(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75306000/jpg/_75306515_line976.jpg)
Boko Haram at a glance(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/80142000/jpg/_80142357_afp_bh.jpg)
- Founded in 2002, initially focused on opposing Western-style education - Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language
- Launched military operations in 2009 to create Islamic state
- Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria - has also attacked police and UN headquarters in capital, Abuja
- Has abducted hundreds, including at least 200 schoolgirls
- Controls several north-eastern towns
- Has launched attacks on Cameroon
Why is Boko Haram so strong? (http://www.theinfostride.com/news/world-africa-30933860)
Soldiers without weapons (http://www.theinfostride.com/news/magazine-30930767)
(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75306000/jpg/_75306515_line976.jpg) Despite this, Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has promised elections will take place on 28 March.
But as well as the security threat posed by the militants, officials must deal with the problem of pre-election violence.
Last week, Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission reported that 58 people have been killed since campaigning began 50 days ago.
The election is seen as the most closely fought since the end of military rule in 1999.
Source: BBC