Nigeria fails in fight against Boko Haram – no quick relief in sight for kidnapped schoolgirls

Following another terrorist attack in northern Nigeria with up to 300 victims, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) accuses the police and the army of the country of failing to fight the Boko Haram sect. "The Islamist extremists are able to abduct people, carry out bomb raids and murder at will. If Nigeria's leaders don't finally wake up and join forces to fight Boko Haram instead of getting lost in party-political bickering, more and more Nigerians will become disaffected with democracy," said Ulrich Delius, the STP's Africa-consultant, in Göttingen on Wednesday. "Nigeria is Africa's most important economic power, but fails to protect its population against extremist violence."

In the city of Gamboru Ngala (Borno State), close to the border to Cameroon, Boko Haram fighters raged on for 12 hours in the night from Monday to Tuesday, killing people arbitrarily. Many of the residents were surprised in their sleep and most of the houses were looted or burned. The survivors escaped to nearby Cameroon. Initially, estimates mentioned only a few victims, but now eyewitnesses reported about up to 300 dead. According to the BBC, this information was now confirmed by the Nigerian Senator Ahmed Zannah. His brother was staying in the city, which was attacked by Boko Haram several times since December 2012.

"Nigerias authorities also failed in the case of the 223 schoolgirls who were abducted by Islamist extremists," criticized Delius. "President Jonathan Goodluck is trying to rely on the principle of hope, asking the exasperated relatives to be more patient. A chance for a quick rescue of the hostages was wasted three weeks ago because the military forces acted too slow and indecisively. The borders were not closed and monitored effectively, so the Boko Haram fighters were probably able to bring their hostages to the neighboring countries, where they will not be easily found – not even by the U.S. elite soldiers who are now involved. "This hunt will be even more difficult than the search for the notorious warlord and kidnapper Joseph Kony. U.S. special forces have been trying to locate him in Central Africa by means of high technology and drones for the past one and a half years, but in vain.

During the last few days, Nigerian politicians have been incriminating each other because of the hostage drama – in order to position themselves for the elections next year. "Nigeria's Christians and Muslims, however, are moving closer together. They will not be divided by Boko Haram," said Delius. "Although 90 percent of the abducted schoolgirls are Christians, their faith is not much of an issue in the public debate. Christians and Muslims are united in their outrage about this crime against humanity. Muslim protesters pray for the kidnapped schoolgirls and urge other pupils to go on strike to demand more commitment towards their release. "At least 3,300 people have fallen victim to the terror of Boko Haram since a state of emergency was imposed in thee states of northern Nigeria in May 2013.

Ulrich Delius, head of STP's Africa department, is available for further questions: +49 551 49906 27 or afrika@gfbv.de.