Nigeria: 20,000 deaths, $5.9 billion damages in Boko Haram insurgency

About 20,000 people have been killed with an estimated $5.9 billion worth of damages in the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno (northeast Nigeria), according to a World Bank report.

The report, which has not yet been released, reveals the extent of damage caused by the Islamist rebellion that began in 2009 controlling a large territory in the northeast for sometime.

The figures were obtained from an “assessment of reconstruction and post-insurgency pacification”, an intervention programme involving the World Bank, the European Union and the United Nations with six northern states of the country.

Evaluations conducted in the field in each of the six states have focused on education, water, sanitation, housing, public buildings, energy, environment, transport, economy and trade.

Sources with knowledge of the report told AFP on Monday that in Borno alone, 20,000 people may have been killed, a high figure against previous estimates.

In addition, the majority of the 2 million displaced are from the same state, a stronghold of Boko Haram which is particularly affected by the attacks and bombings.

In the 27 districts of the state, fighting has destroyed or damaged nearly 30% of homes, classrooms and 5,335 buildings in 552 schools, 1205 administrative buildings, 76 police stations, 35 power stations, 14 prisons , 201 health centers and 1,630 water points.

The government also estimated that pasture, river basins and lakes were poisoned in 16 districts and 470,000 herd of cattle were killed or stolen. A source close to the local government said the report had not yet been validated and that a financing decision was expected shortly.

But given the extent of the damage – over 1,900 billion naira, or $5.9 billion – coupled with the slump in Nigeria’s economy because of the falling prices of oil, the necessary funds from foreign donors could be problematic, said the source.

The World Bank in Nigeria has declined to comment.

AFP