The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • Suicide bombers kill six at Cameroon funeral

    Two suicide bombers killed six people at a funeral gathering in northern Cameroon on Wednesday.

    At least 30 others were injured in the incident, officials in the region told Reuters.

    The officials said the attackers were Boko Haram members, the group based in neighbouring Nigeria that has stepped up cross-border attacks in Cameroon’s far north despite the setting up of a roughly 9,500-strong regional military task force.

    One of the officials said the attack in Nguetchewe, about 10 km (6 miles) east of the Nigerian border, is the first known Boko Haram strike at a funeral gathering in Cameroon.

     

  • Suicide attacks kill 60 in IDP camp

    A twin suicide attack has killed more than 60 people at the camp of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Northeastern Nigeria.

    According to reports, the attack occurred at a location close to Borno State late on Tuesday, leaving many injured.

  • Boko Haram: Australia donates $3m to support IDPs

    Boko Haram: Australia donates $3m to support IDPs

    The Australian High Commission says the Australian Government has allocated three million U.S. dollar (about N600 million) for the year 2015 to 2016 to assist Nigeria Internally Displaced Persons in the North East due to Boko Haram insurgency.

    A statement from Hope Ayabina, Public Affairs Officer of the Australian High Commission in Abuja, said the money would go towards assisting people affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    The statement said that the government had continued to contribute substantially towards the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to help fight world hunger.

    “To address a number of large-scale humanitarian crises facing the international community, the government had continued to contribute substantially towards the UN World Food Programme to help fight world hunger.

    “The WFP allocated US $3 million of Australian contributions to its Nigeria Regional appeal in 2015-16.

    “This money will go towards assisting people in Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    “Australia’s contribution to the WFP is being used in all four countries to assist up to 400,000 of the region’s refugees, Internally Displaced Persons and the communities hosting them to gain access to life-saving food assistance,” the statement said.

    According to the statement, special attention is being paid to children under five, pregnant women and nursing mothers faced with malnutrition.

    It said the High Commission in Abuja also supported larger multilateral efforts through its Direct Aid Programme (DAP).

    “Over the past two years, the High Commission has provided special assistance to persons affected by the Boko Haram insurgency through a number of DAP projects.

    “This is aimed at improving the standard of living in camps and host communities across the region,” the statement added.

    It stated that an additional 2.4 million U.S. dollar was dedicated to existing projects to combat malnutrition in Niger during the same period.

    It explained that Australia’s total global contribution to UN agency for food assistance in emergencies for 2015-2016 was 43.3 million U.S. dollar.

    It said WFP worked to help prevent hunger and build resilience through programmes that used food as a means to build assets and promote economic growth in communities, helping them to become more food secure.

  • No council is under Boko Haram, says Shettima

    No council is under Boko Haram, says Shettima

    Borno State government has denied reports that Boko Haram is still in control of local governments in the state.

    Governor Kashim Shettima, who reacted yesterday to last weekend’s claims of Senator Bashir Garbai that the insurgents were still in control of more than half of the state, told reporters that the reality on ground did not portray the true words of the lawmaker.

    He said: ”To me, it is unbelievable that such a statement could have emanated from Senator Garbai. I can’t believe he said that because as a senator, he has access to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the IGP and the Presidency and he is not the type that even speaks to the media easily. This is why I am at a loss.

    “I have not got in touch with him yet to get his side, to hear from him what he actually said. But for now, I suspect he must have been misquoted or if he wasn’t misquoted, he must have spoken based on emotional outburst and not anchored on reality.

    “We cannot mix two things. There is a difference between Boko Haram insurgents seizing and occupying territories and Boko Haram attacking communities, these are two different things. In the past, Boko Haram used to come in commando style to attack, seize, occupy communities and hold residents hostage and administer territories, that is occupation. We no longer have that in Borno.

    “None of the 27 local governments is occupied by Boko Haram. They have been liberated. What we have are challenges still being posed by Boko Haram to show their presence and these attacks are done from the position of weakness and not strength.

    “In the past, they moved with audacity and arrogance, now they move with fear just as armed robbers do in other parts of Nigeria. Our military personnel have done well under the Buhari administration and I think we can only hail them and not vilify them.

    “Buhari has shown uncommon and absolute commitment to ending this insurgency. Two indigenes of Borno, the Chief of Army Staff and the National Security Adviser, are leading this fight and this goes to show the sincerity of the President. It was under Buhari that Bama, Mafa, Gwoza, Dikwa, Ngala and a host of others were liberated.

    ”As we speak, we are rebuilding communities, we couldn’t have started if the situation wasn’t different from what Buhari inherited from the PDP-led Presidency. Since the end of slavery and colonialism, no evil had befallen the black man worse than the emergence of the PDP as the ruling party in Nigeria and we can confirm this from the manner the PDP handled funds meant for procurement of arms to equip the military and protect our citizens in the Northeast.

    “Buhari cannot clean up the PDP mess in seven months; it has to be patient driven on our part as citizens. Buhari has shown us love and empathy. Since he came, virtually every minister has come to Borno with an agenda to heal our wounds; we can only support the President.

    “Then, leadership goes beyond talking without exhausting options, especially when dealing with an administration that is accessible to you to seek whatever clarifications you may need. There are privileges you enjoy that deny you certain rights and there are certain rights that deny you certain privileges.’’

     

     

     

    “As a lawmaker, Senator Garbai has access to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the IGP and even the Presidency; all these accesses are privileges one can use to seek clarification. The Senator is not the type that even speaks to the media easily, so this is why I am still wondering what has been credited to him. In the past we had a Presidency that shut its door to us.

    “As a governor I was even listened to as it should have been and I have complete access to President Buhari, if there are issues I discuss directly with the President and I can assure you that with Buhari there is no deception, the Buhari I have been relating with would have been the first to open up if Boko Haram was still occupying territories in Borno, he is sincere and accountable to Nigerians.

    “As the chief security officer of Borno State, I am telling you authoritatively that our military is in full charge. But as I said, there are challenges and this is to be expected when dealing with insurgency. In 2008, less than 10 terrorists held Mumbai, a city of 20 million people for four days. Two terrorists can chase a community. The Boko Haram insurgents are now in bits but they attack small communities to cause havoc and this is taken very seriously. They are actually running away from their hideouts where they are facing the fire of the military. We shouldn’t glorify them by giving them oxygen, which is publicity. Publicity is the oxygen of terrorists, we must strive to deny them that so that collectively, we shall celebrate in the soonest of time.”

  • No Borno LGA is under Boko Haram control – Shettima

    No Borno LGA is under Boko Haram control – Shettima

    Borno State government on Monday denied reports that some local council areas in the state are still under Boko Haram control.

    Governor Kashim Shettima, who reacted to weekend’s claims by a senator that the insurgents are still in control of more than half of the state, told reporters  to dismiss the lawmaker’s claim.

    He said, “To me, it is unbelievable that such a statement could have emanated from Senator Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai. I can’t believe he said that because as a Senator, he has access to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the IGP and even the Presidency and he is not the type that even speaks to the media easily. So this is why I am at a lost.

    “I have not been able to get in touch with him yet to get his own side, to hear from him what he actually said. But for now, I suspect he must have been misquoted or if he wasn’t misquoted, he must have spoken based on emotional outburst ‎and not anchored on ground realities.”

     

     

  • DHQ: Sambisa is last battle ground with Boko Haram

    DHQ: Sambisa is last battle ground with Boko Haram

    Military dismisses senator’s claim on sect’s control of Borno

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday said Boko Haram has been knocked down in Borno and other parts of the Northeast.

    It said the only battle ground left is in the Sambisa Forest, the about 80 kilometres swathe of thick bush that is the sect’s stronghold.

    It said once the battle for Sambisa is over, Boko Haram will become a thing of the past.

    But the DHQ pleaded for support from every citizen because it is a Nigerian war against Boko Haram insurgents.

    Director of Defence Information Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar spoke exclusively with our correspondent against the backdrop of the allegation by Senator Baba Kaka Garbai (Borno Central) that half of Borno State is still being occupied by Boko Haram.

    Gen. Abubakar said: “The situation is clear on how much we have decimated Boko Haram. Technically, we have knocked down these insurgents.

    “ The insurgents have been beaten and I stand by what I said. I can beat my chest that the insurgents have been decimated.

    “All these attacks on soft targets do not mean that Boko Haram insurgents are occupying any territory. They are carrying out these attacks in order to remain relevant. The insurgents are pretending to be alive when in reality they have lost out.

    “The attacks on soft targets by the insurgents do not translate to occupation of territories or some parts of Borno State or the North-East.

    “The insurgents’ attacks on soft targets are not peculiar to Nigeria. These terrorists do so in the U.S. France, Britain, and many countries. We are doing our best to protect these soft targets.”

    Gen. Abubakar said: “What is left is Sambisa Forest. That is the last battle ground with the insurgents.

    “ This Forest is about 80kilometres but I believe very soon, we will overrun the Forest and rout out the insurgents. We will certainly send them packing from the Sambisa Forest.”

    “For anyone to make a claim that half of Borno State is under the insurgents is not helping the military. It is just to get media attention. We have decimated Boko Haram. This is the reality.

    “We want to appeal to Nigerians to appreciate and support our gallant troops to maintain the high rate of success we have achieved in the war against the insurgents.

    “This is a Nigerian war versus the insurgents. Boko Haram is a national catastrophe which requires the support of all to address. Every Nigerian must be seen to be contributing morally to the war against these insurgents. “

  • Senators disagree on Boko Haram’s strength in Borno State

    Borno senator yesterday said Boko Haram controls about 50 per cent of Borno State contrary to the claims by the Federal Government that the sect has been degraded, weakened and unable to launch attacks.

    Senator Baba Kaka Garbai (Borno Central) spoke to reporters at the weekend during a visit to Dalori village where 65 persons were reported killed last week by the insurgents.

    But Senate Leader Ali Ndume (Borno South) disagree with him.

    According to Garbai, the military and Boko Haram have full control of three local governments in Borno State and share control in the remaining 21 local government areas.

    Garbai, who was in Dalori to donate cash and material, to the people said: “I feel highly demoralised, devastated in the sense that this is the village we visited during the election and they were going about their normal business.

    “They actually got the signal a few days before the attack that the insurgents were likely to attack them, they reported to the constituted authorities but nothing was done. I will like to appeal to the military to intensify their effort in ensuring they beef up security around the villages and communities that share borders with Maiduguri metropolis. It is very important and more so that this place is porous, there could be attacked from any direction.”

    He added:  “It is a wrong assumption that most of the local governments in Borno are recaptured from the Boko Haram. In reality this is not true. Apart from Maiduguri Metropolis, Bayo and Kwaya Kusar, these are the three local government areas under full control of the government where the military and police are maintaining law and order.

    “Mobbar, Abadam and Kala Balge are 100 per cent occupied by the insurgents. There are some local governments that are partially occupied by the insurgents especially as the local government secretariats have been liberated but their hither lands are still controlled by the insurgents.”

    He said Konduga was liberated but still has many communities in the local government area under the insurgents.

    “Though Gwoza town has been liberated, there are six wards in Gwoza local government area still occupied by the insurgents.

    He advised: “We should not live under the illusion that Boko Haram are decimated or weakened, these are not reality and neither a true reflection of the reality. The reality is that most of the local government areas in Borno are partially occupied by Boko Haram.”

    He said it is not adviseable to begin reconstruction, rehabilitation and relocation in the troubled areas for now.

    He said: “If the people are moved back to their homelands you are making them vulnerable to attack. Unless you provide maximum security and return of law and order in these areas, relocating these people would be endangering their lives.”

    But Senate Leader Ndume  said a lot has been achieved in the battle against insurgency.

    He also said it was not out of place to begin the reconstruction, rehabilitation and relocation of the destroyed communities.

    He told reporters in Maiduguri yesterday: “I still have confidence in our military; I still want to believe that our military is on top of the situation. What is happening these days is the issue of intermittent suicide bombings and desperate attacks by the insurgents because their supply routes have been cut off and they attack in other to get supplies. They have been carting away foodstuffs in attacked communities.”

    He said the reconstruction and relocation should still continue in spite of recent attacks. He however admitted that if not immediately, at least the preparation should not be set aside.

    The Senate Leader while arguing that the insurgency is waning, said the recent setbacks are not limited to Nigeria, insisting that United States and recently France have come under isolated terrorists attacks.

    He said the people of Gwoza, his hometown, are ready to return home, insisting that arrangements have already been concluded for the movement.

  • Boko Haram kills four in Borno raid

    Boko Haram kills four in Borno raid

    Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have killed four people in raids on villages in Borno state, a local official and residents said yesterday.

    The motorcycle-riding insurgents late Friday raided two communities, setting homes ablaze and killing three women and a man in Mairi, they said.

    The raids came barely a week after the attack on the village of Dalori, just outside Maiduguri, capital of the restive state, which left at least 85 people dead.

    The senator representing the area, Babakaka Garbai, confirmed the killings.

    “They killed four persons… and burnt all the houses,” he said during a condolence visit to the two affected communities.

    One Mairi resident, Baana Bukar, said the attackers rode into the community “and started shooting sporadically.”

    Residents were “taken unawares as many people were relaxing after the late night Muslim prayers,” he said.

    “We took to our heels to escape the attack. When we returned in the morning we discovered four persons died,” he said.

    The women died when their homes were set on fire, “but the man was shot dead with a gun,” he added.

    Ahmed Tijjani, a senior local vigilante, said in the second raided village of Malari “the people had escaped after hearing gun shots before their arrival.”

    The attackers also set ablaze all private and public buildings in Malari, he added.

  • FG should forget about Chibok girls – Victim

    FG should forget about Chibok girls – Victim

    A victim of Boko haram insurgents currently taking refuge in Jos, the Plateau state capital has warned the federal government against the idea of bringing back Chibok girls into the country.

    She said doing so might spell doom for the country’ anti-terrorism stance.

    Hajiya Aishatu who gave the warning in an interview in Jos said, “Bringing back chibok girls would amount to importing Vampires into the Country, the campaign for Chibok girls is not in the interest of this country.

    Hajiya Aishatu Bala, who hails from Bama Village in Maiduguri but was lucky to escaped to Jos during the heat of insurgency war in the north east said, “Chibok girls are not existing anywhere in the world, most of them had been used as suicide bombers by those who abducted them.

    She said, “Young girls involved in suicide attacks in the last two years till date were the Chibok girls, it will be a waste of time for anyone to be talking of rescuing Chibok girls.”

    The victim who saw the killing of her husband and two children before her narrow escape advised the federal government to watch the activities of those involved in the Brink Back our Girls Campaigner base in Abuja because those involved are acting on sheer ignorance or they are not sincere to the nation.

    “If at all Chibok girls exist anywhere, bringing them back to Nigeria will even spell doom for this country because they have been trained to see the country as the land of evil men,” she said.

    She appealed to National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to devise a means of identify those Victims who are not staying in the camps currently due to the kindness of their relations who provided them shelter by including them in the rehabilitation program of the federal government.

  • Boko Haram war: Buhari assures EU of human rights protection

    Boko Haram war: Buhari assures EU of human rights protection

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Strasbourg, France, assured the European Union (EU) that his administration will protect the fundamental human rights of persons during military operations against Boko Haram.

    Addressing a special session of the parliament, the President said his government shared the EU’s commitment to peace and security, respect for human rights, democracy and good governance, equality and tolerance, as ways of developing prosperous and strong societies.

     In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said: “For our part, we have updated our rules of engagement in fighting terrorism and pay close attention during operations to the treatment of captured terrorists, civilians caught up in the conflict and in general, safeguarding property.

    “Our aim is to use minimum force in our fight against terrorists.”

    He also spoke of Nigeria’s concerns about the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU, African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), endorsed by the Economic Community of West African States.

    He said Nigeria was yet to sign the agreement because pertinent technical issues raised by the Federal Government have not been addressed.

    “Giving due consideration to the mismatch of the two regions (Europe-ECOWAS) in terms of technology and manufacturing experience, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and Associated Trade Unions raised concerns about the negative impact of the agreement on Nigeria’s industrialisation programme.

    “Nigeria is working towards addressing its own side of the issues and I, therefore, urge our EU partners to also address our own concerns to allow for an Economic Partnership Agreement that is mutually beneficial and can contribute to the prosperity of our people, in the context of our shared values and interest at promoting cordial bilateral trade relations.”

    The President also sought greater support from the EU for Nigeria’s efforts to curb the theft of crude oil and corruption in its oil and gas sector.

    “Nigeria is facing the challenges of oil-theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta as well as recovery of illicit funds.   In this regard, Nigeria solicits the cooperation of the European Parliament to support efforts aimed at stemming these vices.

    “Our attempt to restore security, curb corruption and fight crime will result not only in improving social stability in Nigeria, but will re-open doors for full economic relations with Europe and the rest of the world.

    “Those who wish to invest in our country have immense opportunities and we intend to guarantee the security of people and investments brought to Nigeria,” the President said.

    He assured the parliament that Nigeria would collaborate with the EU to address illegal migration to Europe.

    “Our government is making concerted efforts to address the push-factor that propel migration, especially from Nigeria, as both destination and transit country.

    “In this year’s budget, the government has provided for over 500,000 graduate employment in the teaching profession alone. We are collaborating with the states and local governments to strengthen skills acquisition centres, to train the youth in various vocational skills, so they can be self-employed, and eventually, become employers of labour.

    “We are also making efforts to diversify the economy, giving impetus to agriculture and solid minerals exploitation, to create wealth and employments.

    “Nigeria welcomes the outcome of the Valletta EU-Africa Summit on Migration, including the launching of 1.8 billion Euros Emergency Trust Fund to address the causes of migration from Africa to Europe.”