Fact Check
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“Boko Haram, earlier this year, controlled as
much as 17% of Nigeria’s territory” (McFarland, 2015).there have been many varying
reports even going up to 20% of the country
being controlled by Boko Haram, however
it would be impossible to come up with an
accurate percentage. “Right now, we’re hearing, on the lowest end, somewhere around
20,000 square miles, which is about the size
of Belgium - up to about 20 percent of the
country, which is around 70,000. It’s a territory that was never really well-governed by
the national government anyway, and Boko
Haram has taken advantage of that” said
Okeowo on NPR (2015).
This statement is mostly true.
“Buhari took over the government through a
coup in 1983” (Mcfarland, 2015) The instability after Nigerian independence led to a
series of military coups and power changing
hands multiple times. BBC reported “By
the end of 1983, the civilian government in
Nigeria was overthrown by a military coup
led by Major-General Muhammadu Buhari”
(2010). This statement is true.
“Militaries in the region have joined forces
and are pushing Boko Haram out of territory” (Mcfarland, 2015). “Nigeria and its four
neighboring nations on Saturday pledged
to deploy 8,700 troops, police and civilians
as part of a regional effort to fight Boko
Haram militants”(AFP, 2015). This came
after a meeting of representatives from these
countries met in Cameroon. This force has
been pushing back against Boko Haram and
regaining territory. This statement is true.
“Boko Haram has had bases in neighboring
countries” (Mcfarland, 2015).Bases have
been found and confronted in the neighboring country Niger “Niger’s air force bombed
a Boko Haram base in the country’s southeast and arrested more than 20 militants”
(Reuters, 2015). The spread of Boko Haram
into neighboring countries has made no
small impact in the region and has led to an
allied force from 5 countries coming together to battle Boko Haram (AFP, 2015). This
statement is true.
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