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Red Cross: At Least 187 Civilians Killed As Nigeria Soldiers Battle Boko Haram
http://www.africaeagle.com/2013/04/red-cross-at-least-187-civilians-killed.html
Fighting between soldiers and Islamic extremists in northeast Nigeria killed at least 187 people, the worst single incident of violence in the region since an insurgency there began three years ago, an aid agency said Monday.
Nigeria's military blocked access for relief officials to enter the town of Baga, which sits along the shores of Lake Chad in the nation's far northeast, said Nwakpa O. Nwakpa, a Red Cross spokesman.
Another 77 people are receiving medical care there in the ruins of a town where some 300 homes burned down, he said. Local residents blamed angry soldiers for burning down neighborhoods where they knew civilians were hiding.
"Our volunteers are on standby," Nwakpa said. "We are yet to be provided clearance."
The fighting in Baga began Friday and lasted for hours, sending people fleeing into the arid scrublands surrounding the community.
By the time Borno state officials could reach the city Sunday, a local government official said at least 185 people were killed, something not disputed by a brigadier general who attended the visit.
Officials could not offer a breakdown of civilian casualties versus those of soldiers and extremist fighters. Many of the bodies had been burned beyond recognition in fires that razed whole sections of the town, residents said. Those killed were buried as soon as possible, following local Muslim tradition.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed shock and sadness at the high civilian casualty toll and large number of homes destroyed and called on extremist groups to cease their attacks, U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said.
"The secretary-general reiterates his firm conviction that no objective sought can justify this resort to violence," Nesirky said. "He underscores the need for all concerned to fully respect human rights and safeguard the lives of civilians."
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who appeared at an event Monday on the nation's power supply at the Aso Rock presidential villa in the country's capital, did not comment on the killings.
Members of the Islamic extremist network Boko Haram used heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades in the assault Friday, which Brig. Gen. Austin Edokpaye said began after soldiers surrounded a mosque they believed was housing Boko Haram members. Extremists earlier had killed a military officer, officials said.
The military said extremists used civilians as human shields during the fighting — implying that soldiers opened fire in neighborhoods where they knew civilians lived.
However, local residents who spoke to an Associated Press journalist who accompanied the state officials said soldiers purposefully set the fires during the attack.
Violence by security forces in the northeast targeting civilians has been widely documented by journalists and human rights activists. A similar raid in Maiduguri, Borno state's capital, in October after extremists killed a military officer saw soldiers kill at least 30 civilians and set fires across a neighborhood.
Eric Guttschuss, a researcher with Human Rights Watch who studies Nigeria, said his organization continued to study what happened, though it already had deep concerns about the allegations surrounding the soldiers' conduct.
"We are investigating this extremely serious incident," he said. "In the past, Nigeria has simply denied or tried to cover up security force abuses."
Another 77 people are receiving medical care there in the ruins of a town where some 300 homes burned down, he said. Local residents blamed angry soldiers for burning down neighborhoods where they knew civilians were hiding.
"Our volunteers are on standby," Nwakpa said. "We are yet to be provided clearance."
The fighting in Baga began Friday and lasted for hours, sending people fleeing into the arid scrublands surrounding the community.
By the time Borno state officials could reach the city Sunday, a local government official said at least 185 people were killed, something not disputed by a brigadier general who attended the visit.
Officials could not offer a breakdown of civilian casualties versus those of soldiers and extremist fighters. Many of the bodies had been burned beyond recognition in fires that razed whole sections of the town, residents said. Those killed were buried as soon as possible, following local Muslim tradition.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed shock and sadness at the high civilian casualty toll and large number of homes destroyed and called on extremist groups to cease their attacks, U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said.
"The secretary-general reiterates his firm conviction that no objective sought can justify this resort to violence," Nesirky said. "He underscores the need for all concerned to fully respect human rights and safeguard the lives of civilians."
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who appeared at an event Monday on the nation's power supply at the Aso Rock presidential villa in the country's capital, did not comment on the killings.
Members of the Islamic extremist network Boko Haram used heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades in the assault Friday, which Brig. Gen. Austin Edokpaye said began after soldiers surrounded a mosque they believed was housing Boko Haram members. Extremists earlier had killed a military officer, officials said.
The military said extremists used civilians as human shields during the fighting — implying that soldiers opened fire in neighborhoods where they knew civilians lived.
However, local residents who spoke to an Associated Press journalist who accompanied the state officials said soldiers purposefully set the fires during the attack.
Violence by security forces in the northeast targeting civilians has been widely documented by journalists and human rights activists. A similar raid in Maiduguri, Borno state's capital, in October after extremists killed a military officer saw soldiers kill at least 30 civilians and set fires across a neighborhood.
Eric Guttschuss, a researcher with Human Rights Watch who studies Nigeria, said his organization continued to study what happened, though it already had deep concerns about the allegations surrounding the soldiers' conduct.
"We are investigating this extremely serious incident," he said. "In the past, Nigeria has simply denied or tried to cover up security force abuses."
If a civilian intentionally coexist with a militant, then the civilian becomes a militia or terrorist as the case may be.
ReplyDeletethosee civillians were protecting members of the sect. I dont think there was any humannnn right abuse there.. If yyou have been there you would understand what i am talking about. The locals know the boko haram members but protecting them.
ReplyDeleteI concur. They are all terrorists for covering And harbouring them
ReplyDeleteThere are always war casualties in a war situation. How do you call militants killed in Action as civilians? These are extremist I call wolfs in sheeps clothing. The people must stop shielding this miscreants by giving information to the government for their prompt arrest or assault.
ReplyDeleteIts a disturbing turn of event in the wake of a propose amnesty.
ReplyDeleteHow do call militants killed in action as civilians? I believe those killed were miscreants with weapons using civilians as human shield. The populace must rise to give info so that these bad elements can be flushed out from the system
ReplyDeleteNo doubt abt conspiracy bw the sect and civilians to unleash terror to christians and soldiers alike. It is abt time Northern leaders and Noethern generals both active and retiered to step up to the plate.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite an unfortunate situation... Though, it should be know by all and sundry that; even in the international rules of Military engagement, civilians are bound be casualties in a complicated situation where they (Civilians) are used as shield to attack their adversaries. In the case of Nigeria-Biafran way, the number of civilian casualties is yet to be ascertained even as @ this date... So who is shouting foul?? The option, usually is to vacate areas where Citizens observe the inflow and presence of Islamic militant or extrimist... Imagine if it were a US drone that was used to terminate the terrors, wouldn't the number of casualties be much?? If one insist on living with a thief, he/she certainly knows what is therein!
ReplyDeleteThey are now talking human rights. The Terrorists were well known by those civilians and they didn't bat an eye. Now the full wrath of the law has visited that community and there are collateral damages, we are talking about rights.. I think there is a lesson; The same terrorists the civilians tried to protect by their silence put them at the war front and used them as shields. Terrorists should be SQUASHED! not negotiating or co existing with them. Since they have lost every bit of humanity in them!
ReplyDeleteWhether boko haram or no boko haram, what the military did is totally in human.And a gross misconduct,by burning civilian houses who have nothing to do with the said sect.All those partake in the excise should be court marshalled and punished accordingly
ReplyDeleteyou have time to report when is the military but can not even say a word when Christians are being killed or send parking out some local Government in Borno state
ReplyDeleteMay be the Red Cross Society are also Boko Haram. What kind of mentality do we have? A whole town was burnt down, and '187 innocent civilian killed! Even the military did not deny that they did that. Nobody have the justification of killing a single innocent soul, be it BH or army, talkless of these massacre. We condemn any killing of innocent people regardless of their religious inclination, be it by the Boko Haram or JTF.
ReplyDeleteWhen boko haram and fulanis attack villages and destroy them, there are no human rights abuses. Now there are casualties which they claim to have buried and we are crying wolf. If it is as bad as this picture is painted, there will be nobody to bury the dead. If the 'civilians' are not boko haram, they should stop shielding and accommodating them. They should also provide information to law enforcement agents to track down the lawless sect
ReplyDelete