Egypt – On the 2 Apr 14 an armed group known as Ajnad Misr or Egypt’s Soldiers claimed responsibility for a series of explosions that occurred outside Cairo university. The group first came to light on the 1 Feb 14 after it claimed responsibility for planting explosives and attacking police stations. In all there were three explosions; the first two devices had been hidden in a tree between two security posts and a third exploded near a police checkpoint also in a tree. Police Brigadier General Tarek al-Mergawi and several others were killed in the explosions. The terrorist group responsible swore to continue the attacks “for as long as any of you remain in prison” The statement continued, “This last attack, near Ennahda Square, follows an increase in arrest campaigns targeting our women and girls and their abuse, and it is an honour to dedicate the attacks to them." The accounts were reportedly referring to the retaliation for increased arrest campaigns targeting ‘our women’. "And we promise you that we will not find peace for as long as one you remains in captivity." Although the report did not specify how far away from the police check point the devices were planted in brings into question two points. The first is were the police in collaboration with the terrorists due to the device being planted near a checkpoint which was presumably manned. The second is if the police checkpoint was manned how did the terrorists get close enough to plant the devices?
Libya – Seif al-Islam, a son of Qaddafi and his heir apparent, is to stand trial along with 30 others, including former Intelligence Chief Abdullah Senussi and Qaddafi's last premier, Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmudi. Saadi Qaddafi was extradited from Niger last month, is to appear in the same case it was reported on the 14 Apr 14. Charges against Qaddafi's sons and aides include murder, kidnapping, complicity in incitement to rape, plunder, sabotage, embezzlement of public funds and acts harmful to national unity. The group were charged in October and their trial was originally due to open on 24 Mar 14 but it was postponed because some of the defendants were absent, among them Seif who is being held in the western town of Zintan. The official in the state prosecutor's office, Seddik al-Sour, said the 14 Apr 14 hearing was also likely to be pushed back. "The trial will probably be postponed again to allow the technical logistics to be in place allowing the link" by satellite with the defendants, Sour said. The court must rule on whether "it will accept the appearance via video-link of some of the accused who are being held in Zintan or Misrata," Libya's third city, he added.
Sour said the delay should also allow some of the defendants more time to find a lawyer.
Nigeria – Suspected Boko Haram militants driving four vehicles laden with explosives failed in an attempt to blow up a petrol station and nearby oil depot at Malai on the outskirts of the Nigerian city of Maiduguri on 1 Apr 14. Nigerian military spokesman Chris Olukolade said the attackers had attempted to speed through a checkpoint and drive into a long line of vehicles waiting to fill up at the petrol station. Three of the vehicles were immobilised by gunfire but the fourth exploded at the checkpoint, killing 15 civilians, while up to six militants also died. The attack follows an incident in Maiduguri on 25 Mar 14 when a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) killed three civilians.
Suspected Boko Haram members from Nigeria abducted two Italian priests and a Canadian nun on 5 Apr 14 in Meri, which is in the Far North region of Cameroon, according to local news agency Cameroon-Info. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the abduction of the two Italians; however, the Cameroonian authorities have yet to make any official statements. The abductees are all missionaries residing in the Far North region (Extreme-Nord) of Cameroon, where Boko Haram has established a rear base. The last case of abduction was in November 2013 near Koza, 30 kilometres (km) from Nigeria, involving a French priest, Georges Vandenbeusch.
Suspected Boko Haram insurgents are forcefully recruiting young men from Borno villages to fight for them it was reported on the 3 Apr 14. The revelation came in the wake of four people in Yasku village on the 2 Apr 14, close to Alagarno, a notorious breeding ground of Boko Haram fighters, located south of Jakana in Kaga local government area of Borno State. It is not yet clear if the four people were killed because they refused to join the terrorist group or for other reasons. A local from the area said, "Sometime ago, the insurgents had taken some of our children by force and left. This time, they came and there was no provocation in whatever form. The gunmen simply went to Yasku and shot dead the four harmless people. They also warned the locals not to bury the corpses. As I am talking to you now the bodies are still there," he said. Locals in Auno, Jakana, Mainok, Benisheik and other villages said in the last three weeks, the Boko Haram insurgents have stepped up violent campaign and forceful recruitment of young men. "I think they (Boko Haram) are desperately looking for members and their attitude is affecting the psychology of people," one of the community leaders in Jakana said. He said many youth have been indoctrinated by the Boko Haram. "They have a way of changing the thinking and disposition of anyone they caught. On many occasions, our children that were forcefully recruited have turned their backs against us and took part in attacking our villages," he said. A cleric in Mainok also said many of their children had been taken away. "A disturbing trend is the forceful recruitment of men under the age of 40. The insurgents warned children here to seek knowledge from Quran only and not to read any other book. They also warned them not to go to farm. This is happening in all villages around and is really a disturbing trend because poverty and deprivation are increasing," he said. "The terrorists are losing ground seriously in terms of man power, that is why they are picking youth by force. They did similar thing around Marte, Mallam Fatori and other locations in northern Borno," he said. According to him, “the campaign will not last long because we are tracking them. Our only constraint is that some villagers are not forthcoming with information on the whereabouts of the terrorists who normally take cover in the midst of civilians in hamlets.
A blast at a bus depot on the outskirts of the Nigerian capital Abuja has killed dozens of people during the morning rush hour on the 14 Apr 14. The blast at the Nyanya Motor Park, destroyed more than 30 vehicles and caused secondary explosions as their fuel tanks exploded and burned. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but suspicion is likely to fall on armed group Boko Haram. The group has been involved in increasing levels of violence in the northeast. If this latest attack was carried out by Boko Haram then it shows that they are getting more confident and willing to travel further in order to carry out attacks not because they are forced to because of anti-terrorist operations.
Libya – Seif al-Islam, a son of Qaddafi and his heir apparent, is to stand trial along with 30 others, including former Intelligence Chief Abdullah Senussi and Qaddafi's last premier, Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmudi. Saadi Qaddafi was extradited from Niger last month, is to appear in the same case it was reported on the 14 Apr 14. Charges against Qaddafi's sons and aides include murder, kidnapping, complicity in incitement to rape, plunder, sabotage, embezzlement of public funds and acts harmful to national unity. The group were charged in October and their trial was originally due to open on 24 Mar 14 but it was postponed because some of the defendants were absent, among them Seif who is being held in the western town of Zintan. The official in the state prosecutor's office, Seddik al-Sour, said the 14 Apr 14 hearing was also likely to be pushed back. "The trial will probably be postponed again to allow the technical logistics to be in place allowing the link" by satellite with the defendants, Sour said. The court must rule on whether "it will accept the appearance via video-link of some of the accused who are being held in Zintan or Misrata," Libya's third city, he added.
Sour said the delay should also allow some of the defendants more time to find a lawyer.
Nigeria – Suspected Boko Haram militants driving four vehicles laden with explosives failed in an attempt to blow up a petrol station and nearby oil depot at Malai on the outskirts of the Nigerian city of Maiduguri on 1 Apr 14. Nigerian military spokesman Chris Olukolade said the attackers had attempted to speed through a checkpoint and drive into a long line of vehicles waiting to fill up at the petrol station. Three of the vehicles were immobilised by gunfire but the fourth exploded at the checkpoint, killing 15 civilians, while up to six militants also died. The attack follows an incident in Maiduguri on 25 Mar 14 when a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) killed three civilians.
Suspected Boko Haram members from Nigeria abducted two Italian priests and a Canadian nun on 5 Apr 14 in Meri, which is in the Far North region of Cameroon, according to local news agency Cameroon-Info. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the abduction of the two Italians; however, the Cameroonian authorities have yet to make any official statements. The abductees are all missionaries residing in the Far North region (Extreme-Nord) of Cameroon, where Boko Haram has established a rear base. The last case of abduction was in November 2013 near Koza, 30 kilometres (km) from Nigeria, involving a French priest, Georges Vandenbeusch.
Suspected Boko Haram insurgents are forcefully recruiting young men from Borno villages to fight for them it was reported on the 3 Apr 14. The revelation came in the wake of four people in Yasku village on the 2 Apr 14, close to Alagarno, a notorious breeding ground of Boko Haram fighters, located south of Jakana in Kaga local government area of Borno State. It is not yet clear if the four people were killed because they refused to join the terrorist group or for other reasons. A local from the area said, "Sometime ago, the insurgents had taken some of our children by force and left. This time, they came and there was no provocation in whatever form. The gunmen simply went to Yasku and shot dead the four harmless people. They also warned the locals not to bury the corpses. As I am talking to you now the bodies are still there," he said. Locals in Auno, Jakana, Mainok, Benisheik and other villages said in the last three weeks, the Boko Haram insurgents have stepped up violent campaign and forceful recruitment of young men. "I think they (Boko Haram) are desperately looking for members and their attitude is affecting the psychology of people," one of the community leaders in Jakana said. He said many youth have been indoctrinated by the Boko Haram. "They have a way of changing the thinking and disposition of anyone they caught. On many occasions, our children that were forcefully recruited have turned their backs against us and took part in attacking our villages," he said. A cleric in Mainok also said many of their children had been taken away. "A disturbing trend is the forceful recruitment of men under the age of 40. The insurgents warned children here to seek knowledge from Quran only and not to read any other book. They also warned them not to go to farm. This is happening in all villages around and is really a disturbing trend because poverty and deprivation are increasing," he said. "The terrorists are losing ground seriously in terms of man power, that is why they are picking youth by force. They did similar thing around Marte, Mallam Fatori and other locations in northern Borno," he said. According to him, “the campaign will not last long because we are tracking them. Our only constraint is that some villagers are not forthcoming with information on the whereabouts of the terrorists who normally take cover in the midst of civilians in hamlets.
A blast at a bus depot on the outskirts of the Nigerian capital Abuja has killed dozens of people during the morning rush hour on the 14 Apr 14. The blast at the Nyanya Motor Park, destroyed more than 30 vehicles and caused secondary explosions as their fuel tanks exploded and burned. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but suspicion is likely to fall on armed group Boko Haram. The group has been involved in increasing levels of violence in the northeast. If this latest attack was carried out by Boko Haram then it shows that they are getting more confident and willing to travel further in order to carry out attacks not because they are forced to because of anti-terrorist operations.
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