February 6-13, 2015

Media Monitoring Report for Nigeria

Posted on February 20, 2015

Compiled by Julia Kushnir

Report Content:

1) Boko Haram Attacks
2) Delayed National Election
3) Regional/Governmental Responses to Boko Haram Insurgency

1. Boko Haram Attacks

Boko Haram abducts eight Cameroon girls, kills seven
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, 10 February 2015

Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamic extremists have abducted at least eight girls and killed seven hostages
The girls range in age from 11 to 14 and come from the town of Koza
The bus attack took place Sunday about 11 miles (18 kilometers) from Cameroon’s border with Nigeria. Seven other hostages were slain and their bodies scattered near the border

Boko Haram takes on Chadian Forces in Gamboru
Guardian, Lagos-based Daily, 11 February 2015

BOKO Haram on Wednesday launched a pre-dawn raid in Gamboru, northeastern Nigeria, looking to overwhelm Chadian troops
Boko Haram's apparent ability to regroup is a sign of its transformation from a rag-tag guerrilla group carrying out hit and run strikes to a more effective fighting force
"The Boko Haram elements wanted to surprise us by attacking at about 4:00 am (0300 GMT)," a military source in N'Djamena told AFP of the latest attack
One Chadian soldier and several Boko Haram fighters were killed, while eight troops were injured

Suicide Blast in Biu Kills Seven
Guardian, Lagos-based Daily, 12 February 2015

SUICIDE attack by a female bomber killed at least seven people at a market in northeast Nigeria on Thursday
The blast followed a foiled suicide attack on Wednesday and a Boko Haram raid on police earlier this week in neighboring Yobe state

Boko Haram Attacks Police Station
Guardian, Lagos-based Daily, 12 February 2015

BOKO Haram insurgents bombed a police station in the outskirt of Maiduguri
Over two dozen suspected members of Boko Haram gunmen in a convoy of motorcycles attacked Mbuta village in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State, and killed nine people with the torching of several houses and shops at about 7.25am Thursday

2) Delayed National Election

Democracy Deferred: Postponed Election, an Embarrassment of Bad Choices
This Day, Lagos-based Daily, 12 February 2015 By Chimamanda Adichie

Even if the reason were not so absurd, Nigerians are politically astute enough to know that the postponement has nothing to do with security

New Elections Dates Sacrosanct, Say Jonathan, Buhari
Guardian, Lagos-based Daily, 11 February 2015

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday assured Nigerians that the new dates announced for the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remain sacrosanct
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) yesterday met with officials of the United Nations, African Union and European Union, reiterating that the March 28 rescheduled date for the start of the general elections must remain sacrosanct
The president believed it was necessary so that all Nigerians should have elections that they could have confidence in

“I Was Not Consulted on Election Postponement,” Says Jonathan
Guardian, Lagos-based Daily, 11 February 2015

"I was not consulted and I don't want to be consulted," Jonathan said in a Presidential media chat, insisting that election officials made an independent decision after receiving guidance from the security agencies
But Jonathan said he did not "see the big deal" concerning the postponement, as the Independent National Electoral Commission acted within the constitution

Boko Haram Watch (@BokoHaramWatch): Nigeria to postpone elections to fight Boko Haram- The Guardian…#security #terrorism (7 February 2015)

Will Ross (@willintune): BBC Correspondent Nigeria Nigeria's elections - delayed on advise of security chiefs. Presidential elections now due March 28th. (7 February 2015)

Will Ross (@willintune): BBC Correspondent Nigeria "It is a flailing act of desperation from an incumbent terrified of losing" Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on Nigeria's election postponement” (10 February 2015)

Will Ross (@willintune): BBC Correspondent Nigeria We are seriously concerned at this delay and the reason given. Security is critical but must not be political. Say EU observers in Nigeria. (10 February 2015)

3) Regional/Governmental Responses to Boko Haram Insurgency

Chadian Troops Kill Scores of Boko Haram Militants
Daily Trust, Abuja-based Daily, 12 February 2015

Troops from Chad Republic yesterday killed scores of Boko Haram insurgents in Gamboru town of Ngala LGA of Borno State, witnesses said
In a related development, 38 suspected Boko Haram militants who disguised as herders were intercepted on the outskirts of Maiduguri, near Ngom village of Mafa of Borno State

Boko Haram Camps to be Destroyed Before Elections- Dasuki
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, 9 February 2015

“All known Boko Haram camps will be taken out. They won’t be there. They will be dismantled,” Sambo Dasuki told the AFP news agency on Monday
Dasuki said he believed the new military co-operation agreed two weeks ago between Nigeria and its neighbors – Cameroon, Chad and Niger – will prove decisive against Boko Haram
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau released a video on Monday vowing to defeat the planned 8,700 strong African military force

Suicide Blast in Biu Kills Seven
Guardian, Lagos-based Daily, 12 February 2015

Nigeria maintains the involvement of troops from Chad, Cameroon and now Niger, after the parliament in Niamey approved the deployment of soldiers, is part of an existing agreement
All four countries, whose borders converge on Lake Chad, with Benin, Nigeria's neighbor to the west, agreed to provide 8,700 personnel for an African Union-backed regional force

Boko Haram Watch (@BokoHaramWatch): “Nigeria to ‘take out’ all Boko Haram camps by March 28- Aljazeera.com” (9 February 2015)

Boko Haram Watch (@BokoHaramWatch): “Niger parliament approves sending troops to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram.” (10 February 2015)

4. Impending Election

Six Feared Killed as Stampeders Mars APC Presidential Rally in Borno
Guardian, Lagos-based Daily, 16 February, 2015

NO fewer than six people were reportedly feared dead with several others injured in a stampede at the party’s presidential campaign of its candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari held at Ramat Square, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital
Shocked by the mammoth crowd’s unruly behaviour, Buhari, who stood on the podium square at 1.30pm, could not speak

Nigerian Military Steps Up Campaign to Flush out Insurgents in Bama, Baga, Others
This Day, Lagos-based Daily, 16 February, 2015

In line with its promise to flush out the terror group Boko Haram from territories in the North-east ahead of next month’s elections, the Nigerian military has stepped up its offensive in Bama, Marte and Baga, among other communities in Borno State
According to a source, the coordinated aerial and ground assault from Nigerian troops in the south, supported by the Chadian and Nigerien troops from the north, has squeezed the terrorists, forcing many of them to flee to what they perceive as safe areas in Yobe and Gombe States

Will Ross (@willintune): BBC Correspondent Nigeria

“Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau vows to disrupt elections saying democracy is not Islamic. Not a surprising message at all at all.” (18 February, 2015)