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| Boko Haram leaves trail of anger and paranoia across Nigerian state | Boko Haram leaves trail of anger and paranoia across Nigerian state |
| (8 days later) | |
| The muezzin's call signalling the end of dawn prayers had just finished when the gunfire began. Umar Abubakar raced past the bullet-pocked walls of his north-eastern Nigeria neighbourhood towards his house, fearing his 19-year-old son Mohammed was in danger of being taken away and killed. He was too late. The next time Umaru saw Mohammed he was in a morgue. | The muezzin's call signalling the end of dawn prayers had just finished when the gunfire began. Umar Abubakar raced past the bullet-pocked walls of his north-eastern Nigeria neighbourhood towards his house, fearing his 19-year-old son Mohammed was in danger of being taken away and killed. He was too late. The next time Umaru saw Mohammed he was in a morgue. |
| Six months later, another man named Mohammed was dozing in the desert sun when a group of armed men stormed his workplace, dragging him away and killing him. When his wife went to pick Mohammed Garba, a bullet had shattered his skull. | Six months later, another man named Mohammed was dozing in the desert sun when a group of armed men stormed his workplace, dragging him away and killing him. When his wife went to pick Mohammed Garba, a bullet had shattered his skull. |
| The men are both innocent victims of Nigeria's bloody Islamist insurgency, from similar backgrounds and sharing the same name, but the difference is this: Mohammed Garba, a prison official, was gunned down by Boko Haram fighters. Mohammed Abubakar, a student, was killed by soldiers who believed he was Boko Haram. | The men are both innocent victims of Nigeria's bloody Islamist insurgency, from similar backgrounds and sharing the same name, but the difference is this: Mohammed Garba, a prison official, was gunned down by Boko Haram fighters. Mohammed Abubakar, a student, was killed by soldiers who believed he was Boko Haram. |
| The killings offer a glimpse into how Boko Haram's operations, which have turned Borno state into an enclave of paranoia and assassinations, have swept innocent residents on both sides into a nightmare that has left more than 3,000 dead in three years. | The killings offer a glimpse into how Boko Haram's operations, which have turned Borno state into an enclave of paranoia and assassinations, have swept innocent residents on both sides into a nightmare that has left more than 3,000 dead in three years. |
| For ordinary citizens who have become unwilling hosts to Boko Haram, much of their anger stems from an inability to seek protection from state representatives who are themselves being stalked by the group. | For ordinary citizens who have become unwilling hosts to Boko Haram, much of their anger stems from an inability to seek protection from state representatives who are themselves being stalked by the group. |
| "We are losing our brothers through the army," said Saliu, a resident from the sandy-hued capital of Maiduguri whose voice shook with anger. "If they arrest you … it's only God that can save you. As a man, if you go [to the barracks], you will still become a victim of Boko Haram because the soldiers will start saying you too are a member," he said, referring to periodic mass round-ups of young men by security forces. | "We are losing our brothers through the army," said Saliu, a resident from the sandy-hued capital of Maiduguri whose voice shook with anger. "If they arrest you … it's only God that can save you. As a man, if you go [to the barracks], you will still become a victim of Boko Haram because the soldiers will start saying you too are a member," he said, referring to periodic mass round-ups of young men by security forces. |
| Often transported to the razor-wire topped notorious Giwa barracks for questioning, those who return speak of horrific detainee conditions. | Often transported to the razor-wire topped notorious Giwa barracks for questioning, those who return speak of horrific detainee conditions. |
| "If [security forces] burn my house, kill my brother, I will start looking for revenge. The only way to revenge this thing is to join Boko Haram," added Saliu, whose brother has not been seen since being transported to Giwa six months ago. | "If [security forces] burn my house, kill my brother, I will start looking for revenge. The only way to revenge this thing is to join Boko Haram," added Saliu, whose brother has not been seen since being transported to Giwa six months ago. |
| Sagiru Musa, the head of Borno's military operations, told The Guardian a reduction in once-daily bomb blasts indicated successes in military operations. But he admitted: "There are people in Maiduguri who say the JTF should be removed, and there are some who say it is only the JTF preventing the terrorists from taking over." | Sagiru Musa, the head of Borno's military operations, told The Guardian a reduction in once-daily bomb blasts indicated successes in military operations. But he admitted: "There are people in Maiduguri who say the JTF should be removed, and there are some who say it is only the JTF preventing the terrorists from taking over." |
| The army, meanwhile, claims it is fighting against a population who refuse to hand over known militants. In Baga, a lonely outpost hemmed in by desert hideouts of Boko Haram fighters, residents say 185 civilians were killed after a brutal raid to flush out Boko Haram fighters. "You have brought us nothing but trouble," one resident shouted amid a torrent of curses as soldiers recently patrolled the area. | The army, meanwhile, claims it is fighting against a population who refuse to hand over known militants. In Baga, a lonely outpost hemmed in by desert hideouts of Boko Haram fighters, residents say 185 civilians were killed after a brutal raid to flush out Boko Haram fighters. "You have brought us nothing but trouble," one resident shouted amid a torrent of curses as soldiers recently patrolled the area. |
| Brigadier-General Austin Edokpayi, some of whose nervy soldiers patrolling the area wore only sandals, said the army has been unfairly criticised: "Is there anywhere in the world where military headquarters can be repeatedly attacked by terrorists and nobody complains?" | Brigadier-General Austin Edokpayi, some of whose nervy soldiers patrolling the area wore only sandals, said the army has been unfairly criticised: "Is there anywhere in the world where military headquarters can be repeatedly attacked by terrorists and nobody complains?" |
| Either way, for civilians, the decision to declare a state of emergency spells only more trouble. "At least Boko Haram have just one enemy. Everybody is the enemy of the military," said Augustin, selling leather sandals on a Maiduguri roadside. | Either way, for civilians, the decision to declare a state of emergency spells only more trouble. "At least Boko Haram have just one enemy. Everybody is the enemy of the military," said Augustin, selling leather sandals on a Maiduguri roadside. |
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