January 14-21, 2015

Boko Haram Abductions

Boko Haram Fighters Kidnap 80 in Cameroon
Daily Trust, Abuja-based Daily, January 19 2015

• 80 people in Cameroon, about 30 adults and 50 children between the ages of 10 and 15, were kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram insurgents, during a cross-border attack on villages in northern Cameroon.
  
• This kidnapping is one of the largest that has happened in Cameroon since Boko Haram began spreading the expanse of their attacks. The attacks came as Chad deployed troops to the region to help Cameroonian forces with border security.
  
• Three people were also killed in the attack, and approximately 80 homes were destroyed.

Targeted Attacks

Gunmen Kill 3 Women in Taraba
Leadership, Abuja-based Daily, January 18 2015

• Three women, two of whom were pregnant, were killed by unknown gunmen in Igoh village, Donga LGA, Taraba State.
  
• This was the second attack in the village this month, and residents of the village say the attack caused a mass exodus from the area. Another woman was attacked as well, her hand was cut off and she was left alone.
  
• In the previous attack, over 12 people were killed

Suicide Bomber Kills 5, Injured 25 in Yobe
Daily Trust, Abuja-based Daily, January 18 2015

• Five people were killed and 27 injured after a suicide bomber detontated a bomb in Potiskum, Potiskum LGA, Yobe State.
  
• The attacker, suspected to have been a member of Boko Haram, parked a car close to a petrol station and targeted a motor park where commercial vehicles were picking up passengers to Bauchi, Darazo and Jos

Boko Haram Attack Adamawa village
Daily Trust, Abuja-based Daily, January 19 2015

• Dzagula village in Gombi LGA, Adamawa State was attacked by Boko Haram insurgents, reportedly in an attempt to regain the area that was recently liberated.
  
• The extent of the damage and number of casualties has not yet been determined, though it is reported that many fled from the area.
  
• Soldiers were deployed to the area in an attempt to push back the insurgents.

Boko Haram Attacks Yobe
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, January 19 2015

• A military checkpoint in Takanda-Giwa on the Bauchi-Jos Highway was attacked by Boko Haram insurgents.
• Five soldiers were killed, as well as one civilian, it is unknown if any of the attackers were also killed.

Insurgents Kill Over 200 in Zamfara
Leadership, Abuja-based Daily, January 19 2015

• Over 100 members of a vigilante group were killed after insurgent attacks on multiple communities in Zamfara State.
  
• The attack occurred during a joint meeting between vigilante members from Zurmi and Birnin Magaji LGAs on the issue of the insurgency.

Upcoming Presidential Elections

No Campaign Posters, Billboards of Jonathan in Kano
Daily Trust, Abuja-based Daily, January 16 2015

• Presidential elections are drawing closer, with a few weeks left to campaign, there is hardly any public advocacy for Goodluck Jonathan has been seen in any of the 44 local government areas of Kano State.
• A few posters were spotted at the People’s Democratic Party’s secretariat and one of their campaign offices.

General Chris Olukolade (@GENOlukolade): Major General & Nigerian Defence Spokesperson

• “We fight, repel & conquer because we've never CONSIDERED any part of our territory #BokoHaram's”
• “Politicians shouldn't oppose the Military. We are not contesting Elections. Do you rather we consider BH in control of our territory? NO!”
  
• “All we're doing for now is improving our weaponry to have an enhanced firepower, to contain the terrorists #DefenceNGspeaks”
  
• “Things are certainly getting better and the effects will manifest shortly. #DefenceNGspeaks”
  
• “Please keep trusting in the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as the men and women….work round the clock to ensure that we defeat terror and bring peace to our country.”

Vladimir Duthiers (@vladduthiers): CBS Correspondent

• “#Nigeria military spokesman on #Baga: ‘...the number of people who lost their lives during that attack has so far not exceeded about 150.’ "

Will Ross (@willintune): BBC Correspondent Nigeria

• “Will Nigeria's politicians listen to Kofi Annan's call for peaceful elections?”
  
• “Dozens kidnapped by Boko Haram in Mokolo District, in north of Cameroon. Men, women + children taken. Terror spreading over Nigeria's border.”
  
• “Chad has just sent troops to Cameroon to help in the fight against Boko Haram.”
  
• “Expect calls for a regional force to fight Boko Haram.But as Nigeria Niger + Cameroon fail to work together effectively it doesn't bode well.”
  
• “With more attacks by Boko Haram in Cameroon will France do more? The former colonial power still pulls the puppet strings.”
  
• “All eyes on Chad and Cameroon military working together to fight Boko Haram in Cameroon.”
• “More than 200 soldiers from Jos were dismissed from the Nigerian army last week. They had been fighting Boko Haram in N East.”
  
• “Abiona Elisha served in Nigeria's army for 27 years. He and 200 others were dismissed after being accused of disobeying orders.”
• “But Abiona Elisha says they were often outgunned by Boko Haram. In one Borno battle they had 10 rounds of AK47 ammo each.”
  
• “He says sometimes armoured vehicles ran out of fuel and had to be hastily abandoned only for Boko Haram to seize them.”
• “He says where there were supposed to be 30 Nigerian soldiers guarding an area there might only be 10. He knows not why.”
  
• “BUT the dismissed soldier says from what he hears troops now fighting Boko Haram have now been better equipped.”