Five Facts About Boko Haram That You Don’t Know

Boko Haram has continued to perpetuate violence in Nigeria. The recent blast at a GSM market in Kano state resulted in the death of many. Nigerians, understandably, are fed up of the carnage and want a quick fix to end the
insurgency that has lasted for over five years. President Muhammad Buhari promised, during his election campaign, an end in December 2015 to the violence that grew bizarrely under former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration, that has continued to come under severe criticism for corruption and mishandling of funds for war fare. But as a Nigerian: How much do you know about Boko Haram? What are the method of operation of the terrorist group? How did it gain so much prominence? Naijavitl highlights Five Facts about Boko Haram You Probably Didn’t Know 1) They Recruit Fighters at a young age According to facts from the Human Rights watch dog, the Islamic sect recruits young children from age 11 and above to undergo clandestine Military training in unknown camps for about a year and then send them out for mostly suicide attacks among other sinister operations. 2) Hatred for Christians Although their primary aim is to create a Muslim caliphate, the terrorist group also have a genuine hate for Christians. The group’s leader Abubakar Shekau, once said in an undated YouTube video. “Either you are with us, I mean, we are Muslims who are following solid footsteps, or you’re with Obama, Francois Hollande, George Bush … Ban Ki-moon and his people generally, any unbeliever … kill, kill, kill,” “This war is against Christians, I mean Christians generally.” However, it is more than obvious that Boko Haram doesn’t in anyway practice the true teachings of Islam. 3) Group started with Mohammed Yusuf Mohammed Yusuf founded the terrorist group in 2002 and was highly influential in the sustenance of Boko Haram. However, in the 2009 sectarian violence that resulted in the death of many, Yusuf was summarily executed in public view by the Nigerian police. An action that is continued to be condemned as the reason Boko Haram exploded beyond control. 4) Boko Haram’s meaning Boko Haram means “Western Education is forbidden’’ and group’s official name “Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad”, in Arabic, translates “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad” Its worth pointing out that Boko Haram’s beliefs are in contrast to their modulus operandi (method of operations). For example, the Islamic group is against the Western life, but to publicize their sinister acts, Boko Haram uses Western equipments. 5) Boko Haram is an Affiliate of ISIS