13 Things You Didn’t Know About Terrorist Group Boko Haram
Boko Haram has been terrorizing West Africa for years and their latest attack is its worst. But what do we really know about the group? Here are 13 facts about the group you may not know about this vile group.
They’re responsible for the worst massacre in Nigerian history, killing 2,000 people. Displacing thousands more.
The official name for the group is Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (“People Committed to the Prophet’s Teachings for Propagation and Jihad”
“Boko Haram” itself loosely translates to some sort of anti-westernization phrase like ‘Western education is forbidden,’ or “Western influence is a sin.”
The leader is Abubakar Shekau, who’s been reported dead on multiple occasions but he’s still alive and terrorizing.
They’re also responsible for the kidnapping of 200 women last year
The group was officially founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf as a reaction to western colonization that dominated most of the 20th century.
The organization was initially peaceful for its first seven years then became increasingly militant as time passed.
In 2010, after fights with military personnel, Boko Haram staged a prison break, freeing 600 people and more than a hundred of their own.
In 2011, they started utilizing bombs, initiating bombings to terrorize the Nigerian region.
In 2014, they kidnapped the Vice President of Camaroon’s wife but released her in October.
They get most of their money from bank robberies and ransom money. That’s a crazy way to fund an organization.
In 2014 alone, they were responsible for 3477 killings in 146 attacks.
