The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • British Ministers call for release of Chibok girls

    British Ministers call for release of Chibok girls

    The British Foreign Minister, Tobias Ellwood and his International Development counterpart  James Wharton, have spoken of their  commitment to tackling Islamic extremists in Nigeria as  the nation marks the third anniversary of the abduction of over 250m students of the Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram.

    Ellwood and Wharton in a joint statement condemned the actions of the “barbaric terrorists” and called for the return of the stolen girls.

    They said: “Our thoughts are with the Chibok girls who remain missing, their families and all those abducted by Boko Haram.

    “We are working side by side with Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram and call for the release of all those who have been taken.

    “During our visits to Nigeria last year, we heard how people’s lives have been devastated by Boko Haram.

    “We are committed to supporting Nigeria in the fight against these barbaric terrorists.”

  • UN calls on private sector to support IDPs

    UN calls on private sector to support IDPs

    The United Nations (UN) has made a clarion call to the private sector to channel resources towards helping Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) that have suffered untold hardship due to the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.

    The resident coordinator of UN in Nigeria Mr Edward Kallon gave the call at a dinner with business mogul, chief executives officers and captains of industries in Lagos.

    Kallon observed that the crisis which started on the notion of protecting a course have degenerated into a food, security and malnutrition crisis, adding that due to the fact that over 9.5 million people need humanitarian attention, it has become one of the focus points of the international community.

    According to him, the UN is scaling up its effort in the North East, because their needs are high and against this backdrop, the need for private partnership is imperative to effectively meet the rising needs.

    Giving reasons for the involvement of the private sector, he said: “Nigerian have a vibrant private sector, and we believe that they have a huge role to play in increasing the global resource material and investing in the building and stabilising of the affected people. And that is the potential we are trying to harness’’

    The coordinator averred that his expectation from the private sector is for them to mobilise resources to support of the UN and the government, re-engage the internally displaced and stock investment that is required to pacify the situation.

    In her remark, the Minister of State, Ministry of Budget and National planning Honorable Zainab Ahmed described the joint humanitarian response as an embodiment of passion and concern for our fellow human beings.

    The Minister noted that the scale of destruction and the new skill required to ensure a return to normalcy, needs unprecedented levels of partnership between the international humanitarian community and Government of Nigeria, coming together at this critical moment in our history.

    Her words: “Both the Government and the private sector have a moral and imperative responsibility of increasing the funds for IDPs and also ensure seem less at all level to reach the people that are in need at the right time.”

    According to her, the Government will continue to put fund into jointly prioritised sectoral activities, so that there will be no gaps in the humanitarian response.

    Ahmed noted that the resources will be deployed transparently and in a manner that blends in well with the complementary deployment of resources by the humanitarian community, including the support for early recovery and livelihoods.

  • Boko Haram: Air force introduce drones and L-39ZA aircraft

    Boko Haram: Air force introduce drones and L-39ZA aircraft

    • Intelligence shows locations of insurgents

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday said it has introduced an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) and L-39ZA fighter aircraft into the ongoing fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast.

    During a press conference in Yola to give an giving an appraisal of the operations of the NAF in the first quarter of 2017, the Air Component Commander (ACC), Operation Lafiya Dole,  Air Commodore  Charles Owho said the introduction of the new platforms was necessitated by the enlargement of the NAF Area of Responsibility (AOR).

    The additional platforms deployed would join the now ageing Alpha jets, F9 jets, Mi 35 helicopters which have been in action since the beginning of the war on the insurgency. Already the UCAV CH-3A has already conducted  Air Interdiction on March 27, 2017.

    Air Commodore Ohwo also revealed that several Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations by the NAF has revealed that following the fall and capture of the insurgents former headquarters in Camp Zairo, most of the fighters fled to the West of Sambisa stretching up to the Southwest of Maiduguri and into Yobe State, while some others had moved to the East and Southeast of Sambisa towards Gwoza Hills and Tagoshe Hills.

    Owho said the Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole has concentrated its air power the areaswith a view to further decimating the remaining BHT elements and facilitating the activities of own surface forces in the area.

    In a series of air operations including Air Interdiction, Close Air Support for ground troops, Air Recce, Combat Air Patrol and ISR, the ACC said the Air Component has successfully prevented the regrouping of Boko Haram Insurgents while providing effective air cover for ground troops for clearance operations.

    Among the operations conducted by the Air Component was the provision of daily air support for clearance operation in the south-west of Maiduguri at Boko Haram camps in  Talala and Ajigin.

    At the same location, on February 1, 2017, Alpha jets provided Close Air Support for ground troops to repel an attack from Boko Haram. Also, operations conducted by the troops of 21 brigade of 7 Division also provided ISR for the clearance operations in Ngoshe and Mabila high grounds.

    Also, the ISR platform also conducted various operations in Arege, northern Borno where a platoon of Boko Haram insurgents was sighted. “Our ISR aircraft maintained visual over BHTs in Arege and tracked them as shown on the screen. The BHTs took advantage of poor visibility and the terrain to escape imminent air strikes.

    “However, the efficient communication of the ISR ac with MNJTF forces eventually led to the dislodgement of the terrorists in a firefight. In this encounter, about 57 terrorists were killed and many injured while technical, weapons and ammo were recovered,” Ohwo said.

  • Number of children used for suicide attacks on the rise – UNICEF

    Number of children used for suicide attacks on the rise – UNICEF

    A new report by the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has shown an increase in the number of children used for suicide attacks by Boko Haram sect.

    According to the report, the number has increased to 27 in the first quarter of 2017, compared to nine over the same period last year.

    So far, 117 children have been used to carry out bomb attacks in public places across Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon since 2014.

    According to the statistics, four children were used in 2014, 56 in 2015, 30 in 2016 and 27 only in the first three months of 2017.

    The report also noted that girls have been used in many of these attacks.

    “In the first three months of this year, the number of children used in bomb attacks is nearly the same as the whole of last year – this is the worst possible use of children in conflict,” Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, said.

    The increase reflects an alarming tactic by the insurgents, according to the report Silent Shame: “Bringing out the voices of children caught in the Lake Chad crisis.”

    As a consequence, girls, boys and even infants have been viewed with increasing fear at markets and checkpoints, where they are thought to carry explosives.

    “These children are victims, not perpetrators,” says Poirier. “Forcing or deceiving them into committing such horrific acts is reprehensible.”

    The report which was released three years after the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, provided troubling accounts by children who were held in captivity at the hands of Boko Haram, and showed how these children are met with deep suspicion when they return to their communities.

    In interviews, many children who have been associated with Boko Haram, said they keep their experience secret because they fear the stigmatization and even violent reprisals from their community.

    Some are compelled to bear their horrors in silence as they removed themselves from other groups for fear they might be outed and stigmatized.

    The report also highlighted the challenges that local authorities face with children who have been intercepted at checkpoints and taken into administrative custody for questioning and screening, raising concerns about the prolonged periods of custody.

    In 2016, almost 1,500 children were under administrative custody in the four countries.

     

  • Court to shield prosecution witnesses in trial of ex-Boko Haram leaders

    Court to shield prosecution witnesses in trial of ex-Boko Haram leaders

    Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Tuesday granted the request by the prosecution for the shielding of its witnesses’ identity in the trial of some ex-Boko Haram leaders.

    Justice Tsoho directed that prosecution witnesses should be protected by being allowed to give evidence behind a screen to be provided by the court.

    The judge also directed that the identity of the prosecution witnesses would also be shielded from members of the public by addressing witnesses in pseudonyms in the course of the trial.

    The judge’s directives were sequel to an application moved Tuesday by prosecution lawyer, Shuaibu Labaran.

    The defendants, including an alleged leader of a splinter group of Boko Haram, Mohammed Usman (aka Khalid Albarnawi), his “second wife”, Halima Haliru, and five others were arraigned on March 14 on an 11-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/36/2017.

    Other defendants are Mohammed Saleh, Umar Bello (aka Abu Azzan); Mohammed Salisu (Datti), Yakubu Nuhu (aka Bello Maishayi) and Usman Abubakar (Mugiratu).

    The defendants were among others; charge with terrorism, hostage taking and murder of a total of nine expatriates, offences they allegedly committed between 2011 and 2013.

    Besides Haliru, the other defendants are said to be members of   Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (a.k.a Ansaru), a group described by the prosecution as a breakaway from Boko Haram.

    Haliru is mentioned in just count 11 in which he was accused of having “information which you know to be of material assistance in preventing members of Boko Haram splinter group known as Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan a.k.a ANSARU from carrying out acts of terrorism but failed to disclose it to the relevant security agencies you thereby committed an offence punishable under S.8 (1) (a) of Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 as amended in 2013.

    Justice Tsoho has adjourned to April 25, for ruling on another application by the prosecution for a variation the court’s earlier order, directing that the defendants be remanded in prison after their arraignment on March 14 as against the prosecution’s preference for DSS custody.

     

  • Trump plans to move ahead with Nigeria planes sale -Sources

    President Donald Trump’s administration is pushing forward with plans to sell up to a dozen aircraft to Nigeria’s air force for the fight against the extremist group Boko Haram.

    Sources said the deal could be worth up to 600 million dollars.

    Sources also said the Super Tocano A-29 aircraft, an agile, propeller-driven plane with reconnaissance and surveillance as well as attack capabilities, is made by Brazil’s Embraer.

    A second production line is in Florida, in a partnership between Embraer and privately held Sierra Nevada Corp of Sparks, Nevada.

    Former President Barack Obama’s administration originally agreed on the sale, but delayed it after incidents including the Nigerian Air Force’s bombing of a refugee camp in January that killed 90 to 170 civilians.

    The Trump administration wants to push ahead to boost Nigeria’s efforts to fight Boko Haram and bolster hiring in the United States by defense firms.

    “We’ve been told that the administration is going to go forward with that transaction,” a congressional aide said.

    Formal notification of the deal has not yet been sent to Congress but is expected shortly.

    Trump has said he plans to go ahead with foreign defense sales delayed under Obama by human rights concerns.

    A senior Nigerian military source in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, confirmed that the sale would go ahead and said it would also involve training, surveillance and military intelligence “to support … the ongoing insurgency war.”

    In March, the Trump administration informed Congress of its plans to pursue a five billion dollars sale to Bahrain of Lockheed Martin F-16s and related equipment, which had been held up under Obama when Bahrain failed to meet human rights targets.

    Reuters first reported the Obama administration’s plan to sell the Embraer aircraft to Nigeria in May 2016, as a vote of confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari’s drive to reform the military.

    The Super Tucano costs more than 10 million dollars each and the price can go much higher depending on the configuration.

    It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT six engine.

    Trump’s plan to move ahead with the Nigerian sale was first reported on Monday by the Associated Press.

    The U.S. congressional source said rights concerns remain, despite support for the sale from some lawmakers.

    There are also questions about whether Nigeria will be able to pay the full 600 million dollars for the aircraft, equipment, training and support.

    U.S. officials said Buhari raised frustration with delays in the sale in a phone call with Trump in February.

     

  • Niger forces kill 57 Boko Haram militants

    Niger security forces killed 57 members of Boko Haram sect who attacked a village in the southeastern Diffa region overnight, the defence ministry said in a statement on Monday.

    At least 15 soldiers and two civilians were wounded during the attack by heavily armed men in Gueskerou village, which is around 30 km (22 miles) northeast of Diffa town, it said.

    “Among the enemy there were 57 terrorists killed, a Toyota pick-up recovered along with a 60 mm mortar, two RPG 7s (rocket propelled grenade launchers), five machine guns, 20 AK-47s and a lot of ammunition,” Reuters quoted the ministry as saying in the statement.

    However, the report could not be independently confirmed.

    Boko Haram has killed 15,000 people and displaced more than two million during a seven-year insurgency aimed at creating an Islamic state in Nigeria.

    A regional force that includes troops from Niger has retaken much of its territory in the last two years.

     

  • New strategies to track Boko Haram

    The terror group may have been dealt a mortal blow, but with hotels, schools and workplaces now keeping record of immigrants, it is clear that the hunt for Boko Haram fighters is still alive, reports GBENGA OMOKHUNU

    Boko Haram, illegal immigrants, kidnappers, and other terrorist groups are in for it as the Federal Government has launched fresh immigration regulations to help grab perpetrators and bring them to book.

    The new 2017 Immigration Regulations replace the old ones signed in 1963.

    Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau who presented the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS Regulation 2017 said there is no doubt that the current management demands a new proactive approach to handle immigration matters.

    The new 2017 Immigration Regulation contains 80 sections and divided into 10 parts. Some of its innovative provisions especially those complimenting the way of doing business and sustaining internal security include temporary work permit, visa on arrival, entry for business purpose, immigrants register to register all immigrate in Nigeria, restriction of immigrant movements, hotels and boarding houses to have record of all immigrants, that are accommodated and employment of immigrants.

    He said, “This new immigration regulation replaces the old immigration regulations signed in 1963. Shortly after the migration policy came into force I remember that May 2015, there was an immigration policy, following that immediately the Immigration Act was passed into law. This Act contained far reaching innovative provisions aimed at positioning the Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS) to achieving its vision as an Information Technology, (IT) driven entity that can immediately address the operational challenges of modern migration. And its mission of given the NIS a new sense of direction that can make it relevant at all times towards security order and responsive to a global trend.

    “The objective of this new migration is to provide legal framework for the effective implementation of the Immigration Act of 2015. And the second objective is to consolidate the existing immigration regulation which was signed in 1963.

    “I assure you that effective implementation and the enforcement of this regulation and I ask for your continued support to my ministry and immigration service. There is absolutely no doubt this new Immigration regulations will enhance the protection of our borders against cross-border crimes particularly trafficking in arms, drugs and humans and also movement of terrorist groups and individuals.

    “It will enhance internal security to provide the right environment for development. It will conform to the Executive Order recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on the ease of doing business.”

    The NIS Comptroller General, (CG), Muhammed Babandede said the NIS shortly after coming out of the Nigeria Police in 1958, got its first legal instrument, the Immigration Act, passed by the parliament on August 1, 1963.

    Babandede said: “Until May 21, 2015, when the reversed Immigration Act, was enacted, the NIS has operated with the 1963 Act which was not only obsolete, but grossly inadequate to contain the unfolding migration realities.”

    He said the minister of Interior signed the document into law on February 27, 2017 adding the Immigration Regulation 2017 is a vital document that operationalizes the Immigration Act, 2015.

    At the presentation were top government functionaries, members of the diplomatic community and other stakeholders.

  • Army hands over 593 cleared Boko Haram to Borno

    Army hands over 593 cleared Boko Haram to Borno

    Not fewer than 593 Boko Haram suspects were cleared and handed over Borno State government for psycho social rehabilitation.

    Most of the Boko Haram suspects were among those rescued by the Nigerian Army during its operations in Sambisa forest under the Theater Command.

    The Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Lucky Irabor who handed over the suspects said the exercise will be a continuous one, adding that more suspects will be released as he noted that investigation is still in progress on the remaining suspects under military custody.

    Major General Lucky Irabor who was ably represented by Brigadier General Abdulrahman Kuliya handed over the suspects at the Rehabilitation Center Bulunkutu area, Maiduguri to Borno state government.

    He assured that the suspects were now cleared of any complicity with Boko Haram.

    He further explained that the release of the Boko Haram suspects cleared was in line with the earlier statements of the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yususfu Buratai and Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major Gen. Lucky Irabor that nobody will be allowed to stay under the military custody if not guilty or found wanting.

    He added that so far only 469 were cleared and conveyed to the rehabilitation center and handed over while the remaining 124 persons will he conveyed and handed over too in few days pointing out that, the delay was purely on logistics as they were fragile and had to be handled and treated with care due to their psycho Social state.

    Receiving the cleared persons at the rehabilitation center on behalf of Governor Kashim Shettima, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Amna Abubakar thanked the military for their efforts and assured that the people will be properly handled and catered for as all arrangements have been put in place by the state government for their comfort.

    Hajiya Abubakar who was represented by the Director, Rehabilitation Center, Mrs. Ladi Clark Musa said all the necessary facilities for their training and comfort have been provided at the rehabilitation centre.

  • Military release 593 cleared Boko Haram detainees to Borno Govt.

    Military release 593 cleared Boko Haram detainees to Borno Govt.

    The Nigerian military have released 593 detainees after they had been cleared of any association with the Boko Haram terrorists.

    The Theater Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, handed over the detainees to officials of the Borno Government at a ceremony in Maiduguri on Monday.

    Irabor, represented by Brig.-Gen. Abdulrahman Kuluya, said the release was based on the directives of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

    “The military have made several efforts at ensuring that peace returns to the North-East by conducting different operations.

    “Lots of efforts have been made to get us where we are today,” he said.

    Irabor said that some suspects were arrested in the course of the operations in the North-East.

    “The Chief of Army Staff has always made it clear at different fora that all persons arrested in the course of the anti- insurgency war in the North-East will not stay a minute more than necessary.

    “Persons either arrested by the military or arrested and brought to the military by another person will not be allowed to stay more than necessary,” he said.

    Irabor explained that the detainees were released after they were cleared by the Joint Investigation Team of the military.

    He said that they were handed over to the State Government for psychosocial support before final reintegration into the society.

    Receiving the detainees, Mrs Ladi Musa, the Welfare Officer at the Bulumkutu Rehabilitation Center, thanked the military for the gesture.

    Musa said the State Government had already provided enough facilities at the center for the rehabilitation of the detainees.