Ogogoro military

Army ignored warning of Boko Haram
kidnap – Amnesty

LAGOS (AFP) – Nigeria’s military had advanced
warning of the April 14 attack by Boko Haram that
led to the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls
but failed to take immediate action, Amnesty
International said Friday.
“Damning testimonies gathered by Amnesty
International reveal that Nigerian security forces
failed to act on advance warnings about Boko
Haram’s armed raid on the state-run boarding
school in Chibok which led to the abduction,” the
rights group said.
Amnesty said it had verified the information about
the abduction with “credible sources”.
“Amnesty International has confirmed… that
Nigeria’s military headquarters in Maiduguri was
aware of the impending attack soon after 7:00 PM
(1800 GMT) on 14 April, close to four hours before
Boko Haram began their assault on the town,” the
group said.
The military however could not assemble the
troops needed to suppress the attack, “due to poor
resources and a reported fear of engaging with the
often better-equipped” Islamists, according to
Amnesty.
The 17 army personnel based in Chibok were
overpowered by the attackers and had to retreat,
the London-based group further said.
“The fact that Nigerian security forces knew about
Boko Haram’s impending raid, but failed to take
the immediate action needed to stop it, will only
amplify the national and international outcry at this
horrific crime,” said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty
International’s Africa Director for research and
advocacy.