January 28 - February 6, 2015

1) Regional Responses to Boko Haram Insurgency

250 Boko Haram Fighters Killed as Terrorists Slay 100 Civilians
Guardian, Lagos-based Daily, 4 February 2015

• Troops from Cameroon and Chad killed more than 250 Boko Haram militants in two days of heavy fighting in a major regional offensive against the Islamists from neighboring Nigeria, their governments said yesterday
  
• At least 50 militants and six soldiers died in the fighting in Fotokol, information minister Issa Tchiroma said
  
• The African Union last week authorized a regional force of 7,500 troops to fight the militants
  
• Chad and Cameroon are deploying thousands of troops and Niger has reinforced its border against the militant group, which has been fighting for five years to create an Islamist emirate
  
• Chad, reputed to have one of the region’s best militaries, has carried out air strikes on insurgent positions over the last few days.
  
• Former colonial power France is also sending aircraft from its base in the Chadian capital to carry out surveillance missions in the border area

Soldiers Kill B’Haram Commander, Recover Lost Weapons
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, 6 February 2015

• Nigeria’s neighboring countries are deploying a total of 3,600 troops to the Multi National Joint Task Force to aid the nation’s current onslaught against Boko Haram
  
• The troops of the Multi National Joint Task Force may have killed a very high ranking member of the Boko Haram sect in the ongoing military operation in the North-East
  
• It was stated that the insurgent’s top commander was killed in an air raid by helicopter gunships of the Nigerian Air Force

Will Ross (@willintune): BBC Correspondent Nigeria

• ”Chad troops in Nigeria. Chadian and Nigerian aircraft have been bombing. The pressure on Boko Haram is increasing.”
  
• “Nigeria’s government says Chadian troops have entered to fight Boko Haram. But last week we knew Chadian troops were already in Malumfatori.”

2) Boko Haram Attacks

Boko Haram Launches Fresh Attack on Maiduguri
Daily Trust, Abuja-based Daily, 1 February 2015

• Troops from the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army are currently fighting with Boko Haram insurgents who are attempting to invade Maiduguri, the Borno State capital
  
• It was gathered that "intense pressure" by troops from Chad and Cameroon along the borders has unsettled the Boko Haram who are now looking for soft targets
  
• Over two million people, including thousands of displaced persons from nearly 20 local government areas of Borno are taking refuge in Maiduguri

Boko Haram Kills More than 100 in Cameroon
This Day, Lagos-based Daily, 5 February 2015

• Boko Haram fighters have killed more than 100 people in the north Cameroon town of Fotokol, murdering residents inside their homes and a mosque
  
• "Boko Haram entered Fotokol through Gambaru early in the morning and they killed more than 100 people in the mosque, in the houses and they burned property," said the civic leader Abatchou Abatcha

Will Ross (@willintune): BBC Correspondent Nigeria (1 February 2015)

• “3 pronged attack on Maiduguri. Mulai on Damboa Rd, Giwa barracks axis and Mafa Muna says @Tjoflcri. Nigeria’s Air Force Deployed.” 3)

3) Impending Election

Will Ross (@willintune): BBC Correspondent Nigeria

• “11 days to Nigeria’s election and…millions don’t have voter cards, bombs going off everyday, court case trying to block Buhari standing” (3 February 2015)
  
• “Car bomb exploded outside a stadium in Gombe State just a few minutes after President Goodluck Jonathan had left the venue. 3 dead, 18 injured.” (2 February 2015)
  
• “Insecurity during the election campaign is increasing. Over the weekend bombs in Potiskum _ Gombe as well as Maiduguri + Damboa attacks.” (2 February 2015)