The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • Troops clear escaping Boko Haram terrorists

    Nigerian Troops of 21 Brigade Bama, under the 7 Division area of operational responsibility, in a blocking position, have at the early hours of Friday, cleared escaping Boko Haram terrorists that came through Sabsawa axis of Sambisa forest.

    The troops also recovered a Toyota Hilux, 2 AK-47 rifles with registration numbers 58006915 and KO 35839, as well as 37 rounds of 12.7mm metal linked ammunition.

    Unfortunately, one officer sustained injury during the encounter, but he is however in a stable condition.

  • Boko Haram: ‘Why govt must create development commission’

    Boko Haram: ‘Why govt must create development commission’

    The Federal Government has been urged to create an agency that will address the human and infrastructure disaster created in the Northeast by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Buba Yakub (APC, Adamawa) said seven years of devastation by the insurgents cannot be rebuilt through annual state budget.

    He said the most effective solution to the problem is a deliberate programme of the Federal Government, complemented by the individual states.

    Yakub said an agency, in the same mould as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), would be the most appropriate to address the human and infrastructure problems facing the region.

    He said: “What we have seen in the Northeast for sometime now are not mere cases by just a group that is out to cause ordinary havoc by killing and maiming the people.

    “It is certainly beyond that. If we recall correctly, a few months ago, the Boko Haram insurgents did not only express their desire for territorial ambition by killing our people, but they went ahead to take over our towns, villages and even local governments.

    “The result is such that the whole place was littered with children without parents and, in some cases, women without husbands. Now, thanks to the efforts of our troops and the new administration, just like the President said a few days ago, the Boko Haram is no longer such a threat to us.

    “We must now be poised to rebuild the Northeast. So, just like the Niger Delta case where a Ministry of Niger Delta had to be created to run alongside another interventionist arm, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); government ought to do something holistic to address the case of the Northeast.”

  • Boko Haram: Turkey pledges support to Nigeria

    Boko Haram: Turkey pledges support to Nigeria

    Turkish President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday assured Nigeria of its support in the fight against terrorist, Boko Haram.

    He gave the assurance at a joint press conference after holding bilateral talks with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Stressing that his country and Nigeria suffer the same constant threats of terrorists’ attacks, Erdogan said that it is better for the two countries to collaborate to defeat the menace.

    The Turkish President, who spoke through an interpreter, noted that more Muslims have died in the terrorists’ attacks in Turkey and Nigeria and that people should not try to associate terrorism with any tribe or group as it would only serve to “assist the terrorists”.

    He harped on the need for collaborative efforts in the anti-terror war as he condoled with Nigerians on the death of thousands of citizens resulting from Boko Haram attacks.

    According to him, he would not allow any group in Turkey with peculiar interests dictate the pace or direction of his government’s efforts ‎to tackle terrorism.

    Arriving Nigeria with 150 Turkish businessmen, he ‎said that Nigerian and Turkish entrepreneurs should mutually invest across the two countries which have a combined population of 260 million and the volume of trade between the two countries standing at $1.1billion.

    He said: “Our total trade volume is currently at $1,145billion our export is $314million and our import is $831million. As you see the result is to the favour of Nigeria.

    “I believe that if the two countries combine forces making use of our own respective resources we would be able to come up with even better outcomes.

    “I want to call on Nigerian business people to also make investment in Turkey. We are ready to expand all the sectors that we can to them, particularly Turkish construction contracting companies which rank second in the world.

    “We are ready to share our experiences particularly in the area of irrigation and agriculture.‎” he said

    President Buhari thanked Turkey for training the Nigerian police and giving Nigeria quality equipment.

    He said that his government and Nigeria would not be demoralized by the activities of Boko Haram.

    Buhari also commiserated with Turkey on the deaths and carnage perpetrated by terrorists in that country, stressing that if far developed countries could be struck by terrorists, it showed how vulnerable less developed countries are.

    According to him, delegations of both countries just signed memoranda of understanding on trade and economic cooperation and industrial cooperation, while others will still be signed on energy and security.

    Buhari accepted Erdogan’s invitation to embark on a state visit to Turkey as soon as possible.

  • Army inducts combat motorbike battalion into fight against Boko Haram

    Army inducts combat motorbike battalion into fight against Boko Haram

    The Army has inducted a combat motorbike battalion at the Headquarters of 25 Task Force Brigade, Damboa, Borno State.

    It also launched the second set of 100 wanted suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, while inducting the unit stated that the essence of the battalion is to open and secure motorways from various towns to and fro Maiduguri and other parts of Yobe State.

    Prior to the induction and launching ceremony, the Chief of Army Staff addressed troops located at Delwa and Bulabulin before arriving Damboa where he inspected a Quarter guard at the Brigade’s headquarters.

    Thereafter, he was briefed by the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Lawrence Adeleke Araba, who showed him some weapons, vehicles and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) making machines and equipment the formation recovered when they cleared Boko Haram terrorists camps at Talala and Ajingin.

    The Commander, 7 Division Garrison, Colonel Solomon Babatunde Kumapayi, also showed the COAS vehicles, weapons and Improvised Explosives Making Devices (IEDs) his formation recovered from the terrorists at Kotokuma on Friday.

    Inducting the combat motorbike unit, the Chief of Army Staff said the battalion will serve as a force multiplier in the clearance operations of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists. He said with the induction of the unit, troops presence will be available along the roads thus keeping the roads open and safe.

    Secretary of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Borno State, Alhaji Ahmadu Musa, showered encomiums on the COAS and the Army for their sacrifice and the initiative that would enhance safety and security on the roads. He promised the continuous support of his organisation to the Army towards the mopping up of the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists. He further assured the COAS that they will display and distribute the banner containing the photographs  of the wanted suspected Boko Haram terrorists to all their branches and other chapters.

    The COAS also visited 254 Task Force Battalion, Sabon Gari located along Damboa-Biu road where addressed the troops.

  • Boko Haram: Nigeria, Cameroun troops free trainee suicide bombers

    Boko Haram: Nigeria, Cameroun troops free trainee suicide bombers

    Nigerian and Cameroonian forces have freed several hundred hostages including young girls who were being trained as suicide bombers in a border town held by the terror sect Boko Haram, the commander of Cameroonian forces said yesterday.

    Soldiers from the two countries also killed about 100 militants while liberating of Kumshe, Gen. Jacob Kodji told The Associated Press. The town is 15 kilometers from the border with Cameroon.

    “Our boys are still on the field with Nigerian soldiers and have received instructions to continue raids on all Boko Haram border villages until we defeat them,” the general said.

    Boko Haram began its insurgency six years ago in Nigeria, and has since expanded to the countries of Cameroon, Niger and Chad as those neighbors have aided the military effort to quash the extremists.

    The jihadist group, which has pledged its loyalty to the Islamic State group, has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced 2.8 million in West Africa, according to the United Nations and Amnesty International.

     

  • 92 Boko Haram members killed in Cameroon

    Cameroon’s army killed 92 members of Boko Haram sect and freed 850 villagers in a joint operation with Nigerian forces, the government of the Central African nation said on Friday.

    The operation in the Nigerian village of Kumshe, close to the border with Cameroon, was conducted under the auspices of a multinational force fighting Boko Haram, a statement from Communications Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, said.

    “Two Cameroonian soldiers were killed (during the operation) by an accidental mine explosion. Five other soldiers were wounded,” Reuters quoted Bakary as saying in the statement.

    He added that the army captured weapons and ammunition and found a centre for production of homemade mines.

    There was no immediate comment from Nigeria or independent confirmation of the operation or toll, Reuters added.

  • Boko Haram: U.S. plans to send advisers to front lines of war

    The US military assistance to Nigeria in the fight against the terror sect, Boko Haram, is receiving a boost following the Pentagon’s mulling of a plan to send dozens of Special Operations advisers to the front lines of the war fight against the insurgents.

    The New York Times, quoting military sources, said the planned deployment “is a main recommendation of a recent confidential assessment by the top United States Special Operations commander for Africa, Brig. Gen. Donald C. Bolduc.”

    “If it is approved, as expected, by the Defense and State Departments, the Americans would serve only in noncombat advisory roles,” the paper said.

    It will be the closest the Americans would be to the battle now being waged by Nigerian troops supported by soldiers from Niger, Chad and Cameroon against the insurgents in the Northeast.

    President Obama currently relies heavily on Special Operations forces to train and advise local troops fighting the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, and to carry out clandestine counterterrorism missions.

    About 50 American commandos are said to be advising fighters battling the Islamic State in eastern Syria while dozens of others in a new, secret kill-or-capture unit are hunting Islamic State militants in Iraq.

    Besides, the Pentagon has offered to send American advisers with Iraqi brigades on the battlefield instead of restricting them to bases inside Iraq. Dozens of American commandos are conducting surveillance missions in Libya and counterterrorism missions in Somalia.

    The NYT quoted Jennifer G. Cooke, Africa director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, who visited Nigeria last month as saying: “Rather than entangle U.S. combat forces on the ground, help build the capacity of regional forces to tackle their countries’ security challenges.

    “Training and advising and perhaps imparting the lessons we learned the hard way is a good thing,” he said.

    President Muhammadu Buhari has embraced American assistance, ending several years of tense relations that sank to new lows in 2014 when the United States blocked the sale of American-made Cobra attack helicopters to Nigeria from Israel, amid concerns about Nigeria’s protection of civilians when conducting military operations.

    Groups like Human Rights Watch alleged that the Nigerian military has at times burned hundreds of homes and committed other abuses as it battled Boko Haram and its presumed supporters.

    In December 2014, Nigeria canceled the last stage of American training of a new Nigerian Army battalion that was to take the lead in fighting terrorists.

    The suspended training is however about to resume with Nigeria providing the ammunition according to Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the State Department’s top diplomat for Africa.

  • Boko Haram: Troops rescue 1,890 hostages

    Boko Haram: Troops rescue 1,890 hostages

    The Nigerian Army said on Friday that 1,890 Boko Haram hostages, including women and children, were rescued in the last two weeks by troops fighting insurgency in the North East Zone.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman.

    He said the hostages were rescued in different locations in Borno following massive mop up operations conducted by different units in the state.

    According to the statement, some of those rescued include 800 Nigerians who had initially crossed to Cameroon but were brought back to Banki town in Nigeria by troops of the 21 Brigade on Thursday.

    The statement said: “Troops of 121 Task Force conducted joint patrols with Cameroonian forces at Mararraba, Angwan Fada, Dale and Wizha Bokko Timit, Bokko Nasanu and Bokko Hidde up to Ngoshe in which they rescued 17 women and 28 children.

    “Similarly, troops of 7 Division Garrison carried out joint operations with 112 Battalion, Army Headquarters Support Group and Armed Forces Special Forces at Gajibo, Maula, Gamai, Gamare.

    “Maiwa, Warsale, Tangli, Tushi, Sowa, Hasanari, Changuwa, Malamaja, and Marya in Dikwa and Mafa Local Government areas and rescued 350 people, including five Cameroonian girls.

    “In a similar operation, troops of 7 Division Garrison in conjunction with troops of 112 Task Force Battalion, and Armed Forces Special Forces on Feb. 17, conducted clearance operations at Kwaptara, Mijigete, Garin Boka, Mosole, Ngubdori, Ma’asa, Dukje and Gulumba in Dikwa and Bama Local Government Areas in which they rescued 195 hostages.”

    Usman said on Feb. 23, troops of 21 Brigade in conjunction with troops of MNJTF on clearance operations at Kumshe general area rescued 250 persons, mainly women and children.

    He said troops of 7 Division rescued 150 persons at Kodo on the same day.

    Usman added that troops of the 25 Task Force Brigade in clearance operations on Thursday at Galmasku, Muli, Chiralia, Maisani, Talala, Ajigin, Shetimalau, 1 and 2 and Dalomi also rescued 250 civilians held hostage.

  • Scores of Boko Haram fighters killed

    Scores of Boko Haram fighters killed

    No fewer than 23 Boko Haram insurgents were killed and more than 150 Nigerian hostages freed, after joint attacks against the sect’s fighters by Nigerian and Cameroonian troops in a border town.

    The Nigerian town of Kumshe,15 kilometres from Cameroon’s border, “which has been under the control of the sect for 18 months”, was taken by the Multinational Joint Taskforce, spokesman of the Cameroonian army Didier Badjeck, said in an interview yesterday in Yaounde.

    According to him, the raids occurred in northeastern Nigeria between Monday and Wednesday.

     Also yesterday, the Army repelled an attempt by the sect to retake Dikwa, a Borno State town.

    Army acting Director of Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said the terrorists intended to cause havoc at the IDPs camp in Dikwa.

    According to him, unknown to the fleeing Boko Haram terrorists, the Armed Forces Special Forces in blocking positions; decisively dealt with the terrorists; killing many of them and recovered vehicle, arms and ammunition.

    “Unfortunately, we lost a soldier and a member of the local vigilante (Civilian JTF) during the encounter while three soldiers and four IDPs sustained injuries.

    “A military vehicle was damaged by a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) suicide bomber,” he said.

    He added that the troops “recovered 26 bodies of the Boko Haram terrorists, destroyed three VIED, one MBIED and two Gun trucks.

    “The gallant troops recovered one gun truck mounted with an Anti-Aircraft Gun, one Dushka Anti-Aircraft Gun, one Browning Anti-Aircraft Gun, one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Tube. Others include one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), four AK 47 rifles, three RPG bombs, 36 hand grenades, one Smoke Grenade and eight AK-47 rifles magazines.

    The troops also recovered 236 rounds of 12.7mm ammunitions, 396 rounds of 7.62mm ammunitions and 101 rounds of 762mm (Special), ammunition.”

    Col. Usman said the casualties were evacuated while the troops remained in pursuit of the terrorists that escaped with gunshot wounds.

    “It is encouraging to note that despite the loss of a colleague and the vigilante, the troops have maintained domineering presence in the general area and poised to continue to clear the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists.”

  • Liberia to collaborate with Nigeria on Boko Haram

    Liberia Minister of Defence, Browney Samukai, has promised his country`s readiness to collaborate with Nigeria to counter insurgency in West Africa.

    The minister, who spoke in Abuja on Tuesday when he visited his Nigerian counterpart, Mohammed Dan-Ali, in Abuja, said they are ready to partner with Nigeria in fighting insurgents in the northeast.

    He said, “In whatever way Liberia can help from the military side, we are more than glad to partner with you in that regards.”

    “It is our hope that our discussions will go further to broaden peace within the region and to join the people of Nigeria in supporting your efforts against terrorism and extremism.”

    Samukai also noted the importance of maintaining bilateral relations despite the winding down of an eight -year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Liberia and Nigeria on rebuilding the Liberian Armed Forces this June.

    He added: “It is important that we continue our bilateral discussions within the context of the draw down so that our two countries strategic interest can continue to be maintained and to also appreciate the intent of the MoU we have signed some years ago.”

    Dan Alli promised government’s support to ensure peace in Liberia, noting that government is also working on updating the MoU with Liberia.