Authorities of the north-eastern States of Borno and Yobe have banned travelling during the end-of-year period.
Authorities of the Borno and Yobe States in north-eastern Nigeria have imposed travel bans to and from the States to ensure security considering the rising attacks of the Islamic Boko Haram militants and the fact that the militants do target Christians during celebrations. Reports say the move is aimed at preventing Boko Haram from transporting explosives in cars or using motorbikes to carry out hit-and-run raids.
An army official reportedly told BBC that all vehicles to and from Borno State were banned beginning Christmas eve on Wednesday, December 24, 2014 up to Sunday, December 28, 2014. The same measure has also been taken by the authorities of neighbouring Yobe State.
Army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman reportedly said security reports indicated that Boko Haram planned to launch "massive attacks" during the Christmas period in Borno, especially on the state capital Maiduguri. He said the travel ban would apply to people providing essential services such as medical care.
The decision comes timely considering the intensification of insurgency attacks last week. Two bomb attacks at a bus station and a market in north Nigeria on Monday, December 22, 2014 killed at least 27 people and wounded around 60, Reuters cited Red Cross officials and witnesses as having said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for either attack. However, Boko Haram is highly suspected as its insurgents have repeatedly set off bombs targeting civilians.
Since Boko Haram insurgency started in 2009 to create an Islamic State, the fighters have increasingly launched attacks at Christians targeting festive periods. Reports say the group bombed the St Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla near the capital, Abuja, on Christmas Day 2011, killing at least 43 people. On Christmas Eve 2010, at least 32 people were killed in bomb blasts targeting churches in central Plateau State, which straddles Nigeria's mainly Muslim north and the Christian south.
