Satellite Images Show the Extent of Damage by Boko Haram

In one of their most destructive attacks, Boko Haram opened fire on civilians of Baga and Doron Baga last week. The two towns in the Borno state suffered mass casualties and witnesses described the scene as bodies littered all over the streets and bushes. Amnesty International recently published satellite images of the areas in Northeastern Nigeria that Boko Haram devastated last week.

Amnesty International estimates that around 3,700 homes and buildings were destroyed as a result of last week’s attacks alone. The satellite images show that the town of Doron Baga is virtually nonexistent as a direct result of Boko Haram. 3,100 of the destroyed structures were in Doron Baga.

“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 of Amnesty International.

“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,” he said.

Several witnesses spoke to Amnesty about the horrific scenes of the attacks. Those who escaped became part of the hundreds of thousands of displaced Nigerians who are now refugees. The less fortunate were rounded up and held captive. A former captive told Amnesty that Boko Haram is still holding some of the young women who were captured. Maiduguri, the capital of Borno, is flooded with fleeing Nigerians.

Nigerian officials claim that only about 150 individuals have died as a result of the attacks, however, other sources report that about 2,000 individuals were killed. Amnesty states that it is difficult to accurately calculate the number of victims in the area because of the seclusion Boko Haram has created.

“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 Eyre. “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,” he stated in regards to the reported 150.