June 2014 Borno State attacks

Boko Haram is an Islamic terrorist group opposed to what it considers to be the Westernization of Nigeria, which they have stated is the root cause of criminal behaviour in the country. Thousands of people have been killed in attacks perpetrated by the group, and the federal government declared a state of emergency in May 2013 in Borno State in its fight against the insurgency. The resulting crackdown, however, has failed to stabilise the country. Boko Haram's attacks have intensified in 2014. In February, the group killed more than 100 Christian men in the villages of Doron Baga and Izghe. Also in February, 59 boys were killed in the Federal Government College attack in Yobe State. By mid-April, Boko Haram had been blamed for nearly 4,000 deaths in 2014. On 1 June, around 40 people were killed in a bombing in Mubi. On June 2, 2014, in an event that has been called the Gwoza massacre, "No fewer than 300 villagers were reportedly killed in three communities around Gwoza local government area of Borno State".{{cite news|last=Abdullah|first=Umar|title=Gwoza Under Siege - Boko Haram Kills 300, Wipes Out Three Villages ==Kidnappings==

Over several days, around the weekend of 21–22 June, suspected Boko Haram militants attacked the village of Kummabza and three others in the Damboa district of Borno State, according to eyewitnesses. After the attack, elderly villagers walked to report the attack and seek help. A local politician and multiple eyewitnesses, however confirmed the abduction report to Agence France-Presse. On condition of anonymity, an intelligence officer with Nigeria's Department of State Security confirmed to the Associated Press that an attack had taken place. However, he reported that the abductions had taken place a week earlier, between 13 and 15 June. ==Bombings and shootings==

On 21 and 22 June, suspected Boko Haram militants attacked the villages of Chuha A, Chuha B, and Korongilim near Chibok. The attackers were met by military and vigilante resistance. A government official described the scene: "Corpses of affected people ... littered the three villages." On 23 June, a bomb explosion at a college in Kano killed 8 people and injured about 20 others. ==Analysis==

Analyst Jacob Zenn suggested the new attacks showed that international efforts to launch a counterattack against Boko Haram were stalled. Security analyst Ryan Cumming said the new kidnappings may be an attack to direct attention from the Chibok kidnappings, and to intensify pressure to make a hostage exchange deal. ==Aftermath==

On 7 July 2014, it was reported that more than 60 of the kidnapped women had escaped from Boko Haram. ==References==