Nigeria: Boko Haram attacks village in Borno state April 22

Event

Security officials confirmed that suspected Boko Haram militants conducted an attack near the town of Gamboru (Borno state) on Sunday, April 22. According to local witnesses, 18 people were killed while collecting firewood. In a separate incident, a civilian vehicle traveling near an army convoy hit a mine near the village of Wumbi. At least three people were killed and another 11 wounded in the blast.

Context

The northeastern region of Nigeria is highly susceptible to attacks by Boko Haram, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) in March 2015 and formally adopted the name of Islamic State in West Africa. While Nigerian military forces advanced against Boko Haram insurgents last year and pushed them out of much of their previously claimed territory, attacks by the insurgent group have again been on the rise since June 2017.

Advice

The security environment in Nigeria is complex and particularly poor 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.