Incident Summary:

02/20/2012: Assailants planted explosives and opened fire on the Baga Fish Market in Maiduguri city, Borno state, Nigeria. Thirty-eight civilians were killed in the gunfire and explosions. Eight assailants were also killed when security forces returned fire. A spokesperson for Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attack and stated that traders at the market had previously arrested several of the group's members and handed them over to the Joint Task Force; the attack was in retaliation for the arrests.

GTD ID:
201202200010

When:
2012-02-20

Country:
Nigeria

Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Borno

City:
Maiduguri

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Baga Fish Market
Specific Description Market
Nationality of Target Nigeria
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Unknown Explosive Type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Weapon Details
Multiple explosive devices, at least three of which were successfully disarmed, were used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Boko Haram Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Call (post-incident))
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 8
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 38 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 38
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 8
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Nigeria steps up security after market attack killed 30," Agence France Presse -- English, February 21, 2012.
"BRIEF: Boko Haram attacks market, 30 people feared dead," DPA (Berlin), February 21, 2012.
"Nigeria: Militants Killed in Attack," The New York Times, February 21, 2012.