The Political Murder of a Theocratic Leader, Muhammad Yusuf: Boko Haram’s Jihadist-Inspired Uprising in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper is a critical study of Boko Haram's strategy of avenging the killing of its leader, Muhammed Yusuf, while under the custody of the Nigerian Police Force on July 30, 2009, in Maiduguri, Borno State, and the pursuit of its jihadist agenda. This specific killing turned a relatively peaceful religious propagandizing group into one of the most brutal and deadly in the world. Boko Haram’s transformation from a peaceful religious activity to a violent anti-establishment movement led to the widespread killing of security forces and innocent citizens through suicide bombings, assassinations, kidnappings and the destruction of properties worth billions of Naira. Initially, the security personnel, whom the group identified as responsible for the death of its leader, were the main target before the uprising expanded into a “holy war” consuming the whole nation. Boko Haram’s strategy is an unislamic offshoot of the ideas of jihadist scholars, who propagated extremist religious tenets for the transformation of society into an Islamic one. This has not been studied in depth by scholars and commentators, who have rather paid more attention to the insurgents' historical origins, foreign allies, support and open battle with the Nigerian military. The insurgents’ bombing of security facilities, markets, mosques, schools, and churches led to the deaths of many and the destruction of property. Such a misguided strategy, which is the outcome of the influence of jihadist scholars’ sermons transmitted through legends, books, social media outlets and lectures, has led to the loss of lives, a high number of deserters and demoralized the security forces, and put fear in the minds of citizens, leading to mass migration and the setting up of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

Keywords: Boko Haram, Almajiri, Revivalism, Jihad, Suicide Bombing and Terrorism.