Boko Haram

Three decades after he first came to power in a military coup, Muhammadu Buhari will be sworn in on May 29 as elected President of Nigeria, giving him control of an African giant struggling with slowing economic growth and a raging Islamist insurgency.

At least three women were killed in a landmine explosion and others crushed to death by tanks as Nigeria's military moved in to rescue them from Boko Haram, one freed hostage said on May 3.

Nigerian authorities liberated 234 women and children held by Boko Haram jihadists in the northeastern parts of the country, according to a Nigerian armed forces announcement.

These hostages follow the liberation of 500 more hostages in the past few days.

Nigeria's military on April 28 claimed the rescue of 200 girls and 93 women from a notorious Boko Haram stronghold, but said there was no confirmation the hostages were those kidnapped from Chibok a year ago.

Nigeria?s president-elect Muhammadu Buhari cautioned April 14 that he could not make promises on the return of 219 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram exactly a year ago.

?We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued. Their whereabouts remain unknown. As much as I wish to, I cannot promise that we can find them,? he said in a statement.

Nigerians on March 30 awaited the first results of a closely fought general election pitting President Goodluck Jonathan against ex-military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, as UN chief Ban Ki-moon called for calm after deadly riots followed 2011 polls.
      

Elections were postponed from mid-February to allow the army to recapture territory from the Islamist militants of Boko Haram.

The two main candidates had pledged to prevent violence during and in the aftermath of the elections.

However, several hours after voting started, violent incidents at polling stations took place with many dead.

Nigeria's military on March 27 announced that troops had retaken the town of Gwoza from Boko Haram, from which the group declared their caliphate last year.
      
Defence spokesman Chris Olukolade told a news conference in the capital, Abuja, that the recapture came after "concerted and well-coordinated land and air operations".
      

Nigeria's military on Friday announced that troops had retaken the town of Gwoza from Boko Haram, from which the group declared their caliphate last year.
      
"Troops this morning captured Gwoza destroying the Headquarters of the Terrorists self-styled Caliphate," Defence Headquarters in Abuja said on Twitter.
      

The term "Islamophobia" entered the global political language in the past decade.