Islamic sect opposes western education terrorizes civilians

Boko Haram, a fundamentalist Islamist sect, was formed in 2002 in northern Nigeria by Mohammed Yusuf. The group is opposed to Western education, political philosophy, and society, and seeks to overthrow the government and implement sharia throughout the country. The group's name translates to "Western education is sinful."
When he formed the militant group, Yusuf also opened a school and mosque in Maiduguri and recruited young Muslims and trained them as jihadis to fight the government. In July 2009, deadly violence broke out in northeastern Nigeria between government troops and members of Boko Haram. As many as 1,000 civilians died in the battles. The fighting began after militants attacked police stations and began preparing for a pitched religious war against the government. The police and army retaliated with a five-day assault against the sect. Yusuf was killed in the campaign and the group was nearly decimated.