You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Africa Subsaharan
228 killed in gunfight with Islamists
2013-04-29
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria - A gunbattle between security forces and Islamist insurgents in Nigeria a week ago killed 228 people, a local senator said on Saturday, putting the death toll six times higher than the government's estimate.
Sounds like quite a gun battle...
A large number of civilian deaths will fuel accusations that the military acted heavy-handedly and failed to protect bystanders and might also increase pressure on the government to seek a negotiated settlement with the radical group Boko Haram.
Is there an African military force that isn't heavy-handed and that protects bystanders? I'm not aware of one...
There have been conflicting death tolls from the April 19 operation carried out by joint forces from Nigeria, Chad and Niger against Boko Haram insurgents in the remote northeastern town of Baga.

The Red Thingy Cross is investigating a report by locals that 187 people died, including many civilians, but defense spokesman Chris Olukolade said only 37 were killed.
Moist eyes and hand-wringing to commence shortly...
The military barred aid agencies from entering Baga for several days after the attack. The Red Thingy Cross and some other agencies have since been given access but none has issued a definitive death toll.

"I personally visited three graveyards in Baga and counted 228 graves where victims had been buried," said Senator Maina Maaji Lawan, who represents the northern region of Borno state where the attack took place. Lawan told reporters that 4,000 homes were also destroyed and without significant relief materials there could be a humanitarian disaster.

President Goodluck Jonathan has opened an investigation into the siege, including the actions taken by the military.

Boko Haram and other Islamist terrorist groups, such as the al Qaeda-affiliated Ansaru, have become the greatest threat to security in Africa's second largest economy and top oil producer.

Clashes between the military and Boko Haram are a near daily occurrence in the sect's northeast stronghold. Soldiers killed senior Boko Haram commander Mohammed Chad in an early morning raid on Friday, the military said.

President Jonathan is awaiting a report from a panel he set up to offer an amnesty to the insurgents if they give up their struggle for an Islamic state. Boko Haram has so far shown no interest in talks. The sect, which wants an Islamic state in a country divided roughly equally between Christians and Muslims, has killed hundreds of people in guerrilla-style attacks.
Forget amnesty -- hunt them down.
Posted by:Steve White

#3  228 Islamists, or not?

If so Very good shooting, MORE, MORE.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2013-04-29 13:17  

#2  I suspect these casualty reports are as reliable as the Afghan reports of civilian casualties.

This sounds like a good old-fashioned Nigerian shakedown.

Al
Posted by: Frozen Al   2013-04-29 11:00  

#1  I don't recall a lotta handwringing for the Christians killed. Word of advise: Don't be a bystander to a gunfight or a camp follower to a Islamist crazed killer band
Posted by: Frank G   2013-04-29 07:31  

00:00