Tag Archives: Nigeria

Nigerian Military Captures regional Boko Haram emir, rescues Women & Children

The Nigerian military freed 241 women and children and captured 43 suspected fighters, in raids associated with Operation Lafiya Dole, an effort to clear out the area of Banki, near the Cameroon border. The women and children are being examined to determine if they were all Boko Haram militants. It is assumed that at least some of those rescued are actually family members of Boko Haram militants.

During the raid, the Nigerian military was able to capture Bulama Modu. Modu was considered to be acting as the “Emir” or kingpin of the village of Bulakari. Troops also confiscated weapons, including some that had been buried by militants before abandoning their posts. Besides arms, ammunitions, bows, and arrows, the military also captured Modu’s horse.

Boko Haram has used Banki for cross border attacks in the past. This is the biggest hostage rescue since May, when the Nigerian army raided the Sambisa forest, freeing 700 captives. In the Sambisa operation, when Boko Haram became aware of the military approaching, they began to stone their captives, and killing others with land mines and armored cars. It is estimated that Boko Haram has captured 2,000 women and children since January 2014. Boko Haram’s goal remains to establish the Islamic State in the region.

In July, Cameroon expelled nearly 2,500 Nigerians who were living in country for safety. Most of the Nigerians had fled from Cameroon in order to take refuge from the atrocities of Boko Haram. The removal of the Nigerians took place in an attempt to prevent suicide attacks by Boko Haram jihadists who were operating in and among the refugee population. Authorities in Cameroon went as far as preventing women from wearing full face veils, worried that suicide bombers could use the bulky traditional Islamic garb to conceal weapons or explosives.

It is still unknown if any of those freed in the Banki Operation are the female students kidnapped from the village of Chibok in April 2014. Lt. Gen Tukur Burtai believes that the girls are located within the Banki area and says the Nigerian army remains committed to rescuing them. The Nigerian government has recently said that they are willing to negotiate with the terrorists for the release of the girls. It is feared that some of the girls may have been sold to other militant groups.

Boko Haram militants have repeatedly carried out deadly attacks on civilians and militia in Nigeria and other Western and Central African countries. The group is known for kidnapping civilians, especially women and children. They then indoctrinate their captives and force them to participate in terror attacks.

Nigeria stands as the leading force in fighting Boko Haram, with 8,700 troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin. Boko Haram recently released an audio clip stating that the forces fighting against them have not been successful, but Nigeria has slammed this as propaganda.

Nigeria Issues Ban over Boko Haram, 25 Killed in Yemen Mosque Blast, Hamas Calls Day of Rage…

All forms of transportation banned in Nigeria to prevent Boko Haram attack

As of Wednesday evening, all transportation, including cars but also livestock including horses, donkeys, and camels, have been banned from entering Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state in Nigeria. This ban has been enforced with the intention of preventing a possible Boko Haram attack. The Muslim Eid al-Ahda holiday (Festival of Sacrifice) began Wednesday, creating a prime opportunity for the jihadists to carry out an attack. As of Sunday a Boko Haram attacks have begun in Borno, where 54 people died in a triple bombing. This is not the first time that the Nigerian military has been forced to ban transportation in the past.  Boko Haram fighters have repeatedly both cars and trucks but also horses and donkeys in their movement and to disguise explosives.

25 Killed in Yemen suicide bombing

An attack in Sanaa has left 25 dead and 36 wounded. The Islamic State has been said to have carried out the attack, which featured a suicide bomber, apparently disguised as a woman, entering the Shiite al-Balili mosque as worshippers were in their morning prayers. One bomber reportedly detonated explosives inside the mosque and as people fled, a second bomber set off explosives at the entrance. This is one of several times that Islamic State fighters have targeted Shiite Houthi mosques. While both Islamic State and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula routinely target Shia. While Islamic State prefers to focus on religious targets, while AQAP typically targets the Iranian-backed Houthi forces. Neither Jihadist force has been targeted by the Saudi-led coalition which is currently fighting against Houthi forces in Yemen on behalf of ousted president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, who recently returned to Yemen from exile in Saudi Arabia.

The UN says that almost 4,900 people have died in Yemen due to Saudi-led coalition air strikes and fighting on the ground since March 26th.

 

“Day of Rage” called by Hamas over Al-Aqsa Mosque

Hamas has joined the Global Muslim Brotherhood in calling for a “Day of Rage” at the Al-Aqsa mosque. Israeli police barred young men from their prayers at the site. Police and the Palestinian protesters clashed over the sacred area for three days during this week’s Jewish New Year holiday. The police have limited the age of Muslim worshippers entering the Temple Mount area, allowing only men over 40 to enter, and women of all ages.  This restriction is aimed at keeping out the younger Palestinian males who typically form the backbone of the violent protests. Israeli officials are worried that as religious holidays continue, the trouble will increase. Prior analysis has shown that the Muslim Brotherhood and its Palestinian branch Hamas are highly effective at orchestrating protests, frequently violent, on their behalf, often on short notice.

 

Russia seeks UN approval for Middle East “broad-front fight”; announces naval drills; jets strike Islamic State

Putin visited the UN’s general assembly in an attempt to gain international approval for Russian military entrance into Syria, promoting a “broad-based counterterrorism fight.” U.S. diplomats immediately shut down the proposal. Russia has been working to gather a proposal that would include jets, airbases, and drones in Syria as part of a plan to bring stability to a strife-torn region and fight against IS. Facing resistance from the US and other nations, Russia agreed changed some of the provisions that would appear to grant U.N approval to Russian military action in Syria.

Russia has also announced that they will conduct “combat exercises” in the Mediterranean Sea. The US has continued to accuse Russia of a military build up in Syria. Officials say that there should be forty combat exercises in total taking place through September and October. The drills are likely to continue to increase tensions between Kremlin and the NATO military alliance.

The Russians have also given their jets to Syria to use in airstrikes against the Islamic State. Syrian forces used Russian warplanes to fight against IS insurgents in Northern Syria in an attempt to break a siege on a nearby airbase.  While the Assad regime has been criticized in the past for an apparent disinterest in targeting Islamic State forces, the most recent round of airstrikes, accompanied by ground attacks, are likely intended to reinforce Russia’s position that it is legitimately supporting an ally engaged in a fight against terrorism.

 

Fighter group Jaish al Muhajireen wal Ansar swears allegiance to Al Nusra Front

Jaish al Muhajireen wal Ansar (JMA), or “The Army of the Emigrants and Helpers,” has made a not-so-surprising move by pledging allegiance to a the Syrian branch of al Qaeda, the al Nusra Front. JMA is a declared terrorist organization by the State Department and is comprised of foreign fighters, often fighting alongside al Nusra as well as other al Qaeda-linked organizations in Syria.

JMA has recently undergone a power shift, with its emir, Salahuddin Shishani removed from his post in June. His replacement was succeeded by al Mu’tasim Billah al Madani, a Saudi sharia court judge and rumored ideologue in al Qaeda’s network. Al Madani is strongly opposed to the Islamic State, even contributing to a fatwa encouraging rebellion against Abu Bakr al Baghdadi and the Islamic State.

 

Chinese president Xi Jinping arrives in Washington as China continues military expansion

Reflecting the complicated and nuanced US-China relationship, Xi Jinping arrives for a state visit amidst tensions regarding cyber attacks and Chinese military moves in the South China Sea.  While Jinping has pledged cooperation with the US regarding cyber warfare, analysts point out that hacking attacks originating from China have increased since Jinping took office in November of 2012.  A pact that would establish definitions on what is and isn’t a considered a cyberattack remains in the negotiation phase, with the White House stated that a formal announcement is not imminent.

At the same time, concern is mounting in the military sector over China’s development of advanced weaponry, including a nuclear submarine that Pentagon analysts believe can carry missiles designed to strike anywhere in the US.  The JL-2 missiles, which have a range of about 4,598 miles, are the latest addition to an arsenal that already includes the so-called “carrier killer” DF-21D anti-ship missile.

 

Venezuela’s death spiral continues, Guyana latest target

As President Nicolas Maduro’s woes continue, Guyanese President David Granger has denounced “a persistence of aggressive behavior” towards his country, which borders Venezuela.  Guyana claims that armed Venezuelan vessels have violated its sovereignty, perhaps in a bid to assert control over waters in which Exxon Mobil is conducting oil exploration.  According to Maduro, a centuries-old land dispute between the two countries is being exploited by oil companies.  In response, the Venezuelan military has deployed troops in what it calls a simple military exercise.

This saber-rattling looks to be a reaction to the news coming out of Havana that the Colombian government is close to reaching a peace treaty with the narco-terrorist FARC.  As a staunch backer of the rebels, the Venezuelan government stands to lose if and when the guerrilla war in Colombia comes to an end. While the border crisis with Colombia concludes, Maduro seems desperate for a cause to rally his shrinking base as the parliamentary elections in December loom.

Other headlines we’re following:

Over 700 dead outside Mecca during annual haj pilgrimage

Syrian army bombs IS in Aleppo using Russian warplanes

Pentagon denies report that U.S.- trained rebels defected to al Qaeda

Iran develops recon drone, according to Tasnim news agency

Russia coordinates with Israel to prevent confusion in Syria

Group of nations seeks tribunal for Malaysia plane shot down over eastern Ukraine

Russia plans military base near Ukraine border

Putin to meet with Obama at UN next week

China to provide economic assistance after sanctions lifted

US: Chinese hackers took 5.6 million fingerprints of federal workers

African Nations Continue to Fight Boko Haram With Little Help From US

According to a Chadian army spokesman, 117 Boko Haram fighters were killed in an operation along Lake Chad, a region where Boko Haram has carried out a series of terror attacks and sieges. Lake Chad has been an extremely important strategic region for Boko Haram, as it lies along the borders of Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger. Earlier this month, Chadian officials banned travel through the lake in an attempt to hinder Boko Haram’s utilization of the transnational waterway. Since the ban, 1,000 Chadian soldiers have been stationed around the lake to secure islands and fend of jihadist militants.

In June, the Chadian government decided to ban the burqa, a common after Boko Haram operatives used burqas to conceal weapons and suicide vests during attacks. This week, Chad’s government continued to enhance their counterterrorism laws by banning street begging after two young girls posing as beggars were used as human bombs in Cameroon. The government in N’Djamena also passed legislation allowing for the death penalty in cases of terrorism, a law that had been done away with just six months prior.

Strides are also being made against Boko Haram in other regions of Africa as a coalition of 4 countries continues their campaign against Boko Haram. On Wednesday and Thursday 71 kidnapped girls and women were rescued by the Nigerian military. One of the girls that was rescued said she was “waiting for death” since the militants often threatened their victims and have forced many of them to be suicide bombers. The rescue operation can be viewed as a step in the right direction as it is the first major success for the Nigerian military since Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari fired all military leaders on July 14. On Thursday, Nigeria’s Defense Ministry appointed a new general to lead the coalition in the fight against Boko Haram.

Buhari has been travelling throughout the region recently trying to enhance cooperation in the Boko Haram fight. Last week, the Nigerian President visited the US to meet with President Obama and discuss the US’s involvement in the fight against Islamic State’s West African affiliate.

According to Foreign Policy, the US has agreed to expand its military assistance to Nigeria however the Obama Administration continues to deny the African nation surveillance and intelligence support.

President Obama has announced to the country in multiple prime-time addresses that he was dedicated to degrade and ultimately destroy Islamic State, with a major component of his strategy being airstrikes against IS militants, “wherever they are.”

However, the Administration has continually put Africa on the back burner, focusing on Islamic State’s holdings in Syria and Iraq despite the State Department admitting Boko Haram is the deadliest organization in the world.

It remains to be seen whether the African coalition will be able to destroy Boko Haram absent an increase in U.S. assistance. Sooner or later, President Obama must realize that to defeat Islamic State, the U.S must counter its forces everywhere, including Africa.

Buhari Visits Cameroon as Boko Haram Attacks Continue

In the past few days alone, Boko Haram activity has killed at least 60 people in Cameroon. The local government in the Far North region, where the attacks took place, has closed some mosques, banned burqas, and forbidden begging as a means to control the violence. The group has also continued to kill people in Nigeria, taking the lives of 29 people in Christian villages in the northeast on July 27.

The attacks come as Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari visits Cameroon for the first time since he assumed office. He intends work on a strategy for countering Boko Haram while also strengthening ties between the his country and Cameroon, which borders Nigeria in the east.

Nigeria and Cameroon have had a poor relationship for decades, after conflict arose out of a border dispute in 1993. Cameroonian President Paul Biya did not attend Buhari’s inauguration. Buhari visited Chad and Niger, two other countries involved in the fight against Boko Haram, two months prior to this trip to Cameroon. Cameroon extended an invitation to visit in June when he visited the other two countries and was insulted when he turned it down; a spokesman for Buhari said that he had a prior commitment in Germany.

Nigeria has accused Cameroon of complacency in regards to Boko Haram by allowing the group to use its territory as a safe haven. In return, Cameroon says that Nigeria will not let troops pursue Boko Haram militants across their shared border, but that Niger and Chad are allowed to do so.

However, in a month, another coalition force composed of 8,700 troops from Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria will become active. The force has had difficulty starting its operations due to funding disputes. Additionally, Cameroon announced on July 28 that it would send 2,000 more troops to its northern border with Nigeria to fight Boko Haram.

As the Center for Security Policy has previously stated, “There is a dire need for meaningful progress and cooperation between all countries involved in this coalition against the jihadist militant group.” Boko Haram was forced out of much of its territorial holdings earlier this year, but it has started seizing land again and is capable of killing many more civilians. The countries involved in the fight against the Boko Haram must work together to secure victory. Undermining each other in an attempt to revive old political disputes will only hurt their greater mission and cause further damage to their countries and people.

Boko Haram Continues Use Women and Children as Human Bombs as Nigerian President Seeks Aid

On July 17, two suicide bombers killed nine and injured fifteen in Damaturu, Nigeria at the Muslim festival for Eid, the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. One bomber was a ten-year-old girl and the other was an elderly woman. The bombs were detonated next to locations where volunteers were checking attendees for explosive devices. Although no one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, Boko Haram is suspected to be behind the attack.

On Thursday, there were two explosions in a market in Gombe, Nigeria that killed at least 49 people, in a market filled with people preparing for the Eid al-Fitr festival that commemorates the end of Ramadan. This year’s Ramadan has been particularly violent since Islamic State encouraged its affiliates, including Boko Haram to escalate attacks during this month.

Boko Haram’s increased manipulation of women and children to carry out lethal attacks is directly correlated with the kidnappings of an estimated 2,000 women and girls since the beginning of 2014. According to witnesses and victims, Boko Haram takes abducted children and women directly to training camps and immediately begins to indoctrinate abductees with the group’s Islamist views. A young woman named Aisha, who was kidnapped by Boko Haram in September 2014, explained during her captivity she was trained to shoot guns, how to use bombs and to attack villages.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to visit Washington, DC next week. On Buhari’s itinerary is to discuss, “strengthen[ing] and intensify[ing] bilateral and international cooperation against terrorism in Nigeria and West-Africa,” particularly the fight against Boko Haram. Relations between the United States and Nigeria have been flawed in the past, as the U.S. State Department repeatedly accused the Goodluck Jonathan administration of incompetence and corruption. During his campaign, Buhari ran on the platform of anti-corruption,  however Buhari has first hand knowledge of how truly corrupt Nigerian politics can be.

In the 1990’s Buhari served as the head of the Petroleum Trust Fund under Sani Abacha, who is accused of stealing billions of dollars from Nigeria during his reign of power. As head of the PTF, Buhari lead an organization that acted without government oversight and committed massive fraud. Former associates, including Gilbert Chagoury, Abacha’s corrupt business partner, funded Buhari’s “anti-corruption” campaign.

The Obama Administration’s embrace of Buhari as he undertakes to defeat Boko Haram is hypocritical in its timing, but nonetheless necessary. As previously explained by the Center for Security Policy, Boko Haram, which originated in Nigeria, deeply rooted itself there during a period when the U.S. was hesitating in assisting the Jonathan administration. But Boko Haram cannot be countered elsewhere unless their main operations in Nigeria are cut off.

Boko Haram Intensifies Violence with Highway Raids

Along the Maiduguri –Damaturu highway in Northern Nigeria, Boko Haram militants have been intensifying their presence and attacks. The highway, which links the respective capitals of Borno and Yobe states, has been blocked by Nigerian security officials after a Boko Haram attack left 15 dead. This is the fourth such attack carried out by Boko Haram along the major transportation route in the past week.

On Monday, Aderemi Opadokun, the Borno state police commissioner confirmed a Boko Haram attack in the villages of Kalwa and Gwollam that killed 43 villagers last weekend. The insurgents raided the villages, opened fire on the residents, and slit the throats of villagers who surrendered. The villages are just a few in a  long list of recent targets in the Borno area known as Monguno that have seen daily attacks by Boko Haram militants since they seized Nigerian military barracks in the area on January 28.

As twilight approached Northern Nigeria on Monday, Boko Haram raided the Mainok village, which is just outside Maiduguri. Hundreds of militants reportedly spent hours slaughtering villagers, destroying vehicles and burning homes. This was the third attack in Mainok by Boko Haram, and officials are still trying to locate missing teenagers.

Tuesday evening, Boko Haram carried out three consecutive attacks in Maiduguri, killing 30 people. The militants first set up a barricade on the Maiduguri–Damaturu highway, killing 20 motorists as they travelled on the highway. The militants then returned to the Warsala village, and burned the half of the village that was salvaged when they raided the village last week. At the same time, Boko Haram militants also attacked the village of Damasak. The militants recklessly opened fire on villagers, killing more than a dozen and injuring many others.

This surge in violence along the Maiduguri – Damaturu highway can be associated with an overall surge in Boko Haram attacks over the past few weeks. Boko Haram recently announced they are willing to release the Chibok schoolgirls, who were infamously kidnapped in April 2014, in return for the release of imprisoned Boko Haram leaders. The recent surge of violence since the end of May may be part of Boko Haram’s effort to increase leverage on the Nigerian government to heed their demands.

With that said however, the nature of the recent attacks can be ascribed to Boko Haram shifting its tactics after 10 of their camps were destroyed in the Sambisa Forest by the anti-Boko Haram African coalition. The coalition’s success in the forest forced jihadists to disperse and retreat to their former guerrilla warfare operations. As previously stated by the Center For Security Policy, new challenges for the Nigerian military would arise out of the apparent “victory” in the mountains. Boko Haram was forced to transform their approach, and the Nigerian military is now once again faced with attempting to develop methods of defeating Boko Haram’s ever-changing tactics.

Boko Haram launches new attack in Chad, highlights faults in opposing coalition

Boko Haram furthered its reign of terror in Chad over the weekend when a suicide bomber detonated himself in N’Djamena, Chad’s capital. The blast killed 15 people, and injured over 80 Chadians. Several witnesses say the bomber was clad in a traditional woman’s burqa. Last month, the Chadian government banned the burqa because militants have utilized such articles to conceal weapons including suicide bombs. Following this past weekend’s attack, Chadian police forces have announced they will more heavily enforce the ban.

This attack follows two bombings on June 15th , which killed 38 and injured over 100, the first of its kind following Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau’s open threats against Chad.

Four days before the June 15th attack, leaders form Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon announced a coalition, based out of N’Djamena, in order to fight Boko Haram. The coalition has received assistance from France in the form of military assistance to Cameroon, and air strikes out of France’s airbase in N’Djamena. Furthermore, the US has pledged $5 million in assistance to the African coalition.

The coalition, led by 5,000 Chadian soldiers, has claimed to have killed hundreds of Boko Haram militants. The Nigerians have also claimed responsibility for the success, following the military offensive against Boko Haram.  Although seeing much success in the Sambisa Forest, which housed ten Boko Haram camps, the Chadians have been openly critical of the Nigerian’s unwillingness to fight. The Nigerian military has been struggling to improve its reputation, with newly elected President Muhammadu Buhari claiming that he intends to  rid the military of corruption. On Monday, Buhari relieved various military leaders, including the heads of the army and the navy.

Tens of thousands of Nigerians have sought refuge in Chad, and local government officials in Chad have banned travel through Lake Chad because Boko Haram militants have used that route to enter Chad through Nigeria. The latest deadly attack proves that despite the coalition’s supposed success against Boko Haram, the militants continue to have no intention of surrendering or stopping its terrorist activities in northern Africa. Chad had the right idea in banning the burqa in order to enhance its security measures against Boko Haram’s tactic of utilizing females, or bombers dressed as females to carry out suicide attacks. However, in order for such enhanced measures to be successful, they must be enforced.

Moving forward, the Chadian military must remain the leading force in the coalition against Boko Haram. It is likely Boko Haram will continue to stage attacks in Chad, as the jihadists recognize Chad’s strength and will attempt to deter their involvement in the coalition. With that said however, the African coalition will struggle to effectively defeat Boko Haram if the Nigerian military cannot overcome its past struggles. As shown in attacks in Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram, the jihadist militants are still deeply rooted in the nation and cannot be countered elsewhere unless their main operations in Nigeria are cut off.

Boko Haram Willing to Swap Chibok Girls for Imprisoned Leaders

Boko Haram is willing to free the Chibok girls…if Nigeria releases its imprisoned leaders.

The girls were famously kidnapped in April 2014 from a school in the town of Chibok, located in the northern Borno State. They were between 16 and 18 years old, and they were taken while preparing to take final exams at their school. The kidnapping sparked the #bringbackourgirls social media campaign. Dozens were able to escape, but over 200 remain within the folds of the terrorist group. Other women who were captured by Boko Haram and saw the girls have claimed that many were indoctrinated by their captors and now carry out killings on behalf of the group.

In May 2014, Boko Haram released a video featuring its leader Abubakar Shekau holding an assault rifle, officially claiming the organization’s responsibility for the kidnapping, and threatening to sell the girls into slavery. Addressing the Nigerian government, he said, “If you want us to release your girls we kidnapped, those of them that have not accepted Islam, they are now gathered in numbers. And we treat them well the way the prophet would treat any infidel he seized. They are staying (with us). We will never release them until our brethren are released.”

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan faced fierce criticism for his failure to bring about their rescue last year. At the time, the Nigerian government did not appear to have a cohesive stance on how to best defeat Boko Haram. While Jonathan said that the Nigerian government does not negotiate with terrorists, at least one of his government ministers said that all options were being considered to secure the girls’ freedom. The new prisoner-exchange offer is meant to be similar to the one refused by Jonathan last year, in which Boko Haram would have traded the 219 girls still held by the group for 16 of its jailed members.

The number of Boko Haram suspects being detained by the Nigerian government is unclear, and thousands have died in prisons. Some of the detainees who the terrorist organization is currently trying to free may be among those dead, presenting a potential problem for negotiations.

Fred Eno, who assisted the Jonathan government with Boko Haram negotiations and is now helping the new President Buhari, said that the recent increase in violence perpetrated by the group is normal and expected when it prepares to enter negotiations. It has killed hundreds of people in the past few weeks as it wants to both be seen as a more dangerous threat and make the government more receptive to its demands.

If the Nigerian government agrees to a prisoner exchange, dangerous Boko Haram leaders will be freed at a time when the group is facing significant loss of territory, a move that would motivate its fighters and perhaps put them back on the offensive. However, if the government is able to secure the release of the girls, their freedom would be a huge political victory for Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who only recently assumed power on a campaign promise to do a better job dealing with Boko Haram than Jonathan. If Boko Haram does not free them, the government will not be fulfilling its word to the people. Unfortunately, no matter which path the Nigerian government chooses to follow, it can only lose in its current situation.

Boko Haram Returning to Terrorist Tactics after Loss of Territory

This spring, media outlets reported that Boko Haram, the jihadist group terrorizing Nigeria, was being pushed out of the land it held by forces from Chad, Benin, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria. At the beginning of 2015, Boko Haram controlled 20 districts in Nigeria that, in total, became a territory the size of Belgium. By mid-March, they controlled three.

Despite this loss of land, the threat posed by Boko Haram remains significant. The group is ideologically driven by a divinely-conceived mandate to bring Islam to the world, so setbacks, such as loss of territory, will not cause the group to disappear completely. Instead, loss of ground simply requires a change in tactics. Rather than acting like a state, which provides services to its people and protects its borders, terrorist organizations without territory use more conventional tactics – bombings, gunmen, assassinations, and kidnappings.

These changes in method are evidenced by a number of recent attacks attributed to Boko Haram in Nigeria and nearby countries. Last week, two explosions in Chad killed 11 people. A few days later, approximately 150 people died in Nigeria when nearly 50 people were killed in a shooting in Monguno and almost 100 were killed in Kukuwa. The group has been trying to smuggle weapons through Chad but Chadian police forces have raided two weapons arsenals in the past eight days, seizing massive amounts of arms and information.

On July 5, a restaurant and a mosque in Jos were both targeted and more than 40 people were killed. Boko Haram is suspected to be behind the attacks. A planted bomb blew up at the Shagalinku restaurant, whereas a gunman and suicide bomber attacked the Yantaya mosque. The mosque’s imam, Sheikh Muhammad Sani Yahya Jingir, was likely the target, as he has a history of criticizing Boko Haram while preaching a doctrine of religious tolerance. In the northeast, militants believed to belong to Boko Haram burned down 32 churches and 300 homes.

This resurgence in violence is likely an effect of the group’s affiliation with the Islamic State (IS). Even as Boko Haram lost militarily early this year, it strategically pledged allegiance to IS in March. This affiliation has helped Boko Haram tremendously, adding to its media presence and recruitment efforts while also giving it millions of dollars every month in increased funding. This support has allowed Boko Haram to increase its use of violent tactics. With less territory to control, it has more money that can be used to fund terrorist attacks.

The return of Boko Haram to conventional terrorist tactics provides a small case study of the effects of pushing a terrorist group out of lands it controls. When a group that was once entrenched in an area is forcibly removed, it does not disappear. Boko Haram will follow in the footsteps of Al Shabaab, which has reemerged and become increasingly violent in Somalia after being pushed out of most of its territory. It is not going away; instead, it is changing its methods, moving from symmetric warfare and fighting on battlefields to asymmetric warfare, bombings, and guerrilla attacks. As the US and its allies move to destroy IS and its affiliates, they must be aware of the fluid nature of these organizations in order to be adequately prepared to fight them.

Boko Haram Violence Surges Despite Major Arrests

On June 28, security forces in Chad arrested Bahna Fanaye (also known as Mahamat Moustapha), one of the leaders of Boko Haram. Fanaye coordinated weapons trafficking for the organization between its members in Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon. The forces recovered weapons, communications, documents, and 50 SIM cards in Fanaye’s home. In a separate operation, security forces arrested a man described as Boko Haram’s financier. Additionally, 74 suspects have been detained. The arrests were part of a security sweep which took place following a June 15 series of bombings in N’Djamena that killed 27 and injured approximately 100.

On June 29, two explosions in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, killed at least 11 people. Five police officers were among those dead, and others may have been militants who blew themselves up rather than letting themselves be captured.

Boko Haram never officially claimed the attack on June 15 or on June 29, but is suspected of being behind both of them.

The bombings are just the latest in a series of Boko Haram attacks. On July 1, accounts began emerging of a Boko Haram shooting in Monguno, a village in the northeastern Nigerian state of Borno. The shooting reportedly occurred the previous day. Residents fleeing the militants said that 48 people were killed when Boko Haram arrived, asked all the men to stand in one area, and then opened fire upon them. Last month, 23 people died in an explosion in Monguno during a celebration marking a successful operation against Boko Haram.

Also on July 1, fighters suspected of being members of Boko Haram killed 97 people in the town of Kukuwa, a town near Lake Chad in Borno. The attack occurred in the early evening, and the people killed were praying in mosques.

Despite promises made by the new Nigerian government to immediately crack down on down on Boko Haram, the organization is nowhere near disappearing. Its Shura Council, the decision-making part of the group, is still generally unharmed. It has operations in multiple countries, making it more difficult to dismantle. When it pledged loyalty to the Islamic State, it gained access to foreign trainers, fighters and funding.

Given its high capacity for carrying out rapid-fire attacks, crushing the Boko Haram insurgency becomes both more difficult, and more important. As this terror group continues to kill civilians day after day, public confidence in the government’s ability to combat it will decrease. This may result in Boko Haram finding it easier to expand by retaking territory that it once held but lost.