The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • Boko Haram: Borno journalists donate cement for construction of destroyed communities

    As part of the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ annual Press Week celebration in Borno State, working journalists in the state yesterday donated a trailer load of cement to the state government as part of its contribution towards the rebuilding process of the government.

    According to the Borno State NUJ Chairman, BabaShek Haruna, who presented the 600-bag trailer load of cement to Gov. Kashim Shettima in Maiduguri on behalf of his members, said it was the union’s widow’s might contribution towards the ongoing government’s reconstruction of communities destroyed by Boko Haram.

    The theme of the week is “Role of Journalists in Post Conflict Rebuilding and Livelihoods.”

    The Press Week in Borno has not been held in the last four years due to the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents in the state.

    Haruna told Gov. Kashim that NUJ in the state decided to mark the week to show the world that “there is still life in Borno State,” regardless of the crisis.

    “As journalists in Borno State who are either directly or indirectly affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, we felt it is duty bound on us to make our contribution beyond the reportage of the challenges being faced by the displaced people in the state.

    “We made this token contribution in order to help our displaced brothers and sisters to get their communities rebuilt which is the focus of government right now,” he said.

    He said the 2014-2017 Press Week was flagged-off with Jummat prayers in mosques and that the Day-2 would be marked with a media lecture for the members, while prayer sessions will again be held in churches.

    “In the evening of Sunday, there would be a novelty match between NUJ members and the members of Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU).

    “Monday would be the peak day, where we, the NUJ members, would be awarding notable individuals and organisations that have one way or the other come to the assistance of Borno State in its hour of need.”

    Gov. Shettima expressed his pleasure at the journalists’ contribution, noting that the gesture was coming at a time when many “illustrious and wealthy sons of Borno could not come to the aid of the displaced.”

    He extolled role of the journalists in the fight against the insurgents, noting that “with or without this, the journalists in Borno State have always been the greatest contributors to the fight against Boko Haram ….”

  • Boko Haram: Centre Hails Trump over sale approval of aircraft to Nigeria

    Boko Haram: Centre Hails Trump over sale approval of aircraft to Nigeria

    Says approval is endorsement of Nigerian military’s professionalism in recent times

    The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has hailed the United States President, Donald Trump over the approval of the sale of 12 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from Colorado-based Sierra Nevada Corp to Nigeria.

    The group said the development was a testament to Trump’s commitment to his campaign promise to firmly deal with terrorism.
    CESJET in a letter by its Executive Secretary, Isaac Ikpa said the signing off on the attack aircraft procurement opens a new vista of hope and encourages other nations that are willing to back counter-terrorism efforts.

    Ikpa said, with the expectation that the development will soon extend to other categories of military hardware to aid Nigeria.

    “In this regard, Mr President’s pragmatic approach should become the reference point everywhere in the world.

    “On the strength of our work in Nigeria, we testify that the Nigerian military has reformed while its human rights record has tremendously improved under the current leadership, a development that was never acknowledged by Amnesty International and the international media circuit.

    “You have appropriately described them as “Fraudulent Mainstream Media” (Fraudulent MSM), purveyors of fake news, owing top your experience with how they distort facts to suit their agenda.

    “Such agenda heavily tainted the reports that have been issued on Nigeria’s experience with combating terrorism. Reports by organizations like Amnesty International and others conflict with the reality on ground because they are based on their maliciously biased judgment of the Nigerian state.

    “Attitude and practices like these have no place in the global anti-terror coalition envisaged by your administration, which you clearly made known to the American people and the rest of the world from the start.

    “CESJET is of the view that the total elimination of Boko Haram in Nigeria would move the world closer to stemming the tide of terrorism. The current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated commitment to this global imperative with the implementation of transparent defence procurement and adherence to high human rights benchmarks in its over two years in office. We therefore prescribe that relationship between Nigeria and the USA be further strengthened towards the total eradication of terrorism in the sub-region.

    “Mr President is however invited to note the escalation of attempts by Boko Haram to resurge in recent weeks. It is noteworthy that the degeneration in the situation in Nigeria’s northeast resumed only when the country began exploring crude oil in the Lake Chad Basin, which indicates international factors are involved in the persistence of terrorism there.

    “It is therefore desirable that the intelligence community assist in exposing those who want to keep the world unsafe even when you have committed to the war against terrorism in Nigeria.
    CESJET assures Mr President that it will continue to brief the office of POTUS about development on this issue.”

  • Heroic dogs killed in foiled Boko Haram attack

    Heroic dogs killed in foiled Boko Haram attack

    Two dogs Friday foiled an attempt by two suicide bombers to detonate bombs at the Moloi General Hospital in Maiduguri, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.

    The foiled attack is the latest in a string of deadly attacks on soft targets by the Boko Haram group in the northeast, the hotbed of the Islamic insurgency.

    The Chairman of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Fatomi Ahmed, said that the agency had deployed a rescue team to evacuate debris at the scene of the foiled attack.

    Spokesman of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Malam Bello Danbatta, who also confirmed the incident, said that the dogs and the bombers died instantly in the attack but that no other life was lost.

    An eye-witness, Mr Rilwan Isah, told NAN that persistent barking by the two dogs prevented the suicide bombers from gaining entry into the hospital premises.

    He explained that the insurgents, a male and female, were attacked by the dogs, forcing them to detonate the explosives strapped to their bodies.

    Isah said that the dogs belonged to members of the CJTF and had been deployed to the area for rescue operations.

    The eye-witness said further that the dogs attacked the suicide bombers when the animals sensed that the two persons were strangers.

    Isah said that the explosion blew the suicide bombers to pieces and killed the dogs.

    “We heard the male suicide bomber shouting in his dialect and the dogs barking and going after them.

    “Only the suicide bombers and the dogs were killed in the attack,” he stressed.

    Insurgents have been packing bloody punches in Maiduguri and other northeast cities in recent weeks, although the military authorities had said that the group had been degraded.

    Thousands of lives have been lost in several communities in northern Nigeria since the insurgency started more than eight years ago.

     

  • Dogs foil Boko Haram attack in Borno hospital

    Dogs foil Boko Haram attack in Borno hospital

    Two dogs on Friday foiled an attempt by two suicide bombers to detonate bombs at the Moloi General Hospital in Maiduguri.

    The foiled attack is the latest in a string of deadly attacks on soft targets by the Boko Haram group in Nigeria’s northeast, the hotbed of the Islamic insurgency.

    The Chairman of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Fatomi Ahmed, confirmed the development in an interview with a NAN correspondent after the attack.

    Ahmed said that the agency had deployed a rescue team to evacuate debris at the scene of the foiled attack.

    The Spokesman of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Malam Bello Danbatta, who also confirmed the incident, said that the dogs and the bombers died instantly in the attack but that no other life was lost.

    An eyewitness, Mr. Rilwan Isah, said persistent barking by the two dogs prevented the suicide bombers from gaining entry into the hospital premises.

    He explained that the insurgents, a male and female, were attacked by the dogs, forcing them to detonate the explosives strapped to their bodies.
    Isah said that the dogs belonged to members of the CJTF and had been deployed to the area for rescue operations.

    The eye-witness said further that the dogs attacked the suicide bombers when the animals sensed that the two persons were strangers.
    Isah said that the explosion blew the suicide bombers to pieces and killed the dogs.

    “We heard the male suicide bomber shouting in his dialect and the dogs barking and going after them.

    “Only the suicide bombers and the dogs were killed in the attack,” he stressed.

    Insurgents have been packing bloody punches in Maiduguri and other northeast cities in recent weeks, although the military authorities had said that the group had been degraded.

    Thousands of lives have been lost in several communities in northern Nigeria since the insurgency started more than eight years ago.

    NAN

  • Boko Haram: Trump okays $600m bombers for Nigeria

    Boko Haram: Trump okays $600m bombers for Nigeria

    Nigeria has got the green light to acquire some American attack planes to fight Boko Haram, officials of the Trump administration have said.

    The deal, which is about $600 million, will strengthen Nigeria’s fire power against Boko Haram and other extremists, AP reported.

    The approval is despite U.S. concerns about human rights abuses by Nigerian security forces. The military has denied such abuses, which have been a subject of big rows with Amnesty International.

    Specifically, Nigeria plans to  buy up to 12 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from Colorado-based Sierra Nevada Corp, according to officials who were briefed on the matter but spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the development publicly. The aircraft come with sophisticated targeting equipment that the U.S says will help Nigeria fight terrorism, trafficking, insurgency and illicit trade.

    In his final days in office, former President Barack Obama put the sale on hold after a Nigerian fighter jet repeatedly bombed a camp near the Cameroon border housing civilians who had fled Boko Haram. Local officials have said more than 230 people were killed. The incident brought new attention to alleged abuses by Nigeria’s forces.

    A few weeks later, newly inaugurated President Donald Trump said he supported the sale. He told President Muhammadu Buhari that it would increase American exports and help Nigeria fight terrorists, according to officials.

    The move is Trump’s latest to arm countries despite their questionable rights records, a report said. On his first trip abroad as president, Trump announced a $110 billion sale of military equipment to Saudi Arabia, including precision-guided munitions that Obama had cut off over concerns about high rates of civilian casualties in Yemen. Saudi Arabia is at war with Iranian-backed Shiite rebels in Yemen.

    •Embraer A-29 Super Tucano

    Despite approving the sale to Nigeria, the U.S. is keeping up the pressure on Buhari administration to improve its forces’ human rights practices and ensure accountability for violators, a U.S. official said. The aim of the sale is to help Nigeria and its neighbours strengthen their ability to fight Boko Haram and an Islamic State group affiliate in West Africa. Other countries in the region fighting similar threats already have the Super Tucano, the official noted.

    ABOUT THE AIRCRAFT

    The Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano, also named ALX or A-29, is a turboprop light attack aircraft designed for counter-insurgency, close air support, and aerial reconnaissance missions in low-threat environments, as well as providing pilot training. Its features include Top speed: 593 km/h,Range: 4,820 km, Cruise speed: 520 km/h, Engine type: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6, Manufacturer: Embraer

    The State Department notified Congress late Wednesday of its plans to approve the sale. That triggered a 30-day review period in which lawmakers can try to block the sale. While several Democrats in particular have raised concerns, Congress is unlikely to stop the administration from proceeding.

    John Campbell, a Nigeria scholar at the Council on Foreign Relations said concerns had receded somewhat as Nigeria has taken steps to address shortcomings, including granting the International Committee of the Red Cross access to some Nigerian detention facilities.

    “There are signs of some progress,” Campbell said. Still, he said Nigeria had a “long way to go.”

    If the sale goes forward, the U.S. will have to send employees or contractors to Nigeria to provide logistical support and train teams on how to use the aircraft. They also would provide guidance on international laws for protecting civilians, officials said.

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been accused of bombing civilian targets several times in recent years. The State Department said in report last year that the Nigerian government has taken “few steps to investigate or prosecute officials who committed violations, whether in the security forces or elsewhere in the government, and impunity remained widespread at all levels of government”.

    Nigeria is Africa’s largest consumer market, with 170 million people, and the continent’s second-largest oil producer. It is strategically located on the edge of the Sahel, the largely lawless semi-desert region bridging north and sub-Saharan Africa where experts warn of Islamic extremists expanding their reach. More than 20,000 have been killed and about 3 million displaced in Boko Haram’s insurgency since 2009, in which the extremist group has sought to enforce strict Islamic rule.

  • Nigeria, Cameroon discuss Bakassi, Boko Haram

    Nigeria, Cameroon discuss Bakassi, Boko Haram

    …As Cameroonian officials denies Bakassi mascara report

     

    The issue of Bakassi and Boko Haram dominated discussions Thursday when Nigerian government and their Cameroonian authorities met.

    Cameroonian President Paul Biya dispatched a three man delegation to the country to discuss issues of mutual benefits to both countries.

    Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the delegation that was received by Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria Minister of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.

    At a joint briefing at the end of their closed door meeting which lasted about 45 minutes, the visiting Minister denied the recent report of massacre of Nigerians by Cameroonian gendarmes.

    He said there was no iota of truth in the report; saying that Cameroon is a law abiding country and no such thing would ever happen.

    He said: “I was sent here by President Paul Biya to come and meet with the foreign Affairs Minister of Nigeria to discuss a number of subjects that are mutually beneficiary to both countries.”

    On the reported killing of over 97 Nigerians, the minister said, “We also came to inform the government of Nigeria that a month ago, we had reports in the media concerning massacre of people in the Bakassi area. We sent our administrators and we even asked Nigerians Counsel in Bua to accompany them. They went there and they realize that not a single person was touched, nobody was injured, nobody was killed and it was a fabrication which appeared in the media, which we don’t know why and for what purpose. But we came to reassure the government and Nigerian people that Cameron is a law abiding country and no such thing would ever happen under our watch.”

    On Boko Haram, he said both countries have been working perfectly in trying to clip the terrorists group.

    According to him: “We came to discuss the situation that afflict North Western part of Cameroon and North-Eastern part of Nigeria concerning the fight against Boko Haram.  It really to say that the two countries have been working perfectly in trying to make sure that this evil group is completely alienated.”

    He also denied the report that his country maltreated Nigerian refugees; saying that they have protested to UN human right commission.

    “You know been a refugee is a very difficult condition. We in Cameroon are very sensitive to the issue. If you visit our own camp where we have about 60,000 refugees, you will see for yourself that they are being given the most humane treatment that we in Cameroon can give and can afford along with the UNHCR.

    “We were a bit surprise by that report and we take exception to it. We drew the attention of the UNHCR that in Cameroon we have been abiding by the law and have been doing everything we can because these refugees unfortunately, are the same people whether they are in Cameroon or in Nigeria. It is the same families that across both borders. It is even difficult to distinguish one from the other because they are the same people and we have been doing our best to give them the best possible treatment and we know that our brothers and sisters of Nigeria agreed within us that we have been doing our maximum in order to make sure that refugees who are already under a very difficult circumstances do not get any worst treatment from anybody.”

    Ngute also briefed Nigeria on other issues of interest, especially in the English speaking part of Cameroon, including resolving the strike action.

    “The first of the issues is to inform Nigerian authority that for some time we had so e issues with the English speaking region of Cameroon and to tell the minister and the good people of Nigeria that those problems have been resolved. The trade union that went on strike is back to work. The situation has been normalized and to thank our brothers and sisters of Nigeria for the understanding they have showed throughout this episode.  We have obviously numbers of radicals who don’t want to see things from the way most people see them,” he said.

    He also said he was very pleased with the responses he got from his Nigerian counterpart; adding that “It shows that the two countries are working in and the cooperation between us is very good.”

    Onyeama on his part denied any distrust between countries, saying “on the contrary both countries are extremely close, working together very closely and I think sending this delegation by the president himself, shows the importance he attaches to that relationship.

    “And we are also keen that this should trickle down to average Nigerian and Cameroonian. And I think by and large it does. But we also have to be careful of social media where you can have a very small minority of people generating a narrative that is not in any way reflective of the reality.”

    He was also quick to recall the recent cooperation between both countries in the fight to reclaim territories under Boko Haram in the North East.

    “You will recall that Cameroon is fighting shoulder to shoulder with our soldiers against Boko Haram. And in fact their intervention in that fight was very important and decisive,” he said.

  • Army seeks information on Boko Haram militants’ hideout

    Army seeks information on Boko Haram militants’ hideout

    The Nigeria Army on Tuesday called on Nigerians to volunteer useful information to assist the military succeed in the counter-insurgency campaign.

    This is contained in a communique issued at the end of the service chiefs meeting in Maiduguri.

    The communique signed by Maj. Gen. John Eneche, the Director Defence information, called on Nigerians to provide veritable information to fast track the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East.

    Eneche stressed that such information is imperative to identify insurgents ‘sleeper cell’ locations, concentration camps and out-post locations.

    The army also called on members of the public to expose insurgents’ collaborators and informants as well as suspicious habitation in urban and rural areas.

    “The army appeals to the people to report isolated settlements and camps outside normal living areas”.

    The communique reiterated the commitment of the military to end insurgency and ensure return of peace to the troubled North-East region.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the meeting was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Abayomi Olanishikan, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Air Staff, AVM, Sadiq Abubakar.

    The heads of the military were in Maiduguri sequel to the presidential directives requesting them to relocate to the war theatre, to ensure effective management of the counterinsurgency operations.

    NAN

  • More troops needed in N’ east to fight Boko Haram, says group

    Coalition of Civil Society Monitoring Groups on Insurgency in the North-East, said, Wednesday that Nigerian military needed more troops to ensure effective performance in the fight against Boko Haram.

    They also called for improved recruitment into the various security forces in the country.

    The CSOs in Abuja, said a request to this effect should be presented to the Federal Government by the Military.

    The CSOs urged the federal government to treat the increase of troops in the region as a national emergency.

    Secretary General and Convener of the group, Comrade Sabo Odeh, also called on the Nigerian Air Force to do more of air support especially in surveillance to avoid the issue of ambush of troops.

    He said the Nigeria Police Force and the internal security agencies must stand up to their responsibilities to carry out more of intelligence work against suicide bombings, deradicalization and profiling of suspected persons whose missions in the society especially in the north east are questionable.

    Odeh urged the Nigerian government to discard political considerations and make conscious efforts to arrest sponsors, financiers and collaborators of Boko Haram.

    They commended the Military for coming out to set the record straight after the mix-up in communication, describing it as the hallmark of integrity and a genuine sign that the military remains totally committed to sustaining the tempo of its successes against the insurgents.

    “Troops are needed to deal with secessionists that are making life unbearable for Nigerians in the Southeast, Niger Delta militants in the south-south, farmers-herders clashes on the Mambilla Plateau, kidnappers that are running riot on the highways.

    “The presence of troops to confront these insurgencies across the country has ensured things are not getting worse than they could have been.

    “Our staunch belief is that is that instead of engaging in the simplistic ritual of criticizing the military and ignoring the sacrifices they are making for the security of the country, Nigerians should rather be dispassionate in reviewing the prevailing situation and making the right calls,” the CSOs said.

    The CSOs condemned any attempt to further demonize the institution of the military aimed at distracting the fighting force and lowering their morale in the war against insurgency‎.

    The CSOs expressed confidence in the military to flush insurgents out of the north-east.

    “Nigerian military needs more troops and recruitment into the various forces should be immediately scaled up by the Service Chiefs. Request to this effect should be presented to the Federal Government, which should ion turn treat the increase of troops as a national emergency,” the groups added.

  • Customs generate N72m in six months in Borno

    Customs generate N72m in six months in Borno

    The Borno Command of the The Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday said it generated over N72 million as revenue, in spite of the security challenges posed by the Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

    The Controller of the service in the state, Mr Joshua Angbalaga, who disclosed this in Maiduguri, said the amount was generated between January and June, exceeding the target of N62 million.

    Angbalaga explained that the figure was higher than the N25 million generated by the command in 2016 during the same period.

    He disclosed that the command had also seized 110 bags of rice, 110 jerry cans of cooking oil and hundreds of used tires.

    He said that the items were impounded by the command when some businessmen imported them into the country.

    The controller said the command would hand over the used tires to the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

    “We recorded significant success in the past six months in spite of the security challenges.

    “Initially, we had 13 border posts, regrettably only two are functioning now due to the Boko Haram insurgency,” he said.

    Angbalaga reiterated the command’s readiness to continue to discharge its duties effectively in spite of the challenges.

  • AU to help Nigeria in war against Boko Haram

    AU to help Nigeria in war against Boko Haram

    The African Union has expressed its readiness to help Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents.

    The AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) led by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to AU, Amb. Bankole Adeoye, gave the assurance at a ministerial roundtable with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, in Abuja

    The delegation was on a Field Mission to Nigeria and countries in the Lake Chad Basin.

    Adeoye said the delegation was in Nigeria to have a firsthand knowledge of the security situation in the Lake Chad region and the humanitarian crisis occasioned by the Boko Haram activities.

    He said: “We have seen the havoc wreaked by the insurgents and we have seen the environmental degradation of the Lake Chad.

    “We have seen human beings whose livelihoods have been decimated by the atrocities of Boko Haram.

    “We are here to show solidarity with the government of Nigeria and offer our support in tackling the menace of terrorism in all its forms and ramifications.”

    He said the findings of the delegation were of great importance to the AU.

    Adeoye commended Nigeria and other governments in the Lake Chad region in ensuring that peace returned to the crisis-ridden areas.

    He added: “We thank the government of Nigeria and other governments in the Lake Chad for the work done in ensuring that peace is being returned in a significant manner.

    “We noticed that Maiduguri and other cities in the Lake Chad region are beginning to see law and order returning. Peace is returning.”

    Onyeama commended AU for supporting the “existential struggle against one of the deadliest terrorist groups in the world.”

    The minister said: “Terrorism is a global challenge that a lot of African countries are facing.

    “We are all in this together and we have to work together.”

    NAN