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Satellite Images Show Devastation from Boko Haram Attacks in Nigeria

Amnesty International released satellite images Thursday of two towns in Nigeria that they say reveal the scale of destruction from recent Boko Haram attacks.
Doro Baga Satellite view on 2 Jan 2015 and 7 Jan 2015
The densely-packed buildings and tree cover of Doro Baga (aka Doro Gowon) in northeastern Nigeria are revealed in the top satellite image from Jan. 2. In the bottom image, taken on Jan. 7, almost all of the structures razed. The inset highlights the level of destruction. The red areas indicate healthy vegetation. Micah Farfour / DigitalGlobe

Amnesty International released satellite images Thursday of two towns in Nigeria that they say reveals the scale of destruction from recent attacks by the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram. As many as 2,000 people may have been killed in the village of Baga last week.

The photos show “devastation of catastrophic proportions,” according to Daniel Eyre, Nigeria researcher for Amnesty International.

The densely-packed buildings and tree cover of Doro Baga (aka Doro Gowon) in northeastern Nigeria are revealed in the satellite image above from Jan. 2. In the image below it, taken on Jan. 7 after Boko Haram attacks, almost all of the structures are razed. The inset highlights the level of destruction. The images are infrared so healthy vegetation appears in red.

Baga, North Eastern Nigeria Satellite view on 2 Jan 2015 and 7 Jan 2015
Thatch roof structures are visible in the town of Baga, northeastern Nigeria, on Jan. 2 in the top image. In the image taken on Jan. 7 many of the thatch roof structures have been razed. The dark color represents burned areas, while the red indicates healthy vegetation.Micah Farfour / DigitalGlobe