US names Nigerias Boko Haram and Ansaru terrorists 13 November 2013Last updated at 16:33 Boko Haram militants have been blamed for a series of deadly attacks in recent years The US has designated Nigerias Boko Haram and Ansaru militant groups as foreign terrorist organisations. The state department described the move as an important step to help Nigeria root out violent extremism. It means US regulatory agencies are instructed to block business and financial transactions with the groups. Boko Haram wants to impose Islamic law in northern Nigeria, and has been blamed for thousands of deaths. Ansaru is seen as an off-shoot of Boko Haram. Boko Haram at a glance *.Founded in 2002 *.Official Arabic name, Jamaatu Ahlis Sunna Liddaawati wal-Jihad, means People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophets Teachings and Jihad *.Initially focused on opposing Western education *.Nicknamed Boko Haram, a phrase in the local Hausa language meaning, Western education is forbidden *.Launched military operations in 2009 to create an Islamic state across Nigeria *.Founding leader Mohammed Yusuf killed in same year in police custody *.Succeeded by Abubakar Shekau, who the military wrongly claimed in 2009 had been killed *.Suspected to have split into rival factions in 2012 *.Military claims in August 2013 that Mr Shekau and his second-in-command Momodu Bama have been killed in separate attacks; no independent confirmation of claim What is Nigerias Boko Haram? Boko Haram began its insurgency in 2009, and targets both the military and civilians, including schools, and frequently clashes with the Nigerian armed forces. Ansaru was formed in January 2012, though it rose to prominence only about six months later through the release of a video in which it vowed to attack Westerners in defence of Muslims worldwide. The group has proved to be a formidable threat during its short existence, using dynamite to penetrate heavily-fortified compounds and taking foreigners hostage.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 20:55:39 +0000