Boko Haram emerged in Maiduguri under Mohammed Yusuf, who was killed in police custody in July 2009. Under Abubakar Shekau the group bombed the UN building Abuja (Aug 2011), Police HQ Abuja (June 2011), and many churches and markets. On 14 April 2014 the group abducted 276 girls from Government Secondary School Chibok; #BringBackOurGirls became a global movement co-convened by Oby Ezekwesili. The insurgency spawned ISWAP after 2016. As of 2024, of the original 276 Chibok girls, 91 are still unaccounted for.
Insurgency2009 — present· Chapter 12
Chibok and the Decade of Boko Haram
14 April 2014: 276 schoolgirls abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok. As of recording, 91 still unaccounted for.
Source: Amnesty International Nigeria reports; UN OCHA Lake Chad Basin updates
Era context
The political and economic reality
The government(s), economy and national reality across the period 2009–present.
President · Fourth Republic
Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
2007–2010· PDP
National reality
Niger Delta amnesty programme (2009). Yar'Adua became gravely ill in late 2009; the Doctrine of Necessity (Feb 2010) made Goodluck Jonathan Acting President. Yar'Adua died 5 May 2010.
Crises of the period
- Yar'Adua medical absence + cabal
- Niger Delta amnesty negotiations
- Boko Haram founding violence (Maiduguri 2009)
GDP (World Bank)
$166 bn (2007) → $369 bn (2010, post-rebasing trajectory)
Cabinet (selected portfolios)
- Education
Igwe Aja-Nwachuku; Dr. Sam Egwu
Source: Federal Gazette 2007–10
President · Fourth Republic
Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
2010–2015· PDP
National reality
GDP rebasing April 2014 made Nigeria Africa's largest economy. Chibok abduction 14 April 2014 (276 girls). Sovereign Wealth Fund established 2012. Fuel-subsidy protests January 2012. Lost the 2015 election — first incumbent defeated.
Crises of the period
- #OccupyNigeria fuel-subsidy protests (Jan 2012)
- Chibok abduction (Apr 2014)
- Boko Haram caliphate at peak (2014)
- Oil price crash from mid-2014
GDP (World Bank)
$369 bn (2010) → $546 bn (2014, post-rebasing — largest African economy)
Cabinet (selected portfolios)
- Finance
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Coordinating Minister of the Economy)
- Education
Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i; Ibrahim Shekarau
- Petroleum
Diezani Alison-Madueke
Source: Federal Gazette 2010–15; NBS GDP rebasing report 2014
President · Fourth Republic
Muhammadu Buhari
2015–2023· APC
National reality
Two recessions (2016, 2020). Multiple naira devaluations. ASUU strike of 2022 closed federal universities for ~9 months. End SARS protests (Oct 2020); Lekki Toll Gate incident. Out-of-school children >18 million by 2022.
Crises of the period
- 2016 recession + FX crisis
- End SARS + Lekki Toll Gate (Oct 2020)
- COVID-19 lockdown (2020)
- 9-month ASUU strike (2022)
- Naira redesign chaos (Q1 2023)
GDP (World Bank)
$494 bn (2015) → $477 bn (2022)
Cabinet (selected portfolios)
- Finance
Kemi Adeosun (2015–18); Zainab Ahmed (2018–23)
- Justice (AGF)
Abubakar Malami (SAN)
- Education
Mallam Adamu Adamu (2015–23)
- Petroleum
Muhammadu Buhari (concurrent); Min. of State Ibe Kachikwu then Timipre Sylva
Source: Federal Gazette 2015–23; CBN; NBS
President · Fourth Republic
Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu
2023–present· APC
National reality
Fuel subsidy removed at inauguration (29 May 2023); naira floated June 2023. Inflation at multi-decade highs (>30% YoY in 2024). Student loan scheme (NELFUND) launched 2024. WAEC torchlight exam controversy (2025).
Crises of the period
- Cost-of-living crisis 2023–25
- WAEC torchlight examinations (2025)
- JAMB CBT technical failures (2025)
- Naira free-fall 2023–24
GDP (World Bank)
≈ $363 bn (2023, post-float)
Cabinet (selected portfolios)
- Finance
Wale Edun (Coordinating Minister of the Economy)
- Justice (AGF)
Lateef Fagbemi (SAN)
- Education
Tahir Mamman (2023–24); Tunji Alausa (2024– )
Source: Federal Gazette 2023– ; CBN; NBS
Methodology
Tier 1 · primary
Courts. Gazettes. National archives.
Tier 2 · corroborating
OCCRP. HRW. BudgIT. TheCable.
Redline
Wikipedia is never a source.