The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bama

  • FG shares bags of rice to IDPs in Cameroon, Chad, Niger

    Federal Government on Thursday disclosed that it has distributed several bags of essential food and non-food items to Nigerian Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, the distribution of the items were overseen by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    The list of food items included 12, 332 bags of parboiled rice/rice; 6, 084 bags of maize; 6,156 bags of millet; 5,180 bags of granulated sugar; 2,000 bags of salt (25kg); 800 bags of semolina; 4,016 bags of beans; 9,800 cartoons of Indomine noodles.

    Others are 1,800 cartoons of powdered milk; 800 cartoons of spaghetti; 2,000 vegetable oil (20 litres); 2,180 cartoons of Omo detergents; 600 kegs of palm oil and 400 cartoons of 3-in-1 tea.

    The non-food items supplied to the camps in the three countries from 2015 to date include medical and non-medical supplies such as antibiotics, antifungal, anti-malaria, Anthelmintic, NSAID, non-SAID Analgesics, Antitussives and Antithasmine drugs.

    Similarly, the Monthly Report Of Federal Government Actions In The North East States Affected By Boko Haram, the Senior Special Assistant on IDPs in the Vice President’s Office, Dr Mariam Masha, said that the National Humanitarian Coordination Forum (NHCF) was effectively addressing the welfare of IDPs in the areas.

    Some other items donated included “eye drops, anti-diabetic drugs, Antacid drugs, multivitamin, laboratory consumables, blankets, mattresses, mosquito nets, men’s and women’s wears.”

    The report reads: “In Minawao, Cameroon, alone, 48,400 bags and cartoons of non-food items like medium and small mattresses, pillows, mosquito nets, blankets, towels, guinea brocade, nylon mats, plastic plates, cups, spoons and buckets, Omo detergents, washing soaps, bathroom slippers, pampers as well as exercise books pencils and textbooks were distributed to IDPs.

    “Forum, partnering with critical stakeholders, establishes important intervention mechanisms to check and mitigate the incidence and negative effects of flooding on the IDPs in Borno, Yobe and Bauchi States.”

    The report also showed that the Federal Government through the initiative of the military has constructed a temporary school for IDPs in the Bama camp and deployed teachers for a population of over 3,000 children.

    The military also provided solar boreholes in Dikwa, Gamboru, Monguno, Marte, Mafe Gwoa, Buni Yadi, Bulla, Allargano and in several other communities in Borno State.

    The scale of humanitarian efforts by the military also cover road construction and reconstruction, donation of educational materials to schools as well as rehabilitation of worship centres and markets in Adamawa and Yobe States.

    The report said that the military through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has formed a working group which is to develop a policy framework and national action plan in preventing and countering violent extremism.

    Dr. Masha commended the commitment of the UN System for its various humanitarian and policy initiatives and noted that the World Bank organised a workshop towards developing a strategic plan which will assist the Federal Government to effectively articulate and implement its programmes for the North East.

    The World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Health are also to collaborate with the military and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to vaccinate children in all accessible LGAs in Borno State in support of government’s Polio Response Plan.

    The report observed that NEMA relocated a total of 23,391 IDPs from schools that were initially used as camps to new sites in Bakassi and Dalori IDP camps in Maiduguri.

    The Federal Ministry of Education provided emergency classroom supplies for learners in Borno State communities such as Konduga (675), Bama (2500), Dikwa (500), Damboa (500) and Monguno (500).

    The report also said the interventions by the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE) showed that displaced persons also received from PINE, various food items such as rice, millet, guinea corn, maize, iodized salt, vegetable oil and Indomie noodles which were distributed to the six frontline States of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

    Gombe State also received several bags of food items for the Operation Safe Corridor (OSC).

    The OSC was a programme set up by the Federal Government in its bid to war against insurgency in the North East.

    The objective of the programme was also to enhance government efforts to rehabilitate and re-integrate surrendered and repentant terrorist members in the region.

  • Chief of Army Staff visits troops in Bama

    Chief of Army Staff visits troops in Bama

    • Promotes two for gallantry

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, is spending the weekend with troops deployed in  the  battle against Boko Haram in Borno State, including Sambisa forest where the insurgents once held sway.

    He has already visited the soldiers in Bama, Konduga, Awulari and Kwanar Banki as part of the efforts to boost their morale.

    The troops liberated Bama from Boko Haram insurgents on March 16, 2015.

    Lt. Colonel Aminu Iliyasu of the Directorate of Army Public Relations said in a statement yesterday that Buratai’s core message to those involved in the campaign code named Operation Lafiya Dole is that they must sustain the push against the insurgents.

    Ilyasu quoted the Chief of Army Staff as saying: “Nigerians are proud of you, Mr President is proud of you. We must continue to make them proud as you are better trained and better equipped than the terrorists.”

    Buratai reminded the soldiers of the mandate from President Muhammadu Buhari to clear the pockets of Boko Haram terrorists within their area by December.

    Highlight of the visit was the on-the-spot promotion and decoration of two soldiers for their gallantry, dedication and loyalty.

    Elevated were Thomas Orim of 202 Battalion and Abubakar Usman Usman of 150 Task Force Battalion both of whom were promoted to the rank of corporal.

  • Troops reclaim Bama from Boko Haram

    Troops reclaim Bama from Boko Haram

    After a six-month occupation, troops yesterday regained the control of Bama from Boko Haram insurgents.

    The insurgents on September 2 last year seized the town, including a military barracks.

    They hoisted their flags and imposed their rule on the indigenes.

    The battle forced the Brigade Commander of Mohammed Kur Barracks, Police Area Commander, DPO, Commandant of MOPOL 53 and more than 500 troops  in Bama to relocate to Maiduguri to re-strategise.

    But the troops, backed by powerful air strikes, yesterday reclaimed Bama from Boko Haram.

    A tweet by the Defence Headquarters said: “Nigerian troops this afternoon routed terrorists from Bama. Mopping up operation is ongoing.”

    A defence headquarters source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Nigerian troops have taken over Bama. Official statement later today.

    “This is one of the strongest bases of Boko Haram in the Northeast. It is a significant achievement for our troops. The insurgents had attempted to use Bama and Konduga to launch attacks on Maiduguri.”

    Another source said: “For about three days, troops were locked in battle against Boko Haram insurgents until Monday afternoon when the military reclaimed the town, which is located in the South-East of Maiduguri.

    “Most of the warlords of Boko Haram were born and bred in Bama. The regaining of the town has restored the pride of the Nigerian Army.

    “For about six months, these rag-tag insurgents held sway in Bama, but we have routed them out.”

    In September 2014, United States, through its Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Amb. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said it was troubled by the capture of Bama and some towns in Borno and Yobe states by Boko Haram.

    But the DHQ said there was no cause for alarm because the military was on top of the situation.

    The statement said: “In the light of the present challenges in the counter-terrorism efforts in the Northeast, which has elicited a sense of apprehension among citizens and even foreign allies, the DHQ wishes to reiterate the pledge and commitment it made while briefing the Joint Committee on Defence of the National Assembly to the effect that everything will be done to reverse the situation and defeat the  terrorists.

    “While welcoming the concerns shown by Nigerians and a section of the international community, following the increased menace and activities of terrorists, it is necessary to reassure all that the Nigerian Armed Forces is  determined and committed to the defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria, regardless of any odd.

    “It is not only the pride and reputation of the military that is at stake but that of the nation.

    “We, therefore, urge our citizens not to lose hope or be disenchanted, but to remain steadfast and supportive of the military, as steps are being taken to ensure the success of the counter-insurgency operations, especially at this crucial time when our sovereignty is being challenged.

    “With this in mind, it is important to reiterate that the military is conscious of its obligations to the Nigerian state and remains willing and ready to perform its duties with utmost diligence.”

    The Defence Headquarters said last night that troops survived many landmines to reclaim Bama from Boko Haram.

    It said the mission was accomplished with “heavy casualty inflicted on the terrorists.”

    The DHQ said Goniri, the last major stronghold of the terrorists operating in Yobe State, was on Monday morning taken over completely by troops after days of manoeuvre

    The Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, in a statement on how Bama was liberated from Boko Haram, said: “Troops this afternoon finally succeeded in routing terrorists from Bama in Borno State.

    “The mission, which was accomplished with massive casualty inflicted on the terrorists before the remnants finally fled the town, lasted days of careful manoeuvre and efforts to scale a series of obstacles and land mines planted by terrorists, who have occupied the town for months.

    “The Chadian partners in the Multinational Joint Task Force have been mandated to undertake a pursuit of the terrorists, who are believed to be heading for the borders after being dislodged from Bama.

    “Nigerian troops are continuing with cordon and search of the town and surroundings. Arms and ammunition are being recovered as troops conduct an aggressive patrol of the entire vicinity on the looking out for any terrorists, who may be stranded or trying to operate elsewhere in the area.”

    The statement added: “In a related development, Goniri, the last major stronghold of the terrorists operating in Yobe State, was this morning taken over by troops after days of manoeuvre.

    “Cordon and search is continuing in and around Goniri town, which is in the same local government with Buni Yadi where a bomb making facility was discovered in the course of cordon and search recently.

    “This completes the clearing of Gujba Local Government Area, one of the two local governments occupied by the terrorists in Yobe State. The other local government, Gulani, was finally cleared earlier in the month. This makes Yobe the second to be successfully cleared among the three states slated for the mission to dislodge terrorists’ bases.

    “The comprehensive offensive aimed at clearing the terrorists from all parts of the mission area is continuing with coordinated air strikes on identified terrorists hideouts and enclaves along with ground assaults.”

     

     

     

     

  • Hundreds flee as troops take Bama

    Hundreds of people fled their homes after Boko Haram insurgents set buildings ablaze as troops advanced to regain control of Bama. 

    Witnesses told AFP that the insurgents warned residents to leave before torching the town. Dozens fled towards Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

    “They came into the town about noon, warning that anyone who wanted to leave should leave the town and soon after they began torching homes,” a resident, Umar Kaka, said. “Not all residents could leave because some are too ill or old to leave and we are afraid they were burnt in the homes.”

    The attack in Bama was carried out after troops managed to push the insurgents out of the nearby Boboshe and Yale villages. 

    “We learnt soldiers were coming. They advanced on Bama on two fronts and met some resistance at Boboshe and Yale, but succeeded in crushing the Boko Haram militias,” said Bama resident Ibrahim Kyari.

    “They asked residents to leave, which came to us as a surprise because they kept us captives all these seven months and would not allow us to leave.” 

     

  • Boko Haram shifting base to Bama – Hunters

    Some local hunters and Vigilante officials have confirmed that Boko Haram members are shifting their operational base from Gwoza area to Bama, less than 70km away from Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

    They said local hunters saw several insurgents relocating their war hardware to Bama town, with some on motorcycle and Hilux trucks.

    The news of the relocation has fueled speculations that the insurgents want to lunch onslaughts on Maiduguri in a bid to capture the city.

    Muhammed Abbas Gava, a spokesman of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, said some fleeing Bama residents reported that the presence of the insurgents in Bama is swelling by the day.

    Gava said the insurgents were led by an ex- grains merchant in Baga market called Bakura, who is now the Amir of Gwoza and Bama axis.

    “Some of the residents of Bama that fled into Maiduguri said they saw and recognised Bakura, who used to be a corn merchant at the popular Baga Park market before he disappeared some years back to join the Boko Haram,” he said.

  • Battered Bama

    Battered Bama

    Bama is the headquarters of Bama Local Government Area.

    It has an area of 4,997 kilometres and a population of 269,986, according to the 2006 census.

    Located “about 60 kilometres” from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Bama is one of the 16 local government areas that constitute the Dikwa Emirate, a traditional council in the state

    The city, which is clode to the border with Cameroon, has been consistently under Boko Haram attacks. It was attacked in May 2013 and in February.

  • Don wants more soldiers for Borno

    A Don and Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), University of Maiduguri branch, Dr Musa Abdulahi has called for the increase of the military presence in Borno to enable the government get to the bottom of the insurgency plague.

    He told The Nation in Maiduguri that the management of the war by the 7th division was cosmetic and was hardly getting to the roots of the matter which he said seems to be getting out of hand.

    He warned that fishing out Borno and changing the political leadership of the state will not take care of the sympathy of the masses being killed or exposed to insurgences when the military has not been able to address a quarter of the fundamental problem of slaughter of our people in cold blood.

    The Academic noted that bringing a military Administrator will rather worsen the situation as he would be more protective of his soldiers than the people he is sent to look over as is now manifest on the sambisa battle field.

    Dr Abdullahi regretted that it is sycophancy that will make anybody to suggest that a solely military solution will end this insurgency when it has been clear that the soldiers are not well equipped and are more protective of themselves which is why they run away at sighting the weapons of the insurgents leaving them to slaughter the civilians like chicken.

    “What I think is important now that they are deploying military, is that they should make it full scale and if they are willing to use the political angle we should see it in a holistic thing and not piece meal and which is what we are seeing. They should stop all this piecemeal deployment and declare a full scale operation and get to the root of this thing if they have the capacity to do so. from what we are seeing, after the sacking of Bama town, killing some of our people for hours without the intervention of the military barracks in the town, it is clear they are yet to give us something new.

    “The president who is there commander in chief should not be deterred by any form of sentiment to operate as the real commander in chief because the people being killed are Nigerians not foreigners and the killers are surely not Muslims because no matter how useless a Muslim is you do not assemble people inside a place of worship as a mosque and kill them in the name of religion, it is not permissible” he maintained.

    The Asuu boss regretted that President, Goodluck Jonathan have not exercised the necessary will power to indicate that he can handle this thing either militarily or politically which s why the killing with impunity continues almost five year after.

    “We believe the will power has to be there before he consults or take any step of progress. If he eschews political, ethnic differences and look at Nigeria as one entity, he will surely succeed and no power anywhere can stop him, but if he looks at it as brothers killing brothers. so what is my business? so be it. These insurgents are killing our people on a daily basis, targeting businesses, shops, markets, farms, and all forms of commercial sectors to impoverish the people and this has gone on for four years plus yet they release the soldiers on a piecemeal basis.

    “If a minimum of 5,000 soldiers should be released to surround this people and what they stand for, they cannot tell us they cannot route them off from the Nigerian soil. I mean a proper cordon from Maiduguri to Dambua and then to Barma, Gwaza and the border, there is no way they will not be able to get the people. But this annoying piecemeal release as if we do not have enough military personnel is worrisome” the sociologist noted.

    “Look, the government through its intelligence is saying that the insurgents have sophisticated weapons, which weapons are they talking about? Is it that the Nigerian military does not have sophisticated weapons to match this people? I think, it is high time the federal government wakes up from its slumber and begin to realize that they are the earthly custodian of the people in terms of security and do what it takes to route these people out.

    “This is also the time for them to overhaul the military weaponry completely because we live in a sophisticated world and these insurgents have people who bring weapons to them in the bush with helicopters or can they deny knowledge of this? The Americans now use rifles which enables them to see in the night for instance in handling theirs, why cant the government upgrade what our boys are using because most of them have lost the morale boast to fight and i don’t blame them.

    “You want to know why? It is because they do not see their commanders fighting alongside them as a result of crimogenic tendencies. Crime inducing tendencies by operation, conception and vision. this is why the Nigerian security cant fight crime because it is part of the crime infested society. A society that celebrates political personalities after their corrupt tendencies. The second reason is due to political economy. Billions or rather trillions have been spent managing security but nobody can say he has actually seen the iimpact of the funds and that is the reality.

    “Those in the centre are enjoying the situation because they have billions to play with and loot what they can, making money you would say at the expense of the common people.

    “The military has a culture in which the subordinate cannot question their authority yet the subordinates are watching the life styles of these same superiors who are supposed to be fighting along side them but are holed up in five star hotels in Maiduguri, you know what i am talking about.

    “How then do you expect the boys to be loyal? Go to town and check out the best hotels in GRA like Desert and Pinnacle, they are holed up with their girl friends spending their time indoors as if they were sent here on holiday instead of actually checking out on the sufferings of their boys who see all these going on. They only use telephones to know what is going on and life contiues for the masses who are waiting to be slaughtered in the next village.”

    According to the Sociologist, this psychological suffering by the lower ranks brings about a lot of dis-balance thereby questioning loyalty in the brain of the military personnel on the field.

    He alleged that the crop of soldiers that have been managing the insurgency in the north east have not shown much loyalty to the service like their counterparts most of whom paid the supreme price in other countries where they were sent to fight.

    “This is why the contemporary soldier is not 100 percent loyal to his work here or even ready to die for his country so that others will live in peace. Gone are the days when soldiers were being loyal to the common cause through discipline. What we see now are fragmented soldiers and officers over protective of themselves first before the people they are supposed to protect”

    The former joint task force JTF which handed over to the 7th division, which is a new creation by the President has been seen as more effective than the division which is supposed to take charge of command duties and which is he sole custodian of security when the Government of Borno state lost that function to them as a result of the declaration of a state of emergency last May.

  • Emir to FG: Take drastic measures on Boko Haram

    The Emir of Bama in Borno, Alhaji Kyari Ibn El Kanemi, on Thursday appealed to the Federal Government to take drastic measures toward ending the Boko Haram crises.

    El Kanemi made the appeal while speaking with journalists in Bama, headquarters of Bama Local Government Area of the state.

    He was reacting to Wednesday’s suspected Boko Haram attack in Bama which killed about 70 persons and destroyed property worth millions of naira.

    El Kanemi said the Federal Government must equip the military towards fighting the insurgence.

    “These people are using sophisticated weapons like bombs, rocket propellers and grenades.

    “Nobody is safe in this place again except something is done fast by the government on the security problem,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Emir as saying to journalists..

    He said that he narrowly escaped the Wednesday’s attack after the insurgents carried out attack on his palace.

    Narrating his ordeal, El Kanemi said he escaped to an unknown destination as the invaders were trying to gain access to the palace.

    He said the attackers set ablaze many houses, shops and business centres.

     

  • Boko Haram batters Bama

    Boko Haram batters Bama

    IT was another bloody day in Bama, Borno State yesterday.

    Boko Haram members launched suicide attacks, killing many residents. Some soldiers were injured.

    The casualty figure was unknown as at press time because the military was still carrying out “a mopping up operation”.

    It was gathered from a military source that the sect might have suffered a heavy casualty.

    The Defence Headquarters said the attacks were repelled by troops and all was normal again in Bama.

    The sect attacked military and security posts, the Emir’s palace and other locations in the town simultaneously, using suicide bombers.

    They could not, however, enter the main army barracks in the town, which they had previously shelled.

    The source said: “From preliminary findings, there were strong indications that some suicide bombers could have been involved in the Bama attacks.

    “The sect members came into Bama in the night of Tuesday and started attacking various locations in the early hours of Wednesday.

    “The idea of suicide bombers being involved was derived from the mode of the attack. They deployed in a lot of explosives to raid Bama.

    “Some of the suspected suicide bombers were daring against the military tanks and they attempted to blow up these tanks, but failed in their bid. They risked their lives against tanks. This is why we felt there were suicide bombers among them.

    “They made botched moves to destroy these tanks through suicide bombing method. So, it is still a suspicion we are investigating that some suicide bombers were involved.”

    Responding to a question, the source said: “The simultaneous attacks have been repelled. The sect incurred a number of losses and a few soldiers got wounded.

    “It does not appear so far that there was much civilian casualties.”

    Asked why Bama had been susceptible to attack by Boko Haram, the source added: “The terrain of that place is open; anyone can come in from various ends.

    “The second factor is that they could easily mingle with the community and spring out at night to attack the town.

    “Thirdly, the military has been careful in launching a full-scale onslaught on the town which could lead to the death of many innocent civilians.

    “Fourthly, Ba-0ma was a strategic base of the Boko Haram which has been regained by the military. Some of their commanders also hailed from the area. They probably felt upset for losing their operational base.”

    Defence Headquarters spokesman Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade said: “The insurgents attacked Bama in the early hours of Wednesday. They were able to make some destruction but the troops have repelled them.

    “The situation has been brought under control and more troops have been sent to Bama. As I am talking to you, mopping up operation is continuing in Bama.

    “The troops are combing both the bushes and surrounding locations to fish out the fleeing insurgents, including those wounded.”

    Gen. Olukolade said it was too early to give specific casualty figure because “the troops are still mopping up the area”.

    In the last one month, both the troops and the insurgents have engaged in a series of clashes in Bama, Lake Chad and Banki.

    As at December 30, last year, the Defence Headquarters put the casualty figures of the sect to about 113.

    The figures included about 50 Boko Haram insurgents and 15 soldiers that were killed in a pre-dawn attack on Mohammed Kuru Barracks in Bama.

  • 35 killed in Army, Boko Haram clashes in Borno

    At least 35 people have been killed in two separate gun battles between Nigerian security forces and Islamist sect Boko Haram in Borno State, the army said on Monday.

    Boko Haram, which wants to impose sharia law in Nigeria’s north, and other spin-off Islamist groups, had become the biggest threat to the country’s stability, Reuters reports.

    In mid-May, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency and launched an offensive against the group in its stronghold in the northeast. The insurgency was initially weakened but remains active and is stretching the army.

    Boko Haram gunmen on Sunday attacked a police base in Bama, a town close to the Cameroon border that has been frequently hit by violence in recent months.

    “Troops have successfully repelled Boko Haram terrorist attacks on a police base in Bama … on August 4,” said military spokesman Sagir Musa.

    Musa said one policeman and 17 members of Boko Haram were killed during the fighting, while two soldiers were injured.

    He said four trucks, three motorbikes, dozens of explosive devices, three rocket-propelled grenades, 10 AK47 rifles and over 100 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the Islamists.

    Boko Haram members also attacked a military base in the town of Malam Fatori, triggering a gun battle that left two soldiers and 15 of its members dead, Musa said.