Boko Haram Info
Boko Haram Info
Boko Haram Info
Founded in the Muslim-dominated northern Nigeria in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf, Boko Haram was originally
labeled as the Nigerian Taliban because of its ideology and methods. Boko Haram, which translates to Western
education is forbidden, is also known as Jama'atu Ahl as-Sunnah li-Da'awati wal-Jihad (People Committed to the
Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad).
Prior to 2009, Yusufs followers were not as active as members of Boko Haram are today, but they did attempt
several attacks against Nigerian security forces, only one of which was successful.1 In 2003, a group of Yusufs
followers established a small settlement near the border of Niger called Afghanistan. Local officials denounced the
settlement and called for it to be disbanded.2 Eventually, escalating tensions culminated in the group assaulting the
homes of local officials and police,3 to which the Nigerian security forces retaliated, killing several group members
and destroying their Afghanistan settlement.4 Despite frequent arrests of Yusuf, the group and the Nigerian
government were able to maintain a truce for the next five years.5
1 The American Foreign Policy Council's World Almanac of Islamism, Boko Haram, August 21, 2013, http://almanac.afpc.org/boko-haram
2 Ibid
3 Benjamin Maingwa and Ufo Okeke Uzodike, "The Changing Dynamics of Boko Haram Terrorism", Al-Jazeera Center for Studies, July 31, 2012,
http://studies.aljazeera.net/ResourceGallery/media/Documents/2012/7/31/20127316843815734The%20Changing%20Dynamics%20of
%20Boko%20Haram%20Terrorism.pdf
4 The American Foreign Policy Council's World Almanac of Islamism, Boko Haram, August 21, 2013, http://almanac.afpc.org/boko-haram
5 Ibid
IDEOLOGY
Boko Haram is a violent Sunni jihadist group founded by cleric Mohammed Yusuf, who was previously a leader
within a Salafist group in the 1990s, and was inspired by 14th century fundamentalist scholar Ibn Taymiyyah.11 As
Boko Harams alliances with al-Qaidalinked groups, such as al-Qaida in the Land of Islamic Maghreb (AQLIM),
have strengthened, its interpretation of violent jihad has changed, increasing the scope of its targets and areas of
activity beyond the borders of Nigeria.
SPECIFIC GOALS
Boko Haram wishes to expel the political community of northern Nigeria which they believe has been seized by
corrupt and false Muslims12 and to establish a fundamentalist interpretation of Sharia (Islamic law) across all of
Nigeria.13
The group also advocates against Western influence in Africa and has allied with several militant organizations
to fight government forces in Mali and Nigeria.
As evidenced by the increasing number of attacks against educational targets, Boko Haram also seeks to rid
Nigeria of any Western education, including schools for girls.
6 Mohammed Aly Sergie, "Boko Haram", Council on Foreign Relations, February 26, 2014,
http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739
7 Counter Terrorism 2014 Calander, "Boko Haram", http://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/boko_haram.html
8 Mohammed Aly Sergie, "Boko Haram", Council on Foreign Relations, February 26, 2014,
9 National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). (2012). Global Terrorism Database [Data
http://www.usip.org/publications/what-boko-haram
13 Raifu Oriyommi, "Nigeria's Boko Haram", On Islam, December 26, 2011,
http://www.onislam.net/english/news/africa/455146-nigerias-boko-haram-profile.html
START Background Report START, May 2014 2
POLITICAL ACTIVITY
Boko Haram does not engage in any form of nonviolent or conventional political activity, although it does denounce
all forms of government that do not adhere to an Islamic system.14 There have been minimal communications
between government officials and Boko Haram regarding ceasefires, but they are unlikely to succeed as neither side
will accept the others terms and Boko Haram is ideologically opposed to any rule of other than its interpretation of
Sharia.
FINANCING
Boko Haram receives funding through several avenues including abductions, robberies, donations, extortion and
financing through its network of alliances with other terrorist organizations. Boko Haram has most likely received
funding from Al-Qaida in the Land of Islamic Maghreb (AQLIM, or AQIM).151617 With the help of AQLIM, Boko Haram
has reportedly been able to secure additional donations from organizations based in Great Britain and Saudi
Arabia.18 Boko Haram also engages in kidnapping for ransom and bank robberies.19
TARGET TYPES
Boko Haram most commonly Boko Haram Target Types, 2009-2013
targets private citizens and
property (25% of attacks),
police (22% of attacks),
Education
government targets (11%), 7%
religious figures and Other
8% Private Citizens &
institutions (10% of attacks), Property
and the military (9% of Business 25%
attacks). Boko Harams major 8%
attacks on churches and
Military
religious figures have at 9%
times been followed by Religious Figures & Police
rioting and retaliatory attacks Institutions 22%
against Muslim targets, 10%
exacerbating religious Government
11%
polarization of the Nigerian
population.
14 Human Rights Watch, "Boko Haram Attacks and Security Force Abuses in Nigeria", October 11, 2012,
http://www.hrw.org/node/110632/section/7
15 The American Foreign Policy Council's World Almanac of Islamism, Boko Haram, August 21, 2013,
http://almanac.afpc.org/boko-haram
16 U.S. Department of State Country Report on Terrorism 2013, April 2014.
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/225886.pdf
17 Combating Terrorism Center at West Point Boko Harams International Connections, January 14, 2013
https://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/boko-harams-international-connections
18 Ibid.
19 John Campbell, " Why are Boko Haram Fighters Successful", Nigerian Tribune, March 8, 2014,
http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/columns/backpage/in-out/item/818-why-are-boko-haram-fighters-successful
20 Counter Terrorism 2014 Calendar, "Boko Haram", http://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/boko_haram.html
Boko Harams name and ideology indicate antipathy towards Western educational norms. Despite this, Boko Haram
did not initially target schools, with only three attacks recorded prior to 2012. In 2012, Boko Haram started targeting
schools on a regular basis, with 47 attacks that year resulting in 77 fatalities.
While attacks on schools decreased in 2013, perhaps due to frequent school closures in its areas of operations,
Boko Haram carried out 14 attacks on schools in which 119 people died. In February 2014, Boko Haram attacked a
boarding school in Yobe state, killing 29 male students but sending the female students away with admonitions to
get married.21
More than 480 perpetrator groups committed terrorist attacks during the time period that Boko Haram has been
active. From 2009-2013, Boko Haram was responsible for 2.34 percent of more than 34,000 terrorist attacks that
took place worldwide. Additionally, Boko Haram was responsible for 5.9 percent of fatalities from terrorist attacks
during this same period. The group is now among the deadliest in the world.
In Nigeria, Boko Haram was responsible for more than 80 percent of all terrorist attacks between 1970 and 2013
for which a perpetrator group was identified, despite their relatively recent onset of violence in 2009. Likewise,
deaths from Boko Harams attacks represented nearly 70 percent of all fatalities from terrorist attacks in Nigeria
during this time period. The next most active group in Nigeria was the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger
Delta (MEND), which carried out more than 70 attacks and killed approximately 280, beginning in 2006.
Ansaru splintered from Boko Haram in 2012. Since then, the group has carried out a number of attacks in Nigeria,
including targeted kidnappings of international figures. According to statements made by Ansaru following several of
its attacks, the group acts in retaliation for military intervention by Western nations in places like Afghanistan and
Mali. Examples of these attacks include the kidnapping of a French national in December 2012 and seven foreign
nationals kidnapped in an attack on a Lebanese construction company in February 2013.
21 Nigeria School Raid in Yobe State Leaves 29 Dead, BBC, February 25, 2014, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26338041
1) Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram share similar ideologies and in 2011 Boko Haram member Mamman Nur
reportedly received trainings from Al-Shabaab in Somalia before launching an attack against the United Nations
headquarters in Abuja on August 26, 2011.
2) Al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQLIM, or AQIM) has worked extensively with Boko Haram,
including training individuals who are now members of Boko Haram as early as the mid-2000s. Although the
exact beginning and extent of the relationship is unknown, in 2010 AQLIM released statements offering training,
supplies, and militants to support Boko Haram. Since 2011, AQLIM has provided Boko Haram with financing,
including reportedly facilitating donation lines from organizations in Great Britain and Saudi Arabia, trainings and
weapons. The two organizations conduct joint operations in Mali and the magnitude of AQLIMs influence on
Boko Haram can be seen in their increasingly sophisticated and coordinated attacks.
3) Ansar Al-Dine and Boko Haram fought alongside each other in Mali against the Azawad National Liberation
Movement and several reports have documented Boko Haram activity in Ansar Al-Dine controlled territories.
4) Ansaru (Jama'atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan) splintered off from Boko Haram due to ideological
differences in January 2012. Ansaru criticized Boko Haram for not adhering to the same interpretation of
defensive jihad. Although the groups ideological differences influence their tactics and target selection,
Ansarus goals of eradicating Western influence in Western African and establishing Sharia are similar to Boko
Harams.
6) In 2012, Boko Haram joined with AQLIM, the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) and
Ansar Al-Dine to create the Islamic State of Azawad and rebuff the Azawad National Liberation Movement
(MNLA) from areas in the Malian region of Gao. Although Boko Haram clashed with MNLA, the group has not
been a significant target of Boko Harams attacks.
7) Since its formation in 2002 and move to greater militancy in 2009, Boko Haram has ideologically and militarily
opposed the Nigerian government. Boko Haram wishes to create an Islamic state in Nigeria and has targeted
government security forces throughout its existence. The Nigerian government has responded with military and
police forces, attempting to destroy Boko Harams strongholds and arrest militants responsible for attacks,
including the high profile execution of former leader Mohammed Yusuf in 2009. Although the two sides have
communicated regarding ceasefires and concessions, no significant progress toward peace talks has been
made.
8) In 2010 Boko Haram released a statement offering support and pledging alliance to the Afghani Taliban and Al-
Qaida Central. In the same statement Boko Haram conceded to not currently having contact with either group.
Although ideologically both groups have strongly impacted Boko Haram, there is no evidence that either has
provided any material form of support.
9) The Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) has provided training camps and conducted joint
operations with Boko Haram militants in Mali. The groups are ideologically aligned and wish to establish Sharia
beyond the borders of their respective home bases.
MAY 7, 2013
Gunmen launched a series of coordinated attacks in Bama Town, Borno state, which included assaults on a military
barracks, a police station, a prison, and several government buildings. At least 55 people, including a number of the
assailants, were killed in the attacks.
JULY 6, 2013
Assailants set fire to the Government Secondary School in the Potiskum local government area of Yobe state. As
school children and staff fled the burning building, the perpetrators opened fire, killing 46 and wounding 4 others.
Boko Haram later claimed responsibility for the attack in a video posted online.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2012
In at least 21 coordinated attacks, members of Boko Haram attacked cell towers with explosives. In total,
approximately 31 towers were attacked across four states late Tuesday and early Wednesday, killing approximately
15 people. Boko Haram claimed that the towers were targeted because the cell companies were assisting the
government in their counterterrorism efforts.
JULY 7, 2012
In six coordinated attacks, Boko Haram operatives attacked six villages across Plateau state near the city of Jos.
This series of armed assaults left 56 people dead.
APRIL 8, 2012
In one of two bombings in Nigeria on Easter Sunday, a suicide car bomb exploded outside of All Nations Christian
Assembly Church in Kaduna, killing at least 40 and wounding at least 10. No group claimed responsibility for the
attack, but Boko Haram was suspected.
NOVEMBER 4, 2011
In a series of coordinated attacks across Yobe and Borno state, Boko Haram attacked at least six churches, four
police stations as well as the military Joint Task Force Office, the State Security Services building, a college, and
local businesses. At the end of the attacks, more than 60 people were dead. Boko Haram claimed responsibility for
all of the attacks.
This Background Report was funded through the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) by the
Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorates Office of University Programs through Award Number 2012-ST-061-
CS0001, CSTAB 3.1 and 3.2. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the author and should not be interpreted as
necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or START.
Corina Simonelli, Michael Jensen, Alejandro Castro-Reina, Amy Pate, Scott Menner and Erin Miller are the primary authors of this report.
Questions should be directed to [email protected]. .
The data presented here are drawn from STARTs Global Terrorism Database (GTD) and reports from news
media. The GTD contains information on more than 113,000 terrorist incidents that have occurred around
the world since 1970. For more information about the GTD, visit www.start.umd.edu/gtd.
Data are also drawn from the Big Allied and Dangerous (BAAD) project, which focuses on the creation and
maintenance of a comprehensive database of terrorist organizational characteristics and linking that data to
prominent event, insurgency and country-level characteristics datasets. The project is led by START
investigators Victor Asal and R. Karl Rethemeyer through the Project of Violent Conflict at Rockefeller
College, University at Albany-SUNY.