Satellite images shows extent of Boko Haram destruction in Nigeria

15^th January 2015

Anaïs Merlin

Anaïs Merlin

15 January 2015

Newly emerged satellite images have shown the devastation caused by Boko Haram following their attacks on two Nigerian towns, earlier this month.

The images show before and after photographs of two Nigerian towns, Baga and Doron Baga, situated in northeast Nigeria.

Amnesty International estimated that approximately 3,700 structures had been completely demolished during the attacks.

Nigerian government officials have denied reports that 2,000 have died in the Boko Haram atrocities; the official death toll has been placed 150 people.

The terrorist group reportedly attacked Baga and Doron Baga on 7^th January, killing indiscriminately, destroying everything in its path.

The assault has been described as the “largest and most destructive” conducted by Boko Haram, according to Nigeria researcher for Amnesty International Daniel Eyre.

One survivor of the attacks stated: “As we were running, they were shooting and killing.”

Another survivor, who claimed that Boko Haram had captured some of the young girls in the village,  said: “Boko Haram took around 300 women and kept us in a school in Baga. They released the older women, mothers and most of the children after four days but are still keeping the younger women.”

This past month, Boko Haram have increased their level of violence throughout the country, with reports stating that a young girl had been used as a suicide bomber.

Amnesty have condemned the Nigerian government for “grossly underestimating” the death toll following the attacks.

With Nigerian general elections looming, there are fears Boko Haram’s violence could halt the electoral process, possibly opening a period of political uncertainty for the country.

Boko Haram, founded in 2002, was declared a terrorist group in 2013 by the US. Presently, they control a large part of Nigeria’s north-eastern regions.

Anais Merlin