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Tag: boko haram

  • Success against Boko Haram, victory over evil – Osinbajo

    Success against Boko Haram, victory over evil – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday noted that the success recorded by the Nigerian military against Boko Haram insurgency is a victory of good over evil.

    He made the remark during the interdenominational church service for the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Abuja.

    In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said: “”First, that the physical battles they fought for freedom, justice and recently against terrorism and hate are battles fought to ensure that good would prevail over evil. They fought to ensure that light would prevail over darkness.

    “The victorious fight of our military against the evil ideology of Boko Haram is evidence of the ascendancy of good over evil. Our men and women of the Armed Forces have in the past few years battled an ideology that supports the killing of children on their beds, and the rape and abduction of women.

    “Many of our men of the forces died in the North East. At some point, this evil had taken over 14 local governments. But men whose wives are now widows and children fatherless, gave their lives to take back those territories.

    “Secondly, as we remember our departed military heroes, we also celebrate the attribute of brotherhood and unity that the military has demonstrated in the history of our country. Against Boko Haram, they stood side-by-side Christians , Muslims and other faiths. They stood and still stand united from the North East, South East, North West, South West, North Central, and South South.

    “They are today mobilizing in Southern Kaduna, Christians, Muslims, and from every tribe and tongue in Nigeria to defeat hate, intolerance and terrorism. They are prepared to lay down their lives to prove that our country belongs to all regardless of religion or ethnicity.  That when any Nigerian is killed, it is evil that has prevailed. It is darkness that has won.”

    Stressing that soldiers occupied a special place in the gospel of Jesus Christ, the vice president said the military profession is the only profession to which Saints are compared.

    He added: “The only profession to which the body of Christ is compared. The body of Christ is not compared with doctors, businessmen, bankers and others. I am a lawyer and I know what the scripture says about lawyers.”

    Quoting 2 Timothy 2:3-4, he said the Scripture says to Christians: “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

    “No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

  • Boko Haram may shift base to Southern Kaduna

    •Police repel fresh attack on Tsonje 

    Senator Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South) has expressed fear that Boko Haram insurgents might shift base to Southern Kaduna.

    He spoke as suspected Fulani herdsmen at the weekend reportedly launched an attack on Tsonje, but the attack was repelled by policemen after almost 24 hours of gun battle between the attackers and the security agents, supported by arms bearing youths.

    Two people were said to have died during the gun battle and and two others missing.

    Senator La’ah who confirmed the incident in a statement yesterday, said, “death of the two men, identified as Ephraim Ezekiel, 19, and Joshua Ladi, 41, occurred after an almost 24-hour gun battle between the terrorists on one hand and the Nigeria police and local vigilante as the Fulani terrorists tried to overrun a village called Tsonje”.

    The Senator who likened the Southern Kaduna incidents to Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, said the insurgents were likely to shift base to Southern Kaduna.

    According to him, “I have been reliably informed that after the terrorists retreated to their well known camp behind Pasakori community at the foot of Kagoro mountain, a few kilometres away, two other persons have also been declared missing.

    “Information reaching me from around the troubled areas have affirmed that despite the large presence of troops of the Nigeria Army that have been drafted to assist the Police in battling these terrorists, not a single soldier was drafted to assist the police and the local vigilante, in spite of sporadic gun fire that could be heard for kilometers away and throughout the onslaught from Friday morning to Saturday morning.

    “This is a very sad development. I had earlier praised the Federal Government when these troops were first deployed to Southern Kaduna sometime last week. I had absolute confidence that the Nigeria Army will quickly put an end to this wild and cruel onslaught which have not only ravaged but laid to waste peaceful and law abiding communities; and as I speak, Fulani terrorists are still occupying several villages in Southern Kaduna.

    “Instead, I only get reports of soldiers brutalising Southern Kaduna natives; intimidating and threatening our brave young ones with arrest as they lay watch over their communities.

    “I am bringing this curious development to the attention of the Nigeria Army authority and to the public to appreciate the grave condition under which parts of my constituency have found themselves.

    “As you may have been informed, Ninte, Akwa, Golgofa, Gada Biyu, Anjul have already been dominated and inhabited by these Terrorists after many of the villagers were killed, the villages plundered before being  set ablaze since May last year. As of Today, the terrorist have moved in to these communities – The unharvested crops of the villagers that have fled, have become food for their cattle.

    “Also, Passakori, Mile 1 and Unguwan Missisi all on the ever busy Kagoro-Gidan Waya road in Jema’a LGA have been annexed and are now abodes of the terrorists.

    “That is not all, the world has remained silent or has forgotten the killings of persons and the subsequent displacement of communities likeý Kirim, Zakum,  Mayit, Agwom, Zakai Gira,  Telak Tunga and  Magwot.

    “Fulani Terrorists have since taken over these villages located strategically on the Attakad hills, in Moroa Chiefdom, Kaura LGA.

    “I am making this public to alert the world of a possible re-grouping of Boko Haram Terrorists with Fulani herdsmen terrorists in Southern Kaduna. They are now conquering large swaths of lands, and have now established a base behind Passakori. This was how Boko Haram started in 2009.

    “I am appealing especially to the Nigeria military, whose gallant achievements in dislodging Boko Haram terrorist is being praised and hailed nationwide, to step in and assist the Police.

    “Again, I call on all Southern Kaduna residents to give their maximum cooperation to the police, security operatives, the Nigeria military and all personnel legitimately deployed to secure us.

    “Southern Kaduna natives and all residents must understand that the threat to take over their lands by force is not mere speculation or rumour. Everyone must be ready to sacrifice and assist in securing his/her community through committed cooperation with the constituted authority in place,” he said

  • 1,000 days of abduction: Buhari vows to rescue remaining Chibok girls

    1,000 days of abduction: Buhari vows to rescue remaining Chibok girls

    In commemoration of the 1,000th day of the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, President Muhammadu Buhari has restated the commitment of the Federal Government to securing the release of the student kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents.

    TheSpecial Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, stated this in a press statement on Sunday.

    He said: “We are grateful to God that on this landmark day, we are not completely in the depths of despair, but buoyed with hope that our daughters will yet rejoin their families and loved ones.

    “Three of them have been recovered by our diligent military, while the freedom of 21 others was secured through engagement with their captors. We are hopeful that many more will still return as soon as practicable,” he added.

    He also reiterated that the government would not spare any effort to reunite the girls with their families.

    “I salute the fortitude of the distraught parents. As a parent also, I identify with their plight. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, months turned to years, and today, it is 1,000 days. The tears never dry, the ache is in our hearts. But hope remains constant, eternal, and we believe our pains will be assuaged. Our hopes will not be shattered, and our hearts will leap for joy, as more and more of our daughters return. It is a goal we remain steadfastly committed to,” the President stated.

    He commended all who have been in the vanguard for the recovery of the girls, both nationally and internationally, adding: “Someday soon, we will all rejoice together. Our intelligence and security forces are unrelenting, and whatever it takes, we remain resolute.

    “Chibok community, Nigeria, and, indeed, the world, will yet rise in brotherhood, to welcome our remaining girls back home. We trust God for that eventuality.” He said

  • Boko Haram attacks army brigade in Yobe kills soldiers

    Boko Haram attacks army brigade in Yobe kills soldiers

    Boko Haram insurgents on Saturday evening attacked an Army brigade in Buni Yadi, Yobe State.
    Confirming the attack, the spokesman of 27 Task Force Brigade, Lt. George Okupe in a text message said the attack was successfully repelled by the troops.
    He however could not disclose the casualty both on the side of the Army and Boko Haram.
    Lt. Okupe said, “Buni Yadi came under attack at about 0615pm…but things are under control. Casualty figure of BHTs yet to be confirmed, on locales, none for now likewise own forces. However, details will be relayed to you soon”.
    But a military source who spoke to our correspondent in confidence said it was a surprise attack by Boko Haram insurgents who Saturday night lunched a daring attack on 27 Task Force Brigade of the Nigerian Army Buni Yadi killing five soldiers, including a captain.
    The source also noted that the insurgents came from the eastern side of the brigade in large numbers and lunched superior fire power on the military formation before they were repelled.
    The source added that the Captain, name withheld is a medical doctor who has just been posted to Buni Yadi.
    The casualty on the side of Boko Haram is yet to be disclosed, but another military source disclosed that the insurgents also suffered heavy casualty in the attack as many dead bodies were seen scattered in the bush.
    He maintained that troops are still in pursuit of some of the fleeing insurgents.
    “Nobody had time to start counting the numbers of the bastards that were killed because we were busy pursuing the one that were running, but I must tell you that many of them were killed and their dead bodies scattered in the bush”, the source informed.
    This is the first time the 27 Task Brigade has suffered a heavy attack from Boko Haram since its relocation from Damaturu to Buni Yadi in 2015.
    Buni Yadi, the headquarters of Gujba Local Government was taken over by the insurgents for almost a year before it was recaptured by the military in May 2015.
    The attack on 27 Task Force Brigade is coming barely two weeks after the insurgents are said to be in disarray in the north east following their dislodgement from Camp Zero, the last strongest fortress of the insurgents in the Sambisa forest.

  • Three female suicide bombers killed in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said it had killed three female suicide bombers when they came across  troops along Dutse area in Gwoza local government area of Borno State.

    The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.- Gen. Lucky Irabor, confirmed the incident to journalists in Maiduguri.

    Irabor said the three female suicide bombers were intercepted following an intelligence report on their mission to Limankara in Gwoza Council.

    “Just this morning, we intercepted the bombers but the three of them resisted and tried to ram into our troops. And of course, we had no choice but to open fire on them,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the army commander as saying to journalists on the matter.

    He said the Nigerian troops and their Cameroonian counterparts had been making remarkable progress and recoveries in Ngwoshe axis and Gwoza hills.

    “Our troops and those of the Camaroon Republic have been recording tremendous successes in flushing out remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in that axis.

    “And of course during the operation, we discovered stockpile of arms and ammunitions.

    “We also intercepted 30 cows at cashew plantation here in Maiduguri.

    “We also arrested one of the most wanted Boko Haram terrorists, number 164 on our list,” he added.

     

  • OPC applauds Buhari for dislodging Boko Haram

    OPC applauds Buhari for dislodging Boko Haram

    The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in Kwara has commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigeria military over their victory against Boko Haram insurgents in Sambisa forest in Borno.
    Mr Maruf Olanrewaju, the Coordinator of OPC made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin on Wednesday.
    Olanrewaju said that the Federal Government deserved to be lauded for the destruction of the insurgents base, which he said, signalled their defeat in Borno.
    He said the feat was in line with the electioneering campaign of the president, and urged the military personnel, who he said, made the victory possible,  not to relent in their efforts to finally dislodge the group from the country.
    The OPC leader asserted that the congress would continue to partner with security agencies to ensure that the remnants of Boko Haram did not regroup and infiltrate the society.
    He also called on the public to be very vigilant with those coming in and out of their neighbourhoods in order not to give space to the fleeing insurgents. 
  • Repentant Boko Haram terrorists urge others to ‘lay down’ arms

    Repentant Boko Haram terrorists urge others to ‘lay down’ arms

    Some members of Boko Haram  have appealed to their colleagues who are still in the bush to lay down their arms and embrace peace.

    They made the appeal when the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole,  Maj. Gen. Lucy  Irabor at  a media briefing in Maiduguri paraded some repented suspects.

    The insurgents were arrested  in different locations in Borno and Adamawa states. Four of the suspect are from the Mamman Nur Camp while the remaining six are from the Abubakar Shekau’s group.

    One of the members, Joseph David, who said he was named Ibrahim Alhaji after he joined Boko Haram said he regretted ever joining the group, adding that his aspirations were far from what he saw on ground after joining the group.

    Joseph who was paraded along nine others called on his friends not to be afraid that the army will kill them. He added that the mind of his friends have already been poisoned by the teaching of the sect.

    “I am calling on my friends in the bush to come out and live a better life from what they are doing in the bush now. I never knew that what we were told is not true. Some of them are afraid to come out because they think that they will be killed.

    “What the Boko Haram is teaching people is far from religion. Both the Bible and the Quran did not say that if you kill somebody you will go to paradise. It is all lies. Please you people should come out and enjoy a better life in Nigeria. The Army  are taking good care of us. I didn’t known that the army will do this to us. Please come out and stop the killing army will not kill you,” Joseph appealed.

    Amiran Doki, one of the former commanders  who also spoke at the media briefing said they were deceived by Mamman Nur, hence their decision to  surrendered to the Army.

     “I thought Mamman Nur will come and surrender,  but we later discovered that he did not surrender that is when we left. We left the Sambisa forest together with our Commander Mamman Nur. He promised us that he will come and surrender and apologize to Nigeria but will discovered that he didn’t do so, that is why we decided to surrender to the military,” Amiran Doki said.

    .

    Major Gen. Irabor said so far, over 1,400 members of the sect have surrendered to the military.

    He said that 148 of them were male while 445 were famale. 410 were  children male, while 310 were children female,”he said.

  • Army repel Boko Haram attack in Adamawa

    Army repel Boko Haram attack in Adamawa

    Soldiers on Tuesday repelled an early morning attack by fleeing Boko Haram insurgent on Dar village in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa.

    Chairman of Madagali Local Government, Alhaji Yusuf Mohammed, said the attack was contained by the prompt response of security operatives in the areas.

    He lauded the efforts of security agencies and local vigilantes and urged for more support to secure the area.

    Also confirming the development, spokesman of 28 Task-Force Battalion, Mubi, Maj. Akintoye Badare, said the attack was successfully repelled with no casualty on the military side.

    “All I can confirm to you now is that there was an attack on Dar village but we successfully repelled it; no casualty on our side, ” Badare said.

    He said that the situation in the area had since normalised while soldiers remain on full alert.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a twin blast on Dec. 9, 2016, at the Madagali market resulted in the death of many people

  • War against Boko Haram ‘over’

    War against Boko Haram ‘over’

    The military is to intensify its mop-up of the remnants of Boko Haram fighters after calling it a day on the anti-terror war.
    The next chapter will focus on post-conflict repairs of destroyed infrastructure in the Northeast, it said yesterday.
    The military on December 22, last year captured Camp Zairo, Boko Haram’s headquarters inside Sambisa forest, killing several fighters. The survivors “fled in disarray in different directions”, according to Major-General Leo Iraboh, Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole.
    The army has since occupied the major part of Sambisa forest and the former headquarters of Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram.
    In a telephone interview with our correspondent yesterday, Acting Director, Defence Headquarters, Brig.- Gen. Abubakar Rabe described the war against Boko Haram as history. The military will focus on eliminating the remnants of the insurgents in their hideouts, he said.
    The Defence spokesperson said: “The war on Boko Haram insurgency is over, I can assure you of that. We have won the war against the terrorists, but from this year, we will concentrate on post-conflict repairs in the Northeast; that is the next chapter in our history.
    “We will also intensify our mop-up operations against the remnants of the terrorists, we are focusing on eliminating them in their hideouts and we are warning members of the public, especially the communities in the Northeast and other parts, to be wary of fleeing Boko Haram terrorists and report them to security agencies. This is necessary because they are in disarray ,” Gen. Rabe said.
    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has said that Sambisa forest would serve as a training camp for the army. The COAS said the army was already opening up roads to Sambisa and Alagarno forests following the capture of the terrorists stronghold.
    “I have already directed that we should conduct Nigerian Army small arms championship in that forest next year (2017). And we are going to use it also to test fire our fighting vehicles, other key equipment and weapons that require testing whenever we want to induct new weapon and equipment into the Nigerian Army inventory,” Gen. Buratai said.
    But despite the claims of the military of tactical victory over Boko Haram, northern Borno continues to pose a challenge, with the terrorists launching surprise attacks on soldiers and military installations. On December 30, last year, fleeing Boko Haram fighters attacked troops from 3 Battalion and 112 Task Force Battalion stationed in Rann, but the attack was quickly repelled. Many of the insurgents were killed. Four soldiers were injured.
    In Southern Borno especially Chibok Local Government Area, there are still many villages where Boko Haram fighters control and the people have been forced to flee. According to sources, villages surrounding Chibok town, including Kumjalari, Kubrivu, Kaumutayahi, Kakilmari and Kwada, are still being raided by Boko Haram even as the residents have become Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Chibok.
    According to some of the IDPs, Boko Haram fighters are living in Kumkalari, a village about 20 kilometres from Chibok town and harvesting the crops planted by the residents.
    Sunday Garba, a spokesman for the IDPS, said: “When our wives tried to get some food from the farms so that we won’t starve, they were chased away by Boko Haram. The terrorists have harvested our guinea corn and they are right now as we speak harvesting our beans; how do we survive now?”
    The news of the fall of Sambisa was taken with little enthusiasm in Chibok, especially as the nearly 194 still missing schoolgirls were not found in Sambisa where they were believed to have been kept.
    “It is not good news for us because we all believed they were kept in that forest. Have they been moved away to other countries as threatened by the terrorist leader Shekau or where are they exactly?
    “The best thing is that the army should try and occupy the whole of Sambisa so we know for sure that the girls are not there again. Then we can start looking elsewhere for them,” a leader of Chibok said in a telephone interview.
    But Director Army Public Relations, Brig.- Gen. Sani Usman said the army will not rest until all the kidnapped citizens are rescued. “ We are not resting on our oars until all the girls and others who have been kidnapped are rescued. We are asking for the support of all Nigerians and we will not rest until they are reunited with their loved ones,” he said.

  • Is Boko Haram really defeated?

    For many years and months right from the tenure of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, it appeared as if this day will never come.

    A day that the main operating base of the insurgents, Boko Haram, which is the Sambisa Forest in the North East of the country would be run over and overtaken by the Nigerian military.

    The sect looked insurmountable for many years as they carried out their onslaught against innocent Nigerians in the area.

    Sometimes in the past, the sect even ventured out of the North Eastern part of the country and took their evil acts to North Western states, Abuja and the North Central states.

    Apart from sending millions to their early graves, many were maimed while billions of naira worth of properties were also destroyed.

    They held sway in the region and other parts of the country with their guerrilla style of warfare that many Nigerians feared that terrorism might eventually consume the country.

    The war at some point became very difficult  to win by the Nigerian military, which was known for its prowess at several international military operations.

    Before Boko Haram insurgency, the Nigerian military had performed well in foreign operations by helping to quell crises in many countries.

    But the inability of the Nigerian security agencies to win the war against Boko Haram for a long time was attributed to fifth columnists and sabotage in the system.

    Over $15 billion meant for sophisticated weapons and gadgets needed in the fight against the insurgents were said to have been diverted under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    On assumption in office in May, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari wasted no time in seeking international support against Boko Haram.

    Not only did he meet with the G7 in Germany, but he got Nigeria’s neighbouring countries deeply involved in the war against Boko Haram.

    Some Nigerians were however disappointed last year when the administration could not completely end the insurgency by December 2015 after three months deadline were issued to the military.

    By 31st December, 2015, Boko Haram, that was described as technically defeated and decimated, still managed to carry out some soft target attacks in the country in the year 2016.

    A year after, by 22nd December, 2016, the military declared Boko Haram defeated.

    It also sought the assistance of the public towards arresting some terrorists who are on the run from the Sambisa Forest and trying to mingle with the populace in other parts of the country.

    So not a few Nigerians received with joy the good news that the war is over and the Sambisa Forest will henceforth be used as training ground for the Nigerian military.

    Buhari, in a goodwill message to the troops on the 24th of December, 2016, had said: “I am delighted at, and most proud of the gallant troops of the Nigerian Army, on receipt of the long-awaited and most gratifying news of the final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa Forest.

    “I want to use this opportunity to commend the determination, courage and resilience of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole at finally entering and crushing the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents at “Camp Zero”, which is located deep within the heart of Sambisa Forest.

    “I was told by the Chief of Army Staff that the Camp fell at about 1:35pm on Thursday, December 22, and that the terrorists are on the run, and no longer have a place to hide. I urge you to maintain the tempo by pursuing them and bringing them to justice.” He added

    Besides international commendations for the new feat achieved, President Buhari and the military have been hailed by state governors and many other Nigerians.

    But in a twist of events, Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, on Thursday appeared in a new video and disputed the  claim that the sect had been dislodged from the Sambisa Forest.

    It is however the insurgents’ word against the military as such video could be recorded from anywhere outside the Sambisa Forest.

    The video may also mean that the sect has another operating base, especially as the remaining abducted Chibok girls were not found in the Sambisa Forest.

    The reported capturing of the Sambisa Forest and ending the war in the NorthEast is expected to boost investors’ confidence in the country and increase investments in-flow, which will go a long was to address the present economic recession in the country.

    To this end, security agencies and other Nigerians must continue to be on their guards to ensure that Boko Haram stays defeated.

    On no account should Boko Haram or any other terrorists group be allowed to carry out any attack in any part of Nigeria.

     

    Homage

    President Muhammadu Buhari last week Sunday received some members of the Christian community, who paid him Christmas homage at his official residence in the State House, Abuja.

    That was the second time he was receiving such homage under the current dispensation.

    But the Christmas homages appeared to be fast loosing its steam.

    Under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, such homage was always a funfare that many Nigerians always looked forward to.

    The Vice President then, Mohammed Sambo, who was a muslim, never failed to attend and assist Jonathan to receive visitors on such homage.

    The visitors then always lined up for handshakes and snapshots with Jonathan and then Sambo before departing the venue.

    Like under Jonathan, many Christians and Muslims also took part in the first Christmas homage paid to Buhari on the 25th of December, 2015.

    But that crowd appeared to be fast thinning out.

    Few persons turned up for the Chrismas homage last week Sunday.

    For some reasons also, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo could not attend the Christmas homage.