Boko Haram, a name that has become synonymous with violence and terror, has left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s history. This extremist group has caused immeasurable suffering and upheaval in the country, challenging the very fabric of Nigerian society.
In this article, we will delve into the history of Boko Haram, examining its origins, evolution, and the far-reaching consequences it has had on Nigeria and its people.
Origin of Boko Haram
Boko Haram emerged in the early 2000s in northeastern Nigeria, particularly in the states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, during the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo.
The group was founded by Mohammed Yusuf, a charismatic preacher who sought to establish an Islamic state governed by a strict interpretation of Sharia law.
The name “Boko Haram” roughly translates to “Western education is forbidden” in the local Hausa language, reflecting the group’s rejection of Western influences and values.
Early Phases and Radicalization
Initially, Boko Haram operated as a non-violent religious movement, advocating for a more conservative interpretation of Islam and condemning what it perceived as corruption and injustice within the Nigerian government. However, over time, the group became increasingly radicalised and began resorting to violence as a means to achieve its objectives.
The Turning Point: Boko Haram’s Insurgency
The turning point for Boko Haram came in 2009, when the Nigerian government launched a crackdown on the group, leading to a violent confrontation that resulted in the death of Mohammed Yusuf. Following Yusuf’s death, Abubakar Shekau assumed leadership of the organisation, steering it towards an even more extremist and militant path.
Boko Haram’s campaign of terror escalated rapidly, targeting civilians, security forces, schools, religious institutions, and government installations. The group employed suicide bombings, kidnappings, and massacres, causing widespread destruction and displacing millions of people.
Chibok kidnappings and global attention
In April 2014, Boko Haram gained international notoriety when it abducted more than 270 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in Borno State. The incident sparked global outrage, with the #BringBackOurGirls campaign drawing attention to the plight of the kidnapped girls and the broader threat posed by Boko Haram.
Following the Chibok kidnapping in 2014, the majority of Boko Haram’s suicide bombers are female; many are teenagers, and the youngest was seven. Boko Haram jihadists rely on stealth, blending into local communities or hiding in the vast countryside.
According to the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, more than 35,000 people have been killed since 2009, when Boko Haram launched its insurgency aimed at overthrowing Nigeria’s secular government and establishing an Islamic state.
Their tactics include killings, suicide bombings, abductions, torture, rape, forced marriages, and the recruitment of child soldiers, as well as attacks that are directed against government infrastructure, traditional and religious leaders, and the civilian population.
According to the UN Children’s Fund, there have been over 2,400 verified incidents of grave violations against children, including forced recruitment, abductions, killing, and maiming, affecting 6,800 children in northeast Nigeria alone since 2014.
Access to education has been significantly impacted, with more than 1,500 schools closed and 910 destroyed. There are at least 1.8 million internally displaced persons in the northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe, and health services have been severely disrupted.
On September 7, having regrouped under their new leader, Boko Haram broke 105 of its members out of prison in Bauchi along with over 600 other prisoners. The group went on to intensify their insurgency, launching many attacks in Nigeria, mostly in the north of the country.
Also on December 24, Boko Haram detonated four bombs in Jos and attacked two churches in Maiduguri, while on December 31, Boko Haram bombed a barracks in Abuja, killing four civilians.
Under Shekau’s leadership, the group continuously improved its operational capabilities. It launched a string of IED attacks against soft targets, including its first vehicle-borne IED attack on June 16, 2011, killing six at Abuja’s police headquarters. On August 26, Boko Haram bombed the United Nations headquarters in Abuja, the first time they had struck a Western target.
Within hours of Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential inauguration on May 29, 2011, Boko Haram carried out a series of bombings in Bauchi, Zaria, and Abuja. The most successful of these was the attack on the army barracks in Bauchi.
According to Global Conflict Tracker, the terrorist group was forced to go underground in 2009 after men of the Nigerian Police Force killed over 700 of its members.
The remaining members were said to have dispersed to Afghanistan, Algeria, Chad, Northern Mali, and Somalia.
Also in 2015, the group was reported to have pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State and rebranded as the Islamic State in the West African Province, otherwise called ISWAP.
Multinational Efforts and Counterinsurgency
As Boko Haram’s influence and capacity to wreak havoc continued to grow, Nigeria’s neighbours, including Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Benin, joined forces to combat the group. In 2015, they formed the Multinational Joint Task Force with the aim of coordinating military efforts to counter Boko Haram’s insurgency.
The Nigerian government also launched its own counterinsurgency campaign, involving military operations, intelligence gathering, and efforts to address the root causes of extremism, such as poverty and marginalisation.
Current status and challenges ahead
While significant progress has been made in the fight against Boko Haram, the group continues to pose a threat to Nigeria’s security and stability. Boko Haram has splintered into factions, including the Islamic State West Africa Province, which has established ties with the global Islamic State network.
The Nigerian government faces the ongoing challenge of not only militarily combating the group but also addressing the socio-economic grievances that contribute to its appeal. Poverty, lack of education, and feelings of marginalisation in the northeastern region of Nigeria need to be tackled to prevent the emergence of new extremist groups.
The history of Boko Haram is a tragic tale of radicalization and violence, leaving a deep scar on Nigeria’s landscape. Its emergence as a formidable insurgent group has caused immense pain to the residents of the affected community and great socio-economic loss in the development of the affected areas.
