For a man who promised to lead the fight against Boko Haram from the front line, the failure so far of president Muhammadu Buhari to visit the scenes of various terrorists attacks which has so far occurred since may 29 2015, leaves many supporters and Nigerians alike in utter bewilderment. As at last count a total of 700 hundred Nigerians have been killed by escalating Boko Haram insurgency.
A ruthless campaign of violence by the Boko Haram sect has devastated Nigeria's northeast. The group's five-year insurgency has taken a terrifying toll on an impoverished region where incumbent president Muhammadu Buhari, during election campaign alleged is being politically marginalized.
Buhari, had accused the former president of being insensitive to the plight of Borno over the insecurity and flood disaster, alleging that the state and its people were neglected and abandoned by the Federal Government.
The leader of #Bring Back Our Girls Campaign group , Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, who is a friend of the Buhari administration said at that the failure of President Goodluck Jonathan to visit the family and relatives of terrorist attacks shows insensitivity to the plight of the people in the community.
Prior to Buhari’s trip to Washington the group has been silent on the need for the President to visit insurgent hotspots or condole with families of various attacks since he assumed office.
The surge in attacks began after President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the military command center for the war on Boko Haram to be moved from Abuja, the capital in central Nigeria, to Maiduguri, at the heart of the insurgency.
As Buhari arrives in Washington top on the agenda is the issue of security and his administration’s effort since he took over power. Just hours after the Boston marathon bomb attack, President Obama went to Massachusetts General Hospital to visit victims of the terror bombings and their families and thank hospital staff for their efforts in a morale boosting visit for a city in shock and mourning.
Buhari, who will meet with President Obama at the White House on Monday, July 20, will later hold further discussions with the Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey and the Deputy Secretary of Defence, Robert Work on military and defence cooperation.
Mid-week President Buhari is expected to be a guest at the United States Institute for Peace, USIP, where experts are expected to hear from him about the renewed insurgency attack in the country,especially as more women are dying in 'Suicide' Attacks targeted at innocent citizens.
Suicide bombs have killed at least 64 people in multiple blasts in the northeastern towns of Gombe and Damaturu, scaring people into staying home during the Muslim Eid al-Fitr celebration, with recent wave of attacks spreading to the central city of Jos and the northern cities of Kano and Zaria.
Speaking with Per Second News in North West, Washington, DC , Dr Dave Goldberg, a top defense expert said that “Military advances, important as they are, will not by themselves bring an end to terrorism in Nigeria. This struggle must go forward on many fronts, including by addressing the conditions that are conducive to the spread of terrorism”.
“Turning to the terrorist hotspots, with visits will foster important progress towards stability”.
“But to secure these gains and prevent the group’s resurgence, a lot more needs to be accomplished with respect to the rule of law, development and the country’s political transformation, Goldberg concluded Sunday morning in Washington.
Some Insurgency attacks since May 29th 2015
Friday, May 29th 2015- Borno: 7 people were killed and over 30 injured at a village wedding venue in Tashan Alade area by twin explosions. The bomb according to a witness seems to have been planted near the scene and detonated with a remote control.
Saturday, May 30th 2015-Maiduguri: 13 people, 5 children, 2 women and 6 men were killed when rocket propelled grenades exploded into several homes before dawn. A resident said he counted at least 40 thunderous blasts that began around 1.am.
Saturday, May 30th 2015- Maiduguri: 17 people including the bomber were killed when a bomb went off inside a mosque at Ali kotoko road near Monday market. Totaling 30 deaths on May 30th. The bomber was pushing a wheel barrow, pretending to be an itinerant trader when he joined them and detonated.
Sunday, May 31st 2015- Maiduguri: 4 people were injured by a bomb blast at the Morumoru market near the Customs House. Officials said it was caused by a concealed improvised explosive device.
Tuesday, June 2nd 2015-Maiduguri: 50 people died when a bomb exploded at a busy meat market. The bomb was concealed under a butcher’s table in the market and went off at about 1.pm killing shoppers and travelers.
Tuesday, June 2nd 2015- Maiduguri: 20 people were reportedly killed by a suicide bomber. The male suicide bomber blew himself up at Gamboru cattle market. NEMA said it was 10 people.
Tuesday, June 2nd 2015- Maiduguri: 5 people died and 8 injured when a suicide bomber attacked an abattoir at 11:30 am. The bomber was shouting “Sai Buhari” and dancing and when people gathered around him, he detonated the IED strapped to his body.
Wednesday, June 3rd 2015-Baga Maiduguri: 8 soldiers were killed outside Brigadier Maimalari Barracks during the evening rush. The suicide bomber exploded the car as soldiers were checking it out.
Thursday, June 4th 2015- Maiduguri: 2 killed and 3 others injured by a female suicide bomber at a checkpoint at about 4:15pm near Army barracks. The female suicide bomber wore a veil, concealing the explosives on her body and detonated beside a checkpoint at the outskirt of the city.
Thursday, June 4th2015- Yola, Adamawa state: 10 people were killed and 30 injured when a bomb blast rocked Jimeta main market in Yola, Adamawa state. The blast suspected to be from a suicide bomber occurred at about 7:45pm when traders were closed for the day and heading home.
Thursday, June 4th 2015- 90 km from Maiduguri: 37 people were killed when Suspected Boko Haram gunmen raided five villages. The militants arrived on motorcycles and four- wheel drive vehicles, fired shots into houses and shot fleeing locals Wednesday evening and early Thursday.
Monday, June 15th 2015- Potiskum, Yobe state: 10 people were killed by a twin suicide attack. The first one occurred at 12:15 pm in Igwanda area while the second was at a brothel in Dowara area. The victims were vigilante members who suspected the bomber to be a thief and took him to their office for interrogation when he could not explain how he came about the things in his possession. 8 of them were killed including their commander when the bomber detonated.
Monday, June 22nd 2015-Maiduguri: 30 people killed when a female suicide bomb blew up herself near a crowded mosque. One teenager exploded as she approached the mosque crowded with people from nearby Baga Road Fish Market, performing their afternoon prayers. The second teen ran away and detonated, killing only herself.
Monday, June 22nd 2015-Yobe state: 10 killed and 30 injured in a crowded market at Wagir Village when a 12 year old girl detonated explosives.
Thursday, July 2nd 2015-Maiduguri: 12 persons were killed and 13 injured by multiple suicide attacks in some parts of the state. The first was a female suicide bomber at Malari village along Bama/Konduga highway who killed herself by the bomb strapped to her body alongside seven others while the second was also a female suicide bomber who killed herself and three others along Alao Dam Road near Bama/ Konduga highway.
Sunday, July 5th 2015- Yobe state: 6 people including a male suicide bomber were killed at a local branch of Redeemed Christian Church of God along Bauchi road in Potiskum town. The bomb went off when worshippers were observing the Sunday service.
Sunday, July 5th 2015 Jos: 44 people were killed and 67 injured in twin blast explosions. 20 people died in the first explosion at shagalinku restaurant while 24 people died in the second explosion at Yan Taya Mosque along Bauchi road.
Monday, July 6th 2015 Kano: A teenage suicide bomber killed herself at about 9:30 pm when she was denied entrance into the Umar Bin Khatab Mosque after (Tarawih) prayers. She alighted from a bus and attempted to enter the mosque but was prevented before she blew her self up.
Tuesday, July 7th 2015- Kaduna: 26 people were killed and 33 injured at Sabon Gari Local government secretariat Zaria. Victims were mostly workers that were undergoing verification exercise including a two-year – old child.
Wednesday, July 8th 2015-Borno: 3 people were killed and 5 injured by two suspected female suicide bombers at Sabon Gari Market in Damboa at about 11.am.
Saturday, July 11th 2015-Maiduguri: 1 was killed and 4 injured when a suicide bomber early Saturday morning detonated at around Department of State Security. He was driving a three wheeled vehicle.
Sunday July 12th 2015-Jos: 1,000 people escaped death as an explosion rocked Tudun Wada (ECWA) church at about 10:43am
Over 30 Nigerians lost their lives in Eid Fitr attacks in Yobe and Borno state.
By Gift Olivia Samuel in Abuja and Stella Igwe-Adesoga in New York
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