A French priest was kidnapped by gunmen in Koza, near the Nigerian border. The suspected Boko Haram militants burst into the church, then marched the priest through the village and took him away with them on motorbikes in the direction of Nigeria.
Nigerian Islamist militants return from Mali with weapons, skills
Seven French citizens held hostage by Boko Haram militants were freed. The French government was involved in talks to secure their release, but denied paying a ransom. The militants had demanded the release of prisoners from jails in Nigeria and Cameroon.
France using ‘all possible means’ to rescue Cameroon hostages
Security authorities remain on high alert after the kidnapping of a French family in northern Cameroon last month. A local police chief near the site of the kidnapping said the Nigerian state of Borno, just across the river, “is dominated 100% by Boko Haram.”
French special forces arrived from their regional base at N’Djamena in Chad to assist with the investigation into the kidnapping of seven French tourists, all family members including four children, on Feb. 19. Of all the nations, France currently has the most citizens being held hostage, with a total of 15 in Africa.
Armed men on motorbikes kidnapped seven French tourists, including three children, from a village close to Waza national park near the Nigerian border. The kidnappers, suspected of links with the Nigerian Islamist terrorist groups Boko Haram or Ansaru, were seen heading toward Nigeria with the captives.
Maine – No Charges Against Woman Who Caused Flight to Be Diverted
Passenger’s implant claim triggers flight diversion
In early 2014, as Muslim civilians were being massacred in Central African Republic as part of a cycle of violence between Muslim and Christian militias, al-Qaeda went on a full-court press in an attempt to foster any jihadist movement to take up arms in the country. These attempts, however, largely fell on deaf ears. As such, this offers a unique glimpse into when, and potentially how, jihadist mobilization attempts fail.
On the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 hijackings, Ayman al-Zawahiri defends the attack. He claims in a new video that all of the Islamic scholars’ arguments against the hijackings have been “refuted.” The video also features various al-Qaeda leaders from around the globe.
Islamic State West Africa has forced thousands of civilians to flee Rann after raiding and ransacking the makeshift town in northeastern Nigeria. The assault in Rann is part of a broader ISWA offensive in the region.
The death of Ibrahim al Asiri, one of the most dangerous and wanted men in the world, has yet to be confirmed. If he is confirmed to have been killed, his death will likely have minimal impact on AQAP as he has shared his expertise for well over a decade.
At least 50 people were killed by a suicide bomber during morning prayers at a local mosque in northeastern Nigeria. No group has claimed the attack, but it fits with the modus operandi of that of Abubakr Shekau’s faction.
Yesterdays assault near Bamako is yet another instance of the jihadist group targeting popular resorts in West Africa.
At least a dozen females and another five males have been used in suicide attacks so far this month. The rate of which females are used in this tactic remain on pace to quadruple in 2017 compared to last year.
Despite a relative lull in the use of females in suicide bombings in 2016 compared to 2015, West Africa is currently seeing a significant uptick in the use of females so far in 2017.
Women and girls continue to be utilized by the Islamic State West Africa (formerly known as Boko Haram). At least 123 suicide bombings involving females have been recorded in data compiled by FDD’s Long War Journal.
The jihadist group also implies that its leader, Abubakar Shekau, is still alive and leading the Islamic State West Africa after rumors of his demise.
At least 22 women were killed as two female suicide bombers launched a coordinated assault at a mosque in the north. The Islamic State West Africa (Boko Haram) has used 105 women and girls as suicide bombers, according to data compiled by The Long War Journal.
As the jihadist group continues its rampage in northeastern Nigeria and into neighboring states, the Islamic State’s West African province continues to utilize women and girls as suicide bombers. The use of females makes it easier for the jihadist group to conduct these attacks.
The coordinated assaults are likely intended to show that the jihadist group is still able to mount such attacks, despite some claims to the contrary.
At least 75 women and girls have carried out suicide attacks in northwest Nigeria, northern Cameroon, and southwestern Chad since the beginning of June 2014.
The video showing an attack on Nigerian troops in Borno state was released as the jihadist group killed over 30 in suicide attacks in neighboring Chad.
The Islamic State West Africa has routinely used women and girls to execute suicide attacks in the region. The group has deployed at least 52 female suicide bombers since June 2014. It is likely some of these women and girls were kidnapped and indoctrinated to conduct attacks.
The group, formerly known as Boko Haram, has used at least 47 women as suicide bombers since June 2014.
The attack in N’Djamena is the third in Chad in less than a month. Boko Haram, which now refers to itself as the Islamic State’s West African province, continues to pose a significant threat to regional security despite losing ground in Nigeria.
The claim of responsibility for last month’s suicide attacks in Chad comes after the jihadist group killed more than 200 people in Nigeria last week.
Continuing its offensive against Maiduguri, Boko Haram is suspected of launching two bomb attacks in the Borno state capital on Monday. Over 30 people were killed as two female suicide bombers targeted a popular market.
The suspected Boko Haram attacks in both Niger and Chad continue to demonstrate that the jihadist group is a threat to regional stability and not just Nigeria.