Boko HaramOn April 14, 2014, a bomb exploded in a crowded bus station in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. 75 people were reported dead, while 178 were injured (Al Jazeera, 2014). These people are the most recent victims of the Islamic terrorist sect known as Boko Haram. Boko Haram activity has increased in recent years, generating fear among Nigerians. The success of Boko Haram attacks combined with the Nigerian government's inability to effectively control the group creates the potential for Boko Haram to cause significant dilemmas in Nigeria and Africa. The exact year of origin of Boko Haram has been debated. Onuoha notes that the group's original beginnings come from a 1995 group led by Abubakah Lawan, known as “Ahlulsunna wal'jama'ah hijra” (Onuoha, 2010). It appears that most scholars and researchers, however, attribute the founding of the present Boko Haram to Mohammed Yusuf in 2002 (Adibe, 2014). It is clear that under Yusuf's leadership the group has achieved significant gains and expansion. Yusuf was responsible for pushing Boko Haram towards the mindset that Western education and civilization are sinful, which is the rough translation of “Boko Haram” (Salaam, 2014). After Yusuf's death, one of his deputies, Abu Muhammed Abubakar bin Muhammad Shekau, became the current leader of Boko Haram (Onuoha, 2010). Boko Haram's main goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government and implement Sharia law in all states of Nigeria. . They believe that the government is full of corrupt and sinful individuals, who fail to live up to the words of the Quran. Shria law is a set of Islamic laws that come from the Quran. The regulations and laws within Sharia are very strict and include severe punishments such as stoning… middle of paper… Boko Haram Crisis Explained. African Security Review, , 54-67.Oriakhi, D. (2012). The Impact of National Security on Foreign Direct Investment in Nigeria: An Empirical Analysis. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 88-96. Rogers, P. (2012, April 30). Nigeria: the generic context of Boko Haram violence. Retrieved April 6, 2014, from SALAAM, A. (January 27, 2014). The psychological structure of "Muhammad Yusuf". Boko Haram: Anatomy of a crisis. Retrieved April 5, 2014 Salaam, A. (2012). Boko Haram: beyond religious fanaticism. Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, 147-162. U.S. Department of State (2013, November 13). Background briefing on the designation of Boko Haram and Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Retrieved March 27, 2014, from http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/11/217532.htm