Boko Haram

===2014===
====January Maiduguri bombing====
{{main|January 2014 Maiduguri bombing}}
On 14 January, a car bombing in Maiduguri killed at least 17 people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2014/1/14/deadly-car-bomb-strikes-nigerias-maiduguri|title=Deadly car bomb strikes Nigeria's Maiduguri|website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref>

====Boarding school massacre====
{{main|February 2014 Buni Yadi massacre}}
On 25 February, Boko Haram killed at least 59 males at the Federal Government College in Buni Yadi, Yobe. The school was attended by children aged 11 to 18.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-26/scores-dead-in-boko-haram-nigeran-school-attack/5284250|title=Nigerian boarding school attack by Boko Haram gunmen leaves 59 pupils dead, officials say|newspaper=[[ABC News]]|date=25 February 2014 }}</ref>

Some boys were burned alive in their dormitories while those who managed to escape the fire were shot or knifed to death. Some female students were abducted while others were threatened with death if they did not quit school and get married. All of the school's buildings were burned to the ground.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/west-africa/nigeria/nigeria-boko-haram-s-deadly-school-attack|title=Nigeria: Boko Haram's Deadly School Attack|website=www.crisisgroup.org|date=27 February 2014 }}</ref>

====Chibok kidnapping====
{{main|Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping}}
[[File:Michelle-obama-bringbackourgirls.jpg|thumb|[[Michelle Obama]] raising public awareness of the Chibok kidnapping]]

On 14–15 April, Boko Haram kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from [[Chibok]], Borno. Shekau announced his intention of selling them into [[slavery in Nigeria|slavery]]. More than 50 escaped. The incident brought Boko Haram extended global media attention, much of it focused on the pronouncements of the [[First Lady of the United States|U.S. Former First Lady]] [[Michelle Obama]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/michelle-obama-bringbackourgirls-106645.html|title=Michelle Obama's hashtag gamble|last=Epstein|first=Jennifer|website=[[Politico]]|date=13 May 2014 |language=en|access-date=2020-01-28}}</ref> Faced with condemnation for his perceived incompetence, as well as allegations from Amnesty International of state collusion, President Jonathan responded by hiring a Washington [[Public relations|PR]] firm.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/06/210204.htm |publisher=U.S. Department of State |title=Rewards for Justice – First Reward Offers for Terrorists in West Africa |date=3 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nigeria says 219 girls in Boko Haram kidnapping still missing |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/nigeria-says-219-girls-in-boko-haram-kidnapping-still-missing |website=[[Fox News]] |date=24 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nigeria kidnapped schoolgirls: Michelle Obama condemns abduction in |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/nigeria-kidnapped-schoolgirls-michelle-obama-delivers-weekly-presidential-address-condemning-abduction-9349085.html |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en |date=10 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jonathan's PR offensive backfires in Nigeria and abroad |url=https://news.yahoo.com/jonathans-pr-offensive-backfires-nigeria-abroad-131630710.html |website=news.yahoo.com|date=8 July 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Megan R. |title=Nigeria hires PR for Boko Haram fallout |url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/210635-nigeria-hires-pr-for-boko-haram-fallout |website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en |date=26 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nigeria: Government knew of planned Boko Haram kidnapping but failed to act |url=https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/nigeria-government-knew-planned-boko-haram-kidnapping-failed-act |website=www.amnesty.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Chibok Abduction: NANS Describes Jonathan As Incompetent |url=http://leadership.ng/news/378785/chibok-abduction-nans-describes-jonathan-incompetent |website=www.leadership.ng |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819085022/http://leadership.ng/news/378785/chibok-abduction-nans-describes-jonathan-incompetent |archive-date=2014-08-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=One month after Chibok girls' abduction |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/new/one-month-chibok-girls-abduction/ |website=www.thenationonlineng.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519072653/https://thenationonlineng.net/new/one-month-chibok-girls-abduction/ |archive-date=2014-05-19}}</ref>

Parents of the missing girls and those who had escaped were kept waiting until July to meet with the president, which caused them concern. In October, the government announced the girls' imminent release, but the information proved unreliable. The announcement to the media of a peace agreement and the imminent release of all the missing girls was followed days later by a video message in which Shekau stated that no such meeting had taken place and that the girls had been "married off". The announcement to the media, unaccompanied by any evidence of the reality of the agreement, was thought by analysts to have been a political ploy by the president to raise his popularity before his confirmation of his candidacy in the [[2015 Nigerian general election|2015 general election]]. Earlier in the year, the girls' plight had featured on "#BringBackOurGirls" political campaign posters in the streets of the capital, which the president denied knowledge of and soon took down after news of criticism surfaced. These posters, which were interpreted, to the dismay of campaigners for the girls' recapture, as being designed to benefit from the fame of the kidnapping, had also been part of Jonathan's "pre-presidential campaign". In September, "#BringBackGoodluck2015" campaign posters again drew criticism.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-10/nigeria-s-president-jonathan-bans-bring-back-goodluck-campaign.html |title=Nigeria's President Jonathan Bans 'Bring Back Goodluck' Campaign |publisher=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] |author=Daniel Magnowski |date=10 September 2014 |access-date=20 November 2014}}</ref> The official announcement of the president's candidacy was made before cheering crowds in Abuja on 11 November.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/nigeria-politics-idUKL6N0T136F20141111 |title=Nigeria's Jonathan seeks second term, vows to beat Boko Haram |work=[[Reuters]]|author=Felix Onuah |date=11 November 2014 |access-date=11 November 2014}}</ref>

In February 2016, the organizations [[International Alert]] and [[UNICEF]] published a study revealing that girls and women released from Boko Haram captivity often face rejection upon returning to their communities and families, in part due to a culture of stigma around sexual violence.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/feb/16/women-freed-boko-haram-rejected-for-bringing-bad-blood-back-home-nigeria |title=Women freed from Boko Haram rejected for bringing 'bad blood' back home |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |author=Liz Ford |date=16 February 2016|access-date=15 July 2016}}</ref>

====May Buni Yadi attack====
{{main|May 2014 Buni Yadi attack}}
On 27 May, soldiers, police and civilians were killed in Buni Yadi.

====July Maiduguri bombing====
{{main|July 2014 Maiduguri bombing}}
On 1 July, a van bombing in Maiduguri killed at least 56 people.

====Battle of Konduga====
{{main|Battle of Konduga (2014)}}
On 12 September, the Nigerian Armed Forces won a battle against Boko Haram.

====Kano attack====
{{main|2014 Kano attack}}
On 28 November, 120 people were killed at the [[Great Mosque of Kano|central mosque]] in Kano during Friday prayers.

====Northern Cameroon====
[[File:Boko_Haram_vehicles_destroyed_by_Cameroon_in_Dec._2018.jpg|thumb|Vehicles used by Boko Haram destroyed in Northern Cameroon]]
Boko Haram continued to increase its presence in northern Cameroon. On 16 May, ten Chinese workers were abducted in a raid on a construction company camp in Waza, near the Nigerian border. Vehicles and explosives were also taken in the raid, and one Cameroonian soldier was killed. Cameroon's anti-terrorist Rapid Intervention Battalion attempted to intervene but were vastly outnumbered.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304908304579567933126108684 |title=Chinese Workers Kidnapped by Suspected Boko Haram Militants in Cameroon |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |author=Emmanuel Tummanjong |date=17 May 2014 |access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref> In July, the deputy prime minister's home village was attacked by around 200 militants; his wife was kidnapped, along with the Sultan of [[Kolofata]] and his family. At least 15 people, including soldiers and police, were killed in the raid. The deputy prime minister's wife was subsequently released in October, along with 26 others including the ten Chinese construction workers who had been captured in May; authorities made no comment about any ransom, which the Cameroon government had previously claimed it never pays.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/boko-haram-releases-27-hostages-including-deputy-pms-wife-cameroon-says-9788845.html |title=Boko Haram releases 27 hostages including Deputy PM's wife, Cameroon says |work=[[The Independent]]|author=Natasha Culzac |date=11 October 2014 |access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref> In a separate attack, nine bus passengers and a soldier were shot dead and the son of a local chief was kidnapped. Hundreds of local youths are suspected to have been recruited. In August, the remote Nigerian border town of [[Gwoza]] was overrun and held by the group. In response to the increased militant activity, the Cameroonian president sacked two senior military officers and sent his army chief with 1000 reinforcements to the northern border region.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/boko-haram-plans-attacks-recruits-many-young-people/ |title=Boko Haram plans more attacks, recruits many young people |work=[[Vanguard (Nigeria)]] |date=8 August 2014 |access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-28684302 |title='Islamist militants' kill 10 in northern Cameroon |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=6 August 2014 |access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Umar|last=Haruna|title=Boko Haram takes Nigeria town, resident says |url=http://news.yahoo.com/boko-haram-takes-nigeria-town-resident-says-172534738.html |website=[[Yahoo! News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018131556/http://news.yahoo.com/boko-haram-takes-nigeria-town-resident-says-172534738.html |archive-date=2014-10-18}}</ref>

Between May and July 2014, 8,000 Nigerian refugees arrived in the country, up to 25 per cent suffering from acute malnutrition. Cameroon, which ranked 150 out of 186 on the 2012 [[UNDP]] [[Human Development Index|HDI]], hosted as of August 2014 107,000 refugees fleeing unrest in the [[Central African Republic|CAR]], a number that was expected to increase to 180,000 by the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nigerian overnight refugees worry Cameroon |url=https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2013/12/24/nigerian-overnight-refugees-worry-cameroon |website=The New Humanitarian |language=en |date=24 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cameroon: Malnutrition Hits Children Arriving From Central African Republic |url=https://www.wfp.org/countries/cameroon |website=www.wfp.org |date=31 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cameroon receives 8,000 refugees fleeing Boko Haram in Nigeria |url=http://tribune.com.ng/news/news-headlines/item/10497-cameroon-receives-8-000-refugees-fleeing-boko-haram-in-nigeria/10497-cameroon-receives-8-000-refugees-fleeing-boko-haram-in-nigeria |website=www.tribune.com.ng |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811211242/http://tribune.com.ng/news/news-headlines/item/10497-cameroon-receives-8-000-refugees-fleeing-boko-haram-in-nigeria/10497-cameroon-receives-8-000-refugees-fleeing-boko-haram-in-nigeria |archive-date=2014-08-11}}</ref> A further 11,000 Nigerian refugees crossed the border into Cameroon and Chad during August.<ref>{{cite web |title=UN agency, partners appeal for $34 million for Nigerian refugees |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2014/09/477572-un-agency-partners-appeal-34-million-nigerian-refugees#.VCKijPldVx8 |website=UN News |language=en |date=16 September 2014}}</ref>

{{Further|December 2014 Cameroon clashes}}
In the second half of December, the focus of activity switched to the [[Far North Region (Cameroon)|Far North Region]] of Cameroon, beginning on the morning of 17 December when an army convoy was attacked with an IED and ambushed by hundreds of militants near the border town of [[Amchide]], {{convert|40|mi|km|order=flip|sigfig=1}} north of the state capital [[Maroua]]. One soldier was confirmed dead, and an estimated 116 militants were killed in the attack, which was followed by another attack overnight with unknown casualties.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cameroon-boko-haram-idUSKBN0JW1GR20141218 |title=Cameroon army kills 116 Boko Haram militants, defense ministry says |work=[[Reuters]]|date=18 December 2014 |access-date=29 December 2014 |archive-date=29 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229080333/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/18/us-cameroon-boko-haram-idUSKBN0JW1GR20141218 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 22 December, the Rapid Intervention Battalion followed up with an attack on a Boko Haram training camp near Guirdivig, arresting 45 militants and seizing 84 children aged 7–15 who were undergoing training, according to a statement from Cameroon's [[List of ministries of Cameroon|Ministry of Defense]]. The militants fled in pick-up trucks carrying an unknown number of their dead; no information on army casualties was released.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cameroon-boko-haram-idUSKBN0K01IA20141222 |title=Cameroon army says dismantles Boko Haram training camp |work=[[Reuters]]|author=Tansa Musa |date=22 December 2014 |access-date=29 December 2014 |archive-date=29 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229080221/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/22/us-cameroon-boko-haram-idUSKBN0K01IA20141222 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 27–28 December, five villages were simultaneously attacked, and for the first time the Cameroon military launched air attacks when Boko Haram briefly occupied an army camp. Casualty figures were not released. According to Information Minister Issa Tchiroma: {{blockquote|Units of the group attacked Makari, Amchide, Limani and Achigachia in a change of strategy which consists of distracting Cameroonian troops on different fronts, making them more vulnerable in the face of the mobility and unpredictability of their attacks.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-violence-cameroon-idUSKBN0K70PL20141229 |title=Cameroon says fights off Boko Haram attacks, kills 41 militants |work=[[Reuters]]|author=Tansa Musa |date=29 December 2014 |access-date=30 December 2014}}</ref>}}

====Expansion of occupied territory====
[[File:Attentat Nyanya VOA2.jpg|thumb|Wounded people following a [[April 2014 Nyanya bombing|bomb attack]] by Boko Haram in [[Nyanya]], in April 2014]]
The attack on Gwoza signalled a change in strategy for Boko Haram, as the group continued to capture territory in north-eastern and eastern areas of Borno, as well as in Adamawa and Yobe. Attacks across the border were repelled by the Cameroon military.<ref>{{cite web |title=Boko Haram commander reportedly killed in clash with Nigerian forces |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/13/boko-haram-commander-reportedly-killed-in-clash-with-nigerian-forces |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en |date=13 September 2014}}</ref> The territorial gains were officially denied by the Nigerian military. In a video obtained by the news agency [[Agence France-Presse|AFP]] on 24 August, Shekau announced that Gwoza was now part of an Islamic [[caliphate]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Nigeria and neighbours hold talks on Boko Haram's rapid advance |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/03/nigeria-talks-boko-haram-advance |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en |date=3 September 2014}}</ref> The town of [[Bama, Nigeria|Bama]], {{convert|45|mi|km|order=flip|round=5}} from the state capital Maiduguri, was reported to have been captured at the beginning of September, resulting in thousands of residents fleeing to Maiduguri, even as residents there were themselves attempting to flee.<ref>{{cite web |title=Boko Haram kills scores in raid on Nigerian town |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/02/boko-haram-nigeria-raid-bama-town |website=www.theguardian.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903165601/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/02/boko-haram-nigeria-raid-bama-town |archive-date=2014-09-03}}</ref> The military continued to deny Boko Haram's territorial gains, which were, however, confirmed by local vigilantes who had managed to escape. The militants were reportedly killing men and teenage boys in the town of over 250,000 inhabitants. Soldiers refused orders to advance on the occupied town; hundreds fled across the border into Cameroon, but were promptly repatriated. Fifty-four [[deserter]]s were later sentenced to [[death by firing squad]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Hundreds flee homes in northern Nigeria as Boko Haram move in |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/05/hundreds-flee-homes-nigeria-islamic-extremists-boko-haram |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en |date=5 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="Monica Mark">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/18/boko-haram-raid-nigerian-village-gumsuri |title=Women seized in Boko Haram raid on Nigerian village |work=[[The Guardian]] |author=Monica Mark |date=18 December 2014 |access-date=5 January 2015}}</ref>

On 17 October, the [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Nigeria)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] announced that a ceasefire had been brokered, stating: "I have accordingly directed the service chiefs to ensure immediate compliance with this development in the field". Despite a lack of confirmation from the militants, the announcement was publicised in newspaper headlines worldwide. However, within 48 hours the same publications were reporting that Boko Haram attacks had continued unabated. It was reported that factionalisation would make such a deal particularly difficult to achieve.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nigeria aims to have abducted girls freed by Tuesday: government sources |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-girls-idUSKCN0I709520141018 |website=www.reuters.com |date=18 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018141221/https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/18/us-nigeria-girls-idUSKCN0I709520141018 |archive-date=2014-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Fears grow that Nigeria ceasefire won't secure girls' release amid fresh attacks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/18/chibok-schoolgirls-may-free-tuesday-nigeria-boko-haram |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en |date=18 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nigerian military, Boko Haram agree immediate ceasefire |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/169671-breaking-nigerian-military-boko-haram-agree-immediate-ceasefire.html |website=Premium Times Nigeria |date=17 October 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Nigeria-karte-politisch-adamawa.png|thumb|Location of the town of [[Mubi (town)|Mubi]] within [[Adamawa State]]]]
On 29 October, [[Mubi (town)|Mubi]], a town of 200,000 in Adamawa, fell to the militants, further undermining confidence in the peace talks. Thousands fled south to Adamawa's capital city, [[Yola, Nigeria|Yola]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Thousands flee as Boko Haram seizes northeast Nigerian town |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-violence-idUSKBN0IJ21820141030 |website=www.reuters.com |date=30 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924210118/https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/30/us-nigeria-violence-idUSKBN0IJ21820141030 |archive-date=2015-09-24}}</ref> Amid media speculation that the ceasefire announcement had been part of President Jonathan's re-election campaign, a video statement released by Boko Haram through the normal communication channels via AFP on 31 October stated that no negotiations had in fact taken place.<ref>{{cite web |title=Boko Haram leader appears in video ridiculing Nigerian government's |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/boko-haram-leader-appears-video-ridiculing-nigerian-government-s-ceasefire-claims-9833607.html |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en |date=1 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnston |first1=Chris |title=Boko Haram denies it has agreed ceasefire |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/01/boko-haram-nigerian-government-abubakar-shekau-islamist-abducted-schoolgirls |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=1 November 2014}}</ref> Mubi was said to have been recaptured by the army on 13 November. On the same day, Boko Haram seized Chibok, but two days later the army recaptured the largely deserted town. As of 16 November it was estimated that more than twenty towns and villages had been taken control of by the militants.<ref>{{cite news |title=Boko Haram militants 'seize Nigerian town of Chibok'|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30058879 |access-date=14 November 2014 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=14 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/11234662/Nigerian-army-retakes-control-of-key-Boko-Haram-town.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/11234662/Nigerian-army-retakes-control-of-key-Boko-Haram-town.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Nigerian army retakes control of key Boko Haram town |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |date=16 November 2014 |access-date=21 November 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>  There were 27 Boko Haram attacks during the November, killing at least 786.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-30080914 |title=Jihadism: Tracking a month of deadly attacks |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=11 December 2014 |access-date=12 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-30266868 |title=Boko Haram Kano attack: Loss of life on staggering scale |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=30 November 2014 |access-date=12 December 2014}}</ref>

On 3 December, it was reported that several towns in North Adamawa had been recovered by the Nigerian military with the help of local vigilantes and Bala Nggilari, the [[List of Governors of Adamawa State|governor of Adamawa state]], said that the military were aiming to recruit 4,000 vigilantes.<ref name=BBC20141203>Ross, Will (3 December 2014) [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-30291040 Boko Haram crisis: Among the vigilantes of north-east Nigeria] BBC News, Africa. Retrieved 3 December 2014</ref> On 13 December, Boko Haram attacked the village of Gumsuri in Borno, killing over 30 and kidnapping over 100 women and children.<ref name="Monica Mark"/>