Formed: 2002

Disbanded: Group is active.

First Attack: December 24, 2003: Boko Haram members attacked and occupied police stations in Geiam and Kanamma in Yobe State, raising the flag of the Afghanistan Taliban (unknown killed, unknown wounded).[1] 

Last Attack: March 2, 2018:  Suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least 11 people including three aid workers in an attack on a military barracks in the town of Rann, in northeastern Borno state near the Cameroon border.[2]

Executive Summary

In 2002, Mohammad Yusuf formed Boko Haram as a Sunni Islamist sect to oppose Western education and establish an Islamic state in Nigeria. The group has carried out numerous attacks since 2009, including the 2011 bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Abuja, but is best known for the 2014 Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping, when the group abducted over 300 young Nigerian girls. Its primary base of operation is northeastern Nigeria, but it has conducted limited operations in Cameroon and Niger. In March 2015, Boko Haram became an affiliate of the Islamic State (IS). In August 2016, leadership struggles led to a split within Boko Haram, pitting the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) against Jama’atu Ahl al-Sunnah lil-Dawa wal-Jihad (JAS).

Group Narrative

Boko Haram formed in 2002 when Mohammed Yusuf, a well-known preacher and proselytizer of the Izala sect of Islam in the Maiduguri region of Nigeria, began to radicalize his discourse to reject all secular aspects of Nigerian society.

In 2002, Yusuf opened a religious complex with an Islamic school in Maiduguri, Nigeria, which attracted students from poor Muslim families across the country. Yusuf reportedly used the school to convert and recruit future jihadis.[3] Boko Haram expanded into Yobe state, where it set up another base, nicknamed “Afghanistan,” near the Nigeria-Niger border in 2003.[4]

From 2002-2003, a group of Yusuf’s students formed a community near Kanama, Nigeria in order to adhere to Yusuf’s teachings and live outside secular society. Members of this group, dubbed Al Sunna Wal Jamma (Followers of the Prophet’s Teachings) were the first followers of Yusuf to instigate violence against the Nigerian government. This sect was quashed by the Nigerian government in 2003.[5]  In response Boko Haram conducted its first attack, occupying a police station and raising the Afghan Taliban flag.[6]

Before 2009, the group was less politically focused, seeking to separate themselves from secular society. With the Yusuf’s death and increased conflict between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government, Boko Haram came to seek the overthrow of the Nigerian government and the establishment of an Islamic caliphate.

Open conflict erupted in July 2009 following a violent clash between Boko Haram members and the police, when militants refused to adhere to a law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets. This incident incited violent uprisings in Bauchi and quickly spread to Borno, Yobe, and Kano.[7]  Nigerian military forces killed over 700 in suppressing the uprisings and capturing Yusuf.  Security forces later killed Yusuf, claiming that he had tried to escape.[8]

After suffering severe losses in 2009, Boko Haram regrouped in 2010 under the leadership of Abubakar Shekau, Yusuf’s second-in-command.[9]  The frequency, lethality, and sophistication of Boko Haram’s attacks increased dramatically under Shekau, allegedly as a result of increased cooperation with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). To protest the election of Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from southern Nigeria, Boko Haram carried out a series of bombings during Jonathan’s presidential inauguration in May 2011.[10]  The escalation of violence continued throughout the year, including an attack on the Abuja UN building in August, Boko Haram’s first foreign target.[11]  President Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the areas of Yobe, Borno, Plateau, and Niger later that year.[12]

As Boko Haram grew increasingly violent, tensions grew between Mamman Nur, a leader of an independent faction within Boko Haram, and Shekau. In January 2012, members who opposed killing Muslims split off from Boko Haram to form Ansaru. Although Ansaru was originally composed of militants who supported Nur’s leadership over Shekau’s, Nur’s role is unknown.[13]  Ansaru conducted numerous attacks against foreigners in northern Nigeria and its neighbors between 2013 and 2014.[14] Ansaru stopped its attacks around 2014, and authorities captured its leader in 2016, effectively ending its campaign.[15]  

Boko Haram became notorious when it kidnapped over 300 young girls from a secular school in Chibok, Nigeria, in April 2014. Just over 50 girls were able to escape immediately after the attack. The Twitter hashtag #BringBackOurGirls inspired several other campaigns on various social media websites in hopes of pressuring the Nigerian government to do more to recover the girls.[16]  In October 2014, the government announced that it had negotiated a ceasefire with Boko Haram and that the schoolgirls would be released shortly. However, within two weeks of the announcement, Boko Haram released a video in which Shekau repudiated the ceasefire and claimed that the missing girls had already been converted to Islam and were married to Boko Haram members.[17]  The Chibok kidnappings prompted the United States to deploy additional counterterrorism resources to Nigerian law enforcement agencies.[18]

 As of January 2018, 106 girls had been rescued. The Nigerian government negotiated and the International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated the release in exchange for Boko Haram militants.[19]  The girls rescued were found living as wives and mothers among Boko Haram fighters. On January 15, 2018, Boko Haram released a video featuring kidnapped women and the remaining Chibok girls. [20]

In January 2015, Boko Haram unleashed a massive assault on the villages of Baga and Doron Baga in Borno State and claimed control over the area.  Local officials suggested that as many as 2,000 people were killed in these attacks, but the Nigerian government capped the death toll at 150.[21] A few weeks later, militants tried to attack Maiduguri, Borno’s capital city, but government troops prevented the planned takeover.[22] According to the Council on Foreign Relations, by August 2015 more than 16,000 people had been killed and 2.5 million people displaced because of Boko Haram violence.[23]

In response to the threat, the African Union (AU) endorsed a military coalition to contain and degrade Boko Haram’s activities in Nigeria; they  changed the mandate of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to encompass counter-terrorist operations and increased its funding.  Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Benin pledged troops for the 7,500-strong Multinational Joint Task Force. The coalition aimed to protect the Nigerian border and the Lake Chad region but not participate in the conflict within Nigeria. The force deployed on March 6, 2015, and the offensive against Boko Haram began with Chadian and Nigerian airstrikes that drove the organization out of a dozen towns in Northern Nigeria.  As a result of Chadian participation in the MNJTF, Boko Haram began targeting the Chad basin region, torching homes and kidnapping villagers before being pushed back by the Chadian military.[24]

On February 7, 2015, Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that national elections would be postponed for six weeks in order for security forces to launch an offensive to regain territory controlled by Boko Haram.[25]  Estimates suggested that Boko Haram controlled about 20,000 square miles of territory in northeastern Nigeria. [26] Attacks on civilians continued, including across borders in both Chad and Cameroon.[27]  On March 28, the Nigerian Election Day, Boko Haram killed 41 people in an attempt to keep voters from the polls but millions still voted.[28]

In early March 2015, Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) in an audio message posted online, featuring Shekau. [29] Reportedly, Boko Haram militants were traveling to train at IS military camps at that time.  When IS accepted the pledge in late March, it referred to Boko Haram as the Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP), a name that subsequently appeared on social media accounts linked to IS.  IS also encouraged Muslims to join Boko Haram and other West African militant groups.[30]  Some analysts argued that the affiliation between Boko Haram and IS was a desperate move by Boko Haram “to boost its members’ morale, image and attract local support” after the African Union coalition force drove the group into the Sambisa Forest.[31]  In April 2015, the Nigerian government considered the offensive against Boko Haram to be in its last stages: Boko Haram controlled no towns, and the coalition was closing in on the Sambisa Forest.[32]

Despite being pushed out of its stronghold, Boko Haram continued operations, often employing suicide bombers to attack civilian, police, and government targets throughout Nigeria.  In March 2016, militants from Boko Haram were reportedly fighting for IS in Libya.[33]

On August 3, 2016, IS announced that Abu Musab al-Barnawi, son of the founder of Boko Haram, would assume leadership.  Two days later, Shekau responded that Barnawi’s followers were manipulating IS leaders in order to cut him off in a sort of coup and that he and his followers would not follow Barnawi. This dispute reportedly led to splits within Boko Haram.[34]  Barnawi was arrested in late 2016, but the two factions of Boko Haram remained, one known as ISWAP, and the other known as JAS. The media and government typically treated the two splinters as one group.

In late 2016 and early 2017 the number of killings by Boko Haram was significantly reduced, but activity increased again.  Between April and September 2017 there were an estimated 400 deaths.[35] The group remained active in northeast Nigeria, using suicide bombers to attack markets, universities, and displacement camps, and raiding villages. Most attacks were credited to Barnawi and occurred in Nigeria, for example, the 2017 ambush of an oil exploration team from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the reclaim of territory in Borno.[36]  Boko Haram’s escalation in 2017 is attributed to the withdrawal of Chadian forces from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) posted along Lake Chad.[37]

In 2018 the split within Boko Haram persisted. Barnawi continued to lead the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Shekau led Jama’atu Ahl al-Sunnah lil-Dawa wal-Jihad (JAS). JAS was stronger, more active, and also more transnational in its operations.  Even so, the two groups were ideologically similar, and outside media typically treated them as the same group.

[1] ONuoha, Freedom. “Why Do Youth Join Boko Haram?” United States Institute of Peace Special Report, June 9, 2014.

[2] Carsten, Paul.  “Suspected Boko Haram militants kill 11 including three aid workers in Nigeria,” Reuters World News, March 2, 2018. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-security/suspected-boko-haram-militants-kill-11-including-three-aid-workers-in-nigeria-idUSKCN1GE14Z. 

[3] Chothia, Farouk. “Who are Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamists?” BBC News. May 20, 2014. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13809501.

[4] Zenn, Jacob. “Boko Haram’s International Connections.” CTC Sentinel, Vol. 6, Issue 1 Combatting Terrorism Center at West Point. January, 2013.

[5] Perouse de Montclos, Marc-Antoine, editor. “Boko Haram: Islamism, politics, security, and the state in Nigeria,” West African Politics and Society Series, Vol. 2. African Studies Center 2014. 

[6] ONuoha, Freedom. “Why Do Youth Join Boko Haram?” United States Institute of Peace Special Report, June 9, 2014.

[7] Sergie, Mohammed Aly and Toni Johnson. “Boko Haram.” Council on Foreign Relations. Updated Oct. 7, 2014. http://www.cfr.org/nigeria/boko-haram/p25739.

[8] Adetunji, Jo. “Bomb attack kills at least 25 in northern Nigeria.” The Guardian. June 26, 2011. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jun/27/nigeria-bombings-terrorist-killings-islamist. 

[9]Chothia, Farouk. “Who are Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamists?” BBC News. May 20, 2014. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13809501. 

[10] “Nigeria attacks claimed by Islamist sect Boko Haram.” BBC News.  June 1, 2011. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13618775.

[11] Murray, Senan and Adam Nossiter. “Suicide Bomber Attacks U.N. Building in Nigeria.” New York Times. Aug. 26, 2011.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/27/world/africa/27nigeria.html?pagewante…. 

[12] “Boko Haram attacks prompt Nigeria state of emergency.” BBC News. Jan. 1, 2012. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-16373531.   

[13] Raghavan, Sudarsan. “Nigerian Islamist militants return from Mali with weapons, skills.” The Washington Post. May 31, 2013. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/nigerian-islamist-militants-return-from-mali-with-weapons-skills/2013/05/31/d377579e-c628-11e2-9cd9-3b9a22a4000a_story.html.

[14] Blanchard, Lauren. “Nigeria’s Boko Haram: Frequently Asked Questions.” Congressional Research Service. June 10, 2014. http://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R43558.pdf. Zenn, Jacob. “Nigerian al-Qaedaism” The Hudson Group. March 11, 2014.    https://www.hudson.org/research/10172-nigerian-al-qaedaism-.

[15] United States Department of State, Country Reports on Terrorism 2016 - Foreign Terrorist Organizations: Jama'atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis-Sudan (Ansaru), July 19, 2017.  http://www.refworld.org/docid/5981e3d313.html. 

[16] Kristof, Nicholas. “Bring Back Our Girls.” New York Times. May 3 2014.

[17] “What now after Nigeria’s Boko Haram ceasefire fiasco?” BBC News. Nov. 3, 2014.

[18] Blanchard, Lauren. “Nigeria’s Boko Haram: Frequently Asked Questions.” Congressional Research Service. June 10, 2014. http://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R43558.pdf. 

[19] Nigeria Chibok abductions: what we know” BBC News, May 8, 2017. "Chibok Girls: Kidnapped Schoolgirl Found in Nigeria." BBC News, May 18, 2016. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32299943

[20] Searcy, Dionne. “Boko Haram Video is Said to Show Captured Girls from Chibok” New York Times, Jan. 15, 2018. https://nyti.ms/2FEQmNp; "Chibok Girls: Kidnapped Schoolgirl Found in Nigeria." BBC News, May 18, 2016. “Boko Haram: Frequently Asked Questions.” Congressional Research Service. June 10, 2014. http://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R43558.pdf.

[21] Nigeria’s Boko Haram: Baga Destruction ‘shown in images’.” BBC News. Jan. 15, 2015.

[22] Ola, Lanre and Ardoo Abdullah. “Nigeria repels suspected Boko Haram attack on Maiduguri City.” Reuters. Jan. 25, 2015. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/25/us-nigeria-violence-maiduguri-idUSKBN0KY08720150125. 

[23]“ISIS Owns Headlines, but Nigeria’s Boko Haram Kills More than Ever,” NBC News, December 23, 2015 quoting the Council on Foreign Relations https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2015-year-in-review/isis-owns-headlines-nigeria-s-boko-haram-kills-more-ever-n480986.  

[24]Comolli, Victoria “The evolution and impact of Boko Haram in the Lake Chad basin” Humanitarian Practice Network. Oct 2017. "Nigeria postpones elections, focuses on major offensive against Boko Haram". The Christian Science Monitor. August 18, 2015. 

[25] Nossiter, Adam. “Nigeria Postpones Elections, Saying Security is a Concern.” New York Times. Feb. 7, 2015.  http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/world/africa/nigeria-postpones-elections-citing-security-concerns.html?_r=0.

[26] Blair, David. “Boko Haram is now a mini-Islamic State, with its own territory.” The Telegraph. Jan. 10, 2015.

[27] "Boko Haram Goes on Deadly Rampage after Chad Offensive." Al Jazeera America. February 4, 2015.  

[28] “Boko Haram Kills 41 as Millions of Nigerians Vote in Close Presidential Election." CTVNews/AP. March 28, 2015.

[29] "Islamic State 'accepts' Boko Haram's Allegiance Pledge." BBC News. March 13, 2015.

[30] "Analysis: Islamic State Strengthens Ties with Boko Haram." BBC News. April 24, 2015.

[31] Chandler, Adam. "The Islamic State of Boko Haram?" The Atlantic. Mar. 9, 2015.

[32] "Nigerian Military Enter 'Final Stages' of Boko Haram Offensive." Newsweek. April 23, 2015. "Nigerian Troops Rescue More Boko Haram Captives from Forest Redoubt." The Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor. April 30, 2015.

[33] Cooper, Helene. “Boko Haram and ISIS Are Collaborating More, U.S. Military Says.”  The New York Times, April 20, 2016. 

[34] Gartenstein-Ross, Daveed, and Jacob Zenn. "Boko Haram’s Doomed Marriage to the Islamic State." War on the Rocks, Aug. 26, 2016.

[35] “Nigerians fear 'no end in sight' to Boko Haram fight.”  Al Jazeera News, Oct. 1, 2017. https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/10/nigerians-fear-sight…. 

[36] Human Rights Watch, World Report 2018 - Nigeria, January 18, 2018. 

[37] United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Nigeria Situation, Situational Update - 01-30 November 2017, November 30, 2017. 

Disclaimer: These are some selected major attacks in the militant organization's history. It is not a comprehensive listing but captures some of the most famous attacks or turning points during the campaign.

December 24, 2003: Boko Haram members occupied police stations in Geiam and Kanamma in Yobe State, raising the flag of the Afghanistan Taliban (unknown killed, unknown wounded.[1]

July 27, 2009: Boko Haram launched a series of attacks in Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria, setting several churches, police stations, and a prison on fire (75+ killed, unknown wounded.[2]

August 26, 2011: A suicide bomber from Boko Haram crashed a car filled with explosives into the main building of the United Nations headquarters in Abuja (23 killed, 87 wounded).[3]

January 20, 2012: Boko Haram coordinated a series of bomb attacks and shooting sprees in the city of Kano, mainly targeting police stations (187 killed, 50 wounded).[4]

September 17, 2013: Boko Haram raided the town of Benisheik. Members disguised in military uniforms set up checkpoints just outside of the town and shot all those who tried to flee (142 killed, unknown wounded).[5]

April 14, 2014: Boko Haram kidnapped more than 300 girls aged 16 to 18 from a secular school in Chibok.[6]  In November 2014, Boko Haram claimed that the abducted girls had been converted to Islam and married off.  As of May 2016, 219 girls were still missing, but a few living as wives and mothers among Boko Haram fighters were rescued.  They reported that most of the girls were still alive, with the exception of 6 (unknown killed, unknown wounded). As of Jan 19, 2018, 106 girls had escaped Boko Haram, with the vast majority freed following negotiations facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross between Boko Haram and the Nigerian Government.[7]

July 27, 2014: Boko Haram kidnapped the wife of Cameroon Deputy Prime Minister, Amadou Ali, in an attack on the town of Kolofata in northern Cameroon. Akaoua Babiana, along with 27 others who had been kidnapped by Boko Haram on other occasions, were freed in October 2014 (3 killed, unknown wounded).[8]

January 3, 2015: Boko Haram attacked the towns of Baga and Doron Baga, Borno, Nigeria over four days. Boko Haram shot indiscriminately from armored vehicles and set numerous buildings on fire. On January 12, the Nigerian government reported that 150 people had died in the attacks, but satellite images released by Amnesty International suggested a much higher number (2,000 killed, unknown wounded).[9]

January 18, 2015: Boko Haram kidnapped 80 civilians from northern Cameroon, including many children. Cameroon’s army freed 24 hostages and pursued Boko Haram back to Nigeria (3 killed, 0 wounded).[10]

February 6, 2015: Boko Haram militants attacked Bosso in the first major attack in Niger, leaving 57 killed and 7 injured (57 killed, 7 injured).[11]

February 13, 2015: Boko Haram attacked the village of Ngouboua in Chad and torched two-thirds of the homes in the village before the Chadian military intervened. This was Boko Haram’s first attack in Chad, probably in revenge for Chad joining Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon in a military coalition against them (10 killed, 4 wounded).[12]

March 28, 2015: Boko Haram killed 41 people in an attempt to keep civilians from the polls on Nigerian Election Day (41 killed, unknown wounded).[13]

October 2015: Boko Haram fighters bombed Abuja, Nigeria, and suicide bombed a mainly Nigerian refugee camp in Chad (54 killed, 51 wounded).[14]

January 30, 2016: Militants attacked Dalori, Nigeria with suicide bombs and allegedly burned children alive (86 killed, unknown wounded).[15]

February 9, 2016: Two female suicide bombers detonated explosives at a displaced persons camp in Dika, Nigeria (58 killed, 80+ wounded).[16]

August 21, 2016: Militants attacked Kuburvwa village, Nigeria (11 killed, unknown wounded.[17]

December 9, 2016: Two female suicide bombers attacked a market in Madagali village.  Nigerian military officials reported 30 dead, 68 wounded, while open source news reported 57 dead, 177 wounded.[18]

July 28, 2017: Boko Haram attacked an oil exploration team in Northeast Nigeria (50+ killed, unknown wounded.[19]

August 15, 2017: Three women suicide bombers attacked an internally displaced persons camp and a market in northeastern Nigeria. (20 killed, 80+ wounded).[20]

November 21, 2017: Teenage suicide bomber detonated explosives during morning services at a mosque in Mubi, Nigeria (50+ killed). [21]

January 17, 2018: A male and female suicide bomber attacked a market in Maiduguri, Nigeria (12 killed, 45+ wounded).[22]

February 21, 2018:  Boko Haram seized 110 schoolgirls from a school in Dapchi, Nigeria.[23]

March 2, 2018:  Suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least 11 people including three aid workers in an attack on a military barracks in the town of Rann, in northeastern Borno state near the Cameroon border.  Two aid workers were contractors with the International Organization for Migration, and the third was a doctor employed as a consultant for UNICEF.[24]

[1] ONuoha, Freedom. “Why Do Youth Join Boko Haram?” United States Institute of Peace Special Report, June 9, 2014. 

[2] “Boko Haram timeline: From preachers to slave raiders.” BBC News. May 15, 2013. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-22538888.  “Incident Summary.” Global Terrorism Database. Version GTDIS: 200907270029. University of Maryland.  http://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/search/IncidentSummary.aspx?gtdid=20090727….

[3] Murray, Senan and Adam Nossiter. “Suicide Bomber Attacks U.N. Building in Nigeria.” New York Times. Aug. 26, 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/27/world/africa/27nigeria.html?pagewante…. 

[4] Oboh, Mike. “Islamist insurgents kill over 178 in Nigeria’s Kano.” Reuters. Jan. 22, 2012. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/22/us-nigeria-violence-idUSTRE80L0A020120122. 

[5] “Nigeria’s Boko Haram Unrest: Scores dead in Benisheik raid.” BBC News.  September 19, 2013. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-24169992.

[6] “Chibok abductions in Nigeria: More than 230 seized.” BBC News. April 21, 2014.  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27101714.

[7] Nigeria Chibok abductions: what we know” BBC News, May 8, 2017; "Chibok Girls: Kidnapped Schoolgirl Found in Nigeria." BBC News, May 18, 2016; Karimi, Faith and Aminu Abubakar. “Boko Haram leader denies ceasefire deal, says 200 abducted girls married off.” CNN News. Nov. 2, 2014. http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/01/world/africa/nigeria-boko-haram-denies-de….

[8] Musa, Tansa. “Boko Haram Kidnaps wife of Cameroon’s vice PM, kills at least three.” Reuters.  July 27, 2014. http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/07/27/uk-cameroon-violence-boko-haram-idINKBN0FW0CK20140727; “Cameoon flies freed Boko Haram hostages to capital.” BBC News. Oct. 11, 2014. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29581495.

[9] Abdullah, Ardo. “Boko Haram kills dozens in fresh raids in Nigerian town.” Reuters. Jan. 8, 2015. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/01/08/uk-nigeria-violence-toll-idUKK…; “Nigeria’s Boko Haram: Baga Destruction ‘shown in images’.” BBC News. Jan. 15 2015. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30826582.}}

[10] Nzouankeu, Anne and Tansa Musa. “Suspected Boko Haram Fighters kidnap around 80 in Cameroon.” Reuters. Jan. 18, 2015. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/18/us-nigeria-violence-cameroon-idUSKBN0KR0R420150118; Farge, Emma. “Cameroon frees 24 hostages after suspected Boko Haram kidnapping.” Reuters. Jan. 19, 2015. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/19/us-nigeria-violence-cameroon-….

[11] Hama, Boureima. “'109 Boko Haram fighters dead' after first attack on Niger.” Agence France Presse, February 6, 2015.  https://news.yahoo.com/first-boko-haram-attack-niger-witnesses-000757903.html. 

[12] “Nigeria’s Boko Haram militants attack Chad for the first time.” BBC News.  Feb. 13, 2015.  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31453951. 

[13] "Boko Haram Kills 41 as Millions of Nigerians Vote in Close Presidential Election." CTVNews. March 28, 2015. Reported by Michelle Faul and Haruna Umar, Associated Press. 

[14] Winsor, Morgan. "Boko Haram Claims Responsibility For Suicide Bombings Near Nigeria's Capital Abuja." International Business Times, Oct. 5, 2015; "Suspected Boko Haram Suicide Attacks Kill Dozens in Chad." France 24, Oct. 10, 2015.

[15] Onyanga-Omara, Jane. "Survivor Claims Boko Haram Burned Kids Alive in Attack That Kills 86."  USA Today, Feb. 1, 2016.

[16] Al-amin, Usam Sadiq, and Dionne Searcey. "Young Bombers Kill 58 at Nigerian Camp for Those Fleeing Boko Haram." The New York Times, Feb. 10, 2016.

[17] Haruna, Abdulkareem. "Boko Haram Strikes Again, Kills 11 near Chibok." Premium Times Nigeria, Aug. 22, 2016.

[18] US Department of State. Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism, Country Reports on Terrorism 2016.   https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2016/. 

[19] “Boko Haram attack on oil team ‘killed more than 50’.” The Telegraph. July 28, 2017.

[20] McKirdy, Euan and Abubakar, Aminu “Dozens killed in northern Nigeria triple suicide attack.” CNN News. Aug. 16, 2017.

[21] Akinwotu, Emmanuel. Searcery, Dionne. “Nigeria Mosque Targeted in Deadly Suicide Bombing” The New York Times. Nov. 21, 2017.

[22] Abdulrahim, Ismail Alfa, “Suicide attack at market in Nigeria’s Maiduguri kills 12,” AP, January 17, 2018.  https://www.apnews.com/a6e4daa4be6440ef81c5f300118aa756.

[23] Searcey Dionne, and Emmanuel Akinwotu.  “Boko Haram Storms Girls’ School in Nigeria, Renewing Fears,” The New York Times, Feb. 21, 2018; Gopep, Jonathan, Dionne Searcey, and Emmanuel Akinwotu. “Boko Haram’s Seizure of 110 Girls Taunts Nigeria, and Its Leader.”  The New York Times, March 18, 2018.

[24] Carsten, Paul.  “Suspected Boko Haram militants kill 11 including three aid workers in Nigeria,” Reuters World News, March 2, 2018. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-security/suspected-boko-haram-militants-kill-11-including-three-aid-workers-in-nigeria-idUSKCN1GE14Z.