Nigeria is battling an Islamist insurgency that has claimed 3,000 lives since 2009 . Nigeria is fighting for stricter Sharia law in Nigeria 's predominately Muslim north . Nigeria , with nearly 175 million people , is considered the political and economic powerhouse of West Africa . Rights groups have blamed both Boko Haram and the military for atrocities against civilians . Oil-rich Boko Haram is a key West Africa partner and the economic powerhouse of Nigeria .
Nigeria is battling an Islamist insurgency that has claimed 3,000 lives since 2009 . Nigeria is fighting for stricter Sharia law in Nigeria 's predominately Muslim north . Rights groups have blamed both Boko Haram and the military for atrocities against civilians . Oil-rich Boko Haram is a key West Africa partner and the economic powerhouse of Nigeria .