TOW #24 - Boko Haram

Boko Haram is an extremist group in Africa, with it's name translating to: "Western education is a sin". Its aim is to establish an Islamic nation and expand Sharia law across Africa. It was created fourteen years ago, and was started by Mohammed Yusuf. He was killed, and now the group is led by Abubakar Shekau. Boko Haram has bombed schools, villages, churches and mosques, committed massacres, mass kidnappings, and assassinations, and their violence and atrocities have only escalated. According to UNICEF, 1.3 million children have been displaced, thousands have been kidnapped, and more than 5,000 were separated from their families. In addition, 910 schools have been demolished, 611 teachers have been killed, and this violence and fear has caused over 19,000 teachers to flee their homes. Recently, the two year anniversary of Boko Haram kidnapping 276 girls from the Chibok Government Secondary School. Even with some attempts to save them, 219 remain missing. A video also appeared, showing a video of some of the missing Chibok girls stating that they are alive, and while this brings hope to some parents, there is still the distraught about the missing girls. The girls who were discovered or released told stories of forced marriage, sexual slavery, and being forced to work alongside the terrorists, some even as suicide bombers. Even when the girls return home, they are still faced with challenges. They return to find homes, schools, and churches destroyed, and even family members and friends dead. They also face harsh suspicion and are looked down on as possible spies and traitors. Their kidnapping sparked a 'Bring Back our Girls' movement, which begs for interference from the Nigerian government or other governments. The Chibok people have now also reached out to the EU in hopes that they will be able to help in saving the missing girls and putting a stop to Boko Haram. While the world is so fixated on ISIS, there are other groups such as Boko Haram causing great amounts of destruction, ruining lives, and terrorizing thousands. Other countries should aid in the rescue of the kidnapped children, and assist in capturing and putting down of Boko Haram.