June 24, 2012:  In the Moslem north a week of violence has left over 200 dead and more than a thousand wounded. Boko Haram attacks on churches got the violence started, as Christians then attacked Moslems in retaliation. Boko Haram continued to attack police and soldiers who tried to suppress the unrest. All this is concentrated in a few northern cities where there are large Christian minorities and plenty of churches to attack. Much of the violence occurred in Kaduna, a Moslem city in central Nigeria that contains a large Christian population. Moslem and Christian religious leaders called for calm but Christian clerics made it clear that Christians had the right to defend themselves. At the same time Christian leaders spoke out against reprisal attacks in the largely Christian south (against the Moslem minority there).

June 22, 2012: A bomb exploded outside a nightclub in the capital, causing no injuries. Nightclubs are a favorite Boko Haram target but extortionists often make the same kinds of attacks.

In the northern cities of Damaturu and Kaduna over a hundred people have died as Christians retaliated for three attacks on churches last Sunday. Boko Haram took credit for the church attacks.

In the northern city of Kano, police arrested four men who were trying to plant a bomb at a major mosque.

In northern Kano State police imposed a curfew.

June 21, 2012: The U.S. has declared the three top leaders of Boko Haram to be international terrorists. This will make it more difficult for these three to travel outside of Nigeria and make them a target for American counter-terrorism forces.  The United States did not designate Boko Haram as an international terrorist organization, something Nigerian leaders wanted.

President Johnson dismissed his national security adviser and his defense minister. Both men were from the Christian south. A northerner (a retired army colonel and cousin of a major Moslem leader in the north) was promptly appointed as the new national security adviser.

June 20, 2012: In the northern city of Kano, nearly 200 casualties resulted as police fought Christian and Moslem mobs. The Christians are attacking Mosques in retaliation for Boko Haram attacks on Christians.

June 19, 2012: In the northern city of Damaturu, Boko Haram gunmen continued to fight with police.

June 18, 2012: In the northern city of Damaturu, police responded to Boko Haram attacks and fought Boko Haram fighters. All this left at least 40 dead.

June 17, 2012: In northern Kaduna State bombs in three churches left 16 dead.