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March 20-26, 2015

Media Monitoring Report for Nigeria
Posted on March 26, 2015

Compiled by Julia Kushnir

Report Content:

1) Boko Haram Insurgency
2) IDP Crisis
3) Responses to Boko Haram
4) Election

1) Boko Haram Insurgency

B’Haram Kidnaps 400 Women in Damasak
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, 25 March 2015

  • Boko Haram militants have kidnapped more than 400 women and children from the northern Nigerian town of Damasak that was freed this month by troops from Niger and Chad
  • A witness stated that they took 506 women and young children, killing 50 of them
    • These events are especially alarming, as Boko Haram kidnapped 276 female students from a government school in Chibok on 15 April 2014, indicating the repeated use of this tactic to incite terror

Soldiers Discover 100 Corpses in Borno Mass Grave
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, 21 March 2015

  • A Chadian army spokesman told Agence France-Presse that the head of several of the victims had been cut off
  • The bodies were found, discarded, under a bridge on the outskirts of town

Boko Haram Attacks Nigeria Town of Gamboru, Says Witness
Guardian Lagos-based Daily, 19 March 2015

  • As hundreds of Islamists flooded the town following the withdrawal of Chadian troops, Boko Haram militants killed 11 people in an attack on Gamboru
2) IDP Crisis

Japan gives UNICEF N750m for displaced Boko Haram victims
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, 21 March 2015

  • The United Nations Children’s Fund has received a grant of $3.4m (about N750m) from the Government of Japan for Integrated Provision of LifeSaving Emergency Interventions for Vulnerable Populations in the NorthEast of Nigeria
  • The specific areas of coverage, according to the agency, include water sanitation and hygiene, health, nutrition, child protection and education

70 million Nigerians lack access to safe water – UNICEF
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, 21 March 2015

  • With some 70 million people without access to safe water and over 110 million people without access to improved sanitation, Nigeria is currently not on-track with regard to its attainment of Water and Sanitation targets o Important to note that these figures are not directly caused by the growing IDP crisis as a result of Boko Haram, but have been exacerbated as a consequence

UN Supports Violence Victims with N5.6bn
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, 20 March 2015

  • The United Nations Central Emergency Fund has released 28 million dollars (about N5.6 billion) to support victims of the violence in the North-East zone of Nigeria
  • The statement added that over 150,000 people have fled to Cameroon, Chad and Niger, thereby putting strain on some of the most vulnerable communities in the world
  • The statement said that communities where the displaced persons had sought refuge were currently facing food insecurity, malnutrition and prone to outbreak of diseases

Displaced Fear Boko Haram Violence as Elections Approach
Guardian Lagos-based Daily, 23 March 2015

  • With the growing number of IDP camps surrounding main cities in the conflict zone, and the discovery of 4 explosive devices at the Yerwa Primary School Camp, residents of these camps are increasingly concerned that attacks will occur in these places that are meant to be safe havens
3) Responses to Boko Haram

Soldiers foil Boko Haram’s attempt to recapture Bama
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, 21 March 2015

  • The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, said, “An attack by a band of terrorists on parts of Bama was this morning quelled by the Nigerian troops
  • The Defence spokesman explained that the troops recovered some equipment, weapons and a Hilux jeep from the insurgents
  • One soldier was killed, and others are being treated in hospital for injuries
4) Elections

Rivers: Gunmen kill two PDP members, injure APC leader
Punch, Privately-owned Newspaper, 21 March 2015

  • A group of unidentified gunmen on Friday shot and killed two members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Aluu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State
  • The two PDP members were said to have been killed in their residence when the gunmen raided their houses and shot at them

Five Key Issues in Nigeria’s Elections
Guardian, Lagos-based Daily 24 March 2015

  • Security
    • Which candidate is best suited to quell the Boko Haram insurgency?
  • Corruption
    • Graft has crippled progress in Africa’s top economy for decades and may be the key issue that unites voters of all religions and ethnic groups
  • Economy
    • Oil generates more than 70 percent of government revenue and falling prices have sent the economy into a tailspin o Poverty and unemployment remain rampant with most of Nigeria’s 173 million people living on less than $2 per day  
  • Tribe
    • Plays an important role in voter bases for both candidates
  • Religion
    • Is used both as leverage to gain votes, as well as vilification of opposing candidate insofar as instilling fear that the state will become more sectarian (Islamic)
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