March 14-20, 2015

1) Boko Haram

Dead Bodies found in Bama Wells as Boko Haram Slaughters ‘Wives’
This Day, Lagos-based Daily, 20 March 2015

• With the dislodgement of terrorists from most of their locations in the Northeast and especially Bama, mop-up operations by troops have been revealing the heart-rending atrocities perpetrated while the terrorists held the towns and villages captive
  
• More evidence of Boko Haram’s atrocities and crimes against humanity emerged yesterday with reports showing that members of the sect also killed ozens of women who were forced to marry Boko Haram fighters before a battle with Nigerian troops in Bama
  
• “The terrorists said they will not allow their wives to be married to infidels,” said Sharifatu Bakura, 39
  
• Boko Haram forcibly married scores of women in Bama after seizing it in September

Boko Haram recaptures Gamboru, kills 20 in raid
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, 19 March 2015

• According to a source, the insurgents on Thursday attacked three Borno villages, killing not less than 20 civilians near the nation’s border with Cameroon

Boko Haram Kills one in Chad Village
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, 16 March 2015

• Fighters from Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamist insurgency attacked a village in Chad on Sunday, killing one person, local residents said
• Evidently, spill-over effects of the conflict are becoming clear, as violence has spread from Nigeria into neighboring Chad

2) Electoral Violence

Pre-election violence: 20 killed in Rivers, epidemic looms
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, 18 March 2015

• Between January and March 12, 2015 revealed that 41 casualties were treated for gunshot injuries while 26 others were treated for machete wounds
  
• The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Samson Parker, said many deaths that have occurred during clashes between members of different political parties have gone unreported

3) Growing IDP Crisis

Maiduguri Houses Two Million Displaced Persons- Shehu
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, 17 March 2015

• The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Umar El-Kanemi, on Tuesday said Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, is presently housing about two million Internally Displaced Persons, who have been rendered homeless by the Boko Haram terror sect
  

Child Captives have Forgotten Their Names
This Day, Lagos-based Daily, 12 March 2015

• About 80 children rescued from a Boko Haram camp in Cameroun cannot remember their own names or origins, according to an aid official who visited them
• “They’ve lost touch with their parents,”. “They’ve lost touch with people in their villages, they’re not able to articulate, to help trace their relationships, they can’t even tell you what their names are.” - Christopher Fomunyoh, a director for the US-based National Democratic Institute (NDI)
  

Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG)- (16 March 2015)

“BH suspects in custody lef #Police EoD Unit to IDP Camp (Yerwa Girls College #Borno) where 2 planted IEDs were safely detonated 12MAR 6:14pm.”

4) Responses to Boko Haram Crisis

Soldiers raid Boko Haram’s Kaduna hideout, suspect flees
Punch, Privately-Owned Newspaper, 19 March 2015

• Security operatives in Kaduna on Wednesday night raided a suspected hideout of a Boko Haram leader, who was said to be on the run from Maiduguri, Borno State
  
• It was gathered that the suspected Boko Haram leader was said to have escaped with his wife through a make-shift escape route, covered with thick painted cartons, which looked like the fence of the house
  

Boko Haram: Nigeria, Chad, Niger set up Operation Office
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, 16 March 2015

• The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in a statement on Monday that the decision to set up the centre was reached at the meeting of military chiefs from the three countries held to ensure effective coordination of the collaborative efforts against the terrorists.
• Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade added that the meeting resolved to establish a joint operation structure for enhanced operations and to consolidate on the gains recorded against the insurgents
  
• “The arrangement is to enhance operational and tactical coordination as well as the synchronization of command, control and communication in the field and the higher headquarters. The structure will operate in cognizance of existing bilateral and multilateral documents and understanding among the countries.”
  

Military Battles Boko Haram for Border Town of Damasak
This Day, Lagos-based Daily, 15 March 2015

• The PRNigeria, quoting military sources, said that the battle for the town is being championed by Nigerian troops in conjunction with the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) contrary to reports in foreign media that the strategic border town has been recaptured by Chadian and Nigerien military
  
  • Important question of who is genuinely leading the anti-terror initiative
    

France to Increase Troops to Support Boko Haram Fight
This Day, Lagos-based Daily, 12 March 2015

• In a move aimed at completely annihilating the terror group, Boko Haram, France has committed to increasing its West African counter-insurgency force to support regional forces fighting Boko Haram, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said yesterday
• France, which has the UN Security Council presidency in March, is also pushing for a resolution by early April that would back a 10,000-strong African force to fight Boko Haram, providing it crucial financing to carry out operations

Will Ross (@willintune): BBC Correspondent: Nigeria (16 March 2015)

• Retweeted ChiefBisong Etahoben: “Govt last week confirmed death of 25 BH suspects in custody but refuted accusations of torture against BH detainees.”

Will Ross (@willintune): BBC Correspondent: Nigeria (16 March 2015)

• “China supplied Nigeria with drones to fight Boko Haram. China overtakes Germany to become world’s 3rd biggest arms exporter.”

5) Spreading Violence

Benue Massacre: Herdsmen Confess Jihad Mission, Says Ogbeh
This Day, Lagos-based Daily, 17 March 2015

• A former National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party and now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Audu Ogbeh has alerted the country about the frequent attacks and killings of the people of Agatua in Benue state by Herdsmen who claim to be on a Jihad mission
• Last Sunday about 80 people got killed mostly women and children going to church and it does seem that the security agencies have been able to do much. Will Ross (@willintune): BBC Correspondent: Nigeria (16 March 2015)
  
• “Witnesses say many of the attackers in Benue State wore military uniforms to disguise themselves as soldiers as they moved in from Nasarawa.” Will Ross (@willintune): BBC Correspondent: Nigeria (16 March 2015) • “Motive for killings in Benue State unclear but possibly linked to ongoing land grabs.”