( CNN ) -- Last weekend , suspected Islamic jihadists killed at least 40 students at a Northern Nigerian agricultural college , many while they slept . The Council on Foreign Relations Nigeria Security Tracker shows that jihadist-related attacks in Nigeria are increasing . Most of the victims in this violence are Muslim , but some are Christian . While no group has claimed responsibility for Sunday 's massacre , the Nigerian media assigns responsibility to Boko Haram , and the operation has the hallmarks of the group 's previous massacres . What is Boko Haram ? It remains shrouded in mystery . Boko is the Hausa word for `` book , '' and commonly refers to Western education . Haram is the Arabic word for `` forbidden . '' Hostile to democracy , modern science , and Western education as non-Islamic , it is highly diffuse . For some adherents , religious , even apocalyptic , themes appear to be paramount . They are looking toward the creation of God 's kingdom on earth through violence against those they see as Islam 's enemies , rather than the achievement of a political program . But , political opportunists and criminals also operate under the label of `` Boko Haram . '' The movement 's umbrella appears to be a shared Islamic vocabulary of protest , a hatred of the secular government in Abuja and of a corrupt Nigerian political economy -- and a disposition toward violence . It is especially murderous toward members of the Islamic establishment that have `` sold out '' to Abuja . It does not appear to have an overarching political structure , and Abubakar Shekau , the leader of perhaps its largest element , does not exercise universal command or control over many of its elements . Does this pose a threat to U.S. or other Western interests ? Should ties between the United States and the Abuja government strengthen under the guise of a common `` war on terror , '' American interests -- though limited in Northern Nigeria -- could become a Boko Haram target , not least because `` the friend of my enemy is my enemy . '' Thus far , Boko Haram has shown little interest in the world outside of Nigeria and the Sahel . But the situation in Nigeria is dynamic , and it is possible that closer ties will develop between al-Qaeda and elements of Boko Haram . The group was founded by Malam Mohammed Yusuf , a charismatic preacher who was murdered by police in 2009 in a public episode that went viral on the internet . But , even with respect to Yusuf 's core disciples , there is remarkably little hard information about their structure and leadership . After Yusuf 's murder , leadership fell to his deputy , Abubakar Shekau . He normally communicates through videos , and has not been seen in person since Yusuf 's death . His latest video appeared in September 2013 . The revolt 's foot soldiers likely are drawn from unemployed youth in Northern Nigeria , a region of profound poverty . Many of them attended Islamic schools where they learned little other than to memorize the Quran . Often they are children of peasants , rootless if not homeless , in a big city . They can bond through a common radical Islamic sensibility , inchoate rage , and the prospect of earning a little money as terrorists . Up until 2012 , Boko Haram attacks appeared to be largely funded by bank robberies . One commentator credibly estimated that there had been several dozen since 2011 . Boko Haram has successfully looted weapons from government arsenals . What is new is Boko Haram 's use of suicide bombers . Suicide is anathema to West African culture , and had been unknown as a weapon of terror in Nigeria . West African borders are porous , and travel between Nigeria and areas where al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb -- the Salafi-jihadist militant group -- operates is easy . Yet , while there is evidence of communication between different groups in the region , there continues to be little sign that al-Qaeda 's influence has been transformative . Instead of the international jihad , Boko Haram continues to be focused primarily on internal Nigerian issues . It shows little interest in southern Nigeria , let alone Europe or the United States . Still , Nigeria 's federal government is addressing Boko Haram as an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist movement . On May 14 President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the three northern states of Yobe , Adamawa , and Borno , where Boko Haram normally concentrates . But the heavy security presence , especially during the state of emergency in these areas , is dysfunctional . There is a downward spiral , with soldiers resorting to brutality on an increasingly hostile population . On the other hand , soldiers and police are primary targets of Boko Haram , and their casualty levels are high . An endgame is hard to foresee . In the past , millenarian Islamic movements have burned themselves out , often under military pressure . There are few signs this process is under way . And the military appears incapable of controlling it . If Boko Haram is not going away , it is also unlikely to be able to overthrow the Nigerian state . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John Campbell .
John Campbell : Islamist John Campbell suspected in slaughter of Nigerian students . He says the Nigeria -focused group opposes democracy , science , Western education . If U.S. , Nigeria unite in `` war on terror , '' the group is ripe to for Campbell ties . al-Qaeda : Nigeria pushes back hard at Boko Haram , but it does n't seem to be going away .