Nigeria: There Never Was a Ceasefire

Over the weekend, armed Boko Haram militants kidnapped over 30 boys and girls from the small town of Mafa in Northeast Nigeria. Last Thursday, the group killed 17 people in the town of Ndongo and then set the town ablaze. The Nigerian government has claimed that Boko Haram is not responsible for these attacks, however no such declaration has been made by the group. As mentioned in last week’s article, for a supposed ceasefire that was agreed upon, Boko Haram has been active the last few weeks.

Mentioning the ceasefire, a Human Rights Watch report is stating the group has used the kidnapped women who refuse to convert to Islam as part of military operations, forced marriage, and even abuse—both mental and sexual. The findings detailed in the report raises one important question: What is to come of the agreement made two weeks ago to return the 200 plus Chibok girls kidnapped in April? Coupled with the events over the last few weeks, as well as this report, the legitimacy and hope for the success of the ceasefire deal went from very dim to now non-existent.