2009 Boko Haram uprising

Part of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria July 2013 April 2023 Boko Haram conflict map.png 2009 Boko Haram uprising the Boko Haram insurgency 26–29 July 2009 Nigeria 10.317 9.85 type:event inline The battles began in Bauchi and quickly spread to Maiduguri, Potiskum and Wudil. Bauchi Nigeria Bauchi, Bauchi State Maiduguri, Borno State Potiskum, Yobe State Wudil, Kano State Violence quelled 22px Boko Haram Nigeria state Nigerian Government 22px Mohammed Yusuf22px Abubakar Shekau22px Bakura Doro Presidential Standard of Nigeria (Armed Forces).svg Umaru Yar'Adua Nigeria state Ibrahim GeidamNigeria state Ali Modu SheriffNigeria state Isa YugudaFlag of Nigeria (state).svg Saleh MainaNigeria state Christopher Dega Around 1,000 dead total, mostlyhow many were civilians, how many police, how many BH members? May 2020 civiliansUmar Sani 2011 The Discourses of Salafi Radicalism and Salafi Counter-radicalism in Nigeria : A Case-study of Boko Haram 12 Northwestern UniversityBavier Jow Nigeria: Boko Haram 101 http://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/nigeria-boko-haram-terrorist-group-islam-christian-church-targets-youth-military 13 July 2015 Pulizer Center on Crisis Reporting 17 February 2012 23 August 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150823110758/http://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/nigeria-boko-haram-terrorist-group-islam-christian-church-targets-youth-military dead The 2009 Boko Haram uprising was a four-day armed conflict that took place from 26 to 29 July 2009 between the Islamist militant group Boko Haram and Nigerian security forces across several states in northeastern Nigeria. Fighting broke out in Bauchi before spreading to Maiduguri, Potiskum, and Wudil. Around 1,000 people were killed in total, with approximately 700 deaths recorded in Maiduguri alone. The uprising marked the first major armed confrontation between Boko Haram and the Nigerian state and is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in the development of the broader Boko Haram insurgency. The immediate trigger for the violence was a confrontation between Boko Haram members and security forces at a checkpoint in Maiduguri, though tensions between the group and Nigerian authorities had been building for years, and warnings from local Muslim leaders and military officials had reportedly been ignored. The violence began with a Boko Haram attack on a police station in Bauchi, though President Umaru Yar'Adua later disputed this account, claiming that government forces had acted first on the basis of intelligence about a planned attack. On 30 July, Boko Haram founder and leader Mohammed Yusuf was captured by the military and handed to police, who summarily executed him in public outside police headquarters in Maiduguri. His father-in-law and other suspects were also executed by police. The killings were captured on video and later drew international condemnation. The uprising and the extrajudicial killing of Yusuf are considered defining events in the radicalisation of Boko Haram, transforming it from a localised Salafi sect into a violent jihadist insurgency. Abubakar Shekau, who was initially reported killed during the fighting, survived and subsequently rose to lead the organisation through a prolonged campaign of terrorism across Nigeria and neighbouring countries. Background A government inquiry later found that, while long-standing tensions existed between Boko Haram and the Nigerian Security forces, the immediate cause of the violence stemmed from a confrontation between a group of sect members and joint Task Forces located at custom bridge Gamboru ward in the city of Maiduguri. The Boko Haram members were en route to bury one of their members at the Gwange cemetery. The officers, part of a special operation to suppress violence and rampant crime in Borno State, demanded that the young men comply with a law requiring motorcycle passengers to wear helmets. They refused, and in the confrontation that followed, police shot and wounded several of the men. Attacks and response According to initial media reports, the violence began on 26 July when Boko Haram launched an attack on a police station in Bauchi State. Clashes between militants and the Nigeria Police Force erupted in the states of Kano, Yobe and Borno soon after. But President Umaru Yar’Adua disputed this version of events, claiming that government security forces had struck first:Nigeria: The Boko Haram battle https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/nigeria-boko-haram-battle 7 Sep 2009 Reliefweb 7 September 2009 "I want to emphasize that this is not an inter-religious crisis and it is not the Taliban group that attacked the security agents first, no. It was as a result of a security information gathered on their intention ... to launch a major attack," he said.https://archive.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2009/07/30/hundreds_flee_battle_in_north_nigeria/ Nigeria accused of ignoring sect warnings before wave of killings 8 March 2012 6 August 2009 The Boston Globe Associated Press https://web.archive.org/web/20120725105934/http://articles.boston.com/2009-07-30/news/29265580_1_nigerian-leader-police-station-maiduguri 25 July 2012 live Bauchi On 26 July more than 50 people were killed and several dozen were injured in Bauchi when a firefight erupted as a police station was attacked by 70 Boko Haram members, who were armed with grenades and small arms. One government soldier and 32 Boko Haram militants were killed in the aftermath of the initial attack.https://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSTRE56P0MA20090726 Nigeria forces kill 32 after attack on police station 26 July 2009 27 July 2009 Reutershttp://www.irishtimes.com/news/security-forces-kill-50-in-nigeria-1.843875 Security forces kill 50 in Nigeria 26 July 2009 27 July 2009 The Irish Times registration The government claimed that 39 militants had been killed and confirmed the death of a soldier. Security forces retaliated by raiding the neighbourhoods where the group was entrenched. Isa Yuguda, State Governor of Bauchi, commented: "We have pre-empted the militants. Otherwise the situation would have been bad. I'm calling on all the people of Bauchi to be calm and be rest assured the situation has been brought under control."http://www.oyibosonline.com/religious-riots-in-bauchi/ Religious riots in Bauchi 2009-07-27 Oyibos OnLine en 2020-02-03 Yuguda declared a night-time curfew, and police maintained a visible profile.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8169966.stm Nigerian Islamist attacks spread 27 July 2009 27 July 2009 BBC News Businesses remained open in the area. Maiduguri On 28 July army soldiers reportedly launched an offensive on the compound of sect leader Mohammed Yusuf and a nearby mosque used by his followers in Maiduguri. Troops shelled Yusuf's home in the city after Yusuf's followers barricaded themselves inside.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8172437.stm Nigerian troops shell Islamists 28 July 2009 28 July 2009 BBC News*news.com.au http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,25851473-38195,00.html?from=public_rss Agence France-Presse Sect leader's home shelled 29 July 2009 28 July 2009 2 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090802133205/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C23599%2C25851473-38195%2C00.html?from=public_rss dead http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/AP/story/1161084.html Nigerian troops surround militant hideout 28 July 2009 28 July 2009 Miami Herald October 2010 H3llBot Shots rained across the city. On 30 July, Nigerian security forces killed 100 Boko Haram militants in fighting in Maiduguri. Security forces fought their way into a mosque occupied by militants, raking the interior with machine gun fire. Elsewhere, military and police forces engaged militants in house-to-house fighting. It was initially reported that Boko Haram vice-chairman Abubakar Shekau had been killed, but he was later reported alive.Islamist leader Shekau 'hiding in the desert' http://wwrn.org/articles/33883/ 13 July 2015 Worldwide Religious News 16 July 2010 Nigerian policemen were also killed. After the government declared Maidguri to be secured, Nigerian forces began setting up mortar positions to shell the remaining enemy compound.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/30/nigerian-forces-storm-mosque Nigerian forces storm militant Islamist mosque Smith David 2009-07-30 The Guardian 2020-01-22 Press Associated en-GB 0261-3077 On 30 July, Yusuf was captured by the military and handed over to the police at the police headquarters in Maiduguri. Police officers summarily executed Yusuf inside the compound in full view of public onlookers.Video shows Nigeria 'executions' http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2010/02/2010298114949112.html 27 June 2015 Al Jazeera 9 February 2010 Police officials initially claimed that either Yusuf was shot while trying to escape or died of wounds sustained during a gun battle with the military. The police also executed other Boko Haram suspects, including Yusuf's father-in-law, outside the police headquarters. On 2 August, a group of women and children abducted by Boko Haram were found locked in a house in Maiduguri.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8180257.stm Nigerian police find sect women 2 August 2009 2 August 2009 BBC News The military said a total of 700 people were killed in Maiduguri during the clashes. The Red Cross later said that it had taken 780 bodies from the streets of the city to be buried in mass graves.2003-10-02 Nigeria tops happiness survey en-GB https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3157570.stm 2022-09-28 The media reported that 100 bodies were found beside police headquarters in Maiduguri.27 July 2009 27 July 2009 http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0727/nigeria.html Over 100 dead in Nigerian clashes Raidió Teilifís Éireann 30 July 2009 live https://web.archive.org/web/20090730205254/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0727/nigeria.html Hundreds of people were leaving their homes to escape the violence. A jailbreak was reported but was not immediately confirmed. Several civilian corpses lay in the city's streets; witnesses said they had been shot after being pulled from their cars. The army and police were both on patrol and firing at suspects. Potiskum A gun battle lasting several hours took place in Potiskum on 30 July. Boko Haram militants set a police station on fire using fuel-laden motorcycles. The police station burned to the ground, and a police officer and a fire safety officer were both killed. Police engaged the fighters and wounded several. Police arrested 23 fighters after the battle. According to Nigerian sources, 43 Boko Haram fighters were killed in the shootout.https://www.hrw.org/report/2012/10/11/spiraling-violence/boko-haram-attacks-and-security-force-abuses-nigeria Spiraling Violence Boko Haram Attacks and Security Force Abuses in Nigeria 2012-10-11 Human Rights Watch en 2020-01-30https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/nigeria-rights-worker-says-civilians-being-killed-10-23-2015-012551240 Nigeria: Rights worker says civilians being killed Group Sinclair Broadcast 2009-07-30 WPDE 2020-02-07 Wudil Three people were killed in an attack in Wudil, and police forces made more than 33 arrests. Wudil's senior police officer was injured. Aftermath Islam Online suggests that politics, not religion, was the cause of the violence.http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1248187502404&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout Oriyomi Rafiu Politics Vs Religion in Nigeria Attacks 29 July 2009 29 July 2009 IslamOnline 31 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090731032731/http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1248187502404&pagename=Zone-English-News%2FNWELayout live However, people such as Christian pastor George Orjih were murdered specifically because they refused to convert to Islam.6 August 2009 Ola Timothy http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/aug/06/national-06-08-2009-01.htm Lagos, Nigeria Boko Haram: How 3 pastors were beheaded eyewitness 12 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090812212917/http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/aug/06/national-06-08-2009-01.htm dead The SunHuman Rights Watch Spiraling Violence: Boko Haram Attacks and Security Force Abuses in Nigeria Human Rights Watch 11 October 2012 https://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/10/11/spiraling-violence-0 27 June 2015 Prior to the clashes, many local Muslim leaders and at least one military official had warned the Nigerian authorities about the Boko Haram sect. Those warnings were reportedly ignored.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/aug/02/nigeria-boko-haram-islamist-sect Nigeria accused of ignoring sect warnings before wave of killings 2 August 2009 6 August 2009 The Guardian Associated Press London Violence across several states in northeastern Nigeria resulted in more than 1,000 dead, with around 700 killed in Maiduguri alone, according to one military official. See also Nigeria Bauchi prison break References External links Al Jazeera (9 February 2010), Video shows Nigeria 'executions' Baldauf, Scott (29 July 2009), "Nigerian forces move in on Islamist radicals", Christian Science Monitor Human Rights Watch (2012), Spiraling Violence: Boko Haram Attacks and Security Force Abuses in Nigeria, 11 October 2012 Murtada, Ahmad (2013), Boko Haram: Its Beginnings, Principles and Activities in Nigeria, Islamic Studies Department, University of Bayero, Kano, Nigeria Category:2009 murders in Nigeria Category:2009 mass shootings in Africa Category:2009 riots Category:2000s massacres in Nigeria Category:21st century in Maiduguri Category:21st century in Yobe State Category:Arson in Nigeria Category:Arson in 2009 Category:Attacks on police stations in Nigeria Category:Attacks on police stations in 2009 Category:Battles in 2009 Category:Battles involving Nigeria Category:Bauchi State Category:Crime in Kano State Category:Mass murders in Maiduguri Category:July 2009 crimes in Africa Category:July 2009 in Nigeria Category:21st century in Kano State Category:2009 mass murders Category:Mass murders in Borno State Category:Spree shootings in Nigeria 2009 uprising Category:Mass murders in Yobe State Category:Potiskum Category:Religious riots in Nigeria Category:Terrorist incidents in Africa in 2009 Category:Boko Haram attacks in Borno State Category:Terrorist incidents in Nigeria in the 2000s Category:Terrorist incidents in Yobe State Category:Attacks in Nigeria in 2009 Category:Boko Haram attacks in Maiduguri Category:2000s fires in Africa