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Tag: Boko Haram insurgents

  • Boko Haram: 2, 295 teachers killed, 19, 000 displaced in Borno, others – Minister

    Over 2, 295 teachers have been killed and 19, 000 displaced in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in nine years, Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has said.

    The minister said 1, 500 schools have been destroyed by Boko Haram since 2014.

    According to him, this has resulted in 1, 280 casualties among teachers and students.

    This, he explained, has contributed to the number of out-of-school children in the country.

    The minister said: “The greatest challenge of the out-of-school, phenomenon in recent years has been the problem of insurgency. Since the inception of the insurgency in the North-East, education has been under constant and system attack resulting in the killing of both learners and teachers and destruction of education facilities.

    “Over 2,295 teachers have been killed and 19, 000 displaced in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in the last nine years. An estimated 1,500 schools have been destroyed since 2014, with over 1, 280 casualties among teachers and students.

    “This crisis has further devastated the education system as children, teachers and schools are in the frontline of the conflict.”

    Read Also: Police dismiss rumour about vulture signalling impending Boko Haram attack

    To address this, the minister said the Federal Ministry of Education, in collaboration with UNESCO, UNICEF, NGOs, State Directors of Policy, Research and Statistics in the six geo-political zones formulated a policy on Violence Free School for Children in Nigeria to create zero tolerance national culture towards Violence Against Children in education.

    “The policy will also promote a learning environment where children are respected, protected and empowered. The policy has been developed, critiqued and is undergoing final statutory processes before distribution to all stakeholders for immediate implementation,” he added.

  • Yobe attack: terrorists killed, weapons recovered, says Army

    Several insurgents were killed and weapons recovered in an attempted attack on Damaturu, Yobe State capital during an encounter between troops and terrorists, Army has said.

    Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Sector 2 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Mr. Njoka Irabor, who confirmed the attack in a statement said, several insurgents were killed and many items recovered from them including two gun trucks, rifles, Anti Aircraft guns among others.

    Lt. Irabor who described the operation as successful noted that the superior firepower of the land troops, with support of the Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole overpowered the terrorists who suffered heavy casualty.

    His statement reads;
    “Following credible information of planned efforts by Boko Haram terrorists to attack Damaturu, troops of Sector 2, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, successfully laid an ambush which led to the extermination of many Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs), that attempted to attack Damaturu, Yobe State at about 5:15 pm, today Tuesday the 9th of April 2019.

    “The vigilant troops effectively ambushed the criminals few metres ahead of Maisandari community at the outskirts of the city of Damaturu.

    Read Also: Boko Haram insurgents attack Damaturu

    “The terrorists were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the gallant troops and the well-coordinated air support, from the Air Component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

    “Consequently, many terrorists met their Waterloo, some were also wounded and the following items/equipment were recovered;
    a. 2 x Gun Trucks
    b. 2x Anti Aircraft Guns
    c. 1 x 60 Millimetre Mortar
    d. 4 x AK 47 Rifles
    e. 1x General Purpose Machine Gun
    f. 1,245 Rounds of 7.62 mm (NATO)

    “Troops have embarked on hot pursuit of the fleeing terrorists, mop up/combing of the general area is ongoing.

    “Further details and possible recoveries would be provided on completion of the mop up operations”.

  • Boko Haram insurgents attack Damaturu

    Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, was reportedly attacked yesterday evening by Boko Haram.

    The attack, which came from the northeastern part of the town, created fears in the residents of Maisandari and Red Bricks Housing Estate in the metropolis.

    The violence, which began at about 5.30p.m., is said to have lasted for about an hour.

    A resident of Red Bricks, Ibrahim Usman,  who spoke with The Nation, said he was hiding in his house with fears over sporadic gunshots and heavy blasts from outside the estate.

    Usman also said he heard the sound of a fighter Jet pursuing the insurgents.

    “I can hear heavy blasts like bombs and sporadic gunshots from my house. We are all hiding inside. I can also hear the sound of Air Force Jet. We need prayers to stop this nonsense,” Usman said.

    Another resident, Modu from Maisandari, also confirmed hearing sounds of gunshots from his house, where he was hiding.

    A security source, who craved anonymity, said: “The entire town is on red alert due to the incident.”

    He asserted that soldiers have been deployed to stop the attack to avoid the insurgents from infiltrating the town.

    “Our guys got wind of the attack and have moved in swiftly to quell it in record time to avoid any escalation in the town. But what I can tell you is that the entire town is under red alert,” the source said.

     

     

  • Police confirm five dead in Boko Haram attack on Michika

    The Adamawa State Police Command has confirmed that five residents of Michika died following an attack on a bank in the town on Monday night.

    Against earlier impression that the attack was the usual Boko Haram mission of causing a scare and destroying things and killing people and going away, the police command said that the insurgents, from all indications, went purposely for a raid on the town’s only bank.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Othman Abubakar, who gave an update on the attack to our correspondent Thursday afternoon, said, “Five people died and the place they went to attack, that’s Union Bank, was badly destroyed. But they were unable to gain access to the strong room. They couldn’t penetrate.”

    Explaining the command’s view that the insurgents had the sole purpose of carting money away, the PPRO said, “Their motive must have been to go and get money. That would be why they went directly to hit the bank. I was made to understand that money was moved to the bank earlier that day. They must have monitored the bank and went purposely for the money.”

    Read Also: Police kill four suspected robbers, injure three in Delta

    He said the insurgents were however unable to get to the money, especially as soldiers and other security agents stormed the place and succeeded in forcing the insurgents off and seizing cars and motorcycles they used in entering the town.

    He said the five residents who died might have been victims of stray bullets as they ran helter-skelter, or directly from the guns of the insurgents as they shot sporadically to scare people off.

    “They must have died from crossfire and from the sporadic shootings by the insurgents,” Othman said.

    The attack on the bank caused much dislocation within Michika, as hundreds were scared out of their houses into surrounding bushes and mountains, some apparently not comfortable about immediately returning to their homes.

    A native of Michika who lives in Yola, Felicia Jacob, said her mother was on her way to Yola, “to rest from the horror of the deadly attack.”

  • Adamawa: troops neutralise Boko Haram terrorists in Michika

    The Army said on Tuesday that troops of 115 Task Force Battalion and 143 Battalion in two front coordinated attacks have successfully repelled Boko Haram terrorists in Michika, Adamawa State.

    According to the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, scores of Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, with some of them fleeing with gunshot wounds.

    Colonel Musa said in a statement issued in Abuja that the terrorists attacked Michika late night on Monday, but were dealt with severely by troops who organized blocking positions against them.

    He said the terrorists also hurriedly made away with dead bodies of some of their fighters.

    Colonel Musa said: “Boko Haram terrorists met their Waterloo and suffered heavy casualties yesterday evening the 18th of March 2019 when they attempted to infiltrate Michika in Adamawa State.

    Read Also: Boko Haram terrorists attack Adamawa community

    “At about 7.20 pm, gallant troops of 115 Task Force Battalion deployed at Lassa in Borno State received a distress call from vigilantes at Maikadiri village on movement of suspected Boko Haram terrorists along Road Maikadiri – Shuwari enroute Michika.

    “The troops immediately organized blocking positions and swooped on the terrorists which led to an exchange of fire. The terrorists attempted to escape but were intercepted and suppressed with heavy volume of fire.

    “Consequently, the troops with reinforcement from 143 Battalion Gulak engaged the terrorists on Two Front Coordinated Attacks.

    “The BHTs were completely routed by the troops, neutralizing many of them, while others fled in disarray due to superior firepower.

    “As a result, they hastily evacuated most of their corpses under the cover of darkness. The entire area has been dominated by own troops and the situation is completely under control. Items captured from the terrorists include One Ford vehicle, two Toyota Starlet vehicles loaded with foodstuffs, one motorcycle and one tyre inflating machine.

    “Further exploitation is to be conducted this morning. Calm has since returned to the city and inhabitants of the town are hereby enjoined to report the presence of strange faces in their localities and go about their normal businesses. “

  • How Boko Haram kept me out of Borno for 4 years, by Modu-Sheriff

    Former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, on Friday said that he was kept out of state for four years, as a result, the activities of Boko Haram insurgents.

    He also disclosed the evil activities of the terrorist group prevented the state from delivering less than two million votes to President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 23 presidential election

    Speaking with State House correspondents after Friday Jumaat prayers and a closed-door meeting with President Buhari, Modu- Sheriff noted those that contested against President in the election do not have up to ten percent of Buhari’s integrity.

    According to him, the 836,496 votes scored by the President in the state were below expectation.

    He said: “I don’t know why the PDP is grumbling where the registered voters are more than two million and we only gave the President 830,000.

    “As a governor, the President got over a million votes in Borno; why didn’t they complain then?

    “They are just crying foul for nothing. This election was the most transparent election that ever took place in the history of Nigeria and I stand to be corrected. They should just embrace peace.

    “The President has said that he is going to carry everyone along; they should accept their defeat and re-plan for 2023 if we are all alive. But this election has been won and won transparently.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari within the last four years has done more than what any other president has done in this country.

    “He came into power when the oil price was less than $30 at a stage. I am not surprised about the victory because Nigerians are very smart people; we know what is good for our country; we know the right thing to do at any given point in time.

    “If you look at the antecedents of all the people that contested elections with President Buhari, none has ten percent of his credibility.

    “This is a man that is not interested in what every Nigerian is interested in, to grab wealth and enrich themselves.

    “He is there for the Nigerian people; he believes Nigeria should be better than where we are.

    “He had a very simple message at the campaigns: that we have started fighting corruption, building the economy and lives of Nigerians need to be improved.”

    Read also: BORNO: Sheriff’s supporters flay indirect primary

    He added: “The message resonated with Nigerians because, for instance, I did not go to my village for four years before the 2015 elections. Boko Haram had occupied all our local government areas in Borno but today, you can drive to any part of Borno.

    “So whatever the people of Borno did for Mr. President last Saturday, we are only saying thank you for what he has done. If the atmosphere was clearer, Borno would have produced two million votes.”

    On the allegation by the opposition that the election was not transparent, he said: “Why didn’t they complain when they won all southeastern states?

    “The South East came out to vote for their son who is the vice presidential candidate in that election, but you don’t blame them.

    “Northern Nigeria, we have our father, brother and son as a candidate and we also came out en masse to support him; there is no issue about it. If they don’t accept it they can go to court.”

  • Scores killed as Boko Haram attacks Madagali again

    Many people are feared dead after Boko Haram insurgents attacked four communities in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

    The insurgents invaded Madagali town, Gulak, Magar and Shuwa on Tuesday evening, killing and destroying properties before they were overpowered by soldiers who forced them to retreat.

    The Tuesday attack on Madagali was the third in nine days, after an attack on February 4 when three residents lost their lives and another on February 11 when a village head and a soldier were killed.

    The current attack forced many residents out of Madagali, including one Ruth Gauje, who fled to the state capital, Yola.

    She told our correspondent on Wednesday evening that at least one person died in Shuwa where she came from.

    “They killed Friday, a popular young man in our place,” she said.

    She also said a community leader in Madagali identified as Bulama and several other people died in the town.

    Some other sources, however, said most of the invading insurgents were killed unlike when they first launched attack on the Madagali LGA on February 4 and 11.

    Civilian and military sources in Madagali insisted the soldiers overpowered the insurgents after some exchanges of gunfire.

    Read Also; One soldier, two others killed as Boko Haram ambushes Shettima’s convoy

    The soldiers were said to have killed an unspecified number and seized weapons and vehicles of the terrorists.

    “Sounds of gunshots and heavy blasts rented the air as the battle between the soldiers and Boko Haram insurgents reigned, forcing the insurgents out into surrounding mountains and bushes,” a source said.

    The Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Othman Abubakar, confirmed the killing and repelling of the Boko Haram insurgents but couldn’t confirm casualties.

    He told our correspondent a combined team of security personnel succeeded in decimating the Boko Haram insurgents.

    He, however, stated he had no information on the fatality among residents.

  • Soldiers kill invading Boko Haram insurgents in Madagali

    Boko Haram insurgents attempting to invade Madagali, Adamawa State, got more than their match Tuesday evening in the hands of soldiers who killed virtually all the insurgents and seized their vehicles and weapons.

    Sources said Wednesday that the soldiers were most decisive against the invading insurgents, as against earlier attacks on Madagali when the insurgents succeeded in inflicting harm on people and properties.

    The Boko Haram elements had attacked Madagali on February 4, killing three people and burning 20 shops. They repeated the attack on February 11, killing a village head and a soldier.

    Civilian and military sources in Madagali said that in the Tuesday evening attacks, several of the Boko Haram fighters invaded Magar, Gulak, and Madagali town, all in the Madagali Local Government Area, but were countered by the soldiers who overpowered them, killing an unspecified number and seizing two anti-aircraft guns, several AK 47 rifles, and other weapons.

    Read Also: Air Force acquires 22 aircraft to fight Boko Haram, other crimes

    Residents spoke of sounds of gunshots and heavy blasts renting the air while the battle between the soldiers and Boko Haram insurgents lasted, forcing the insurgents to run into surrounding bushes and mountains from the superior firepower of the soldiers.

    A former chairman of the Madagali LGA, Hon Muhammed Yusuf, who spoke on the incident Wednesday, expressed excitement over the blow on the insurgents. “All of them, all those who came upon our people were wiped out. None returned to wherever they came from,” he said.

    The leadership of the military could not be reached to confirm the development by press time Wednesday.

  • Troops foil insurgents attack in Adamawa

    The Nigerian Army on Tuesday said its troops successfully repelled attack coordinated by the Boko Haram insurgents at Madagali town in Adamawa.

    Col. Ado Isa, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 7 Division, said in a statement that the troops killed several insurgents and recovered ammunition when they attempted to attack a military formation in the area.

    Ado disclosed that troops of 143 Battalion, 28 Task Force Brigade had on Feb. 9, at about 18:00 p.m. successfully repelled the insurgents’ attack when they attempted to infiltrate its location.

    “The terrorists, who stormed the location in gun trucks, met their waterloo through stiff resistance coupled with massive fire power from the troops and inflicted serious casualty on the terrorists and their equipment.

    “The gallant troops held their ground, disorganised the terrorists who later lost momentum and retreated in disarray.

    Read Also: Troops neutralise four terrorists in Borno

    “During the encounter, the resilient troops neutralised many insurgents, captured one alive while several others scampered for their lives and fled with gunshot wounds,” he said.

    Ado listed the ammunition recovered to include five AK-47 rifles, four magazines, one Hand-held grenade, 13 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 45 rounds of Ant-Aircraft gun ammunition, two cell phones and one video camera.

    The army spokesman also said one soldier and a civilian were killed while five others sustained injuries, adding that they were receiving medical attention.

    According to him, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, and Commander Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, Brig.-Gen. Abdulmalik Biu commended the troops for their doggedness, gallantry, while commiserating with the families of the fallen heroes.

  • Despite attacks, INEC vows to conduct elections in Madagali

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Adamawa says the Monday night attack by suspected insurgents in Madagali Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, will not deter it from conducting elections in the area.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that there was an insurgent attack in Kirchinga and Shuwa villages of Madagali LGA.

    Mr. Kasim Gaidam, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) told NAN that the commission was committed to conducting elections in designated areas in Madagali.

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission, the good people of Madagali and the entire Adamawa State have resolved to ensure election is conducted in Madagali.

    Read Also; Cleric to INEC, politicians: ensure free, credible elections

    “No amount of threats, intimidation and sabotage would stop INEC from conducting the elections,” Gaidam said.

    The REC said the commission, with the support of security agencies and other relevant stakeholders, would ensure the successful conduct of in the area; and Adamawa in general.

    Gaidam, who noted that there were more than 81,000 registered voters in Madagali LGA, assured the electorate that INEC would not disenfranchise them.