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Tag: boko haram

  • Boko Haram kills 25 in Borno

    Boko Haram kills 25 in Borno

    At least 25 people have been killed in new suspected Boko Haram attacks in Borno State, with many villagers also forced to flee their homes, residents said yesterday.

    “The terrorists stormed Maikadiri around 9am Friday and opened fire on hapless citizens,” resident Simon Templer said.

    “They laid siege in daylight because there are no soldiers or police nearby,” said another survivor, Markus Ali, adding: “We counted 21 corpses.”

    The attackers “killed, destroyed and then fled,” Ali said.

    Two other villages close to Maikadiri in southern Borno State were also attacked, said Maina Ularamu, chief of the Madagali district.

    “The gunmen arrived on 10 motorbikes, two or three on each bike and attacked Kopa, Maikadiri and Yaffa” villages, he told AFP.

    He said four people were killed in Yaffa.

    He claimed that the extremists used to live in the villages before joining Boko Haram.

    “Now they have no limits and they are preying on their own community because of the pressure the army offensive has put on them,” Ularamu said.

    The villages hit are on the fringes of the vast Sambisa forest, a longstanding hideout of the terrorists.

    The Nigerian army has led a series of raids against them in recent months, succeeding in freeing several dozen women and children from the hands of the jihadists.

    Ularamu said the extremists may have been taking their revenge on their former neighbours.

    “They attacked their community because they would not let them back when the army attacked their camps. Those who tried to come back were denounced and arrested by the authorities,” he said.

    Fatima Saleh, who lives in the neighbouring village of Maigana, said she saw the attackers pass and recognized many of them as locals.

    Several state officials in the region said last week that Boko Haram is still active in the forest despite the military offensive against them.

    A police officer in Maiduguri confirmed the attacks while requesting anonymity.

    Templer said many homes were also destroyed in the attacks.

    “My aged mother is currently in the bush. Most of our people have fled and many houses and shops have been burnt,” he said.

  • Boko Haram not in control of any LG in Yobe

    Yobe State Government has clarified media reports that Boko Haram insurgents are in control of five local governments areas in the state.
    In a statement signed by Abdullahi Bego, the Director of Press Affairs to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam noteed that the reports were misleading and totally out of context of the governors brief to the National Economic Council meeting.
    The statement reads:
    “The attention of His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has been drawn to news reports in several mainstream and online media that he and his Borno State counterpart, His Excellency Governor Kashim Shettima, have told the National Economic Council meeting which took place last Wednesday under the chairmanship of His Excellency the Vice President that ‘five local government areas in the two states are still under Boko Haram control’.

    “These reports are misleading and totally out of the purview of the brief that His Excellency Governor Gaidam gave to the National Economic Council regarding the security situation in Yobe State.

    “While security is still a concern and more work needs to be done, there is not a single local government council in Yobe under the sway or control of the insurgent Boko Haram.

    “In the course of his brief to the National Economic Council, His Excellency Governor Gaidam has recounted a point in time when two out of the 17 local government areas of the State had come under the pale of Boko Haram. That was several months ago.

    “Governor Gaidam has noted, however, that as a result of the gallant and salutary intervention of our nation’s armed forces and other security agencies, those two local government areas, namely Gujba and Gulani, were freed and liberated from insurgent stranglehold.

    “His Excellency the governor did of course ask for additional troops and weaponry to be deployed to Yobe State. He made this request only within the context of the need to sustain the momentum against Boko Haram and ensure that terrorists and insurgents are denied a chance to further harm our people.

    “His Excellency Governor Gaidam has said many times – and it bears repeating – that our armed forces and other security agents are doing a commendable job under very challenging circumstances. Their determination to root out Boko Haram and free our State from terrorist, insurgent and criminal activity is not in doubt. This determination is further reinforced by His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari with the recent changes he made in the military high command and the unprecedented weight that his administration has brought to bear in the fight against Boko Haram.

    “The Government and people of Yobe State will continue to support and partner the federal government and our gallant security forces as they step up effort to restore peace and security in Yobe State, the Northeast and the country in general,” the statement read.

  • Go, attack Boko Haram, Buratai tells soldiers

    Go, attack Boko Haram, Buratai tells soldiers

    Chief of Army Staff, Major General Tukur Y. Buratai, yesterday told officers and men of the Nigerian Army to take the fight to the dreaded Boko Haram sect and dislodge them.

    He said the era of waiting in defensive positions for the criminals to come and attack and run away must stop.

    The Army Chief stated this in Kaduna yesterday during the graduation ceremony of the Nigerian Battalion 37, United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, pre-deployment training at the Nigerian Army Peace Keeping Centre (NAPKC) and the combined graduation of basic airborne course 37 and basic rigger course 23 of the Airborne wing of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI), Jaji Cantonment.

    He challenged the troops to adopt offensive disposition and respond quickly and appropriately to all situations.

    General Buratai said the army has all necessary wherewithal to tackle it internal problems and that it is on top of situation in the North East.

    The Army Chief, who is barely three weeks in office, also said his vision for the Nigerian Army is to have a professional responsiveness in the discharge of its constitutional roles.

    He said: “The cardinals of this vision are professionalism and responsiveness. In line with these, we must learn to adopt offensive disposition and respond quickly and appropriately to all situations taking into cognisance our rules of engagement.

    “The era of waiting in defensive positions for criminals to come and attack and run away must stop. We must take the battle to them and dislodge them wherever they are. I, therefore, want you to show your commitment to this vision.”

  • Presidency denies reports claiming US assisting Boko Haram

    Presidency denies reports claiming US assisting Boko Haram

    The Presidency yesterday denied media reports  that President Muhammadu Buhari  accused or indicted the United States Government of helping the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

    It said  the reports were untrue.

     Special Adviser to the President  on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said that the reports were  an unfortunate misinterpretation and distortion of the President’s remarks at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) during his official visit to Washington DC.

    According to him, President Buhari made it abundantly clear in those remarks, copies of which were circulated to the media, that he was convinced that the United States could never support groups such as Boko Haram.

    He said: “I know the American people cannot support any group engaged in these crimes,”

    The regrets expressed by President Buhari at USIP about the impact of the application of the Leahy Law on Nigeria’s war against  Boko Haram and terrorism, he said, could not  be construed as an indictment of President Barack Obama and the United States Government who have publicly and privately declared their preparedness to give the Buhari administration the fullest possible support and assistance.

    He said: “Within the context in which they were made, President Buhari’s comments on the adverse effect of the Leahy Law on Nigeria’s efforts to contain Boko Haram’s  atrocious acts of terrorism should only be taken as a passionate appeal for even greater understanding and support from  a very powerful and longstanding ally.

    “President Buhari has nothing but the highest possible regard for President Obama, the United States Government, the people of the United States, their laws and institutions.

    “The President had very successful and useful talks with President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, other high-ranking US government officials and members of United States Congress during his visit to Washington DC.

    “It is his expectation that those talks will lead to better mutual understanding and a further deepening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United States, especially in Nigeria’s current priority areas of  defence and security cooperation.”

  • U.S. condemns ‘horrific’ attacks in Nigeria, Cameroon

    The United States on Friday condemned Boko Haram suicide attacks in Cameroon and Nigeria as “horrific and indiscriminate” and deplored the militant group’s use of children as bombers.

    Multiple bomb blasts at two bus stations in Gombe killed 37 people on Wednesday, while two suicide bomb attacks killed at least 13 people in northern Cameroon.

    The U.S “strongly condemns the horrific and indiscriminate suicide attacks,” the State Department said.

    “Boko Haram’s unconscionable use of children as suicide bombers and indiscriminate targeting of men, women and children highlights the group’s senseless brutality,” State Department deputy spokesperson, Mark Toner, said in the statement.

    The attacks came on the heels of President Muhammadu Buhari’s four-day visit to Washington, where he met with U.S. President Barack Obama. The two leaders on Monday discussed security issues including the threat posed by the extremist group.

    Following their talks, Obama said Buhari had a “clear agenda” for defeating the militants and tackling corruption.

    Boko Haram which has killed thousands of people in a six-year insurgency has been increasingly employing young people as suicide bombers since it allied itself with Islamic State.

  • Boko Haram: Presidency denies report indicting US

    Boko Haram: Presidency denies report indicting US

    The presidency has denied claims in the local and international media that President Muhammadu Buhari has accused or indicted the United States Government of helping the terrorist group.

    Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said in a statement that such reports are not only unfortunate, but misinterpretation and distortion of the President’s remarks at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) during his official visit to Washington DC.

    According to the statement; “Indeed, President Buhari made it abundantly clear in those remarks, copies of which were circulated to the media, that he was convinced that the United States could never support groups such as Boko Haram.

    “I know the American people cannot support any group engaged in these crimes.

    “The regrets expressed by President Buhari at USIP about the impact of the application of the law on Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram and terrorism cannot be construed as an indictment of President Barack Obama and the United States Government who have publicly and privately declared their preparedness to give the Buhari Administration the fullest possible support and assistance,” the statement reads.

    It added, “Within the context in which they were made, President Buhari’s comments on the adverse effect of the Leahy Law on Nigeria’s efforts to contain Boko Haram’s  atrocious acts of terrorism should only be taken as a passionate appeal for even greater understanding and support from  a very powerful and longstanding ally.

    “President Buhari has nothing but the highest possible regard for President Obama, the United States Government, the people of the United States, their laws and institutions.

    “The President had very successful and useful talks with President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, other high-ranking US government officials and members of United States Congress during his visit to Washington DC.

    “It is his expectation that those talks will lead to better mutual understanding and a further deepening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United States, especially in Nigeria’s current priority areas of  defence and security cooperation.”

  • ‘VIP’s not VP’s house targeted by Boko Haram’

    ‘VIP’s not VP’s house targeted by Boko Haram’

    The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, on Thursday night denied report that the Federal Government has uncovered plans by Boko Haram to bomb the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s house.

    He said in a statement that there was typographical error in the talking point circulated to journalists at the end of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.

    According to him, the aspect of ‘house of the vice president’ in the talking point should have read ‘houses of VIPs’.

    The statement reads: “A press briefing note circulated today by the Secretariat of the
    National Economic Council, NEC, contains a typo on the very last line of the last paragraph.

    “That paragraph should read ‘The Vice President also disclosed that security reports has it that scavengers are now being prepared by insurgents to dump refuse laden with bombs in the houses of VIPs.’

    “The last line erroneously says ‘in the house of the Vice President.’ Please take note of the correction.

    “The 59th NEC meeting was presided over by the Vice President, Prof.Yemi Osinbajo, earlier Thursday,” It stated.

  • ‘Boko Haram targeting Osinbajo’s house’

    ‘Boko Haram targeting Osinbajo’s house’

    …Moves to plant bombs in VP’s  residence uncovered

    The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday told the National Economic Council that plans by the Boko Haram sect to dump bomb-laden refuse in his house has been uncovered.

    Osinbajo’s disclosure was contained in a copy of press briefing, the “Talking Point” circulated to journalists after the six hours meeting.

    The material was only circulated by the council secretariat after the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has briefed journalists.

    The briefing was attended by three other states’ governors namely — Solomon Lalong (Plateau), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

    The talking point reads in part: “The Vice President regretted that insurgency has affected the economic life of the northeast and the country as a whole.

    “He called for the council to speak as a team to put pressure on the Service Chiefs to increase their effort in fighting insurgency.

    “There should be increase in sensitization and education channels like radio and television.

    “The Vice President also disclosed that security reports have revealed that scavengers are now being prepared by insurgents to dump refuse laden with bombs in the house of the Vice President.”

     

  • U.S unintentionally aided Boko Haram with arms ban – Buhari

    U.S unintentionally aided Boko Haram with arms ban – Buhari

    The United States has “aided and abetted” albeit unintentionally, the Boko Haram sect by refusing to provide weapons to Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari said.

    A U.S law prevents the government from selling arms to countries which fail to tackle human rights abuses, the BBC reports.

    Buhari met President Barack Obama in Washington on Monday to seek further assistance.

    He heavily criticised the U.S, especially the Leahy Law, which links military sales to human rights.

    The Nigerian military did “not possess the appropriate weapons and technology which we could have had if the so-called human rights violations had not been an obstacle,” the BBC quoted the President as saying to the U.S Institute of Peace on Wednesday.

    “Unwittingly, and I dare say unintentionally, the application of the Leahy Law Amendment by the United States government has aided and abetted the Boko Haram terrorists.”

    The Boko Haram sect has killed some 10,000 people since 2009 and has also kidnapped hundreds of girls and women.

    Last month, human rights group Amnesty International said that some 8,000 men and boys had died in Nigerian military custody after being detained as suspected militants.

    The military rejected this allegation, and the government promised an investigation but there have been no further details.

    The U.S has previously promised some $5m (£3.2m) in military assistance to the regional coalition helping to fight Boko Haram, which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

     

  • 29 killed in Gombe blasts

    At least 29 people died and 60 were wounded in multiple explosions at two bus stations in Gombe on Wednesday evening, a Red Cross official said.

    There was no immediate claim for the bombings but they bore the hallmarks of the Boko Haram sect.

    At least 50 people died in two bombings at a market in the same city last Friday, Reuters says.

    The first bomb, which exploded around 7pm (1800 GMT), was detonated by a suspected suicide bomber at a mosque at Dadin Kowa motorpark as people gathered to pray, two witnesses said.

    Umaru Sani, a shopkeeper, said a second bomb went off at Nasarawo junction near the same bus station, where people were selling vegetables.

    “I heard two loud explosions, one after the other; I saw people coming out of the mosque with blood gushing out. I counted about seven dead bodies,” Ahmed Abu, a bus driver, said.

    An official with the National Emergency Management Agency said at least seven people had been killed but they were still picking up bodies from the blast sites.

    Another two blasts occurred at the gate of the major Duku bus station and a small nearby market.

    “I was going towards my house when I heard two loud explosions coming from Kasuwar Mata. On arrival at the scene, I saw many dead bodies, I cannot count how many because it was getting dark,” Hussaini Adamu, a farmer, said.

    Police spokesman Fwaje Ajiri said he could not give a death toll yet but confirmed that there were blasts in both areas about an hour apart. He confirmed there was at least one blast in each location.