The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • Police ban use of motorcycles in Adamawa

    The Adamawa State Command of the Nigeria Police has banned the use of motorcycles in all the 21 local government areas of the state.

    The command said in a press statement Tuesday morning that the ban was informed by rising crime rate across the state.

    The statement which was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state, SP Othman Abubakar, said, “This has become necessary because of the incessant use of such motorcycles in the commission of heinous crimes such as kidnapping, armed banditry, communal clashes and other criminal activities in the state.”

    The statement added that the police would by the announcement of the ban go all out on aggressive patrol and arrest of defaulters.

    Read Also: Gunmen raid Adamawa villages, kill five

    The ban on motorcycles, it could be recalled, had long been in place but was adhered to mostly in the state capital, Yola, especially in the city centre, while it was largely ignored in the rest of the state.

    A pointer to how motorcycles are used by some people to commit crime in the state was a recent attack on Madagali LGA, in the northern fringe of the state, by Boko Haram insurgents who, witnesses said, rode in on motorcycles, killed some people, and made away with valuable belongings of residents.

    The fresh ban on motorcycles leaves the state with commercial tricycles, otherwise called Keke NAPEP, which are frequently used, especially in the state capital, Yola, by young criminal elements called Shilla Boys to rob, rape and even abduct unsuspecting passengers.

    While the outgoing government under Sen Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow recently expressed a plan to register operators of Keke NAPEP for close monitoring, the incoming government, to be headed by governor-elect Umaru Fintiri, was in the weekend reported to be considering an amnesty programme for members of the gang who would be expected to renounce their membership.

     

  • Five soldiers killed as Boko Haram engage troops in Magumeri

    Five soldiers of Operation Lafiya Dole were killed on Friday in a fierce battle with Boko Haram terrorists during an attack on the military base in Magumeri in Borno State.

    The Nigerian Army said the terrorists attempted to over-run a military base in Magumeri and enter the village to loot food stuffs.

    According to the army, scores of the Boko Haram insurgents were killed by gallant troops while others escaped with gunshot wounds when confronted with the superior fire power of troops.

    The army added that its men are in firm control of the areas while normalcy has returned to Magumeri, Borno state.

    The Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Col. Ezindu Idima, in a statement explained clearance operation is being carried out within the area by vigilant troops to finish up with fleeing members of the insurgents.

    Col Idima said: “Troops of Sector 3 Operation LAFIYA DOLE deployed at Forward Operation Base (FOB) Magumeri, Borno State had a fierce encounter with Boko Haram Terrorists on the 3rd of May 2019.

    “The criminals came in numbers to infiltrate Magumeri village in order to loot food items and other valuables.

    “The indefatigable troops effectively thwarted the terrorists’ plan through superior fire power.

    Read Also: ‘Boko Haram fighters paid $3,000 daily’

    “During the encounter, the gallant troops exterminated scores of the insurgents and many escaped with gunshot wounds.

    “A pursuit/ clearance operation has been sustained to deal with the remaining fleeing criminals.

    “Recall that the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) launched Operation YANCIN TAFKI in February this year, the operation has denied the terrorists freedom of action and access to foodstuffs and other logistics which forced them to resort to looting vulnerable communities and villages for food stuffs and other necessities.

    “However, during the encounter the terrorists suffered heavy losses/ casualty.

    “Unfortunately, five soldiers paid the supreme price. Troops have continued to intensify vigilance and high level of alertness to deny the bandits freedom of action.

    “The Commander Sector 3 Operation LAFIYA DOLE Major General Olufemi Akinjobi has on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff commended the troops for their gallantry, resilience and patriotism.

    “He charged them to maintain the momentum and the successes achieved so far to ensure the final defeat of the terrorists”.

     

  • Kukah worries over Nigeria’s division

    …seeks equity in Nigeria

    The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Saturday expressed concern over the manner that Nigerians voted along regional and ethnic lines in the last general election.

    He wondered if the trend persists, where the capacity for managing the nation’s diversity would come from.

    He said that “We are practicing politics of very poor quality. The politics is so regionalized, factionalized. Whenever I look at the map of the last elections, I don’t feel proud as a Nigerian.

    “That you have an election in which very clearly the country is divided into two and the lines are precise meaning what the north is saying and thinking is different from the south is saying and thinking is different from what the south is saying and thinking. They are not reality they are perception. And if this is the kind of countries have, how do we develop the capacity to manage diversity.”

    He spoke in Abuja during his lecture presentation on Optimizing Public Relations Strategies for National Cohesion”, at the 2019 Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

    According to him, the nation has been so divided that even the appointments of universities Vice Chancellors are based on state of origin and religion.

    He noted that it is now impossible for a southerner to become an Vice Chancellors in regions other than their own.

    The priest urged the Federal Government to interrogate those that Governors that introduced Sharia law in 1999, on the emergence of Boko Haram sect.

    He said the areas of operation of the sect are now contiguous with the areas where the Sharia declarations were made, stressing that to create a much better, just and fair society, hypocrisy has to stop.

    He said that it is now virtually impossible to travel from Sokoto to Zamfara by road because of insecurity in the country.

    The priest recalled that “in 1999, Sharia law was declared in Nigeria, and almost all the 19 northern states  joyfully, exuberantly  adopted Sharia. According to the principles of Sharia, we are supposed to be seeing joy, happiness and equity and so forth. Well, those who brought the Sharia should now tell us and Boko Haram and bandits have now taken over our country.”

    Kukah has in the last few years delivered a lecture on national cohesion, adding that the nation’s current challenges are due to inability to manage its diversity. He said to tackle the issue of diversity, there must be an excellent application of team work management skill.

    According to him, the nation’s quest for national Cohesion remains an illusion because too many issues have not been resolved.

    He noted that Nigeria has no clarity of vision and it is only in the country that people drive vehicles without navigational aids.

    Kukah said that there is no is institution in Nigeria that has not been taken over by quacks, “including our politics. There is no institution you can blame in this country, everywhere.”

    He said that whereas the universities should have been the ones to proffer solutions to national issues in the country, there has been a persistent war between them and the government.

    The academic experts that should brief the president are never engaged to do so.

  • Troops block Boko Haram logistics and food supplies

    The Nigerian Army on Thursday said troops have blocked Boko Haram logistics and food supplies routes and neutralized scores of them during a clearance operation.

    According to spokesman of the Operation Lafiya Dole in the northeast, Col Ado Isa, the method adopted by the troops to restrict the terrorists and their operations to fringes of Lake Chad had become effective.

    Col. Isa said in a statement that the coordinated operations of operation Lafiya Dole and Multinational Joint Task Force had made the terrorists to become desperate in search of food thus their surprised attacks on soft targets.

    Col Isa urged the public to disregards reports on casualties on the side of troops during such attacks, saying such information are from Boko Haram sympathizers.

    Col Isa said: “The recent strategy adopted by the untiring and dogged troops of Operation Lafiya Dole in conducting robust and aggressive fighting patrols coupled with simultaneous clearance operations within the North East has been highly effective.

    “These actions were aimed to complement the efforts of Operation Yancin Tafki by the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) currently ongoing along the borders of the lake chad region.

    “Recently, it has been observed that the few elements of the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) earlier bombarded and chased out of their enclaves were left with depleted number of fighters and supplies.

    “They are presently feeling the colossal storm of the joint operations and are now looking for ways to sneak into town for food supplies, logistics and most importantly weapons.

    “In their desperate and fruitless efforts, they resolved in springing surprise attacks on soft targets, smaller units, including civilian settlement with market advantage within the Theatre.

    Read Also: ‘Boko Haram fighters paid $3,000 daily’

    “It is in this regard, troops of 254 Task Force Battalion at Forward Operation Base (FOB) Kimba while on clearance operation along Sabon Gari in 25 Task Force Brigade Area of Operations – Damboa, came in contact with the terrorists on 27 April, 2019.

    “During the encounter, troops were reinforced and gave the terrorists a lethal fight with only minor casualty on own troops and few damaged equipment. Dozens of the BHTs were decimated and several others escaped with severe gunshot wounds.

    “Normalcy has since returned to the general area while troops dominated all likely escape routes of the terrorists.

    “We therefore call on the general public to disregard the unsubstantiated story circulating in some media outfits and other social media platforms with fake casualty report of own troops and equipment on the encounter with BHTs along Kimba – Sabon Gari – Damboa axis on 27 April 2019.

    “The fake report trending is the handiwork of sympathizers of the BHTs. We also call on the general public to support the fight against insurgency and terrorism by providing credible and timely information to security agencies for swift action.”

  • Breaking: IPOB declares sit-at-home on May 30

    The leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared Thursday May, 30th sit-at-home in states under former Eastern and Middle Belt regions respectively.

    In a statement on Thursday by the spokesman of the group, Emma Powerful, the pro-biafra group said that the essence of the sit-at-home was in commemoration of Biafra fallen heroes.

    The IPOB leadership called on churches, mosques, synagogues and temples in Benue, Kaduna, Adamawa and other crisis areas to throw open their places of worship on the midnight of the 29th of May for special midnight prayers in remembrance of all that died as a result of violence and sponsored killings, adding that special vigil would be held at the homes of select Biafran heroes and heroines who were murdered in cold blood.

    It said: “We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) considers it imperative to use this great opportunity provided by the Most High God to announce the sit at home order throughout Biafra land and Nigeria in remembrance of our fallen heroes and heroines whose sacrifice made it possible for this generation to be alive today.

    “We shall also remember all victims of Fulani herdsmen attacks, Boko Haram violence and those that died at the hands of Nigerian security agencies over the years that nobody remembers.

    “We are calling on all the people of Southern Kaduna, Middle Belt especially Benue, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Kogi, those affected by herdsmen terrorism in Ondo, Osun and other states in Yoruba land to join the great family of IPOB in observing a day of solemn prayer and sit at home to remember those that lost their lives unlawfully at the hands of Fulani terrorist herdsmen and security agencies even during the recently concluded fraudulent 2019 general elections.

    “This year’s remembrance and Sit-At-Home order will be special because it will present a unique moment of shared pains and misery for all the families that lost their loved ones to war, hunger, starvation, disease, terrorism and state sponsored killings going on now in the contraption called Nigeria.

    “We remember the heroic few that stood up against tyranny especially those that sacrificed their lives to defend the defenseless and those that lost their lives because there was no one to defend them.

    “There will be no human, vehicular or animal movement across Biafra land on the 30th May 2019. Biafra land will be in total lock down.

    “Middle Belt and Yoruba land brethren are advised to join this historic sit at home order to honour the memory of all that died unjustly in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Police allegedly kill IPOB member in Delta

    “Churches, Mosques, Synagogues and Temples are encouraged to open their places of worship on the midnight of the 29th of May for special midnight prayers in remembrance of all that died as a result of violence and sponsored killings.

    “Special vigil will be held at the homes of select Biafran heroes and heroines who were murdered in cold blood in Biafra land.

    “30th of May is now an annual remembrance event initiated by IPOB worldwide to honour our fallen Biafran soldiers without whom this generation of Biafrans would not have existed.

    “We owe our heroes and heroines of the class of 67-70 an incalculable debt of gratitude and shall honor them annually until the end of time. We shall never forget them as long as this world exists.

    “In our usual tradition, all IPOB families in the Diaspora must rally on the streets of their respective countries with written petitions ready to be submitted to the nearest United Nation offices and embassies of foreign missions in that country.”

     

  • Army blasts Presidential committee member on northeast over ‘false’ claim

    The Nigerian Army on Wednesday lambasted a member of the Presidential Committee on the Northeast for saying that the Boko Haram terrorists earn more than soldiers.

    The army asserted the claim of Dr Sidi Ali Mohammed was not only false but highly irresponsible.

    A statement signed by Army spokesman Col. Sagir Musa said the statement by Dr Mohammed was meant to demoralise troops performing their constitutional duties to secure the country.

    Col. Musa said the army authority would do the needful by reporting Mohammed to appropriate higher authorities.

    Col. Musa said: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a publication on Sahara Reporters and other social media platforms, to a false claim credited to one Doctor Sidi Ali Mohammed, a member of the Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative.

    “In it, he alleged that the criminal terrorist group members earn as much as $3,000 daily, as against the Nigerian soldier who is paid N1, 000 only.

    “This is not true, pure lie and highly irresponsible comment coming from a supposedly knowledgeable person of his calibre.

    “It is also criminal and preposterous to compare the gallant soldiers of our Armed Forces with the rag tag terrorists’ criminal gang.

    Read Also: Army confirms killing 4 bandits in Zamfara

    “Indeed there is no such basis at all between the outlawed criminal terrorist who commits crime against humanity and our highly patriotic, courageous and brave soldiers whose sacrifice cannot be quantified.

    “Over time, we have been alerting the world that the menace of Boko Haram terrorism is being aided and abetted by sympathisers’ such as Dr Sidi Ali Mohammed.

    “He must have been associated with the terrorists’ group beyond what he may want the public to know for having the knowledge of how much a terrorist earns per day to commit atrocities against fellow Nigerians and other innocent people including women and children.

    “His statement could be part of the deliberate attempt to demoralise the patriotic soldiers serving their fatherland so that the terrorists will take advantage of it.

    ‘’It is also a way of swaying the gullible youths to believe the lies of Boko Haram terrorists as being peddled by him.

    “Therefore, we are calling on all Nigerians to discountenance the statement credited to Doctor Sidi Ali Mohammed while we take necessary steps to formally report him to the appropriate authorities to further substantiate these unfounded allegations.

    “We would like to assure the public that the Nigerian Army would remain resolute and focused in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in our great nation and no amount of distraction or terrorists’ propaganda will dissuade it.”

  • Boko Haram invades Adamawa village, kills 26

    Twenty-six people have been feared killed and several others critically injured following a Boko Haram attack on a village in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

    Our correspondent gathered on Tuesday that the insurgents, riding motorcycles, stormed the Kudakaya village in large numbers around 7pm on Monday.

    A local vigilante member said, “Many victims fell to the attack. I saw corpses of 26 people and there are several others that were critically injured and taken to hospital.”

    A former chairman of the Madagali LGA, Abawu Ularamu, supported the anonymous vigilante member’s account, and added, “They (Boko Haram) burnt several shops and many homes. They also stole food items. As I am talking to you now, we are living in an atmosphere of despair and agony for this attack. Over 20 people were killed while many were injured and rushed to hospital.”

    Read Also: Air Force strikes Boko Haram in Sambisa forest

    He said the insurgents must have arrived the community from Sambisa, a forest in neighboring Borno State dreaded for being a hideout for Boko Haram despite its supposedly having been cleared of the insurgents by soldiers.

    ‘’There is no doubt the attackers came from Sambisa. We experience such periodic attacks from Boko Haram, who usually look for food. They are not far from us. Any slight opportunity, they may strike again,” he said.

    The Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Othman Abubakar, confirmed the attack. “Yes, I was briefed that members of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents have attacked the village.”

    Othman however could not confirm the casualty figure. He merely said, “I am yet to get the casualty figure but security operatives were deployed and are on the top of the situation.’’

    Madagali has since just before the March/April elections been frequently attacked by Boko Haram. It shares the bad luck of being haunted by the insurgents with nearby Michika LGA. Together, they are the two LGAs in Adamawa State that have been attacked by Boko Haram a number of times in the last couple of months.

  • ‘Boko Haram fighters paid $3,000 daily’

    A member of the Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative (PCNI) Dr. Sidi Ali Mohammed has disclosed Boko Haram fighters were being paid $3,000 daily.

    He made this disclosure at the Presentation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Sub-Sahara Africa’s Economic Outlook Report, in Abuja on Monday.

    According to him, the payment dwarfs the N1, 000 daily allowance paid to Nigerian troops at the war front.

    Mohammed, who is the Head of the Humanitarian Assistance and Rehabilitation arm of the PCNI, lamented that Boko Haram has been hijacked and operates like a cartel.

    “I will give you an example. The Nigerian military for example, gets N1, 000 per day for being in the North East, at the war front, as an allowance.

    Read also: Air Force strikes Boko Haram in Sambisa forest

    “The same North East, where if you are a member of Boko Haram you get $3,000 per day as allowance.  So it is lucrative.

    “Sometimes they even give you money upfront.  So we must do something about the youths from where they are recruiting.”

    On how to tackle the insurgency, he said: “If it is amnesty that will guarantee that peace, then we have to think of it.

    “Most importantly, we need to deplete the army of youths on the streets and take them away from the streets so that Boko Haram does not recruit them.

    “Don’t forget, they (Boko Haram members) are being killed on daily basis but they are also recruiting on daily basis.  They are getting people to recruit because it is lucrative.”

    He went on: “Part of the reason why this problem has refused to go away is the abundant natural resources in the Lake Chad Region. We need to think outside the box.  It is now more like a cartel.

    “When you see the type of weapons they use, it is more sophisticated than the type of weapons that our military are using.”

    He further stated the BoKo Haram menace “is like a guerilla warfare. As we are here discussing, if somebody here is a member of Boko Haram, he will not say anything.

    “He goes out there to strategise and comes back.  It, therefore, means the conventional ways of fighting warfare cannot work here.  It, therefore, calls for thinking outside of the box.”

  • We need N1bn to produce war vehicles, says Buratai

    The Nigerian Army is sourcing for N1billion to boost capacity of its vehicle manufacturing company to produce more combat vehicles to counter terrorists and other insurgents, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has said.

    Nigeria has recently been bedeviled by different forms of insurgencies; Boko Haram, kidnapping, armed banditry, armed robbery and cattle rustling. But demonstration of locally made bullet proof ballistic vest, NA Armoured Light Tactical Vehicle and mine sweeper produced by the Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company (NAVMC) showed that the military will soon be better equipped to stem the challenge.

    Addressing the closing ceremony of the Nigerian Army Combat Arms Training Week on Saturday at the shooting range of Nigerian Army Infantry Corp, Jaji, Buratai noted that Nigerian Army new inventions and acquisitions are force multipliers, hence the fund will improve the equipping and capacity of the Army.

    “The innovations by the Nigerian Army in the areas of equipment production, localizing and bringing back vehicles and equipment that are hitherto abandoned, is another major achievement that we recorded.

    “You have been promised by the group managing director of NAVMC that in the next three to four months, we should have brand new vehicles originally produced by the Nigerian Army for use in the Army and the general public that may find it useful, especially the paramilitary agencies. This we believe will transform the Nigerian Army and Nigerian industrial companies, when we start mass production.

    Read Also: Terrorism, a complex war – Buratai

    “We are already sourcing for the sum of N1billion to support the Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company. We a have a number of investments in the Army that have been generating huge amount of money and we will take a loan from there to support Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company to realize our dream of producing indigenous armoured fighting vehicles and to continue to maintain our existing equipment.

    “Military equipment are never obsolete, with maintenance culture of the military globally,  vehicles and equipment of the Second World War are still useful in other parts of the world. The firepower demonstration today is the last activity of the combined Combat Arms Training Week (CATWEEK) and the Chief of Army Staff 1st Quarter Conference.

    “This Conference has brought us together to assess what we have so far achieved in the the first quarter of 2019,” the COAS added.

    The Acting Governor of Kaduna state, Arch. Barnabas Bala Bantex commended the military and the police on their efforts to ensure peace in the state. ‘The Nigerian Army and Police have helped to keep Nigeria and Kaduna safe. They have helped in combating terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity.”

    Bantex, who admitted to enjoying the show of force and display of prototype vehicles and fire power, added that with what he saw, “the Nigerian Army is in better position and capable of containing all forms of threat both from within and outside our territory.”

     

  • Air Force strikes Boko Haram in Sambisa forest

    The Nigerian Air Force on Thursday said that scores of Boko Haram terrorists have been neutralized in Sambisa forest as it conducted air strikes on the terrorists’ workshop.

    Its spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that two vehicles and some equipment belonging to the terrorists were destroyed in the attack.

    Daramola said: “The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed some vehicles and neutralized some Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) at a suspected vehicle workshop in Sambisa Forest, Borno State.

    “The operation was conducted on Wednesday, 24 April 2019, after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform on a routine mission observed significant activities as well as some serviceable vehicles hidden under some trees at a previously abandoned BHT vehicle workshop.

    Read Also: Air Force strikes bandits in Zamfara

    “Accordingly, the ATF scrambled an Alpha Jet to attack the location.

    “Overhead the target area, some of the BHT fighters were seen attempting to flee the location but were taken out by the Alpha Jet’s successful strikes, which also caused the destruction of 2 vehicles and other equipment at the workshop.

    “The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its operations to completely degrade the terrorists in the Northeast.  “