4. Introduction
4.6 Targets and Tactics
The group’s major targets include the security outfit of the Nigerian government such as the army and police; and the Christian (largely Igbos) minorities in the north and central regions of the country; and the Muslim political and religious elites in northern Nigeria. As with most terrorist attacks, victims of Boko Haram’s carnage are also random and indiscriminate; hence, Muslims are also not spared. There is an angle of vendetta to the group’s target of the Nigeria security agencies, particularly the police which partly has to do with the so-called extra- judicial killing of the Muhammad Yusuf while in police custody (Ajayi, 2012; Cook, 2013).
Meanwhile, Sani (2011) observed that the sect always targeted the police from its very inception due to the different disagreement that has led to confrontation between the two. The general public has been promised to be spared from attack unless they take side with the state which the sect considers is behind all the illegalities committed against Muslim (cited in Onapoja and Uzodike, 2012:27). However, the great number of civilian causalities so far contradicts the sect’s claim to be merely against the state and its security agency. Other major targets include churches, supermarkets, shops, and banks. In line with its anti-secular and anti-Christian standpoint, Boko Haram have directed its attacks on schools or universities, singling out Christian students for execution (Cook, 2013: 11). Southerners are prime target for promoting the western ideas. As the group once declared “We promise the West and Southern Nigeria, a horrible pastime. We shall focus on these areas which is the devil empire
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and has been the one encouraging and sponsoring Western Civilization into the shores of Nigeria” (cited in Onapajo and Uzodike, 2012:328)
Initially the group attacked its ‘enemies’ with machetes, club and small arms. This changed with time as the different sophisticated gadgets such as Molotov cocktail and simple improvised explosive device (IED) became increasing employed by the sect in its terrorist activities (Stewart, 2013).50 Suicide bomb, Motorcycle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (MVEID) Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) have been eventually added to the group tactical repertoire thus making them more dangerous, lethal, and intractable, thus, recording notable success rate in its attacks (Thomson: 2012:53). In Table 4.1 below for instance, Onuoha (2012c) illustrates some reported incidences of suicide bombing carried out by Boko Haram between June 2011-November2012. He pointed out that based on the US Joint IED Defeat Organization records, the number of IEDs attacks in Nigeria jumped from the 52 incidents in 2010 to about 196 incidences in 2012 that is nearly a fourfold jump.
Other incidences within 2012 include: the suicide attacks on South Africa’s MTN and India’s Airtel in the city of Kano on 22rd of December; the suicide attacks outside a police station in Maiduguri on 8th June, killing four people; the suicide attack at a catholic church in Bauchi on the 23rd of September which killed a woman and a child, and the list goes on (Online Nigeria News, 31 December 2012).51
Table 4.1: Some Reported Suicide Bombings mounted by the Boko Haram (June 2011- Nov 2012)
Date Attacker Mode Target(s) Effects
16 June 2011
Mohammed Manga (35 years old)
VBIED (ash- coloured Honda 86)
Police Headquarters, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
At least 7 people were killed, about 33 vehicles were burnt beyond recognition and over 40 others damaged beyond repair
26 August 2011
Mohammed Abul Barra (27 years old)
VBIED (Honda Accord car)
UN House, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The explosion killed 24 persons and injured over 100 others. The building houses over 400 staff of 26 UN humanitarian and
50 According to Onuoha (2012b) These IEDS are usually constructed with the use of explosive substances such as Trinitrotoluene (TNT), Pentaerythritol (PETN) and Ammonia (fertilizers), among others. This tends to suggest the presence of highly trained personnel’s in the use manipulation of chemical, among the group.
51 Available at: http://news2.onlinenigeria.com/headline/234057-a-summary-of-all-the- boko-haram-attacks-in- 2012.html
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development agencies. It was the sect’s first attack on an international organization 4
November 2011
26-year-old Abi Yusuf
VBIED (black Jeep)
JTF headquarters in Maiduguri, Borno State
The suicide bomber and a soldier died in the attack at the JTF headquarters 26 April
2012
Umaru Mustapha and another unnamed suicide operative
VBIED (Honda Accord (Academy)
SOJ Global Plaza, which houses The Sun, This day and Moments Newspapers, at Ahmadu Bello Way, Kaduna, Kaduna State
The first suicide bomber exploded his car at the SOJ Global Plaza, killing three persons and injuring 25 others. The second suicide bomber (Umaru Mustapha) whose car did not explode was handed over to the police 30 April
2012
Names not disclosed or reported
Motorcyle borne Improvised Explosive device (MBIED)
The convoy of Taraba State Police Commissioner, Jalingo, Taraba State
Three suicide bombers riding motorbikes rammed into The convoy of the Police
Commissioner, killing at least 11 people
3 June 2012
Name not disclosed or reported
VBIED (Honda Civic car)
Harvest Field of Christ Church in Yelwa area of Bauchi, Bauchi state
A suicide bomber drove into the church premises, killing at least 21 people and injuring 45 others.
13 July 2012
Name not disclosed or reported
A 15-year-old suicide bomber laced his body with explosives (BBIED)
the Shehu of Borno, AlhajiIbn Abubakar Umar Garbai Elkanemi, and the deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Zanna Umar
Mustapha
At least five people and the suicide bomber died in the attack at the central mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State
3 August 2012
Name not disclosed or reported
BBIED (a suicide bomber laced his body with
explosives)
The Emir of Fika Alhaji Mohammed AbaliIbn Muhammadu Idrissa, at Potiskum mosque, Yobe State
Six people including three civilians, the emir's police orderly and two other policemen sustained various degrees of injuries while the suicide bomber died in the incident
16 August 2012
TBIED (a tricycle, popularly known as Keke NAPEP)
A patrol vehicle of the JTF in Custom area of Maiduguri
The suicide bomber on a bomb-laden tricycle missed his target and rode into a moving Mercedes Benz car.
The blast killed the suicide bomber and a civilian, while two other people including a soldier sustained injuries 25
Novembe r 2012
VBIED (a Bus and Toyota Camry car
St. Andrews Protestant Church, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna
The first suicide bomber rammed a bomb-laden bus into the wall of the church while the second explosion came about 10 minutes later, killing about 50 people and injuring several others Source: Onuoha (2012c)
Albeit cases of suicide bombs have been less in 2013 compared to the previous year, perhaps due to the intensified crackdown from the security agencies especially since the declaration
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of the state of emergence, a number of suicide bombing have been recorded in 2013. In fact, the sect has changed its tactics, by now packaging their IED in disguising gadgets like schools bags for suicide bombing, a tactics which according to JTF was probably copied from the attack in Boston, United States, in April that killed three and injured many.52