Painful Account of Boko Haram's 2013 Attacks
The Islamist terrorist organization Boko Haram has "bombed, burned, or attacked" 50 churches in Nigeria since January 2012, according to a new factsheet published by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. The 50 attacks have killed at least 366 persons.
According to the commission, Boko Haram has also engaged in "31 separate attacks on Christians or [southern Nigerians] perceived to be Christian, killing at least 166 persons; 23 targeted attacks on clerics or senior Islamic figures critical of Boko Haram, killing at least 60 persons; and 21 attacks on 'un-Islamic' institutions or persons engaged in 'un-Islamic' behavior, killing at least 74."
Read the full report below:
Nigeria: August 2013. Boko Haram’s Religiously-Motivated Attacks
For more than a decade, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has reported on the continuing violations of religious freedom and religiously-related violence taking place in Nigeria. In 2009, USCIRF recommended for the first time that the U.S. government designate Nigeria a "country of particular concern" (CPC) for the Nigerian government's failure to address at both state and federal levels ongoing, egregious and systemic religious freedom violations that have resulted in over 14,000 deaths from sectarian violence since 1999. The majority of religious freedom violations have resulted from religiously-motivated violence in the northern and Middle Belt states, as well as the implementation of Shari'ah law in the 12 northern states.
In the past two years, Boko Haram has become the primary perpetrator of religiously-related violence and gross religious freedom violations in Nigeria. Boko Haram's targets include churches, individual Christians, Muslim critics, and persons engaged in behavior deemed "unIslamic," as well as northern elders, schools, police stations, government buildings, newspapers, and banks. International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in November 2012 and again in August 2013 stated that there is a "reasonable basis" to believe that Boko Haram has committed crimes against humanity in Nigeria. Since January 1, 2012, Boko Haram's religiously-motivated attacks have included:
50 churches that either were bombed, burned, or attacked, killing at least 366 persons;
31 separate attacks on Christians or southerners perceived to be Christian, killing at least 166 persons;
23 targeted attacks on clerics or senior Islamic figures critical of Boko Haram, killing at least 60 persons; and 21 attacks on "un-Islamic" institutions or persons engaged in "un-Islamic" behavior, killing at least 74.
Boko Haram (a Hausa-language name northern Nigerians gave to the militants that means "western education is a sin") originated in northern Nigeria's Yobe and Borno states in 2002 and is now a dangerous threat to Nigeria's stability. The group regards the federal and northern state governments, as well as the country's political and religious elites, as morally corrupt. It further rejects the West and the secular state, seeking the universal implementation of "pure" Shari'ah law to resolve the ills northern Nigerian Muslims face. While the 12 northern Nigerian states already apply Shari'ah in their jurisdictions, Boko Haram believes that it has been corrupted by politicians for their own purposes.
In July 2012, USCIRF released a factsheet, 'Religious Freedom Violations and Religious Violence in Nigeria'. This factsheet updates the earlier report and documents Boko Haram attacks on churches, individual Christians, Muslim critics, and persons engaged in "un-Islamic behavior" from July 2012 to July 2013.
The information in this factsheet was garnered from the reports by U.S.-based non-governmental organizations that track violence in Nigeria, international news wires, and Nigerian media. Only attacks claimed by or attributed to Boko Haram that are reported in at least two sources areincluded in the factsheet. Given these considerations, Boko Haram most likely has committed more attacks than are cited here.
Recommendations: Responding to the Threat of Boko Haram
Boko Haram's attacks against Christians, along with continued Muslim-Christian violence, threaten to undermine Nigeria’s fledgling democracy. Religion is becoming an increasingly central factor as much of the violence results from the misuse of “faith” to foster political, economic, and/or ethnic discord, thereby elevating religious identifications and transforming violence in Nigeria’s north and Middle Belt into religious conflicts. In addition, the Nigerian government’s toleration of communal, sectarian violence has created a permissive environment conducive to further violence and a culture of impunity.
To date, the Nigerian government primarily has taken a military approach in responding to Boko Haram. In May 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in, and deployed its military to, Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states. President Jonathan previously declared a sixmonth state of emergency in December 2011 in six northern states. The Nigerian government alsohas initiated some non-military responses to the Boko Haram threat, including offers for peace talks and the formation of a committee to explore amnesty for Boko Haram militants.
In USCIRF’s view, Nigeria has the capacity to address communal, sectarian and Boko Haramviolence by enforcing the rule of law and making perpetrator accountable through the judicial system, and not relying solely on a counterterrorism strategy involving the security services. Such an approach would help Nigeria realize lasting progress, security, stability, and prosperity as a democracy. The United States can play an important role in encouraging and increasing the capacity of the Nigerian judiciary to undertake this kind of response.
However, the U.S. government also needs to recognize the sectarian aspects of the ongoing violence and the religious elements in Boko Haram’s ideology. Acting on such an understanding would better position the United States to engage with both the Nigerian government at all levels and key religious leaders who view the violence partly through a sectarian lens. The United States also should do more to encourage and support the Nigerian government’s efforts to provide additional security personnel to protect northern Christian minorities and clerics and Muslim traditional rulers who denounce Boko Haram attacks, and consider creating a witness protectionlike program.
Boko Haram’s Religiously-Motivated Attacks
July 2012 - July 2013
Attacks on Churches
Boko Haram frequently bombs or shoots into churches during services in an effort to maximize casualties. It attacked churches during the Christmas holidays for three consecutive years from 2010 to 2012 and attacked Easter services in April 2012. Between January 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013, USCIRF has documented at least 50 separate church assaults. Between July 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013, the following attacks took place:
July – December 2012
January – July 2013
Attacks on Christians
On January 2, 2012, Boko Haram called on all Christians and southerners (because they are presumed to be Christian) to leave northern Nigeria within three days or face death. In the week following this declaration, more than 30 Christians were shot to death. Boko Haram continues to target and kill individual Christians and southerners. Between July 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013, the following attacks took place:
July – December 2012
January – July 2013
Attacks on Muslim Leaders and Critics
Boko Haram also attacks and kills imams and other Muslims opposed to the group. These assassinations are intended to intimidate other Muslims from speaking out against Boko Haram.
Between July 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013, the following attacks took place:
July – December 2012
January – July 2013
Attacks on “Un-Islamic” Behavior and Institutions
Boko Haram calls for the implementation of its interpretation of Sharai’ah law in northern Nigeria. As such, it frequently targets institutions it deems “un-Islamic” and persons engaged in behavior it considers “un-Islamic.” Between July 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013, the following attacks took place:
July – December 2012
Source: Legit.ng
