Petroleum Africa
Find us on: 
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Violence erupted once again in northern Nigeria on January 25 when Nigerian troops clashed with suspected Boko Haram insurgents in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri. Reports out of the country have more than 200 combatants killed in the clash, mainly insurgents according to soldiers and civilian fighters.
Maiduguri is the birthplace of Boko Haram and has been attacked many times.
Maidgururi was not the only site of violence over the weekend, insurgents also carried out “scorched-earth attacks” in the Adamawa state to the south of Maiduguri. A report from the Guardian cited survivors as saying that the insurgents tore through villages slitting throats of residents, looting and burning homes, and abducting dozens of trapped women and children.
Adamawa state legislator AdamuKamale appealed for troops to protect civilians in Michika, where six villages were under attack. “The attacks have continued since Friday with no presence of security operatives,” he said in the Guardian report.
The government was said to be mounting air attacks on another town northeast of Maiduguri, Monduno. The Boko Haram seized the town on the morning of January 25.
These latest attacks come on the run up to Nigeria’s presidential election and while US Secretary of State John Kerry is in Nigeria to promote peaceful elections.
“This will be the largest democratic election on the continent,” Kerry said. “Given the stakes, it’s absolutely critical that these elections be conducted peacefully — that they are credible, transparent and accountable.”
Kerry met with Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan and his opponent in the elections, MuhammaduBuhari. Speaking to reporters after the meetings Kerry said he won pledges from both to refrain from violence. Just in case the loser or even the winner’s supporters resorted to violence Kerry warned that anyone inciting post-election violence would be barred from entering the US. And as a carrot Kerry promised the Nigerian government US support as relates to Boko Haram if the elections were peaceful and democratic.
" alt="First LNG Realized at the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim Project">
" alt="United Energy Acquires Western Desert Producer APEX">
" alt="Baker Hughes Announces Major Gas Technology Orders for Venture Global LNG">
" alt="ReconAfrica: Naingopo Results Demonstrate a Working Petroleum System">
" alt="Tullow Highlights 2025 Operational Plans in Ghana">
" alt="TotalEnergies to Supply 1.5 TWh to STMicroelectronics in France Over 15 years">
" alt="Rockhopper Reaches Final Settlement with United on Egypt’s Abu Sennan Concession">
" alt="Oil & Gas Crucial for African Growth: AEC Calls for Industry Support to Defend African Market">
