Nigeria's Slaughtering Caliphate

Nigeria's Slaughtering Caliphate

Amnesty International has released satellite images that indicate an estimated 3,700 structures were damaged or destroyed in Boko Haram's January 3 attack in Baga, slaughtering civilians said to number up to two thousand, after having successfully attacked a Nigerian army garrison located nearby, and taking possession of it. The Nigerian soldiers fled, leaving the villagers and townspeople to fend for themselves.

They attempted to, but the very fact that they had organized themselves into militia units to try to fend off such attacks likely added to the death toll. Analyst Matthew Henman put it this way: "If you organize these militias against us, this is the response that you will receive".

While the satellite images do give some indication that the locals are quite correct in their estimation of those killed in the bloodshed, and the Nigerian military's numbers are understated deliberately, to try to downplay the extent of the atrocity they did nothing to prevent, it is still largely guesswork since aid workers, journalists and those seeking clarification cannot reach the area.

What is known is that the Boko Haram extremists slaughtered civilians in a systematic retaliation when the civilian militias in Baga attempted to resist the onslaught. Now, scores of towns and villages are in their hands across the states of Borno and Yobe with the country's military nowhere in sight to counter their presence.

Boko Haram now proudly and viciously commands an area of about 52,000 square kilometres, with a population of close to two million people.

Reuben Abati @abati1990

President Jonathan & Gov Shettima at the Internally Displaced Persons Camp, Pompomari, Maiduguri today.

3:41 PM - 15 Jan 2015

Boko Haram's militias are well-equipped; their "emir", Abubakatr Shekau, absolutely pitiless. He has proclaimed his new "Caliphate", to match that of the Islamic State of Iraq and Al Sham. What's good enough for the Middle East is twice as good for Africa. And here is the most populous, energy-rich country in Africa beset with deep-seated corruption and incompetence, leaving Nigeria and its people vulnerable to the predations of a cruel, maniacal religious psychopath.

The Nigerian armed forces are anything but robust in numbers with a mere 62,000 soldiers in defence of a large country with 180 million people. Nigeria's security budget is stiff enough at over $7.2-billion in 2014, but adequate military weaponry has not always resulted when Nigerian generals pocket the funding meant to arm the military. Nigeria's neighbours are also vulnerable to cross-border attacks. So far, they've been more adept at push-back than their wealthier neighbour.

North-eastern Nigeria does not seem to figure top of the agenda for Goodluck Jonathan who is prepared to alter the country's constitution to allow himself to run again for president. There is talk of a multinational force to see whether strength in numbers can reduce the depredations of Boko Haram and cut its territorial gains. The African Union hasn't distinguished itself greatly in the past, in efforts to settle African conflicts. But there is now new talk of the West involving itself.

It can only do so -- if it gathers sufficient interest and momentum to pledge its aid -- with the agreement of the Nigerian government, and it does not seem to be too interested in interference by outside sources to its internal affairs. American and other Western nations' offers of assistance to the Nigerian military, along with training, was received half-heartedly, after the abduction of the 270 schoolgirls and the U.S. training mission was just cut short by edict of Goodluck Jonathan.