In 2012, Boko Haram split into two groups over disagreements on Shekau's indiscriminate killings of civilians.

The faction that split out of BH is known as Ansaru (or ISWAP)

While Boko Haram operates mostly in the North East, Ansaru operates mostly around the North West.

Boko Haram is filled with mostly Kanuris who dream of restoring the old Kanuri (Kanem-Bornu) empire. Led by Shekau.

Ansaru (ISWAP) is filled by a more diverse group of terrorists with a dream of restoring the old Sokoto Caliphate ruled by Islamic laws

Boko Haram operates mostly within Nigeria with very little external support because of Shakau's eccentricity.

Ansaru (ISWAP) has more international ambitions and enjoys support from other international terrorist groups like Al-shabab and ISIS. They're more sophisticated

Over the years, Ansaru has carried out series of terrorist activities in the North West, including kidnapping of high target foreigners on Nigerian soil.

I am still of the strong opinion that most of these so-called bandit activities in the North are the work of Ansaru

Maybe we are just too ashamed that terrorists activities in Nigeria has gone beyond the North East.

We have decided to give TERRORISM within Nigeria different labels based on location: bandits, militia etc etc.

If that abduction in Katsina is true, you know what I am thinking

You can Google Ansaru or ISWAP and you'd find a litany of their activities in Nigeria. They've been active for the past 8 years.

But we've adopted Boko Haram as a metaphor for all terrorist activities, especially in the North East, while unlooking the rot in the North West