Boko Haram’s Trajectory and Nigeria’s Strategy Against Terrorism

Founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf in the city of Maiduguri, Boko Haram, also known as Jama’atu Ahl as-Sunnah li-Da’awati wal-Jihad, was originally labelled the Nigerian Taliban by locals because of its fundamentalist ideology and its adherence to the theology of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Over time, however, the group earned the nickname Boko Haram, derived from the combination of two words, the Hausa word ‘Boko’ (Book) and the Arabic word ‘Haram’ (forbidden), which loosely translates to Western education is forbidden to reflect its belief in the supremacy of Islamic culture. It was also during this period that the movement created its own socio-political institutions that guided the lifestyle of its members. In its nascent years, Boko Haram was known for providing welfare, food, and shelter, which attracted individuals who were mostly refugees from the Lake Chad region and unemployed Nigerian youths to its cause. Although there were occasional clashes between the movement and the local government when it failed to respect local ordinances, the bulk of the group’s activities during this period was peaceful and non-violent. However, following the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014, Boko Haram gained notoriety as the deadliest terrorist group in the world. Domestic and foreign media coverage of the Chibok kidnappings, as well as global outrage calling for the release of the girls with the social media hashtag, #BringBackOurGirls, gave the movement the attention it desired. Since then, the group has continued to target and recruit children as foot soldiers and suicide bombers, as well as young girls as sex slaves in reported Boko Haram camps.

The tipping point for Boko Haram’s ultra-violent nature can be traced to Yusuf’s arrest and his death in 2009. Both occurred following the group’s confrontation with state security forces after its members refused to obey the newly introduced motorcycle helmet law. Yusuf’s death—coupled with the failure by the Nigerian government to prosecute the security personnel responsible for the extrajudicial killing of the leader—resulted in the movement retreating underground, with several members seeking refuge in neighbouring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. This also enabled the group to transform into a network of terrorist cells under the leadership of deputy commander, Abubakar Shekau.