May 18, 2011:  Anti-corruption officials are planning to indict nine state governors at the end of the month, when the terms of office (and immunity from prosecution) for outgoing governments expires. Police are on alert, as some of these men may attempt to flee the country, and all will use the millions they stole to avoid punishment. Often that succeeds, but at least the anti-corruption commission is allowed to go after the worst cases. These investigations and prosecutions are increasingly successful. But at this point, the corrupt politicians are still winning.

May 17, 2011: In the northern city of Maiduguri, police have arrested over 150 people suspected of belonging to Islamic terror group Boko Haram. Heavily influenced by the Taliban, Boko Haram has been trying to establish a religious dictatorship in the north, but without much success. Nevertheless, Boko Haram has attracted new recruits, and increased the number of attacks they carry out. Many Moslems in the north believe that only the adoption of Sharia (Islamic law) will solve the problems caused by corruption and bad government.

May 16, 2011: As more troops go looking for members of the rebel NDLF in Delta State, NDLF has agreed to negotiate, and discuss accepting amnesty. NDLF considered the recent elections rigged, but their threats against the government had no effect, other than to bring more troops and police into the area they operated in.

May 15, 2011:  In the northern city of Maiduguri, Boko Haram gunmen fought a 30 minute battle with troops.

May 14, 2011: A roadside bomb went off in the northern city of Maiduguri, killing two people. This was believed the work of Islamic radical group Boko Haram.

May 12, 2011:  Thousands of additional police have been sent to the northern states of Borno, Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau and Kano to deal with increased terrorist activity by Boko Haram.

May 11, 2011: In Delta State, troops clashed with NDLF (Nigeria Delta Liberation Force) gunmen, resulting in ten or more casualties. These rebels are led by John Togo, a former leader of MEND, the now defunct coalition that fought for reform in the oil region. Togo now leads NDLF which is similar, but much smaller, than MEND.

May 9, 2011: Boko Haram denounced an amnesty offer by the government. But some members may accept it, which is how these things usually work.

April 27, 2011: In Delta State, the heart of oil country, the incumbent governor (Emmanuel Uduaghan) was reelected. This was seen as a defeat for tribal rebels, who promised more unrest. Many in Delta State consider  Uduaghan corrupt, but many others see him as a reformer, particularly in light of his long career as a medical doctor.  

April 26, 2011: Three more bombs went off in the northern city of Maiduguri.

April 25, 2011: Three bombs went off in the northern city of Maiduguri, the capital of Bono state. Three died and 14 were wounded. These were believed the work of Islamic radical group Boko Haram.

In the Niger Delta, police found and defused three bombs, apparently related to gangs hired by politicians to influence voting.

April 24, 2011: In northern Kaduna State, police arrested eight men, including a Boko Haram leader, and accused them of building and placing bombs.

April 23, 2011: In the northern city of Kaduna, two bomb makers died when the devices they were building accidentally went off. These two were supplying gangs trying to influence the upcoming parliamentary elections. It turned out that this was also a bomb building school, and one of the students had screwed up.

April 22, 2011:  In the north, Boko Haram gunmen raided and prison and freed 14 men. This is the latest of several Boko Haram prison raids.