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UN envoy urges Security Council to strengthen support for fight against Boko Haram

Mohammed Chambers, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to West Africa and the Sahel, has called on the Security Council to strengthen support for the fight against Boko Haram and other groups standing as security threat in the sub-region.

Chambas, who is also Head of the UN Office for West Africa (UNOWAS), in his report to the Council, urged the UN to further support national and regional efforts to combat the “serious threat”.

He warned that the efforts of the region’s States towards broader development, increased investment, improved infrastructure and job creation were being undermined by factors of insecurity “both traditional and new”.

He noted the formation of national and regional security forces like the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and the G5 Sahel Joint Force against violent extremism and terrorism.

On the situation in the Lake Chad Basin, Chambas noted the remarkable efforts of the MNJTF against Boko Haram, in spite of the recent attacks by the group.

The UN envoy, however, expressed concerns on the mode and sophistication of recent attacks by Boko Haram, suggesting that the terrorist group has benefited from reinforcements.

He regretted that “persistent Boko Haram attacks in the Lake Chad Basin area are causing huge sufferings to the population”.

“The commendable efforts of the Multinational Joint Task Force, which have substantially degraded Boko Haram’s capabilities, shrank its geographical reach and freed thousands of captives.

“However, recent attacks in Maiduguri and in the Diffa region demonstrate that Boko Haram continues to pose a serious threat in the area.

“The mode and sophistication of these attacks have raised suspicion that Boko Haram might have raised suspicion that Boko Haram militants might have acquired reinforcement.

“This situation continues to have devastating humanitarian consequences. Up to 5.2 million women, men, innocent boys and girls, many of whom have been displaced across the Lake had Basin are struggling for their very subsistence.”

Chambas called for the urgent provision basic services and viable livelihood opportunities for communities in the affected areas to avoid the risks derailing recent successes against Boko Haram. According to him, the Lake Chad Basin Commission Regeneration Plan offers a useful framework of cooperation to tackle the root causes of the worsening security environment.

He noted that West Africa and the Sahel had recently witnessed positive progress in democratic consolidation, however, the security situation remained of great concern.

“Traditional and new drivers of conflicts and insecurity are hampering the capacity of countries to improve life conditions and strengthen human security.

“Clashes between farmers and herders are another threat. If not contained, they have the potential to undermine peace and security in the region.

“The threat of terrorists and violent extremist groups should not divert our attention from other pressing security threats such as inter-communal tensions witnessed in several countries.

“Clashes between farmers and herders across the region threaten to undermine peace, social cohesion and food security.

“The UN continues to advocate for a regional solution while at the same time continues to support the countries in the region to strengthen their national peace architectures,” he said.

July 14, 2017
Boko Haram: Military should still keep vigil in N’ East – Group

The Coalition for Good Governance and Change has charged the Nigerian military to maintain vigilance on its successes over Boko Haram terrorists in order to totally extinguish the remnants of the group from the country.

The charge was given after a tour of the north east counter insurgency operation zone by a group of 50 civil society organizations under the auspices of Coalition for Change and Good Governance led by its National Co-ordinator /Convener, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi.

The communique was jointly signed by Ibrahim Abubakar, Executive Director, Save Humanity Advocacy Centre; Rev Steven Onwu, Executive Director, New Initiative for Credible Leadership; Joyce Adamu, Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency; Comrade John Okorro, Coordinator, New Nigeria Youth for Progress.

Others are Dr. Tunde Ogunmola, Founder, Friends of Humanity; Alhaji Garuba Shehu, Secretary General, National Coalition Against Terrorism; Musa Fomson, National Co-ordinator, Northern Inter-Faith and Religious Organization for Peace; Comrade Bagudu Kudu, National President, National Association of Northern Students.

According to the coalition, stories in the media that Boko Haram was regrouping doesn’t hold water anywhere as only the political wing of the sect has refused to yield to efforts by the Federal Government to declare Nigeria a terrorist free nation.

“The militant wing of the sect has continued to remain on the run whilst many fighters continued to surrender to our troops in large number,” the coalition said.

They called for a discourse on ways to accelerate and improve on the deradicalization of former Boko Haram members that have yielded to superior fighting powers as the military have been able to force many to surrender.

The CSOs commend the Federal Government and the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for sustaining the level of victory in the north east in the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari who is on a medical leave.

“Nigerians, particularly leader of thought should be invited to condemn in totality attempts by agents of darkness to revive Boko Haram using a section of the media that propagate sponsored reports without any visit to the north east or any part of the country once oppressed by Boko Haram.

“There should be a toning down of the unnecessary focus on complicating issues with ethno-religious sentiments. The practice has only worsen issues that could have been more easily addressed if everyone involved take nationalistic view of them,” the CSOs added.

July 14, 2017
Nigeria, Cameroon meet on Boko Haram

The Nigerian Army and their Cameroonian counterparts are holding bilateral talks on how to root out Boko Haram remnants from border regions.

The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, disclosed this after military officials from the Central African nation visited the Military Command and Control Centre (MCCC) in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Tuesday.

“The bilateral meeting between officials of the Nigerian military and that of Cameroon is to discuss how to end insurgency on our borders. The meeting involves security officials of Nigeria and Cameroon on how to raise the counter-insurgency efforts on our borders,” Maj. Gen. Attahiru said.

He said the two countries’ security agencies sought to work closely in order to end Boko Haram insurgency in the border regions.

Gen. Attahiru said Nigeria and Cameroon are working out modalities for a joint operation around Borno south-eastern region bordering Cameroon.

The leader of the Cameroonian team, Brig. Gen. Valere Nka, said his country was pleased to have bilateral arrangement with Nigeria on the Boko Haram insurgency in areas bordering Lake Chad.

“The capability of Boko Haram has been reduced compared to what it was three years ago when they seized communities and even declared caliphate,”Brig. Gen. Nka said.

July 11, 2017
Boko Haram: ‘US lied over claims of ‘Child Soldiers’ in Civilian-JTF’

A Human Right group and a Humanitarian Organization, Global Amnesty Watch (GAW) has described as lies the allegations by the United States report over the use of child soldiers in the fold of Civilian JTF by the Nigerian Government in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency in North East Nigeria.

According to GAW, the claim by the United States 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report which pointed accusing fingers on the Civilian JTF of recruiting children in the fight against Boko Haram is false.

Disputing the claims of the US, the Country Representative of GAW in Nigeria Mrs. Helen Adesola at a news conference with journalists in Maiduguri said her organization has carried out an independent investigation over the allegations and discovered the allegations as “not only misleading but a deliberate  attempt to belittle the efforts of the Nigerian military in its fight against insurgency”.

Mrs  Adesola submitted that “the instances of underage persons or children being conscripted to  fight in the crisis was only  limited to Boko Haram, which abducts children,  brainwashes  them, ply them with drugs and send them out to fight.”

According to her, the accusation of the US will by extension undermine the commitment of the Civilian JTF whom she said are voluntarily fighting Boko Haram in the region, adding that the allegations are rather cooked to trigger sanctions against Nigeria that would rather work in favour of the Boko Haram terrorists.

Her words: “The United States 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report accused the Civilian  JTF of recruiting child fighters and therefore placing minors in a hostile environment in contravention of the Child Soldier Prohibition Act, CSPA,  2008. The accusation was expanded to imply that the Nigerian government and military authorities were responsible for recruiting these children even when the vigilante group operates voluntarily.

“A likely consequence of this is the further unveiling of sanctions and measure against Nigeria that could tilt the balance in favour of terrorists as opposed to safeguarding the wellbeing of the civilian population that had been forced in the past to adopt desperate ploys to stay safe. It became pertinent that far-reaching decisions are not taken on the strength of faulty report or flawed research.

The Global Amnesty Watch commissioned an investigation to establish the veracity or otherwise of the US report in line with its stated objective of monitoring and observing adherence to human rights issues in areas with ongoing conflicts. The Global Amnesty Watch has worked in Nigeria’s northeast and has teams of researchers and experts that were dispatched for  the assignment.”

While presenting  a background of the Civilian JTF and its contribution to the fight against the insurgency in the North East, Mrs Adesola noted that,  “Counter –insurgency efforts were largely ineffective in the period before  February 2015 when the start of military operations against Boko Haram were cited as reason for postponing the General Elections by six weeks. Nigeria was faced with arms embargo at about this time which limited the ability of the military and its leadership as constituted then to effectively fight  the terrorists. In the period beginning since 2009, Boko Haram freely  attacked villages and communities in and around Borno often sacking entire  districts, pillage and burn markets, kill residents and abduct children and  women.

“In 2013 youths in their thousands “armed with sticks, swords, bows, arrows,  and in rare occasions Dane guns” formed vigilante groups to repel Boko  Haram attacks. The loss vigilante groups came to be known as Civilian JTF  (Joint Task Force).

“Over the years, the Civilian JTF has contributed to the counter-insurgency war by deploying their knowledge of the terrain and familiarity with the locality to hunt down Boko Haram suspect, apprehend them and hand them over to security agencies.

“The state government has streamlined the activities of the group through screening, training and absorbing some of them into state employment schemes. It must be emphasised that none of these schemes is opened to minors and in most cases, those that got these assignments are above 24  years of age,” she explained.

The  GAW Country Rep stated that her organisation carried out a rigorous investigation to cross check the facts and fiction through a content analysis of recordings of members, witness interviews, review of field reports, media reports, stressing that most of the recruited CJTF were between the ages of 18-24yrs.

Part of her text had the following as their finds:

“The Borno State Government has carried out intervention programmes like empowerment schemes and training for members of the Civilian JTF. These programmes required them to register and provide personal details that include Date of Birth (DoB). These details are available in record archives of the state.

“The finding from analysing these records is that even when the 2013  formation year of Civilian JTF is factored in the DoBs on record showed that those that were captured were of age, being older than 18 years old at the time of joining the group. Other information like educational level supports this fact because many of them being at holders of at least a basic diploma of having completed one form of apprenticeship or the other post-secondary school were well past the minimum age before becoming part of the Civilian JTF.

Content Analysis of Media Reports:

“A review of media report indicated that this is not the first time that the  Civilian JTF has been accused of recruiting child fighters in their war against Boko Haram. A pattern was however established that showed that each time such reports are issued and Civil Society Organizations question them the authors were usually unable to defend their claims and in many instances simply disappear such that nothing is heard from their claims again. The claim that Civilian JTF is using child fighters is usually given weight by tying it to the forced recruitment of abducted children as  Boko Haram fighters by the terrorists. This strategy simply globalises the forced engagement of children in the war without zeroing down on the party that is primarily responsible for the act, which makes it possible to blame the Civilian JTF for the atrocities committed by Boko Haram.

“Publish photographs and videos were also reviewed, which raised the prospect that the victory gatherings that follow successful operations against Boko  Haram could have been misconstrued since children would usually mix up with  Civilian JTF members in the course of Civilian JTF members in the course of cheering them on the streets. No video or photographic evidence were found of minors engaging Boko Haram fighters.

Review of Field Reports:

“Experts working for Global Amnesty Watch had undertaken several field investigations and reports in the number of years that the organisation has been working in tracking human rights issues in the counter-terrorism operations against Boko Haram in the northeast of Nigeria. The use of minors has been a red flag that our experts and researchers look out for in the course of gathering information. These reports have been reviewed to collate secondary data on the use of child soldiers. The instances of underage persons or children being conscripted to fight in the crisis was limited to Boko Haram, which abducts children, brainwash them, ply them with drugs and send them out to fight.

Witness Interviews:

“The Global Amnesty Watch sent researchers to conduct interviews that span across the Civilian JTF’s chain of command – vertically and horizontally.  The questionnaire included items that interrogated the age at which the  witness joined the Civilian JTF, if they knew of any child that was  recruited as part of their batch at the point of joining the vigilante  group, whether joining the group was mandatory or voluntary, and whether  members are forced to remain in the Civilian JTF against their will.

“Researchers interviewed 148 respondents between the ages of 21 and 45. It was discovered that the persons of the lower age (21 –24) had wanted to join the fight against Boko Haram since the formation of the vigilante group but were constrained to wait until they are older. Those that were older than 24 years old were able to join the group right from when it was formed. From the responses, membership of Civilian JTF is not forced so those that joined are able to live at their choosing”.

On their observation during the investigation, Mrs Adesola said; “Consistent with the poverty that was blamed for fueling the insurgency,  some of the persons in the Civilian JTF might have had stunted growth as children which could account for the difficulty in placing their age by mere visual appraisal.

“Boko Haram was and is still solely responsible for the use of child fighters. Since neither the Civilian JTF or a larger number of Boko Haram fighters wear uniforms, the likelihood is high that children compelled to fight by the terrorists could have been counted on the side of the Civilian JTF.

“There was no case of the use of child fighters established against the  Civilian JTF, whose members rather fight to protect women and children from terrorist attacks.

“Accusations of engaging child fighters is not new and are often repeated from time to time even when there has never been any proof to continue repeating the claim.

“Its status as a loose assemblage of vigilante groups makes the Civilian JTF  lack the capacity to counter the allegations of using child fighters, which  raises the prospect that it is being targeted for other reasons other than  stated by the organisations making the allegations.”

She concluded that “this report found the allegation that the Civilian JTF recruited children as fighters to be an outright falsehood, and lies that mark a descent to an  unacceptable low for any reputable organisationn or entity to make.”

July 11, 2017
Boko Haram And Sen. Kyari’s Meaningless Phobia

Our own Distinguished Senator Abubakar Shaib Kyari is one Nigerian representative gripped by the fear of Boko Haram insurgency. He represents us the good people of Borno North senatorial district in the National Assembly (NASS). The only snag is that his fears are unfounded and the alarm he is mouthing all over the place is just tricks to exploit the menace of terrorism at the detriment of our people for his personal gains.

At least, while refuting claims of the defeat of Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast region, one could sight in him a politician who may not be speaking the truth. He exudes more of an ulterior motive, known with politicians at the approach of general elections. They are always jittery and exploit everything to their advantage.

It may be true that what frequently interrogates Sen. Kyari’s mind is how sounds of terrorists’ bombs would no longer resonate anywhere in our native state of Borno or the Northeast. It underscores why Sen. Kyari, a man caught up in such dilemma aggressively disputed the reality as mouthed by the Nigerian government that Boko Haram terrorists have been defeated in Nigeria.

And that’s why phrases like subjugation, decimation, defeat and elimination of Boko Haram terrorism, as bandied in the media strikes the same meaning to him. To our Distinguished Senator, they all mean one and the same thing. However, whatever the bent of his convictions, it does not add or subtract any of the existing realities in our communities. The reality is that Boko Haram is at the stage of it complete elimination, having been defeated in Nigeria and we shall see them no more.

Probably, one may be tempted to say Sen. Kyari has failed to grasp the gist because he has lost touch with the practical reality at home. This may not be far from the truth as we are yet to feel the impact of his stewardship anywhere close home since his election in 2015.

To Kyari, like many other Nigerians, whom he probably spoke their minds, the lexical confusion still exists about the Federal Government’s efforts.

To this end, Sen. Kyari qualifies for an honorary title or a Pulitzer Prize in literature. If for nothing, in at least, peculiarly redefining the counter-terrorism war and raising the matter to the realm of national discourse to clarify those genuinely confused. The response to Sen. Kyari has become imperative because he was courageous enough to voice it out, unlike other Nigerians with similar doubts, but preferred to remain silent in ignorance.

This response would certainly get other Nigerians in semantic confusion to differentiate between the words- defeat and elimination of terrorism. The motion Sen. Kyari moved in Senate plenary was premised on this ambiguity to arm himself using the military and an INEC that will follow his lead since the area remains inaccessible in his imagination.

Certainly, Sen. Kyari cannot be a victim of polluted conscience. He’s too nice a dude. What is expected of him after this clarification is to raise another motion on the floor of the Senate in appreciation of soldiers in the counter-insurgency war. They deserve it because of the depravity or sacrifices they make to face terrorists. The Nigerian troops and political leadership in Borno State deserve his little commendation.

Much more, parliamentarians, whether at the national or state level from Borno state should do same to create the path for Nigerians and the government to appreciate what the military are doing in curbing terrorism in the Northeast or Nigeria. What else? If those directly in the furnace of terrorism, like Sen. Kyari do not know when it flourished and at the point it was decimated and defeated, the dilemma of Nigeria becomes more complex. They must herald the songs of victory over terrorism.

Sen. Kyari’s profile indicates that he was member-elect, House of Representatives in the aborted transition of whatever year best known to him. In 1999 to 2003, Senator Kyari represented his people in the House of Reps. Thereafter; he served severally as commissioner in Borno state under different governors. It means, for slightly above 20 years, Sen. Kyari has been in politics and government of Borno state. He should know better the tensioned years of affliction of his constituents under the yoke of terrorism and now that the Nigerian military has ebbed it into near oblivion.

In Sen. Kyari’s electoral sojourn, the most fertile period was the last general elections when insurgency peaked. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) housed in camps became the easy target of elective office seekers. Kyari like many others benefitted from this misfortune suffered by our people, by influencing votes or rigging the elections with food items in the guise of relief materials.

But that era has gone for good. The Nigerian military has defeated terrorism and IDPs have relocated to their devastated communities and homes. Whatever the level of poverty the returnees are facing, they are living a far more dignified life than what obtained in 2015 in IDP camps.

Sen. Kyari’s refusal to accept the defeat of terrorism is gleaned more from the reality that he is afraid of testing his popularity on neutral basis in 2019. There is no room for his ilk to busy themselves in Abuja only to come back to Borno to hide under Boko Haram to rig the people’s mandate. It is understandable why the clan of politicians have kept drumming the existence of Boko Haram insurgency. But Boko Haram terrorism has been decimated and defeated and there are no more IDPs to exploit for electoral gains.

But as advice, Sen. Kyari should be thinking of something tangible such as a cottage industry to establish in Borno to employ our youths in the state in order to independently empower them with the return of peace in dislocated communities. This done, it would be the signboard of the years of his political patronage in his constituency or Borno state and visa to his re-election.

Sen. Kyari should not be the typical Nigerian politician who only recognizes the value of his people when seeking their mandate. In the pathetic state of IDPs returning to desolated homes, Kyari should not manifest more in unconscionably exploitation of the vulnerable. He should act more practically.

Kyari is a smart politician, no doubt and he should act it in conduct to earn our support now that we have elevated him to the status of a Senator. It does not matter whether he discerns the meaning of “victory ,” of terrorism or not. His actions would speak louder than words in the gloomiest phase of the life of his people.

Sen. Kyari should understand that majority of the votes he got in 2015 senatorial elections came from IDPs camps. This is the time to justify the massive support and appreciation of the people, who have returned back to our ruined villages.

Sen. Kyari should rummage his conscience, by asking himself critical questions about terrorism in his native state of Borno.

Nigerians would want to know where was Sen. Kyari in 2013 when insurgents sacked his people in Damasak village and they deserted homes for him to stage campaigns in IDPs camps? Are these people not gradually being resettled in their homesteads in these communities with the defeat of terrorism? Can Kyari recollect the condition of the road to his village from Maiduguri to Damasak from 2013 and before May 2015? What is the situation now on the road?

Sen. Kyari must know that if the evidently false alarm he raised at the Senate or during personal media interviews are targeted at creating a panic in order to exploit the hapless people of our constituency in 2019, he may be heading towards his political apocalypse. Our people are now settled in their villages with the defeat of terrorism. They have become part of the informal security network working with security agents to fish out the remaining elements of terrorists to eliminate terrorism permanently.

No Nigerian, much more a Borno indigene who has sensed the remarkable difference in their lives now about insurgency would want to be fooled again in whatever guise.

In 2019, there would no longer be people displaced into camps to be settled with morsels of food in the guise of relief materials. They would have all settled in their homes in dignity to question the performance of representatives these years, especially those who come to seek re-election. And representatives like Sen. Abubakar Shaib Kyari should know better. He knows that we are waiting for him come 2019 to pass our verdict and his latest attempt may not be far from desperation to militarize the senatorial district for an election that we would be denied any participation but results written in his favour.

Therefore, if elections are Sen. Kyari’s nightmare and that’s why terrorism is not defeated, he should have no reason to fear. He should rather come back home to his constituency freed from terrorism to showcase his relevance and stop hiding in Abuja or Maiduguri and its environs to throw unfounded missiles.

Bulama sent this article from Maiduguri, Borno State.‎

July 11, 2017
Boko Haram terrorists withdrawing to safe havens, Army Chief alerts commanders

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, on Monday, alerted 70 commanding officers of the Army to remain vigilant as Boko Haram insurgents withdraw to safe havens in other parts of country.

“The insurgents are now in disarray, attacking soft and defenceless targets, and withdrawing to safer havens in other parts of the country,” he said at the opening of a five-day workshop for the officers in Kaduna.

The Army Chief, who was represented by the Commander, Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command, Maj Gen, Rasheed Yusuf, assured that the military would decimate remaining terrorists.

“I therefore charge you to be vigilant and security conscious within your areas of responsibility, so that the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents are fished out.

“I want to assure you that the Nigeria Army, under my command, will continue to remain focused and reinvigorated to fulfill its mission.

“To this end, the Nigeria Army will do all that are humanly feasible to provide all logistics and operational requirements necessary to contain the security challenges faced by the country in the course of carrying out our constitutional role.”

Buratai noted that the Boko Haram insurgency, militancy, pipeline vandalism, cattle rustling, kidnapping, ethno-religious crisis, armed robbery and other crimes have remained portent security challenges in the country.

He however appreciated the support of the Federal Government to the military, which had helped to reposition the service and ensure successes in its operations.

“By now, you must be aware of the laudable initiative and commitment of Mr President, C-in-C in the provision of hardware and other logistics requirements which have aided the successes recorded in the counter insurgency operations in the country

“Mr President is also desirous of enhancing our training and welfare packages.

“I therefore urge you to rededicate yourselves and motivate your troops towards being professionally responsive in the discharge of our constitutional roles.

“We must continue to strive for excellence so as to improve our operational effectiveness and productivity which will invariably stimulate citizens support and appreciation.

“Let me at this junction salute our colleagues involved in various operation within and outside Nigeria, some of whom have paid the supreme sacrifice.

“We shall continue to stand with and support the families of our fallen colleagues appropriately all the time.” the army chief said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the workshop is “Building on the Successes of the Military Operations by Units Commanders.”

The maiden Commanding Officers Workshop was held in Maiduguri in March.

July 10, 2017
Boko Haram sponsorship: Ndume considering suit against FG

Senator  representing Borno South Senatorial district Mohammed Ali Ndume has disclosed that he is contemplating filling a case against the Federal Government of Nigeria after his acquittal by an Abuja High Court over allege link and sponsorship of Boko Haram terrorists group.

Ndume  who spoke with journalists at his residence  in Maiduguri over the weekend also accused the media for unfair treatment during the course of the trial, which he regrettably said caused the miscarriage of his daughters four months pregnancy.

Ndume who is also under suspension for six months by the senate after asking the senate to investigate the allegations of contract scam leveled against Senate President Bukola Saraki  said he was ‘unfairly treated’ by the media from the day of the trial till last week when he was acquitted by the court.

“While the Federal Government was struggling to find evidence to indict me before the Presiding Judge, the Nigeria Media passed judgment on my ‘person and integrity;’ as Boko Haram sponsor,” Ndume said.

His words: “For six years the Federal Government put me on trial without any evidence to prove their false allegations against me.

After six years the court said they had no case against me so they have to acquit me.

“But the media however; wasn’t fair to me. The spirit with which they reported my arraignment has not been matched or corroborated with the reports published on my recent acquittal.”

Sen. Ndume said he was still contemplating   on the way forward especially on how to redeem his image through the law court against the Federal Government, saying , “I am yet to decide on whether to go to court and sue the federal government for damages or speak to the media so that my own story too would be heard.”

He regretted that, “For six years I was restricted, I could not travel, I could not move an inch, I was subjected to emotional torture when all the while the government knew that there was nothing against me and they know who the sponsors of Boko Haram are.

“And the saddest aspect of it all was that up till when the case was dismissed finally, nobody, including those in the media who had subjected me to their trial, could query the lame facts brought to the court,” Ndume said.

Ndume accused  the Goodluck Jonathan administration for orchestrating his travails over his critical punches to the government.

Speaking on his arraignment, Sen. Ndume said: “Could you imagine the arrested Boko Haram spokesman mentioned some other persons but it was only me that was taken to court?”

“That shows that I was the only person that the government wanted to fight. “But I will still ensure that my voice is heard and my side of the story is told as well; because there are so many things that the world need to know.

“Could you imagine the media reporting that I had 73 phone contacts with the Umar Sanda Konduga, the Boko Haram spokesman?

“How can  one makes over 70 calls and no one could trace the call logs on a platform when we all know communication is two-way traffic. But sadly no one queried that scientific fact, including the press.”
He explained that his troubles started when he was a member of a presidential committee on dialogue with Boko Haram that was set up by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“As a member of that committee, our contacts were made available to members of the public so that anyone with credible information could contact us. It was at that time this Sanda chap called and I told him I would get back to him. Unfortunately, I never did because we have hundreds of people calling at that time.

“So, he sent me a text message that I said I would get back to him and I didn’t. So, when the security people saw that text they said we were communicating with him, even though I did not respond to that text message as well, ” he explained.

He noted that he would have waved the matter as a leadership challenge but the pains and the trauma his immediate family went through is his greatest pains and dilemma.

“One of my daughters approached me and said, ‘Daddy now that the court said you are not guilty as they alleged, it is time we take the government to court.

“Even as I tried to calm them, their anger is justified because that my very daughter lost her four months old pregnancy when she heard that I was arrested and arraigned in court. Some of my little kids were molested in school by people who call them names! So how much could one take for an offense one is innocent of?”, Sen. Ndume said.

July 10, 2017
Civilian JTF loses 680 members to Boko Haram insurgency

Six hundred and eighty members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) have lost their lives to the Boko Haram insurgency from 2014 till date in Borno State, the hotbed of the war.

The Legal Adviser to the CJTF, Mr Jubril Gunda, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri on Sunday.

Gunda, who described the dead CJTF members as heroes, said they were killed in various operations in the state.

He said that many members of the CJTF also sustained various degrees of injuries since the group joined the campaign to end insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East.

Gunda noted that the CJTF had made remarkable contributions in ensuring the return of peace to war-ravaged communities in Maiduguri and elsewhere.

The legal adviser, who described himself as a staunch member of the CJTF, pleaded with the Federal Government to provide money and materials for the families of dead CJTF members.

“Their families are left on their own with no compensation, except the token burial money given by the Borno State Government.

“Their children cannot afford to go to school or pay house rent,” he said, describing the conditions of bereaved families as pathetic.

Gunda revealed that 780 members of the group had been trained and exposed to combat operations to boost their combat readiness.

“It is our sincere believe that the 780 trained CJTF members will make a great difference in the campaign against insurgency.”

Gunda called on the Borno Government to pay allowances and provide vehicles for the group to motivate them.

He also advocated closer collaboration between the military, police and the group to ensure smoother implementation of the anti-insurgency campaign.

July 9, 2017
Boko Haram: Police deploy 3000 personnel in Borno

The Borno Police Command on Sunday said it had deployed 3, 000 policemen to Maiduguri and other areas liberated from the Boko Haram insurgents.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the State, ASP Victor Isuzu, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

Isuzu said that the measure became imperative to enhance security network in Maiduguri and other communities liberated from the insurgents.

He explained that the command had taken proactive steps to deal with security threats, protect lives and property in the state.

He said that the personnel had already resumed duty in their various posts.

Commenting on the foiled suicide bomb attack by the insurgents at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), the PPRO said the command had deployed additional personnel to strengthen security at the institution.

“The command had recently deployed a full unit of mobile police personnel, guards and sniffer dogs to the university, to complement the presence of security personnel there.

“These deployments have started yielding results toward preventing attempts by these enemies of peace to threaten the lives and safety of the university community and its environs.”

Isuzu reiterated the commitment of the command to the protection of lives and property in the state.

He called on the people to be vigilant and cooperate with the law enforcement agents to enable them to discharge their duties effectively. (NAN)

July 9, 2017
Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon adopt plan to eradicate Boko Haram

The Council of Ministers of Defence of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and the Republic of Benin have adopted a new plan “to completely eradicate” the terror sect, Boko Haram, in the region.

The draft document prepared by military experts, chiefs of defence staff and heads of intelligence and security services of the LCBC was validated in Yaounde on Thursday, though the content was not made public.

However, Cameroon Defence Minister, Joseph Beti Assomo said the meeting brought them closer to their “common strategic objective; the complete eradication of Boko Haram.”

The Yaounde meeting also focused on assessing the security and humanitarian situation of the region and preparing for post-conflict stabilisation and rehabilitation of the areas affected by the Boko Haram militants.

Boko Haram launched its insurgency in 2009 aiming to create an Islamic state in north eastern Nigeria, but has spread its terror to countries of the Lake Chad Basin – Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

An 8,700-man regional Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) comprising troops from the four countries has been fighting to bring the sect to its knees since 2015.

The executive secretary of the LCBC, Sanusi Imran Abdullahi said thanks to the efforts of the force, Boko Haram has been weakened.

He announced that a new commander has been appointed to head the force.

July 9, 2017