New evidence shows that the Nigerian military were repeatedly warned of impending Boko Haram attacks on Baga and Monguno which claimed hundreds of lives, and failed to take adequate action to protect civilians, said Amnesty International.

According to a senior military source and other evidence gathered by Amnesty International, commanders at the military base in Baga regularly informed military headquarters in November and December 2014 of the threat of a Boko Haram attack and repeatedly requested reinforcements. Other military sources and witnesses have told Amnesty International that the military in Monguno had an advanced warning of the Boko Haram attack on 25 January.
“It is clear from this evidence that Nigeria’s military leadership woefully and repeatedly failed in their duty to protect civilians of Baga and Monguno despite repeated warnings about an impending threat posed by Boko Haram,” said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International’s Africa director.
“These attacks are an urgent wake-up call for the Nigerian leadership, the African Union and the international community. It is essential to protect hundreds of thousands of civilians in north east Nigeria from Boko Haram’s continued onslaught.”

According to a senior military source, long before the attack on Baga, the Multinational Joint Task Force based in the town informed military headquarters in Abuja about sightings of Boko Haram patrols and build-ups of Boko Haram fighters. They also told headquarters ahead of the attacks, that civilians in surrounding towns and villages were fleeing the area in large numbers.

Speaking about the attack on Baga, Dogon Baga and surrounding towns and villages, one military source told Amnesty International: "This attack was expected because Boko Haram warned the inhabitants of Baga and surrounding villages almost two months ago that they would be coming to attack the troops and the civilian JTF [Joint Task Force]." Sources told Amnesty International that after the Baga attack on 3 January, Boko Haram members informed locals that their “next target is Monguno,” and that these civilians informed the local military.

One Monguno resident told Amnesty International: “There was a warning. Everyone was aware. Boko Haram came on Wednesday last week [21 January] and asked the villagers [in nearby Ngurno] to leave because they are coming to attack the barracks. The villagers told the soldiers.”
Nigerian authorities have a responsibility to take all feasible measures to protect the civilian population, including by assisting with an evacuation of those who wished to flee and transporting them to safer areas. They also have a responsibility to inform civilians of risks and dangers. According to witnesses, the local military did not make an effort to do this.

On 29 January, the African Union’s Peace and Security Council is expected to discuss the deployment of a possible regional force against Boko Haram.
“If such a force were to be deployed it is vital that it has a clear mandate to protect civilians and that all parties engaging in military deployment comply with international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” said Netsanet Belay.  
Background Information

On 25 January, Boko Haram captured Monguno and also attacked Maiduguri and Konduga. Until the attack on Maiduguri was repelled by security forces, Boko Haram had effectively cut off any routes that civilians could have used to flee Boko Haram controlled territory.

On 15 January Amnesty International released satellite images providing indisputable and shocking evidence of the scale of the attack on the towns of Baga and Doron Baga by Boko Haram militants. The before and after images of two neighbouring towns, Baga (160 kilometres from Maiduguri) and Doron Baga (also known as Doro Gowon, 2.5 km from Baga), taken on 2 and 7 January showed the devastating effect of the attacks which left over 3,700 structures damaged or completely destroyed. Other nearby towns and villages were also attacked over this period. 

Since 2009, Boko Haram has deliberately targeted civilians through raids, abductions and bomb attacks with attacks increasing in frequency and severity. The effects on the civilian population have been devastating with thousands killed, hundreds abducted and hundreds of thousands forced to leave their homes.

Amnesty International has raised concerns on a number of occasions that security forces are not doing enough to protect civilians from human rights abuses committed by Boko Haram. There have been very few effective investigations and prosecutions of Boko Haram members for crimes under international law.
The Baga and Maiduguri attacks demonstrates how the conflict has dramatically escalated in the last 12 months. Amnesty International’s research indicates that in 2014 at least 4,000 civilians were killed by Boko Haram and the actual number is likely to be higher. 

http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/news-item/nigerian-authorities-were-warned-of-boko-haram-attacks-on-baga-and-monguno

They would rather blame Buhari, instead of safeguarding lives and properties as the primary goal of any Government!

Jonathan is a just a Failure!!!

No matter what, We shall surely win the war against terrorism. Our armed forces are committed, We only have to encourage and support them. It's unfortunate some people will politicize this issue.

SeverusSnape:
No matter what, We shall surely win the war against te[b]rrorism. [/b]Our armed forces are committed, We only have to encourage and support them. It's unfortunate some people will politicize this issue.

Yea, If only the Commander-in- Chief is also committed!

Same amnesty international that published 2000 deaths in Bags & justified it satelight pictures (not any source within Baga) when the official figure 150.
Same amnesty that blamed the millitary in 2012 for the first Baga massacre, when it wad obvious that bh did it then & did it again to buttress it.
Same amnesty that turned a blind eye on the Gaza massacre by Israel only to turn around & call Nigerian army human right violators for killing bh members.

Abeg make we hear word from them.

NgeneUkwenu:


Yea, If only the Commander-in- Chief is also committed!

Of course he is.

What's your proof?

SeverusSnape:

Of course he is.

It's very painful how the military brag about their endownment and ability while on peace keeping mission to other countries but can't protect common lives and properties of just a minute remote area in its own country. Nigeria is definitely on a long road.
May God save us.

crownprince102:
What's your proof?

Declaring the state of emergency, Procurement of more weapons (eventhough some countries are hindering that), Security budget. Etc

SeverusSnape:

Declaring the state of emergency, Procurement of more weapons (eventhough some countries are hindering that), Security budget. Etc

But the soldiers complain of being under-equipped.
What's your proof they are spending the money to procure arms
When was the last time BH was attacked?

crownprince102:

But the soldiers complain of being under-equipped.
What's your proof they are spending the money to procure arms
When was the last time BH was attacked?

Good!...So do you also blame GEJ for this?
As far Under equipping is concerned, The service chiefs are to blame, Do you know how many times GEJ have reshuffle the top brass cause of this issue?
He has done his job, It's left for the service chiefs to contribute their own quota.

Is either jonathan is benefiting from these menace or he is very weak as a leader!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3jto5hBsJo

[size=15pt]Nigeria's Campaign Against Boko Haram Hampered by 'cowards'[/size]

Nigeria's campaign against Islamist Boko Haram insurgents is being hampered by "cowards" in its armed forces.