Incident Summary:

01/20/2012: Approximately 50 assailants dressed in police and army uniforms attacked the Bompai police barracks in Kano city, Nigeria. This was one of 15 incidents in Kano on the same day. At least 187 people were killed and 50 other people were injured across all 15 attacks. Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the incident.

GTD ID:
201201200024

When:
2012-01-20

Country:
Nigeria

Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Kano

City:
Kano

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Police
Name of Entity Nigeria Police Force (NPF)
Specific Description Barracks
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
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information The attackers ran from home to home causing property damage across the barracks. Casualty numbers for this attack represent an equal division of a cumulative total of casualties covering incidents 201201200001, 201201200002, 201201200003, 201201200004, 201201200005, 201201200006, 201201200007, 201201200008, 201201200024, 201201200030, and 201201200031.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Boko Haram Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Personal claim)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 50
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 17 Fatalities / 4 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 17
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities Unknown
Total Number of Injured 4
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured Unknown
Sources
"Kano Attacks - 'Men in Police, Army Uniforms Killed Dozens," Daily Trust, January 23, 2012.
"Boko Haram - Police Impound Vehicles With Explosives in Kano," This Day, January 24, 2012.