Knowra Boko Haram insurgency Boko Haram insurgency An armed conflict that began in 2009 between Boko Haram and Nigeria, later involving neighboring states. It has included attacks on civilians, territorial fighting, and mass displacement.
Boko Haram : A jihadist militant movement founded in northeastern Nigeria, known for opposing Western education and seeking a state governed by its interpretation of Islamic law. Its armed campaign against Nigeria began the insurgency.
Internally displaced person : A person forced to leave home but who remains within their country's borders. Millions were displaced inside Nigeria and neighboring countries by the fighting.
Mohammed Yusuf : A Nigerian preacher who founded the movement that became Boko Haram and was killed in police custody in 2009. His movement's confrontation with authorities preceded the insurgency.
Ansaru : A jihadist group that split from Boko Haram in 2012 and opposed some of its tactics, especially attacks on Muslims. Its separation shows that opposition to Boko Haram did not produce a single unified insurgent front.
Abubakar Shekau : A Nigerian militant who led Boko Haram for much of the insurgency before his death in 2021. His leadership shaped the group's violent escalation and internal divisions.
Boko Haram kidnapping of the Chibok schoolgirls : The 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Nigeria, by Boko Haram militants. The abduction drew global attention to attacks on civilians and schooling.
Maiduguri : The capital of Borno State in northeastern Nigeria and a major urban center in the Lake Chad region. The movement arose in this city, where its founder built a following.
Fulani herder–farmer conflicts in Nigeria : Recurring clashes in Nigeria involving pastoralists and farming communities over land, resources, and security. These conflicts are distinct from Boko Haram's jihadist insurgency despite overlapping regions and displacement.
Islamic State West Africa Province : A jihadist organization active around Lake Chad that emerged from Boko Haram's 2016 split and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. Its rivalry with Shekau's faction reshaped the insurgency.
Lake Chad : A shallow freshwater lake in the Sahel shared by Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria. Conflict compounded existing environmental and livelihood pressures around the lake.
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