The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • Boko Haram: Troops construct water, bread factories to support soldiers

    Troops of 115 Task Force Battalion, Operation Lafiya Dole, Nigerian Army in Askira-Uba, have constructed bread and sachet water factories to support soldiers fighting Boko Haram insurgents in Borno.

    Maj. Yusuf Salisu, 115 Task Force Commander, disclosed during Operational visit of Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division of the army on Friday.

    Salisu, who was represented by Maj. Godwin Ameh, said that the project was executed under the Battalion Commander Humanitarian Initiative.

    He said that the initiative came as part of the modality toward protecting its soldiers from consuming unwholesome and poisonous foods or water from Boko Haram and their sympathisers.

    He explained that some of the bread sold daily in commercial places could contain cancer-causing chemicals, including Potassium Bromate and Potassium Iodate, which are banned substances in the country.

    According to him, the whole idea is to provide healthy food to our soldiers.

    “The initiative was also designed to provide humanitarian support and services to the less privileged in the hospitals, church, mosque and the entire host communities with a view to strengthen civic relationship.

    “So far we have provided bread for more than 2,000 patients in the hospitals in the communities.

    “Every Friday and Sunday we take bread and distribute free of charge to Muslim and Christian in the communities.

    “It has already yielded positive result because we were able to minimise cost of providing breakfast to our soldiers.

    “Also, potable drinking water, which used to pose great challenge in the past had also been addressed through our water factory,” he said.

    “All our factories had been accessed and licensed by NAFDAC and they have certified that the factories met best standard,” he said.

    Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division of the army, commended the troops for the initiative, noting that it would go a long way in reducing risk, illness and improving the health and safety of the troops.

    Biu said: “One of the core strategies of winning any war in the world was threatening civil-military relationship, I am happy that you are already done that here.

    “The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Burutai is proud of you; we are all proud of you and this type of laudable initiative of yours cannot be ignored,” he said.

    He urged other brigades within the theatre to emulate the 155 battalion initiative and ideas that would add meaningful value to the welfare of troops while executing the counter terrorism campaign.

    The GOC also charged soldiers and officers in the battalion to be committed, focused and decisive in their duties.

    He assured the army under the leadership of COAS Lt.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, would work toward providing them with all the necessary support to enhance its operation and win the war. (NAN)

  • Poor sanitation kills more Nigerians than Boko Haram – Saraki

    Wife of Senate President, Toyin Saraki has stated poor sanitation and hygiene kill Nigerians more annually than Boko Haram terrorists.

    She also said the country loses $3.38 billion annually to poor sanitation condition.

    According to her, the $3.38 billion annual loss due to poor sanitation, constituted 0.9% per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Products.

    Mrs. Saraki stated this during a stakeholder meeting to celebrate this year’s World Water Day on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The programme was organised by an international nongovernmental organisation, WaterAid and Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta – PIND Foundation.

    She said: “We know that one out of three Nigerians does not have clean water close to home and two in three do not have a decent household toilet.

    “This contributes to the deaths of nearly 60,000 children under five each year of diarrhea illnesses caused by dirty water, poor sanitation and poor hygiene.

    “Our WASH conditions kill more people annually in Nigeria than have died in conflict with Boko Haram. According to WaterAid, it also means a loss of 0.9% of our GDP, around $3.38 billion a year.

    “Women and infants are dying needlessly in labour rooms, with maternal sepsis taking a mother’s life at what should be the most joyous of times.

    “I believe that if we truly intend to leave no-one behind, we must start with a toilet for all and ensure that after using that toilet, handwashing with soap ensures clean hands for all.”

    READ ALSO: UNGA: Toyin Saraki makes case for midwives, frontline health workers

    Mrs. Saraki said she will be working with the World Bank on its campaign in Nigeria to end open defecation, which stands at 25 percent and posed a serious sanitary hazard to Nigerians.

    She said her organisation, Wellbeing Foundation Africa launched a water, sanitation and hygiene campaign when it discovered that Nigeria’s sanitation condition was getting worse.

    “We did so because of the overwhelming evidence coming back to us from our front line healthcare programmes that we had to retrace our steps – that WASH indices in Nigeria were not only poor; but were worsening in many instances.

    “WASH indices are often, rightly, discussed as statistical values. That is of course crucial to any national plan, and the WBFA staunchly advocates for improved civil registration and vital statistics systems.

    “Meanwhile, poor WASH conditions endanger Infection Prevention and Control systems. The fact that outbreaks of diseases have been so severe in Nigeria recently – with the WHO commenting that the Lassa fever outbreak last year was unprecedented – is no coincidence,” she said.

  • Bill Clinton lauds 8-year-old Nigerian boy for winning Chess Championship

    Former U.S President, Bill Clinton has congratulated the eight year-old Nigerian chess champion, Tanitoluwa Adewunmi and also invited him and his parents to his office for personal introduction.

    The young Nigerian recently won the New York State Chess championship for his age bracket.

    The New York Times reported that Adewunmi had won seven chess trophies including the state tournament, where he outwitted other children.

    The story went viral and got the attention of Clinton.

    According to the New York Times, the young chess champion’s family are taking asylum in a homeless shelter in Manhattan after they fled the Boko Haram insurgency since 2018.

    Adewunmi, went undefeated at the state tournament, outwitting children from elite private schools with private chess tutors.

    Tanitoluwa rating is now 1587 and rising fast and he is being compared with the world’s best player, Magnus Carlsen, who stands at 2845.

    READ ALSO: Winner emerges in Navy chess championship

    His feat has attracted commendations from parents and celebrities.

    In a tweet on his Twitter handle-@BillClinton, the former number one citizen said: “Refugees enrich our nation and talent is universal, even if opportunity is not.”

    The former U.S president now joins the queue of people celebrating the boy and his feats.

    Clinton said “this story made me smile, Tanitoluwa “ you exemplify a winning spirit – in chess and in life.”

    “And kudos to your hardworking parents. You all should stop by my office in Harlem; I’d love to meet you.”

    Tanitoluwa placed first in the New York State Scholastic Championships tournament for kindergarten through third grade, a remarkable win for anyone.

    In an interview with New York Times, the young chess champion said: “I want to be the youngest grand master.

    NAN

  • Five die in Boko Haram attack on Adamawa town

    THE Police in Adamawa State have confirmed that five residents of Michika died following an attack on a bank in the town on Monday night.

    Against earlier impression that the attack was the usual Boko Haram mission of causing a scare and destroying things and killing people and going away, the police command said the insurgents went purposely for a raid on the town’s only bank.

    The Nation gathered yesterday morning that the insurgents got into the town about 7pm on Monday after overpowering the military unit stationed there.

    Witnesses said the insurgents seized control of the town for a while, scaring hundreds of residents, who ran inside the surrounding bushes until soldiers arrived from Madagali after a reinforcement call.

    Michika lies in the northern part of Adamawa State, an immediate neighbour to Madagali Local Government Area, which was haunted by Boko Haram insurgents for weeks before the February 16 and March 9 general elections.

    During the Monday attack, the insurgents bombed the Union Bank branch – the only banking facility in the town.

    Sources said the insurgents also burnt houses in Koppa village as they fled towards Sambisa with soldiers and mobilised local hunters on their trail.

    Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Othman Abubakar, who gave an update on the attack to The Nation, said: “Five people died and the place they went to attack, the Union Bank, was badly destroyed. But they were unable to gain access to the strong room. They couldn’t penetrate.”

    The PPRO said: “Their motive must have been to go and get money. That would be why they went directly to hit the bank. I was made to understand that money was moved to the bank  earlier that day. They must have monitored the bank and went purposely for the money.”

    He said the insurgents were, however, unable to get to the money, especially as soldiers and other security agents stormed the place and succeeded in forcing the insurgents off and seizing cars and motorcycles they used in entering the town.

    He said the five residents who died might have been victims of stray bullets as they ran helter-skelter or directly from the guns of the insurgents.

    “They must have died from crossfire and from the sporadic shootings by the insurgents,” Othman said.

    Some residents were not comfortable yesterday about returning to their homes immediately .

    A native of Michika, who lives in Yola, Felicia Jacob, said her mother was on her way to Yola “to rest after the horror of the deadly attack”.

    But, the Army said yesterday that the troops of 115 Task Force Battalion and 143 Battalion in a two Front coordinated attacks successfully repelled the Boko Haram terrorists, who attacked Michika.

    According to the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, scores of Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, with some of them fleeing with gunshot wounds.

    Colonel Musa said in a statement issued in Abuja that the terrorists attacked Michika late night on Monday, but were dealt with severely by troops who organised blocking positions against them.

    He said the terrorists also hurriedly made away with dead bodies of some of their fighters.

    Read also: What do politicians think at death’s door?

    Colonel Musa said: “Boko Haram terrorists met their waterloo and suffered heavy casualties yesterday evening, March 18 2019, when they attempted to infiltrate Michika in Adamawa State.

    “At about 7.20pm, gallant troops of 115 Task Force Battalion deployed at Lassa in Borno State received a distress call from vigilance group at Maikadiri village on movement of suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Maikadiri – Shuwari Road enroute Michika.

    “The troops immediately organised blocking positions and swooped on the terrorists, which  led to an exchange of fire. The terrorists attempted to escape, but were intercepted and suppressed with heavy volume of fire.

    “Consequently, the troops with reinforcement from 143 Battalion Gulak engaged the terrorists on two front coordinated attacks.

    “The BHTs were completely routed by the troops, neutralising many of them, while others fled in disarray due to superior firepower.”

  • Police confirm five dead in Boko Haram attack on Michika

    The Adamawa State Police Command has confirmed that five residents of Michika died following an attack on a bank in the town on Monday night.

    Against earlier impression that the attack was the usual Boko Haram mission of causing a scare and destroying things and killing people and going away, the police command said that the insurgents, from all indications, went purposely for a raid on the town’s only bank.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Othman Abubakar, who gave an update on the attack to our correspondent Thursday afternoon, said, “Five people died and the place they went to attack, that’s Union Bank, was badly destroyed. But they were unable to gain access to the strong room. They couldn’t penetrate.”

    Explaining the command’s view that the insurgents had the sole purpose of carting money away, the PPRO said, “Their motive must have been to go and get money. That would be why they went directly to hit the bank. I was made to understand that money was moved to the bank earlier that day. They must have monitored the bank and went purposely for the money.”

    Read Also: Police kill four suspected robbers, injure three in Delta

    He said the insurgents were however unable to get to the money, especially as soldiers and other security agents stormed the place and succeeded in forcing the insurgents off and seizing cars and motorcycles they used in entering the town.

    He said the five residents who died might have been victims of stray bullets as they ran helter-skelter, or directly from the guns of the insurgents as they shot sporadically to scare people off.

    “They must have died from crossfire and from the sporadic shootings by the insurgents,” Othman said.

    The attack on the bank caused much dislocation within Michika, as hundreds were scared out of their houses into surrounding bushes and mountains, some apparently not comfortable about immediately returning to their homes.

    A native of Michika who lives in Yola, Felicia Jacob, said her mother was on her way to Yola, “to rest from the horror of the deadly attack.”

  • Adamawa: troops neutralise Boko Haram terrorists in Michika

    The Army said on Tuesday that troops of 115 Task Force Battalion and 143 Battalion in two front coordinated attacks have successfully repelled Boko Haram terrorists in Michika, Adamawa State.

    According to the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, scores of Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, with some of them fleeing with gunshot wounds.

    Colonel Musa said in a statement issued in Abuja that the terrorists attacked Michika late night on Monday, but were dealt with severely by troops who organized blocking positions against them.

    He said the terrorists also hurriedly made away with dead bodies of some of their fighters.

    Colonel Musa said: “Boko Haram terrorists met their Waterloo and suffered heavy casualties yesterday evening the 18th of March 2019 when they attempted to infiltrate Michika in Adamawa State.

    Read Also: Boko Haram terrorists attack Adamawa community

    “At about 7.20 pm, gallant troops of 115 Task Force Battalion deployed at Lassa in Borno State received a distress call from vigilantes at Maikadiri village on movement of suspected Boko Haram terrorists along Road Maikadiri – Shuwari enroute Michika.

    “The troops immediately organized blocking positions and swooped on the terrorists which led to an exchange of fire. The terrorists attempted to escape but were intercepted and suppressed with heavy volume of fire.

    “Consequently, the troops with reinforcement from 143 Battalion Gulak engaged the terrorists on Two Front Coordinated Attacks.

    “The BHTs were completely routed by the troops, neutralizing many of them, while others fled in disarray due to superior firepower.

    “As a result, they hastily evacuated most of their corpses under the cover of darkness. The entire area has been dominated by own troops and the situation is completely under control. Items captured from the terrorists include One Ford vehicle, two Toyota Starlet vehicles loaded with foodstuffs, one motorcycle and one tyre inflating machine.

    “Further exploitation is to be conducted this morning. Calm has since returned to the city and inhabitants of the town are hereby enjoined to report the presence of strange faces in their localities and go about their normal businesses. “

  • Boko Haram attacks Michika, bombs bank

    Boko Haram insurgents have attacked Michika town in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, razing the only commercial bank building in the town.

    The Nation gathered Tuesday morning that the insurgents got into the town about 7 pm Monday after overpowering the military formation in the town.

    Witnesses said the insurgents seized control of the town for a while, scaring hundreds of residents into surrounding bushes until soldiers arrived from Madagali following a reinforcement call from military authorities.

    Michika lies in the northern part of Adamawa State, an immediate neighbour to Madagali Local Government Area which was haunted by Boko Haram in the weeks and days to the February 16 and March 9 general elections.

    In the Monday attack on Michika, the insurgents bombed the Union Bank of Nigeria branch, the only banking facility in the town.

    Sources said the insurgents also burnt houses in Koppa village as they fled towards Sambisa with soldiers and mobilised local hunters on their trail.

    The Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Othman Abubakar who confirmed the attack in a telephone interview with our correspondent Tuesday morning, said his information did not indicate any human casualty and that security agents had brought the situation under control.

  • Boko Haram terrorists attack Adamawa community

    The military on Monday chased out insurgents who tried to enter Michika, a commercial town in Adamawa, after a fierce battle that raged for hours.

    Some residents of Michika told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they started hearing gunfire and explosions around 7 p.m. on Michika- Lassa road as the insurgents, who approached the town, were confronted by the military.

    “We are hearing gunshots and the fight is raging on,” a resident of Michika who simply identified himself as Idris, said.

    “Pray for us; Boko Haram are trying to enter Michika,” another resident, Teri, said.

    John Jigalambu, a resident of Bazza, a village near Michika, said they could hear gunshots and most residents in the village had escaped to avoid the attackers.

    Read also: MNJTF neutralises 33 Boko Haram terrorists in Lake Chad region

    Confirming the incident, the Adamawa Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, said the military was on top of the situation.

    According to Sajoh, the insurgents, who entered through Kirchinga village in neigbouring Madagali local government, were being chased out by the military which had deployed reinforcement.

    “They burnt the first bank in Michika and some shops,” Sajoh said. (NAN)

  • Troops cut Boko Haram’s supplies

    Troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have destroyed over 70 gun trucks, fuel dumps, vehicles and other facilities of the Boko Haram terrorists through the massive firepower of “Operation Yancin Tafki”.

    Spokesperson for the task force, Colonel Timothy Antigha said in a statement that through massive operations, which involved the Air Task Force component, the terrorists and their leadership are now in disarray.

    He added that Boko Haram fighters have been overwhelmed while their supply routes have been blocked, leading to frustrations and weariness among them.

    Colonel Antigha said: “As an aftermath of sustained air and land operations of the ongoing ‘Operation Yancin Tafki’, information from captured and defected Boko Haram fighters indicates that the leadership of Boko Haram terror network has been overwhelmed and are currently in disarray.

    “The former fighters, who are receiving humane attention, further divulged that morale and fighting spirit of Boko Haram fighters is very low as a result of growing insecurity and the inability to replenish stranded fighters in the islands with food, medicine and ammunition.

    “It would be recalled that an integral part of ‘Operation Yancin Tafki’ has been a series of well-coordinated day and night Human Intelligence as well as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions conducted by the Air Forces of the Lake Chad Basin countries; Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria, leading to successful and devastating air interdictions which have destroyed Boko Haram logistic facilities and fighters in Tumbum Gini, Abadam, Arege, Tumbun Rego and Dagaya environs  between March 7  and 11, 2019.

    “Additionally, in the last four weeks of the operation, about 70 Boko Haram vehicles; mostly gun trucks, facilities such as fuel dumps, weapons and ammunition have been destroyed.

    “Furthermore, since the commencement of ‘Operation Yancin Tafki’ several terrorists have surrendered while others are battle-weary and have indicated interest to surrender. Morale of fighters is at its lowest, while desperation has also set in, leading to intrigues and in-fighting.”

    He added: “Reliable sources say internal crisis led to change of Boko Haram leadership on March 3, 2019. It could be recalled that the  Islamic State West Africa Province announced the sack of the former Boko Haram Chief, Abu Mus’ab Al Barnawi and the appointment of Abu Abdullahi Ibn Umar Al Barnawi.

    “The frequent execution of Boko Haram Commanders and fighters, which have been observed in the past few months as well as the recent replacement of its leadership, are clear indications of the effectiveness of recent past and ongoing ‘Operation Yancin Tafki’.

    “The Multinational Joint Task Force is, therefore, poised to sustain current operations until Boko Haram capitulates and its leadership brought to justice.”

  • Boko Haram in disarray, fighters stranded without supplies – MNJTF

    The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Chad, says the leadership of the Boko Haram terrorists group is currently overwhelmed and in disarray.

    Col, Timothy Antigha, the Chief of Military Public Information of the MNJTF, confirmed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Antigha said the group was overwhelmed after a sustained air and land attacks in the ongoing “Operation `Yancin Tafki’’ in the Lake Chad region.

    He also said ex-fighters, who were “receiving humane attention divulged that morale and fighting spirit of the group’s fighters is very low.’’

    Antigha further quoted ex-fighters as saying that development is as a result of growing insecurity and inability to replenish stranded fighters in the islands with food, medicine and ammunition.

    The MNJTF spokesman said an integral part of the operation is a series of well “coordinated day and night Human Intelligence as well as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.’’

    He said the missions were being conducted by the Air Forces of the Lake Chad Basin countries- Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria.

    Antigha explained that this led to devastating air interdiction which destroyed Boko Haram logistic facilities and fighters in Tumbum, Gini, Abadam, Arege, Tumbun rego and Dagaya environs between March 7 and March 11.

    He added that in the last four weeks of the operation, 70 Boko Haram vehicles; mostly gun trucks and facilities such as fuel dumps, weapons and ammunition were destroyed.

    “Furthermore, since the commencement of operation Yancin Tafki, several terrorists have surrendered while others are battle-weary and have indicated interest to surrender.

    “Morale of fighters is at its lowest, while desperation has also set in, leading to intrigues and in-fighting,’’ Antigha said.

    He said reliable sources confirmed that internal crisis led to change of Boko Haram leadership on March 3.

    Antigha said the Islamic State West Africa Province or ISWAP sacked the Boko Haram factional Chief, Abu Mus’ab Al Barnawi and replaced him with Abu Abdullahi Ibn Umar Al Barnawi.

    According to him, the frequent execution of Boko Haram commanders and fighters which have been observed in the past few months as well as recent replacement of its leadership are clear indications of effectiveness of past and ongoing operation Yancin Tafki.

    Antigha said the joint task force is poised to sustain current operations until Boko Haram capitulates and its leadership is brought to justice. (NAN)