Boko Haram is a terrorist group that has destroyed and devastated the lives and property of Nigerians and surrounding nations. Their exploits can be seen in both the central and western parts of Africa. Founded in 2002, this religious extremist group has succeeded in infusing people’s lives and minds with discouraging fear. From time to time they kidnap prominent people to manipulate the government. Regardless of negotiations, which never lead to success and are always discussed controversially, the protection of the lives of their victims is never guaranteed, but is entirely at their discretion. The Boko Haram rebels insist on establishing a global religion – Islam; and they address this in every violent way possible. On the other hand, as much as the Boko Haram group claims to be fighting for “Allah,” the cult kills both Christians and Muslims. So it’s not yet clear what their drive and purpose really is. Perhaps the religious excuse is used as a cover to get a specific, unknown program.
Religion is a very touchy and sensitive subject, enough to spark endless/timeless battles and create generational enemies. Boko Haram is living proof of this. As their name suggests – “Western education is a sin,” they extend their hatred of Western culture to Christianity and virtually everything Western. So it’s clear why they enjoy kidnapping one emigrant after another; bombing of schools and churches; Killing Christians and their own fellow worshipers whom they call infidels, probably because they disapprove of their gory tactics.
Recent discoveries show that the BH sect has split as the leader of a faction divided into multiple factions may choose to carry out an operation based on their faction’s purpose. It is not yet clear if they all seek the support and permission of the main group led by Shekau. However, their workings are all the same, they kidnap, kill and destroy. Another mystery for the people is the source of their funds and support as they clearly have an efficient network of supply of arms and ammunition. While suspicions of sponsorship by prominent Nigerians or ISIS members have surfaced, their most common strategy has been to kidnap high-profile Africans and foreigners,
Top 10 Eminent Boko Haram Kidnaps and Raids
10. Moulin Fournier family
On February 19, 2013, a French family of seven, including four children, were kidnapped by the BH cult and held hostage for two months. According to BBC News, the family was returning from a holiday in Cameroon’s Waza National Park (where they were living) when they were stopped and kidnapped by the rebels, who later moved them to hiding in Nigeria. The children’s father, Tanguy Moulin-Fournier, was an employee of a French energy company in Yaounde, GDF Suez. In cooperation with the French government, the hostages were released at the Cameroonian-Nigerian border.
9. Chris McManus and Franco Lamolinara
Both were victims of a failed rescue mission by the British and Nigerian rescue workers. Chris McManus and Franco Lamolinara were both workers at Stabilini Visinoni Construction Company in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria. Chris McManus, a crowd investigator, was kidnapped in May 2011 along with Franco, his Italian partner. The Nigerian State Security Service arrested those suspected of kidnapping and murdering the expatriates – Mohammed Rabiu Adam (aka Dan Hajiya), Abubakar Abdulrahman Habibu, Shitu Salihu, Abubakar Umar and Ahmed Samaila. The guilty group was found to be pursuing the brutally killed foreigners before being held hostage for months. When the guards came to the hideout to save her,
8. Francis Collomp
Francis is a French engineer who was captured at the place where he was working on an energy project of the Ansaru Group, a subsidiary of Boko Haram, and was subsequently held in captivity for almost a year. Kidnapped in Kaduna and transferred to Zaria, the clever 63-year-old escaped tragedy and saved himself from the ruthless group. In his testimony, Francis had taken advantage of the kidnappers’ prayer session, quietly locked the security guard in the bathroom, and successfully exited the camp. He was rescued by a motorcyclist and taken to the nearest police station at his request.
7. Bieshair Mohaman’s sons
Bieshair is the most prominent Cameroonian Muslim cleric whose sons – Bieshair Hashimir & Bieshair Cavaye Yegue – were kidnapped by the terrorist cult. Bieshair has been known to vehemently refute the group’s claims and activities. A raid attempting to capture him was launched, and his sons were taken in his stead. It happened in Bieshair’s hometown of Limani, on the border with Nigeria’s Borno state. According to VOA News
“Cameroonian state radio announced that 10 heavily armed men from neighboring Nigeria’s Borno state crossed and ransacked the home of Bieshair Mohaman, the traditional ruler of Limani.”
6. Chinese engineers
In addition to the wife of Cameroon’s vice president, 10 Chinese construction workers were released from the cult camp on October 11, 2014 when it was raided by forces. The foreign engineers were kidnapped in Waza, in remote northern Cameroon on the border with Nigeria. 27 hostages were released and flown to Yaoundé, the country’s capital.
5. Nigerian Police Officers
In the battle between the government and the terrorists and Nigerian police officers were ambushed in Kala-Balge on October 10, 2004. A convoy passing through over 50 police officers was attacked, killing many people. The militant group set out with 12 police officers who were heavily speculated to have been killed by the brutal group.
4. Akaoua Babiana Amoudu Ali
Bibiana is the wife of Amoudu Ali, Deputy Prime Minister of Cameroon. On July 27, 2014, militants attacked Amoudu’s family, killing some family members and leaving with his wife. The vice premier was on his way home to celebrate Ramadan with his family when he returned to Kolofata to face miserable disillusionment. This incident in particular was met with great suspicion. First, the world was amazed by Cameroon’s tactics to get Ms. Bibiana back alive. Knowing the rebellious group and their brutal nature, it was of interest to know why they clung to them and set them free. Happy as the Cameroonians were, the concern was reassurance that the government did not endanger the security of their people and the surrounding African countries, by accepting any form of conditions and negotiations for the hostage’s release. Rumor has it that the Cameroonian government might have paid them in cash, as well as arms and ammunition. The fear is that whatever they have signed could adversely affect one or more people in West and Central Africa.
3. Seini Boukar Lamine
Seini Boukar Lamine is a local religious leader who was assaulted and kidnapped on the same day the Deputy Prime Minister’s wife was kidnapped. Lamine, the respected administrator of the Kofolata district, was kidnapped by BH along with other family members, killing about 3 people.
2. Setraco Construction Company
A Lebanese construction company in Setraco Nigeria lost 4 of its Lebanese workers, one Italian, one British and one Greek, to a kidnapping operation by Boko Haram militants) from the national capital of Bauchi on February 13, 2013, leaving the security guard dead. Unfortunately, it has been reported to date none of the detained hostages were seen or heard.
1. Chibok Girls
If you remember the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, you know the story. This was the culmination of all kidnapping cases in Nigeria’s history. The insurgent group raided a school in northeastern Nigeria and set off with over 200 girls. The tragedy was a global issue and drew attention from around the world. Already Nigerians over the years of BH attacks have lost thousands of lives with many communities burned and shattered, to top it all off the rebels kidnapped 276 school girls who have not been found to this day. They were picked up from their dormitories in Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria on April 15, 2014. The militants demanded the release of their arrested members in exchange for the girls,