Boko Haram attacks may have displaced 1 million, organization says

As many as one million people in Nigeria may have been displaced as a result of the violent attacks carried out by the extremist group Boko Haram.

The Toronto Star noted that on Tuesday, the International Organization for Migration said that up to million Nigerians, possibly more, have been displaced in the battle with Boko Haram.

“We now have irrefutable data on the impact of this crisis on Nigerians and are advocating for more effective humanitarian measures,” said IOM emergencies director Mohammed Abdiker.

The militant group is seeking to overtake the country and form an Islamic state.

Boko Haram first garnered national attention in April when they took responsibility for kidnapping more than 200 girls at a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State. The group’s name literally means Western education is “sinful.”

As previously reported, around 2,000 people were murdered and entire towns were burnt down in brazen attacks earlier this month.

The recent attacks were thought to be the deadliest massacre by Boko Haram militants.