By Erica Smith
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nine students were killed on Tuesday when suspected Boko Haram Islamic militants opened fire at a secondary school in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. This is the second attack since Sunday when militants killed seven students and two teachers in Damaturu.
The students at Ansarudeen Private School were taking their final exams when the gunman opened fire. Nine students were killed and many others were seriously injured. Ibrahim Mohammed witnessed the attack and told Reuters: “I saw five students sitting the exams killed on the spot… Four others were killed as they were entering the school premises.”
Boko Haram, which translates to “Western Education is Sinful”, is believed to have carried out the attack in retaliation for the activities of youth vigilante groups in the area. The youth groups have been patrolling the streets with improvised weapons ,such as metal pipes and machetes, catching and turning suspected militants in to the army. Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and the military had recently commended the youth groups for their help combating the militants.
A military spokesperson said that all militants handed over by the groups would be given a fair hearing. However, because there are many people currently in detention and very few people have gone to trial there is a fear that the youth groups will be used as a means to settle scores or begin to make false arrest for money.
In another incident Monday, Boko Haram gunman attacked a group of fisherman on the outskirts of Maiduguri killing 13. Witnesses of the attack say that most of the people killed were relatives of members of a youth group searching for militants in Maiduguri. A fisherman who witnessed the attack told the Premium Times: “We were busy fishing at Alau River when suddenly a gang of gunmen appeared from nowhere, rounded us up and asked all those who are residents of Husari and Gwange to fall on one side. After sorting us out, they said, ‘Your children brought this fate upon you; they are busy catching our members and handing them to soldiers to be killed’…They then shot them dead and asked the remaining of us to run for our lives and take the message to the youth vigilante.”
North-east Nigeria has been in a state of emergency since last month. Troops have been sent into the area to try to combat the militants and regain control of the area. The government claims that their campaign has been successful and they have destroyed a number of militant bases and capture over 150 militants. A BBC corespondent reports that there is little evidence that a large number of militants have been killed.
For more information, please see:
Los Angeles Times — Nigeria’s Boko Haram insurgents striking schools, farms — 20 June 2013
The Independent — Boko Haram Islamist militants kill nine school children in northern Nigeria as punishment for youth gangs working with the army — 19 June 2013
BBC News — Nigeria militants kill school children in Maiduguri — 18 June 2013
Premium Times — Boko Haram kills nine students, 13 fishermen in Maiduguri — 18 June 2013
Reuters — Nigeria Islamists kill 9 students in school attack — 18 June 2013
Premium Times — Gunmen kill seven students, two teachers in secondary school attack in Yobe — 17 June 2013
