Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Monday, March 03, 2014

Signs of a failing state?

Terror attacks have been increasing in Nigeria. According to this BBC report, the attacks have become daily occurrences. Is this terrorism a threat to the government? the state?

We should also remember that neither President Jonathan nor the army is popular in northeastern Nigeria.

Nigeria's Boko Haram and military 'kill' many in Borno

At least 117 people have been killed in northern Nigeria since Friday in attacks by Islamists and government forces, residents and an MP said.

Two bombings in Maiduguri, the main city in Borno state, and a raid on a nearby village by suspected militants killed 97 people, residents said.

Another 20 people were killed when the military launched an air raid on a village, a lawmaker said…

Thousand of people have been killed in the conflict and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes.

On Saturday night, suspected Boko Haram fighters reportedly destroyed the entire village of Mainok, about 50km (30 miles) west of Maiduguri.

The militants attacked the village with assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and explosives, residents said…

Earlier on Saturday, two bombs exploded in a densely populated area of Maiduguri - a city which Boko Haram has often targeted.

The first bomb was concealed inside a truck full of wood. As people tried to rescue victims the second explosion occurred…