Boko Haram: A Threat To The World

Kalli Morris

While the world's attention has been closely tracking the terror attacks that happened in France, what the international community has been overlooking is the daily attacks Nigerian citizens have been confronted with. Citizens live in constant fear due to an extreme Jihadist group named Boko Haram, and much like the attackers, in France the group is also driven by extreme Islamic beliefs. The name Boko Haram translates to Western influence is a sin. The West refers to America and the majority of its firm policies, such as citizens having a part in the government, and other social norms. The group outlaws ideals like trousers, shirts and even going to a school that educates in basic areas like history, or arithmetic; instead believing all of the educational focus should be on the Islamic religion. The group looks to radicalize all of Nigeria, and if the world continues to cast a blind eye towards this matter they might be successful in this goal.

The Nigerian group has been growing in power ever since 2002 and has been turning to more violent and horrific forms of inflicting fear. Looking back when British imperialism spread through Africa many Muslim citizens felt this threatened their prosperity and way of life. Originally Boko Haram’s goal was to oppose this Western education feeling it endangered the influence of Islam, so they created Mosques and Islamic schools. Then the group shifted its focus to creating an Islamic State, much like what ISIS hopes to do in the Middle East at this moment. Boko Haram's goal made it turn to violent actions in 2009 and while it originally targeted police, government officials, Christian preachers and people who opposed the group it now has no restraints in its current attack endeavors. All citizens are now potential targets everywhere they go-in local markets, their home villages, and major metropolis. By way of firing squad, beheading, and bombings the groups deeds only continue to worsen.

Boko Haram robs banks, government establishments, gathering funds and weapons they use to support their cause. A symbolic way they terrorize citizens is abducting women. Back in spring of 2014 they caught worldwide attention for abducting 276 girls from school. This triggered the Bring Back Our Girls campaign that swept news outlets and overtook social media. The cause brought even the support of America's first lady, Michelle Obama, and Nobel peace prize winner Malala Yousfzi and many other influential figures. But even with support efforts created to bring back the girls, nothing proved successful. And after six months of looking for the school girls the world stopped campaigning, while they supported the efforts no means were provided that would actually bring them home. The current leader of the group Abubakar Shekau explained in a video that the girls had learned of the Koran (Islam’s version of the Bible) and were then married off to Muslim men and fighters of Boko Haram. "Marrying off" hostages is popular for the group, what that really means is selling women as sex slaves for a profit. Thus showing Boko Haram face no consequences for their explicit actions and discouragement they have towards women and their value.

While the government has had advances in the way of dealing with this group it has not proved effective in eradicating its existence or cutting down the threat they pose to citizens. In 2009 the government seized the headquarters and did assassinate the original founder, and announced the group to be eliminated. But still having a mass following a new ruler replaced him as quickly as the founder was killed. Seeing that it was not successful the Nigerian government turned to creating a militia called Operation Flush, where it trained civilians in hopes of combating the terror group’s efforts. But sadly the group did not have proper resources, so the civilians were not properly trained. They supplied weapons and told Flush members to combat Boko Haram any way they saw fit. As a result of inadequate training and regulations they also began a terrorizing seize on Nigerians. They were being paid as they continued to gather Boko Haram associates and people with ties to the group. So the members would go into villages round up all the males and if they could not identify any as Boko Haram members they begin to torture them and often kill them; even if innocent. Often it was better to admit being associated with the group rather than face deadly interrogation. In different circumstances they would assassinate suspects in cold blooded murder or jail them where they would die of cholera or dehydration. When news of this leaked the government did not feel pressure to fix this because they explained it was successfully combating Boko Haram. But this essentially created a poisonous cycle, citizens fear Boko Haram but cannot turn to Flush members because then they will be a victim of their tactics and Flush will continue in their ways because they are being paid and the government believes this is working. Thus creating a negative relationship between people and its government, citizens often turn to Boko Haram for protection from these militias.

With this constant fear citizens are faced with escaping Nigeria into neighboring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon. This creates the problem of refugees, The European Union's commissioner for humanitarian aid estimated 1.5 million people have been displaced due to the relentless violence. Hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing Nigeria attempting to escape the turmoil in their country. These neighboring countries cannot provide essential resources for the massive influx of people coming in. While they want to help these refugees they also have to deal with containment. A threat that looms over these nations is the spread of Boko Haram into their country and the detrimental harm they could cause to millions more people.

Since the Nigerian government has been unsuccessful in handing Boko Haram neighboring countries and the African Union have come together in order to try to eliminate the threat that could potentially plague all democratic entities. Unanimously the African Union has agreed to send 7,500 troops and aid, while Cameroon and Chad have issues air strikes. While they have had made advancements, this year has proved to be the most vicious one of Boko Haram’s existence and we are only two months into 2015. The United Nations and other establishments say the recent attacks these past months are the most violent confrontations carried out by the extremists. One occurrence they went into villages and savagely murdered an estimated 2,000 people, burning people and villages to the ground. Never before has the unit been able to execute an attack at this level. The targeted areas are unrecognizable, nothing but decay and ashes are left to what used to be prosperous villages. Shortly following this attack a young suicide bomber, who was identified as a ten year old girl killed nineteen civilians. She is thought to be an abducted hostage, but this intensified tactic shows that the group is relentless in its terror campaign. In early days of February Boko Haram has killed 100 Cameroonian civilians and wounded at least 500 others. Abruptly after the attack on Cameroons soil the group crossed the borders of Niger for the first time, which previously was impenetrable. Boko Haram has done this in retaliation for the resources and troops that were deployed to contest their cause. Due to the advancement and even more extreme acts the Nigerian government has been forced to postpone elections. This postponement gives more time for the group to cause more destruction and disorder to Nigeria and areas outside its border and conformation that it is successful in its desire to disrupt the government.

The constant attacks by Boko Haram effects every nations of the United Nations, with the rise of ISIS this group may pose an even larger threat. While we are captivated with events in Europe and the Middle East when do we say enough is enough for these Nigerian citizens? By sitting back and watching these events continue and worsen us as a global community is saying the lives of those affected have less value than others around the world. Millions rally together when freedom of speech is attacked but what about the freedom to live without constant terror? Theses heinous atrocities that are being committed by Boko Haram is not something we as a civilized world should tolerate. Re-emphasizing the very translation of Boko Haram is the hatred and oppression of the West, if we do not begin to tackle this threat we are looking at a ticking time bomb. They will gain strength and get a foothold in Africa if they continue on their current course. And there is no saying that once this happens that Europe or America won’t be the next targets on this extremist’s agenda. It is time to recognize what has been happening in Nigeria is unacceptable; the world needs to come together on in order to stop the horrific efforts of Boko Haram.

Poster explaining:I am Nigeria. Stop Boko Haram.

Boko Haram members seen with weapons and leader, Abubakar Shekau in center of image.

Protestors hold signs to bring back missing school girls and stop Boko Haram.

Sign that explains I am Charlie but also the victims of Boko Haram

Protestors rally together urging Nigeria to 'Do Something'