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| Nigerians hope that the year 2015 will indeed mark a turning point for Nigeria and its experience with terrorism |
By Evelyn Okakwu
The year 2014 was certainly marked with various events that will remain in the minds of some or even all Nigerians for life. While some of this events were memorable in positive ways, others, like the array of tragic events that were experienced by Nigerians, resulting from terrorist activities in Northern Nigeria can best be described as unforgettable, both by siblings of those directly affected, and certainly by every patriotic Nigerian.
While Nigeria, successfully made history in Africa’s economic stage by hosting the 24th world economic summit on Africa, producing the first ever female president of the organisation of Petroleum exporting countries, (OPEC), as well as toping the lead in global production and sale olf agricultural products like rice and yam to mention a few. Other notable positive events will be enumerated in a latter edition.
However, for the sake of those who died and the need to keep up the struggle to free Nigeria from its common enemy lof terror; here is a rundown of major terror scene experienced by unsuspecting citizens during the year 2014
On the 14 of January 2014; a member of the Boko Haram terror group detonated a powerful suicide car bomb in the heavily populated centre of Maiduguri, Borno State, at a military checkpoint at the local market district while crowds of civilians were in the market celebrating the birth of the prophet Mohammed.
30 people were reportedly killed and an additional 50 were injured in the bombing with the military blaming Boko Haram for the attack and stating that they had arrested a member of Boko Haram for the attack.
On the 26th of the same month another attack occurred in Kawuri village, Konduga Local Government, Borno State, located some 37 kilometers southeast of Maidugur.
About 85 people were killed in that attack, with 50 people, reportedly injured.
Again, on the 31st of January; an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded after a bus drove over it in Kuthra village in Borno state; killing 7 people and injuring 3 others.
Again the Boko Haram, insurgent group, was blamed for the IED explosion.
Two days later, on the 2nd of February; a Muslim cleric hostile to Boko Haram was killed in the city of Zaria while driving his car. His wife and son were injured. Suspicion fell on Boko Haram for the killing.
On the 15th of that month, Islamic militants suspected of being members of Boko Haram entered a village called Izghe and murdered 105 men and 1 woman.
On the 25th of Feb Islamic militants suspected of being members of Boko Haram broke into the Federal Government College at Buni Yadi while students were sleeping, threw explosives into dorm rooms and sprayed the rooms with gunfire, killing 59 people.
On the 15th of March; over 200 armed suicide attackers died trying to free fellow terrlorists from Prison. The Boko Haram fighters dressed in military uniforms stormed the area in vehicles painted in military colours. At least 5 of the casualties were military personnel and one was a civilian. Also reports revealed that least 212 people were killed in the assault.
Yet still, on the 14th of April; two bombs detonated at a bus station in Abuja, killing 71 people and injuring another 124.
That same day; approximately 276 female students were kidnapped from a school in Chibok, Nigeria.
The double tragedy followed by a reportedly controversial approach to the where about of the girls gave birth the famous bring back our girls campaign which has been regarded by many bas one of the worlds’ greatest campaigns in recent times; not withstanding its reported strengths and weaknesses.
And on workers day this year; a car bomb exploded in New Nyanya, a suburb of the Federal capital. The explosion killed at least 19 people and injured at least 60 others.
18 days later, a suicide car bomb killed 5 people, in Kano.
And on the 20th of the same month twin bombings, one at a market, the second 30 minutes later; at nearby a hospital occurred in Jos.
And on the 24th, the Boko Haram terror group, again pillaged three villages in Borno State killing 28 people and causing significant damage to the towns.
Also on the 11th of June; Suicide attackers exploded a bomb-laden vehicle in Aguelhok, Mali, killing four UN peacekeepers from Chad and injuring six other peacekeepers as well as four Malian soldiers. Killing 4 and injuring 10 people.
Then on the 18th of June; a suicide bomber in a tricycle taxi detonated a bomb at a venue where people were watching a World Cup soccer match, in Damaturu, Yobe State, killing 21 and wounding 27 others.
21st and 22 of June Gunmen also recorded sessions of terror attacks in the villages of Koronginim and Kwarangilam, killing dozens. These villages are located in the Borno State near Chibok, where Boko Haram militants kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls in April, 2014.
The attack was also described by many as a mockery of government’s reported attempts towards rescuing the girls.
On the 25th of June, another bomb explotion was witnessed in the Federal capital; in the shopping district of Abuja, killing at least 21 people and wounding at least 17 others.
After the attack in June; their seamed to be rfelapse in the manner of reports published, lor of tgeror attacks experienced for a while, till the month of October; when on the 31st of October, explosives were concealed on a bus and detonated during rush hour.
13 vehicles were destroyed and at least 4 people were killed and 32 injured.
Almost a month later, on the 23rd of November, a group of fish traders were on their way to Chad to buy fish when militants stopped them near Doran Baga. The traders were later tied up and some had their throats slit while the rest drowned in Lake Chad. About 48 people were killed in the attack.
Just two days later, on the 25th of November, two female suicide bombers detonated explosions killing 78 people in Maiduguri, Nigeria.
On the 27th of the same month; a roadside bomb killed 40 people including 5 soldiers at a bus station in Marabi-Mubi junction, in Adamawa state.
The following day, two suicide bombers blew themselves up and gunmen opened fire on those who were trying to escape at a mosque in Kano, Kano State. Around 120 people were killed and another 260 injured.
1st of December was also marked with two female suicide bombers who detonated explosions at a crowded market place in Maiduguri, Nigeria. 5 people were killed with 47 injured in the incident.
And on the 10th of this month; two female suicide bombers detonated explosions near a busy market in Kano. The blasts killed 4 people, injuring 7.
13th of that month was also not left out, as 185 people in the village of Gumsuri in Maiduguri were kidnapped, and 32 people, killed.
Then on the 22nd of this month; at least 27 people die and another 60 were injured after a bomb exploded in a bus station in Gombe a city in Gombe State, Nigeria[
Notable among these tragic events is the fact that the Chibok girls kidnapped on the 14th of the first quarter of 2014, are still yet to be found. This is in addition to the sad reality that many other similar kidnaps followed without trace as to the where about of those taken.
Not Even the last day of the year, was spared as another blast claimed the lives of Seven in a bus.
Nigerians have not stopped hoping, despite every thing, that 2015 would prove that terrorism has not indeed come to stay in our dear country
