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What happened: Boko Haram insurgents ambushed a convoy of the Nigerian Army’s 7th Division near Chibok in Borno State, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 soldiers, including a commanding officer, Major Olalekan Akintola, and left several others wounded. The soldiers were on a mission to locate and rescue schoolgirls abducted by the terrorists a month earlier.
How and Why: The soldiers received unverified information about the location of the kidnapped girls, leading them into a trap set by Boko Haram near Chibok. As the convoy advanced, Boko Haram fighters, having received intelligence about the troop movements, launched a coordinated ambush and attacked from both sides of the road, causing significant casualties before the soldiers managed to break through and retreat to Maiduguri.
Aftermath: Upon returning to their base, surviving soldiers, enraged by the perceived negligence of their commanders, mutinied. They fired shots at Major General Ahmadu Mohammed’s vehicle, narrowly missing him. Eighteen soldiers were arrested; twelve were later sentenced to death for mutiny. The incident also led to the replacement of Major General Mohammed as the General Officer Commanding the 7th Division.
Our Lady of Fatima Apparition (1917)
What happened: Three young shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, reported visions of the Virgin Mary.
How and why: The children described a radiant figure delivering messages of repentance, prayer, and prophecy, including the end of World War I.
Aftermath: The site became a major Catholic pilgrimage destination, and the “Miracle of the Sun” seen by thousands later reinforced the event’s fame.
Attempted Assassination of Pope John Paul II (1981)
What happened: Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Ağca shot Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square, critically wounding him.
How and why: Ağca was part of a far-right militant group. Theories abound about possible communist bloc involvement, but motives remain debated.
Aftermath: The pope forgave Ağca publicly and visited him in prison, underscoring his message of reconciliation.
