Nigerian army failed civilians, says Amnesty

Nigeria’s military failed to protect civilians despite being warned of impending Islamist attacks on two northeastern towns where hundreds died this month, Amnesty International has said.

Boko Haram militants warned residents of Baga “almost two months ago” they would go there to attack troops and local militias before their January 3rd raid on the town, the group said, citing an unidentified military official.

Boko Haram told locals the next target would be Monguno and the military was informed, Amnesty said. Boko Haram captured Monguno, 56km (35 miles) south of Baga on Sunday, according to militia member Hassan Ibrahim.

“It is clear from this evidence that Nigeria’s military leadership woefully and repeatedly failed in their duty to protect civilians of Baga and Monguno, despite repeated warnings about an impending threat posed by Boko Haram,” said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty’s Africa director. “These attacks are an urgent wake-up call for the Nigerian leadership, the African Union and the international community.”

Violent campaign

Boko Haram has escalated its violent campaign to impose Sharia law in Africa’s biggest oil-producing nation, killing more than 4,700 people last year, double the amount in 2013, risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft estimates.

As it attacked Monguno on Sunday, it also attempted to take Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. About 5,000 people fled Monguno to seek refuge in Maiduguri, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, a spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency, said.

Varying casualty figures have emerged. Amnesty said the raids on Baga and Monguno alone “claimed hundreds of lives”. The military has said initial evidence shows no more than 150 people were killed around Baga. – (Bloomberg)