Boko Haram Religious or political? 

Who are these Boko Harams? what link do they have, who are their sponsors, what interest do they protect, what do they profess, what is the source of the fundamental believes, who are their major targets, what inspire them, to what extent have they been involved in politics … so on . I am quite sure there is the likeliness of some of these  questions to have flashed through the minds of an average Nigerian. to start with Boko Haram are often describe as the Congregation of the People of Tradition for Proselytise and Jihad.

 In Arabic (Arabic: جماعة اهل السنة للدعوة والجهاد‎ Jamāʻat Ahl as-Sunnah lid-daʻwa wal-Jihād) better known by its Hausa name Boko Haram (pronounced [bōːkòː hàrâm], "Western education is sinful") they regularly operate in northern Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger. Founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2001.

Before the death of the founder in 2009, he has clearly make a statement that the organisation was founded to establish a "pure" Islamic state ruled by sharia law and to put a stop to what it deems "Westernization. The group is known for attacking Christians and government targets, bombing churches, attacking schools and police stations, but has also assassinated members of the Islamic establishment and kills 56 in Borno mosque, village attacks.

Violence linked to the Boko Haram insurgency has resulted in an estimated 10,000 deaths between 2001 and 2013 and roughly 3,600 killed, including 1,600 civilians between 2009 and 2013. The group exerts influence in the north eastern Nigerian states of Borno, Adamawa, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe and Kano. In this region, a state of emergency has been declared. The group does not have a clear structure or evident chain of command and has been called "diffuse with a "cell-like structure" facilitating factions and splits.

Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, the Niger State governor, has criticized the group, saying, "Islam is known to be a religion of peace and does not accept violence and crime in any form" and Boko Haram doesn't represent Islam. The Sultan of Sokoto Sa'adu Abubakar, the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims, has called the sect "anti-Islamic". The Coalition of Muslim Clerics in Nigeria (CMCN) have called on the Boko Haram to disarm and embrace peace. The Islamic Circle of North America, the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, the Muslim Council of Britain, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Council on American Islamic Relations have all condemned the group.

Report has also revealed that another attack has been carried out this weekend by  Gun men suspected to be members of Boko Haram in northeastern state of Borno, Nigeria killing more than 30 people including the groom.

The fundamental question here is if the activity of boko haram is Islamic what is Holy about killing of fellow human beings? If political what are their political demands?. In your own opinion is boko haram Islamic or political?