Blog 4: Thousands fleeing Boko Haram find little comfort in Niger

Summary:

This article detailed the story of a few different families affected by the Islamist group Boko Haram in Africa that have moved into Niger to escape the violence around their homes.  Boko Haram is attempting to try and create an Islamic country in the northern states of Nigeria, to the displacement of numerous people.  Gremah, a man whose family has been displaced due to the group’s attacks, says that the militia arrives in the villages, attach the government’s militiamen and members of the village.  While the government in Niger has offered the people refugee status, they are doing little to help the people, banning the construction of formal refugee camps.  The government states that they do not want to attract a great influx of people, or unintentionally create a base for the militants. 

Analysis:

This particular instance depicts further violence supposedly fueled by religious extremism.  The group, eager to make a new sort of theocracy in northern Nigeria, is using violence and force to further their control.  Another extremist group has used violent, gang-like behavior in order to enforce their ideals.  Much of American press and media is focused on groups in the middle east, though there are similar, extremist groups in other areas of the world.  There are other sociological issues that come into play in this particular incident, as well.  The government of Niger is not being helpful to the refugees apart from offering them safe passage into their country and refugee status.  This constitutes the social classification of the refugees as the “other” among those already in Niger, painting them as outsiders. This, coupled with the torment the refugees faced in Nigeria from the religious extremist militia, creates connotations of them as unwanted outsiders, which can be particularly harmful to the children in these displaced families.  

http://news.yahoo.com/thousands-fleeing-boko-haram-little-comfort-niger-143056348.html;_ylt=AwrBTztvFhBTcGQABW9XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTExcTdidDdsBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1VJQzFfMQ--