Boko Haram

===2013===
[[File:Lakechad map.png|thumb|[[Lake Chad]]]]

Nigeria's Borno State, where Boko Haram is based, adjoins [[Lake Chad]] as do [[Niger]], [[Cameroon]] and the country of [[Chad]]. The conflict and refugees spilled over the national borders to involve all four countries.

In 2013, Boko Haram increased operations in Northern Cameroon, and were involved in skirmishes along the borders of Chad and Niger. They were linked to a number of kidnappings, often reportedly in association with the splinter group [[Ansaru]], drawing towards them a higher level of international attention.

The [[Bureau of Counterterrorism|U.S. Bureau of Counterterrorism]] provides the following summary of Boko Haram's 2013 foreign operations:
{{blockquote|In February 2013, Boko Haram was responsible for kidnapping seven French tourists in the far north of Cameroon. In November 2013, Boko Haram members kidnapped a French priest in Cameroon. In December 2013, Boko Haram gunmen reportedly attacked civilians in several areas of northern Cameroon. Security forces from Chad and Niger also reportedly partook in skirmishes against suspected Boko Haram members along Nigeria's borders. In 2013, the group also kidnapped eight French citizens in northern Cameroon and obtained ransom payments for their release.<ref name=Bureau/>}}

Boko Haram has often managed to evade the Nigerian Army by retreating into the hills around the border with Cameroon, whose army is apparently unwilling to confront them. Nigeria, Chad and Niger had formed a Multinational Joint Task Force in 1998. In February 2012, Cameroon signed an agreement with Nigeria to establish a Joint Trans-Border Security Committee, which was inaugurated in November 2013, when Cameroon announced plans to conduct "coordinated but separate" border patrols in 2014. It convened again in July 2014 to further improve cooperation between the two countries.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irinnews.org/report/99174/with-cross-border-attacks-boko-haram-threat-widens |title=With cross-border attacks, Boko Haram threat widens |publisher=IRIN |date=21 November 2013 |access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-boko-haram-idUSKBN0EA1LE20140530 |title=Cameroon weakest link in fight against Boko Haram |work=[[Reuters]]|author=Tim Cocks |date=30 May 2014 |access-date=7 August 2014 |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808062200/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/30/us-nigeria-boko-haram-idUSKBN0EA1LE20140530 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nigeria-Cameroon security committee meets |url=http://m.news24.com/nigeria/National/News/Nigeria-Cameroon-security-committee-meets-20140707 |website=www.news24.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810123040/http://m.news24.com/nigeria/National/News/Nigeria-Cameroon-security-committee-meets-20140707 |archive-date=2014-08-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2nd session of Nigeria/Cameroon Trans-Border Security Committee meets in Abuja |url=http://dailyindependentnig.com/2014/07/2nd-session-nigeriacameroon-trans-border-security-committee-meets-abuja/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809232618/http://dailyindependentnig.com/2014/07/2nd-session-nigeriacameroon-trans-border-security-committee-meets-abuja/ |archive-date=2014-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nigeria: FG Inaugurates Nigeria-Cameroon Trans-Border Security Committee |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201302060270.html |website=www.allafrica.com}}</ref>

In late 2013, Amnesty International received 'credible' information that over 950 inmates had died in custody, mostly in detention centres in Maiduguri and [[Damaturu]], within the first half of the year. Official state corruption was also documented in December 2013 by the [[Home Office|UK Home Office]]:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/news/nigeria-deaths-hundreds-boko-haram-suspects-custody-requires-investigation-2013-10-15 |title=Nigeria: Deaths of hundreds of Boko Haram suspects in custody requires investigation |publisher=Amnesty International |date=15 October 2013 |access-date=7 August 2014 |archive-date=1 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601172355/http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/nigeria-deaths-hundreds-boko-haram-suspects-custody-requires-investigation-2013-10-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/310454/Nigeria_operational_guidance_2013.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808100106/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/310454/Nigeria_operational_guidance_2013.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-08-08 |title=Operational Guidance Note |publisher=Home Office |date=December 2013 |access-date=6 August 2014}}</ref>
{{blockquote|The NPF [Nigeria Police Force], SSS, and military report to civilian authorities; however, these security services periodically act outside of civilian control. The government lack effective mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. The NPF remain susceptible to corruption, commit human rights abuses, and generally operate with impunity in the apprehension, illegal detention, and sometimes execution of criminal suspects. The SSS also commit human rights abuses, particularly in restricting freedom of speech and press. In some cases private citizens or the government brought charges against perpetrators of human rights abuses in these units. However, most cases lingered in court or went unresolved after an initial investigation.}}

The state of emergency was extended in May 2013 to cover the whole of the three north-eastern states of [[Borno State|Borno]], [[Adamawa State|Adamawa]] and [[Yobe State|Yobe]], raising tensions in the region. In the 12 months following the announcement, 250,000 fled the three states, followed by a further 180,000 between May and August 2014. A further 210,000 fled from bordering states, bringing the total displaced by the conflict to 650,000. Many thousands left the country. An August 2014 Amnesty International video showed Army and allied militia executing people, including by slitting their throats, and dumping their corpses in mass graves.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.informationng.com/2014/08/650000-nigerians-displaced-following-boko-haram-attacks-un.html |title=650,000 Nigerians Displaced Following Boko Haram Attacks&nbsp;– UN |publisher=Information Nigeria |date=5 August 2014 |access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.unhcr.org/536ca0f79.html |title=Refugees fleeing attacks in north eastern Nigeria, UNHCR watching for new displacement |newspaper=UNHCR |author=Adrian Edwards |date=9 May 2014 |access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Onu |first1=Emele |title=Amnesty Says 'Gruesome' Nigerian Footage Shows War Crimes |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-08-05/amnesty-says-gruesome-nigerian-footage-shows-war-crimes |website=Bloomberg.com |language=en |date=5 August 2014}}</ref> According to Human Rights Watch, more than 130 villages and towns were attacked or controlled by the group.<ref>{{cite book|author=USA |chapter-url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/nigeria |title=World Report 2015: Nigeria {{pipe}} Human Rights Watch |chapter=World Report 2015: Nigeria |publisher=Hrw.org |date= 12 January 2015|access-date=2016-05-21}}</ref>

====Kano shootings====
On 8 February, at least nine polio vaccinators were killed in shootings at two clinics in Kano.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2013-02-08|title=Nigeria polio vaccinators shot dead in Kano|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-21381773|access-date=2021-08-13}}</ref>

====Baga massacre====
{{See also|2013 Baga massacre}}
On 16 and 17 April, a massacre of dozens of civilians as well as the destruction of hundreds of homes and businesses occurred in [[Baga, Borno|Baga]], Borno, during a battle between Boko Haram and the Nigerian Army.

====Konduga mosque shooting====
{{main|Konduga mosque shooting}}
On 11 August, Boko Haram killed 44 people in a [[mass shooting]] at a [[mosque]] in [[Konduga]], Borno.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-23676872|title=Nigeria unrest: 'Boko Haram' gunmen kill 44 at mosque|work=[[BBC News]] |date=13 August 2013}}</ref>