Nigeria: UN convoy ambushed in Borno state Dec. 16

Event

Boko Haram members attacked a UN World Food Programme (WFP) aid convoy, being escorted by the military, near Ngala (Borno state) on Saturday, December 16. The WFP have stated that four people were killed in the attack, while the army has stated that six terrorists were killed. Some of the surviving assailants managed to steal a truck carrying food aid. An investigation is ongoing to determine the whereabouts of the truck.

Context

The counterinsurgency effort led by West African states (Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger) against Boko Haram, which began in 2015, has greatly diminished the extent of the group’s effective territorial control. However, Boko Haram still routinely carries out deadly attacks, particularly in the northeastern region of the country. Boko Haram frequently attacks private homes in villages, public venues (markets, places of worship, schools, bars, areas where broadcasts of sports competitions are displayed, etc.), security forces, and governmental buildings. The group's modus operandi frequently includes suicide bombings and kidnappings (regularly followed by assassinations and targeting primarily foreign nationals).

Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) in March 2015 and formally adopted the name of Islamic State in West Africa. Al-Barnaoui, son of Mohammed Yusuf - the founder of Boko Haram - was nominated by IS in August 2016 to replace Abubakar Shekau, leader of Boko Haram since 2009. Since then, the two leaders have been leading dissident factions with divergent ambitions, Al-Barnaoui blaming Shekau for massacring civilians rather than focusing on military targets.

Advice

Generally speaking, the security environment in Nigeria is complex and is particularly concerning in the northeast and extreme south of the country due to the presence of armed groups, high crime rates, and the risk of kidnapping. Some Western governments consequently advise against travel to certain areas of the northeast (e.g. states of Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, and Jigawa as well as parts of Kano and Adamawa states) and the southern Niger Delta region (e.g. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas.