Incident Summary:
04/14/2014: Assailants stormed a government-run secondary school for girls in Chibok, Borno, Nigeria. The assailants killed a soldier and a police officer, then kidnapped 276 students. As of August 7, 2021, at least 167 hostages and six children born in captivity have escaped or have been released. At least one girl chose to stay when offered release. Some of the released girls have suggested at least 13 of the unaccounted-for girls have been killed - though this lacks confirmation. The fate of the remaining original 109 captives is unknown; however, sources speculate that they are being held in Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the incident, stating that they were planning to sell the captives.
Overview
GTD ID:
201404140009
When:
2014-04-14
Country:
Nigeria
Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Borno
City:
Chibok
What
Attack Information
Type of Attack () |
Hostage Taking (Kidnapping) |
Type of Attack () |
Facility/Infrastructure Attack |
Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
Target Type: Educational Institution |
Name of Entity |
Government of Nigeria |
Specific Description |
Girls' Secondary School |
Nationality of Target |
Nigeria |
Additional Information
Hostages |
Yes |
Number of Hostages |
276 |
US Hostages |
0 |
Outcome |
Combination |
Ransom |
Yes |
Total Ransom Amount Demanded |
Unknown |
Ransom Amount Demanded from US Sources |
0.00 |
Total Ransom Amount Paid |
3442235.00 |
Total Ransom Amount Paid by US Sources |
0.00 |
Ransom Notes |
The Nigerian government paid a $2,354,100 (2,000,000 EUR) ransom for the release of 82 hostages on May 6, 2017. An additional $1,088,135 was paid sometime in late 2016 for the release of 21 hostages. |
Property Damage |
Unknown |
Extent of Property Damage |
Unknown |
Value of Property Damage |
Unknown |
How
Weapon Information
Type |
Sub-type |
Firearms |
Unknown Gun Type |
Incendiary |
Arson/Fire |
Additional Information
Suicide Attack? | No |
Part of Multiple Incident? | No |
Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
Doubt Terrorism Proper () |
No |
Additional Information |
Casualty numbers for this attack conflict across sources. Following GTD protocol, the most recent reliable estimates are reported here. At least 57 students escaped shortly after the abduction. Another hostage escaped on May 17, 2016, along with her infant who was born in captivity. The victim noted that six captives had been killed. An additional 21 hostages were released on October 13, 2016, along with a child who was born in captivity. On November 5, 2016, another hostage was rescued along with her child. Another hostage was released on January 5, 2017, along with her child who was born in captivity. After negotiations with the government, 82 hostages were released on May 6, 2017. Another hostage was rescued on January 4, 2018, along with a child born in captivity. |
Who
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name |
Claimed Responsibility |
Boko Haram |
Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Video) |
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators |
Unknown |
Number of Captured Perpetrators |
0 |
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties |
2 Fatalities |
Total Number of Fatalities |
2 |
Number of U.S. Fatalities |
0 |
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
0 |
Total Number of Injured |
Unknown |
Number of U.S. Injured |
0 |
Number of Perpetrators Injured |
0 |
Sources
Sources
"Boko Haram releases 21 Chibok girls to Nigerian government," CNN, October 13, 2016. |
"Another Kidnapped Chibok Girl Free In Nigeria: Presidency," AFP (World Service), May 17, 2017. |
"Nigeria Chibok girls: Eighty-two freed by Boko Haram," BBC, May 7, 2017. |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties