In southern Edo state, Nigeria, a convoy was ambushed on Friday by gunmen, resulting in the deaths of eight security guards and the kidnapping of five Chinese workers associated with a local cement firm. In a separate incident, Boko Haram unleashed violence in northeastern Nigeria, killing numerous civilians in a harrowing door-to-door attack.
The convoy was under the protection of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Force (NSCDC), a paramilitary group that usually secures various infrastructure projects, many of which involve Chinese companies as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, initiated in 2018.
Chinese nationals are frequently targeted by Nigerian gangs due to the assumption that they are wealthy and likely to pay ransoms. One victim described himself and his colleagues as “sweet pastries” for these gangs, which highlights the perception of Chinese companies as lucrative targets.
A spokesperson for the NSCDC reported that while four individuals were rescued, one remains unaccounted for. In the ambush, eight officers lost their lives, and four suffered injuries.
On the same day, Boko Haram militants attacked the village of Darru Jamal in the northeast, claiming at least 60 lives and igniting numerous homes. The remaining villagers—about 100—were forced to flee for safety.
Unfortunately, this tragedy struck a village that had only recently been resettled following a prior Boko Haram attack a decade earlier. The Nigerian military had previously declared the area safe, allowing residents to return home.
Security analysts indicate that the assault was carried out by a Boko Haram faction known as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad. This group’s name roughly translates to “People committed to the teachings of the Prophet for jihad.”
This term is fitting for such an extremist group. The notorious moniker “Boko Haram,” which translates to “Western education is forbidden,” has often served as a slogan for their campaign.
In 2015, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, leading to a split in the group. One faction aligned with ISIS, while another sought to maintain its independence and leadership. The competition between the two factions escalated into violence, eventually resulting in Shekau’s death in 2021 during a confrontation with the Islamic State – West Africa (ISWAP).
ISWAP has emerged as a more dominant faction, while the Shekau loyalists continue to operate under the original name, JAS. The two factions exhibit stark behavioral differences; JAS tends to target soft civilian spots and commit massacres, as evidenced by the recent attack. In contrast, ISWAP prefers to raid military installations and infrastructure while financing their operations through robbery and ransom.
Some brutal attacks by JAS seem to stem from suspicions that their victims are allied with ISWAP or the Nigerian government. “When you see a massacre like the one at Bama, you might suspect that the victims had connections to your rivals,” a source observed.
