This week the story of the kidnapped
girls in Nigeria has found its way back into the public. When I first
heard this story months ago I was not shocked in the least. Whenever
I hear about this like this happening in other parts of the world,
particularly the Middle East and Africa, I just figure that is how
these countries operate. I decided to do a little research into the
men who have committed these crimes for years now not just this year
and exactly what justifications they use to perpetrate their crimes.
There is an insurgent group known as Boko Haram which loosely
translates to “West education is a sin.” I doubt that is the
exact meaning but whatever. Let's go with it. Their official name
translates to “people committed to the propagation of the tradition
and jihad.” Last year a state of emergency was declared against the
group which led to hundreds of their members being killed.
Those that survived had moved to the
mountain areas where they continue their assaults. The group, still
as strong as ever, have mostly been forced into the areas surrounding
Nigeria. The group, as their name states, does not want people,
specifically women, being educated as it is seen as going against
their Muslim beliefs. Instead girls are seen as tools for sex and
cooks. That doesn't sound too different than this country less than a
hundred years ago and yesterday in some parts of of right now.