Islamic extremism in Northern Nigeria
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2014) |
History
The first recorded extremism in what is now Northern Nigeria was waged in the 14th century by the then Sultan of Kano Ali Yaji, it culminated in the Battle of Santolo and the subsequent transformation of the Habe-Hausa kingdoms of Northern Nigeria into Islamic sultanates. In the 19th century, the Fula people led by Usman dan Fodio overthrew many of these sultanates in another Jihad campaign and replaced them with the more puritanical Sokoto Caliphate. The slow rise of Islamic mysticism in the form of Sufi brotherhoods under the caliphate reversed some of the more puritanical tendencies of the early caliphate.
After the pacification of Northern Nigeria by the British, they preserved most of the native institutions of the Sokoto Caliphate including its emirates which were aligned with the Sufi orders. In the 1960s, the former Grand Qadi of Northern Nigeria,
Infused with further religious zeal from Gumi, offshoots of Izalatul Bidi'a Wa Ikamatul Sunnah like Boko Haram and Ansaru developed.
Izala
Izala was the first
Boko Haram
Jihadist group Boko Haram began their insurgency with an uprising in 2009. They have carried out many attacks since then, killing thousands of people. In the mid-2010s, their insurgency expanded into Cameroon, Chad, Mali, and Niger.
References
- ^ Ben Amara, Razi. "The Izala Movement in Nigeria: From Guiding the Muslim Ummah to Losing Authority" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-04-24. Retrieved 2014-04-24.
- ^ Dauda, Malam Ibrahim. Sharrin Izala.