10/29/2019 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) – There have been 38 aid workers killed in Northeast Nigeria since 2011 when the conflict turned truly deadly. However, nearly one third of all of these have been killed since June 2018. This shows just how much of a resurgence the terror group has made over the past two years. Between 2011 and 2014, Boko Haram grew to a size and ability that placed them in the top three terror groups in the world. They however lost a lot of this power in the following three years.
Then in March of 2015, a splinter group of Boko Haram, now known as Islamic State’s West Africa Province(ISWAP), started to grow. The group was led by the Boko Haram founder, Mohammad Yusuf’s son. It began by targeting only military and governmental targets. After it began to gain power and support however, it then started to attack civilians as well. It was the group that conducted the kidnapping of 110 girls from Dapchi Nigeria, only one of whom is still in captivity. They also recently kidnapped and executed two Christians aid workers from plateau state.
The strength which this half of Boko Haram is showing, is equal to the power that the group held at its peak in 2013 and 2014. The Nigerian government has been failing to stop the attacks that have begun to retake territory for the terror group and its supporters. Hundreds of thousands of Nigerian are again being displaced from the North of the country. The Nigerian Government is also expelling NGOs who were serving the neediest and poor in that area. Due to this, many Nigerians continue to suffer.
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