Nigeria: Bombs, Bullets And Islamic Terrorism

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November 3, 2010:  In the Niger Delta, troops were sent into Warri, where there has been an increasingly violent struggle between corrupt politicians and anti-corruption groups. The latest surveys of international corruption put Nigeria even closer to the bottom (where the most corrupt nations reside), at 134 out of 178 countries. Anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria has met stiff resistance (lawyers, guns and money, as appropriate) from corrupt officials. Prosecutions are few, and convictions even more rare.

October 31, 2010:  In the Niger Delta, the navy blocked an attack on an oil facility by members of MEND, and arrested 18 of the attackers.

October 30, 2010: In the port of Lagos, police opened 13 sealed containers, that had been there since July, and found them full of weapons. The shipping documents said the contents were supposed to be buildings materials. Further investigation found that the containers originated in Iran, and it was suspected that they were ultimately headed to the Palestinian radical group Hamas, in Gaza.

October 29, 2010:  In the Niger Delta, explosives were used to attack a major oil pipeline. This was the first major attack since the amnesty program and peace agreement went into affect a year ago.

October 27, 2010: Another flare up of violence in central Nigeria left six women and children dead, as Moslem raiders attacked a Christian village and looted it. There have been several such incidents this year, and hundreds of additional police were moved to the city of Jos and the surrounding area to help prevent a cycle of revenge attacks from spiraling out of control.

October 25, 2010: Niger delta rebel group MEND not only took responsibility for bombings in the capital earlier this month, but threatens more. The government believes that only a small number of MEND members are involved in this violence, but it uncertain about when, or if, the bombers will be captured.

In the north, Islamic terror group Boko Haran is believed responsible for killing a policeman manning a checkpoint.

October 24, 2010: In the north, Islamic radical group Boko Haran attacked a police station, causing a gun battle, but few casualties. One of the attackers was killed, and others may have been wounded. Boko Haran is being blamed for some robberies, and attacks on police, as the extremist group attempts to fund itself anyway it can. After the attack on the police station, more than a hundred additional police were sent to the area to search for the terrorists.

October 22, 2010: In the north, Boko Haran posters are appearing in some towns, warning people not to work with the police against the Islamic radical group. Boko Haran fancies itself an African Taliban, determined to establish a religious dictatorship that will eliminate corruption and force Nigerian Moslems (and maybe Christians as well) to live virtuous lives. This is a popular appeal with many Nigerians, but most people want nothing to do with more extremists.

 

 

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