MARCH 2017 EARLY WARNING ISSUE NO.2 BULLETIN Adamawa & Borno States, Nigeria March 2017 Introduction: Attacks by members of Boko At least thirteen Local identified in the month were: Haram and its splinter Government Areas (LGAs) sexual and gender basedviolence group-Islamic State West Africa namely Damboa, Chibok, targeted at both male and female Province (ISWAP) were the Magumeri, Gubio, Marte, minors; humanitarian risks highest threat to peace and Askira-Uba, Ngazai, Mafa, Bama, including fire incidents and security in Adamawa and Borno Kounduga, Monguno, Maiduguri protest by internally displaced states in the month. Twenty and Jere recorded an incident. persons among others. insurgent attacks were recorded Damboa LGA recorded at least in the early warning hub in four attacks, Magumeri and Adamawa State recorded month; these included attacks Konduga LGAs recorded two on local communities, attacks on each while Jere, Mafa and an attack in Madagali highways in the state, suicide Maiduguri recorded several local government area bomb explosions, attacks with suicide bomb explosions. (LGA) while the remaining improvised explosive devices, Several military offensives nineteen attacks were in alleged abduction among others. against insurgents led to arrest, The number of attacks recorded destruction of logistical bases, Borno state; no insurgent in the month increased in release of captives and attack was recorded in comparison with the sixteen surrender of some Adamawa in February recorded in February 2017. insurgents.Other risk factors Map of Borno State (left) and Adamawa (right) showing incident spots 1 Risk I: Insurgent attacks on communities: Chart: Target/ victims of incident attacks Boko Haram and ISWAP members’ attacks on local communities accounted for about 30% of insurgent attacks recorded in the month The attack on Kumburu village in Madagali LGA of Adamawa state was the first attack recorded in the state since January 14 2017 At Kumburu, Boko Haram were dropped on a bush path by humanitarian crisis in the state members reportedly looted the the village. Damboa LGA and inhibited the capacity of community but did not attack recorded several attacks in the villagers to restart their lives. any of the residents. Madagali month; ISWAP members LGA borders Gwoza LGA in reportedly attacked a military Borno state and recorded post in Sabon Gari village and While military intervention frequent movement of looted of a pharmacy and a is critical to winning the insurgents allegedly moving from petroleum products retail war against insurgency, it Sambisa forest to Madara Hills shop.On 30 March, Boko haram and Nigeria’s border with members attacked Dole village must be complemented Cameroon. In Borno State, Boko and killed at least eight people, with non-military,soft Haram members reportedly food supplies were looted and approaches for successful attacked Gurganguan village in unspecified number of houses and sustainable outcomes. Askira-Uba, looted food stuffs were burnt down in the attack. and burnt down houses; fifty people were reportedly With the adoption of the recent displaced as a result of the United Nations Security Council attack. Increased Boko Haram attack (UNSC) Resolution 2349 (2017) on on communities in Konduga addressing the presence and and Damboa LGAs will likely activities of Boko Haram and the On March 19, about ten Islamic State in Iraq and the trigger forced movement of suspected Boko Haram members Levant (ISIL) in the Lake Chad vandalized a non-governmental residents from the LGAs region it is expected that the organization’s water and similar to the current situation situation in the Northeast and sanitation (WASH) project site in in Dikwa LGA. region will effectively on global Kimeri village of Konduga LGA agenda and would contribute to and stole three solar panels. Two improved support to initiatives residents of the community were that could address the situation killed while food supplies and The LGAs could also become holistically. other goods were stolen from the recruitment community for Boko community. Wanori and Kalari Haram if further attacks were Abdulle villages in Konduga LGA not prevented. Despite the were attacked on March 25; six activities of formal and people were abducted by the non-formal security operatives, insurgents who also rustled Konduga and other LGAs undisclosed number of cattle. outside Maiduguri metropolis Three of the abductees were continued to record attacks on reportedly killed and the bodies villages in a vicious cycle that 2 Risk II: Suicide bomb attack: Suicide bomb attacks accounted that white Hilux vehicles allegedly insurgents to infiltrate LGAs for 30% of insurgents’ attacks in dropped suicide bomb carriers in outside the metropolis especially the month and it recorded the the metropolis. Police confirmed as security operatives were highest number of casualties of ongoing investigation of the claim. increasingly successful in all attacks. On March 15 and 18, Beyond the attacks in different LGAs intercepting suicide bomb about seven suicide bomb in Maiduguri metropolis, two major carriers and mitigating attacks in carriers attacked Jere LGA in suicide bomb explosions were the metropolis. Maiduguri metropolis, ten recorded in Damboa and Monguno people including the carriers LGAs. The attack on an internally died in the incidents while about displaced persons’ camp in Abbari twenty-six people sustained area of Monguno reportedly killed different degree of injury. Attack three people and injured ten while on Mafa LGA, also in the the one at a social event in Wass metropolis, reportedly killed the village in Damboa LGA killed ten three bombers and injured ten people and injured seventeen people, while two attempts in others.Suicide attack outside Maiduguri killed just the five Maiduguri metropolis is reemerging suicide bomb carriers. During a and suggested possible increased dialogue held in the month, movement and capacity of residents of Mafa LGA claimed Graph: Frequency vs. Type of incident Most of the attacks in the metropolis occurred during curfew hours of 10pm and 6am. Inclusion of community members in patrol was highlighted as a way to mitigate future attacks. Risk III: Attacks on highways: About 21.7% of recorded to the multinational joint taskforce and injured a solider. Beyond insurgents’ attacks in the month (MNJTF) also ran over embedded attacks on security operatives, were on highways. These included explosive along Gulumba-Gana several attacks on civilian attack with embedded improvised road in Bama LGA; a soldier was commuters were recorded along explosives as reported on killed and twelve others were roads in Borno state. These Mafa-Dikwa highway in Mafa LGA. injured in the incident. The March included attack on commuters The explosion reportedly killed 29 clash between military men along Malle- Gubio road in two members of civilian Joint Task and insurgents on Mafa-Dikwa Magumeri LGA; attack on Force (CJTF). A vehicle belonging highway killed one insurgent and commercial vehicles along 3 About 21.7% of recorded and injured a solider. Beyond insurgents’ attacks in the month attacks on security operatives, were on highways. These included several attacks on civilian attack with embedded improvised commuters were recorded along explosives as reported on roads in Borno state. These Mafa-Dikwa highway in Mafa LGA. included attack on commuters The explosion reportedly killed along Malle- Gubio road in two members of civilian Joint Task Magumeri LGA; attack on Force (CJTF). A vehicle belonging commercial vehicles along Chibok-Askira road; alleged supplies, extortion and even ambush and looting of trucks siphoning petrol/gas from conveying food supplies along vehicles.There recent military Attack on civilians on Biu-Damboa road among operations in Sambisa forest highways was a shift from others.ambush and looting of reportedly pushed insurgents to the situation in February trucks conveying food supplies peripheral forest around when most of the attacks along Biu-Damboa road among communities and highways and others. These attacks mostly gave them easy access to attack on highways were on targeted civilians and were commuters and loot supplies. military convoys and associated with looting of food security operatives. Risk IV: Attack on security operatives and counter offensive: The largest and most daring On March 6, the Nigerian Air Force Another eight women and eight insurgent attack in the month (NAF) reportedly bombed a children were rescued by the 82 was carried out by over three logistics base of Boko Haram in Battalion of the army and handed hundred members of ISWAP on a Sambisa forest, another logistic over to Pulka Gwoza IDP military barrack and police base was destroyed at Kala-Balge camp.Beyond the killings and station in Magumeri LGA of LGA while an improved explosive arrests, the sustained operations Borno State. The insurgents device factory was destroyed in of the military increased the reportedly killed security Konduga LGA. The military number of defected and operatives and burnt down the reportedly killed members of surrendered Boko Haram military barrack, police station Boko Haram members that members in the month. The No. and some houses in the town, no attacked the military barrack in 253 person on Nigerian Army’s civilian casualty was recorded in Magumeri and recovered large Wanted Boko Haram Terrorists’ the incident. cache of arms and ammunition; poster-Bulama Mohammed several others were killed in a duel Metele- reportedly surrendered A warehouse for an international at Chikun Gudu where fourteen to security operatives at Damasak non-government organization members were also arrested. days after nine high profile Boko was reportedly looted in the Military operation in Dikwa LGA on Haram members from Tambashe incident and looted food March 11 rescued 211 civilians village in Dikwa LGA surrendered supplies were shared with held captive by Boko Haram at to military operatives on community people.On March 7, Murye and Mala Maja villages. Dikwa-Gulumba-Gana. troops moving towards Sa’ada village in Marte LGA were The rescued persons were reportedly ambushed by a large screened and admitted to IDP number of Boko Haram camp in the LGA.