#BBOGCountDownTo6Weeks: Week 2 News Briefs
Saturday 21 February to Friday 27 February 2015
Saturday 21 February
Nigerian military deserter gives battlefield account, expresses grave concern
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/b-o-k-o-h-a-r-a-m-battle-field-account-of-a-military-deserter/
Former UK Prime Minister, and UN Special Envoy Gordon Brown issues plea to Boko Haram to release Chibok girls in light of their recent release of other abductees
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/177268-boko-haram-mass-hostage-release-sparks-chibok-girls-plea.html
Nigeria takes back Baga, says defence spokesman
http://saharareporters.com/2015/02/21/nigeria-recaptures-baga-boko-haram-militants
http://m.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31568055
Fleeing Boko Haram terrorists drown in Chad says Nigeria’s military spokesman
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/177287-fleeing-boko-haram-terrorists-drown-in-lake-chad.html
Sunday 22 February
7-year-old-child kills herself and at least 5 others in a suicide bomb attack in Potiskum
http://t.co/6U7ZaPMu3Z
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/22/girl-as-young-as-seven-kills-herself-and-five-others-in-nigeria-suicide-bombing
President Jonathan says all the while he had underestimated Boko Haram
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/i-underestimated-boko-haram-jonathan/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Nigeria buys black market weapons to fight Boko Haram
http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/nigeria-buys-black-market-weapons-to-fight-boko-haram/article22731252/?service=mobile
http://m.thestar.com/#/article/news/world/2015/02/21/as-boko-haram-grows-stronger-nigeria-prepares-for-vote.html
Nigerian troops urged to capture Shekau. Generals now to lead the counterinsurgency offensive
http://saharareporters.com/2015/02/22/capture-shekau-alive-troops-urged-%E2%80%A6-top-military-officers-now-lead-battle
Boko Haram attacks and burns military camp in Ngelzarma, Yobe (Northeast Nigeria)
http://dailytrust.com.ng/daily/top-stories/47710-boko-haram-burns-military-camp-in-yobe-town
Monday 23 February
‘Abubakar Shekau’ reportedly captured, and in Nigerian government custody
http://newsrescue.com/breaking-boko-haram-leader-abubakar-shekau-reportedly-nigerian-government-custody/
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno commends the military, says the ‘political class’ should be blamed in the fight against the insurgency
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=106276
Nigeria military releases video of Boko Haram enclaves’ air bombardment
http://www.channelstv.com/2015/02/23/military-releases-video-boko-haram-enclaves-air-bombardment/
Former female Boko Haram captive brings news of abducted Chibok girls
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/former-captive-brings-news-school-girls-held-boko-haram/#.VOt2GTHd3SA.twitter
Nigerian military says it has arrested Boko Haram fighters disguised as women.
Also that the aerial bombardments of Gwoza, Bama and Sambisa Forest are still ongoing
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/boko-haram-military-nabs-terrorists-disguised-as-women-in-baga/202545/
Community leaders in Borno task the military to take them on a tour liberated territories along with journalists
http://dailytrust.com.ng/daily/top-stories/47808-borno-elders-to-defence-hq-we-want-to-tour-liberated-towns
Boko Haram resorts to guerrilla tactics as pressure mounts on them
http://m.voanews.com/a/boko-haram-resorts-to-guerilla-tactics-as-pressure-mounts/2655726.html
Cameroon and Nigeria agree to control and censure the media over cross-border insecurity
http://en.starafrica.com/news/cameroon-nigeria-to-censure-media-over-border-security.html
Tuesday 24 February
Defence spokesman Major-General Chris Olukolade attacks and calls the #BringBackOurGirls movement names in reaction to the group’s call for more visuals of reclaimed territories that the Nigerian military announces
http://www.thewhistleng.com/we-support-our-government-nigerians-military-slam-ezekwesili-others-for-questioning-victory-over-boko-haram/#sthash.no0BJgo1.dpuf
Nigerian police says Potiskum station bomber was a man, not a girl
http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN0LS11S20150224?irpc=932
Canadian special-forces soldiers providing counterterrorism training in Niger relocate from the Nigerian border region in order to stay away from the fight against Boko Haram
http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canadian-soldiers-ordered-to-leave-region-threatened-by-boko-haram/article23193519/?service=mobile
Chadian army says they have killed 207 Boko Haram terrorists, seized weapons and lost 1 troop and 9 wounded, in Garambu (Northeast Nigeria) near border with Cameroon
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-2967529/Chadian-soldiers-kill-207-Boko-Haram-fighters-Nigeria–army.html
Suicide bombers kill at least 26 in northern Nigeria; Kano (Northwest) and Potiskum (Northeast)
http://www.businessinsider.com/r-suicide-bombers-kill-at-least-26-across-north-nigeria-2015-2
Boko Haram council considers loyalty to Islamic state
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/feb/24/frank-gaffney-boko-haram-council-considers-loyalty/
Wednesday 25 February
President Jonathan says the tide has turned against Boko Haram
http://m.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31620989
No tour of reclaimed territories for Borno community leaders and journalists, because operations are still ongoing, says military sources
http://www.punchng.com/news/no-tour-of-captured-towns-for-borno-elders-military/
Nigerian journalists accuse the Nigerian military of antagonism, and of barring them from covering news firsthand in the battle against the insurgency.
Unlike their counterparts in Chad, Cameroon and Niger who are embedded with their troops at the frontline
https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/daily/news/47915-boko-haram-nuj-guild-of-editors-accuse-military-of-barring-journalists-from-frontlines
Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Kenneth Minimah visits troops. Announces that every soldier who participated in the Baga operation (dead or alive) has been promoted to the next rank.
Says it is possible for the displaced residents to return home within the 6-week timeframe. However says, the 6 weeks should not be seen as a “must-accomplish time”. That “this is a war”, and that the military will try and do whatever possible.
He also says hereon they will go on to retake Gwoza, Marte, and Madagali
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/minimah-visits-baga-rewards-triumphant-soldiers-with-promotion/202776/
Military takes delivery of 2 jets loaded with weapons, says
Again, the Presidency contradicts the President. Says the Federal Government never underrated Boko Haram insurgency.
Contrary to what the President had said that he and his government had undermined Boko Haram.
(See: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/i-underestimated-boko-haram-jonathan/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter)
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/presidency-fg-never-underrated-boko-haram-insurgency/202736/
http://www.punchng.com/news/military-takes-delivery-of-two-jets-loaded-with-weapons/
Anti-Boko Haram sub-regional force takes shape as military chiefs from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Nigeria meet to finalise their strategy for an 8 750-strong counterinsurgency force
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31593802
Nigerian government denies hiring mercenaries to fight Boko Haram. That it has reinforced its military be securing additional equipment to has its capability, says Mike Omeri, Director-General of the National Orientation Agency
http://m.voanews.com/a/nigeria-denies-hiring-mercineries-fight-boko-haram/2659269.html
Nigerian Television Authority, NTA releases footage of the Nigerian air forces aerial bombardments of Boko Haram enclaves
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uva2-gXPoQM
Nigerian police confirm abduction of Adamawa (Northeast Nigeria) council vice chairman by Boko Haram
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/177517-boko-haram-kidnap-adamawa-council-vice-chairman.html
Top Nigerian military officials may have leaked US intelligence to Boko Haram is revealed reason the US pulled out of the effort to rescue the abducted Chibok schoolgirls
http://abusidiqu.com/the-untold-story-why-america-quit-helping-jonathan-govt-find-chibok-girls/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Abusidiqucom+%28Abusidiqu.com%29
Experts call an alliance between Boko Haram and ISIS (now IS) a “marriage from hell”
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/25/world/boko-haram-lister-analysis/
Amnesty International releases it 2014/2014 Annual Reports wherein it cites the abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls under “Horrors of War”; accuses the Nigerian army and Boko Haram of committing crimes under international humanitarian law. Also chides world governments for inability to tackle IS and Boko Haram
https://www.amnesty.org/en/annual-report-201415/
1 full year on, the Federal Government is yet to make any contacts with families of the 59 slain and 5 missing schoolboys of Federal Government College, Buni Yadi (Northeast Nigeria) after Boko Haram attacked their school on 25 February 2014
http://leadership.ng/news/414014/1-year-after-buni-yadi-massacre-school-mgt-fg-yet-to-meet-with-parents
Thursday 26 February
Abducted Chibok schoolgirls not found in Sambisa Forest, say military sources
http://www.flatimes.com/2015/02/kidnapped-chibok-schoolgirls-not-found-sambisa-forest.html?m=1
President Jonathan pays a surprise visit recaptured towns in Northeast Nigeria; Mubi and Baga to boost troops’ morale
http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathan-pays-surprise-visit-to-adamawa/
http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/daily/top-stories/48170-jonathan-in-surprise-visit-to-baga-mubi
The military has recaptured 29 towns from Boko Haram, says the Federal Government spokesman on the counterinsurgency effort, namely: Abba Jabari, Gajigana, Gajiram, Damakar, Kumaliwa, Bosso, Wanti, Jeram and Karisungul. Others are Mafa, Gamboru-Ngala, Malam-Fatori, Abadam, Marte, Mongonu and Baga
http://www.today.ng/news/military-has-so-far-recaptured-29-towns-from-boko-haram-fg/
35 killed as suicide bombers hit Biu (Northeast Nigeria) and Jos (North-central Nigeria)
http://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00035624.html
Nigerien military bombs a convoy of fish traders carrying smoked fish enroute for Nigeria, because it is suspected that the trade finances Boko Haram
http://www.firstafricanews.ng/index.php?dbs=openlist&s=16585&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Roundup of recent recent writing on the humanitarian fallout from Boko Haram
https://sahelblog.wordpress.com/2015/02/26/roundup-of-recent-writing-on-the-humanitarian-fallout-from-boko-haram/
Friday 27 February
The Chadian military say they have captured suspected Boko Haram fighters in Gamboru, (Northeast Nigeria) including the notorious “The Butcher”. Also reclaimed hardware gotten from the Nigerian military
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/nigeria-troops-chad-show-weapons-military-vehicles-parade-boko-haram-prisoners-1489822
http://www.reuters.com/news/picture/capturing-boko-haram?articleId=USRTR4RFZ0&utm_source=twitter
The #BringBackOurGirls movement praises President Jonathan and the service chiefs for visiting troops at the frontlines
http://leadership.ng/news/cover-stories/414189/bbog-group-praises-nigerian-army-jonathan-for-visiting-liberated-villages
Source revels Nigeria’s latest defence acquisitions
http://tom-antonov.blogspot.fr/2015/02/nigeria-is-re-arming-at-alarming-rate.html?m=1
