Nigeria: Boko Haram attack near Maiduguri April 1

Event

At least 15 people died and 84 others were wounded in coordinated Boko Haram attack near Maiduguri (Borno state) late in the evening on Sunday, April 1. Armed gunmen and suicide bombers attacked a military base on the outskirts of the city as well as two nearby villages. The assault left both military and civilian casualties. Details are still emerging.

Context

Maiduguri is considered the epicenter of Boko Haram terrorist activity. The counterinsurgency effort led by various West African states (Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger) against Boko Haram, which began in 2015, has greatly diminished the extent of Boko Haram's effective territorial control. However, the militant group still routinely carries out deadly attacks, particularly in the northeastern region of the country. In addition to targeting homes in Nigeria's northeastern villages, Boko Haram frequently attacks public venues (markets, places of worship, schools, bars, areas where broadcasts of sports competitions are displayed, etc.) as well as 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).

Advice

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 Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Jigawa, and Kano states) and the southern Niger Delta region (e.g. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). It is also advisable to avoid nonessential travel to Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, and Kaduna states. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas.