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Tag: boko haram

  • UN floats ‘Nigeria Humanitarian Fund’ for Northeast

    UN floats ‘Nigeria Humanitarian Fund’ for Northeast

    The UN has set up a new fund, Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF), primarily to tackle the crisis-hit Northeast Nigeria caused by the destructive activities of the Boko Haram terrorists.

    The UN said the fund has also allocated more than 10.5 million dollars to help thousands of women, children and men in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance.

    “The fund plays a vital role in ensuring an effective, coordinated, prioritized and principled humanitarian response, providing funding to international and national NGOs, UN agencies, funds and programmes, and the Red Cross/Red Crescent societies, with a focus on front-line responders.

    “To date the NHF has received $25 million in contributions and pledges, thanks to the generous support of Sweden, Germany, Norway, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, the Arab Gulf Program for Development, Azerbaijan, Malta and Sri Lanka.”

    “Another allocation is expected in the coming months,” the UN said.

    The UN said the 10.5 million dollars allocation by the new fund  – NHF – would prioritize life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable, and also expand the humanitarian assistance provided by the UN and partners to the hard-to-reach and newly accessible areas.

    “The humanitarian crisis in Nigeria’s north-east and the Lake Chad region is one of the most severe in the world today.

    “There are 8.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in the three worst-affected Nigerian states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe alone.

    “Of them, 6.9 million people are targeted for humanitarian assistance,” the UN said.

    The statement quoted Edward Kallon, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, as saying the fund will address key humanitarian challenges in the northeast.

    Kallon said: “This crisis has caused an untold loss of life and liberty across the north-east of Nigeria and civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict.

    “These funds will go towards addressing some of the key priority areas in the humanitarian response that have not yet been financially supported, including the provision of safe drinking water, emergency shelter and health services to those in need”.

    Specifically, the 10.5 million dollars will fund about 15 different projects which were selected by the various sectors of the humanitarian response and approved by the NHF Advisory Board.

    The projects target and address the needs of the most vulnerable people in locations where access is sporadic and where flooding, disease outbreaks and new displacements continue to take place.

    Such places are Monguno, Mafa,Pulka and Rann in Borno and Michika in Adamawa.

    The funds will also support efforts to enhance the protection of civilians in vulnerable communities and those trapped in conflict areas.

    “The Nigeria Humanitarian Fund contributes to the overall international humanitarian appeal for Nigeria
    this year for 1.05 billion dollars as detailed in the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan.

    “It is the fourth largest single-country appeal globally. To date, the appeal is 43 per cent funded.

    “The NHF is one of 18 country-based pooled funds and was launched during the Oslo Humanitarian Conference on Nigeria and the Lake Chad Region in February 2017”, UN said.

    The new Nigeria fund is managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on behalf of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria.

  • Boko Haram: Pressure on govt over abducted dons

    Boko Haram: Pressure on govt over abducted dons

    Geo-scientists recommend negotiation

    The government came under pressure yesterday to ensure the freedom of the university teachers captured by the terrorist group Boko Haram.

    Geo-scientists under the umbrella of Nigerian Mining and Geo-sciences Society (NMGS) urged the government to do everything to get the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) lecturers released.

    No fewer than 50 people on an oil exploration team in the Northeast were reportedly killed in a Boko Haram ambush last week.

    Nine members of the academic and non-academic staff of the UNIMAID were involved in the incident.

    Addressing reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the society’s president, Prof Silas Dada, said negotiation rather than force was the antidote to the Boko Haram menace.

    Said he: “It should be on record that out of the nine staff of the UNIMAID involved in the unfortunate attack, five are geologists out of which two have been killed, two abducted and one is still missing.”

    Boko Haram insurgents have released a video of the two geologists abducted along with their driver.

    “The names of the two abducted geologists are Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim and Dr. Solomon Yusuf who are lecturers in the Department of Geology, University of Maiduguri along with the driver of the university identified as Idris Abubakar Jodi. The names of some of the deceased employees of UNIMAID are Dr. Militus Joseph, Dr Manager Uba, Idris Abubakar Njodi (driver), Dr. Daniel Birma and Mohammed Kamfo of the Soil Science Department.”

    Dada added that the activities of the sect festered in the previous administration due to corruption in the security services and human rights.

    His words: “While we commend the pragmatic approach of the present administration in putting a stop to this national disgrace called Boko Haram, we want the military to urgently swing into action and adopt negotiation method which has shown to be more effective and life-saving than the use of force as witnessed in the release of substantial number of Chibok schoolgirls, to rescue our colleagues and all others in captivity of the Boko Haram.

    “I also wish to state that the war against Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria has dragged on for too long and we therefore urge the Federal

    Government to redouble its efforts in the fight against the insurgency in the Northeast so that the Boko Haram problem is stamped out permanently sooner than later.”

    Also yesterday, UNIMAID Vice Chancellor Prof. Ibrahim Njodi assured the Nigeria National Peotrleum Corporation (NNPC) that it would not abandon the search for commercial hydrocarbon deposits in the Chad basin, despite the attack on its lecturers.

    Some members of the NNPC staff, five lecturers of the university, soldiers and civilian members of the JTF were attacked by Boko Haram insurgents on July 25.

    The group was on explorative mission to the Chad basin in Borno State in search of hydrocarbon deposits.

    Some soldiers and others were killed. The lecturers were abducted by Boko Haram.

    Njodi spoke in Maiduguri when he received a delegation from the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and the NNPC.

    The statement signed by the NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division Ndu Ngamadu, quoted the VC as saying that the university community was distraught by the cruel incident of July 25.

    “The university will not chicken out from doing what it is supposed to do when  the NNPC re-organises and returns to exploration work in the area,’’ the statement quoted the VC as saying.

    He described the attack on the Frontier Exploration Services/Surface Geochemistry Sampling team –made up of consultants from the university, NNPC staff, soldiers and civilian escort team — as an act of God.

    According to him, the situation, painful as it might appear, must be seen as a necessary sacrifice for the development of the country.

    Njodi called on the NNPC to stand firm with the university and the families of the bereaved by supporting them to overcome the massive setback caused by the insurgent attack.

    NNPC’s Chief Operating Officer in charge of gas and power unit, Mr Saidu Mohammed, said the NNPC would support the university and the victims’ families.

    “We have been great partners with the University of Maiduguri for many years and certainly when losses like this happen and under this circumstance, we cannot abandon our partners to their fate,’’ Mohammed said.

    He promised to return to the university after conferring with the minister of state for petroleum resources and the group managing director of the NNPC.

    The NNPC delegation also visited the state government. Deputy Governor Usman Durkwa urged the corporation not to allow the attack to stop the search for new oil fields in the region.

    Brig.-Gen. Stevenson Olabanji, who represented the theatre commander of “Operation Lafia Dole”, received a condolence letter from the minister.

    Gen. Olabanji restated the readiness of the military to perform its statutory role of providing security cover for exploration in the Chad Basin and beyond.

    Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru later announced some short term palliatives for victims of the attack.

     

  • Creation of intelligence cells, forensic laboratory will curb threats – Army

    Creation of intelligence cells, forensic laboratory will curb threats – Army

    The Army says that creation of special intelligence cells and technical forensic laboratory are recent innovations that have improved its operational capacity in curbing threats to national security.

    The Director, Military Intelligence (DMI), Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Tarfa disclosed this on Monday at the commencement of a four-day training for commanders of Combat Support Arms in Yola.

    The commanders are drawn from the Artillery, Engineers, Signals and Intelligence corps.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Intelligence Corps was upgraded as part of the Combat Support Arms in 2012, making the youngest corps in that category.

    According to the DMI, other innovation that have aided in curbing national threats are the establishment of the Lt.-Col. Abu Ali Shooting Range in Sambisa forest, Special Forces Training School in Buni Yadi, and 168 Motor Cycle Battalion.

    He described those innovations as “efficacious’’, which had helped in curtailing the Boko Haram insurgency, menace of herdsmen and cattle rustlers, among other threats.

    “The Special Intelligence Cells were created in response to the peculiarities of intelligence collection in an asymmetry setting,’’ Tarfa said.

    He explained that the technical forensic laboratory was to improve the technical intelligence acquisition and analysis of the army intelligence corps.

    He said the training would provide the combat support arms the platform to showcase their state of combat readiness, as well as to review operational strategies to better support the main arms in ongoing and future military operations.

    “It is furtherance of this tradition and in realisation of challenges that the theme of COSAT 2017, “Improving Combat Support Synergy as a Force Multiplier in Counter Insurgency Operations is approved by the Chief of Army Staff.

    “The theme underscores the need for improved synergy amongst the combat support arms to ensure the final physical and psychological defeat of Boko Haram in the ongoing counter-terrorism and future military operations,” Tarfa said.

    The DMI said apart from discussions and lectures, there would be simulation of “how synergy among combat support arms could positively influence information management, target selection and acquisition, common operational feature, as well as prompt decisive action in furtherance of military operations.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the outcome of the training would bring a new impetus to improving professionalism among the combat support arms in the army.

    Buratai also said that it would help to enhance expected synergy of the arms in delivering the required support to the army in meeting with its constitutional responsibilities.

    Gov. Muhammad Jibrilla, Adamawa governor commended the military for the relative peace being enjoyed in the North east, particularly in the state.

  • 2019: Group accuses politicians of planning to revive Boko Haram ahead of elections

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, some politicians have allegedly perfected plans to revive the Boko Haram insurgents, a group, Concerned Leaders of Conscience has claimed.

    According to the group, some statements recently attributed to Senator Ali Ndume, Senator Abubakar Kyari and other northern leaders were capable of escalating terrorism in the region.

    CLC said that such statements could only have been inspired by the numerous benefits that their purveyors derived from any instability in the region

    The group in a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting held in Kaduna, Kaduna State on Saturday observed that those in position of influence in Borno State benefit from the regional instability precipitated by Boko Haram as evidenced in the diversion of relief materials meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    The communiqué jointly signed by Dr. Eugene Tarkema, National Chairman, Dr. Abel Awulu, and Dr. Fagbemi Kolawole, Secretary, called on the Nigerian government and the international community to clampdown on Boko Haram sponsors and financiers.

    The communiqué obtained by our reporter reads, “The tragedy of Boko Haram terror activities is being exploited by the political class in Borno state; and it is worrisome that highly placed persons in the state government and elders in the state are in on this unacceptable development.

    “Recent statements credited to Senator Ali Ndume, Senator Abubakar Kyari and proxies as capable of escalating terrorism in the north east of Nigeria. It is clear that such statements could only have been inspired by the numerous benefits that their purveyors derive from any instability in the region.

    “It has been proven that those in position of influence in Borno State benefit from the regional instability precipitated by Boko Haram as evidenced in the diversion of relief materials meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). There are suggestions that part of the proceeds from diverted materials are channeled into funding Boko Haram.

    “Despite the victory against the insurgency by the Nigerian Military, Local Government Authorities in Borno State have refused to convey administrative procedures proceedings thereby diverting funds and sharing with State Government Officials in Maiduguri who had earlier handpicked and stationed them for the purpose.

    “There is need for the Borno State Government to come out clearly to render full account to the people and in what what has happened to their resources in the most recent past. The anti-graft agencies own Nigerians answers to these questions for the world to know the nexus between Local Government funds and the operation of Boko Haram in Borno State.

    “The initial inaction and eventual active support for Boko Haram members by elders and political leaders in the northeast is playing out in other regions – Biafra secessionists are getting such support in the southeast while the silence that equal acquiescent is bolstering militants in the south-south.

    “We call on the country to note that these recent attacks in Borno state are not isolated events but part of a concerted efforts  by Borno politicians to revive Boko Haram ahead of the 2019 General Elections. These politicians apparently have a control over the terrorists to an extent that they decide when to unleash them on the country or keep them subdued when it is desirable.

    “Also, international relief and donor agencies must immediately stop routing funds through the Borno State Government but instead relate directly with IDPs since there is ample proof that relief resources are an incentive for state officials, who divert and covert them for themselves and for financing terrorists.”

  • Boko Haram: Military deploys special forces, equipment to Northeast

    Boko Haram: Military deploys special forces, equipment to Northeast

    Indications emerged weekend that the Nigerian military has deployed Special Forces to the Northeastern part of the country to reinforce the numbers of troops on ground in an effort to curtail the recent upsurge of insurgent activities of the Boko Haram group.
    Within the past few weeks the activities of the insurgents have raised concerns about the assurances from the federal government that Boko Haram has been degraded and their remnants would soon be flushed out from the North east.
    However, the group in a couple of weeks has increased its tempo of attacks and suicide bombings within and outside Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, killings scores of people.
    The latest attack by insurgents is  the ambush laid on Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) workers and geologists from the University on Maiduguri who are working on oil exploration activities in the Chad Basin.
    Prior to this attack on NNPC workers, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, gave troops and commanders of the operation Lafiya Dole 40 days ultimatum within which to produce, dead or alive, Malam Shekau who is the leader of the Boko Haram insurgent group.
    The Nation learnt at the weekend that special attention is now focus on the northeast with a view to establish reasons behind the current spate of attacks and suicide bombings resulting in the deaths of lots of people.
    Besides the troops on ground, more soldiers are being ordered to the flash points of the insurgents,  while the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) at the weekend deployed Special Forces and bomb detection cameras and other equipment into the northeast for reinforcement.
    A statement from the Director of Public Relations and Information (NAF) Air Commodore, Olatokunbo Adesanya hinted “the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has introduced additional measures aimed at increasing its operational capability in the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North East”.
    The NAF statement reads: “The measures include the deployment of additional NAF Special Forces and personnel of the Regiment Specialty to reinforce Base security and also fight alongside the Nigerian Army troops and NAF Special Forces that were already on ground.
    “In addition, the NAF has deployed thermal imaging cameras aimed at adding more value to the current efforts at detecting and checkmating the activities of suicide bombers before they carry out their suicide missions.
    ” This follows the spate of suicide bombings that have been recently recorded in Maiduguri. The thermal imaging camera uses infrared and reads temperature differences up to an appreciable distance away and can identify a person at an acceptable distance. The cameras, which are mounted on NAF aircraft, can also penetrate obscurants such as smoke, fog and haze.
    “The NAF, in recent times, has stepped up its counterinsurgency operations to further decimate the ability of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) in the North East. The focus has largely been the conduct of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions as well as interdiction missions on identified BHT targets.
    “This is in addition to range of other air operations and humanitarian intervention schemes aimed at winning the heart and minds of the populace in the conflict areas. The NAF remains appreciative of the support it is enjoying from Nigerians in its efforts at putting an end to the madness in the North East Geopolitical Zone of our country.
    Meanwhile, the army authority said it regretted the error in the information it provided earlier on the ambush and rescue of NNPC workers.
    Spokesperson for the Army, Brig. General Sani Usman, described the incident as unfortunate and regrettable.
    In a statement, General Usman said most regrettable was his earlier statement about the rescue of the NNPC staff.
    He said: “The incident of 25th July 2017 where some Boko Haram Terrorists ambushed our troops including members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) escorting some staff of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as well as that of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) on oil exploration in Borno Yesu District of Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno state is unfortunate and highly regrettable.
    ” Most regrettable also is my earlier release on the said incident about the rescue of all NNPC Staff. The error in the statement was not deliberate. The Nigerian Army in this present dispensation is reputed for timely dissemination of information on activities of our troops in all theatre of operations.
    ” We have strived to keep the public informed on our activities with no intention of distorting any fact. Our troops have doubled efforts in the pursuit of the Boko Haram terrorists while search and rescue is still on-going to secure the safe return of the remaining civilians.
    ” So far the search and rescue team has recovered additional bodies of 5 soldiers, 11 Civilian JTF and 5 members of the exploration team. Contrary to reports in some media, 6 members of exploration team out of 12 that went out are still missing, while one of the NNPC staff returned to base alive.
    “On the other hand, our pursuit team also recovered 2 of our own Gun trucks and an additional Toyota Buffalo Gun truck from the insurgents. In addition, the team also made the following recoveries; 4 Rocket Propelled Grenade Bombs, 4 Rocket Propelled Grenade chargers, 6 AK-47 rifles, 1 Anti-Aircraft Gun, 1 General Purpose Machine Gun,1 Anti-Aircraft Gun Barrel, 1 Rocket Propelled Grenade Tube, 4 Dane Guns, 8 Tyres and 2 Tyre Rims.
    “Other items recovered include 1 Pumping Machine, 2 Tyre Jacks, 1 Super Battery, 5 Reflective Jackets, 3 Toyota Hilux, 4 Jerry cans filled with PMS, 1 Motorola Radio, 1 Geographical Positioning System (GPS), 21 empty Jerry cans, 2 Shovels and 3 Food Coolers. Troops also recovered 122 rounds of PKM ammunition, 213 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 1255 Anti-Aircraft Guns ammunition, 4 boxes of API 12.7mm ammunition, 1 AK-47 Rifle Magazine, a Digger, 2 Bows and 13 Arrows, 2 LLG Bombs, assorted drugs and assorted working tools.
    “The Nigerian Army condoles with the families of all that lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident. Search and rescue efforts are on-going. We are counting on the goodwill and support of the populace in volunteering valuable information that could help in the search and rescue operation.
    “What the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists are doing are pure criminal activities of kidnapping to gain funds. This has been noted and will be jointly addressed in conjunction with other security services.
    “The Nigerian Army remains resolute in the fight against terrorism and not relent in its effort to safe guard lives of citizens , properties  and the territorial integrity of the country”.
  • Army regrets issuing false claims on rescue of oil workers attack in Borno

    Army regrets issuing false claims on rescue of oil workers attack in Borno

    …recovers more dead bodies, ammunitions

    After facts emerged on last Tuesday attacks with close to 50 people dead and a video released by Boko Haram  of three staff of University of Maiduguri captured in the ambush,  the Nigerian Army has regretted her earlier statement which claimed the rescue of all Staff of NNPC and UNIMAID involved in the ambush attack.

    The Nation recalls that a  group of geologists from the University of Maiduguri and some support staff of the institution and security operatives and some staff of   NNPC working on  oil exploration in Lake Chad region were ambushed and abducted by Boko Haram gunmen in Borno Yesu.

    The attack which was initially kept under wraps until media enquiries compelled the army to  issued a statement after 24hrs  informing  that 9 soldiers were killed in the attack. The statement also added that all the kidnapped NNPC workers were rescued. But the claim turned out to be untrue.

    The Vice Chancellor of University of Maiduguri, Prof. Abubakar Njodi had accused the army of misleading the public with claims of rescue when the Petroleum ministry and the Minister of Education paid him condolences in his office in Maiduguri.

    He informed that  none of his staff were rescued, adding that five of his staff were brought into Maiduguri dead, just as the Minister of State Petroleum Mr. Ibe Kachukwu said he could not as well verify the rescue of his staff as claimed by the army.

    It turned out that Boko Haram released a  video on Friday  in which three staff of UNIMAID appeared calling   on the federal government to secure their release from the hands of Boko Haram.

    The Army Spokesman Brig. Gen Sani Usman in a fresh Statement issued on Saturday night said the earlier misleading statement was regrettable.

    He said more corpses comprising five soldiers, 11 Civilian-JTF and five explorations workers, and some immunizations  have been  further recovered by military search and rescue operation going on in the area

    Below is the full text of the  Statement  from Brig. Sani Usman.

    “The incident of 25th July 2017 where some Boko Haram Terrorists ambushed our troops including members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) escorting some staff of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as well as that of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) on oil exploration in Borno Yesu District of Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno state is unfortunate and highly regrettable. Most regrettable also is my earlier release on the said incident about the rescue of all NNPC Staff.  The error in the statement was not deliberate.

    “The Nigerian Army in this present dispensation is reputed for timely dissemination of information on activities of our troops in all theatre of operations. We have strived to keep the public informed on our activities with no intention of distorting any fact. Our troops have doubled efforts in the pursuit of the Boko Haram terrorists while search and rescue is still on-going to secure the safe return of the remaining civilians.

    “So far the search and rescue team has recovered additional bodies of 5 soldiers, 11 Civilian JTF and 5 members of the exploration team.

    “Contrary to reports in some media,  6 members of exploration team out of 12 that went out are still missing, while one of the NNPC staff returned to base alive.

    “On the other hand, our pursuit team also recovered 2 of our own  Gun trucks and an additional Toyota Buffalo Gun truck from the insurgents. In addition, the team also made the following recoveries; 4 Rocket Propelled Grenade Bombs, 4 Rocket Propelled Grenade chargers, 6 AK-47 rifles, 1 Anti-Aircraft Gun, 1 General Purpose Machine Gun,1 Anti-Aircraft Gun Barrel, 1 Rocket Propelled Grenade Tube, 4 Dane Guns, 8 Tyres and 2 Tyre Rims.

    “Other items recovered include 1 Pumping Machine, 2 Tyre Jacks, 1 Super Battery, 5 Reflective Jackets, 3 Toyota Hilux, 4 Jerry cans filled with PMS, 1 Motorola Radio, 1 Geographical Positioning System (GPS), 21 empty Jerry cans, 2 Shovels and 3 Food Coolers.  Troops also recovered 122 rounds of PKM ammunition, 213 rounds of 7.62mm NATO  ammunition, 1255 Anti-Aircraft Guns ammunition, 4 boxes of API 12.7mm ammunition, 1 AK-47 Rifle Magazine, a Digger, 2 Bows and 13 Arrows, 2 LLG Bombs, assorted drugs and assorted working tools.

    “The Nigerian Army condoles with the families of all that lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident. Search and rescue efforts are on-going. We are counting on the goodwill and support of the populace in volunteering valuable information that could help in the search and rescue operation.

    “What the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists are doing are pure criminal activities of kidnapping to gain funds. This has been noted and will be jointly addressed in conjunction with other Security Services.

    “The Nigerian Army remains resolute in the fight against terrorism and would not relent in its effort to safe guard lives of citizens, properties and the territorial integrity of the country”.

    The Nation recalls that in 2014, Brig. Gen Chris Olukolade(Rtd), the then Director of Defense Information, Nigeria Army told the whole world that over 80 of the Chibok girls abducted were rescued by troops in less than 24 hours and the statement turned out to be false.

  • Army recovers 21 bodies in oil exploration workers rescue operation

    Army recovers 21 bodies in oil exploration workers rescue operation

    The Nigeria Army on  said it has recovered 21 additional bodies in an operation to rescue oil exploration crew abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno.

    A statement signed by Brig. Gen. Sani Kukasheka, Director Army Public Relations, released in Maiduguri, said that the army recovered vehicles and various calibres of weapons in the operation.

    “So far the search and rescue team has recovered additional bodies of five soldiers, 11 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and five members of the exploration team.

    “Contrary to reports in some media, six out of the 12 members of the exploration team that went out are still missing, while one of the NNPC staff returned to base alive,” Kukasheka said

    Kukasheka, who described the incident as unfortunate, said that the error emanated from the statement issued by the army on the rescue mission was not ‘deliberate’.

    “The incident of 25th July 2017, where Boko Haram insurgents ambushed our troops including members of the CJTF) escorting some staff of the NNPC as well as that of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) on oil exploration in Yesu District of Magumeri Local Government Area of the state is unfortunate and highly regrettable.

    “Most regrettable also is my earlier release on the said incident about the rescue of all NNPC Staff. The error in the statement was not deliberate”.

    It will be recalled that the Nigerian Army had earlier claimed to have rescued all the abducted university’s personnel.

    However, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Ibrahim Njodi, said the army only rescued five dead bodies while four staff were still missing.

    The army spokesman said the Nigerian Army was reputed for timely dissemination of information on its activities in the counter-insurgency operations.

    He reiterated the readiness of the army to always inform Nigerians  of its activities.

    Kukasheka said the army had redoubled efforts in the pursuit of the insurgents to rescue the abducted personnel.

    “Search and rescue is still ongoing to secure the safe return of the remaining civilians.

    “The Nigerian Army condoles with the families of all that lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident,” the statement said.

    According to him, the army has recovered three of its gun trucks from the insurgents, in addition to four Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), four RPG chargers, six AK-47 rifles, one Anti-Aircraft Gun, one General Purpose Machine Gun, one Anti-Aircraft Gun Barrel, one RPG tube, four dane guns, eight tyres and two rims.

    Other items recovered include one pumping machine gun, two tyre jacks, one super battery, five reflective jackets, three Toyota Hilux, four jerry cans filled with petrol, one Motorola radio, one Geographical Positioning System (GPS), 21 empty jerry cans, two shovels and three food coolers.

    Troops also recovered 122 rounds of PKM ammunition, 213 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 1255 Anti-Aircraft Guns ammunition, four boxes of API 12.7mm ammunition, one AK-47 Rifle Magazine, a digger, two bows and 13 Arrows, two LLG bombs, assorted drugs and working tools.

    “We are counting on the goodwill and support of the populace in volunteering valuable information that could help in the search and rescue operation”.

  • Professor among hostages held by Boko Haram

    Professor among hostages held by Boko Haram

    A Professor of Geology at the University of Maiduguri is among the three staff members of the institution ambushed and abducted last Tuesday by Boko Haram, it was confirmed last night.

    The don, Dr. Solomon Yusuf, was one of the trio in the photograph released on Friday by the terror sect.

    It was also learnt that security has been beefed up in the university and its vicinity to prevent any further attack.

    A reliable source said: “A Professor of Geology was among the three captured by Boko Haram terrorists while on oil exploration in the Lake Chad Basin.

    “We are really sad in this academic community, we are feeling unsafe really: I mean the staff and students.

    “We are appealing to the government to do anything to negotiate the release of these staff who only set out to serve their fatherland.

    “Their families are distraught, we are all demoralised because it could have happened to anyone. Their children are inconsolable. We are really sad.”

    A military source however said: “We are probing the incident and reviewing how the insurgents got to know about the movement of the oil exploration team.

    “The insurgents have changed tactics because they have been decimated and we will respond accordingly.

    “As mandated by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, we are all putting heads together to avert a recurrence.”

    On the fate of UNIMAID, the source said: “We have beefed up security in and around the university to protect the community. We have done that successfully in the past few years, we will strengthen it.

    “This was why the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu” insisted that the university will not be shut. A closure will amount to conceding to the insurgents.”

     

  • Death toll in Boko Haram’s oil exploration team ambush hits 69

    •Suicide bomber kills 14

    As many as 69 lives may have been  lost in last Tuesday’s ambush of an oil exploration team close to Lake Chad by Boko Haram elements, according to reports yesterday.

    An aid agency worker involved in the recovery of bodies after the attack in Magumeri, Borno State said 19 soldiers, 33 civilian militia and 17 civilians were killed.

    The latest of the corpses were recovered on Friday at Geidam in Yobe State.

    This came as a suicide bomber killed 14 people in Dikwa, in the same state on Friday in an attack that bore the hallmarks of Boko Haram.

    Sources said the body found at Geidam had gunshot wounds which suggest that the victim must have walked over a long distance before succumbing to death.

    “There could be more such victims in the bush,” one source said.

    The terror sect yesterday released a video recording of three employees of the University of Maiduguri it abducted on Tuesday in which they pleaded with the federal authorities  to “come to our rescue to meet the demand” of Boko Haram.

    “They have promised us that if their demands are met they will release us immediately to go back to the work we were caught doing,” one of the captives said.

    University of Maiduguri spokesman Danjuma Gambo confirmed the identities of the three kidnapped men in the video.

    “They are our staff but one more is yet to be accounted for,” he said.

    Five members of staff of the university – two lecturers, two technologists and a driver – were killed, Vice-Chancellor Ibrahim Njodi said on Friday.

    On Friday, two suicide bombers struck a camp for displaced people in Dikwa, 90 kilometres east of Maiduguri, killing 14.

    The bombers disguised themselves as traders wanting to buy grain.

    One of the bombers  detonated his  explosive  after entering a building housing people who had previously fled the insurgency and since returned, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said.

    “We have so far evacuated 38 victims comprising 14 dead and 24 injured,” said SEMA spokesman Bello Dambatta.

     

     

  • Five killed in fresh Boko Haram attack in Borno

    Five killed in fresh Boko Haram attack in Borno

    Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have killed five people in an attack on Azur village, Damboa local government area of Borno State.

    The terrorists stormed the village early Thursday, shooting and burning down houses.

    They also helped themselves to food items and livestock in the community.

    A resident said three members of the local vigilante group were killed along with two other persons.

    The insurgents had earlier in the week ambushed a group of workers including staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and their soldier escorts in the state, killing up to 40 people in the process.