The Boko Haram known as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad is an Islamic militant regime which has been ravaging the northeast portion of Nigeria. The group has only recently made national headlines for their ruthless and unyielding savagery of Baga. Their reputation for murder is made public with the current devastation. Boko Haram has shown they are about territory as much as torture.

Founded in 2002, the group started as a peaceful organization which promoted an independent Islamic state. During a police investigation, the original leader, Mohammed Yusuf was arrested and later killed during an escape attempt. Shortly after the murder, the previous leader, Abubakar Shekau, announced the leadership of this problematic group. Shekau was Yusuf’s second in line for command. The group has quickly taken over the Borno State in Nigeria and set their sights on Baga.

Baga, a small town nestled along the western part of Lake Chad, has resisted the pressures of the militant group. The town has been protected by the Nigerian military and thousands of local citizens. Baga is one of the last districts still under control the nation’s government control, which as of this past weekend, has changed.

A recent attack on Baga started in the morning of Jan. 3, when the Boko Haram soldiers surrounded the town. This invasion is known as the worst onslaught so far by the group, killing hundreds in the process. The moment the troops arrived in pickup trucks, the Nigerian military dispersed, allowing the Boko Haram to annihilate the town. The attacks were part of a six-day ravage to secure the town.

“When they neutralized the soldiers, they proceeded to Baga and started killing everyone in sight,” a witness told the New York Times. “There was no pity in their eyes. Even old men and children were killed.” One resident said that they came from the west, north and southern parts of town, since it is only water to the east. When they went toward the western part of town they saw Boko Haram men, heavily armed, coming toward them.

Even the Nigerian military has launched an attack on Baga’s residents. In 2013 a Boko Haram faction attacked a
military group, outside of Baga. In retaliation to the strike, Nigerian military issued orders to invade the town of Baga, killing over 200 people in the process.

Along with the latest onslaught, Boko Haram has been involved in several altercations throughout Africa. Beginning around 2009 when there were massive shipments of arms entering into Borno. The bombings started around 2011 during the first presidential inauguration. Only after the first three weeks of 2012, as there were record numbers of murders, was there a formal state of emergency for the northern sections of Nigeria. Over the next several years there were numerous kidnappings, including 276 schoolgirls in April of 2014 and Cameroon vice-presidents wife in July that same year.

The reasoning behind the Boko Haram attacks on Baga and surrounding villages is as follows, the survivors were told to refrain from voting in the upcoming elections. The extremists believe that democracy, including voting, is a crime.