Boko Haram & Islamic State: What Is The Difference?

Boko Haram in Nigeria and Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, are two terrorist groups that are known for killing dozens of innocent people at a time to show their power or influence the government.

To understand why Boko Haram and ISIS could be linked, consider the language of their own statements.

- Similar genocidal intentions

ISIS has made its murderous intentions painfully clear. It has proven in town after town that it will force people to convert to Islam or it will kill them in numbers that are now being called genocidal.

The group has also made clear that it views its mission as a worldwide war. " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">"I say to America that the Islamic caliphate has been established," a spokesman for the group said Thursday. He warned that the group will attack America and "will raise the flag of Allah in the White House."

Many people seem to be confused or deluded into believing that Boko Haram does not have similarly genocidal intentions.

Boko Haram recently told Osun Defender that "the Nigerian state and Christians are our enemies and we will be launching attacks on the Nigerian state and its security apparatus as well as churches until we achieve our goal of establishing an Islamic state in place of the secular state."

- Similar execution

In a video released by Boko Haram on August 24, there are scenes of grisly executions, similar to the execution of U.S. journalist James Foley performed by Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq last week.

- Kidnapping children and converting them to Islam

In May 2014, ISIS kidnapped more than 140 Kurdish schoolboys in Syria, forcing them to take lessons in radical Islamic theology.

In April 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped more than 250 Christian schoolgirls in Borno, threatening them with death if they didn’t convert to Islam.

- Establishing the Islamic caliphate in seized territory

Yesterday, August 24, Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has announced that he has created an Islamic caliphate (place ruled by a caliph – a successor to Muhammed) in Gwoza, Borno State.

While the leader of the Islamic State and the Levant (ISIL) militants Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in June declared himself "the caliph" and "leader of Muslims everywhere".

There are obvious similarity in actions of Boko Haram and ISIS. From Nigeria to Iraq, the challenge is being organized by sincere, serious fanatics motivated by religion and willing, indeed eager, to die for their cause.

Source: Legit.ng