At present, the threat of terrorist attacks by representatives of the radical movements of Islam is gaining enormous proportions, turning into a global problem. Moreover, criminal organizations that profess and promote Salafi Islam are operating not only in the Middle East. They are present on the African continent. In addition to the well-known Al-Shabab, Al-Qaeda, they include, in particular, the radical group Boko Haram, which has already become famous all over the planet for its monstrous and terrifying crimes. One way or another, but the plans of the leaders of this religious structure are quite ambitious, therefore, to achieve the “great” goal, they will continue to kill innocent people. The African authorities are trying to resist the Islamist terrorists, but this is far from always the case. What is the radical structure of Boko Haram? Let's consider this question in more detail.
History reference
The founder and ideologist of the above organization is a man who is known as Mohammed Yusuf. It was he who in 2002 created a training center in the city of Maiduguri (Nigeria).
His brainchild was called "Boko Haram", which is translated into Russian means "Western - sin." The principle of rejection of Western European civilization was the basis for the slogan of its grouping. Soon, Boko Haram was transformed into the main opposition force in relation to the Nigerian authorities, and the radical ideologist accused the government of being a puppet in the hands of the West.
Doctrine
What did Mohammed Yusuf and his associates want to achieve? Naturally, his native country lived according to Sharia law, and all the achievements of Western European culture, science, art were rejected once and for all. Even wearing a suit and tie was positioned as something alien. It is noteworthy that the Boko Haram organization does not have any political program. All that the radicals know how to do is commit crimes: kidnapping officials, subversive activities, and killing civilians. The organization is funded by robberies, redemption of hostages and private investment.
Attempt to seize power
So, with the question of what “Boko Haram” is in Nigeria today, much is clear. And what was the group several years ago?
She was still gaining strength and power. At the end of the 2000s, Mohammed Yusuf tried to seize power in the country by force, but the action was severely suppressed, and he himself was sent to prison, where he was killed. But soon Boko Haram had a new leader - a certain Abubakar Shekau, who continued the policy of terror.
Scope of activities
Currently, the Nigerian group refers to itself only as the "West African Province of the Islamic State." The number of organizations controlling the northeastern lands of Nigeria is about 5-6 thousand militants. But the geography of criminal activity extends beyond the borders of the country: terrorists trade in Cameroon, Chad, and other African countries. Alas, the authorities cannot deal with terrorists alone: they need outside help. In the meantime, hundreds and thousands of innocent people suffer.
Not so long ago, the leader of radical terrorists swore allegiance to the criminal organization Islamic State. As evidence of IS allegiance, the Boko Haram group sent about two hundred of its people to Libya to wage war.
Mass terror
The crimes committed by the Nigerian radicals amaze with their cruelty, thereby terrifying civilians. Murders of police officers, terrorist attacks and the ruin of Christian temples are just some of the atrocities of extremists.
Only in 2015, Boko Haram militants abducted people in Cameroon, during the pogrom of the city of Photocol killed more than a hundred people, and launched a terrorist attack in Abadam. In addition, they killed civilians in Nzhab, and abducted women and children in Damascus.
In the spring of 2014, the UN Security Council announced that the radical Nigerian Islamist organization Boko Haram was recognized as a terrorist group.
Another flagrant atrocity by terrorists was committed in the village of Chibok. There they captured more than 270 schoolgirls. This business immediately gained wide public resonance. Law enforcement agencies carefully thought out the operation to free the captives. But, alas, only a few were saved. Most of the girls were converted to Islam, after which they were forcibly married.
Killing children
A shocking and heinous crime occurred in the village of Dalori, located near the city of Maidaguri (northeast of the country).
It was found that members of the Boko Haram group burned 86 children. According to eyewitnesses who miraculously managed to escape, fighters on motorcycles and cars broke into the village, opened fire on civilians and threw grenades at their homes. The bodies of children burnt alive turned into a pile of ash. But it only provoked the extremists . Criminals destroyed two refugee camps.
Control measures
Naturally, the authorities could not help but respond to a series of terrorist attacks by the radicals. Moreover, they undertook to punish them not only in Nigeria, but also in Cameroon, Niger and Benin. Consultations were held at which the problem of countering extremists was discussed in detail. As a result, a plan was developed for the deployment of the Joint Multinational Force (SMS), which was supposed to eliminate the militants. According to preliminary estimates, the size of the army of security forces should be almost 9 thousand soldiers, and not only the military, but also the police participated in the operation.
Operation plan
The area for the destruction of militants was divided into three parts, in each of which the state is based. One is located in Baga (on the shores of Lake Chad), the other is in Gamboru (near the border with Cameroon), and the third is in the border town of Mora (northeast of Nigeria).
As for the headquarters of the Joint Multinational Force, it will be located in N'Djamena. Nigerian General Illiah Abah, who had the experience of destroying militants, was assigned to lead the operation.
The authorities hope that the Boko Haram group will be liquidated by the end of this year, believing that the war against the radicals will not take much time.
What can slow down the process?
However, not everything is as simple as we would like. For the operation to be successful, SMS governments need to resolve internal social problems as soon as possible. The militants take advantage of the dissatisfaction of Islamic citizens with a low standard of living, corruption and the arbitrariness of the authorities. In Nigeria, half of the inhabitants are Muslims.
Another circumstance that could negatively affect the speed of the operation cannot be discounted. The fact is that the authorities of many countries of the African continent are weakened by civil wars, which have been going on for several years.
The government simply lost control over part of its territories where real anarchy reigns. This is what radical elements use to persuade Muslims who are unstable in their choice of political orientation.
One way or another, but the security forces have already managed to carry out a number of successful operations to destroy the terrorists. For example, militants were eliminated in a forest near the city of Maiduguri. Also west of the city of Kousseri (northeast of Cameroon), the SMS army liquidated about 40 members of Boko Haram.
Unfortunately, the Western media today rarely pay attention to crimes against civilians committed by the Boko Haram organization on the territory of the African continent. All attention is focused on the Islamic State, although the threat posed by the Nigerian group is also very serious. Newspapers and magazines in Nigeria simply do not have the power to tell the world about their problems. It is hoped that the situation will someday change, and that the West will not abstract from the problems of terrorism in South Africa.