Paul Rogers has written a long commentary on Nigeria, within he says:Link:http://www.opendemocracy.net/paul-ro...a-and-long-warThere is a strong argument that the movement's violent approach is alienating the public in the areas affected. But this itself makes a specific action early on 2 December 2013 very significant. A Boko Haram operation involving scores - possibly hundreds - of paramilitaries was launched close to the city of Maiduguri, the site of Boko Haram’s foundation and long a centre of support.
He then cites a UK newspaper report:Link:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...n-Nigeria.htmlBoko Haram fighters] streamed towards Maiduguri city in the early hours of Monday in pick-up trucks and on motorcycles, before opening fire with rockets and small arms on a military base. After a five-hour battle, two helicopters, three under-repair fighter jets, vehicles, officers' housing, workshops and regimental buildings had been destroyed.
Rightly Paul notes:Not that such attacks have not happened before in Nigeria and other, better known campaigns. After all (sigh, personal theme cometh ) terrorism is armed propaganda.A bigger problem for the government, though, was the very fact that the militants were able to overrun the base with every evidence of impunity.
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