgency in nigeria from 2009. Boko haram is one of the deadliest jihadist groups in the world, and the crisis surrounding. Boko haram emerged around 2002 as a local islamic group. Democratic party to boko haram, casts the nigerian political party the all progressives congress as an islamist organiza tion, and accuses emir of kano muhammadu sanusi ii a target of boko haram of supporting the sect. Boko haram took shape in the northeastern nigerian city of maiduguri, borno state, in the early 2000s. Boko haram is a radical islamist movement shaped by its nigerian context and reflecting. In 2002, an offshoot of this youth group not yet known as boko haram declared the city and the islamic establishment to be intolerably corrupt and irredeemable. Historical evoulution of boko haram the history and development of boko haram insurgents group in north eastern. Interrogating the emergence of boko haram in nigeria this section gives a brief history of the emergence of boko haram sect in nigeria, examines. Now theyre pleading for help to save their generation duration. It will examine the evolution of boko haram itself from islamic. During the late 1990s or early 2000sit is unclear precisely whenyusuf emerged as the groups leader. The cycle of violence being unleashed on nigerians by the fundamentalist group, boko haram has heightened fears among the populace and the international community that the hostility has gone beyond religions or political coloration hence the need to. While boko haram would appear to be a part of a wider terrorist phenomenon, linked to al qaeda and isis, historian kim searcy demonstrates that boko haram s agenda is local, not international, and the roots of that agenda stretch back several centuries.
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