PsB
Citizen of Nowhere™
I think this needs a separate thread. As the Guardian asks, why did the world ignore Boko Haram's attacks?
The Guardian sort of answers the question:
"Reporting in northern Nigeria is notoriously difficult; journalists have been targeted by Boko Haram, and, unlike in Paris, people on the ground are isolated and struggle with access to the internet and other communications. Attacks by Boko Haram have disrupted connections further, meaning that there is an absence of an online community able to share news, photos and video reports of news as it unfolds."
In another parallel with CH, this is not the first attack on Baga. There was a big attack in 2013 that killed about 200 civilians and destroyed 2000 houses. This latest attack seems to have started out as a full-on assault on the Nigerian Army's barracks in Baga. Once that had fallen, BH went on to destroy the town and neighbouring villages. Nobody knows exactly how many people have been killed this time. Estimates vary from 150 (NG government) to 2000.
Part of the problem seems to be the Nigerian government's extreme reluctance to communicate on the subject, ahead of elections scheduled to take place in a few weeks' time. 70% of the province is said to be under BH control, so it doesn't look good for the central government's grip on the situation. The Nigerian president has condemned what happened in Paris but has not said a word about Baga.
Anyway, it is the top headline in Le Monde's international section today. Lots of articles on the BBC website, for instance this one. Lots of articles on the subject for anybody who cares to look.
The Guardian sort of answers the question:
"Reporting in northern Nigeria is notoriously difficult; journalists have been targeted by Boko Haram, and, unlike in Paris, people on the ground are isolated and struggle with access to the internet and other communications. Attacks by Boko Haram have disrupted connections further, meaning that there is an absence of an online community able to share news, photos and video reports of news as it unfolds."
In another parallel with CH, this is not the first attack on Baga. There was a big attack in 2013 that killed about 200 civilians and destroyed 2000 houses. This latest attack seems to have started out as a full-on assault on the Nigerian Army's barracks in Baga. Once that had fallen, BH went on to destroy the town and neighbouring villages. Nobody knows exactly how many people have been killed this time. Estimates vary from 150 (NG government) to 2000.
Part of the problem seems to be the Nigerian government's extreme reluctance to communicate on the subject, ahead of elections scheduled to take place in a few weeks' time. 70% of the province is said to be under BH control, so it doesn't look good for the central government's grip on the situation. The Nigerian president has condemned what happened in Paris but has not said a word about Baga.
Anyway, it is the top headline in Le Monde's international section today. Lots of articles on the BBC website, for instance this one. Lots of articles on the subject for anybody who cares to look.
