By Abdullahi Yunusa,Tobias Lengnan Dapam and Ikechukwu Okaforadi
Though the year 2011 has come and gone, but not without a mention of a number of unfortunate incidences, especially serial bombings which is /and still threatening the nation’s soul. Activities of the Boko Haram Islamist sect which seemed to have dwarfed all efforts aimed at getting to its roots remained a monster with over 500 lives lost and property worth millions of naira lost in the last 12 months.
Investigations carried out by Peoples Daily paints a rather horrific picture of the number of lives so far lost.
The investigations also revealed that over 500 lives were lost in different bomb attacks and property worth billions were destroyed allegedly perpetrated b y the Boko Haram Islamist sect in different parts of the country in the year 2011.
The Boko Haram group had within last year launched several attacks across some states in the northern part of the country comprising Maiduguri, Bauchi Adamawa, Niger, Yobe, Plateau, and the FCT.
Media report has it that a combined team of the nation’s security team has killed over 150 members of the Boko Haram group while a total of 100 security personnel were also lost in the cause of the year.
The group, though still operating under cover carried out its first attack on 3rd march, 2011 near the venue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) election rally and killed three persons with some sustaining varying degrees of injuries.
It also took its activity to a beer parlour in Maiduguri on April 24th, where a total of 12 lives were lost. On same day, another bomb exploded and killed 13 persons at the mammy market of Shandawanka Barracks in Bauchi.
Known for its dare-devilry, the group proved many wrong when it bombed the Abuja office of the United Nations leaving 25 dead and scores with life-threatening injuries.
Another major attack in Abuja include the failed bombing of the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters in Abuja by a suicide bomber who died along side two other policemen attached to the Louis Edet House main gate.
In a recent bomb attack on Christmas day, the sect killed 35 persons at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger state, while one person died in a similar attack in a church in Jos, Plateau state.
Since 2009, when the Boko Haram insurgence reared its head and suddenly gained national prominence, properties worth millions of naira, which belonged to both Muslims and Christians, including government and corporate organizations have been destroyed.
These wastages are in addition to the billions of naira which the federal government, through its various agencies, has expended to ensure security of lives and property.
In Abuja, on June 16, 2011 the group launched a bomb attack on the police force headquarters. This singular attack left several people dead, and hundreds of vehicles belonging to both visitors and officers of the Nigerian Police Force were razed.
On April 16th, while the presidential election was on, Boko Haram bombed a police station at Lami Sula district of Maiduguri. The same day, but in Kaduna, there were bomb explosions in Kaduna which destroyed several property.
On the 25th of April, a hotel and a motor park were bombed by members of the sect, in addition to the Damboa Divisional Police Station and a bank that was bombed in Maiduguri on the 28th of May, 2011.
Similarly, on May 29th, the day President Goodluck Jonathan was inaugurated, a mammy market located in Shandawanka Barracks, Bauchi was bombed, leaving goods and property destroyed.
In Damaturu, Yobe state capital, three churches including the Living Faith, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and Anglican were bombed by the Boko Haram Islamic Sect, in addition to several property belonging to the state government which was also destroyed. Also, the First Bank Plc, along Potiskum road was equally bombed the same day.
On the 10th of July, the group bombed the All Christian Fellowship Church in Suleja. Similarly, on August 25th, men of the sect were in Gombi, Adamawa state, where they carried out gun and bomb attacks on two police stations and two banks
To probably round up its nefarious activities for the year, the group launched a fierce bomb attack on worshippers at the St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger state which claimed no fewer than 50 lives.
The day did not however end without some of its men registering their presence in states like Yobe and Plateau where bombs were detonated.
For some Nigerians, 2011 was a nightmare especially for those who lost loved ones in the series of bomb attacks within the year. For them, there was indeed nothing cheering about the year.
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