Boko Haram is a terrorist organization with its roots in northeastern
Nigeria, linked to insurgency stemming from north Cameroon and Niger
Republic.
"Boko Haram" is a Hausa name which translates roughly as "Western education is forbidden," while the real Arabic name translates as "The Congregation of the People of Tradition for Proselytism and Jihad".
The sect was founded in 2002 by the late Mohammed Yusuf who was captured
and executed by Nigerian security forces in 2009. Until the government
clamped down on the sect’s activities in 2009, the operations conducted
by the sect were more or less peaceful. Since Abubakar Shekau, a former
deputy to Yusuf’s era, violent attacks have escalated in terms of both
frequency and intensity.
The sect seeks to establish a "pure" Islamic state ruled by sharia,
putting a stop to what it deems Westernization. It proposes that
interaction with the Western world is forbidden, and also supports
opposition to the Muslim establishment and the government of Nigeria.
The group is known for attacking Christians, Muslim clerics and
government targets, as well as for bombing churches, mosques, schools
and police stations. The group is also notorious for kidnappings.
Violence linked to the Boko Haram insurgency has resulted in an
estimated 10,000 deaths between 2002 and 2013.
On November 13, 2013 the United States government designated the group a
terrorist organization. On 22 May 2014, the United Nations Security
Council added Boko Haram to its list of designated al-Qaeda entities,
bringing "funding, travel and weapons sanctions" against the terrorist
group.
On 22 May 2014 Boko Haram was officially declared a terrorist group
affiliated to Al-Qaeda and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb by the United
Nations Security Council. International sanctions including asset
freeze, travel ban and arms embargo were imposed against the Islamist
extremist group.
It was reported in August 2013 that Shekau had been shot and deposed by
members of his sect, but he survived.
He has taken responsibility for the April 2014 kidnapping of over 200
school girls. On 6 May 2014, eight more girls were kidnapped by
suspected Boko Haram gunmen.
Funding sources for Boko Haram are not certain, but is believed to be
partially funded by bank robberies and by other Islamist groups.
Boko Haram is a terrorist organization with its roots in northeastern
Nigeria, linked to insurgency stemming from north Cameroon and Niger
Republic.
"Boko Haram" is a Hausa name which translates roughly as "Western education is forbidden," while the real Arabic name translates as "The Congregation of the People of Tradition for Proselytism and Jihad".
The sect was founded in 2002 by the late Mohammed Yusuf who was captured
and executed by Nigerian security forces in 2009. Until the government
clamped down on the sect’s activities in 2009, the operations conducted
by the sect were more or less peaceful. Since Abubakar Shekau, a former
deputy to Yusuf’s era, violent attacks have escalated in terms of both
frequency and intensity.
The sect seeks to establish a "pure" Islamic state ruled by sharia,
putting a stop to what it deems Westernization. It proposes that
interaction with the Western world is forbidden, and also supports
opposition to the Muslim establishment and the government of Nigeria.
The group is known for attacking Christians, Muslim clerics and
government targets, as well as for bombing churches, mosques, schools
and police stations. The group is also notorious for kidnappings.
Violence linked to the Boko Haram insurgency has resulted in an
estimated 10,000 deaths between 2002 and 2013.
On November 13, 2013 the United States government designated the group a
terrorist organization. On 22 May 2014, the United Nations Security
Council added Boko Haram to its list of designated al-Qaeda entities,
bringing "funding, travel and weapons sanctions" against the terrorist
group.
On 22 May 2014 Boko Haram was officially declared a terrorist group
affiliated to Al-Qaeda and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb by the United
Nations Security Council. International sanctions including asset
freeze, travel ban and arms embargo were imposed against the Islamist
extremist group.
It was reported in August 2013 that Shekau had been shot and deposed by
members of his sect, but he survived.
He has taken responsibility for the April 2014 kidnapping of over 200
school girls. On 6 May 2014, eight more girls were kidnapped by
suspected Boko Haram gunmen.
Funding sources for Boko Haram are not certain, but is believed to be
partially funded by bank robberies and by other Islamist groups. 
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