Mario Vlieg

Adolfo Leyva
INR2002
21 Apr. 2014

Boko Haram in Nigeria: When Religion Disguises Itself as Terror.

The Federal Republic Nigeria is a great country. It is the second largest economy in
Africa and an emerging nation with the drive to succeed. However, their growth and success
have been shadowed by the religious conflict raging inside the country. The extremist islamic
group named Boko Haram has been terrorizing north Nigeria in an effort to make people switch
religions in a country that is almost equally divided between christians and muslims. Boko
Haram was originally founded in 1995 as an indigenous group called Shabaab. But eventually,
with Al-Qaida funding and fundamentalists leaders taking over, it turned into the most bloodthirsty extremist group in Nigeria being responsible for thousands of deaths a year. Boko Haram
translated in english means Western education is sinful, which is one of the fundamental
beliefs that sets them aside from regular muslims. The extreme violence provoked by this
fundamentalist group has caused thousands of deaths and it is becoming a problem that the
government seemingly cant handle.

Week no. 1: President Goodluck Jonathan decided to stir things up a bit and
replaced his top military chiefs. Although he gave no explanations for his actions, one of
his consultants said that he was probably trying a new approach to put a stop to the
extreme violence. Human Rights Watch reported that 40 people were killed and 50
more harmed when a car bomb went off outside a postal office in a city called Maidiguri.
This attack was the first in that city since the Military rule was declared on May 2013
(Murdock).
Week no. 2: The neighboring nation Cameroon strengthened its frontier security
by sending troops to the border. This was the result of several cross-border conflicts
with islamists from the Boko Haram group trying to avoid French and African authorities.
The internal conflict in Nigeria has also caused hundreds of people to flee from their
land to neighboring countries such as Cameroon (Stratfor).
Week no. 3: Violence escalated as two terrible attacks blamed on the islamist
group Boko Haram killed 74 people. The first attack took place in Kawuri Village, where

a crowded market was set ablaze by explosives, reportedly killing 55 people. The
second attack was carried out in Waga Chakawa, where reportedly 22 people where
killed during a Sunday church service (BBC).
Week no. 4: A muslim cleric named Sheik Albani, was shot dead in his car with
his wife and young son. Sheik often criticized Boko Harams ideas and way of operating.
This assassination was probably meant to discourage anyone who has opposing ideas
to those of the islamist sect (Reuters).
Week no. 5: Violence does not seem to diminish as 51 people were killed by
dozens of Boko Haram soldiers rushing in trucks armed with semi-automatic weapons
and bombs in the government town of Konduga. Nearly 70% of the town was destroyed,
and innocent villagers were either hurt or killed. Reportedly, the soldiers kidnapped
twenty young girls from a school in the same town (Reuters).
Week no. 6: Members of Boko Haram stormed in the same way as the attack of
last week, but this time the victim was the christian village of Izghe, this time with a toll
of 106 citizens. The insurgents were after male targets and searched door by door for
male citizens. The attack reminiscent to that of nazi Germany produced a massive
exodus of panic-stricken villagers. The attackers also looted businesses and stores and
escaped with the stolen goods in villagers vehicles (Abubakar).
Week no. 7: Gunmen from Boko Haram entered a boarding school and killed 29
male students, many of which died ablaze while the school was being burned to the
ground. According to CBS News, the attackers spared the female students and told
them to go home, get married, and abandon western education which they say goes
against islam beliefs. According to Abdullahi Bego, the spokesman for the governor of
the state in which this happened, the soldiers from a checkpoint near the conflict area
where mysteriously withdrawn, calling into question the roll of the military in this event
(CBS News).
Week no. 8: A bloody clash between Boko Haram members and the Nigerian
military occurred when the insurgents assaulted some military barracks in an effort to
free their captive partners. The attack was contained by the military, which had to deploy
the air force to keep the rebels from fleeing. Both sides had casualties, but the islamist
rebels took the biggest hit with 207 dead. However, dozens of prisoners managed to
escape (Audu).

Week no. 9: According to Murdock, Boko Haram is most likely receiving terrorist
funding from Al-Qaida and other terrorist factions. They also use the money from bank
looting and take ammunition from the military bases they assault. The use of advanced
weaponry shows that their funding is diverse and vast (Murdock).
Week no. 10: Presidents Goodluck Jonathans capacity to contain the terrorist
attacks is questioned as suicide bombers killed at least eight people. Abubakar Shekau,
leader of Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for this and past attacks, saying they were
and attempt to free over 2000 Boko Haram captive members (Akinbugle, Magnowski).
Week no. 11: Thankfully no violent attacks were reported this week, but an
interview made to a Nigerian soldier who fought Boko Haram forces revealed that some
Boko Haram soldiers are not religious fighters, but mercenaries who emerged from the
military who are being paid to train and fight along with Boko Harams Jihadists
(Dockins).
Week no. 12: Boko Haram soldiers opened fire at a group of traditional muslims
while they were praying in a mosque. The deaths reached 17 people. They also burned
houses and destroyed several vehicles on their way out of the village. These actions
were a clear sign that these extremists wont even tolerate people of their own religion if
they dont support their ideas to the letter (The Times of India).

Week no. 13: A fatal bombing in a crowded bus station killed at least 71 people
and injured 124 more. President Goodluck Jonathan blames the group Boko Haram,
although no one has claimed responsibility for this attack yet. The Nigerian leader
referred to Boko Haram as a unnecessary distraction and a temporary problem, which
doesnt seem to be the case as he has been unable to contain the damage or fend of
the almost weekly recent attacks (Dixon).
Week no. 14: Boko Haram claimed responsibility of last weeks bus station
attacks that killed 75 people and seriously injured 141 more. A video made by the
islamist group claimed "We are in your city, but you don't know where we are, yes, we
are the ones who carried out the attack in Abuja. In this video, Boko Harams leader
Abubakar Shekau threatened to carry out more attacks, but he didnt say anything about
the more than a hundred girls abducted from schools.

Week no. 15: During this last week of my surveillance, President Goodluck
Jonathan said that no rebel or criminal group would make Nigeria disintegrate. He also
said that during last weeks bombings and attacks, people from all classes and religious
beliefs rushed to the help of their compatriots, donated blood and participated in
rebuilding activities, proving that religion is not a gap.
In the end the Presidents words give hope to a country assaulted by
unnecessary violence from less civilized groups. The assertions made very clear that
people are willing to help each other regardless of their religion. The extreme violence
experienced daily by these innocent citizens, has against all odds, served as a bridge
among people of different classes, beliefs and cultures. However, the problem posed by
Boko Haram is not even close to an end. I believe Nigeria will need foreign aid if it
wants to survive the threat of religious fundamentalism. Nigeria is the biggest petroleum
exporter in Africa, a point that makes providing help to this nation in distress a good fit in
a lot of big countries agendas. Boko Haram has proven to be extremely unmerciful,
even butchering people of their own religion, who criticize their modus operandi. With
elections nearing in 2015, the government has taken a dive in popularity because of its
incapacity to deal with the overwhelming wave of attacks executed by this well-funded

terror organism. There is not much the people of Nigeria can do, except to wait
expectants and live with fear until someone comes to their help. It is a shame really.
Fig. 1: Nigerian Flag

Works cited
(Chronological order)
Murdock, Heather. New Nigeria Military Chief Signals 'New Strategy' Against Boko
Haram. Voice of America. 17 Jan 2014, Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
Stratfor. Cameroon Tries to Stop Spillover Violence. Indian Review of Global Afairs. 24
Jan. 2014. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.
Nigeria 'Boko Haram' attacks leave scores dead. British Broadcasting Corporation. 27
Jan. 2014. Web. 29 Jan. 2014.
Nigerian Muslim cleric opposed to Boko Haram shot dead. Reuters. 3 Feb. 2014.
Web. 4 Feb. 2014.
Nigeria's Boko Haram kill 51 in northeast attack: witnesses. Reuters. 12 Feb. 2014.
Web. 12 Feb. 2014.
Abubakar, Aminu. Nigeria's Boko Haram targets Christian town and fishing village in
latest attacks. CNN. 18 Feb. 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.
Boko Haram Islamic militants storm Nigeria boarding school, kill 29 children. CBS
News. 25 Feb. 2014. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
Nigeria's 'Boko Haram attack' Borno state's Mafa town. British Broadcasting
Corporation. 3 Mar. 2014. Web. 3 Mar. 2014.
Audu, Ola. 207 Boko Haram Militants Killed In Maiduguri Attack, Says Civilian JTF PREMIUM TIMES. Sahara Reporters. 14 Mar. 2014. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.
Murdock, Heather. Analysts: Nigerias Boko Haram Funding Vast, Varied Voice of
America. Voice of America. 20 Mar. 2014, Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
Akingbule, Gbenga and Daniel Magnowski. Suicide Attack by Boko Haram in
25 Mar.

Northeastern Nigeria Kills Eight. Bloomberg News. 25 Mar. 2014. Web.

2014.

Dockins, Pamela. Army, Boko Haram Working Together in Parts of Nigeria? Voice of
America. 5 Apr. 2014. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
Boko Haram attack kills 17 in Nigeria. Times of India. 6 Apr. 2014. Web. 7 Apr. 2014.