Boko Haram massacre: What we know so far

WHAT’S GOING ON?

• The Boko Haram, a terror group, admitted to killing at least 76 civilians, including rice farmers and fishermen in northern Nigeria.

• The farmers were attacked at the Garin-Kwashebe rice in the Borno state, the same day that residents were casting votes for the first time in 13 years to elect local councils.

• The bloodshed centred on the village of Koshobe, where Boko Haram fighters tied up farm workers, slit their throats and torched the farm.

• The group said the attacks were carried out in retribution for farmers cooperating with the Nigerian military.

• Meanwhile, officials say Boko Haram often force villagers to pay illegal taxes by taking their livestock or crops but some villagers have begun to oppose the extortion. The farmers reportedly disarmed a militant who had been harassing them and turned him over to officials.

READ: Boko Haram claims Nigeria farm massacre as toll rises to 76

WHAT IS THE RESPONSE FROM THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT?

• Borno State governor Babagana Zulum, has launched a security outfit called ‘Agric-Ranchers’ comprising of military, paramilitary and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force including hunters and vigilantes to safeguard farmers and fight Boko Haram.

• Zulum said there should be collective responsibility from the parts of governments of border countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

• Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari armed forces were given everything needed “to take all necessary steps to protect the country’s population and its territory.”

WHAT IS BOKO HARAM?

• Founded in 2002, the militant Islamist group has killed at least 36,000 people and displaced two million from their homes. The group continues to wreak havoc in Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.

• While the West has hunted down extremist terror groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS/Daesh, it appears that there is no such campaign against this group haunting Africa.

• Boko Haram began its campaign of violence in Nigeria in July 2009 when it launched launched an attack on a police station in Bauchi State after some of its members were captured. Bauchi is one of 12 states in northern Nigeria where sharia law is practised. Sectarian clashes between Muslims and Christian led to scores of people dead.

WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF BOKO HARAM?

• The group calls for sharia law to be implemented throughout country. Boko Haram means “Western education is forbidden”.

• Boko Haram claimed its initial purpose was was uproot the corruption and injustice in Nigeria, which it blamed on Western influences.

• In 2015 the group pledged loyalty to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and took the name Islamic State (or State’s) West African Province (ISWAP).

• According to Zulum, Boko Haram sects exist strongly in many parts of the state especially in Sambisa Forest, River Fringes of Koshobe and Lake Chad Basin, posing threats to over six million people.