Accessibility links

Breaking News

What Is Boko Haram?


A screen grab from a video of Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram obtained by AFP shows the leader of the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram Abubakar Shekau delivering a message, Jan. 20, 2015.
A screen grab from a video of Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram obtained by AFP shows the leader of the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram Abubakar Shekau delivering a message, Jan. 20, 2015.

Boko Haram is an Islamic sect that believes politics in northern Nigeria has been seized by a group of corrupt, false Muslims, according to United States Institute of Peace.

Its members want to create an Islamic caliphate ruled by sharia law in northeastern Nigeria.

Background details

  • Group is based in northeastern city of Maiduguri.
  • Its self-proclaimed leader is Abubakar Shekau.
  • Group began in 2002 as a non-violent Islamist splinter group.
  • It launched an uprising in 2009, and since 2010 has killed nearly 20,000 people.
  • Its seven-year insurgency has displaced nearly 2 million people and left nearly 1 million children with little or no access to an education.
  • Amnesty International said about 2,000 children have been abducted by Boko Haram since 2014. Many are used as sex slaves, fighters and suicide bombers.
  • Boko Haram translates to "Western education is sinful."
  • In March 2015, Boko Haram affiliates itself with the Islamic State group.
  • 16x9 Image

    VOA News

    The Voice of America provides news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of over 326 million people. Stories with the VOA News byline are the work of multiple VOA journalists and may contain information from wire service reports.

XS
SM
MD
LG