Nigeria: Uncovered March 2014 | Page 3

Boko Haram Terrorists take over Nigeria

"2002: Founded

2009: Hundreds killed when Maiduguri police stations stormed

2009: Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf captured by army, handed to police, later found dead

Sep 2010: Freed hundreds of prisoners from a Bauchi jail

Dec 2010: Bombed Jos, killing 80 people and blamed for New Year's Eve attack on Abuja barracks

2010-2011: Dozens killed in Maiduguri shootings,

May 2011: Bombed several states after president's inauguration

June 2011: Police HQ bombed in Abuja

Aug 2011: UN HQ bombed in Abuja

Nov 2011: Co-ordinated bomb and gun attacks in Yobe and Borno states

Dec 2011: Multiple bomb attacks on Christmas Day kill dozens." (Chothia,2012).

"Around 5,000 people were killed in Boko Haram attacks or violent responses by state security between 2009-2013. Another 600 have been killed so far in 2014." (McConnell,2014).

Boko Haram translates to Western education is forbidden. The terrorist group aims to overthrow the government and create an islamic state. According to BBC Boko Haram promotes a version of Islam which makes it "haram", or forbidden, for Muslims to take part in any political or social activity associated with Western society." (Chothia, 2012)

The Boko Haram terrorists are taking over Nigeria and if something is not done soon, more deaths are bound to come. Too many innocent lives have been lost, Boko Haram needs to be stopped. So far the Nigerian government has declared war on Boko Haram, but for now that has not been very effective. Maybe our government will step in, but first we'll see if Nigeria can stop them on their own.

Chothia, F. (2012, January 11). Who are Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists? Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13809501

McConnell, T. (2014, March 5). 5 basic questions about last weekend's Boko Haram bloodbath. Retrieved from http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/140304/the-basic-5-questions-about-the-boko-haram-bloodbath-over-the-we

Oikelome, A., & Igiri, V. (2013). 2013: Recap of religious violence in Nigeria. Retrieved from http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/12/2013-recap-religious-violence-nigeria/