On 5 July 2013, English teacher, Mohammed Musa and 29 pupils at the Government Secondary School in the town of Mamudo in Yobe state came under lethal attack when armed militants attacked the building.
The attack is believed to be the work of the fanatical Islamist group Boko Haram.
The Nigerian government has been fighting Boko Haram militants since 2009. The group that believes any form of ‘western education is sinful’ is responsible for the deaths of over 2000 people in targeted churches, mosques, and the United Nations headquarters in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, during 2011.
One newspaper quotes an eyewitness describing ‘the moment of panic when he woke to find an attacker confronting him. “We were sleeping when we heard gunshots. When I woke up, someone was pointing a gun at me,” said 15-year-old Musa Hassan, who had four fingers blown off from his right hand. “They burned the children alive,” he added, describing how the gunmen brought jerry cans of fuel to torch the complex.’
Earlier in the year, Boko Haram was responsible for killing at least 9 children at a school near Maiduguri whilst in 2012, around 26 students were killed when gunmen opened fire in a college residence in the north-eastern Adamawa state.
Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency during May dispatching thousands of troops to three north-eastern states, to try to quell the Islamist insurrection.
Yobe state governor Ibrahim Gaidam has since “directed that all secondary schools in the state be closed down from Monday 8th July 2013 until a new academic session begins in September,”
Toyin Agbetu from the Ligali Organisation said;
“Once again the devaluing of African life rears its ugly head. 29 Dead, Nothing Said.
However when late last year a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut the story elicited responses not only from the US president, but also British Prime Minister David Cameron and the UK Queen who extended their sympathies to the families of the murdered victims.
If Ligali had the resources to employ international journalists we would report the names of each of the victims. Sadly international media indifference means that these African lives seem worthy of nothing more than a footnote to editors across the western world.”
External Links
Nigerian terror group attack kills 29 childrenBoko Haram Islamist militants kill nine school children in northern NigeriaDozens dead in school attack in Nigerias Yobe stateThe Queen And David Cameron Lead Tributes To The 27 Killed In Newton Connecticut
The attack is believed to be the work of the fanatical Islamist group Boko Haram.
The Nigerian government has been fighting Boko Haram militants since 2009. The group that believes any form of ‘western education is sinful’ is responsible for the deaths of over 2000 people in targeted churches, mosques, and the United Nations headquarters in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, during 2011.
One newspaper quotes an eyewitness describing ‘the moment of panic when he woke to find an attacker confronting him. “We were sleeping when we heard gunshots. When I woke up, someone was pointing a gun at me,” said 15-year-old Musa Hassan, who had four fingers blown off from his right hand. “They burned the children alive,” he added, describing how the gunmen brought jerry cans of fuel to torch the complex.’
Mamudo school massacre: A doctor treats the wound of injured student.
Media Indifference
Earlier in the year, Boko Haram was responsible for killing at least 9 children at a school near Maiduguri whilst in 2012, around 26 students were killed when gunmen opened fire in a college residence in the north-eastern Adamawa state.Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency during May dispatching thousands of troops to three north-eastern states, to try to quell the Islamist insurrection.
Yobe state governor Ibrahim Gaidam has since “directed that all secondary schools in the state be closed down from Monday 8th July 2013 until a new academic session begins in September,”
Toyin Agbetu from the Ligali Organisation said;
“Once again the devaluing of African life rears its ugly head. 29 Dead, Nothing Said.
However when late last year a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut the story elicited responses not only from the US president, but also British Prime Minister David Cameron and the UK Queen who extended their sympathies to the families of the murdered victims.
If Ligali had the resources to employ international journalists we would report the names of each of the victims. Sadly international media indifference means that these African lives seem worthy of nothing more than a footnote to editors across the western world.”
External Links
Nigerian terror group attack kills 29 childrenBoko Haram Islamist militants kill nine school children in northern NigeriaDozens dead in school attack in Nigerias Yobe stateThe Queen And David Cameron Lead Tributes To The 27 Killed In Newton Connecticut
Ligali is not responsible for the content of third party sites
Speak Out!
Click here to speak out and share your perspective on this article.“29 Dead, Nothing Said” - Once again the devaluing of African life rears its ugly head. Yet, when a gunman killed 27 at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, David Cameron and the Queen extended their sympathies to the US families of the murdered victims
Toyin Agbetu, Ligali Organisation
See Related:
Get involved and help change our world