Violence in Nigeria

Nigerian Army: We have killed 438 IS men and seized 300 Starlink receivers

After the US bombs against IS strongholds in Nigeria, the army reports its own work against terrorism in the country. Over the past seven months, the military has killed 438 terrorists from the Islamist Boko Haram and IS-linked ISWAP, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar told the Nigerian Daily Post.

They have also reportedly seized 300 Starlink receivers that provide internet access via satellite and 254 weapons, and freed 366 captured civilians. 881 IS fighters have reportedly surrendered and surrendered.

– We can no longer tolerate their abuses against the Nigerian people, says army chief Waidi Shaibu during a visit to the front in Sokoto to the Nigerian The Guardian.

He urges soldiers to continue “sending the terrorists to their creator”.

Analyst: US attacks do not help Nigeria

The purpose of the US attacks in Nigeria appears to be to appease an audience at home, several analysts tell the Washington Post.

Donald Trump justifies the bombings by saying that there is mass murder and persecution of Christians in Nigeria. This is a greatly simplified picture, according to the organization Acled, which monitors global conflicts. Nigeria does indeed have a problem with radical Islamism, but according to the Financial Times, Acled's data shows that the victims are both ordinary Muslims and Christians.

- The symbolism of talking about Christians is hard to miss. There is a political angle, says Africa analyst James Barnett.

The attacks during the night of Friday also seem to have missed their target, says security analyst Mustapha Alhassan. According to testimonies, several missiles hit fields outside the relatively quiet village of Jabo.

- If they hit their targets, Nigerians would welcome this. But it does not seem like that is happening, so what is the real purpose? says Alhassan.