Boko Haram - The Islamic State of Africa??

In April 2014, 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped from the government secondary school of Chibok, Borno. This incident catapulted the Boko Haram, a western African Jihadist cult, to international fame. Although this incident might be the most famous of their attacks, it certainly wasn’t their first, nor was it their last. The group’s acts of violence started in 2009 with revenge attacks on the police, and have been continuing up until today with the murder of at least 43 people in the town of Gubio, Borno on the 26^th of May 2015.

Boko Haram Logo

The group is built on the ideals of establishing an Islamic state free from western education. This would include all advancements in the sciences we believe in today. In a 2009 BBC interview, Yusuf rejected the theory of evolution, said that rain is not "an evaporation caused by the sun", and that the Earth is not a sphere. While most people would dismiss this as foolish and crazy, it is indeed Yusuf’s decision to choose what he believes in, and each person’s own decision to follow his ideals. Interfering with that is a crime against the basic human rights. But the same should be applied both ways. The Boko Haram should not force the people to follow Islam without their consent.

It is in the best interest of people that Boko Haram achieve its goal without violent course of action. According to a UNICEF report, more than 1.5 million people have been displaced from their homes. Since Yusuf’s death in a police shoot out after an apparent prison break on the 30^th July 2009, the group has committed various crimes including but not limited to the Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping, kidnapping of the wife of the vice president of Cameroon in July 2014, the Baga massacres of 2013 and 2015, attacks on Cameroon in 2014-15, and many more. Initially, the group had close tie ups with the Al-Qaeda, but recently its alliance has shifted to the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL or ISIS).

Boko Haram militants

While the group’s actions may seem terrifying, their attacks have been far less frequent in 2015 since the involvement of the Nigerian military. Boko Haram has now been driven back to the Sambisa forest in north eastern part of the country, according to Mike Corones, via Reuters. The acts of violence have also decreased when compared to 2014 and 2013. This is good sign for both Nigeria and humanity itself.

A comprehensive list of the crimes committed by the Boko Haram will be uploaded shortly.

Hemanth Chenna

BITSMUN Society