Suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least 14 people in an overnight attack on a village in southeastern Niger, security sources told Reuters on Wednesday.
“They executed at least 14 civilians,” said one of the sources, referring to the village of Ala in the Diffa region near the Nigerian border.
The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said troops at fringes of Sambisa forest have rescued about 338 people held by Boko Haram insurgents.
The Army in a statement issued by its Acting Director of Public Relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, disclosed that troops killed over 30 militants.
The statement reads, “Troops of 28 Task Force Brigade Nigerian Army deployed at Bitta and Pridang carried out a successful raid on suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ camps at Bulajilin and Manawashe villages along Bita and Damboa road at the fringes of Sambisa forest on Tuesday.
“The unit also rescued 338 persons that were held captive by the terrorists in the enclaves. The rescued persons which comprised male (eight), female (138) and children (192) have since been evacuated to Mubi.
“They also recovered arms and ammunitions during the raid operation. These include – one General Purpose Machine Gun and two Dane Guns, 150 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO), six boxes of 7.62mm (NATO) and three cutlasses.”
•State Department condemns attacks by insurgents
A bill has been sent by a United States Congressman demanding President Barack Obama’s comprehensive plan to assist Nigeria to battle Boko Haram.
Rep. Frederica Wilson (Democrat-Fla.), a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, last Monday, introduced legislation that would require the Departments of Defence and State to submit a five-year plan to Congress to help Nigeria fight the Islamic extremist group.
The plan, according to the lawmaker, would have to boost Nigeria’s military capacity, provide humanitarian aid to those affected by the group, and help strengthen the rule of law in Nigeria, among other things.
So far, the Obama administration has resisted any direct intervention in the fight against Boko Haram. A few dozen troops have been sent to Nigeria.
In October, the White House announced the deployment of 90 troops to Cameroon, and plans to send a total of about 300.
But the White House stressed they were not there in a “combat role,” and instead, to help regional partners combat Boko Haram.
U.S. troops have not been sent to Nigeria because of alleged dismal record on corruption and human rights.
But the Boko Haram group has continued to pillage and destroy in Nigeria. Over the weekend, 21 were killed at a religious site by bombs hidden there by the group.
The State Department condemned the attack in a statement yesterday.
Department of State Spokesperson, John Kirby said the October 23 and 24 attacks on mosques in Adamawa and Borno states were horrific and indiscriminate.
It decried the use of children as suicide bombers, adding that it was prove of the horrific measures Boko Haram was willing to take to terrorise civilians in northeast and the Lake Chad Basin region.
“We offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families and loved ones of the many innocent civilians, who were killed and injured.
“The apparent use of children – particularly young girls – to commit these attacks is especially heinous, and it provides yet more examples of the horrific measures Boko Haram is willing to take to terrorise civilians in northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region.
“The United States continues to support the governments and people of the Lake Chad Basin region in their ongoing struggle to defeat Boko Haram. We will continue to assist these vital efforts in every appropriate way,” it stated.
Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) on Tuesday faulted the December deadline given the military to end the Boko Haram insurgency by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Gowon, who said the armed forces will do its best to meet the December deadline, however maintained that nobody can confidently say when the military operation will end.
But the former head of state insisted that he has absolute confidence in the military ability to defeat the insurgents.
Gowon spoke in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, when he led an advocacy visit to Governor David Umahi on malaria and four other neglected tropical diseases.
He said, “I can tell you this, nobody can really talk about when any particular operation is going to end. And as a (former) Commander-in- chief, I know this.
“Yes, you can say you target a particular time, but it may finish before that time or it may go slightly beyond. To end it, that is the most important thing.
“I assure you that I have absolute confidence in our military that they are going to really deal with the situation as they are doing at the moment.”
He expressed worry that the insurgents are now using underage and innocent children as suicide bombers.
“May the spirits of these poor little children who are being brainwashed to carry out such heinous crimes rest in peace,” he added.
Gowon, who hailed the success recorded by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in the fight against Boko Haram noted that President Buhari’s administration has been working hard to wipe out the sect since assuming office in May 29.
The United States has condemned the recent Boko Haram attacks in the northeast part of Nigeria.
Department of State Spokesperson, John Kirby, in a statement made available to The Nation, said the October 23 and 24 attacks on mosques in Adamawa and Borno States were horrific and indiscriminate.
It decried the use of children as suicide bombers, adding that it was prove of the horrific measures Boko Haram is willing to take to terrorize civilians in northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region.
“We offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families and loved ones of the many innocent civilians who were killed and injured.
“The apparent use of children—particularly young girls—to commit these attacks is especially heinous, and it provides yet more examples of the horrific measures Boko Haram is willing to take to terrorize civilians in northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region.
“The United States continues to support the governments and people of the Lake Chad Basin region in their ongoing struggle to defeat Boko Haram. We will continue to assist these vital efforts in every appropriate way,” the statement said.
Ebonyi State Commissioner for Education Prof John Eke has urged practitioners in the sector to tackle examination malpractice and other vices.
He spoke at the launch of the Ebonyi State School Empowerment Project organised by Safe Schools Academy International in collaboration with the state government.
He warned that examination malpractice, which had become rampant with proliferation of miracle centres, if allowed to continue, could be more dangerous than the Boko Haram insurgency.
His words: “Examination malpractice is more destructive than Boko Haram. I say this because Boko Haram can kill, destroy property and go but the destruction wrought by examination malpractice affects the fabric and strata of the society. Its effect is felt in the present generation and generations unborn.”
About 4,000 safe school manuals were distributed, 600 teachers and administrators were trained as Safe School Ambassadors.
National Task Team Leader Ike Onyechere said the programme was aimed at strengthening education and local government system in the state.
He said the trainees, to serve as Safe School Ambassadors, would possess the knowledge of what to do in terms of preventive and mitigation actions if and when emergencies occur. They would also have the capacity to assess the nature of risks and threats peculiar to the school environment.
Onyechere stressed that the programme was apt based on the realities that schools were increasingly becoming targets of terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Regional Director of UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office Mr. Benoit Sossou said the psychological impact of these attacks on children and parents was significant with schools now perceived as danger zones and as such, discouraging school attendance.
It is likely that when President Muhammadu Buhari a few months back directed the security outfits to defeat the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram by December, he probably did not take the weather dimension into consideration. But that may affect the realisation of the president’s deadline.
The Sambisa forest, which is the heart of the war and most likely the base of the sect, is a difficult terrain in itself without the weather challenges.
As the rainy season is gradually coming to an end, the hazy harmattan weather in the war-torn area is fast taking over the terrain.
While visibility in the area during raining season is poor, the situation is worse under harmattan period as it will be almost impossible to see clearly beyond three meters diameters from any point in the forest.
The weather is now providing the enemies unnecessary cover that may work against the deadline.
If extra care is not taken, the weather may further give the insurgents the cover to plan more ambush against the armed forces and carry out more of their evil attacks against the masses.
Despite the new challenges, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin, has expressed the armed forces’ commitment to meeting the deadline.
He was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja last week Monday with other service chiefs to brief the President on the latest development.
He said “It is a normal consultation to intimate him of the issues on the ground. We briefed him on the security situation on ground after a 60-day review and we had to brief him on the challenges we have and ensure that the mandate we have is properly delivered.
“Of course, the challenges we are looking at are the issues of probably the weather as it were and some other logistics that we feel we should have so that the mandate can be quickly delivered.
On whether there will be shift in the deadline, he said: “We have not said that. The mandate is that we should clear Boko Haram from the occupied territories and ensure that we reclaim all the lost grounds. That is exactly what we are doing.
“It is a military operation and military operations have time-lines and these time-lines, we are working on it assiduously.
He also disclosed that the US and UK have been involved in capacity building as part of their support to the government.
As the capacity building continues, it is hoped that members of the Nigeria armed forces involved in the fight will be given the necessary gadgets and equipment to overcome the weather challenges and end the insurgency as scheduled.
There is no doubt that US and UK and other supporters have the gadgets needed to scale the hurdles being presented by weather in the area.
Shunning first Council of State meeting
Immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan was among the past living Presidents and Heads of State that did not attend the first Council of State meeting under President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday.
The meeting, which was held at the Presidential Villa, was expected to be attended by the serving President and Vice President, all living former Presidents and Heads of State; President of the Senate; Speaker of the House of Representatives; all living former Chief Justices of Nigeria and all state governors among others.
Many past leaders, who were abroad for one thing or the other had in the past cancelled or shortened their visits abroad in order to attend such Council of State meeting where important decisions having great impact on the country are taken.
Other former Presidents who could not attend the Wednesday Council of State meeting are Shehu Shagari and Olusegun Obasanjo.
The duo have however attended several Council of State meetings under past administrations and could have been absent from Wednesday meeting for one cogent reason or the other.
For the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his reason for been absent at the meeting, which is the first under his tenure, is known to all as he had to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal the same day.
But it is not clear why the immediate past President Jonathan stayed away from the first meeting after leaving office.
His presence at the first meeting would have send a strong message to Nigerians.
It is hoped that his absence is unconnected with the anti-corruption drive of President Buhari, who is probing some activities under the immediate administration.
Jonathan is expected to give Buhari all the encouragement and supports he needs to catch all the looters who diverted and stole the commonwealth of the people without his knowledge during his tenure.
Among the past leaders, who were on hand to encourage the new administration on Wednesday included Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar (rtd) and Chief Ernest Shonekan.
Thumbs up for Jega
Against all odds, the former National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega served the country dedicatedly and meritoriously.
During his tenure he midwived many elections in the country which were seen to be freer, fairer and more transparent globally.
Of special note among the elections was the one that brought in the present administration headed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
So it was not out of place for the Council of State on Wednesday to single out and commend Jega for his achievements in the electoral system in Nigeria.
Apart from the Council Secretariat directed to note the commendations, a letter of commendation may also later be sent to Jega.
•Borno governor meets with Imam
As Boko Haram holding any part of Nigeria’s territory? Yes, says Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, who claims the sect is occupying two local governments in his state.
But the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, disagrees, saying the military has routed the insurgents from every inch of the country’s land.
The governor was addressing a visiting Federal Government delegation led by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Mr. Babachir David Lawal.
Lt. Gen. Buratai spoke with reporters in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Shettima said: “They(Boko Haram) are at present controlling two local governments in Borno State; Abadam and Mobbar and they are partially in Marte.”
He added: ”At some point, Boko Haram overran 20 out of our 27 local government areas in Borno State. They overran four local government areas in Adamawa and two in Yobe.”
Lt. Gen Buratai, who spoke with reporters after addressing troops at the Headquarters of 3 Division, the Marxwel Khobe Cantonment, said: “No Boko Haram is holding any territory in Nigeria at the momment, I have not heard any Boko Haram member or leader making such claim, they are no more in control.
“We are more determined and we have more professional soldiers on the ground, we have been trained and equipped and ready to face the challenge, if any, posed by Boko Haram”.
On the December deadline given the military by President Muhammadu Buhari to stamp out Boko Haram, the army boss said: “I can confidently say we are on course, we are mindful of our target, and we know we have two months to achieve that target. We don’t have doubt in our minds, we will achieve our target by December 31.”
The army boss told the troops said he was in Jos on a familiarisation visit and to acquaint the troops with his vision to reposition the Army following his appointment aa service chief
The troops bombarded the army boss with complaints mostly on welfare. He promised to address them.
Lt. Gen. Buratai was with the GOC,3 Division, Maj. Gen. Hassan Umaru and others.
Governor Shettima yesterday alongside Heads of the Army, Police and Department of State Service and the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi met with Imams of mosques in Maiduguri, Jere, district heads (Aja) and ward heads (Lawans) to discuss security matters aimed at developing fresh strategies to prevent recent tricks deployed by Boko Haram insurgents who attack worshippers at predawn prayers at mosques in Maiduguri.
The General Officer Commanding the 7th Division of the Army in Maiduguri, the Police Commissioner and the Director of the DSS attended.
Governor Shettima told them that similar meetings would be held by the emirs of Biu and Shani with imams in local government areas not yet under attack so that worshippers would not be taken unawares. Shettima said while the Imams lead worshippers during congregational prayers and also head management of various mosques, ward heads are required to ensure that worshippers in every mosque across the over 30 wards in Maiduguri, Jere and surrounding areas adhere strictly to the resolutions reached at the meeting to enhance community policing.
• ‘We acted on intelligence reports’
Military operatives and officers of the police and State Security Service (SSS) yesterday raided Kuje, a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
Many suspected Boko Haram members and hoodlums were arrested after operatives combed major areas and suburbs of the town.
It was learnt that the raid was in connection with search for suspected Boko Haram members and hoodlums.
The operatives converged at the Divisional Police headquarters in Kuje where many of the suspects were taken to.
Our correspondent gathered from top security operative that the arrested hoodlums will be properly interrogated and their homes searched before they can be released.
Few weeks ago, multiple bombs exploded in Kuje killing several people and leaving others injured.
Surveillance has been increased the area and its environs since the incident.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, confirmed the raid to our correspondent on phone, explaining that it was based on intelligence reports.
According to him: “What we are doing are proactive measures to ensure that FCT is safe and secure, taking the battle to these miscreants and hoodlums.
“And they are intelligence- led; we don’t just storm a place. When we storm, it is a product of intelligence that has been gathered.
”It will be a continuous exercise until we are very sure that people can sleep with their two eyes closed.
“We want it to get to a level that when you are travelling within FCT, you will not be afraid. We want to eliminate the fear of crime.”
The Lagos State Government has urged citizens in the state to remain calm but very vigilant as the police and other security agencies intensify their efforts to rid the state of hoodlums, armed robbers and suspected terrorists.
Speaking against the background of the arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) of 45 suspected Boko Haram members who allegedly planned to attack Dolphin Estate in Ikoyi, the state government expressed confidence in the combined efforts of DSS, police and other security agencies to keep the state free of terror attacks and stamp out robberies and violent crimes.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the state government vowed not to relent in its constitutional duty to ensure the safety of lives and property throughout the length and breadth of the state.
While calling on the people to be more security conscious, the statement said: “Due to the economic hardship being experienced all over the country with many states and private business owners battling with payments of salaries and wages, Lagos State has become the prime destination for several thousands of people who now throng the state with no plan to return, because they believe this is the state where economic succour is available.”
The statement said not only is this internal exodus into Lagos putting an unprecedented pressure on road infrastructure and traffic management, as well as constituting a burden on housing and hospitals across the state, it has also constituted security threat which now requires every citizen to be extra vigilant.
“Our appeal goes to every school, housing estates, religious houses, markets and shopping complexes, hotels and restaurants and sporting arenas to take issues of security and personal safety more serious these days and to work with both the government and security agencies in promptly reporting any persons with suspicious activities or unusual gatherings that may compromise security. Care must also be taken in how domestic servants and house aides are also employed,” the statement added.
In another development, Governor Ambode has reiterated the determination of his administration to render good governance and selfless service to the people of the state.
Speaking at the opening of the 39th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Society of International Law with the theme ‘International Law and Extremism,’ the governor, who was represented by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, said: “A theme of this nature is very imperative, especially in this critical period of our dear country, Nigeria, when we, like many other countries, are at the receiving end of acts of extremism in its various forms. Extremism breeds insecurity and uncertainty under which no meaningful development can take place.”
He noted that the effect of insurgency is particularly exemplified by the devastation which the North Eastern part of the country has witnessed; with thousands of internally displaced persons in need of support to be reintegrated back into the society.
He, however, expressed optimism that the commitment demonstrated so far by President Muhammadu Buhari, the support of the international community and the renewed determination of the armed forces have rekindled hope that the defeat of Boko Haram is imminent.