Mohammed Yusuf (Boko Haram)

Mohammed Yusuf (29 January 1970 – 30 July 2009), also known as Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf, was a Nigerian terrorist who founded the Islamist militant group Boko Haram in 2002. He was its leader until he was killed during the 2009 Boko Haram uprising.[1] The group's official name is Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad, which in Arabic means "People Committed to the Propagation of the Teachings and Jihad".[2]

For other people with the same name, see Mohammad Yousuf.

Mohammed Yusuf
Born(1970-01-29)29 January 1970
Yobe
Died30 July 2009(2009-07-30) (aged 39)
Maiduguri
AllegianceBoko Haram
Years of service2002–2007
RankLeader
Battles/warsBoko Haram insurgency

Born in Girgi village, in Jakusko, present-day Yobe State, Nigeria, Yusuf received a University education.[3] Later he studied more of Islam and became a Salafi.[4]

Education and beliefs

According to scholar Paul Lubeck of the University of California at Santa Cruz, as a young man Yusuf was instructed in Shiasm and associated with Salafism and the teachings of Ibn Taymiyyah.[5] He had the equivalent of a graduate education, according to Nigerian academic Hussain Zakaria. Yusuf was never as proficient in English as was reported. He believed in strict application of Islamic law, which represented his ideal of justice according to the teachings of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. Boko Haram hitmen would murder members of other Muslim sects like the Salafist Izala and the Sufi Tidjaniyya and Qadiriya fraternities.[6] In a 2009 BBC interview, Yusuf stated his belief that the concept of a spherical Earth is contrary to Islamic teaching and should be rejected. He also rejected Darwinian evolution, and the concept of the condensation cycle that produces rain.[7] In the interview he said:

"There are prominent Islamic preachers who have seen and understood that the present Western-style education is mixed with issues that run contrary to our beliefs in Islam," he said.

"Like rain. We believe it is a creation of God rather than an evaporation caused by the sun that condenses and becomes rain.

"Like saying the world is a sphere. If it runs contrary to the teachings of Allah, we reject it. We also reject the theory of Darwinism."

Personal life

Yusuf had four wives and 12 children,[8] one of them being Abu Musab al-Barnawi, who claimed since 2016 to be the rightful leader of Boko Haram, opposing Abubakar Shekau.[9]

He was reported as living a lavish lifestyle, which included ownership and driving of a Mercedes-Benz.[7]

Death

Following the July 2009 Boko Haram uprising, the Nigerian military captured Yusuf. They transferred him to the custody of the Nigerian police force.[10] The police summarily executed Yusuf in public view outside the police headquarters in Maiduguri.[11][12][13] Police officials initially claimed either that Yusuf was shot while trying to escape, or died of wounds he sustained during a gun battle with the military.[12][13]

References
  1. Boko Haram: The Emerging Jihadist Threat in West Africa – Background, Anti-Defamation League, 12 December 2011.
  2. "Who are Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists?". BBC News. 26 August 2011.
  3. "West African Militancy and Violence", page 74
  4. Dowd, Robert A. (1 July 2015). Christianity, Islam, and Liberal Democracy: Lessons from Sub-Saharan Africa. Oxford University Press. p. 102. ISBN 9780190225216.
  5. Johnson, Toni (27 December 2011). "Backgrounder – Boko Haram". www.cfr.org. Council of Foreign Relations. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  6. Vicky, Alain (1 April 2012). "Aux origines de la secte Boko Haram". Le Monde diplomatique (in French). Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  7. "Nigeria's 'Taliban' enigma". BBC News. 28 July 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  8. "Nigeria sect head dies in custody". BBC News. BBC. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  9. "Shekau Resurfaces, Accuses New Boko Haram Leader al-Barnawi Of Attempted Coup". 360nobs. 4 August 2016. Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  10. "Nigeria row over militant killing". BBC News. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  11. Adam Nossiter & David D. Kirkpatrick (7 May 2014). "Abduction of Girls an Act Not Even Al Qaeda Can Condone". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  12. Human Rights Watch (11 October 2012). "Spiraling Violence: Boko Haram Attacks and Security Force Abuses in Nigeria". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  13. "Video shows Nigeria 'executions'". Al Jazeera. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
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