In northeastern Nigeria, a group known as "Boko Haram," has grown very quickly and created fear throughout the country (National Counterterrorism Center). Boko Haram attacks schools and police stations, kidnaps Western tourists, and bombs churches. It has established violence throughout the community. Boko Haram attacks government targets and causes massive damage, including hurting many unarmed civilians. Louise Richardson, who is the executive dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and has spent her career studying terrorism, provides a useful definition of terrorism in her book "What Terrorists Want." I would consider Boko Haram a terrorist group, since its actions meet all of seven Richardson's criteria for terrorist organizations. Therefore, U.S. government should give responses, which are low-risk and low-cost, by having a better understanding on Boko Haram. 1. Why Boko Haram is a Terrorist Organization In 2014, the U.S. Department of State announced the designation of Boko Haram as Foreign Terrorist Organization. This group has also met the seven elements of Richardson's definition of terrorism. First, "a terrorist act is politically inspired  (Richardson 4). Boko Haram has attacked government target, such as police stations. It has been trying to force the Nigerian government to establish Sharia law" (Adesoji). This is also considered as Boko Haram's political goal. In order to achieve their goals, Boko Haram caused violence. It meets the second criteria, which is the acts have to "involve violence or the threat of violence" (Richardson 4). Boko Haram has caused violence throughout the population by shooting and bombing civilian public. Third, "terrorism is the act of sub-state groups, not states" (Richardson 5). Boko Haram is a non-state organization, which is trying to establish its own state and government. Condition four says, "the point of terrorism is not to defeat the enemy but to send a message  (Richardson 4). In July 2011, a Christian Church was bombed and the University of Maiduguri was attacked the next day (Owolade). Boko Haram announced to the public that its actions were intended to undermine the Nigerian government authorities. It is similar to condition five, which is "the act and the victim usually have symbolic significant" (Richardson 4). Attacks have been carried out in direct opposition to the Nigerian government. On September7, 2010, members of Boko Haram broke into the prison in Bauchi State, and over 700 prisoners broke free (Owolade). Moreover, Boko Haram bombed the United Nations building in Nigeria's capital of Abuja in August 2011 (Owolade). These attacks have shown the weakness of the government and the group's strength to the public by taking over government buildings and agencies. Condition six is that "the victim of the violence and the audience the terrorists are trying to reach are not the same  (Richardson 5). The target of the audience of Boko Haram is always the government, while it often attacks innocent civilians. In 2012, Boko Haram killed 130 villagers in Barkin Ladi local government area (Nigeria News). The 130 villagers, killed by Boko Haram, were innocent, unarmed civilians, believed by the group to be supporters of the government. This fact also points to the final condition, which is "the deliberate targeting of civilians" (Richardson 6). After all, Boko Haram intentionally killed civilians to pr