AFRICA Still Able to Inflict Damage in OE Watch Commentary: The Boko Haram insurgency in northeastern Nigeria has entered its tenth year, and the Nigerian army has had mixed results in fighting the group. Boko Haram is still able to inflict significant damage, especially on civilians, even as the military is winning battles elsewhere in northeastern Nigeria, as evidenced by the two accompanying excerpts from local sources.

The first excerpted article in Punch, a popular Nigerian publication, discusses military attitudes after the military conducted several clearing operations in villages in northeastern Nigeria’s and some Boko Haram commanders surrendered to the military. The Nigerian soldiers recovered weapons from Boko Haram fighters and uncovered their hideouts. After the operations concluded, a Nigerian general stated that the army was moving toward final victory over the insurgents and more insurgent enclaves and hideouts would be struck with artillery. Despite this, the article also pointed out that the military found the insurgents had sophisticated battle trenches to ward off army offensives. Nigerian Army Boko Haram demonstration. Source: VOA/Nicolas Pinault via Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nigerian_Army_Boko_Haram_demonstration.jpg CC by SA 2.0 On the other hand, just over one week after the article was published, Boko Haram carried out one of the largest massacres in years in Gubio, Borno State. According to another widely read Nigerian publication, Vanguard, more than 80 villagers were killed while others were injured and taken captive by Boko Haram’s Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-loyal faction. Cattle and other livestock were also stolen. End OE Watch Commentary (Zenn)

“Troops of Army Super Camp 11 Gamboru uncovered a Boko Haram criminals’ hideout with well-constructed battle trenches.”

Source: “Boko Haram built battle trenches in Borno community –DHQ,” Punch, 2 June 2020. https://punchng.com/boko-haram-built-battle- trenches-in-borno-community-dhq/

The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, says troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have uncovered battle trenches built by the Boko Haram terrorists in Isari community in the Gamboru Local Government Area of Borno State. The Defence Media Operations in a press statement also said some top Boko Haram members surrendered to troops and were undergoing profiling. The DMO Coordinator, Maj Gen John Enenche, said, “As the military inches closer to the final defeat of insurgency in the North-East region, more Boko Haram surrender amidst sustained artillery bombardments and offensive onslaught against their enclaves and hideouts. “Troops of Army Super Camp 11 Gamboru uncovered a Boko Haram criminals’ hideout with well-constructed battle trenches. Another Boko Haram fighter, Adamu Yahaya, surrendered to troops of the 242 Battalion.

Source: “Boko Haram kills 80 in Borno, bandits hit Katsina, rape women, kill 40,” Vanguard, 10 June 2020. https://www.vanguardngr. com/2020/06/insecurity-as-boko-haram-kills-80-in-borno-bandits-hit-katsina-rape-women-kill-40/

As Borno confirmed 81 deaths, Katsina recorded 40, with many sustaining degrees of injuries. Houses were reportedly burnt down and dozens of women raped.

OE Watch | August 2020 78