The InfoStride Forum

NEWS and REPORTS => World News => Topic started by: BBC on Jan 13, 2015, 03:31 PM

Title: #News: Why reporting on Boko Haram is hard
Post by: BBC on Jan 13, 2015, 03:31 PM
(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75306000/jpg/_75306515_line976.jpg)  Boko Haram at a glance  (http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/80142000/jpg/_80142357_afp_bh.jpg)  Who are Boko Haram? (http://www.theinfostride.com/news/world-africa-13809501)

Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau (http://www.theinfostride.com/news/world-africa-18020349)

Why Nigeria has not defeated Boko Haram (http://www.theinfostride.com/news/world-africa-27396702)

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75306000/jpg/_75306515_line976.jpg)  "Of course there was an attack," he shoots back.

"But don't worry we are at work."

Can we retake Baga? Mr Badeh is asked.

"Why not?" is the short reply. Seconds later he ducks into his car and is driven off.  

It is an unusual way for the capture of Baga to be confirmed officially although it is worth noting this is the same very senior military official who told us a few months ago that a ceasefire deal had been reached with Boko Haram which turned out to be totally untrue.

More eyewitnesses fleeing Baga are telling the BBC about hundreds of bodies on the streets of Baga.  

Another local politician says 2,000 are dead. But he is not there to count them - nobody is because it is far too dangerous - so it is hard to believe him.  

Election focus  Continue reading the main story (http://www.theinfostride.com/forum/#story_continues_3)   “Start Quote
We are one with France in mourning”
End Quote Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Nigeria finance minister       Meanwhile in Paris news breaks of, initially at least, 12 people being shot dead by gunmen. Within minutes President Francois Hollande is speaking to the world's media offering some clarity and leadership.  

"This is an act of exceptional barbarism," he begins and says security measures are in place to apprehend the perpetrators.

Ten days since Baga was first attacked and there have also been several suicide bombings.  

But we have not heard a word from Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan - except for a statement condemning the Paris attacks.  

The finance minister also appears keener to comment on events far away that have killed far less people.  

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/80236000/jpg/_80236644_80236643.jpg) Nigerian politicians appear more focused on their election campaigns than on security issues  "Terrible incident. Our deepest sympathies to the journalists and their families. We are one with France in mourning," tweets Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala with the hash tag #JeSuisCharlie.

Meanwhile local TV stations follow every twist and turn of the presidential election campaign - some are lengthy programmes sponsored by rival political parties.  

The media seem far more focused on the Valentine's Day vote. That seems to be where the politicians are focused too.  

On Monday evening the government put out a statement saying "the number of people who lost their lives during the Baga attack has so far not exceeded about 150".

But we may never know how many have died in and around  Baga.  

We know there will never be an investigation that will reveal the truth.  

It won't be the first time we are not sure if 150, 300, 500 or even 2,000 people were killed in a massacre in Nigeria.    


Source: BBC