Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Death Toll In Nigeria Unclear After Recent Battles With Boko Haram



Conflicting Death Tolls In Nigeria Violence -- Al Jazeera

Army insists just 36 people, not hundreds, died in last month's battle with Boko Haram group in northern Borno state.

New evidence obtained by Al Jazeera suggests the number of people killed during recent fighting in northern Nigeria may be much higher than officially reported.

In the violence's aftermath, the number of people killed during the April 16 clash between Nigerian security forces and the armed group Boko Haram was subject to wildly conflicting reports.

Boko Haram is an armed, radical group fighting against Western influence in the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria.

It wants to introduce Islamic law in the areas in which it has influence.

The Nigerian army is standing by its claim that no more than 36 people died during the fight in Baga, a town in Borno state, and that the vast majority of victims were members of Boko Haram.

Local politicians and residents say as many as 200 people, largely civilians, died in the violence, a claim supported by aid organisations.

Read more ....

More News On Recent Battles Between Nigerian Forces And Boko Haram Groups

Baga raid: Satellite images 'show Nigeria army abuse' -- BBC
Rights Group Suspects Nigerian Military of Covering Up Violence -- Voice of America
HRW: Images Show 'Massive Destruction' in Nigerian Town -- Voice of America
Nigeria: Satellite Imagery Shows 2,275 Houses Burnt in Baga, Human Rights Watch Say -- allAfrica.com
Clashes in Nigeria’s Baga Left ‘Massive Destruction,’ HRW Says -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Nigeria pledges justice as pressure over killings grows -- Chicago Tribune/Reuters
Stories Emerge Of Nigerian Massacre That Killed Hundreds -- NPR
Witnesses describe soldier attacks in assault that left at least 187 dead in Nigeria -- Washington Post/AP

No comments: