USA Africa Dialogue Series - Did Germany bomb Nigeria in World War II?

Did Germany bomb Nigeria in World War II?

by Jonathan Beard

I recently read news reports about some civilians abandoning the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri because of rumors that Boko Haram, an Islamist militant group active in the region, might attack the city.  I mentioned this news to a friend who worked in northern Nigeria 35 years ago, and he said that it would not be the first time Maiduguri had been attacked.  He said "the Germans bombed it in World War II."  Is this true?  I was able to find an online mention or two that said that the British--Nigeria was a British colony until 1960--established an airbase in Maiduguri during the war.  But was it attacked, and if so, where did the Luftwaffe planes come from?  Were there other "strategic" bombing missions by the Germans in Africa?

Jonathan Beard

jb752@caa.columbia.edu

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