The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • Maiduguri: Front line troops get commendation

    Maiduguri: Front line troops get commendation

    Brig.-Gen. Stevenson Olabanji, the Acting-General Officer Commanding, 8 Task Force Division of the Nigerian Army, has commended the front line troops for expelling Boko Haram terrorists from Kareto, Damasak and Malam Fatori, Maiduguri.

    Col. Timothy Antigha, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, said in a statement in Maiduguri on Saturday that he gave the commendation when he made an assessment tour of the front line troops in the area.

    Antigha explained that the visit was aimed at having an on-the-spot -assessment of the enormous task of freeing the northern Borno and the fringes of Lake Chad of Boko Haram terrorists.

    Olabanji acknowledged their sacrifices and called for the relentless efforts at eliminating the terrorists from the area.

    He warned the troops to hold on firmly to all equipment issued as the loss of any equipment would attract severe sanctions.

    Olabanji urged them, particularly, junior commanders, to view their participation in Operation Lafiya Dole as an opportunity to learn the rudiments of the military profession.

    “You are the future of the Nigerian Army, therefore, you should view this operation as a unique opportunity to learn and also provide quality and effective leadership to troops,’’ he said.

    He commended the troops for their dedication and steadfastness in holding Malam Fatori in spite of the repeated attempts by Boko Haram terrorists to overrun the location.

  • Boko Haram’s twin suicide bombings kill four in Cameroon

    Boko Haram’s twin suicide bombings kill four in Cameroon

    A double suicide bombing killed at least nine  people and wounded 30 others yesterday  at a camp housing Nigerians displaced by Boko Haram militants in northern Cameroon.

    Local government officials said the twin blasts that tore through the camp in the town of Kolofata at about 6 a.m. local time.

    “It was unbearable. People were screaming. Others were moaning. It was total horror,” said a policeman present at the scene of the bombing.

    Northern Cameroon has in recent years suffered from the overflow of violence linked to Boko Haram insurgents.

    Nigerian refugees have flooded across the border and local residents have been forced to flee their homes.

    Boko Haram launches frequent cross-border raids in a bid to carve out an Islamic caliphate.

    Its eight-year insurgency has killed more than 15,000 and displaced two million people in the Lake Chad region.

    Villages and towns in the area have regularly been targeted by suicide bombers.

    A similar attack in Kolofata killed nine people in September 2015.

    Thousands of troops have been deployed to the area in a bid to stem the violence.

  • Chibok girls graduate from top US school

    Chibok girls graduate from top US school

    Two Chibok schoolgirls who escaped from the Boko Haram captors have completed their studies at an American High School in the United States Capital.

    The girls known simply by their first names, Debbie and Grace graduated after completing junior year (11th grade) and senior year (12 grade) at a prestigious private international school in the Washington metro area in America.

    A statement by International Director, Education Must Continue Initiative (EMC) , Emmanuel Ogebe said Debbie and Grace were part of the first 57 girls who escaped from Boko Haram terrorists after the mass abduction of almost 300 Chibok schoolgirls in April 2014.

    On hand to witness the historic graduation of the two Chibok girls in the class of 2017 were a delegation from Nigeria which included the founders and directors of Education Must Continue Initiative Mr and Mrs Paul Gadzama and the parent of one of the girls who traveled from Chibok .

    The only Chibok girl currently pursuing a degree program in an American university, cut short her summer vacation in Nigeria to return for the graduation of her colleagues. The girls’ American host families and Barrister Emmanuel Ogebe and his family were among the audience who witnessed the historic graduation.

    The class of 2017 was the 50th graduation of the school which was the first high school in America to win a prestigious President’s award last year. The Chibok girls were among only 21 students who graduated as a few international students were unable to graduate.

    In remarks during a celebratory reception, the Chibok girls thanked their host families, the NGO volunteers from EMC for supporting them to achieve their dreams.

    The parent visiting from Nigeria stated that he had personally seen that the team had done more for his daughter in America than he could have done for them in Nigeria.

    Recounting the story of how he conceived the project , Ogebe described how he first brought the orphan of a pastor murdered by Boko Haram to school in the US in 2013. The following year, Boko Haram attacked her village and abducted 276 girls. Consequently because he had helped an orphan from Chibok before he was able to help these ones as well.

    He appreciated the sacrifice of EMC founders Mr and Mrs Gadzama who flew at their own expense to witness the girls’ graduation after missing their own daughter’s graduation with a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) in Michigan just a few weeks earlier.

    He also thanked EMC’s American volunteer Education Adviser Deanna who helped obtain admission and scholarships to the exclusive $35,000 per year school for her role after their former school tried to take advantage of them. The girls had to repeat 11th grade after their initial school failed to meet up to its obligations.

    A church Thanksgiving is planned for the girls who are exploring their future endeavors following graduation.  Among several awards won by them was an award for “Most hard working student in English as Second Language 3”.

  • Boko Haram twin suicide bombings kill four in Cameroon

    Boko Haram twin suicide bombings kill four in Cameroon

    A double suicide bombing killed at least nine people and wounded 30 others Friday  at a camp housing Nigerians displaced by Boko Haram militants in northern Cameroon.

    Local government officials said the twin blasts that tore through the camp in the town of Kolofata at about 6 a.m. local time.

    “It was unbearable. People were screaming. Others were moaning. It was total horror,” said a policeman present at the scene of the bombing.

    Northern Cameroon has in recent years suffered from the overflow of violence linked to  Boko Haram insurgents.

    Nigerian refugees have flooded across the border and local residents have been forced to flee their homes.

    Boko Haram launches frequent cross-border raids in a bid to carve out an Islamic caliphate.

    Its eight-year insurgency has killed more than 15,000 and displaced two million people in the Lake Chad region.

    Villages and towns in the area have regularly been targeted by suicide bombers.

    A similar attack in Kolofata killed nine people in September 2015.

    Thousands of troops have been deployed to the area in a bid to stem the violence.

  • Killer herdsmen in Edo are fleeing terrorists – Obaseki

    Killer herdsmen in Edo are fleeing terrorists – Obaseki

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that suspected herdsmen raping and killing women in the state were terrorists that fled from fighting in the North Eastern part of Nigeria.

    Two elderly women identified as Christiana and Matina were last week raped and killed at their various farms by the suspected herdsmen in Ewu community, Esan Central local government.

    Earlier in March this year, traditional ruler of Ekperi, HRH Deke Yakubu Kanoba, the Ijiegbai of Ekperi, raised alarm that his subjects may not go to farm this farming season over presence of suspected runaway book haram members at a forest in his locality.

    The Ijiegbai of Ekperi who spoke at meeting of Eminent Persons Forum with the State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu said that the men at the forest were armed with AK47 riffles.

    Governor Obaseki who spoke Thursday when he visited families of the slain women described the incident as a national security threat.

    Obaseki told the people that the killers were not ordinary herdsmen but Boko Haram fighters who fled from the war in the North East.

    He assured the people that his administration would deal with the menace within the next few weeks as he has ordered security to be beefed up in the area from the boundaries of Kogi State.

    His words, “These are not just herdsmen, they are Boko Haram terrorists but we are working hard to put an end to this.

    “In a matter of weeks, we are coming out with certain measures to stop these attacks. We will rely on timely accurate information from all communities. I am going to see the Inspector General of Police on this matter.

    “Don’t be scared of going to your farms. We have stepped up security in this area from Kogi State.”

    Governor Obaseki who promised to ensure autopsy are conducted on the corpses also visited Ehimen Abuya, one of the villagers at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, who was allegedly shot at by soldiers during a protest against the killing of the two women.

    Ehimen, whose leg would soon be amputated, told the governor they were on a peaceful protest against the herdsmen attack when they were shot at by soldiers.

    Obaseki promised to pay the medical bills, provide artificial lower limb and give adequate assistance to integrate him back to the society.

    Spokesman for the community, Sydney Ikhajiagba, said members of the community were now living with fear and that the women were now scared of going to farms.

    “When we got to the farm, we saw her naked and worms coming out of her mouth. She was dragged to the place where she was raped and killed. It was a pathetic sight. Such a thing has never happened in Ewu town.”

     

  • Boko Haram: Russia assures Nigeria of support

    •Moscow grants 110 scholarships to Nigerians in 2017

    Russian has reassured Nigeria of its support to end the activities of Boko Haram.

    Its Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov gave the reassurance yesterday in Moscow, Russia at an official meeting with his counterpart from Nigeria, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama.

    He said his country would continue to support Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram.

    The Russian minister told reporters at a joint briefing with his Nigerian counterpart after their meeting that Moscow was prepared to improve military cooperation with Nigeria and support steps put in place by Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

    Lavrov said: “We will continue to support steps taken by Nigerian government in the fight against Boko Haram.”

    The minister revealed that Russian government is consistently promoting solutions to African problems. According to him, Russia would want instability eliminated in the Africa.

    He stressed that the problems in Africa and other troubled region can only be fully resolved through inclusive dialogue.

    “We have exchanged opinions on issues not only in Nigeria but also Syria, Libya and Middle East. Solutions to the problems in these areas can only be achieved through inclusive dialogue.”

    He hailed the role Nigeria is playing to ensure peace and stability in the continent and the world.

    On other areas of agreement reached at the meeting, Lavrov said Russia will be working with Nigeria to speed up economic and political agreement between both nations.

    “We have agreed that we should speed up processes on political and economic agreement,” he said.

    On global politics, the minister said his country and Nigeria will be working together on issues concerning both nations.

    “We discussed regional and global agenda. We have agreed to coordinate our efforts within the United Nations on mutually beneficial issues,” he said.

    Onyeama noted that activities of the Boko Haram or other terrorist organisations are no longer Nigeria’s challenge but a global scourge.

    He, however, told his guest that the military has degraded the capacity of the terrorist group.

    Russia, he said, had provided military hardware and training in the efforts to end the activities of the terrorist group.

    On piracy, Nigeria Foreign Affairs Minister said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has done a lot to end the scourge.

    He, however, called for the support of government of Russia, especially in the Gulf of Guinea.

    On the issue of UN reform, Onyeama said both countries agreed that there was a lot still to be done.

    Besides, Onyeama said both countries will be meeting at a later date this year in Moscow to further the discussions on economic and political cooperation.

     

  • NAF helicopter hits Boko Haram bases

    NAF helicopter hits Boko Haram bases

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said on Tuesday that its newly acquired helicopter has destroyed Boko Haram operational bases in Borno State.

    A statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations at NAF, Air Commodore, Olatokunbo Adesanya, said the raid was part of the ongoing clearance operation in the Northeast.

    The statement said: “On May 21, 2017, the Nigerian Air Force Component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE conducted an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission in Parisu, Borno State.

    “During the ISR mission, a large structure with solar panels and flags suspected to harbour high value Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) was discovered, alongside other similar BHT structures hidden under trees.

    “Accordingly, on May 22, 2017, two attack helicopters; the Mi-17 and the newly inducted day and night, all weather gunship, Mi-35M Super Hind were scrambled to conduct strikes on the location in succession.

    “Subsequent battle damage assessment revealed that several structures in the target area were engulfed in fire as a result of the strikes and a few BHT survivors were seen scampering from the location.”

     

  • Five killed in Borno terror attack

    At least five people were killed by suspected Boko Haram militants at Nguru Nguro village, Konduga local government area of Borno State, on Tuesday.

    The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said in a statement that the victims were residents of Bale Shuwari, a community located just few kilometres away from Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, the state capital.

    The army spokesman added that troops had earlier in the day foiled attempts by terrorists to enter the military barracks.

    The statement said: Boko Haram insurgents killed five persons at Nguru Nguro village, Konduga local government area of Borno State on Tuesday.

    “The victims were residents of Bale Shuwari located just 5km away from Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri.

    “Also an intruder tried to gain access into Giwa Barracks through the defensive position at the back of the barracks but was challenged by vigilant troops.

    “All attempts to halt the intruder failed and while trying to scale over the second barbed-wire obstacle, he was gunned down by the vigilant troops.”

  • Chibok girls won’t return to their former school – Minister

    Chibok girls won’t return to their former school – Minister

    All the 106 Chibok school girls released so far by the Boko Haram sect will not be returning to their former school in September, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Alhassan said Tuesday.

    Alhassan who officially received the girls from the various Federal Government medical facilities for rehabilitation and reintegration processes said they will be now be enrolled in other secondary school in chibok.

    Receiving the girls from the Matron, medical services unit of the Department of state services, Anne Okoroafor, the Minister said the girls will from now undergo some skills acquisition and remedial programmes at the National Council for Women Development hostel where they will be living for now.

    “The programme will last till September this year when the school year will begin and the girls will be enrolled in other schools within the country.

    “The decision to enroll them in order school apart from the school where they were abducted is strategic; we want them to forever forget the trauma they have passed through “she said

    Alhassan said that the Ministry have engaged another doctor and two nurses to continue providing adequate medical attention to the girls while at the centre.

    She added that the girls have been divided into four classes and each of the classes have five teachers who will take the girls on skills acquisition and remedial programmes.

    “We have one doctor for the 24 girls, but now we have engaged another one and we have engaged two nurses because the number of the girls has increased to 106, therefore we have two in-house doctors here and two in-house nurses.

    “The medical facilities of the DSS will always be available to us in case there are medical issues we cannot handle here.

    “The girls have been divided into four classes and each class have five teachers, we are training each girl on two skills of their choice”.

    It will be recalled that 24 girls were initially released from captivity before the 82 were released; making the number of girls released 106.

    Speaking further on the girls education, Alhassan said “while they are here, they will be doing ICT training which is compulsory, they will be doing remedial studies, they will be studying five subjects which are English, Mathematics, biology and Agricultural Science”.

    “The girls will be sent back to school to continue from where they stopped, the girls will not return to the Government Secondary School, Chibok where they were abducted from, instead they will be enrolled in other schools within the country.

    “All of them will go back to school together, because if we keep them beyond September, it means that they will lose another school year, they are not going back to their former school, we are taking them back to other schools within Nigeria”, the Minister said.

    Alhassan however said the girls are free to go back to their parents if they wish.

    She said if any of the girls indicates interest of returning to their family, the government will not hold her back, instead her parents will be invited to take them home.

    “If anyone of them today says she wants to go home, we are very pleased to call her parents; it means that she has forgotten the trauma and ready to reintegrate.

    “They are here on their own free will, no compulsion, they are free to go home any time they want, we are keeping them here on the consent of their parents”, she added.

    Handing the girls over to the Minister, the Director Medical Services of the DSS, Dr Anne Okorafor said though some of the girls needs continued medical attention, but they are medically stable and ready to move to the Ministry of Women Affairs.

    “We have done the necessary investigations on the girls, whatever we found during the investigation, we have treated them, some of them are still have some medical issues, we are treating them. They are all stable and we are comfortable to move them to the ministry,” Dr Okoroafor said.

     

  • Buhari administration creates new set of millionaires through farming – Lai Mohammed

    Buhari administration creates new set of millionaires through farming – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday said that the Federal Government through its agriculture empowerment programme had created new set of millionaires in farming.

    The minister stated this when he featured on a special edition of Channels TV programme, “Sunrise Daily” on the mid-term report of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

    Mohammed said that many young farmers were empowered through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrower Programme and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture’s Soil Map initiative.

    He said that the programme, which recorded huge success in rice and grain productions, particularly in Kebbi, Kano, Jigawa, Ebonyi and Sokoto states, had made farming attractive to young people.

    Mohammed said the initiative had also helped in boosting the local production of rice, increasing yields per hectares in grains production and reducing importation of rice.

    He said that in 2015, the country imported 580,000 metric tonnes of rice, which had been brought down to 58,000 metric tonnes in 2016 with the successful implementation of the programme.

    The minister noted that though the price of local rice was still higher than the imported one, but the situation would change when production increased.

    He said the imported rice was being subsidised and dumped into the country but assured that the trend would change by next harvest.

    The minister said that the government had also been able to bring down the cost of fertiliser from N9, 000 to N5, 000 following a bilateral agreement it signed with the Kingdom of Morocco.

    Mohammed said that the country was gradually moving out of recession, particularly in the agriculture, manufacturing and solid minerals sectors.

    He explained that it was made possible because of committed investments in infrastructure, ease of doing business and increased budgetary votes for capital projects.

    “When we came in, we inherited about N1.7 trillion in debt owed to contractors; 202 roads were abandoned. In the entire 2015, only N18 billion was spent on roads and N5 billion spent on power.

    “In 2016/2017 we released N1.2 trillion for capital projects only; we spent N260 billion on roads and N99 billion on power generation.

    “We have constructed 320 kilometres of roads and fixed 460 kilometres of road: We have built 24 bridges and repaired about 21

    “On rail lines, we have commenced the construction of the 150 km per hour standard gauge from Lagos to Ibadan and working on others across the country,” he said.

    The minister reiterated that looking at what the government had done in areas of the economy, security and in fighting corruption it had fulfilled its electoral promises.

    Mohammed said the situation would have been worse than it is now if Buhari was not in power, adding that he was proud to be a part of the administration.

    He said in spite of recession brought about by defective economy run by past administration only on oil and the sharp drop in the price of crude, the administration has performed well.

    “We are coming from a situation where we were earning over 100 dollar per barrel of oil and it was reduced to about 30 dollar per barrel

    “It takes acute discipline and management of resources to be where we are today.

    “In spite of recession, between October last year and today, we have been able to add additional 7 billion dollars to our federal reserves.

    “We have also successfully added 87 million dollar to the Excess Crude Account and attract 500 million dollar to the Sovereign Wealth Fund,” he said.

    On security, the minister said that the government defeated Boko Haram insurgency which had taken over almost half of the North-East region before the administration came into power.

    He said government was taken pro-active measures to address the challenge of clash between the herdsmen and farmers and incidences of kidnapping.