Boko Haram

====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"/>