Boko Haram murdered leader Mamman Nur and are ‘changing tactics’
(International Christian Concern) – Boko Haram is still one of the top three terrorist organizations in the world, despite major losses in personnel, controlled area and total influence. This year alone, they have conducted over 100 attacks on civilians and military personnel which has killed more than 700 people. Since they began they conquest of Northeast Nigeria, Boko Haram has killed more than 20,000 people and displace millions.
Several years ago, half of the group broke away from the original faction and formed under a new leader. The official leader was Abu Mus’ab Al-Barnawy, however, it has long been thought that Mamman Nur was the real brains and leader of this faction. They quickly aligned themselves with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria(ISIS). Since then, they have led attacks on Borno State from their strongholds in the Lake Chad Region of Nigeria. Their attack for the past year have been small operations targeting public places like markets, buses, and mosques.
Late last month, however, it became known that the group turned on and murdered Mamman Nur. Since this happened, there has been a regrowth of the organization. It is believed that he was killed on August 21st. Shortly after this, the faction started targeting major military bases and began retaking territory that they had previously lost. This resurgence and increased aggression is likely linked to the change in leadership. It has also shown the world that the group is stronger than what the Nigerian Government has been portraying. The Buhari Administration has been trying to convince the world that Boko Haram has been completely defeated for months, and yet they continue to kill, abduct, and bomb northeastern Nigeria.
ICC believes that it is time for President Buhari to admit that they do not have as much control as he would like to believe and that they have not destroyed this group. Without this acknowledgement, the group will only continue to grow stronger and prove that they can withstand the Nigerian Government. This will mean that there will be continued killing and displacement for years to come.
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Boko Haram logo photo/Arnold Platon via wikimedia commons
