LONDON, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- The bombing of a U.N. building in Nigeria, claimed by Islamist group Boko Haram, is part of a troubling trend in the country, a scholar notes.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan was quoted by the BBC during the weekend as saying his government would "spare no effort" in bringing to justice those responsible for a suicide bombing that killed at least 20 people in Abuja.
Boco Haram, which told the BBC it carried out Friday's attack, was formed as a peaceful group in 2002 but in 2009 launched a violent campaign aimed at creating an Islamic state in northern Nigeria.
"The roots of Boko Haram, as is common with other such groups, lie in the increasing sense of marginalization on the part of communities in the north of Nigeria," writes Alex Vines, head of the African program at Chatham House, in the Guardian newspaper in London.
Vines notes this marginalization worsened after Jonathan, a Christian, was elected president.
Jonathan, who assumed office last year after the death of President Umaru Yar'Adua, received more than half of the votes cast in an April election, beating his primary challenger Gen. Muhammadu Buhari by about 10 million votes.
Riots broke out in the predominantly Muslim north after news that Jonathan defeated Buhari, a Muslim.
Human Rights Watch said it had evidence to suggest more than 800 people died in post-election violence and another 65,000 were displaced.
