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Boko Haram overtakes Isis as world's deadliest terror organisation

Boko Haram operates in mainly Nigeria but has also launched attacks in Chad and Cameroon

Rose Troup Buchanan
6 hours  ago

Nigerian army soldiers are pictured as they are deployed to the north of the country Getty
Boko Haram has overtaken Isis as the world’s most deadly terrorist organisation, according to a new report.

The Nigerian-based terror group, also known as Islamic State’s West’s Africa province (ISWAP), was responsible for 6,644 deaths in 2014.

In comparison, Isis is believed to have killed 6,073 people in the same period. Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the group, also known as the Islamic State, in March of this year.

Isis has certainly sought - and achieved - global notoriety since it announced its creation of a caliphate across Syria and Iraq in June 2014.

It has its own media arm which pumps out propaganda videos and messages to either inspire supporters or strike fear into those it regards as enemies with graphic footage glorifying executions and torture. It has also claimed responsibility for the most recent terror attacks in Paris and Egypt, where a plane containing 229 was downed.

Boko Haram carries out most of its atrocities in north Africa. Over the past year, Nigeria witnessed a 300 per cent rise in fatalities from terror acts to 7,512. This is the largest increase in terrorist-caused deaths ever recorded by any country, and is predominantly down to Boko Haram’s expansion.

In 2013, Nigeria ranked fifth in terms of the highest levels of deaths, but moved to second last year.

Obama sends 300 US troops to Cameroon to fight Boko Haram
Suspected Boko Haram militants kill 23 in Cameroon village
Boko Haram is not limited to Nigeria: in 2014 the group doubled its attack and expanded into Chad and Cameroon, in 2014 staging 46 attacks and claiming 520 lives.

While increased use of explosives and bombs – thanks to training from other terrorist outfits – has characterised more recent Boko Haram attacks, the majority of attacks remain armed assaults using machine guns.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/boko-haram-overtakes-isis-as-worlds-deadliest-terror-organisation-a6737761.html/
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The data, published in the third edition of the Global Terrorism Index, was produced by the Institute for Economic and Peace, and drawn from data collected by the Global Terrorism Database (GTD), collated by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism.

I think if the civilized world finally makes the decision take out ISIS for good, then Boko Haram needs to be included in that decision.

I think you have to take them all out.

Boko Haram: African countries that banned burqas fearing their use by terrorists.

Senegal not only country to ban burqa fearing Boko Haram attacks
By Ludovica Iaccino
November 19, 2015

The burqa is a garment that covers the entire body, with a semi-transparent cloth covering the eyes.
Senegal has announced it intends to ban the full Islamic veil in the country fearing attacks by Nigeria-based terror group Boko Haram. Although the eastern African nation has never been attacked by the Islamist outfit, Interior Minister Abdoulaye Daouda said the move aims to protect national security.

Authorities in Senegal have recently arrested four imams suspected of having ties with Boko Haram, which has killed between 17,000 and 20,000 people since its insurgency became violent in 2009. The group directs its attacks at three states in Nigeria − Adamawa, Yobe and Borno − and northern Cameroon, with coordinated bombings also occurring in other parts of Nigeria, as well as Chad and Niger.

Boko Haram is renowned for carrying out suicide bombings − or forcing abducted women and children to do so − disguising the explosive under burqas, garments usually worn by women in some Islamic countries that cover the entire body with the exception of a semi-transparent cloth over the eyes.

Who are Nigeria's Boko Haram terrorists?

Boko Haram (recently renamed Iswap) fights against Western influence in Nigeria and aims to impose its version of Sharia law in the country.

The group declared an Islamic caliphate in Gwoza, along the Cameroon border, in August 2014.

Boko Haram has raided several cities in the north of the country in a bid to take control of more territory. Three states − Adamawa, Borno and Yobe − have been under a state of emergency since May 2013, due to Boko Haram's attacks.

Speaking to IBTimes UK, independent Nigerian journalist Ahmad Salkida, who managed to secure negotiations (later dropped) between Boko Haram and the government this March, said: "For many years, countries like Senegal, Burkina Faso and Sudan [have offered] safe houses for Boko Haram leaders.

"Most terror groups have a neutral country or place to take a break or plan or keep family or hold meetings...it's common." Referring to a possible presence of Boko Haram in Senegal, he said: "I doubt it's about attacks."

What countries banned the burqa fearing Boko Haram attacks?

Senegal is the last on a list of countries who decided to ban the burqa to lower the risk of attacks by the terrorists.

Chad

Chad is part of a Nigeria-led regional force − consisting of 8,700 troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin − against Boko Haram. The country intensified its fight against the terrorists after twin suicide bombings blamed on Boko Haram killed dozens in the capital N'Djamena in June.

Following the blasts, Chad banned the burqa – arguing that it could be used by terrorists as a camouflage – and announced it would round up and arrest foreigners in a bid to identify suspected Boko Haram members. Chad also bombed six Boko Haram camps in northern Nigeria. However, Nigeria denied that the territories affected by the bombing were part of Nigeria. The country also declared a state of emergency in the Lake Chad region.

Niger

Authorities in Niger's Diffa region banned the use of the burqa and declared a state of emergency following deadly attacks blamed on Boko Haram. The country also temporarily banned the use of motorcycles, frequently used by insurgents during the attacks.

Some 20 US Special Operations Forces have been deployed in the region to help in the fight against Boko Haram.

Cameroon

Cameroon, routinely attacked by Boko Haram in the territories along the border with Nigeria, has imposed a burqa ban in its North Region where Boko Haram often finds shelter escaping from a recently intensified military offensive in northeastern Nigeria.

Cameroon also hosts thousands of Nigerian refugees who fled the insurgency. In August, authorities arrested two Boko Haram suspected members disguised as female refugees. The men, who were carrying explosives in their luggage, were stopped at the Minawao refugee camp, near the border with Nigeria.

Earlier in October, US President Barack Obama announced the country would send 300 troops to carry out airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/boko-haram-african-countries-that-banned-burqas-fearing-their-use-by-terrorists-1529552/
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Nigerian National Anthem - "Arise, Oh Compatriots…: http://youtu.be/avPeagYhbgo/

National Anthem of Chad - La Tchadienne (Instrume…: http://youtu.be/gPwmYrp_rh8/

Hymne national du Cameroun: http://youtu.be/Zuup01dBEP0/

National anthem of Senegal "Pincez tous vos koras…: http://youtu.be/6s7Epl93Rjg/ *French & English lyrics on link.*

♫ Niger National Anthem ♫: http://youtu.be/4I9ZDf9Vksg/ * Lyrics unavailable *
Niger =La Nigérienne - http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Nig%C3%A9rienne/ French & English lyrics

National anthem of Sudan "Nahnu Jund Allah Jund A…: http://youtu.be/AHGF8zVgBp4/ *Lyrics on link: Arabic, English, Spanish, Chinese*

Republic Of South Sudan National Anthem: http://youtu.be/YwfC_zjdmSk/
* Independent & offical anthem as of July 9,,2011*

Oh God!

We praise and glorify you

For your grace on South Sudan

Land of great abundance

Uphold us united in peace and harmony

Oh motherland!

We rise raising flag with the guiding star

And sing songs of freedom with joy

For justice, liberty and prosperity

Shall forevermore reign

Oh great patriots!

Let us stand up in silence and respect

Saluting our martyrs whose blood

Cemented our national foundation

We vow to protect our nation

Oh God, bless South Sudan!

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If I have forgotten to mention any

countries, affected by Boko Haram, please let me know.

Ihttp://www.smh.com.au/world/terrorism-deaths-in-2014-the-highest-on-record-global-terrorism-index-2015-finds-20151119-gl2puz.html http://www.smh.com.au/world/terrorism-deaths-in-2014-the-highest-on-record-global-terrorism-index-2015-finds-20151119-gl2puz.html/ * MUCH more on link *

slamic State and Boko Haram were jointly responsible for half (51 per cent) of all lives lost in terrorist attacks in 2014. Together, the groups killed more than 12,700 people last year, with Boko Haram killing about 570 more than Islamic State.

BOKO HARAM PLEDGED ALLEGIANCE TO THE ISLAMIC STATE IN MARCH OF 2015

Deaths from terrorism, 2000-14. Nine times more people were killed by terrorism in 2014 than in 2000. Source: Global Terrorism Index 2015
The death toll was heavily concentrated. Seventy-eight per cent of fatalities occurred in Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria.

Nigeria recorded the largest increase in deaths from terrorism. Fatalities quadrupled in 2014, reaching more than 7500.

But Iraq stands out as the worst-affected country, accounting for 30 per cent of all deaths from terrorism, according to the report. More than 9900 people died in 3370 attacks in Iraq last year.

"This is the highest number of terrorism incidents and fatalities ever recorded by a single country," the institute's press release reads.

The recent attacks in France have sparked fierce debate over the disproportionate attention media outlets give to terrorism attacks in Western countries.

Less than three per cent of the lives lost to terrorism since 2000 have been in the West, the report found. This figure drops to 0.5 per cent when the September 11 attacks are excluded.

The Global Terrorism Index, now in its third year, ranks 162 countries by how greatly terrorism affects them both directly and indirectly. It defines terrorism as "the threatened or actual use of illegal force and violence by a non‐state actor to attain a political, economic, religious, or social goal through fear, coercion, or intimidation".

32 dead & 80 injured, in Nigeria blast blamed on Boko Haram.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/11/17/nigeria-bombing/75960116/

DD, this is a dilemma facing the civilized world. Do innocent bodies on/in one continent have more value than another? Obviously boko acts have for the most part occurred on Africans in Africa. Isil is attacking us here, Muslims and Christians in Arabic countries as well.
Looking only at the numbers we should focus on boko first and isil second. If we underestimate boko and send small numbers to thwart them it could be bhd all over again. If we clobber isil and breathe a breath of relief boko could fill that vacuum.
Another dilemma is their claims and our resulting actions. Sassy, your post talks about this.
Their militants influence or bribe their imams and clerics. Their clerics claim we declare war against their religion. Their militants then train the people to terrorize those who speak against their zealous messages. The western countries who are attacked and the African and Arabic countries go after the leaders of the organizations and they call it an assault on Islam and murderers martyrs.
Banning the burqa, is evil? Or using a religious garment to conceal weapons and bombs used to kill innocent people? Free speach is all well and good but I can guarantee after what Carson and trump said yesterday they are on repeat on radios tv's and internet publications. We know what happened at Charlie Hebdo and in Garland TX. We don't need to repeat that or any other of the attacks they've done.