Just kidding, obviously. Why would anyone pay attention to a series of battles where military forces attacked Islamic terrorists, captured their leader, filmed him begging for his life, killed him, and then broadcast the footage? Especially when, in addition to 300 terrorists, those military forces also killed another 300 people who happened to get in the way?
Nigeria isn’t even close to Israel. So nothing to see here:
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is no stranger to violent upheavals. The latest such incident occurred in the last week of July in the northern Nigerian cities of Bauchi, Yola and Maiduguri… Yar’Adua, the President, ordered the military to root out “Boko Haram”, whose supporters were armed with locally fabricated bombs, firearms and other crude weapons. The Nigerian Army claims that the group had AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades. Yar’Adua had said that those involved in the violence would be “severely dealt” with and that the military “would contain them once and for all”. Within a few days of the President’s speech, the security forces killed more than 300 militants, including their leader, Mohammed Yusuf.
The security forces were evidently told not to take any prisoners. Yusuf, who was paraded alive in front of the media, was dead soon after. A video showing him asking for mercy was shown to the media along with the picture of his body. The police claim that he was shot while trying to escape… In the local Hausa language, “Boko Haram” means “Western education is sin”. The local media have dubbed it the “Nigerian Taliban”… Over 10,000 people have been killed in the country owing to sectarian violence since civilian rule was restored in 1999.
Other charming facts about Nigeria: there were more than 300 kidnappings-for-ransom in 2008, there will be even more in 2009 because oil prices have declined, and Yar’Adua’s health – along with what stability the country has – is iffy at best. Meanwhile churches are being burned at the pace of roughly a lot.
But remind me again: is 10,000 people more or less than the number of Palestinians that Israel has killed since 1999? I’m thinking it has to be much less, because otherwise it’d be pretty difficult to explain the international community’s obsession with the Jewish State.
References:
* Islamist sect leader shot dead after 600 killed in Nigeria siege [Times Online]
* Carnage in Nigeria [Hindu]
* I nominate Nigeria to the Axis of Upheaval [FP Passport]
* What if the president goes? [Economist]
* Death toll hits 11 in sectarian violence: Nigerian police
Previously:
* Global Outrage As Egypt Promises To Beat Palestinian Civilians Who Breach Border
* Islamic World Explodes Into Riots As Fatah Targets Hamas Mosques, Imams
* Global Outcry As Hamas Soldiers Kill Palestinian Boy, 10 Others, In Non-Civil War Firefight (Plus: Was It Hamas’s “Military Wing” Or “Political Wing” That Did The Killing?)
