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Tag: boko haram

  • Democracy a mirage with continuing attacks, abductions – EYN Church

    Attacks and abductions by Boko Haram and herders are still constant and the government has a lot to do in curbing them if it means business about protecting the citizens and democratic governance, a church group has said.

    The Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, otherwise named Ekklesiyar ‘Yan’uwa A Nijeriya (EYN), which took the position during a conference of its leaders at the church’s headquarters in Kwarhi, in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, said Nigeria had failed woefully in the restoration of peace to troubled communities.

    The President of the EYN, Rev Joel Billi, who delivered a speech at the 72nd General Church Council (GCC) Conference currently holding in Kwsrhi, said, “Boko Haram attack is almost on a daily basis. Thilamakalama (in Chibok LGA, Borno State) suffered several attacks before they were finally displaced from the village. Ngurthlavu (in Danboa LGA also Borno State) was attacked on March 13, 2019 where many houses were burnt and the terrorists left with two girls.”

    Read Also: Boko Haram attacks Michika, bombs bank

    He said people in government who had failed to secure the country were going about heavily guarded on public account while the rest of the people were left almost completely at the mercy of incessant attackers.

    “Nigeria is drifting day by day towards state of anarchy while we are busy blowing big grammar that we are practicing democracy. Honestly, we are far away from real democracy,” the EYN president asserted.

    The EYN General Church Council Conference, which started on Tuesday March 2 and will run up to Friday March 5 under the theme, ‘Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith,’ attracts about 1,500 pastors and other church leaders from about 700 congregations of the EYN in Nigeria and abroad.

     

  • Air Force kills Boko Haram leaders, others

    The Nigerian Air Force Tuesday said it has launched series of air strikes on the hideouts of Boko Haram terrorists at the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno state.

    Its spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that the operations led to killing of high valued Boko Haram members.

    He added the operations were carried out after intelligence platform had established the presence of the terrorists in the area.

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has significantly degraded an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) Terrorists’ Hideout and neutralized some of its leaders and fighters at Magari on the fringes of Lake Chad in the Northern part of Borno State.

    “This was accomplished in an air interdiction mission conducted on Tuesday, 1 April 2019, following credible intelligence reports indicating that some senior ISWAP leaders arrived the settlement on Friday, 30 April 2019, along with some of their fighters.

    Read Also: Air Force destroys insurgents’ logistics in Borno

    “Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions conducted over the weekend confirmed increased level of human activities in the settlement with a prominent ISWAP flag observed near 2 compounds in the settlement indicating the presence of high level leaders of the Sect.

    “Accordingly, 2 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, supported by an ISR platform, were dispatched to attack the identified compounds within the settlement.

    “Overhead the target area, some terrorists were observed in the vicinity of the compounds. The bombs from the 2 Alpha Jets recorded direct hits on the target compounds resulting in destruction of several structures, which were seen engulfed in flames. Several of the terrorists were also neutralized in the process.

    “The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its operations against the terrorists in the Northeast.”

  • Troops neutralise Boko Haram commander, 15 others on Lake Chad island

    The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), has neutralised a Boko Haram commander, Malloum Moussa and 15 of his foot soldiers during a clearance operation on Lake Chad Island.

    According to a statement by Col. Timothy Antigha, the spokesman of the task force on Sunday, troops destroyed five gun trucks belonging to the terrorists in the operation.

    He said the troops also arrested a woman whose relationship with the terrorists is yet to be determined.

    Antigha said intelligence revealed that Moussa who had one eye was a high ranking Boko Haram commander who has jurisdiction in the entire Southern island, including Daban Masara, Kirta Wulgo and Koleram.

    “He was notorious for imposing hefty levies on farmers, fishermen and cattle herders to fund Boko Haram terrorism and insurgency in the locality,” he said.

  • We have recorded success against Boko Haram – Army

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday said it had recorded significant successes in the campaign against Boko Haram insurgency in the past four years in the country.

    Bri.-Gen. Bulama Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, said this at a social gathering organized to mark the 2018 Nigerian Army Social Activities (NASA), at Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.

    Biu said that the successful celebration of NASA in Maiduguri highlighted the military’s triumph over the insurgents and restoration of peace to the war-torn region.

    He noted that the military had successfully restored normalcy and  peace in Maiduguri and other parts of the region, compared to the chaotic situation bedeviling the area in the past years.

    Biu explained that the military had re-opened major high ways and roads, hitherto closed due to the insurgents attacks and rescued thousands of people from insurgents’ captivity.

    “Today’s occasion offers us unique opportunity to celebrate the prevailing peace in the northeast, particularly in Borno which by God’s grace, has been achieved through the doggedness and boldness of our troops and the stakeholders.

    Our officers and soldiers, therefore, deserve to celebrate their year of success over the terrorists having toiled tenaciously to keep the peace of the land through their sweat and blood with many paying the supreme sacrifice.

    There is no doubt that we have conducted many successful operations in 2018; we are  determined to conduct more until Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal elements are completely purged out of our land.

    Through our successful operations, many roads, hitherto closed due to the insurgents activities, have been reopened and secured to promote hinterland economy.

    Also, several people were rescued from captivity while many resettled back to their homes with adequate support for their farming activities,” he said.

    Biu added that the army, under its stability operations, had restored peace, essential services and provided humanitarian services, to support the populace directly or through coordinated efforts with development organizations.

    Read also: Dickson to Army: fish out killers of Govt House photographer

    According to him, the army will intensify campaign to clear remnants of the insurgents in the region.

    Elaborating further on NASA, Biu said the event was designed to enable the army to appraise its performances in the past one year, celebrate successes, and enable personnel and their families to partake in series of relaxation activities.

    Biu said that it also availed the army unique opportunity to promote mutual understanding with communities and other security organizations.

    While commending Gov. Kashim Shettima over his support to the military, the commander called on people to support the military, to ensure successful implementation of the counter insurgency campaign.

    Maj.-Gen. Benson Akinroluyo, the Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, also commended the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and other security agencies for their contributions in the successful execution of the war against insurgency.

    Akinroluyo reiterated the commitments of the military to ensure total defeat of the insurgents and restoration of peace to the northeast region.

    Alhaji Usman Durkwa, the Deputy Governor of the state, lauded the military over the successes recorded in the campaign against the terrorists.

    Durkwa said “in the past 10 years, our military, in conjunction with other security formations, contributed greatly in the fight against insurgency and other criminal activities in the northeast.

    They have had sleepless nights in their efforts to safeguard the lives and property of our people. This has been the result of the relative peace our communities are enjoying today”.

    He pledged government’s support to the military to enable it to discharge its mandate effectively.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlight of the events featured dance by various cultural troupes, including Kanuri, Igbo, Yaruba, Tiv and Idoma.

    The event was attended by the Speaker, Borno House of Assembly, Mr Abdulkarim Lawan, representatives of the United Nations (UN) agencies, humanitarian organizations, military commanders and other security organizations. (NAN)

  • How we foiled Boko Haram’s bid to rob bank —DHQ

    Successful military operations carried out this week foiled a major Boko Haram bank robbery, tackled armed banditry and prevented the sabotage of critical national economic assets, the Defence Headquarters has said.

    In a statement issued yesterday, Defence Headquarters spokesman, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, gave details of coordinated nationwide military operations in Adamawa, Zamfara, Benue, Delta and Nassarawa states, noting that several security threats were successfully neutralised.

    “In its relentless effort to ensure adequate national security, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has been engrossed in tackling the menace of terrorism, insurgency, armed banditry and sabotage of critical national economic assets through coordinated military operations across the country, the statement said, adding that the DHQ had recorded “quite a number of operational successes over the week.”

    Nwachukwu added: “Some of the successes recorded include repelling Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) attack on Michika Town in Michika Local Government Area (LGA), Adamawa State.

    “The insurgents, who were on a looting mission for logistics, had attacked a bank and some shops in the area, damaging an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and carting away food items.

    “However, the insurgents ran out of luck when troops of 143 Battalion and 115 Task Force Brigade at neighbouring Lassa in Borno State mobilised to the area and engaged the insurgents in a fierce combat, forcing the insurgents to flee.

    “The fleeing insurgents were again ambushed and neutralised by Special Forces troops at Maikadiri Village in Askira Uba LGA of Borno State. The gallant troops recovered one Hilux van, two Toyota Starlet cars loaded with looted foodstuff and motorcycles from the fleeing insurgents.

    “Similarly, troops in Zamfara State have arrested an impostor parading himself as a military officer in Tundun Wada area of Gusau metropolis in Zamfara State. The suspect, who identified himself as Abdulresheed Sylvester, was arrested dressed up in military uniform with the rank of Major.

    “In order to stem the menace of armed banditry in the North Central part of the country, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke conducted a raid operation on a suspected bandits’ camp at Dogo Gawa, a border community between Takum in Taraba State and Katsina-Ala in Benue State.

    “In a shootout that ensued, the bandits who were overpowered by the superior firepower of the troops fled, abandoning their camp.

    Read also: Boko Haram: I slept in tents to encourage my people return home – Borno monarch

    “The gallant troops recovered one locally made riffle, one laptop, two cell phones, SIM cards, ATM cards and a sum of N400,000. The camp was subsequently destroyed by troops who are currently on the trail of the fleeing bandits,” he stated.

    While soliciting public assistance with timely information that can help the military, he further stated that the operations of bandits, including illegal refining,were disrupted in military operations conducted this week.

    He said: “Troops of Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke deployed at Ondori in Doma LGA have raided a suspected militia hideout at Abuja Ogor, a local settlement in Doma LGA, Nasarawa State and recovered two AK 47 riffles with two empty magazines, one Clarion 5.56 Israeli Assault rifle mounted with a magazine.

    “In another raid on bandits’ hideout in the same location, troops arrested two armed bandits with two AK 47 rifles, three magazines and 126 rounds of ammunition.

    “In tackling the spate of economic sabotage of the nation’s key national economic asset, troops of 222 Battalion on routine patrol arrested two suspected pipeline vandals along Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) pipeline around Isoko South LGA of Delta State; the suspects were arrested along with a tanker truck and 8 motorcycles while attempting to vandalize a petroleum pipeline.

  • Boko Haram: I slept in tents to encourage my people return home – Borno monarch

    The Emir of Akira-Uba in Borno State, Alhaji Abdullhi Ibn-Muhammed, has said he used to sleep in tent when he returned home after the liberation of his kingdom from Boko Haram insurgents.

    Recounting his ordeal, Mohammed, said he voluntarily returned home and slept for several weeks in tents to build confidence and encourage his subjects to also return home.

    Mohammed spoke yesterday  when Brigadier General  Bulama Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Uba.

    Ibn-Muhammed said that when the insurgents sacked the town in 2014, his people ran for their lives and became Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in various places.

    He said: “When the town was reclaimed by the military, I took courage to return to my palace along with the members of my traditional institution. We returned and saw that most of the structures were razed. They burnt my palace; some of the structures that remain standing are the brick fireplaces of homes.

    “Despite all these challenges, we came back and stayed. Some of us were taking shelter in makeshift tents. I slept in my burnt palace. And sometimes when it rained, we had to put ourselves together in one place and cover ourselves.”

    He commended the military for their efforts in safeguarding the peace, security and territorial integrity of the country.

    “It is because of the commitment you have given towards ending the lingering crisis of Boko Haram that we are enjoying relative peace in our community,” he said.

    We in Askira will always thank you for making it possible for us to come back home.

    “It is a well known fact that fighting insurgency is a difficult task. It is very difficult because you don’t always know where the next attack will come from but the army has done tremendously well and lived up to expectation.

    “War cannot be completely won within a short period of time. It requires continuous efforts of mobilization, fighting, sensitization, enlightenment and support from all stakeholders.

    “The government should continue educating them (insurgents) to drop their arms, embrace peace as well as meaningful reintegration.

    “Those taking arms should understand that they cannot fight the government.”

    The emir said Boko Haram has “nothing to do with Islam because most of their victims are Muslims.”

    He added: “the Muslims are the worst affected population of this war. They kill both Muslims and Christians.”

    Ibn-Muhammed further appealed to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to establish and deploy a permanent battalion in Askira-Uba for the security of his people.

    Brig.-Gen. Biu said he was at the palace to pay homage to the monarch and to thank him for all the support and cooperation he had been giving to the troops of 28 Task Force Brigade.

    Biu said he was on operational trip as part of the effort to boost morale of the fighting troops and to interact with them on some of their concerns.

    “We are in Konduga, Kawuri, Bama, Gwoza, Pulka, Madagali, Michika where we sympathised with the people on the March 14 incident and now we are here.

  • Boko Haram: Chad fires military chief over death of 23 soldiers

    President Idris Deby of Chad has removed  his armed forces chief of staff  and two other ranking officers on account of  a Boko Haram attack that claimed the lives of 23 soldiers.

    Fired were Brahim Seid Mahamat and his two deputies hours after the insurgents struck at Dangdala on the northeastern bank of Lake Chad.

    The Friday attack has been described as the deadliest by Boko Haram on the Chadian military.

    Earlier on Thursday, the terrorists killed eight civilians at Karidi in southeastern Niger in the Diffa region bordering Lake Chad.

  • Boko Haram: I slept in tents to encourage my people – Borno monarch

    The Emir of Akira-Uba in Borno, Alhaji Abdullhi Ibn-Muhammed, said he slept in tent when he returned home after the liberation of his kingdom from the control of Boko Haram insurgents.

    Recounting his ordeal, Mohammed, said he was voluntarily returned home and slept for several weeks in tent to build confidence and encourage his subjects to also return home.

    Mohammed said this on Saturday when Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Uba.

    Ibn-Muhammed said that when the insurgents sacked the town in 2014, his people ran for thier lìves and became Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in various places.

    “When the town was reclaimed by the military, I took caurage to return back to my palace along with the members of my traditional institution.

    “We returned and saw that most of the structures were razed. They burnt my palace; some of the structures that remain standing are the brick fireplaces of homes.

    “Despite all these challenges, we came back and stayed. Some of us were taking shelter in mikeshift tents. I slept in my burnt palace. And sometimes when it rained, we have to put our selves together in one place and cover ourselves,”he said.

    The monarch commended the efforts and sacrifices of the military in safeguarding the peace, security and territorial integrity of the country.

    “It is because of the commitment you have given towards ending the lingering crisis of Boko Haram that we are enjoying relative peace in our community.

    We in Askira will always thank you for making it possible for us to come back home.

    “It is a well known fact that fighting insurgency is a difficult task. It is very difficult because you dont always know where the next attack will come from but the army has done tremendously well and lived to the expectation.

    “War cannot be completely won within the short period of time. It requires continuous efforts of mobilisation, fighting, sensistisation, enlightenment and support from all stakeholders.

    “The government needed to continue educating them (insurgents) to drop their arms, embrace peace as well as meaningful reintegration.

    Those taking arms should understand that they cannot fight the government.

    The emir lamented that the terrorists had inflicted unprecedented damage to people’s lives and property under the guise of Islam, noting that going by thier actions, they have nothing to do with the religion they claimed to be fighting for.

    “The group has nothing to do with Islam because most of their victims are Muslims.

    The Muslims are the worst affected population of this war. They kill both Muslims and Christians.

    “I therefore want to assure you that we will continue to do our best to support you to succeed. To me, I have that vision of what the army required,”he said.

    Ibn-Muhammed further appealed to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to establish and deploy a parmanent battalion in Askira-Uba to enhance more security for his people.

    Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, said he was at the palace to pay homage to the monarch as well as thank him for all the support and cooperation he had been providing to the troops of 28 Task Force Brigade.

    Biu said he was on operational trip as part of the effort to boost morale of the fighting troops and to interact with them on some of thier concerns.

    “We are in Konduga, Kawuri, Bama, Gwoza, Pulka, Madagali, Michika where we sympathised with the people on the March 14 incident and now we are here.

    “We will be going to Chibok, the Headquarters of the brigade and Damboa all in an effort to support our fighting troops,”he said.

    The GOC said that the recent attacks, which were mostly repelled, amounted to a kick of the dying horse, noting that the Nigerian Army was committed to ensuring lasting peace and sanity in the entire northeast.

    “I will faward the request you made to the Chief of Army Staff for his consideration,”he said.

  • Boko Haram: Michika elders request for more troops, armoured tanks

    Community leaders in Michika, Adamawa State have  appealed to the Nigerian Army to deploy more troops and armoured tanks to the town to enhance security.

    The appeal followed  Monday’s  attack by Boko Haram insurgents on the only commercial bank building in the town on a robbery mission but were repelled by the army.

    Some of the leaders made the appeal yesterday during an operational visit to the town by Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, the acting General Officer Commanding,7 Division of the army, and Commander Sector 1.

    Muhammed Usman, an elder and Head of Muslim Community in Michika, said the call was imperative to fast track and revamp socio-economic activities in the community.

    He explained that additional checkpoints should be mounted in Kuburshosho Goni and Shuwa areas in the town to check future attacks.

    He also urged the army to furnish residents with means of reaching out to them when distressed, saying many locals heard the news of the Monday attack but were constrained to reach out to military authorities.

    He said: “sometimes we hear news of the movement of the insurgents just five kilometers away from the town but we don’t know how to communicate to army. There is the need for army to give us telephone numbers to call when distressed.”

    Mr Jidda Kwache, an elder and District Head of Michika, said that the deployment of more troops in the area would complement the efforts of the fighting troops on ground.

    Kwacha said that the last time the town witnessed any attack was in 2014, noting that the Monday attack left uncertainty in the minds of the people in the community.

    Yakubu Jaha-Michika, the Commander of Hunters in Michika, appealed to the Adamawa Government to deploy more security operatives to the area.

    Jaha-Michika said that the state government should arm and equip local hunters to help in providing local vigilance patrol.

    Reacting, Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu said he was in the town to sympathise with the people on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

    He urged the community, traditional and religious leaders in the town to support the military’s effort to defeat Boko Haram and other undesirable elements.

    He said “security is everybody’s business and not for army alone, I, therefore, urge you to always provide prompt information on any suspicious activities.”

  • Michika: Buratai hails troops for foiling Boko Haram attack

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has commended troops of Operation Lafiya Dole for displayed great valour in repelling Boko Haram insurgents’ attack in Michika, Adamawa.

    Buratai made the commendation during an operational visit to troops of 155 and 143 Task Force Battalion at Michika and Lassa.

    Buratai, who was represented by Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander Sector I, Operation Lafiya Dole said the troops successfully repelled attempt by the insurgents to attack the community.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the insurgents on March 18 , attacked the only commercial bank building in the town and looted shops.

    He said that the troops displayed high sense of patriotism and gallantry in the defeat of the insurgents and prevented their robbery mission.

    “I am proud of you, The COAS is proud of you for your doggedness and commitment. We must also understand that this pure resilient, doggedness and focus must be upscale

    “We must be prepared to always put up strong offensive so that they don’t have any hiding place. The end of insurgents cannot come on it own, we must be all out and remain focused.

    “We have upscale our operations in all the Theatre and it is yielding many results. We have neutralised dozens of the terrorist and recovered many weapons in Northern Borno. There is no hiding place for the terrorist.

    “No longer remaining in defence position. How can you be in defence when the insurgents can bypass you. You must, therefore, locate them at all level and neutralised them.

    “We must always work together as formidable team and move aggressively to cut off their supply chain when we do that we will defeat them,”he said.

    The GOC therefore urged Commanders of the battalion to give purposeful leadership in other to achieve the desired goal of defeating Boko Haram.

    The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), report that the GOC who was accompanied by Brig.-Gen. Muhammed Abubakar, Commander 25 Brigade of the Army and other principal staff officers of the Division, visited the bank were the incident happen.

    Abubakar who provided more details of the incident briefed the GOC that the insurgents stormed the town around 7:20 pm but met their Waterloo by combined efforts of troops who swiftly responded to distress calls.

    “Consequently, the gallant troops, with reinforcement from 143 Battalion Gulak, engaged the terrorists on Two Front Coordinated Attacks. The insurgents were completely routed by the troops, neutralising many of them while others fled in disarray due to superior firepower,”he said.

    The Brigade Commander added that the insurgents targeted the vault and the ATM machine but were not able to access into them.

    He added that four staff of the bank is access code to the vault were also targeted in their home by the insurgents but flew away.

    “We stationed our men throughout the night to make sure secure the bank facility and handed over to the Branch Manager,”he said. (NAN)