By Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
ABUJA, Nigeria – Violence pervaded Damaturu, a town in northeastern Nigeria, on Friday after bombings and gunfire killed at least 67 people. The Red Cross believes the death toll could be much higher, but the present known total still makes it the deadliest attack in the country since at least 20 died in August’s attack on a United Nations building in Abuja, the capital. Islamist militant group Boko Haram, who conducted the August assault, took credit for Friday’s incidents, which destroyed a bank branch and ransacked three police stations, among other damage. A spokesman for the organization has warned that “more attacks are on the way.”
Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is sacrilege” in the local Hausa language, seeks to remove the present central government and replace it with strict Sharia law. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has a religious divide, with mostly Christians in the south and Muslims in the north. The organization has targeted police and government officials in an effort to achieve its goals. A few hours after Friday’s massacre, a spokesman spoke to the Daily Trust, a newspaper for the region.
“We will continue attacking federal government formations until security forces stop their excesses on our members and vulnerable civilians,” he said.
In the wake of the attacks, President Goodluck Jonathan cancelled a trip to his home territory for his brother’s wedding. Through his spokesman, Reuben Abati, Jonathan vowed that “every step will be taken” to apprehend the perpetrators. Despite the president’s tough talk, the government has taken flak for not being able to stem the tide of violence. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) expressed concern for its reactions, saying that “it is time for security chiefs to toe the path of honor by resigning or be kicked out.”
“In other climes, the President would have gone ahead to address his compatriots to reassure them that the government is still capable of protecting them, instead of merely telling them his cannot make a social trip,” the group added.
To the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), the growing strength of Boko Haram signified a weak government that was unable to act as an effective check. It demonstrated a lack of mechanisms to control arms flow into the country. The rise of terrorist organizations could be viewed as a “self-help effort.” If the government could not maintain security, it would have to deal with civilians acting their own.
Fear continues to reign in Nigeria. Saturdays, survivors were scared to leave their homes in order to survey the damage. Since then, the United States has issued warnings of potential new strikes at luxury hotels in Abuja during the Sallah holiday. The Hilton, Nicon Luxury and Sheraton are among the potential targets. They are frequented by diplomats, politicians and the country’s business elite.
“Radical sect responsible for attacks that left more than 100 people dead in Nigeria this week could bomb three luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in the oil-rich nation’s capital,” the U.S. Embassy advised.
Kashim Shettima, governor of the Borno State, said that he was willing to talk to the dissidents in an effort to put an end to the insurgency. Others are not so optimistic.
“I know for a fact that there’re Nigerian groups in and outside the government, including the media, who are suggesting that the government should try to talk to Boko Haram,” said Nii Akuetteh, a former executive director of Africa Action. “But my own impression is that they don’t seem to be particularly ready or inclined to talk.”
For more information, please see:
African Herald Express — Sallah: U.S. Predicts Boko Haram Attacks on Luxury Hotels in Abuja — 07 November 2011
Bloomberg — Nigeria Bombings at Police Stations in Northeast Kill 53 as Curfew Imposed — 07 November 2011
Daily Trust — Gov. Shettima Urges Boko Haram to Sheath Sword — 07 November 2011
The Guardian — Terrorists May Bomb Luxury Hotels in Abuja, U.S. Warns — 07 November 2011
This Day Live — Bomb: HURIWA Tasks FG on Quick Response — 07 November 2011
Al Jazeera — Nigeria Group Threatens More Deadly Attacks — 06 November 2011
BBC — US Warns of Attacks on Hotels in Nigerian Capital — 06 November 2011
New York Times — U.S. Warns of Attack by Muslim Sect in Nigeria’s Capital — 06 November 2011
BBC — Nigeria Boko Haram Attack ‘Kills 63’ in Damaturu — 05 November 2011
New York Times — Nigeria Attacks Kill 67; Sect Claims Responsibility — 05 November 2011
