Nigeria’s Boko Haram Terrorists A blast, and suddenly everyone is on the ground, people everywhere are screaming and many have severe injuries—shrapnel wounds penetrating skin, burned skin and clothing, and more. Tragically, this horrific scene is not an uncommon one in Nigeria these days. When traumatic attacks such as bombings occur, especially in northern Nigeria, two words come to everyone’s minds: Boko Haram. Boko Haram is an extremely violent Islamist terrorist group who hopes to create a wholly Islamic government and has been trying to do so by perpetrating attacks in Nigeria for the past twelve years.
One factor that led Boko Haram to take such violent measures is that they are aiming for an Islamic state and they greatly disapprove …show more content…
12 years later, Boko Haram has only grown in population and influence. Even when Yusuf was killed in 2009 by police, Boko Haram seems to have become more determined and more violent under new leader Abubakar Shekau. However, not much is known about Shekau—it is undetermined whether or not he is currently alive, and his age is unknown as well. Boko Haram is based mostly northeastern Nigeria, though their acts of violence are certainly not exclusive to this region. The majority of the northern part of the country is Muslim, yet despite this most of Nigeria’s Muslims do not support Boko Haram, their violent approach and the extremist beliefs.
In trying to entirely rid Nigerian society and culture of all things Western, Boko Haram has resorted to violence. Within the past decade or so, it is estimated that over five thousand people have died due to attacks led by Boko Haram and that approximately tens of thousands of others have been forced to pack up and leave their homes (Pierpaoli). Not only has Boko Haram greatly impacted the lives of thousands of people, but they have also led many attacks, including lethal bombings, kidnappings, brutal slaughtering, and assassinations (Karimi and …show more content…
People turning on their brothers and sisters, their neighbors and cousins—and nothing is accomplished by it. In the end, all that happens is huge loss of life. If nothing is done about Boko Haram in Nigeria, then the whole world is in danger of experiencing a similar situation because not many people are taking the time to consider the issue, raise awareness or help. Overall, terrorism, extreme violence, and discrimination obstruct the basic rights of humans on so many level, and for this reason they need to be stopped as soon as
One factor that led Boko Haram to take such violent measures is that they are aiming for an Islamic state and they greatly disapprove …show more content…
12 years later, Boko Haram has only grown in population and influence. Even when Yusuf was killed in 2009 by police, Boko Haram seems to have become more determined and more violent under new leader Abubakar Shekau. However, not much is known about Shekau—it is undetermined whether or not he is currently alive, and his age is unknown as well. Boko Haram is based mostly northeastern Nigeria, though their acts of violence are certainly not exclusive to this region. The majority of the northern part of the country is Muslim, yet despite this most of Nigeria’s Muslims do not support Boko Haram, their violent approach and the extremist beliefs.
In trying to entirely rid Nigerian society and culture of all things Western, Boko Haram has resorted to violence. Within the past decade or so, it is estimated that over five thousand people have died due to attacks led by Boko Haram and that approximately tens of thousands of others have been forced to pack up and leave their homes (Pierpaoli). Not only has Boko Haram greatly impacted the lives of thousands of people, but they have also led many attacks, including lethal bombings, kidnappings, brutal slaughtering, and assassinations (Karimi and …show more content…
People turning on their brothers and sisters, their neighbors and cousins—and nothing is accomplished by it. In the end, all that happens is huge loss of life. If nothing is done about Boko Haram in Nigeria, then the whole world is in danger of experiencing a similar situation because not many people are taking the time to consider the issue, raise awareness or help. Overall, terrorism, extreme violence, and discrimination obstruct the basic rights of humans on so many level, and for this reason they need to be stopped as soon as