Boko Haram Islamists attack Nigerian town, kill hundreds: Report

[morningfog]

MAIDUGURI (Nigeria): An attack by Boko Haram Islamists in a northeastern Nigerian town on the Cameroon border has killed hundreds of people, a local senator and witnesses said on Wednesday.

Senator Ahmed Zanna added that the town of Gamboru Ngala had been left unguarded because the soldiers based there to protect the population had been redeployed north towards Lake Chad in an effort to rescue more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram on April 14.

Gunmen riding in armoured vehicles and on motorcycles stormed the town on Monday and razed much of the area.

Residents said survivors fled when the attack began, with the insurgents firing on civilians as they tried to run to safety into Cameroon.

Casualty figures had remained unclear in the hours after the attack because the town had been overrun by extremist fighters and it was not possible to return to assess the loss of life, witnesses had previously told AFP.

"I have been in constant touch with Gamboru (Ngala)," Zanna said. "From information reaching me from the town, the death toll from the attack is around 300," he added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Boko-Haram-Islamists-attack-Nigerian-town-kill-hundreds-Report/articleshow/34789384.cms

What a terrifying and atrocious act of violence. I hope that something is done to quell the violence, but maintain that the US military has no role in this.

[morningfog]

3. Why in the world would you think praying would help?

[morningfog]

26. I think that is the extent of my role in this.

Hoping it is resolved. I certainly will not support a US military action.

[snooper2]

2. This is what drones are for-

[morningfog]

4. It shouldn't be our drones.

This isn't our fight.

[jwirr]

31. And if the girls are held near the terrorists?

[giftedgirl77]

5. So no military, no drones, no praying....

What do you suggest?

[HooptieWagon]

6. Apparently posting on the internet is "doing something"...

... since US involvement is unacceptable.

[Calista241]

7. You Boko Haram guys are assholes!

There. That should do it.

[HooptieWagon]

9. Maybe their posting priviledges should be revoked?

That'll for sure send them a message.

[morningfog]

11. US military involvement is unacceptable.

I never said the US has no role whatsoever. I also never said I was going to do anything or that there is anything for me to do.

[HooptieWagon]

13. If military involvement to deal with armed thugs is unacceptable...

Then what do you suggest? Send them flowers and a dinner invitation? A nice letter with "pretty please" at the bottom?

[morningfog]

15. We aren't the world's police or military.

US military is unacceptable. Nigeria needs to deal with this, perhaps with neighbors or the African Union.

Try reading the entirety of what I post before you continue with the blithe insults.

[giftedgirl77]

21. Maybe we should request mediation?

That works out really well when dealing with extremists. Perhaps you can moderate?

[morningfog]

22. Maybe it isn't the US military's problem!

Wow, what a thought!

[giftedgirl77]

25. How else do you suggest violent extemist factions

that are responsible for kidnapping hundreds of young girls & countless rapes & murders be dealt with? I would much rather the military deal with human rights situations such as this rather than bullshit like Iraq.

[Bluenorthwest]

42. First step is to stop excusing horrors in Africa because of religion. This did not happen in a

vacuum, for many months, some people have been trying to get the US government to take preventative actions against the growing violence there. Bishops of the Catholic Church have been inciting violence there while DU promotes their chief, Francis, who says nothing to oppose the open calls for blood in the streets and genocides.
I think folks who refuse to take action until an atrocity involving kids happens who then start shouting about waging war are self serving hypocrites.

[giftedgirl77]

47. I didn't say anything about religion.

This should have been addressed a long time ago but wasn't, that doesn't change the fact that it needs to be addressed now.

[HooptieWagon]

27. I read your posts.

You said we should "do something". However, you ruled out every suggested action. OK, what is YOUR suggested course to "do something" when dealing with an armed gang of thug extremists? Should we send them a strongly worded letter? Threaten to cut off their cable TV? Apparently, the only option you'll support is to wring our hands and complain on the internet that we should "do something"... but not actually DO anything.

[morningfog]

29. I never said we should do something.

You should read more carefully. I also have not ruled out every suggested action. I have said that the US military has no role in this.

Then you go back to the inane insults of intelligence.

Slow down, read carefully. I will be even clearer for you since you want to make ridiculous and unsupported inferences. This is Nigeria's problem. These are crimes occurring in Nigeria by a Nigerian organization. I could stop there. This is a problem for Nigeria to solve. If Nigeria cannot do it alone, they should seek the help of their neighbors who have a stake in the outcome, including the neighboring countries, and the AU. I could stop there.

At the most, the US role should be supportive if and when Nigeria determines that it cannot solve the problem on its own or with the AU and then goes to the UN. The US role should be supporting the efforts in passing resolutions in the UN, up to and including the use of force. But, even then, the force need not be US force. In fact, it should not be US force.

[HooptieWagon]

35. In your OP, at the bottom, you said something should be done.

Are you denying what you posted at the very top of the thread?

[morningfog]

36. Jeezus.

You posted: "You said we should "do something"."

My OP said: "I hope that something is done to quell the violence, but maintain that the US military has no role in this."

I fully explained it in the last post that you just responded to, but failed to read apparently. Something should be done, but not by US. I never said "we" should do something. In fact, I said exactly the opposite. "We", particularly the US military should NOT do anything.

If you are past your hang up on reading interpretation, feel free to address the substance, without the blithe insults.

[oldhippie]

49. I totally agree with your approach ....

This is not really our issue. Let the people directly affected address the issue. If they can't, and need help, there are protocols to request it. We are not the world's police force.

[Lizzie Poppet]

34. If Nigeria has to deal with this...

...it's not going to be dealt with. Nigeria isn't far from being a failed state, and if they could deal with Boko Haram, they'd have already done so. I'm not saying that this means it has to be the US that acts to destroy these monsters, but I think relying on Nigeria effectively means "do nothing."

[Comrade Grumpy]

38. I suggest that Nigeria handle its internal problem.

Or find leadership that can. Mr. Goodluck Jonathan seems pretty feckless, much like his military.

[HooptieWagon]

41. Mr Goodluck Jonathan's greatest concern...

... is probably making sure his oil money bribes are safely deposited in Switzerland.

Any country that attempts to "fix" west Africa is stepping in to a quagmire of corruption and nation-building that likely has no satisfactory exit strategy. It is unfortunate, but that is the reality.

[morningfog]

12. I don't know. The international community should try to resolve it,

but the US military has no role.

[Calista241]

14. I'm sure that will be successful.

Given the UN's glowing track record of doing jack shit in Africa.

[morningfog]

16. Still not the US's problem nor is the US military the solution.

[pnwmom]

19. What about a UN force including US troops?

[morningfog]

24. At least it would be legal under international law

and have the support of the international body.

I wonder if that is where it is heading and if that such an agreement could be reached. I would still oppose the US military involvement. We aren't the world's policeman or the world's army. There are other nations closer and more related to the problem in Nigeria. There is simply no reason for the US to be muscle in this.

[pnwmom]

32. I haven't heard anyone asking for the US to "muscle in."

I don't think the US should do anything except upon the request of the Nigerian government. But what if it asks for military help? What should our response be? I'm not suggesting that I know. I'm asking what others think.

International law wouldn't have anything to do with any military help requested by Nigeria, would it?

[Bluenorthwest]

45. The Nigerian government is responsible for crimes against humantiy themselves.

Crimes that are supported by many on DU, in fact. The fact that folks here are feigning anger about this crime, when they did not give a shit about the murdered school boys, the hunted and murdered gay population or the ongoing and open pogroms there is in my opinion definitive of the hypocrisy of those who thought it was ok to have anti gay genocides. It was never ok. And the lack of compassion from the DU community until this story broke has been towering.

[pnwmom]

46. The Boko Haram murdered the school boys. I think many are afraid the same thing

could happen to these girls, so I don't see it as "feigned anger" as much as "enough is enough."

[jwirr]

33. When 911 happened many of us wanted to respond by using law enforcement instead of military

because they can and do target the enemy instead of the country. I am glad we are sending the FBI to coordinate the search for these terrorists. I think our world would be a lot different if we had gone that way back then.

[Comrade Grumpy]

37. Maybe the Nigerian security forces do something, anything?

[Chuuku Davis]

48. Very doubtful

Without assistance

[951-Riverside]

8. (smh) Africa...

needs to do something about these guys before more innocents get hurt.

[FarCenter]

10. Nigeria is another artificial nation created by the British Empire

It should have been partitioned along tribal lines following independence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Civil_War

[Xithras]

17. If African's had been allowed to draw their own borders....

...Africa would have far more nations today.



The borders and nations we see today are arbitrary lines drawn by European powers who drew them to satisfy European interests.

FWIW, the map above was created by an artist and historian who tried to determine what would have happened to Africa if Europe had never become a colonial power. Similar tribes are combined, assuming that the similarities would have led to alliances that built nations. Borders were also drawn along language lines, presuming that people with very different languages wouldn't have been able to communicate well enough, or have reason, to build common nations.

[FarCenter]

23. Great map! Thanks.

[muriel_volestrangler]

30. Is there a version with the print the right way up?

It's fine to say that, to stop looking at it the typical way, put south at the top - but then that should be done, so the text is readable.

[brooklynite]

39. ...and a lot of them would be fighting with each other...

...over land, water, coastal access, natural resources....

Sometimes people have to learn to get along and work together.

[Xithras]

40. Everyone from Napoleon to Hitler believed that Europe should be unified. Everyone else disagreed.

I'm sure there would have been wars, just as there are wars in Europe, but there is nothing wrong with the idea that ethnic and culturally unique peoples have a right to their own nation-state. France and Germany are different nations for a reason. Russia and Ukraine are different nations for a reason. The United States and Mexico are different nations for a reason. Could you theoretically combine the United States and Mexico into a single nation and have the people get along? Sure, but why would you want to? Why not allow ethnically, culturally, and historically distinct people to have their own nations, where their own best interests can be represented?

Africa was invaded and conquered by outsiders, their native governments were obliterated, and they were forcefully subjugated under new nations created by those invaders. They should be under no obligation to abide by those borders or remain within them if a particular group chooses to leave.

[LanternWaste]

43. To a greater or a lesser degree than in the here and now

To a greater or a lesser degree than in the here and now, seems to be a relevant qualifier to the question.

[chrisa]

18. "Not our fight" - Agreed.

How would the US go about fighting Boko Haram? Invading Nigeria? Sending a neutered "peace keeping" force? I don't think anyone wants that, especially after Somalia.

[seveneyes]

28. It sounds like the citizens do not have weapons to defend themselves

Helpless, and at the mercy of those who would kill, rape and torture them.

[Chuuku Davis]

44. Machetes

Against armed troops generally loses