Boko Haram

Organizational History

Boko Haram, meaning “Western Civilization is Forbidden” in the Hausa language has been compared to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Boko Haram seeks the imposition of fundamentalist Islamic law into the northern Nigerian region through two crusades: wage a holy war in the existing Islamic provinces of Nigeria and overcome the secularist presence, and secondly to expand that operation into the rest of the country in order to defeat the non-Muslim entities and establish the Emirate of Nigeria[2].

Boko Haram, headquartered in Borno, was founded by Islamic scholar Abubakar Lawan in the early 1990s, as a group of Muslims that adopted a “non-western’ lifestyle that separated themselves from others by wearing simple non-western clothes, eating basic foods, and worshiping in their own mosque in Maiduguri, Nigeria[3][4]. Boko Haram, as it is known, today came into prominence when Muhammad Yusuf was elected the new leader of the group[3]. In 2004, Boko Haram moved its operations from Maiduguri, Nigeria to Kanamma, Nigeria and created a militant base Boko Haram called “Afghanistan”[5].

From 2002-2009, Boko Haram launched small attacks targeting local police and civilians who did not support Boko Haram’s actions[6]. On July 26, 2009, Boko Haram launched an attack against a police station in Bauchi state which precipitated fighting between Boko Haram militants and Nigerian police and soldiers across four Nigerian states: Bauchi, Kano, Yobe, and Borno[7]. On July 30, 2009, in Maiduguri, Nigeria, after nearly 700 people had been killed, the fighting culminated when Nigerian police arrested and subsequently killed Boko Haram’s leader, Muhammad Yusuf[7]. After the death of their leader, Boko Haram members blended back into the Nigerian society.

In 2010, Boko Haram reemerged in northern Nigeria under the leadership of Abubakar Shebu, Muhammad Yusuf’s former second in command, and began to attacking police, soldiers, and civilians in targeted killings in Maiduguri, Nigeria[3][8]. The Nigerian government answered Boko Harram's attacks with increased patrols and military operations in northern Nigeria, but their actions only resulted in intensified attacks from Boko Haram. Over the last two years Boko Haram has not only increased its militant attacks in northern Nigerian, but also in the south where they moved to attack international targets in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria[3].

Structure

Nigeria’s Boko Haram is organized in a cell type structure that operates both locally and internationally[9]. This cell structure adds security to the group by making the group more complex and effective in accomplishing their goals. The cell structure also makes it harder for the Nigerian security officials to find and dismantle the group. Boko Haram is currently led by Abubakar Shekau who then commands a series of regional leaders[8]. The regional commanders then oversee upwards of 26 different operational cells within Nigeria[2][8].

Arsenal

Boko Haram typically uses Ak-47 style rifles in its attacks, but the exact number and types of weapons utilized in their arsenal are unknown. However, Boko Haram is thought to have access to several weapons caches that were brought into Africa’s Sahel region by weapons smugglers after the fall of Libya’s leader, Mohmmar Ghadafi, in 2011[10]. These weapons could include: surface-to air- missiles, rocket propelled grenades, vehicle mounted anti-aircraft machine guns, anti-aircraft machine guns, automatic rifles, grenades, and explosives such as Semtex[10].

Funding

Boko Haram has financed its militant operations by attacking and robbing banks in northern Nigeria. Almost 100 banks were robbed in Nigeria in 2011 and at least 30 of those robberies were thought to have been committed by Boko Haram militants[11]. Boko Haram has reportedly received financial support from governors of the Nigerian states of Kano and Bauchi. This support supposedly came from an agreement which specified that Boko Haram would not conduct militant operations in these states and in turn the group would receive monthly payments from the governors[12]. Support for Boko Haram has also reportedly come from Nigerian government officials who are members of Nigeria’s leading political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)[13]. Boko Haram also reportedly receives training and support from several active militant groups including Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Al-Shabaab[6].

Recent United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) reports have indicated that the north African group Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)and the Somali militant group Al-Shabaab have been able to establish not only religious and ideological ties to Boko Haram, but also  have been able to provide training and financial support[8]. Boko Haram leaders have on numerous occasions claimed to have received militant training from both AQIM and Al-Shabaab[8]. Leadership from both AQIM and Al-Shabaab has corroborated Boko Haram’s claims with their own claims of training Boko Haram[11]. Nigerian and Western security officials believe that AQIM has been training small numbers of Boko Haram members in the art of bomb making in Mali militant camps since 2006[14]. These claims could be supported by Boko Haram’s increased intensity of improvised explosive device attacks that have plagued northern and central Nigeria.

Recruitment

Groups such as Boko Haram appeal to young, estranged males who are eager to find shelter with organizations who offer fellowship and support, along with a way of life[3]. However, Boko Haram has also appealed to people like university teachers and students that come from middle class homes, and reject all Western and Christian influences[2]. Boko Haram’s ranks are believed to be filled with militants from Chad, Niger, and Cameroon who have crossed over Nigeria’s border[3]. Due to its cell structure it is difficult to calculate how many militants are in its ranks; however, it is thought that Boko Haram currently has upwards of 4,000 active militants[2].

Tactics

Boko Haram began its attacks with arson, Molotov cocktails, and motorcycle drive by shootings that targeted police, military personnel, and civilians[15][14]. Many of the attacks on civilians occur because Boko Haram feels that the people are engaged in un-Islamic activities, such as drinking beer or playing cards[6]. Boko Haram militants use improvised explosive device (IED) attacks to target Nigerian Joint Task Force vehicles and patrols. IEDs are also used in attacks on civilian targets like public markets and churches[15]. Boko Haram most recently implemented the most violent tactic, the suicide vehicle borne improvised explosive device, during an attack that targeted the United Nations building in Abuja, Nigeria on August 26, 2011[8][15]. As of late, Boko Haram has launched violent strings of attacks that have targeted multiple police stations, government buildings, and civilian targets simultaneously; the most recent series of attacks killed 185 people in Kano, Nigeria on January 20, 2012[16].

Gallery

References

1. Nigerian Police Station Torched. (2010, October 12). Al Jazeera. Retrieved from [1]
2. Vanguard (2011, January 26). Boko Haram: A small group becomes a deadly Scourge. Retrieved from [2]
3. Red24. Boko Haram. Retrieved from [3]
4. Sani, Shehu (2011, August 3). Boko Haram: History, Ideas and Revolts. Retrieved from [4]
5. Vanguard (2011, September 30). How Nur, Shekau Run Boko Haram. Retrieved from [5]
6. Adeparusi, Tunde (2012, January 8). Facts about Boko Haram. Retrieved from [6]
7. Charbonneau, Louis (2012, January 12). Arms from Libya could reach Boko Haram, Al Qaeda: U.N.. Retrieved from [7]
8. Khatik, Rizwan (2011, December 9). Boko Haram attacks on Nigerian Banks Reaches 100 this Year. [8]
9. African Spotlight (2012, January 24). “Why we did not kill Obasanjo”-Boko Haram Leader. Retrieved from [9]
10. Allison, Simon (2011, November 23). Nigeria: Boko Haram’s Unlikely Source of Funding-Ruling Party. Retrieved from [10]
11. Brock, Joe (2012, January 31). Special Report: Boko Haram-Between Rebellion and Jihad. Retrieved from [11]
12. Stewart, Scott (2011, November 10). The Rising Threat from Nigeria’s Boko Haram Militant Group. Retrieved from [12]
13. Global Post (2012, January 27). Nigeria: Kano Recovers from Boko Haram Attacks. Retrieved from [13]
14. Will Islamophobia Never Stop!!!!!! (2010, October 10). The Jawa Report. Retrieved from [14]
15. Nigeria Deports Immigrants Over 'Islamist Attacks'. (2010, November 5). Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Retrieved from [15]
16. In Pictures. (2009, July 31). BBC News. Retrieved from [16]
17. Nigeria: Radical Muslims Claim Responsibility for Attacks on Christians. (2010, December 28). Weasel Zippers. Retrieved from [17]
18. Jaguda. (2009, July 30). Boko Haram (Islamic sect) leader Mohammad Yusuf captured and killed. Retrieved from [18]
19. Mass Burial for Boko Haram Victims. (2009, August 2). Newstime Africa. Retrieved from [19]