The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • Boko Haram: Yobe inaugurates resettlement committee

    The Yobe State Government has set up a nine- man committee to look into the resettlement of thousands of people displaced from their communities by Boko Haram.

    The state’s Deputy Governor, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, who is the chairman of the committee, represented Governor Ibrahim Gaidam at the inauguration ceremony held at the Government House, Damaturu, on Monday.

    The committee is expected to ascertain numbers of internally displaced persons in both camps as well as host communities, assess the level of destruction caused in homes and means of livelihood, destruction to social infrastructures such as schools, health facilities, water and electricity and advise government on rehabilitation of the affected areas.

    Governor Gaidam also said the committee will collaborate with other development partners, government bodies and agencies, stakeholders and organisations for the return of the IDPs among others.

    The committee, he said will monitor, coordinate and supervise activities aimed at the resettlement and rehabilitation of the IDPs in the state.

     

     

  • Army arrest another terrorist kingpin in Borno

    Army arrest another terrorist kingpin in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Monday said it had arrested another suspected Boko Haram terrorist kingpin, Mr John Trankil, at Kasuwar Shanu area of Maiduguri.

    Col. Tukur Gusau, the Media Coordinator, Operation Lafiya Dole, said this in a statement in Maiduguri.

    “Troops of 7 Division Garrison Nigerian Army in Operation Lafiya Dole, made a remarkable progress by arresting a Boko Haram Terrorist kingpin, Mr John Trankil, at Kasuwar Shanu in Maiduguri metropolis.

    “Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect said that nine of them sneaked into Maiduguri armed with AK 47 assault rifle each and a Toyota Hilux vehicle laden with 20 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) meant to be detonated at some selected targets in the city,” he said.

    “The Theater Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Yusha’u Abubakar, commended the efforts of the troops and renewed call for the troops and the public to be more vigilant and security conscious.

    Gusau said that troops of the 21 Brigade of the army had also discovered and IED making factory along Bama-Gonin Kurmi within the outskirts of Bama town in Borno.

    “In a related development, troops of 21 Brigade Nigerian Army, while on offensive operations on Boko Haram terrorists location, with the support from the Nigerian Air Force, discovered and destroyed the terrorists IEDs and Rocket making factory along Bama-Gonin Kurmi within the outskirts of Bama town, Borno.

    “The items recovered include gas cylinders, welding machine, pipes and poles, locally made rocket shells and large quantity of assorted chemicals.

    “Others are; unprimed IEDs and various technical and laboratory equipment suspected to be stolen from school laboratories around Bama before they were dislodged from the area,” he said

  • ICC may slam eight war crimes against army, Boko Haram

    ICC may slam eight war crimes against army, Boko Haram

    •Military dismisses ‘biased, subjective’ report 

    The International Criminal Court (ICC) is citing the Nigerian Army for two possible war crimes in the campaign against the terror sect, Boko Haram, according to indications yesterday.

    The organisation, in its Preliminary Examination Report on Nigeria, is also targeting Boko Haram on six grounds of war crimes.

    The ICC accuses the military of indiscriminate arrest, detention, torture and extrajudicial killings of people suspected to be Boko Haram fighters.

    It also alleged the army of launching attacks on civilian population as well as the recruitment of child soldiers by pro-government militia called the Civilian JTF.

    The Defence Headquarters yesterday dismissed the ICC report as “biased, subjective and unacceptable.”

    It said that the conclusions drawn by the agency without hearing the military side has jeopardised the report’s credibility.

    The ICC claimed that troops have “arbitrarily targeted and arrested” up to 20,000 people, mostly young men in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States since 2011.

    “Altogether, more than 7,000 people reportedly died in military detention since March 2011 due to illness, poor condition and overcrowding of detention facilities, torture, ill-treatment and extrajudicial executions,” it said.

    It added: “In the town of Baga, Borno State, up to 228 persons may have been killed following a security operation on 17 April 2013.

    “Human Rights Watch published geospatial images of the area affected, alleging that at least 2,275 dwellings were destroyed in the attack.

    “Although the central government prohibits the recruitment and use of child soldiers, it is reported that the Civilian Joint Task Force recruited and used children, sometimes by force. Further information on these allegations is however required.”

    Asked to respond to the allegations yesterday, Defence Headquarters spokesman, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, said that instead of being attacked with subtle blackmail and propaganda, the Nigerian military deserves to be commended for its gallant contributions to global peace and security operations.

    “The Nigerian military conducts its operations to protect Nigerians and the nation’s territorial integrity; it is constitutionally empowered to protect lives, property as well as protect the sanctity of its territories against both internal and external aggression in whatever form and under whatever guise,” he said.

    “The Nigerian military operates within laws, code of conduct and rules of engagement to execute operations in line with the best global military standards; our officers and men have steadfastly been serving our nation and making huge sacrifices, especially against the activities of Boko Haram terrorists and our citizens are happy with the successes recorded.

    “Moreover, there was no iota of accusatory evidence from any Nigerian individual, organisation or group against our forces.

    “It is apt to put it on record straightaway that even when we were accused of human rights violation, no iota of allegation comes from Nigerians but from external interests or those who stand as proxy for such interests.

    “We constituted a powerful committee and invited the human right group to serve but they declined.

    “So this report is unacceptable, biased and one-sided as our views were never sought; it is based on mere hearsay which does not hold water in any court of law.

    “Therefore, the Nigerian military which has high respect for law is not in agreement with this one-sided subjective and biased judgement, especially as there was no fairness exhibited at all.

    “We will not be deterred in putting in our best to end this menace no matter the blackmail or propaganda from whatever source.”

    On Boko Haram, the ICC said that the sect was liable for indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians.

    “This case includes attacks conducted against civilians when taking control of towns and villages as well as bomb attacks launched against civilians in civilian areas,” it said, citing 356 reported incidents of killings by Boko Haram in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Plateau, Kano, the Abuja, Gombe, Kaduna, Bauchi between January 2013 and March 2015 and occasionally in Cameroon (since February 2013) and Niger Republic.

    It said over 8,000 civilians have been killed in such incidents.

    Continuing, the ICC said: “Following military operations since February 2015 during which territory previously held by Boko Haram was recaptured, mass graves or other sites with decomposed bodies were discovered allegedly containing the bodies of civilians killed by Boko Haram.”

    It also accused the sect of abducting 1,885 people in 55 incidents between January 2014 and March 2015 mostly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

    “Boko Haram reportedly also detained thousands of civilians in its camps and in towns under its control in Borno state and other undetermined areas in the north-east of Nigeria, including in the Sambisa forest, around Lake Chad, and near the Gorsi mountains in Cameroon.

    “For example, in Bama town, hundreds of men were reportedly held by Boko Haram in the town’s prison for several weeks before being executed,” the report added.

    Boko Haram was similarly accused of attacking schools, other educational buildings as well as students and teachers.

    “Between January 2012 and October 2013, 70 teachers and more than 100 schoolchildren and students were reportedly killed or wounded.

    “In May 2014, Nigeria Union of Teachers reported that at least 173 teachers had been killed between 2009 and 2014, Borno State officials have cited a slightly higher figure of 176 teachers.

    “At least 50 schools were either burned down or badly damaged and 60 more were forced to close. In March 2014, the Borno State government decided to close all secondary schools in the state in order to protect students and teachers from further attacks.

    “In addition, as a result of direct threats from Boko Haram, 120 schools were forced to close in 10 districts of the Far North of Cameroon. Boko Haram was included as a new party on the list of the Secretary General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict (2014) for attacks against schools among other alleged conduct.”

     

  • Army confirms arrest of another wanted Boko Haram suspect in Borno

    Army confirms arrest of another wanted Boko Haram suspect in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday, confirmed the arrest of another suspected Boko Haram terrorist, whose picture was released alongside 99 others on the Army’s wanted list of terrorists.

    This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Abuja by the acting Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman.

    Usman said in the statement that the suspect was arrested by the Department of State Services at the Moduganari area of Maiduguri metropolis in Borno.

    The Army attributed the development to the recent publication of some pictures of the terrorists’ top commanders.

    “Following the release of the poster containing photographs of 100 suspected Boko Haram terrorists, security agencies and the public have intensified search for them.

    “The renewed zeal has been yielding the desired result as the Borno State Command of Department of State Services (DSS) arrested another suspected high profile Boko Haram terrorist, Danladi Abdullahi, at Moduganari area of Maiduguri metropolis.

    “Although, he is still being investigated, it has been positively established that he is suspect number 26 on the list of the declared suspected Boko Haram terrorists issued by the Nigerian Army last month.’’

    The statement conveyed the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai’s commendation to the DSS, especially Borno Command, for its resilience and continued support and cooperation in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.

    He said the DSS had over time proven to be dependable partner in the quest for a secured Nigeria.

    According to him, the fight against insurgency is a collective responsibility hence the need for the public’s support, cooperation and understanding as the battle end insurgency gets intense.

    The army boss urged the public to be more vigilant and security conscious to enable the military win the war for all to enjoy a better and more secure.

  • DHQ dismisses report of Boko Haram attack in South-West

    DHQ dismisses report of Boko Haram attack in South-West

    The Defence Headquarters has dismissed reports that the Boko Haram sect was planning to attack some South-Western states of Nigeria.

    This is contained in a statement released to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday by the acting Director of Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar.

    Abubakar said the report was baseless, unfounded and urged the public to disregard such reports.

    He said the military in recent operations in the North-East had degraded the insurgents, stressing that it was not possible for the insurgents to coordinate attacks in any part of the country.

    He said the Armed Forces are using this medium to appeal to the good citizens of Nigeria particularly in the west not to lose sleep over the unfounded and fictitious reports and to go about their businesses.

    “The attention of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has been drawn to the above caption published by some section of the media claiming impending attacks by Boko Haram terrorists in some south western states of the country.

    “This story is not only baseless but lacks substance in its entirety, hence should be disregarded.

    “Of more worrisome is the claim that the terrorists have infiltrated the western states.

    “While the military and other security agencies have made tremendous successes in degrading and decimating the terrorists, it would be unthinkable to raise these unfounded rumours of Boko Haram terrorist planning attack not only in the west but any other part of the country for that matter,’’ Abubakar was quoted as saying.

    Abubakar said the coordination and synergy between the military and other security services, which led to the arrest of some ring leaders of the terrorists in some states, was instructive to their incapability to wage any coordinated attack.

    He, however, urged the public to always be wary of suspicious individuals or groups in their localities and to report such to security agencies for prompt action.

  • 11 killed as soldiers smash Boko Haram attacks in Borno

    11 killed as soldiers smash Boko Haram attacks in Borno

    A fresh attempt by Boko Haram terrorists to  attack a military base in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State  yesterday crashed  after soldiers  repelled the invaders.

    Seven of the terrorists were killed in the early morning raid, which came on the heels of  the killing of another four terrorists and rescue of 61 people held captive by the sect in the Nwalemer, Mallemiri and Bale axis of the state.

    Gwoza is about 200 kilometers from Maiduguri, the state capital.

    It was once under the control of the sect but was retaken this year by soldiers.

    Briefing newsmen yesterday on the aborted raid, the Media Coordinator  of Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Tukur Gusau said, although details were  being collated, seven  terrorists were killed.

    A Toyota Hilux vehicle, 11 AK-47 rifles, 1 Shilka Gun, 1 Rocket Propelled Grenade Tube, 6 Hand Grenades and  Shilka Gun and Machine Gun ammunitions were recovered.

    He said troops were continuing  their  raid  and aerial bombardment of the Sambisa forest  with a view to smoking out the remnants of the terrorists.

    Col Gusau also said that troops  from  7 Division Garrison and 112 Task Force Battalion yesterday recovered the following weapons in Busheshe village in Mafa axis: two Hilux vans, two anti-aircraft guns, three 81 milimetre bombs, 101 units of 60 milimetre bombs, 20 ammunition boxes, 21 Rocket Propelled Guns (RPGs) and a large quantity of 7.62 milimeter special ammunition.

    The army also announced in Abuja yesterday that troops of 28 Task Force Brigade, backed by the Nigerian Air Force,  rescued 61 persons from Boko Haram captivity.

    In addition, the troops cleared more Boko Haram camps, recovered two dane guns and detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by insurgents.

    In a statement issued, Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, disclosed that four Boko Haram men were killed while one was captured, adding that the 61 rescued persons have been evacuated to a safe location.

    He said: “The fight against Boko Haram terrorists is continuing to maintain its momentum with the discovery and destruction of terrorists’ camps, weapons and equipment, while the terrorists have been fleeing and abandoning their bases.

  • U.S. hails Buhari on battle against corruption, Boko Haram

    U.S. hails Buhari on battle against corruption, Boko Haram

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s focus on combining a military offensive with the fight against poverty and corruption is the right approach in the battle against the terror sect, Boko Haram, a senior U.S. defence official has said.

    “They understand military pressure by itself will not tackle the overall problem and understand the need for a truly integrated approach,” U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Amanda J. Dory said in an interview at the Pentagon in Washington.

    ”This is something the previous Nigerian government said, and had strategy documents to articulate such an approach, but they weren’t actually implementing.”

    Buhari  swept into power  in May, promising  to fight graft and narrow the gap between rich and poor.

    The Boko Haram violence  has killed thousands of civilians and displaced more than a million since 2009, stunting economic development in  the Northeast.

    The U.S. announced last month  that it would send as many as 300 non-combat troops to neighbouring Cameroon to bolster a regional force that’s fighting Boko Haram, including its intelligence-gathering activities.

    Almost six months into his term, Buhari has relocated the army’s headquarters from Abuja to Maiduguri, the epicenter of the insurgency, replaced his top military chiefs and vowed to recover billions of dollars stolen in corruption scandals. Still, his plan to bring change risks being undermined by an economic slump from the low price of oil, the country’s main revenue earner.

    “The application of military pressure does not address any of the so-called underlying grievances in an enduring way,” said Dory, who has met Buhari twice since he took office in May. The president visited Washington in July and she was in Nigeria last month.

    The conflict has spilled across the borders, spurring neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger to join a multinational force to battle the militants. The coalition has helped dislodge rebels from some of their positions, although bombings in towns and cities continue.

    While Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, which rules a self-declared caliphate in parts of Syria and Iraq, the U.S. views it as a predominately symbolic gesture, and there’s “limited evidence” to suggest they are actively cooperating, Dory said.

    “This type of marriage of convenience is emerging in different contexts, but various strands of extremist organizations in Africa aren’t gathering into any type of coherent mass that is operating for the same purpose,” she said.

  • Army kills seven Boko Haram militants in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Friday said seven Boko Haram members were killed while trying to attack soldiers in Gwoza local government area of Borno State.

    Gwoza is about 200 kilometers from Maiduguri, the state capital.

    It was once captured by Boko Haram sect before it was liberated by troops.

    The fight reportedly started at about 5.00am and lasted almost two hours.

    Briefing journalists at Pompomari Garrison located in the area, the Media Coordinator Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Tukur Gusau, said although details are still being collated, seven terrorists were killed and some arms recovered during the operation.

    According to him, the arms recovered included – one Toyota Hilux vehicle, 11 AK-47 rifles, one Shilka Gun, one rocket propelled grenade tube and six hand grenades.

    Others were several rounds of Shilka gun and machine gun ammunitions.

    He added that troops pursued the attackers into Sambisa forest with a view to eliminating them, while the Nigerian Air Force also bombarded their locations.

  • Niger: 25 killed in Boko Haram raid, clash with army

    At least 25 people were killed on Wednesday in a Boko Haram attack on a village in southern Niger and subsequent clashes between the militants and the army, Niger military officials told Reuters.

    Fighters from the sect killed five civilians in their initial attack on the village located in the West African nation’s Bosso district. Niger soldiers drove back the militants, killing about 20 of them, the officers said.

     

  • Boko Haram: Reps seek review of Victims Support Fund

    Boko Haram: Reps seek review of Victims Support Fund

    The Federal government has been advised to review the modalities for the disbursement of the N50b Victims Support Fund (VSF) for transparent disbursement and judicious use of the funds.

    The Federal government set up the fund in 2014 to cater for the needs of the victims of terrorism and other forms of violence across the country.

    The VSF is managed by a Committee chaired by Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd).

    The lawmakers also urged the Gen Danjuma (rtd)-led Committee to constantly publish on its website, the names and pictures of beneficiaries of the funds, indicating clearly the amount of assistance rendered while making available to Nigerians records of its activities in its secretariat or registry.

    The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion by Vilita Bashir (APC, Borno) and Kamale Adamu Dali Usman (APC, Adamawa), who noted that the Federal government released N5b as part of its contribution to the fund while many other individuals have also redeemed their pledges running into billions of Naira.

    “We are aware that the committee has so far disbursed over N500m to victims of terrorism while the victims, especially those in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States are crying for assistance and dying in their hundreds without any form if assistance coming their way,” she said.

    The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.