Nigeria: Boko Haram attack in Maiduguri April 26

Event

Heavily armed Boko Haram militants launched an attack on the outskirts of the Jidari Polo area of Maiduguri, capital of Borno state (northeast), on Thursday, April 26. According to local sources, the assailants were attempting to enter the Giwa military base, where a number of their associates are being detained. Security forces managed to repel the attack, which involved explosions and heavy gunfire that prompted hundreds of residents to flee the area. No casualties have been reported. Further Boko Haram attacks are likely in the coming days and weeks. 

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. Maiduguri is considered the epicenter of Boko Haram terrorist activity.

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.