Timeline of the Islamist Insurgency in Nigeria is the chronology of the Islamist Insurgency in Nigeria, an ongoing armed conflict between Nigerian Islamist groups and the Nigerian Government.
Religious violence before the insurgency
2000 21 February – 23 May – 2000 Kaduna riots – Between 1,000 and 5,000 people were killed in sectarian rioting between Christians and Muslims in Kaduna State following the introduction of Sharia law into that state.
2001 7–17 September – 2001 Jos riots – Nearly 1,000 people were killed following sectarian rioting between Christians and Muslims in Jos, Plateau State.
2002 20–23 November – Miss World riots – Around 250 were killed during rioting by Islamists across northern Nigeria as a response to an article deemed blasphemous. Mohammed Yusuf founded the organization that would become Boko Haram.
2004 4 February – Yelwa massacre – 78 Christians were massacred in Yelwa, Kebbi State. 2 May – Yelwa massacre – Several hundred Muslims were massacred in Yelwa as a reprisal attack from February.
2008 28–29 November – 2008 Jos riots – 381 people were killed in sectarian rioting between Christians and Muslims in Jos.
2010 17 January – 7 March – 2010 Jos riots – Around 992 people were killed in sectarian rioting between Christians and Muslims in Jos.
Timeline of the insurgency
2009 26–29 July – 2009 Boko Haram uprising – Nearly 1,000 people were killed in clashes between Boko Haram militants and Nigerian soldiers in four locations in the northern Nigeria – Bauchi in Bauchi State, Maiduguri in Borno State, Potiskum in Yobe State and Wudil in Kano State – beginning the Boko Haram insurgency. 30 July – Mohammed Yusuf, spiritual leader of Boko Haram, was summarily executed in Maiduguri by the Nigerian Police after he had been handed over to them by Nigerian soldiers a day following the recent uprising. Abubakar Shekau takes control of the movement.
2010 5 September – Boko Haram attacked a village, killing a police officer and injuring a warden. 7 September – Bauchi prison break – Five people were killed and 721 inmates freed from prison in Bauchi by gunmen suspected to be from Boko Haram. 21 September – Boko Haram killed a village chief and a trader in Maiduguri. 6 October – Boko Haram assassinated the national vice-chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party in front of his house and attempted to kill the speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, killing a policeman instead. 7 October – A senior staff of Bama Local Council in Borno was assassinated by Boko Haram gunmen. 9 October – Islamic scholar Sheikh Bashir Mustapha and Bashir Kashara were killed by Boko Haram. 10 October – A 10-year-old boy was beheaded by Boko Haram. 13 October – While attempting to assassinate Bauchi State official, Boko Haram killed a policeman. 20 October – Boko Haram killed a police inspector. 23 October – Boko Haram attempted to set a police station on fire but were pushed back, leading to the death of one of their members. 13 November – Two Boko Haram members riding a motorcycle killed a soldier at the 231 Battalion of a Nigerian Army base. 19 November – Boko Haram opened fire on a mosque, killing three people. 24 November – Boko Haram killed a policeman and a soldier who were on their way home. 24 December – 2010 Jos and Maiduguri attacks – 80 people were killed in a series of bombings in the city of Jos. 29 December Boko Haram killed three police officers and two civilians in Maiduguri. Boko Haram opened fire on the All Nigeria Peoples Party, killing eight people. 31 December – December 2010 Abuja attack – A bomb attack outside a barracks in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, killed four civilians.
2011 29 May – May 2011 Nigeria bombings – Bombings killed 13 people in Bauchi and two people in Abuja during Goodluck Jonathan's swearing in as the new president. Bombings without fatalities occurred in Zaria, Kaduna State and Maiduguri. 16 June – 2011 Abuja police headquarters bombing – At least two people, the perpetrator and a traffic policeman, are killed in a failed bombing of Abuja's police headquarters. It was Nigeria's first suicide bombing. 20 June – Boko Haram attacked a bank in Kankara, Katsina State, killing seven people. 3 July – Boko Haram killed 10 people in Maiduguri. 9 July – Government troops killed 11 Boko Haram terrorists in Maiduguri. 19 August – Boko Haram attack in Maiduguri killed three police and a civilian. 25 August – Boko Haram attacked banks and police stations in Gombe, killing 12 people. 26 August – 2011 Abuja United Nations bombing – 21 people were killed in a bombing attack on a United Nations compound in Abuja. 4 November – November 2011 Nigeria attacks – Between 100 and 150 people were killed in a series of coordinated assaults in Damaturu, Yobe and Maiduguri. 15 December – Boko Haram attacked a military school near Kano, killing four officers. 17 December – Boko Haram battled with the police in Kano, killing three police and four militants. 22–23 December – December 2011 Nigeria clashes – 68 people, of whom 50 were militants, at least 7 soldiers, and 11 civilians, were killed in clashes between Boko Haram militants and Nigerian soldiers in Maiduguri and Damaturu. 25 December – Christmas 2011 Nigeria attacks – 41 people were killed by Boko Haram bomb attacks and shootings on churches in Damaturu and Gadaka in Yobe, Madalla in Niger State and in Jos. The attackers included Kabiru Sokoto.
2012 During 2012, 792 people were killed as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency.
January 5–6 January – January 2012 Northern Nigeria attacks – Around 37 Christians were killed by Boko Haram militants. 9 January – Boko Haram killed four police officers and four civilians in Potiskum. 20 January – January 2012 Northern Nigeria attacks – 183 people, of whom at least 150 were civilians and 32 police officers, were killed in Kano State by Boko Haram gunmen. 28 January – The Nigerian military killed 11 Boko Haram terrorists in Maiduguri.
February 8 February – A Boko Haram suicide bomber damaged the military headquarters in Kaduna. 20 February – Eight Boko Haram terrorists were killed by the military in Maiduguri. 27 February – Boko Haram attacked a police station and a bank in the town of Jama'are, Bauchi State, killing three police.
March 8 March – Sokoto hostage rescue attempt – In Sokoto, Boko Haram killed two builders - one British and the other Italian - whom they had been holding hostage since kidnapping them in May 2011 in Birnin Kebbi. The double murder was committed as the British Special Boat Service and the Nigerian Army tried to rescue them.
April 8 April – April 2012 Kaduna bombings – 38 people were killed by a bombing at a church in Kaduna. 29 April – Boko Haram killed 20 people in churches across northern Nigeria. 30 April – Boko Haram attacked a police convoy in Jalingo, Taraba State, killing 11 people.
June 3 June – Boko Haram killed nine people in a suicide bombing of a church in Bauchi State. 5–6 June – Soldiers killed 16 Boko Haram terrorists in Maiduguri. 8 June – Boko Haram killed five people in a suicide bombing of a police headquarters in Maiduguri. 17 June June 2012 Kano church bombings – Around 40 Christians were killed by Boko Haram at churches in Kano. June 2012 Kaduna church bombings – 19 people were killed by bomb attacks against three churches in Kaduna. Boko Haram killed 150 people across Plateau State.
July 13 July – Boko Haram killed five people in a suicide bombing of a mosque in Maiduguri.
August 5 August – Boko Haram killed six soldiers and two civilians in a suicide bombing of a convoy in Damaturu. 7 August – Deeper Life Bible Church shooting – 19 people were killed by Boko Haram gunmen in a mass shooting at a church in Kogi State. 8 August – Two Nigerian soldiers and one civilian were killed in a mosque in an apparent reprisal attack for the previous day's massacre. 12 August – A battle between Boko Haram and the government in Maiduguri killed 20 terrorists and a soldier.
September 7 September – Soldiers killed seven Boko Haram terrorists in Maiduguri. 24 September – Soldiers killed 35 Boko Haram terrorists in Adamawa and Yobe States.
October 1–2 October – Federal Polytechnic, Mubi attack – At least 25 people were killed at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State. 7 October – Soldiers killed 30 Boko Haram terrorists in Damaturu.
November 9 November – Boko Haram killed three policemen in an attack on their police station near Damaturu. 25 November – 11 people were killed in a Boko Haram suicide bombing on a military barracks in Jaji. 26 November – Boko Haram attacked a police station in Abuja, killing two police officers.
December 1–2 December – Boko Haram attacked the village of Chibok, Borno, killing 10 and killed five police in Gamboru Ngala. 24 December – Boko Haram killed six people at a church in the village of Peri. 25 December – December 2012 shootings in Northern Nigeria – 27 Christians were killed in Maiduguri and Potiskum by suspected Boko Haram militants. 28 December – Another 15 Christians were killed in the village of Musari by unknown gunmen.
2013 2013 fatalities were at least 1,000:
January 1 January – A Nigerian Army raid killed 13 militants. 2 January – Boko Haram attacked a police station in the town of Song. 21–22 January – Boko Haram killed 23 civilians in Damboa, Borno.
February 1 February – Soldiers battled with Boko Haram in Borno, killing 17 terrorists and one soldier. 8 February – Two shootings of polio vaccinators kill 9 women.
March 3–20 March – Boko Haram terrorists were killed in a government operation in Monguno, Borno. 18 March – 2013 Kano bus bombing – Between 22 and 65 people are killed by a car bombing in Kano. 31 March – The government battled with Boko Haram in Kano State, resulting in the deaths of 14 terrorists and one soldier.
April 16 April – 2013 Baga massacre – 187 people were killed in Baga in Borno. It is unclear whether the Nigerian military or Boko Haram is responsible for the massacre. 19–20 April – An unknown number of people were killed in a battle between Boko Haram and the government in Baga.
May 7 May – Boko Haram attacked barracks, a prison, and a police station in the town of Bama. The attack killed 22 police, 14 prison guards, Two soldiers, four civilians, and 13 terrorists. In total this attack killed 55 people. 14 May – 53 people were killed by Boko Haram in Benue State. The government also began an offensive operations in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
June June – Nine children were killed in Maiduguri and 13 students and teachers were killed in Damaturu by Boko Haram.
July 6 July – Yobe State school shooting – More than 42 were killed by Boko Haram gunmen in a school in Yobe. Boko Haram also attacked a police station and a bank in the town of Karim Lamido, killing three police officers. 27 July – 20 people were killed by Boko Haram in Baga. 29 July – 12 people were killed by Boko Haram in Kano.
August 4–5 August – Boko Haram attacked a military base in the town of Malam Fatori and a police station in the town of Bama, Borno. The attack left 32 terrorists, two soldiers, and a police officer dead. 11 August – Konduga mosque shooting – 44 people were killed and 26 others injured in a mass shooting by Boko Haram in a mosque in Konduga, Borno. 15 August – Boko Haram killed 11 people in Damboa. 19 August – Boko Haram killed 44 people in the village of Demba. 30 August – Boko Haram killed 24 pro-government militiamen near the town of Monguno.
September 4–5 September – Boko Haram killed 15 people in the town of Gajiram and five people in the village of Bulabilin Ngaura. 6 September – A government operation in Borno killed 50 terrorists.