Satellite image of the village of Doro Baga taken on 2 Jan 2015. Image shows an example of the densely packed structures and tree cover. Satellite image 2, taken on 7 Jan 2015, shows almost all of the structures razed. The inset demonstartes the level of destruction of most structures in the town. The red areas indicate healthy vegetation. Courtesy Amnesty International
Satellite images released by Amnesty International yesterday provided indisputable and shocking evidence of the scale of last week’s attack on the towns of Baga and Doron Baga by the Boko Haram militants.
Before and after images of two neighbouring towns, Baga (160 kilometres from Maiduguri) and Doron Baga (also known as Doron Gowon, 2.5km from Baga), taken on 2nd and 7th January show the devastating effect of the attacks.
The statement on the images said over 3,700 structures were damaged or completely destroyed. Other nearby towns and villages were also attacked over the period.
“These detailed images show devastation of catastrophic proportions in two towns, one of which was almost wiped off the map in the space of four days,” said Daniel Eyre, Nigeria researcher for Amnesty International.
Baga and Doron Baga are by the edge of Lake Chad. The border between Nigeria and Chad passes through Lake Chad. Baga and Doron Baga are located in Kukawa Local Government Area which, according to the 2006 census had a population of 203,864.
Also Médecins sans Frontières reported yesterday that 5,000 survivors of the attack on Baga are staying in a camp in Maiduguri.
The UN refugee agency (UNHRC) reported on January 9 that some 7,300 Nigerian refugees had arrived in western Chad.
“Of all Boko Haram assaults analysed by Amnesty International, this is the largest and most destructive yet. It represents a deliberate attack on civilians whose homes, clinics and schools are now burnt out ruins.”
The analysis shows just two of the many towns and villages that fell victim to a series of Boko Haram attacks which began on January 3, 2015.
“Up until now, the isolation of Baga combined with the fact that Boko Haram remains in control of the area has meant that it has been very difficult to verify what happened there. Residents have not been able to return to bury the dead, let alone count their number. But through these satellite images combined with graphic testimonies a picture of what is likely to be Boko Haram’s deadliest attack ever is becoming clearer,” said Daniel Eyre.
In Baga, a densely populated town less than two square kilometres in size, approximately 620 structures were damaged or completely destroyed by fire.
In Doron Baga over 3,100 structures were damaged or destroyed by fire affecting most of the 4 square kilometre town.
According to Amnesty International, “the destruction shown in these images matches the horrific testimonies that Amnesty International has gathered. Interviews with eyewitnesses as well as with local government officials and local human rights activists suggest that Boko Haram militants shot hundreds of civilians.”
Another witness described how Boko Haram were shooting indiscriminately, killing even small children and a woman who was in labour. “[H]alf of the baby boy is out and she died like this,” he said.
Amnesty International said towns that formed Civilian Joint Task Force (Civilian JTF) have suffered brutal attacks.
“This week, Nigeria’s Director of Defence Information stated that the number of people killed in Baga including Boko Haram fighters “has so far not exceeded about 150”. These images, together with the stories of those who survived the attack, suggest that the final death toll could be much higher than this figure,” the statement explained.
Source: Daily Trust
