Sokoto hostage rescue attempt

Sokoto hostage rescue attempt
Part of Boko Haram insurgency
Date8 March 2012
Location
Result

Rescue attempt failed

  • Hostages killed
Belligerents
 United Kingdom
 Nigeria
Al Qaeda
Units involved
Special Boat Service Boko Haram
Strength
United Kingdom 6-20 commandos
Nigeria 100+ soldiers
Unknown
Casualties and losses
2 hostages executed 8 killed, 2-3 arrested

On 8 March 2012, members of the British military Special Boat Service, supported by members of the Nigerian Army, attempted a rescue mission to rescue British hostage Chris McManus and Italian hostage Franco Lamolinara from Boko Haram, supported by Al Qaeda, in Sokoto in north-west Nigeria. The mission failed when both hostages were executed by their captors.[1]

  1. ^ Watt, Nicholas; Richard Norton-Taylor; Andrea Vogt (8 March 2012). "British and Italian hostages killed in Nigeria". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 March 2012.