From an outbreak in Bauchi state two days ago, violence has been reported in Borno, Kano, Adamawa, Sokoto, and Zamfara. Islamists have told the government of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua that their mission is to install the practice of total Islam in states with large populations of Muslims.
The group calls itself “Boko Haram” which means “Western Education Prohibited” in the local Hausa language.
The country’s 150 million people are split almost equally between Muslims and Christians and the two groups generally live peacefully side by side, but the rise of religious tensions in recent years is seemingly widening the Muslim-Christian fissure.
At least 100 are reported dead in the violence.
