SOCIO-RELIGIOUS EFFECT OF THE BOKO HARAM MOVEMENT IN NIGERIA

الملخص

There were several attempt to develop programs of reforming the practice of Islam in Nigeria. While some of the campaigns guarantees easy admission to paradise with strange ideologies, others engaged in the use of superstitious activities to attract followers. More others are forcing people to accept their ideologies, without recourse to its legality and number of casualties.  For instance, the activities of Boko Haram have attracted condemnation to Islam and the Muslims. The paper attempt to assess the effect the movement on the socio-religious life of people. To achieve these, historical and theoretical analysis is employed. The work reveal that violent activities of the Boko-Haram are nothing but a rebirth of the Khawarij ideologies, which does not in any way represent the pristine teachings of Islam, and the understanding of the early Muslim scholars. It concludes that extreme activities of the movement have done more harm than good to Islam and the Muslims. It further recommends the need to regulate and monitor religious activities for peace and harmonious coexistence the country.