(CNN) -- Last weekend, suspected Islamic jihadists killed at least 40 students at a Northern Nigerian agricultural college, many while they slept. The Council on Foreign Relations Nigeria Security Tracker shows that jihadist-related attacks in Nigeria are increasing. Most of the victims in this violence are Muslim, but some are Christian. While no group has claimed responsibility for Sunday's massacre, the Nigerian media assigns responsibility to Boko Haram, and the operation has the hallmarks of the group's previous massacres. What is Boko Haram? It remains shrouded in mystery. Boko is the Hausa word for "book," and commonly refers to Western education. Haram is the Arabic word for "forbidden." Hostile to democracy, modern science, and Western education as non-Islamic, it is highly diffuse. For some adherents, religious, even apocalyptic, themes appear to be paramount.
@highlight
John Campbell: Islamist Boko Haram suspected in slaughter of Nigerian students
@highlight
He says the Nigeria-focused group opposes democracy, science, Western education.
@highlight
If Nigeria, U.S. unite in "war on terror," the group is ripe to for al-Qaeda ties
@highlight
Campbell: Nigeria pushes back hard at Boko Haram, but it doesn't seem to be going away
But the situation in @placeholder is dynamic, and it is possible that closer ties will develop between al-Qaeda and elements of Boko Haram.
Instead of the international jihad, Boko Haram continues to be focused primarily on internal @placeholder issues.