Boko Haram In Nigeria

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Nigeria is a country that has struggled since it gained independence in 1960 with corruption, organized violence, and mismanagement of natural resources. The deadliest Islamic extremist group, Boko Haram, has killed over 20,000 people since it was founded in 2002 in northeast Nigeria (Asuelime). Boko Haram also internally displaced over two million people from their settlements. Boko Haram is linked to al-Qaeda and recently pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The three geopolitical factors that led to the rise of Boko Haram are the inter-religious divisions between the north and south, the economy’s dependence on oil, and the lacking foundation of human rights. By analyzing these three factors we see the current and future impact Boko Haram …show more content…

Division—The history of Nigeria reveals how Boko Haram came into power. The two primary religions are Islam and Christianity; Islam in the north and Christianity dominating the southern portion of Nigeria. These Nigerian Muslims are Sunni and adhere to the strict laws of Islam, Sharia (O 'Grady). Under the British rule, the north resisted Christians infiltrating their schools and businesses, and so when Nigeria gained independence there was violent competition between the different cultures. In 1966 civil wars erupted and when it ceased the northern Islamic military dominated the government (O 'Grady). With the north gaining power, the south’s literacy rates declined, but the Nigerian central bank reveals 95% of the northern population continued to live in poverty (Walker). The Muslims hoped they would rise above poverty, but they remained poor and believed

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