The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • #BringBackOurGirls marks 5th anniversary in Nigeria, London, New York

    The #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) advocacy group will today, in three continents, commence a three-day event to mark the 5th anniversary of the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction by Boko Haram.

    276 schoolgirls were kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on the night of April 14, 2014, making Sunday, April 14 the 5th anniversary of the event.

    In a statement made available to The Nation yesterday, the #BringBackOurGirls said it will host simultaneous events in Abuja, London, New York and Washington DC “to mark this sad anniversary.”

    BBOG said it would “mark the 5th year of captivity for 112 Chibok Girls by gathering with members of the Chibok community and members of BBOG from all over Lagos to remind our government and the world that they are still missing…”

    It will kick off today’s event in Lagos with a march from Falomo Roundabout, Ikoyi at 11am.

    Read also: ‘How I survived two Boko Haram bomb attacks in Maiduguri’

    Tomorrow, from 12 – 2pm, there will be a BBOG Sit out at Falomo Roundabout, Ikoyi and a BBOG Sit out at 64, Adewale Adenuga Street, Orilowo Bus stop via Binta International School, Ejigbo, Lagos.  The activities will come to a climax on Sunday, April 14 with an interfaith vigil at Falomo Roundabout, Ikoyi between 5pm and 7pm.

    Sunday in London, a panel of discussants will consider the topic, #BlackLivesMatter and the #BringBackOurGirls movement: Online struggle for offline justice.

    This will hold between 4pm and 7pm at The Africa Centre, 66 Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 0BL.

    In New York, the event will be marked with an overnight vigil at the Nigerian Embassy from 10pm on Sunday, April 14 and 10am on Monday, April 15.

    The organisers said they would not relent in their advocacy and demands for the rescue of the country’s school children and fellow citizens from captivity.

    “We demand: justice for the slain, resettlement and rehabilitation for people displaced by the violence, safe schools, the launch of the National Missing Persons Register; and proper welfare, equipment and support for officers and families of our police and armed forces,” the organisers said.

     

  • Court to hear N500,000 damages suit filed by ex- Boko Haram spokesman

    An FCT High Court Maitama on Thursday fixed May 23, for hearing a N500,000 aggravated damages suit filed by a former spokesman of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, Ali Sanda Konduga.

    Konduga dragged the Director-General, Department of Security Services (DSS) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, over alleged breach of his fundamental rights.

    Konduga through his counsel, Mr Mohammed Tola, filed a suit before Justice Samira Bature alleging that he was kept in detention for an extra three years after serving his three-year jail term before he was released in 2016.

    Konduga was convicted by a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Abuja and sentenced to three years imprisonment for criminal intimidation in 2011.

    Read Also: ‘How I survived two Boko Haram bomb attacks in Maiduguri’

    In the suit, Konduga claimed that he was kept in the custody of the DSS instead of the conventional prison to serve his term because the government wanted him to serve as a key witness to prove a terrorism charge against Sen. Ali Ndume in a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    He further stated as of the time of his release, he was never called to testify in the matter or any other matter.

    Konduga said that he was taken to the DSS’s office in Maiduguri on Sept. 8, 2016 and was released on Sept. 9, 2016 to his parents.

    He alleged that DSS offered his family the sum of N700,000 when he was released, and informed his family that the money was meant for his medical treatment.

    The gesture, Konduga said showed that the DSS knew he was entitled to compensation for his illegal and unlawful detention, adding that the Service refused to pay him any other compensation except the N700,000.

    He further stated that some individuals attacked him after he was released in 2016 and he sustained head injury from the attack.

    He added that as a result of the injury he sustained, the police from GRA Police Station, Maiduguri, Borno , took him into protective custody and later referred him to the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Maiduguri.

    He therefore, demanded for unreserved public apology in three national newspapers.

    Konduga also prayed for an order of the court, directing the respondents to jointly and severally pay him N500,000 as aggravated damages and compensation for the illegal, unconstitutional and unlawful detention.

  • ‘How I survived two Boko Haram bomb attacks in Maiduguri’

    A 22-year-old amputee, Yahuza Mohammad, said he survived two separate bomb attacks coordinated by Boko Haram suicide bombers at Muna Garage area of Maiduguri.

    Mohammed told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that the incidents occurred between 2017 and 2018.

    Recounting his ordeal, Mohammed who walks with the support of crutches, said the attack on March 26, 2017, changed his life when he was hit on the right leg by the shrapnel of the Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs), detonated by a teenage female suicide bomber.

    He narrated that his leg was badly damaged in the explosion which killed three persons and 17 others at Muna area of the metropolis.

    He said “Suspicious of her move, one of my colleagues stopped to interrogate her not noticing that she was concealing an IED on her chest. Consequently, she detonated the explosive.

    “I only woke and saw myself in the hospital with my left leg amputated.

    “The same scenario repeated itself when another bomber attacked us while we were resting outside due to the intensive heat.

    “I could still visualise how my friend Hudu, was questioning the girl when I heard a thunderous sound. I was lucky that I was laying down flat when she detonated the explosive, killing my three friends and injuring 45 others,” he said.

    Read Also: Boko Haram insurgents attack Damaturu

    He vowed to continue defending his community despite his disability.

    “What we are lacking is support. We are left to protect ourselves with bare hands. I normally go to the market to buy some commodities to sell in the community which enabled me to go round as part of my patrol strategy,” he said.

    Muhammed who dropped out of school appealed to the government to support him and other youth who volunteered to protect their communities, to return back to school.

    He also appealed to the state government to deploy more armed personnel to complement efforts of volunteers to protect communities across the state.

  • Buhari to Nigerians in diaspora: expect more successes

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said the next four years of his administration will be a harvest and consolidation of successes in the three-point agenda of fixing the economy, fighting insecurity and corruption.

    Speaking on Tuesday at a town hall meeting with members of the Nigerian Community in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the President pledged more government investments in research and development, as well as technology and education.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President promised that the prudent economic management, diversification of production and revenue bases of the administration in the last four years will be sustained for better prospects for all Nigerians.

    The statement reads: “The Next Level is to consolidate whatever we have done till 2023, and it makes common sense that in order to manage any outfit, whether a nation, state or organisation, you have to secure it.

    “We all know how many local government areas Boko Haram were occupying. People from the Northeast know that they are not holding any local government area today. They were holding 17 of the 774 local government areas before we came in 2015; they are not holding any now.”

    The President noted that a key objective of his administration which had yielded positive results, in the last four years, was the campaign for the country to return to agriculture. According to him, the country cannot afford to lag behind again in agriculture.

    Read Also: PDP tasks Buhari on rising insecurity

    “What we did was to encourage agriculture, and fertiliser was made available at half the price. ‘We encouraged people to go back to the farm. The response was excellent. We have virtually achieved food security; we have stopped the importation of rice.

    “The money we have saved in foreign exchange is in hundreds of millions of dollars, not even in naira. We are putting that into infrastructure,” the President said.

    Responding to a question about the pace of anti-corruption war, the President said: ‘”Whoever calls me Baba-go-slow, I’m very conscious of historical antecedents. You know what happened to me the last time… people (now) have to be proven guilty before they are locked up.”

    Reflecting on the 2019 All Progressives Council (APC) presidential campaign and the outcome of the polls, the President said: “I was very impressed by the turn out of every state to see and hear me. The crowd is more than what you can buy or force to come. Nigerians voluntarily came out.”

  • Breaking: Damaturu under Boko Haram attack

    Suspected Boko Haram fighters are reportedly in gun duel with military along Damaturu-Maiduguri road, Yobe state.

    Details shortly…

  • Buhari: It will take decades to repair Boko Haram damage

    President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday that it would take decades for Nigeria and Nigerians to repair the damage done to  the country by the terror sect, Boko Haram.

    Buhari told the World Economic Forum on Middle East and North Africa at Dead Sea, Jordan that although the insurgents have been significantly pushed back and no longer control any territory of the country, government has been left with a big task of rebuilding what has been destroyed.

    “The deaths, damages and destruction caused by terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda, ISIS and Boko Haram over the last 10 years will take decades to repair,” he said.

    He urged world leaders to work towards narrowing gaps in social and economic opportunities for citizens as panacea to rising conflicts across the globe.

    He said: “we must ask ourselves how we, as a region, got to this point. The answer, at least in the case of Nigeria, is the lack of social and economic inclusion.

    “As Nigeria celebrated being the largest economy in Africa and one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Nigerians were migrating in droves through harsh desert conditions and across treacherous seas to seek what they believe would be a better life in Europe.

    “I strongly believe that lack of social and economic inclusion was the root cause of many challenges we are experiencing.”

    Buhari said the changes taking place across the world in technology, population, migration, trade and geo-politics had been yielding both positive and negative results in different parts of the world.

    He called for more collaboration across borders to alter tides of frustrations that fuel conflict.

    “It is my view, that no region of the world has felt the full impact of these dramatic shifts and shocks like the Middle East and Africa–North and Sub-Sahara.

    “On one hand, our region is blessed with a very young, vibrant, enterprising and dynamic population. We also have valuable natural resources that are the envy of many nations.

    “These assets and endowments contributed to our region experiencing some of the highest economic growth rates in the world.

    “In this digital age where physical borders no longer exist to protect even the most secured nations, the only way to overcome predatory and divisionary forces is for all well-meaning nations to work together for the greater good of mankind.

    “Simply put, cooperation amongst sovereign nations is no longer a choice. It is an absolute necessity.”

    He told the gathering of leaders, entrepreneurs and economic experts that “Nigeria’s population is 190 million, and by 2050, it is estimated to hit 390 million, making it the third most populous country in the world.’’

    According to him, he spent the last four years tackling security issues in the country and implementing policies that make the economy more inclusive.

    Read also: Senate Presidency: Lawan steps up campaign in states

    “We are extremely grateful to the many countries that stood with Nigeria to confront this global scourge and in particular, the Kingdom of Jordan under the leadership of His Majesty, the King.

    “Furthermore, our economic diversification and social inclusion policies are also yielding positive results.

    “Our country has now returned to the path of growth. We are making gains in the ease of doing business indices,’’ he added.

    The President said the agriculture sector was driving government’s efforts to diversify the economy.

    He added that “in the spirit of “Building New Platforms of Cooperation’, we partnered with the Kingdom of Morocco to domesticate fertilizer production in Nigeria and revive over two million tons of abandoned fertilizer blending plant capacity.

    “The outcome is we created tens of thousands of jobs in agriculture, logistics, manufacturing and retail sectors.’’

  • Gaps in social, economic opportunities fueling terrorism, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on  Saturday in Dead Sea, Jordan, urged world leaders to work towards narrowing gaps in social and economic opportunities for citizens as panacea to rising conflicts across the globe, attributing the Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria to lack of inclusion.

    Speaking at the World Economic Forum on Middle East and North Africa, the President, who honoured an invitation by King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, said rising opportunities of prosperity for some people while others struggle to survive trigger tensions and conflicts.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said “It is at this point that we must ask ourselves how we, as a region, got to this point. The answer, at least in the case of Nigeria, is the lack of social and economic inclusion.

    “As Nigeria celebrated being the largest economy in Africa and one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Nigerians were migrating in droves through harsh desert conditions and across treacherous seas to seek what they believe would be a better life in Europe.

    “Ladies and gentlemen, I strongly believe that the lack of social and economic inclusion was the root cause of many challenges we are experiencing,’’ he said.

    President Buhari said the changes taking place across the world in technology, population, migration, trade and geo-politics had been yielding both positive and negative results in different parts of the world, calling for more collaboration across borders to alter tides of frustrations that fuel conflicts.

    “It is my view, that no region of the world has felt the full impact of these dramatic shifts and shocks like the Middle East and Africa – North and Sub-Sahara.

    “On one hand, our region is blessed with a very young, vibrant, enterprising and dynamic population. We also have valuable natural resources that are the envy of many nations.

    Read Also: Photos: Buhari arrives Jordan for World Economic Forum

    “These assets and endowments contributed to our region experiencing some of the highest economic growth rates in the world. On the other hand, however, we have also been hosts to some of the deadliest conflicts in recent history. The deaths, damages and destructions caused by terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda, ISIS and Boko Haram over the last ten years will take decades to repair,’’ he added.

    President Buhari said terrorism around the world, including Boko Haram, had been significantly degraded, stressing that the insurgents no longer control any territory in Nigeria, but the country had been left with the task of rebuilding.

    “In this digital age where physical borders no longer exist to protect even the most secured nations, the only way to overcome predatory and divisionary forces is for all well-meaning nations to work together for the greater good of mankind.

    “Simply put, cooperation amongst sovereign nations is no longer a choice. It is an absolute necessity,’’ the President said.

    He told the gathering of leaders, entrepreneurs and economic experts that Nigeria’s population is one hundred and ninety million, and by 2050, estimated to hit three hundred and ninety million, making it the third most populous country in the world.

    President Buhari said he spent the last four years tackling security issues in the country and implementing policies that make the economy more inclusive.

    “We are extremely grateful to the many countries that have stood with Nigeria to confront this global scourge and in particular, the Kingdom of Jordan under the leadership of His Majesty, the King.

    “Furthermore, our economic diversification and social inclusion policies are also yielding positive results. Our country has now returned to the path of growth. We are making gains in the ease of doing business indices.

    The President said the agricultural sector in Nigeria is driving government’s efforts to diversify the economy, adding that “in the spirit of “Building New Platforms of Cooperation’, we partnered with the Kingdom of Morocco to domesticate fertilizer production in Nigeria and revive over two million tons of abandoned fertilizer blending plant capacity. The outcome is we created tens of thousands of jobs in agriculture, logistics, manufacturing and retail sectors.’’

    He said Nigeria had achieved moderate and inclusive growth in four years.

    President Buhari said Africa and the Middle East must focus on policies that deliver shared economic prosperity for all citizens, adding that more could be done on trade and investments.

    “Opportunities exist in key job creating sectors such as Agriculture, Health, Tourism, ICT, Infrastructure as well as Textile and garmenting to mention a few. Our new, inclusive and diversified Nigeria is definitely open for business. Our population, resources, policies and programs make it the most attractive investment destination in Africa,’’ he said.

    In his welcoming remarks, King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan said inclusive growth will be of benefit to the entire world, especially when it creates enabling environment for youths and women.

    The king of Jordan said opportunities must be expanded fast, while noting that “the challenges we face are not only problems to be solved rather they are opportunities for collaboration.’’

    UN Secretary General Secretary-General António Guterres said the world will be better off with stronger collaboration, commending Jordan for playing a historical role in restoring peace in the Middle East, especially between Israel and Palestine.

    The founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Professor Klaus Schwab, who congratulated President Buhari for his re-election for a second term, said discussions at the forum will focus on new ideas, entrepreneurship, innovation, environment, peace and reconciliation.

  • Global cooperation inevitable to defeat terrorism, other challenges – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday declared that the only way to defeat predatory and divisionary forces globally was cooperation among nations.

    He spoke in Jordan at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, with the theme of “Building New Platforms of Cooperation”.

    President Buhari noted that the global problems are compounded by physical borders that no longer exist to protect even the most secured nations in the current digital age.

    He said “In this digital age where physical borders no longer exist to protect even the most secured nations, the only way to overcome predatory and divisionary forces is for all well-meaning nations to work together for the greater good of mankind.

    “Simply put, cooperation amongst sovereign nations is no longer a choice. It is an absolute necessity,” he said

    According to him, the world in the last ten years has completely changed.

    He said “We have seen and experienced significant shifts on many fronts. In Technology; Population and Migration; Trade and Geopolitics; Climate change; and many more.

    “For some nations, these trends have had positive impacts. But of course, we have also seen the negative and destructive outcomes of these trends in other countries.

    Read Also: Buhari keeping promises, says presidency

    “It is my view, that no region of the world has felt the full impact of these dramatic shifts and shocks like the Middle East and Africa – North and Sub-Sahara.

    “On one hand, our region is blessed with a very young, vibrant, enterprising and dynamic population. We also have valuable natural resources that are the envy of many nations,” he said

    These assets and endowments, he said, has contributed to Nigeria’s region experiencing some of the highest economic growth rates in the world.

    On the other hand, he pointed out that the region has also been hosts to some of the deadliest conflicts in recent history.

    Lack of social and economic inclusion, he said, are mainly responsible for the problem.

    He said “The deaths, damage and destruction caused by terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda, ISIS and Boko Haram over the last ten years will take decades to repair.

    “By the special grace of God, today, most of these terrorist organizations have been significantly degraded. The world came together to achieve this. Now, we are faced with the task of rebuilding.

    “It is at this point that we must ask ourselves how we, as a region, got to this point. The answer, at least in the case of Nigeria, is the lack of social and economic inclusion.

    “As Nigeria celebrated being the largest economy in Africa and one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Nigerians were migrating in droves through harsh desert conditions and across treacherous seas to seek what they believe would be a better life in Europe.

    “I strongly believe that the lack of social and economic inclusion was the root cause of many challenges we are experiencing.”

    Efforts, he said, must be put in place to start engaging the increasing population, productively.

    “Today, our population is one hundred and ninety million people. By 2050, it is estimated that we hit three hundred and ninety million making us the third most populous country in the world. This means we must start working now to ensure this population is productively engaged.”

    He said that Nigeria in the last four years focused on security while implementing inclusive policies.

    He added “On the security front, we made significant gains in fighting Boko Haram. We have recaptured all territories held by Boko Haram in 2014. We have liberated thousands of Nigerians held against their will.

    “Today, I am pleased to say no territory in the Federal Republic of Nigeria is held or controlled by Boko Haram. We are extremely grateful to the many countries that have stood with Nigeria to confront this global scourge and in particular, the Kingdom of Jordan under the leadership of His Majesty, the King.

    “Furthermore, our economic diversification and social inclusion policies are also yielding positive results. Our country has now returned to the path of growth. We are making gains in the ease of doing business indices.

    “A key driver for growth is the agricultural sector where we aggressively pushed agricultural policies that empowered millions of our rural citizens.

    “In the spirit of “Building New Platforms of Cooperation”, we partnered with the Kingdom of Morocco to domesticate fertilizer production in Nigeria and revive over two million tons of abandoned fertilizer blending plant capacity.

    “The outcome is we created tens of thousands of jobs in agriculture, logistics, manufacturing and retail sectors. We are able to achieve moderate growth. But it was inclusive.

    “Nigeria is now at a new dawn and embarking on a new development trajectory. We are determined to industrialise Nigeria leveraging our comparative advantage.

    “We recognize the private sector as the engine of growth and a veritable partner in our economic agenda. The Middle East is a natural partner.”

    Africa and the Middle East, he said, must therefore focus on policies that will deliver shared economic prosperity for the citizens.

    “On trade and investments for example, we can do more. Africa represents only five percent of Jordan’s trade with the world. But we have the resources, the people and the markets to do more.

    “Opportunities exist in key job creating sectors such as Agriculture, Health, Tourism, ICT, Infrastructure as well as Textile and garmenting to mention a few.

    “Our new, inclusive and diversified Nigeria is definitely open for business. Our population, resources, policies and programs make it the most attractive investment destination in Africa.

    “As friends and allies, we must therefore cooperate and leverage on our relative strengths. We must remain open to “Building New Platforms of Cooperation”.

    “As we deliberate over the next two days, I would ask all leaders present to reflect on our collective experiences. We must identify how we can work together.

    “Today, we are living in a new world. In this new world without borders, my personal view is stability and sustainability can only be achieved through inclusive economic growth, and enhanced cooperation amongst nations,” he stated.

  • Boko Haram: Japan donates $1.5 million relief to Northeast Nigeria

    The Government of Japan has released USD 1,500,000 to fund community stabilization activities in Nigeria’s North-East region.

    These funds will be utilized through an ongoing programme launched in 2016, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria.

    The UNDP announced this in a press statement in Abuja on Tuesday, April 02, 2019.

    The interventions being implemented in the region are aimed at supporting victims of Boko Haram insurgency in the three most affected States of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

    This builds on ongoing activities that the Government of Japan has been supporting which have facilitated the rehabilitation of 20 public infrastructures and provided emergency employment to more than 2,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and returnees.

    In addition, more than 4,000 farmers and over 1,000 small businesses were supported with inputs and capital that helped improve and expand their sources of livelihood. The Government of Japan has already invested USD6.5 million in North-East Nigeria stabilization activities.

    The funding from the Government of Japan will be utilized within the framework of Integrated Community Stabilization Programme which UNDP has been implementing in the region intended to directly benefit 125,000 people in the three States. An additional one million people will indirectly benefit from interventions under the project.

    Implemented through an integrated approach, the project’s goal is to support over 2,200 farmers, 500 small businesses, 5 community public infrastructures and provide emergency employment to over 850 community members.

    “Stabilization efforts in North-East are helping families and communities begin to rely less on humanitarian aid and more on themselves,” said Khardiata Lo Ndiaye, acting UNDP Resident Representative.

    “This support from the Government of Japan will go a long way in laying a foundation for development to take place again in the region.”

    Ms. Khardiata added that meeting urgent early recovery needs of the crisis affected communities remained a huge challenge requiring more partners and investment.

    Mr. Shigeru Umetsu, Chargé d’affaires ad interim of Japan to Nigeria, reassured that the Government of Japan will continue to support Nigerian people’s efforts aimed at restoring stability and livelihoods for the communities in in the North-East region.

  • MNJTF refutes reported attack, killing of 18 soldiers by ISWAP

    The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) on Friday denied any recent attack on its troops and killing of 18 soldiers in its area of responsibility.

    Spokesman of the task force, Col. Timothy Antigha, said in a statement on Friday in Abuja, that online media report on the purported attack was false.

    The online reports had claimed that 18 soldiers were killed when a faction of Boko Haram affiliated to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked a military formation.

    According to Antigha, the reported attack and killing are falsehood being orchestrated by the media arm of ISWAP in its desperate attempt to revamp it parlous and deplorable image.

    He said that the desperation followed several weeks of devastating operational losses the group suffered in the Lake Chad Area.

    Read also: Air Force kills Boko Haram leaders, others

    “It has been widely reported and it is now common knowledge that sustained offensive actions by MNJTF troops and national forces have resulted in over 200 ISWAP personnel casualties and defections as well as numerous equipment seizures and destruction.

    “The claim of killing 18 MNJTF personnel in an unnamed location is, therefore, very strange and completely untrue.

    “Consequently, the general public is advised to disregard the ISWAP falsehood in its entirety, ” Antigha said.

    He urged the media to remain vigilant in order to frustrate attempts by terrorists to spread falsehood and propaganda in a bid to disrupt public order, peace and civility. (NAN)