Hundreds of Thousands of Nigerians Flee Boko Haram, Seek Sanctuary

mbig · Aug 12, 2014

Everyone thought there would be a crackdown after the 200 Girls were kidnapped.
Mebbe, but the Jihadis of Boko Haram are in anything but retreat.
While the world focuses on ISIS, Boko is clearing hunks of Northern Nigeria, a good part of Africa's most populous country.
Countless refugees, including farmers who grow alot of the country's food.
Islamists are doing alot of damage to non-Muslims in Nigeria (and Elsewhere) while we focus on the Middle East.
Christians are under attack in many Islamic areas.

Hundreds of Thousands of Nigerians Flee Boko Haram, Seek Sanctuary
Forced Migration Is Expected to Strain Everything From Public Services to Food Security
PATRICK MCGROARTY in Johannesburg/GBENGA AKINGBULE in Abuja, Nigeria
WSJ - Updated Aug. 12, 2014 12:57 p.m. ET
Hundreds of Thousands of Nigerians Flee Boko Haram, Seek Sanctuary - WSJ

Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians fleeing Islamist militants are searching for sanctuary, say government and international relief officials, the latest fallout from Boko Haram's campaign to seize the northeast of Africa's most populous country.

....Boko Haram has made the surrounding Borno state the epicenter of its insurrection against Nigerian soldiers, Christians and—increasingly—civilians who stand in its way.

"They are streaming over the hillsides," said Borno state Governor Kashim Shettima of the civilians who are trying to escape the violence. Mr. Shettima said Nigerian officials and multinational agencies are sheltering 40,000 people in schools that had already closed because the insurgency had made them unsafe for students. In the past year, up to a million people have fled to the state capital of Maiduguri, he said, lodging with relatives and in tents at the city's limits.

The forced migration from Nigeria's violence is expected to strain everything from public services to food security, as a weak central government struggles to beat back the emboldened Islamist insurgency.

Boko Haram aims to impose Islamic law and has been targeting vigilante militias and the military that stand in its way. Insurgents have killed nearly 3,000 people this year, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The turmoil has spilled across Nigeria's porous border with Cameroon, where about half of the 10,000 residents of the town of Kolofata have fled since a suspected Boko Haram raid there two weeks ago.
[........]
Manzo Ezekiel, a spokesman for Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency, estimated that 3 million Nigerians are facing "serious humanitarian challenges" because a breadwinner has been killed in the turmoil or they are too scared to plant the crops they will need to survive through the dry season.

At the same time,the number of farmers fleeing their land poses a threat to the country's food supply, say aid workers. "There's palpable fear that there may be food scarcity in the region yet this year," said Nwakpa Nwakpa, a spokesman for the Red Cross in Nigeria.
[........]
But the army has shown little sign that it is capable of turning the tide as northeastern Nigeria has slipped deeper into lawlessness. Despite a global campaign drawing attention to more than 200 schoolgirls the militants abducted in April, the military has struggled to make much public progress toward their release.
[........

cpwill · Aug 12, 2014

mbig said:
Everyone thought there would be a crackdown after the 200 Girls were kidnapped.
Mebbe, but the Jihadis of Boko Haram are in anything but retreat.
While the world focuses on ISIS, Boko is clearing hunks of Northern Nigeria, a good part of Africa's most populous country.
Countless refugees, including farmers who grow alot of the country's food.
Islamists are doing alot of damage to non-Muslims in Nigeria (and Elsewhere) while we focus on the Middle East.
Christians are under attack in many Islamic areas.

Hundreds of Thousands of Nigerians Flee Boko Haram, Seek Sanctuary
Forced Migration Is Expected to Strain Everything From Public Services to Food Security
PATRICK MCGROARTY in Johannesburg/GBENGA AKINGBULE in Abuja, Nigeria
WSJ - Updated Aug. 12, 2014 12:57 p.m. ET
Hundreds of Thousands of Nigerians Flee Boko Haram, Seek Sanctuary - WSJ

But....But...But... We had the Hashtag Campaign! People, like, retweeted it and put it on their facebook pages and everything!!!

mbig · Aug 13, 2014

cpwill said:
But....But...But... We had the Hashtag Campaign! People, like, retweeted it and put it on their facebook pages and everything!!!

Hashtag didn't work/was never going to work, because they're in relatively remote areas and Govt Troops in Nigeria stink even in the best of circumstance.

Grant · Aug 13, 2014

mbig said:
Everyone thought there would be a crackdown after the 200 Girls were kidnapped.
Mebbe, but the Jihadis of Boko Haram are in anything but retreat.
While the world focuses on ISIS, Boko is clearing hunks of Northern Nigeria, a good part of Africa's most populous country.
Countless refugees, including farmers who grow alot of the country's food.
Islamists are doing alot of damage to non-Muslims in Nigeria (and Elsewhere) while we focus on the Middle East.
Christians are under attack in many Islamic areas.

Hundreds of Thousands of Nigerians Flee Boko Haram, Seek Sanctuary
Forced Migration Is Expected to Strain Everything From Public Services to Food Security
PATRICK MCGROARTY in Johannesburg/GBENGA AKINGBULE in Abuja, Nigeria
WSJ - Updated Aug. 12, 2014 12:57 p.m. ET
Hundreds of Thousands of Nigerians Flee Boko Haram, Seek Sanctuary - WSJ

Hard to believe that the religion of peace is at it again.

Grant · Aug 13, 2014

mbig said:
Hashtag didn't work/was never going to work, because they're in relatively remote areas and Govt Troops in Nigeria stink even in the best of circumstance.

Michelle will be disappointed to hear that.

AliHajiSheik · Aug 13, 2014

It is easier said than done, but what would the story be if it were: "Hundreds of Thousands of Nigerians attack Boko Haram"

DVSentinel · Aug 13, 2014

mbig said:
Everyone thought there would be a crackdown after the 200 Girls were kidnapped.
Mebbe, but the Jihadis of Boko Haram are in anything but retreat.
While the world focuses on ISIS, Boko is clearing hunks of Northern Nigeria, a good part of Africa's most populous country.
Countless refugees, including farmers who grow alot of the country's food.
Islamists are doing alot of damage to non-Muslims in Nigeria (and Elsewhere) while we focus on the Middle East.
Christians are under attack in many Islamic areas.

Hundreds of Thousands of Nigerians Flee Boko Haram, Seek Sanctuary
Forced Migration Is Expected to Strain Everything From Public Services to Food Security
PATRICK MCGROARTY in Johannesburg/GBENGA AKINGBULE in Abuja, Nigeria
WSJ - Updated Aug. 12, 2014 12:57 p.m. ET
Hundreds of Thousands of Nigerians Flee Boko Haram, Seek Sanctuary - WSJ

Instead of fleeing like cowards, maybe they should find a backbone and a gun and fix the damned problem.

US Conservative · Aug 13, 2014

Terrorism on the run my ass. Boko is the ISIS of Africa. The world is really burning under Obama.

ecofarm · Aug 13, 2014

DVSentinel said:
Instead of fleeing like cowards, maybe they should find a backbone and a gun and fix the damned problem.

Guess who controls gun possession. It's nonsense to presume a random group of people lack the 'backbone' to fight for themselves.

US Conservative · Aug 13, 2014

DVSentinel said:
Instead of fleeing like cowards, maybe they should find a backbone and a gun and fix the damned problem.

Easy to say.

tech30528 · Aug 13, 2014

ecofarm said:
Guess who controls gun possession. It's nonsense to presume a random group of people lack the 'backbone' to fight for themselves.

An important point for our anti gun "friends" to consider.

ecofarm · Aug 13, 2014

AliHajiSheik said:
It is easier said than done, but what would the story be if it were: "Hundreds of Thousands of Nigerians attack Boko Haram"

The story would be:

Tens of thousands of Nigerians die attacking better armed terrorists.

Like Syria.

US Conservative · Aug 13, 2014

tech30528 said:
An important point for our anti gun "friends" to consider.

What could go wrong? The govt will take care of you! :doh

tech30528 · Aug 13, 2014

US Conservative said:
What could go wrong? The govt will take care of you! :doh

Yup. Just ask the Kurds.

Not to get too far off subject, but there is something I couldn't figure out about the people trapped on the mountain in Iraq. If they were able to send a helicopter to supply them, why couldn't they send a gunship and just kill all the ones at the bottom of the mountain?

US Conservative · Aug 13, 2014

tech30528 said:
Yup. Just ask the Kurds.

Not to get too far off subject, but there is something I couldn't figure out about the people trapped on the mountain in Iraq. If they were able to send a helicopter to supply them, why couldn't they send a gunship and just kill all the ones at the bottom of the mountain?

Im not an expert, but there are few gunships, and ISIS has anti-air missiles. Also, ISIS is staying in towns and cities-they aren't out in the open.

Heres an interesting photo thread, and someone has just posted an interesting video of these people-I believe they worship the sun, and only exist in a few isolated pockets of "kurdistan".
Civil Unrest in Iraq - 2013/14 (Read first post) - Page 7

Grant · Aug 13, 2014

ecofarm said:
Guess who controls gun possession. It's nonsense to presume a random group of people lack the 'backbone' to fight for themselves.

That might be a lesson for Americans.

Hamster Buddha · Aug 13, 2014

Grant said:
That might be a lesson for Americans.

I'm coming late to the party, but how so?

Lursa · Aug 13, 2014

This is what happens when only governments and terrorists have weapons.

donsutherland1 · Aug 14, 2014

mbig said:
Everyone thought there would be a crackdown after the 200 Girls were kidnapped.
Mebbe, but the Jihadis of Boko Haram are in anything but retreat.
While the world focuses on ISIS, Boko is clearing hunks of Northern Nigeria, a good part of Africa's most populous country.
Countless refugees, including farmers who grow alot of the country's food.
Islamists are doing alot of damage to non-Muslims in Nigeria (and Elsewhere) while we focus on the Middle East.
Christians are under attack in many Islamic areas.

Hundreds of Thousands of Nigerians Flee Boko Haram, Seek Sanctuary
Forced Migration Is Expected to Strain Everything From Public Services to Food Security
PATRICK MCGROARTY in Johannesburg/GBENGA AKINGBULE in Abuja, Nigeria
WSJ - Updated Aug. 12, 2014 12:57 p.m. ET
Hundreds of Thousands of Nigerians Flee Boko Haram, Seek Sanctuary - WSJ

Nigeria is increasingly a failing state, has an impotent army (poorly trained, lack of morale, lack of commitment to the nation state, etc.), and widespread political corruption and cronyism. That's a bad combination. Nigeria isn't quite Somalia, but it's on a trajectory in which its deteriorating institutions are becoming increasingly dysfunctional. A leadership change might be a catalyst for breathing new life into the government as the current President is hapless and often out of touch with the realities facing Nigeria, but the chronic institutional decay will need to be remedied if Nigeria is to be turned around. A dramatic restructuring of the military will also be needed, as the military's performance against Boko Haram makes it abundantly clear that in most head-to-head battle situations Boko Haram would rout Nigeria's armed forces. Given some recent encounters, the fight would not even be close. This is a dangerous situation.

Grant · Aug 14, 2014

donsutherland1 said:
Nigeria is increasingly a failing state, has an impotent army (poorly trained, lack of morale, lack of commitment to the nation state, etc.), and widespread political corruption and cronyism. That's a bad combination. Nigeria isn't quite Somalia, but it's on a trajectory in which its deteriorating institutions are becoming increasingly dysfunctional. A leadership change might be a catalyst for breathing new life into the government as the current President is hapless and often out of touch with the realities facing Nigeria, but the chronic institutional decay will need to be remedied if Nigeria is to be turned around. A dramatic restructuring of the military will also be needed, as the military's performance against Boko Haram makes it abundantly clear that in most head-to-head battle situations Boko Haram would rout Nigeria's armed forces. Given some recent encounters, the fight would not even be close. This is a dangerous situation.

It's not possible to turn Nigeria around, it just won't happen, and in fact there are no strong nations left in the world that aren't Islamic. Perhaps in Russia or China they may be stopped, or slowed down, but this is the first time in recorded history that the western nations have been this weak. With Boco Haram on one side, ISIS on the other, and little response from the democracies, we can only see this trend continue.

mbig · Aug 14, 2014

donsutherland1 said:
Nigeria is increasingly a failing state, has an impotent army (poorly trained, lack of morale, lack of commitment to the nation state, etc.), and widespread political corruption and cronyism. That's a bad combination. Nigeria isn't quite Somalia, but it's on a trajectory in which its deteriorating institutions are becoming increasingly dysfunctional. A leadership change might be a catalyst for breathing new life into the government as the current President is hapless and often out of touch with the realities facing Nigeria, but the chronic institutional decay will need to be remedied if Nigeria is to be turned around. A dramatic restructuring of the military will also be needed, as the military's performance against Boko Haram makes it abundantly clear that in most head-to-head battle situations Boko Haram would rout Nigeria's armed forces. Given some recent encounters, the fight would not even be close. This is a dangerous situation.

Let's face it, despite it's oil wealth, it's just another sub-Saharan disaster.
Ring me when they get a govt.

donsutherland1 · Aug 14, 2014

mbig said:
Let's face it, despite it's oil wealth, it's just another sub-Saharan disaster.
Ring me when they get a govt.

Tragically, you're correct. Abundant natural resources are no guarantee of good or even competent governance.

Hundreds of Thousands of Nigerians Flee Boko Haram, Seek Sanctuary

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Hundreds of Thousands of Nigerians Flee Boko Haram, Seek Sanctuary

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