SUMMARY
In 2003 and 2004, violent clashes between Ahlul Sunnah Jamaa (Followers of the Prophet) and army troops of the Nigerian government took place in the area of Yobe state, Northern Nigeria. Ahlul Sunnah Jamma, inspired by the Afghanistan Taliban movement, aimed to establish an Islamic state in the areas around Kanamma, Yunusari and Toshiya in Nigeria. Due to low activity the conflict is regarded as terminated since 2004.
IN DEPTH
The rise of Ahlul Sunnah Jamaa and outbreak of the conflict
Nigeria is Africas most populous country, comprising some 130 million inhabitants. The population which belongs to a mix of different ethnic groups is roughly divided between Christians and Muslims. When the country gained independence from Britain in 1960, there were grave concerns as to whether the new state would be able to fit together its disparate parts. This concern has proved legitimate in the post-independence period, as the country has been marred by violence in numerous sectors of society. There are tensions between ethnic groups, religions and regions. Sometimes the three coincide while at other times they do not.
In May 1999, the Fourth Republic was inaugurated under the Presidency of former general Olusegun Obasanjo, succeeding a number of authoritarian and repressive military regimes. Subsequently, 12 predominantly Muslim states in the north adopted Islamic Sharia law in a move that fuelled intermittent outbreaks of violence between Muslims and Christians, in which thousands of people have died. As some Muslim extremists argue that authorities in some of the states have been lax in enforcing the Islamic law, there has been some discontent also in these circles. However, this dissatisfaction had never resulted in armed confrontation with the state. In late December 2003 this changed, when a group called Ahlul Sunnah Jamaa (Followers of the Prophet) launched attacks on a number of police stations in Yobe State.
Ahlul Sunnah Jamaa was formed by university and polytechnic students in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, sometime in 2001 or 2002. The group, which is inspired by the Afghan Taliban movement, drew support from all over Nigeria, mostly among middle class graduates. Sometime in late 2002 or early 2003, the group settled outside the small town of Kanamma, Yobe State. Initially, it appears as though their motives were peaceful. They left a society that they considered sinful and immoral, migrating to "live in peace and engage in studies and farming". It remained unclear what made them turn violent, but some reports suggest that the violence may have been sparked by attempts in December 2003 by local officials to persuade the group to move away. After launching their first attacks, they circulated leaflets where they made their agenda known. The ultimate aim of Ahlul Sunnah Jamaa was to break away the areas around Kanamma, Yunusari and Toshiya from Nigeria and establish an Islamic state. The new state would be run by the groups leader, going under the nickname Mullah Omar. Furthermore, they stated that they would kill all "unbelievers in uniform" and called on all Muslims in the country to rise up for Jihad to defend Islam and establish justice.
Ahlul Sunnah Jamaa received some initial successes, mainly due to the element of surprise. However, the Nigerian army was called in and managed to flush the group out of Yobe State during the first week of January 2004. Troops from neighbouring Niger intercepted some fleeing rebels, the Nigerian army arrested some and an unknown number were killed. A handful melted back into society and remained dormant for nine months. In September they resurfaced, once more attacking police stations, this time in Borno State. The army pursued the rebels into the Mandara Mountains, on the border with Cameroon, and a number of battles occurred. The army conducted a cordon and search operation to flush out the militants and by October they had been driven from the hills and into the swampy plain surrounding Lake Chad, near the border with Cameroon and Chad. Many members of the group had been killed and others were arrested by either Nigerian or Cameroonian forces. As of late 2004, it was unclear if members of the group still remained at large. The conflict is regarded as terminated due to low activity.
In April 2007 there was a clash between government forces and Islamic fighters in Kano State claiming the lives of over 30. There have been some allegations that the assailants belonged to the Ahlul Sunnah Jamaa, also referred to as Nigerian Taliban; however, this has not been ascertained (e.d.).
