NIGERIA

 

 

NIGERIA

August 2013

THE U.S. 

COMMISSION ON 

INTERNATIONAL 

RELIGIOUS 

FREEDOM

was created by the 

International 

Religious Freedom Act 

of 1998 to monitor the 

status of freedom of 

thought, conscience, 

and religion or belief 

abroad, as defined in 

the Universal 

Declaration of Human 

Rights and related 

international 

instruments, and to 

give independent policy 

recommendations to 

the President, 

Secretary of State, 

and Congress. 

732 N. Capitol St. N.W. ,

Suite A714

Washington, D.C. 20401

Phone: (202) 786-0613

Communications@uscirf.gov

www.uscirf.gov

Nigeria: August 2013

Boko Haram’s 

Religiously-Motivated 

Attacks

Factsheet

Map from U.S. Department of State, Nigeria, http://www.state.gov/p/af/ci/ni/

For more than a decade, the U.S. Commission on International Religious 

Freedom (USCIRF) has reported on the continuing violations of religious 

freedom and religiously-related violence taking place in Nigeria. In 2009, 

USCIRF recommended for the first time that the U.S. government designate Nigeria a “country of particular concern” (CPC) for the Nigerian government’s failure to address at both state and federal levels ongoing, egregious and systemic religious freedom violations that have resulted in over 

14,000 deaths from sectarian violence since 1999. The majority of religious freedom violations have resulted from religiously-motivated violence 

in the northern and Middle Belt states, as well as the implementation of 

Shari’ah law in the 12 northern states. 
1

In the past two years, Boko Haram has become the primary perpetrator of religiously-related 

violence and gross religious freedom violations in Nigeria. Boko Haram’s targets include 

churches, individual Christians, Muslim critics, and persons engaged in behavior deemed “unIslamic,” as well as northern elders, schools, police stations, government buildings, newspapers, 

and banks. International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in November 2012 and again 

in August 2013 stated that there is a “reasonable basis” to believe that Boko Haram has committed 

crimes against humanity in Nigeria. Since January 1, 2012, Boko Haram’s religiously-motivated 

attacks have included:

 50 churches that either were bombed, burned, or attacked, killing at least 366 persons;

 31 separate attacks on Christians or southerners perceived to be Christian, killing at least 

166 persons;

 23 targeted attacks on clerics or senior Islamic figures critical of Boko Haram, killing at 

least 60 persons; and

 21 attacks on “un-Islamic” institutions or persons engaged in “un-Islamic” behavior, killing 

at least 74.

Boko Haram (a Hausa-language name northern Nigerians gave to the militants that means “western 

education is a sin”) originated in northern Nigeria’s Yobe and Borno states in 2002 and is now a 

dangerous threat to Nigeria’s stability. The group regards the federal and northern state 

governments, as well as the country’s political and religious elites, as morally corrupt. It further 

rejects the West and the secular state, seeking the universal implementation of “pure” Shari’ah law 

to resolve the ills northern Nigerian Muslims face. While the 12 northern Nigerian states already 

apply Shari’ah in their jurisdictions, Boko Haram believes that it has been corrupted by politicians 

for their own purposes. 

In July 2012, USCIRF released a factsheet, Religious Freedom Violations and Religious Violence 

in Nigeria. This factsheet updates the earlier report and documents Boko Haram attacks on 

churches, individual Christians, Muslim critics, and persons engaged in “un-Islamic behavior” 

from July 2012 to July 2013. 

The information in this factsheet was garnered from the reports by U.S.-based non-governmental 

organizations that track violence in Nigeria, international news wires, and Nigerian media. Only 

attacks claimed by or attributed to Boko Haram that are reported in at least two sources are

included in the factsheet. Given these considerations, Boko Haram most likely has committed 

more attacks than are cited here. 

Recommendations: Responding to the Threat of Boko Haram

Boko Haram’s attacks against Christians, along with continued Muslim-Christian violence, 

threaten to undermine Nigeria’s fledgling democracy. Religion is becoming an increasingly 

central factor as much of the violence results from the misuse of “faith” to foster political, 

economic, and/or ethnic discord, thereby elevating religious identifications and transforming 

violence in Nigeria’s north and Middle Belt into religious conflicts. In addition, the Nigerian 

government’s toleration of communal, sectarian violence has created a permissive environment 

conducive to further violence and a culture of impunity. 
2

To date, the Nigerian government primarily has taken a military approach in responding to Boko 

Haram. In May 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in, and deployed 

its military to, Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states. President Jonathan previously declared a sixmonth state of emergency in December 2011 in six northern states. The Nigerian government also

has initiated some non-military responses to the Boko Haram threat, including offers for peace 

talks and the formation of a committee to explore amnesty for Boko Haram militants. 

In USCIRF’s view, Nigeria has the capacity to address communal, sectarian and Boko Haram

violence by enforcing the rule of law and making perpetrator accountable through the judicial 

system, and not relying solely on a counterterrorism strategy involving the security services. Such 

an approach would help Nigeria realize lasting progress, security, stability, and prosperity as a 

democracy. The United States can play an important role in encouraging and increasing the 

capacity of the Nigerian judiciary to undertake this kind of response. 

However, the U.S. government also needs to recognize the sectarian aspects of the ongoing 

violence and the religious elements in Boko Haram’s ideology. Acting on such an understanding 

would better position the United States to engage with both the Nigerian government at all levels 

and key religious leaders who view the violence partly through a sectarian lens. The United States 

also should do more to encourage and support the Nigerian government’s efforts to provide 

additional security personnel to protect northern Christian minorities and clerics and Muslim 

traditional rulers who denounce Boko Haram attacks, and consider creating a witness protectionlike program.

Boko Haram’s Religiously-Motivated Attacks July 2012 - July 2013

Attacks on Churches

Boko Haram frequently bombs or shoots into churches during services in an effort to maximize 

casualties. It attacked churches during the Christmas holidays for three consecutive years from 

2010 to 2012 and attacked Easter services in April 2012. Between January 1, 2012 and July 31, 

2013, USCIRF has documented at least 50 separate church assaults. Between July 1, 2012 and 

July 31, 2013, the following attacks took place:

July – December 2012

 July 15, Okene, Kogi State: A car bombing near the Living Faith Church. No one was 

killed. Two suspects were arrested. 

 August 6, Okene, Kogi State: Gunmen attacked the Deeper Life Bible Church. Twenty

persons were killed. 

 August 6, Lokoja, Kogi State: An improvised explosive devise (IED) was discovered 

at Revival House Church before it detonated. No one was killed.

 August 9, Gajiganna, Borno State: Gunmen burned the Church of Brethren (EYN) 

church and shot the pastor’s son in the leg. No one was killed.

 August 12, Gombe, Gombe State: Gunmen tried to enter All Saints Catholic Church, 

but could not get past the gate. The police officer guarding the church was killed. 

 August 19, Damagun, Yobe State: Gunmen were repelled during attacks at a Catholic 

Church and a police station. No one was killed.
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 September 23, Bauchi, Bauchi State: A suicide bombing at St. John’s Catholic Church. 

Four persons were killed and 48 were injured. A security barrier prevented the vehicle 

from directly accessing the church, causing the bomber to detonate early.

 October 18, Bauchi, Bauchi State: A suicide bombing at a Church of Christ in Nigeria 

(COCIN) church in the Zango area. No church members were killed.

 October 19, Atagara, Borno State: Gunmen attacked a church near Cameroon border. 

Four persons were killed.

 October 28, Kaduna, Kaduna State: A suicide bomber attacked St. Rita’s Catholic 

Church. Fifteen persons were killed and dozens injured.

 November 8, Buni Yadi, Yobe State: Gunmen shot into three churches, and also 

attacked police and a police station. No one was killed.

 November 25, Kaduna, Kaduna State: St. Andrew’s Protestant Church, located in the 

Armed Forces Command and Staff College, was attacked by a suicide bomber. Thirty 

persons were killed.

 December 1, Borno State: Four churches were attacked throughout the state, including 

arson attacks on the EYN church, COCIN church, and Deeper Life Church. A church 

security guard was killed.

 December 24, Potiskum, Yobe State: Gunmen attacked a COCIN church during 

services before setting it on fire. Five persons, including the pastor, were killed. 

 December 24, Maiduguri, Borno State: Gunmen attacked the First Baptist Church. No 

one was killed.

January – July 2013

 December 30, Chibok, Borno State: A church bombing. Thirty persons were killed.

 April 7, Maiduguri, Borno State: A gun attack on an EYN church was repelled. No 

one was killed.

 April 7, Mildu Shalmi, Adamawa State: A gun attack on the EYN church. No one was 

killed

 May 5, Maiha, Adamawa State: Shooting into a church. Four persons were killed.

 May 25, Gwoza, Borno State: Churches in Gharaza, Tadigle and Himbe neighborhoods 

were burned. No one was killed.

 June 5, Gwoza, Borno State: The COCIN church was burned. No one was killed.

 June 13, Gwoza, Borno State: Gunmen attacked churches in the Hwa’a, Kunde, Gjigga, 

and Gathanhure communities. Three persons were killed.

Attacks on Christians

On January 2, 2012, Boko Haram called on all Christians and southerners (because they are 

presumed to be Christian) to leave northern Nigeria within three days or face death. In the week 

following this declaration, more than 30 Christians were shot to death. Boko Haram continues to 

target and kill individual Christians and southerners. Between July 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013, the 

following attacks took place: 

July – December 2012

 August 7, Maiduguri, Borno State: Pastor Ali Samur was shot and killed.
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 November 9, Gaidam, Yobe State: Gunmen killed five Igbo traders.

 November 18, Maiduguri, Borno State: Retired COCIN church pastor Reverend Elisha 

Kabura was killed while he and his family prepared to go to church.

 November 25, Kano, Kano State: A Christian couple and their son were shot to death 

on their way to church.

 December 1, Borno State: Christians’ throats were slit and their houses burnt during a 

series of Boko Haram attacks on four churches (see Attacks on Churches).

 December 28, Musari, Borno State: Fifteen Christians were killed in their sleep.

 March 18, Kano, Kano State: A suicide bomb exploded at a bus station in the Christian 

district of Sabon Gari. Twenty-five persons were killed. The bus station is used to 

transport passengers to the predominately Christian south. 

January – July 2013

 May 14, Maiduguri, Borno State: The Christian Association of Nigeria’s (CAN)

Secretary in Borno, Reverend Faye Pama Musa, was murdered.

 May 24, Gwoza, Borno State: Reverend Luka Bazhigila of the All Denomination

Church was shot and killed.

 June 8, Gwoza, Borno State: Two Christians were killed where a COCIN church had 

been burned on June 5 (see Attacks on Churches).

 June 10, Gwoza, Borno State: Reverend Jacob Kwizer of the COCIN church was killed.

 June 14, Yobe State: Five Igbo traders were killed.

 July 30, Kano, Kano State: Four bombs exploded in the Christian area of Sabon Gari. 

At least 45 persons were killed, and two churches were damaged (Christ Salvation 

Pentecostal Church and St. Stephen’s Anglican Church).

Attacks on Muslim Leaders and Critics

Boko Haram also attacks and kills imams and other Muslims opposed to the group. These 

assassinations are intended to intimidate other Muslims from speaking out against Boko Haram. 

Between July 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013, the following attacks took place: 

July – December 2012

 July 2, Maiduguri, Borno State: A bomber attacked the Shehu of Borno Central 

Mosque. The Shehu of Borno is Nigeria’s second highest Islamic leader and the 

Deputy Governor of Borno. Nine construction workers were killed.

 July 8, Maiduguri, Borno State: Gunmen attacked the Shehu of Borno’s private 

residence. One person was killed.

 July 13, Maiduguri, Borno State: A suicide bomber attacked the Shehu of Borno’s 

palace. While the Shehu survived the attack, nine people were killed. 

 July 29, Kano, Kano State: Gunmen and bombers attempted to attack the mosque in 

the Jan Bulo area near Bayero University, but were repelled by policemen. The seven 

perpetrators were killed.

 August 3, Potiskum, Yobe State: The Emir of Fika escaped a suicide bombing attack 

after Friday prayers at the central mosque. 
5

 September 30, Zaria, Kaduna State: A bomb exploded near an Islamic school run by 

Awwal Adam Albani, a prominent anti-Boko Haram cleric. He was unharmed.

 October 14, Maidugri, Borno State: Gunmen killed traditional leader Shettima 

Kanurebe, a close friend of the Shehu of Borno.

 December 3, Potiskum, Yobe State: Gunmen killed cleric Alarama Dan Gobobirawa in 

front of his family.

January – July 2013

 January 7, Kano, Kano State: Gunmen shot into a crowd of Muslim worshipers 

preparing for evening prayers. No one was killed. 

 January 19, Kano, Kano State: Gunmen attacked the Emir of Kano’s convoy. Five 

persons were killed. 

 March 28, Potiskum, Yobe State: Gunmen fired on a mosque in the Fillin Allah area. 

One person was killed.

 May 4, Ngamdu, Yobe State: Gunmen killed two clerics critical of Boko Haram, 

including Cleric Mallam Sheriff. 

Attacks on “Un-Islamic” Behavior and Institutions

Boko Haram calls for the implementation of its interpretation of Sharai’ah law in northern Nigeria. 

As such, it frequently targets institutions it deems “un-Islamic” and persons engaged in behavior 

it considers “un-Islamic.” Between July 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013, the following attacks took 

place: 

July – December 2012

 July 19, Kano, Kano State: Gunmen fired on card players. Three persons were killed.

 October 4, Jalingo, Taraba State: A bomb exploded near a beer garden and in an area 

known for prostitution. One person was killed.

 November 23, Maiduguri, Borno State: Twenty women wearing mini-skirts were 

killed.

 December 23, Kano, Kano State: A bomb exploded outside a bar. No one was killed.

January – July 2013

 January 22, Kano, Kano State: Five persons playing an outdoor board game were shot 

to death. 

 February 22, Gombe, Gombe State: Gunmen attacked card players. Five persons were 

killed.

 February 23, Ngalda, Yobe State: Gunmen attacked a bar. Six persons were killed.

 April 9, Gwoza, Borno State: Gunmen killed three card players.