The Boko Haram terrorist group has reportedly pledged allegiance to Islamic State ( IS) according to an audio statement on it’s Twitter account.
BBC said the message could not be verified.
Tag: boko haram
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‘Boko Haram using Chibok girls as Shekau’s shield’
•Abducted schoolgirls alive, says Jonathan
Troops have not carried out aerial bombardment of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau’s hideout because the sect is using the Chibok girls as shield, it was learnt yesterday.
Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, on Wednesday visited Chad to seek clarifications on some issues and map out plans with multi-national force on what a source described as the final onslaught against Boko Haram.
The military source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said Shekau and some members of his Shura Committee – the sect’s highest policy making body – had been shuttling between Sambisa Forest and strategic locations, such as Gwoza and Bama.
The Chadian President, Idris Deby said Shekau’s convoy was sighted in Dikwa on Tuesday.
But the military source explained that Shekau has a strong base in Gwoza with a special armoured tank.
The source said: “Troops have located what I may call Shekau’s bunker but they cannot strike because some of the Chibok girls are being used as shield by the leaders of Boko Haram.
“We want to do a clinical job with limited damage because the whole world is awaiting the safe return of the Chibok girls.
“ The ability of the troops to rescue some of the girls will earn more credit to the success of Nigerian military against the insurgents.
“We are also being extremely careful to avoid any military assault which may force Shekau to turn against the Chibok girls and other hostages in Boko Haram’s camps in the Northeast.
According to the source, intelligence report has indicated that recent bombings in Jos and other cities were borne out of anger against the military for reclaiming over 40 occupied territories and killing more than 300 insurgents.”
Air Marshal Badeh on Wednesday met with the Chadian military hierarchy.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “ The session was used to iron out alleged claims by Chadian military that Nigerian troops were frustrating its collaborating troops in the Northeast.
“At the meeting, the Chadian military denied issuing such statement. Instead, it restated its commitment to collaboration with Nigeria to rout out the insurgents from the Northeast and the sub-region.
“After ironing out the misgivings, the CDS and Chadian counterpart later mapped out plans with the multi-national force on the final onslaught against Boko Haram.
“We are likely to see enhanced synergy between Nigerian troops and their Chadian counterparts in the next few days.”
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Boko Haram kills 68 in Borno village
Suspected Boko Haram gunmen shot dead and slit the throats of 68 people — including children — in an attack on a village in Borno state, according to survivors and vigilante sources, the CNN reported yesterday.
The attackers then burnt down the entire village of Njaba, the sources said.
Dozens of gunmen invaded the remote northeastern village before dawn on Tuesday, singling out boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 19 and killing them alongside their parents, witnesses said.
Njaba village lies about 65 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Karimu Lawani, who escaped to Maiduguri after hiding with eight other people behind the barn of a neighbor, said the attackers came into the village at around 5 a.m.
“They shot dead anyone that tried to flee but spared children younger than 13 years old,” Lawani said.
He and other survivors counted the victims of the massacre before leaving the village some hours later.
His account was supported by Faltama Bisika, 62, who lost four grandchildren in the attack.
“They hurled petrol bombs into homes and opened fire on anyone trying to flee. They particularly targeted teenagers and elderly people,” Bisika said.
News of the attack was slow to emerge due to lack of communication following destruction of cell phone towers in the region in previous Boko Haram attacks.
“I only got information of the attack on my village last night,” said a civilian vigilante from Njaba who asked not to be named. The vigilante said his father was among those killed.
The vigilante said he left Njaba for Maiduguri in June to join others fighting against the Islamist radical group.
He said he believes the attackers came from Gwoza — a town on Nigeria’s mountainous border with Cameroon that Boko Haram seized last June — because Njaba “lies on the route to Gwoza from Maiduguri.”
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Why Boko Haram can’t rise again – NAF chief
The Chief of Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu, on Thursday said the ongoing military campaign in the Northeast has dealt a huge blow on the Boko Haram militants, insisting that will make it difficult for them to rise again.
Amosu, who spoke to journalists after defending the 2015 budget of the Nigerian Airforce at the Senate in Abuja, also commended Nigerians for the timely intelligence reports on the sect.
He said the efforts of the military were further boosted by the cooperation of Nigeria neigbours, thereby preventing the militants from escaping.
He added that the military has succeeded in cutting off the insurgents’ communication lines and also destroyed their training sessions.
Amosu said: “On the 15th of February, we were in Lagos to harmonize equipment with the ammunition system. It was very clear that we were commencing a major offensive and it was very quick for me to release information that we are going to storm the Northeast, we are going to storm the Sambisa Forest.
“Since 15th, if you notice, there has not been any major offensive from the Boko Haram terrorists.
“It is very clear that by our efforts, we have been able to disrupt their communication lines. Their command and control is substantially damaged. Again, their ability to plan is not there.
“We have also been able to destroy their training stations. So, the issue of regeneration is out of it.
“We are lucky again to have our neighbours who have agreed to work with us. That has given us huge comfort because when they cannot run away to the neighbouring countries we are sure that we are going to contain them here, and it will be easy to take them down.
“So far, we are happy and satisfied with what is going on and I am happy to announce to you that we are getting a lot of cooperation from the citizens. We are getting valuable intelligence from the citizens.
“We just want to encourage them to keep it up because this is our country and we have no other country to go to.
“These are people coming from outside the country to destabilize our country. I want to use this opportunity to acknowledge fully the support of Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
“For me, this is a personal opinion, he has given more efforts to security than even the politics. So, we are happy with him.”
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Group queries Jonathan over renewed Boko Haram war
A group, the Patriotic Nigeria, has berated the Federal Government for waiting till election period before intensifying the anti-terror war.
The group said in a statement that many have died in the hands of the insurgents.
Its media consultant, Idowu Quadri, said the Federal government allowed the carnage to continue for six years before intensifying action terrorists.
He said the President decided to take a decisive action because he was confronted with a looming defeat at the general elections.
“Though it is relieving to hear various stories of the successful raids by the Nigerian Army and the allied forces on the insurgents, but every patriotic Nigerian must interrogate this issue very well and demand to know what brought about the delay in taking the appropriate military actions,” the group said.
The group accused the Federal Government of abdicating its responsibilities towards the citizens by failing to confront the Boko Haram menace as timely as was necessary. It added that Nigerians have confidence in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and other security agencies whose collaborations could have brought an end to the carnage.
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Monguno chairman visits rescued town, discovers dead bodies
Alhaji Ali Sheriff Galgal, the chairman of Monguno local government area, of one of the rescued LGAs in Borno State on Wednesday visited the area to see things for himself.
Galgal, who paid a secret visit to Monguno town, the headquarters of the local council, inspected major streets where he saw several dead bodies in residential buildings.
The Nation gathered that Monguno which was captured by Boko Haram sometime in January this year was liberated by the military about two weeks ago.
A source told our correspondent that the chairman assessed the level of destruction by Boko Haram insurgents in the area.
The source said, “When we arrived Monguno town on Sunday, the chairman visited those who were rescued from the insurgents and kept in a particular place, provided food and other social services by the Nigerian troops.
“He presented food items to the rescued persons and appealed to them to consider what happened to them as a destiny from God. He also urged them to live in peace and pray for lasting peace in the state and the country at large.
“The chairman also went through the streets in the town to see for himself and ascertain the true situation on ground.
“And during the inspection, he found dead bodies littering the place. When he finally visited some government places and residents of some prominent individuals in the town, he discovered that some people were killed in their houses.”
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Boko Haram displaces 1.65m Nigerians, says AGF
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), said yesterday that the Boko Haram insurgents have displaced about 1, 650,000 Nigerians.
He said he issued advisory to Boko Haram and those involved in the conflict, on the legal consequences of the unlawful use of children in armed conflict.
Adoke said the Federal Government would hold accountable, those found culpable “for this crime and other crimes, such as abduction, rape, maiming, forced displacements and sexual slavery.”
He said the elections were shifted to provide security and avoid disenfranchising 24million Nigerians.
Adoke, who spoke at the 28th Session of the United Nations Council on Human Rights in Geneva, said the government was disturbed about the increasing use of child-soldiers and under-aged female suicide bombers.
The text of the AGF’s address was made available to reporters in Abuja by his office.
He said: “Nigeria’s experience in combating terrorism and insurgency perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect in the Northeast and our common borders with Chad, Niger and Cameroon demonstrates the relevance and potency of international cooperation and solidarity in tackling this scourge.
“Since the insurgency began, close to 650,000 Nigerians have been internally displaced in the Northeast; and another one million as refugees in neighbouring countries, such as Cameroon, Chad and Niger. This situation has posed grave humanitarian situation in the affected areas, including the neighbouring countries.
“We note with satisfaction, the recent successes achieved by security forces and the increased level of cooperation at regional and sub-regional levels to raise a multi-national force of 8,700 involving Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin by the African Union, with support from our global partners.
“My delegation believes that this initiative offers valuable lessons for the global community. In this regard, I cannot overemphasise the need for increased financial and material support for the multi-national force as well as the internally-displaced persons and refugees.”
Adoke said the Federal Government was worried about the increasing use of child-soldiers and under-aged female suicide bombers.
He added: “Mr. President, another disturbing trend in the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group is the increasing use of child-soldiers and under-aged female suicide bombers in the perpetration of crimes against the civilian population.
“Boko Haram has killed Christians and Muslims; bombed churches and mosques and have detonated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on soft targets in civilian populated areas.
The Minister said an advisory had been issued to Boko Haram to stop unlawful use of children for insurgency.
“On 21 January 2015, I issued an Advisory to the Boko Haram terrorist group and all those involved in the conflict on the legal consequences of the unlawful use of children in armed conflict and Government’s determination to hold accountable, all those found culpable for this crime and other crimes such as abduction, rape, maiming, forced displacements and sexual slavery.
“This is consistent with our treaty obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional Protocols,” he said.
The AGF restated the nation’s commitment to human rights-based governance.
He said: “At domestic level, the Federal Government continues to pursue human rights based model of governance that emphasizes respect for the Rule of Law and the dignity of all residents of Nigeria.
“Consistent with this approach, we are vigorously pursuing strengthening of the capacity of relevant Human Rights Institutions in the country. In addition, we are promoting increased collaboration with Civil Society Organizations in various facets of the polity.”
Adoke also took time to explain that the general election was postponed till March 28 to provide adequate security and in order not to disenfranchise 24million Nigerians.
He added: “Let me assure this Council that as Nigeria prepares for the General Elections scheduled to commence on 28th March 2015, we are convinced that entrenching democratic governance in Nigeria remains the best guarantee for peace and stability in our region and beyond.
“The Electoral Body rescheduled the election dates to enable adequate security to be provided and ensure that about 24 million potential voters who had not received their permanent voters’ cards were not disenfranchised.”
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Boko Haram displaces 1.65m Nigerians – AGF
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke(SAN), on Tuesday said the Boko Haram insurgency has displaced about 1, 650,000 Nigerians.
He said he has also issued advisory to Boko Haram and all those involved in the conflict on the legal consequences of the unlawful use of children in armed conflict.
He said the Federal Government would hold accountable all those found culpable for this crime and other crimes such as abduction, rape, maiming, forced displacements and sexual slavery.
He, however, said the nation’s general election was shifted to March 28 because of the need for adequate security and in order not to disenfranchise 24million Nigerians.
Adoke, who made the submissions in an address at the 28th Session of the United Nations Council on Human Rights in Geneva, said the government was disturbed about the increasing use of child soldiers and under-aged female suicide bombers.
The text of the AGF’s address was made available by his office to journalists in Abuja.
He said: “Nigeria’s experience in combating terrorism and insurgency perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect in North-Eastern Nigeria and our common borders with Chad, Niger and Cameroon, clearly demonstrates the relevance and potency of international cooperation and solidarity in tackling this scourge.
“Since the insurgency began, close to 650,000 Nigerians have been internally displaced in the North Eastern part of Nigeria and another one million, as refugees in neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger. This situation has posed grave humanitarian situations in the affected areas including the neighboring countries.
“We note with satisfaction the recent successes achieved by security forces and the increased level of cooperation at regional and sub-regional level to raise a multi-national force of 8,700 involving Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin by the African Union, with support from our global partners.
“My delegation believes that this initiative offers valuable lessons for the global community. In this regard, I cannot overemphasize the need for increased financial and material support for the multi-national force as well as the internally displaced persons and refugees.”
He said the Federal Government was worried about the increasing use of child soldiers and under-aged female suicide bombers.
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Boko Haram: Military will protect civilians – Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said that utmost care was being taken by the Federal Government to avoid collateral damage to the lives and properties of civilians in the battle against Boko Haram.
He made the remark while receiving the new South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Noh Kyu-Duk, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to him, everything possible was being done by the military to avoid human rights violations in the theatre of operations in the Northeast.
He said: “We are sticking to international best practices in prosecuting the war against terrorism and doing our best to ensure that we don’t have cases of human rights abuses in the Northeast.
“We are consistently monitoring the situation and have investigated previous reports of such abuse which were mostly blown out of proportion for political reasons.
“Our military has a reputation for discipline and we have insisted on that discipline and control for the safety of civilians in the Northeast.“The purpose of the entire operation is to save our people from the brutal tyranny of Boko Haram, so we cannot tolerate human rights abuses or willfully impose further suffering on them.’’
He also told Mr. Kyu-Duk that Nigeria’s entire security architecture was being reviewed, restructured and strengthened to ensure greater safety for Nigerians and foreign workers in all parts of the country.
“We are inviting all our friends in the international community, particularly those that are more technologically advanced, to complement our efforts to build a more secure and prosperous country in which our people and foreigners can live in peace and safety,” he stated.
The President urged Mr. Kyu-Duk and his Indonesian counterpart, Mr. Harry Purwanto, who was also at the Presidential Villa to present his letters of credence, to work for the strengthening of existing trade and economic relations between Nigeria and their countries.
The new ambassadors thanked President Jonathan for receiving them and assured him that they will do their best to promote stronger economic and cultural relations between their countries and Nigeria during their tenure in Abuja.
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We’ll regain more territories from Boko Haram – COAS
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah has assured that more territories will be recaptured from the Boko Haram sect very soon.
He also said the successes recorded by the military in the last few days were due to joint operations between the Nigerian forces and their fellow West African troops.
The Army Chief disclosed this at the opening of a five-day seminar for the operational level officers of the Nigerian Army. The workshop organized by the British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT) took place at Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna, on Tuesday.
Minimah said, “At the end of the seminar, the Nigerian Army is expected to generate more capacity to recover more territories and it will help our army to perform better and be more professional.
“It is gratifying to note that our drive to retraining in conjunction with the valued partnership is beginning to yield greater results. The ongoing counter terrorism campaign in the Northeast coupled with the awakening of Cameroon, Chad and Niger forces has boosted our successes, leading to the liberation of more communities hitherto under the siege of Boko Haram terrorists.”
He, however, expressed optimism that the seminar will further strengthen the long standing partnership between the Nigerian and United Kingdom armies.