ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Islamic extremism in Northern Nigeria

Okay, so there's a place called northern Nigeria which is a part of a big country called Nigeria. In northern Nigeria, there are some people who believe in a religion called Islam. Religion is a way of thinking and believing in a higher power. Most of the people who believe in Islam are peaceful and happy, but there are some who are very extreme. When someone is extreme, it means they take their beliefs too seriously and sometimes they do not believe in making peace with others who do not agree with them.

These extreme people in northern Nigeria want everyone to follow their beliefs, even if they don't want to. They think they are right and don't care how other people feel about it. They think they have the right to use violence to make people believe in their beliefs. Violence is when someone hurts other people physically. This is not okay, and it is against the law.

These extreme people have caused a lot of problems in northern Nigeria because they have hurt and killed many people who do not believe in what they believe. Sometimes they kidnap people and demand money for them to be released. This is called terrorism, and it is one of the worst kinds of violence. It is scary and dangerous, and it is not okay.

The government of Nigeria is trying to stop these extreme people from hurting others. They are trying to make the country safe for everyone to live in, no matter what their beliefs are. While many people in northern Nigeria are good and peaceful and want to live in harmony with others, it is important to be careful and aware of the extremists who are causing trouble.