Boko Haram is an Islamist militant group in Nigeria that started in 2009. Their goal is to impose a strict form of Islamic law across the nation. By 2011 there had been several attacks that left more 425 people dead. In November 2011 they carried out a bombing in Damaturu that killed around 100 people. They targeted police housing, government buildings, banks, and churches. There were also attacks in Maiduguri.