By Tyler Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian state of Borno is caught in the middle of a violent struggle between the new Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari and a militant Islamist group, Boko Haram. The latest acts of violence happened on October 1, when a number of explosions ripped through the city of Maiduguri, the capitol of Borno. This latest attack is believed to have taken 14 lives.
The fight between Boko Haram and the Nigerian establishment has been raging for quite some time. It recently intensified when the new Nigerian president Buhari took office. Before he has elected Buhari published a list of a 100 promises to the Nigerian people. One of these promises was that he would eliminate rebel and terrorist groups like Boko Haram. These types of groups have long plagued Nigeria. Buhari’s war against them was a main selling point that helped him take Nigerian presidency.
Since Buhari took office there have been multiple attacks throughout Nigeria and spilling into Chad, Cameroon, and Niger. On August 12 a bomb went off in Sabon Gari, a southern Borno city, which killed 28 and injured 79. More recently was the blast that happened on the first of October in the capitol of Borno. (Described above) This attack left 14 dead and 39 others injured. Four of the dead were believed to be the suicide bombers. Yesterday, two bombs went off near Abuja, the capitol of Nigeria. This attack took the lives of 21. All three of these attacks were claimed by Boko Haram. These three attacks, with multiple others, put the death toll from Boko haram related deaths at 1,260 since Buhari took office in May.
Even with all the casualties Buhari has not relented on his stance of eliminating terrorist organizations in Nigeria. He has even given his military commanders a deadline of November to achieve his goal, which seems unlikely to be met at this time.
The fight against Boko Haram has not been all negative. The same day as bombs went off in Borno the Nigerian army announced that 80 Boko Haram militants had surrendered. The captured 80 consisted of commanders tp to food suppliers but included no big names in the Boko Haram organization. Surrender has been held out as the only option for these terrorist organizations by the Nigerian army. It is this or face “total annihilation” a statement from the army said. “Achievement of total peace is a must.”
For more information, please see:
All Africa – Maiduguri Bomb Blast – 14 Killed By Four Suicide Bombers – 2 October 2015
The Guardian – Boko Haram suspected after Nigerian capital Abuja hit by bomb blasts – 2 October 2015
The Guardian – Explosions hit Nigerian city in suspected Boko Haram suicide attacks – 1 October 2015
BBC – Nigeria market blast ‘kills 28 in Borno’ – 12 August 2015
