Boko Haram and How To Stop It
People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad, also informally translated as Western Teachings are sinful, is a terrorist group established in Nigeria in 2001 by Islamist Mohamed Yusuf. The Group acts mainly in the North and Capital of NIgeria, Abuja. It is known to carry out bombings on churches, raid government offices and kill Christian civilians (mainly in the North) to establish the Sharia law and "pure Islam". Their targets have included schools, banks and the U.N. headquarters in Abuja. Although Northern Nigeria has a Muslim majority (represented in the Government), the Boko Haram believes that they have already been corrupted by the West. This Muslim majority already lives by the Sharia law and shows little support for the use of violence to reinforce it.
Use of Violence
The violence began in 2011. During it's first ten years, Boko Haram's activities were peaceful although the group was suspected of buying arms since 2009. In 2011, after several warnings about Boko Haram's violent potential, the Yar’ adua government administration arrested several members of the group. As a response, the sect began armed combat against Nigerian police, which resulted in over 700 deaths including Mohamed Yusuf's.
The group re-emerged under new leadership and has been carrying out almost daily violence against Christians and government offices.
Great Source of Background Information on Boko Haram
http://www.usip.org/publications/what-boko-haram
http://allafrica.com/stories/201208150298.html
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Pages/ChristianAttacks.htm
http://www.usip.org/files/resources/SR308.pdf
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/08/201281303918102340.html
http://www.informationnigeria.org/2012/08/boko-haram-we-have-reasons-for-all-our-activities-thank-almighty-allah-for-attack-on-sokotozaria-damaturu.html
http://www.agi.it/english-version/world/elenco-notizie/201208201529-pol-ren1041-attempts_at_dialogue_between_boko_haram_and_nigerian_govt
http://www.ngex.com/news/public/newsinfo.php?nid=9287