Boko Haram: Fast Facts
Boko Haram is a militant Islamist group based in Nigeria that carries out terrorist attacks and kidnappings for ransom in an effort to establish a caliphate and impose control over the region. This group is reportedly among the most violent terror groups in the world, having taken responsibility for more than 17,000 deaths since 2009.
Formed in 2002 as a nonviolent Islamic political movement opposing the Nigerian government, Boko Haram grew more radical and violent in the years after. The group has seized large swaths of territory in northeast Nigeria, implemented its own version of sharia law, and is said to have links to “Islamic State” forces in the Middle East and North Africa.
Despite military intervention by Nigeria, neighbors Cameroon, Chad and Niger as part of a regional coalition, Boko Haram remains a potent force in the region. Here are some key facts about the group:
1. The name “Boko Haram” translates to “Western education is forbidden” in the local Hausa language.
2. The group’s official leader is Abubakar Shekau, believed to be alive since 2015.
3. In April 2014, Boko Haram made headlines when it kidnapped more than 270 schoolgirls from the city of Chibok in northern Nigeria. Over 100 of those girls are still missing.
4. In March 2015, Boko Haram pledged allegiance to ISIS and began to use its flag.
5. The group has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, including both civilians and military personnel in Nigeria and surrounding countries.
6. Boko Haram was estimated to have around 10,000 members in 2015.
7. Many of the group’s fighters are believed to be children and teenagers who have been recruited through kidnapping and radicalization.
8. Boko Haram’s violent actions have forced millions of people to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighboring countries.
9. The group has been suspected of receiving weapons and training from Libya, Iran, and Al Qaeda.
10. In January 2017, Nigerian forces launched a successful military offensive against the group, which resulted in recapturing much of the territory previously held by Boko Haram.
Boko Haram is a brutal group whose actions have wreaked havoc on the region and disrupted the lives of millions of people. Although substantial progress has been made in weakening the group, further action is needed in order to guarantee a lasting peace.