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January 7-14, 2015

Media Monitoring Report for Nigeria
Posted on January 21, 2015

Compiled by Claire Duguid

Report Content:

1. Child Combatants
2. Mass Killing
3. Boko Haram Spreading Influence
4. Targeted Killings

Child Combatants

Female Suicide Bombers Kill Eight Yobe Residents, Injure 32 Others
Guardian, Lagos-based Daily, January 11 2015

  • Two young girl suicide bombers targeted a GSM market in Potiskum, Yobe State, killing eight, including themselves, and injuring at least 32 others. The bombers arrived to the market and stationed themselves at different points, then detonated the bombs simultaneously.
  • An eyewitness claims he saw the dead bodies of the girls and that they seemed to be around 10 years old.

20 Killed in Maiduguri Poultry Market Suicide Bombing
Daily Independent, Lagos-based Daily, January 11 2015

  • A young girl, around 10 years old, carried out a suicide bomb attack at a market in Maiduguri, killing 20, including herself.
  • At least 18 others were injured in the attack.
  • The attack has increased fears of Boko Haram strategies, in recent attacks in the past 10 days about 7,300 refugees have fled Nigeria into Chad.
Mass Killing

Escape from Boko Haram: 'I kept stepping on dead bodies'
Guardian, Lagos-based Daily, January 10 2015

  • A Boko Haram attack on the town of Baga, Saturday January 3, left hundreds of people dead, thousands displaced, and is viewed as the worst attack to date in the insurgency.
  • Yanaye Grema, a Baga resident and survivor of the attack, hiding until the shooting stopped then fleeing. He spoke out about the disaster, "For five kilometers, I kept stepping on dead bodies until I reached Malam Karanti village, which was also deserted and burnt… All I could hear were ceaseless gunshots, explosions, screams from people and chants of 'Allahu Akbar' (God is greatest) from the Boko Haram gunmen.”
  • The attack forced 200,000 people away from their homes, killed hundreds, the exact number is yet to be specified as there were too many bodies to count, and left 16 other towns and villages destroyed.
Boko Haram Spreading Influence

Cameroonian Troops Kill 143 Boko Haram Fighters, Government Says
Daily Independent, Lagos-based Daily, January 13 2015

  • The Cameroonian army claims it killed 143 Boko Haram insurgents, their greatest victory yet against the group. The army retaliated after insurgents attacked a military camp in Kolofata.
  • One soldier in the army was also killed.
Targeted Killings

Troops Kill 200 Boko Haram Members in Askira Uba
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, January 10 2015

  • At least 200 Boko Haram members were killed by military troops in Askira Uba while trying to invade Damaturu, Adamawa State.
  • The insurgents attempted to take Damaturu a few days prior, but were intercepted both times.

Two Die in Potiskum Police Station Blast
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, January 10 2015

  • A bomb blast at the Potiskum Divisional Police Station killed two people. The bomb was placed in a car that was parked outside of the station. One of the victims was a police inspector and the other was a resident of the town.

Police Confirm Attack on Party Office in Rivers
Vanguard, Lagos-based Daily, January 11 2015

  • The All Progressives Congress headquarters in Okrika LGA, Rivers State was attacked by unknown persons armed with explosives.
  • The building was heavily damaged and the party took the attack as an opponent-led provocation of violence meant to destabilize the local government.

Fulani Attack Claims 4 in Kogi
Vanguard, Lagos-based Daily, January 11 2015

  • An attack by Fulani herdsmen in the Kupa Abugi community in Lokoja LGA, Kogi State left four people dead. There have reportedly been tensions between this community and the herdsmen for the past year.
  • After attacks last year there was a peace meeting between leaders of both communities but the attacks have continued.
  • Millions of naira worth of property was destroyed in the most recent attack.

Many Feared Killed as Bombers Target PVC Distribution in Borno
Vanguard, Lagos-based Daily, January 11 2015

  • A market in Maiduguri as bombed during the Independent National Electoral Commission’s distribution of Permanent Voter Cards. The number of casualties is still unknown.

Will Ross (@willintune): BBC Correspondent Nigeria

  • “I'm not sure about the 2000 dead in Baga figure. But now President Jonathan has condemned the 12 dead in Paris and no word on Baga.”
  • “It is impossible for anyone to count the dead in and around Baga as Boko Haram are there. Likely that hundreds dead since Saturday.”
  • “Nobody can get there to count or bury the dead. #Baga.”
  • “Boko Haram’s deadliest ever attack - suggests Amnesty International. Killings in #Baga started on Sat and it's still under BH control.”
  • “If Nigeria's politicians pay as little attention to the Boko Haram crisis as they are now the jihadists will have a field day. Elections.”
  • “U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon condemns violence which has killed hundreds in Nigeria.Not a swift response.But more than the president has said.”
  • “If the Maiduguri bombing was by a 10 yr old girl it is staggeringly shocking. But there is always a lot of rumour + misinfo after attacks.”
  • “The Nigeria interest is picking up in a slow Chibok-like way - now Angelina Jolie has pitched in.”
  • “Cameroon says 143 Boko Haram fighters killed. 1 Cameroonian soldier dies. How believable is that?”
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.”
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