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Boko Haram Video Reveals New Details of Niger's Bosso Attack

On 5 July, the Nigeria-based Islamist militant group Boko Haram released an extended, 14 minute video detailing the recent attack against the town of Bosso in the south east Diffa region which took place on 4 June. Although the video has largely been seen as a propaganda tool for the group, it serves to demonstrate new insight into the leadership and weapons capability of Boko Haram within Niger. 

The video depicts an unknown commander addressing troops apparently prior to the Bosso attack, although it remains unclear where in Niger’s Difa region the militants are located. In his address, the commander reiterates the group’s allegiance to IS, dispelling claims that Boko Haram was seeking to re-establish ties with Al Qaeda. Following the speech, the video shows approximately 12 4x4 vehicles, several motorbikes and militants on foot purportedly departing for the assault on Bosso. The militants seen total between 100 to 150 individuals, supporting local Nigerien reports that over 100 Boko Haram militants were involved in the Bosso attack. However, the sequence of events remains uncorroborated as the imagery has yet to be officially dated. The video then turns to what is described as the aftermath of the assault, displaying both Nigerian and Nigerien fatalities. It has since been confirmed by Nigerien authorities that 35 soldiers were killed and 70 more injured in the 4 June attack. In addition, the weapons seized by Boko Haram following the withdrawal of Nigerien troops from Bosso are also displayed. The footage indicates that Boko Haram captured a significant amount of ammunition, mortars, handguns, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), rocket launchers and machine guns as well as several armoured and non-armoured vehicles. Again, this weapons cache has not been independently verified and the images shown could equally display alternative weapon stockpiles located elsewhere, including in northern Nigeria.

The footage indicates that Boko Haram captured a significant amount of ammunition, mortars, handguns, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), rocket launchers and machine guns as well as several armoured and non-armoured vehicles.

Although the video has revealed new information about the Bosso attack, which marked the deadliest Boko Haram assault within Nigerian territory to date, significant extrapolation can be made with regard to Boko Haram’s current command and relationship with IS. While it remains unclear whether the individual addressing the troops is Commander Blachera Bana, who has been cited as a likely replacement for Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, Shekau’s absence in the video detailing one of Boko Haram’s most successful attacks in Niger is telling. Bana is understood to prioritise field operations over ideological sermons, leading to significant commentary over a new tactical-led approach by Boko Haram under Bana outside of Nigeria. However, it nevertheless remains unconfirmed whether Bana has assumed such a prominent role in the organisation. 

The video also juxtaposes previous statements by Nigerian authorities which claimed that Boko Haram in Niger was not in a position to target security bases. As evidence, authorities had pointed to the majority of Boko Haram attacks targeting local villages between February 2015 and early 2016 in Niger. However, the Bosso attack, and weapons capability displayed in the latest video, serve to demonstrate that the group could be in a much better position to attack security positions in Niger going forward. 

Finally, it is clear from the video that Boko Haram is eager to reconfirm its commitment to IS. For example, the video included extracts from sermons from Abu Musab Al Zarqawi from the early 2000s, who is often linked to the origins of IS within Iraq.

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