AFRICA Boko Haram Convoy Attack Undermines Election

OE Watch Commentary: On 23 February Nigeria held presidential elections Source: “Survivors narrate ordeal after Boko Haram that were considered successful, notwithstanding a one-week postponement, attacked Shettima’s convoy,” The Guardian, 15 February and some allegations of misconduct in the administering of the elections. While 2019. https://guardian.ng/news/survivors-narrate-ordeal- Muhammadu Buhari won the election, his party’s governor in Borno State, after-boko-haram-attacked-shettimas-convoy/ Kashim Shettima, was embroiled in controversy after the Islamic State in Iraq and Boko Haram terrorists attacked the convoy of Governor Syria (ISIS)-loyal faction of Boko Haram attacked his convoy near Maiduguri in Kashim Shettima of Borno State, killing four persons the week before the election. According to the accompanying excerpted article and abducting dozens of people along Dikwa-Ngala from Nigeria’s The Guardian, the attack brought to light significant flaws in the road at about 6:35p.m. The governor was in the convoy management of security in the region. of about 100 vehicles, when the insurgents attacked the Based on interviews with survivors, the article found the convoy included around second half of vehicles heading to Gambouru-Ngala for 100 vehicles, but only the latter half of the convoy was targeted; the governor a campaign rally. The second batch, numbering over 50, himself was in the front half of the convoy so he was not directly affected by the were conveying security personnel, politicians, women attack. Those attacked, however, included security officers, politicians and their and top government officials, before insurgents struck at family members, the press and some civilians. One of the problems the convoy Logoma village. As the travelers scampered for safety, faced, according to the article, was that the road was not smooth, which prevented eight vehicles were also seized by the insurgents, along the vehicles from a quick escape. Moreover, sand dunes surrounded the road, which with the abduction of over three dozens into the bush. made it difficult to drive away once the convoy came under attack. There were also Muhammadu Abubakar, another survivor, told The some issues with permissions because the convoy generally would not travel that Guardian that a Civilian JTF member was shot in the late at night, but under pressure from the governor the military fatefully let it pass head, including a soldier and three civilians. A Gajibo checkpoints. military source also said, “There were 10 vehicles carrying over 100 people that were trapped and The article also indicates that casualties were greater than the government stranded after the multiple attacks,” adding that the initially admitted. Several civilian vigilantes and district heads, for example, were security situation was brought under control up to the killed while dozens of other members of the convoy are suspected of having been time the governor returned to Maiduguri. kidnapped. A number of vehicles were also stolen and destroyed. Survivors had to walk a long distance to a nearby military base for safety until they could return to Maiduguri. The attack therefore, clearly put a stain on an otherwise imperfect but passable election season and demonstrated that key roads in northeastern Nigeria remain under threat from the militants. End OE Watch Commentary (Zenn) “There were 10 vehicles carrying over 100 people that were trapped and stranded after the multiple attacks.”

Nigerian Army Boko Haram demonstration. Source: Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nigerian_Army_Boko_Haram_demonstration.jpg. OE Watch | April 2019 50