Boko Haram Swears Fealty to Islamic State

I had always assumed the worst regarding Boko Haram when they had kidnapped nearly 300 girls a while back in Nigeria, I believe. But this piece of news today shows a dark side of the world, one that we often forget about. Boko Haram, not only is a radical group set on the extermination of any who get in the way of their dream of an Islamic State, but they have also have officially sided with the IS (Islamic State). This might explain why the latest suicide bombings have been implemented in Nigeria. In the past, the IS was deemed too extreme, even for the likes of al-Qaida (which says a lot since many of us would argue that we find their ways questionable too).

Nevertheless, even in a world where notorious groups say a group has "gone too far," we find other groups willing to commit the same atrocities in the name of a cause. How will this end? We will have to wait and see, but it would be fair to assume that this series of bombings is just the beginning of the joint-effort. For a while the connection was rumored to be a thing with assistance going both ways, but now with confirmation - we can only assume the worst. Groups, such as IS and Boko Haram, will never gain the support to take over the world, but they do have the power (the brute force, rather) to partake in a genocide to exterminate all those that do not fit their vision. How long must these fundamentalists continue to partake in these activities? It's a scary reality to wake up and realize that only through the eradication of every last supporting member, there still is a potential for more danger in the name of some arbitrary vision. But it goes without saying, that the best way to kill a snake is to cut off its head - the leader would make a worthy, primary target.

-Jon Stanciu