Tag: boko haram

LAST week, newspapers published stories of Nigeria’s military awaiting presidential directive to declare total war against Boko Haram insurgents. They appeared tired of fighting clinical war, assuming they ever tried it. Sources within the military, suggest the newspapers, are eager to receive the orders. The eagerness is a reflection of the frustrations the Nigerian military has endured since the war against the militants began to go badly. Now, arguing that Boko Haram were recruiting child soldiers and their commanders were using women and children as shields, Nigerian military brass are putting their hope, perhaps the last hope, in the adoption of the Sri Lankan war strategy described as Total War. The tactics puts enemies and shields equally at risk. But it is surprising that local hunters and others who reclaimed Mubi in Adamawa State from Boko Haram last week were neither hamstrung by child soldiers and women shields nor did they blast their way indiscriminately through the civilian maze. It will be recalled that sometime in May, Sri Lankan defence chiefs visited Nigeria and presented papers on how their country, using the strategy of Total Security, defeated the Tamil Tigers who had fought a 26-year insurgency against the country. Rising from the lectures, Nigerian military chiefs suggested they would study the Sri Lankan strategy and adapt it as much as possible.

This columnist was alarmed by the eagerness with which the Nigerian military was prepared to adopt a tactics that wars against our country’s culture, ethnic pastiche and religious sensibilities. Should we go ahead to adopt the Total War concept, this columnist argued somewhere else in this newspaper in June, Nigeria’s security crisis could become more complicated. Sadly, however, even the 19 northern states governors and other northern elders have tearfully advocated the Total War doctrine. They are shortsighted. On June 19, I had offered the following argument: “Sri Lanka may have defeated the terrorist Tamil Tigers in 2009, but that country’s democratic credentials remain suspect, with no prospect for a change for the better anytime soon. In fact the consensus is that the 26-year civil war ‘undermined democracy and eroded the rule of law.’ The United Nations (UN) estimates that some 12,000 people detained by Sri Lankan security forces have disappeared, and are presumed murdered by the state. Sri Lanka acknowledges that about half of the detainees have died. The civil war itself cost about 80,000 to 100,000 lives, about half of them civilians.

“Sri Lanka may have defeated Tamil insurgency, but it is a country with a population of less than 21 million, a little more populous than Lagos State. In addition, its demographic make-up is infinitely less complex. With more than 70 percent Sinhalese majority and less than 12 percent Tamil, the civil war was a straightforward Sinhalese versus Tamil conflict. Nigeria’s ethnic and religious pastiche is on the other hand problematically complex, a situation Boko Haram has more imaginatively exploited and aggravated. Total War or Total Security may seem sound on paper, in reality, however, the Nigerian anti-terror war calls for a much deeper understanding of the issues involved and a scientific approach to solving it.”

The objective conditions on the ground in the Boko Haram war have not changed a bit. Our soldiers flee battle not because they are inherently cowardly or are lacking in battle experience, but because, as the Borno State governor once said, they are not as motivated as the militants. With the supply of fresh weapons and now regular payment of allowances, it was expected our troops would fight more sure-footedly. If they are not doing so, it is because, as I also said somewhere else, they are not motivated by their country and its leaders. Our troops, like the rest of us, have no great concept of country to fight for or defend, let alone die for. They are exasperated by what the government has made of democracy, and are not inspired by a president who is neither inspired himself nor clever enough to even visit despondent victims of the insurgency, such as the parents of abducted Chibok schoolgirls, and hundreds of students massacred while they slept or assembled for morning devotion.

The problem with Nigeria’s counterinsurgency strategy is not just lack of sophisticated arms, corruption, and Boko Haram using women and children as human shields. Until we have a great sense or concept of Nigeria which a vast majority can identify with, and a leadership that knows how to inspire the people to feats of derring-do, our soldiers will flee battle, a situation no amount of Sri Lankan-style Total War can redeem.

In what was apparently a reprisal attack also on Saturday, Boko Haram insurgents seized Hong town, the administrative headquarters of Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

This follows the recent hit on the insurgents by the combined efforts of local hunters and civilian JTF in Mubi, Adamawa State, resulting in the killing of several insurgents while others were chased them out of Mubi and Mahia.

A security source disclosed that the insurgents launched a reprisal attack on Hong town in the early hours of Saturday after they thought that the insurgents had fled the area for the fear of the local hunters.

He said the insurgents burnt down a police station  and killed an undisclosed number of persons.

The source said soon after they were flushed out of Mubi, the sect relocated to a primary school in Manjakwa, Hawul Local Government of Borno, restricted movement of villagers in the neighbouring villages of Kwajjaffa, Tashan-Alade and other smaller settlements around Manjakwa village of Hawul Local Government.

One of the eyewitnesses told newsmen on Saturday morning that he saw insurgents slaughter three people while others were lined up to be slaughtered.

Reacting, former minister of state, Health, Aliyu Idi Hong, who hails from the area, confirmed the attack to journalists in Yola.

He added that a few days ago,  the insurgents had attacked two villages in Hong Local Government area, killing at least five persons.

A resident of the area revealed that the militants attacked the residence of a retired general near Hong.

At about 2pm of Saturday the insurgents were in control of Hong town.

However, residents said the local hunters have been alerted to come to the rescue of the town.

Fleeing residents of Hong were optimistic that before sunset, the hunters will deliver the area from the clutches of the Boko Haram insurgents.

Military authorities in Yola could not be reached for comment on the attack.

The insurgents had earlier attacked Chibok town, killing not less than 30 people and burning down houses in what was described as hit and run while fleeing Mubi town as a result of heavy military power, which overwhelmed the sect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Chibok, the sect attacked Hong local government area of Adamawa State as well as Gombi Local Government area before proceeding to Manjakwa to assemble at the primary school where they are currently tormenting villagers.

 

 

The grief of Chibok residents was compounded yesterday with yet another attack by the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

The invaders were believed to have fled from Mubi and Maiha where they were overpowered and dislodged by combined fire power of local hunters and the Nigerian Army.

The casualty figure from the latest attack could not be ascertained at press time but reports indicated that many residents had fled the town for dear lives as the sect took control of the town.

A fleeing resident, Mr. Apogu Afaramai, who spoke with our correspondent on the phone, said that he and many other residents took to their heels as the insurgents stormed the town at about 10 pm yesterday. He was however not sure of about casualties.

He said: “As I am speaking with you now, I am in the bush moving towards Biu. I don’t know whether they have killed anybody or not because when we heard gunshots, we just fled the area and there was no network service.”

Another resident who identified himself simply as Suleiman said the insurgents arrived the town and started shooting sporadically to scare everyone in the city.

“We were about to sleep when we started hearing gunshots and shouts of Alllah is great in Arabic. The shooting was very intense. I can’t even explain how I escaped from the village,” he said.

The sect had attacked Chibok and abducted more than 200 school girls in April this year. The girls are yet to be rescued, save 15 lucky ones that have managed to escape.

The Senator representing the area, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who confirmed the incident to newsmen, was also not sure about casualties.

He said,:”I was told that Boko Haram terrorists attacked Chibok town, but I cannot tell whether there were casualties or not, as we are yet to receive calls from people in Chibok since the insurgents have burnt down the telecom masts in the town.”

AFP quoted Chibok-based pastor, Enoch Mark, as saying that Boko Haram had taken control of Chibok town. Mark’s daughter and niece are among the 219 teenagers kidnapped by Boko Haram.

Mark said the attack on the town appeared to come after Boko Haram overran the towns of Hong and Gombi in neighbouring Adamawa state following the group’s ouster from the commercial hub of Mubi.

“They came in and engaged soldiers and vigilantes in a gunfight,” he added.

“Some of us managed to escape. All the telecom towers in the town were destroyed during the attack with RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades).

“No one can say what the situation is in the town in terms of destruction to property.”

The Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, has vowed that the Federal Government will win the war against Boko Haram.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Moro said, will continue to mobilise resources to fight the insurgency that has taken over most parts of the North-East.

He spoke in Abuja when the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Zenner, paid him an official visit.

Moro assured that government was not leaving any stone unturned to end the crisis.

His words: “We are thanking the German government for the support they have given to Nigeria in the fight against insurgency. In a war situation, when international community renders support, it is not a formal agreement of defining what should be given.

“I think that Nigerian government is satisfied with the expression and support of the international community to fight this war and win this war.

“I have not said we have won the war and I have not also said that this war is over. Every Nigerian and observers of Nigeria is aware that this war is ongoing and what Nigerian government has consistently tried to do until this war is over is to continue to mobilise all resources that are available.

“Insurgency is not a straight fight; it is a fight that is sometimes characterised by gouerilla tactics. As long as insurgents continue to wage war against Nigeria, the responsible government of Nigeria will continue to mobilise all the resources to ensure we win the war, because it is the responsibility of government all over the world and Nigeria is not an exception to ensure that the lives and properties of the people are secured.

“Nigeria and Federal Republic of Germany have a cordial relationship. One of the countries that the President Goodluck Jonathan visited on assumption of office in 2011 was Germany.

“He had very warm discussion on bilateral matters and of course they were able to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Germany and Nigeria on some issues

“I can assure that as the Minister of Interior, we will do everything that is convenient to do to ensure that German investments in Nigeria are protected.

“We will definitely provide the much needed environment for German/Nigerian businesses to thrive in Nigeria. “

The German Ambassador, who had just spent three months in Nigeria, commended government’s effort in fighting Boko Haram and assured of German government’s support in the bid to end insecurity.

A former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd) yesterday described the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East is a war against Nigeria.

He said the insurgents intend to use a conquered North East as a launch pad to take over the nation.

He suggested nine ways of tackling the insurgency, including the suspension of national celebrations, recall of all armed forces personnel in the reserve and the recall of military and security personnel on non-essential duties.

He however kicked against arms blockade against Nigeria by the United States.

Umar, who made his position known in a statement in Abuja, faulted the alleged recklessness and the cold indifference being displayed by the nation’s politicians, who are preoccupied with the 2015 poll.

The statement said: “We need to understand that the war in North East is a war against Nigeria. The insurgents intend to use a conquered North East as a launch pad to invade and conquer the rest of the country and possibly the whole of the West African sub-region.

“Boko Haram is well funded by ALQAEDA in the Magrib, (AQIM) as well as the booty they acquire in the numerous territories they conquer. Nigerians must wake up to the reality that their only defence against the marauding insurgents is our visibly demoralised military.”

Umar asked all Nigerians to rise against the insurgents.

He said: “Nigerians, irrespective of our religious and ethnic differences at home or in diaspora must feel threatened and act accordingly against this growing threat of Boko Haram insurgency.

“We must be psychologically and emotionally involved in the war against BH. It is a task that we must do while we still can.”

He suggested seven ways of tackling the insurgency, including the suspension of national celebrations and recall of all armed forces personnel in the reserve.

The statement added: “The BH (Boko Haram) cancer must be prevented from metastasizing. For an effective war against the insurgents, we must resolve to do the following: “Show unity of purpose by stopping all divisive recriminations as to which group of Nigerians is responsible for the emergence and support of BH. It is not true that the Federal Government is behind the BH nor is any anti-President Jonathan politician responsible.

“We must give unalloyed support to the Federal Government and by extension our security forces in their difficult task of combating the BH insurgents.

“More than ever before, Nigerians must be security conscious.

“Politicians must desist from using our security challenges to score cheap political goals. They must also show example by refraining from excessive celebrations during their electioneering campaigns.

“All national celebrations must be suspended. We should also suspend our participation in international sporting events until our security situation improves.

“In an effort to mobilise and focus the nation’s attention on our war effort, the FGN should declare a period of mourning in honour of the victims of insurgency. Special prayers should be held in churches and mosques for the victims, including prayers for the release of the Chibok school girls and other abducted victims.

“The need to beef up the strength of our security forces cannot be overemphasised. To this end, the Federal Government should recall all armed forces personnel in the reserve.

The military told senators yesterday that soldiers will take back territories seized by Boko Haram insurgents.

Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, who represented Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh at a parley with the Senate Committee on Defence, was quoted as saying that the military would restrategise to recover lost grounds.

The committee summoned the service chief over reports of towns falling into the hands of insurgents and soldiers retreating.

But the meeting was almost marred by a disagreement between the committee members and the Army chief over whether Gen. Minimah should make a remark or not before the meeting went into a closed-door session.

The chairman of the committee, Senator George Thompson Sekibo, gave the synopsis of the meeting whose agenda is “very loaded”.

He noted that while politicians were busy scheming for the 2015 election, insurgents were having a field day especially in the Northeast. He informed the Army Chief that Nigerians were getting impatient and irritated not only with the military but also with the government and those who represent them at various levels.

He added: “I believe that we are trying our best but is our best the best we can offer? What is happening is becoming increasingly difficult to explain to Nigerians. We want to be told what is happening. The insurgents are having a field day.

“We are aware that they (the government) is releasing your funds to you because you have not complained. We also approved $1billion for the President to purchase arms and ammunitions to fight Boko Haram. We are aware that your budget is being released to you. If you have difficulties you should tell us.

“The spate of insurgency, the way and manner the insurgents are taking areas, is getting worrisome. We want to know what is happening. We also want to know the issue of the reported ceasefire. We want to know whether there was actually any ceasefire.

“We want to know whether there was a dialogue, the stage of the dialogue, if any, because few days after the announcement of the ceasefire, the insurgents struck and have continued to strike.

“At the last meeting, we were told that the insurgents have captured seven local government areas. The CDS confirmed that and asked that they should be given some time to liberate the captured areas.

“We want to know where we are. We are approaching election year; are we going to conduct election in the Northeast under the dire security challenge? These are our concerns and the concerns of Nigerians.”

Sekibo then asked Gen. Minimah to throw light on the issues he highlighted.

Gen. Minimah took a measured breath and said: “I came to interface with the Senate Committee on Defence; can the press leave us?”

The Army Chief said that operational matters are never discussed on the pages of the newspapers.

Sekibo asked Gen. Minimah to “just reassure Nigerians that the military is on top of the security situation in the affected areas”.

The Army Chief insisted that he would not discuss security matters in the presence of the press.

A member of the Committee, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, intervened, reminding Gen. Minimah that the press is an important stakeholder in the fight against insurgency.

Sekibo promised to speak to reporters after the meeting. He did after about two and half hours of the meeting. Sekibo said: “You (reporters) were here with us when we started at about 1pm. Now it is about two and half hours. We have deliberated on the security issues affecting our country and the Chief of Army Staff has also responded on all the issues that were raised before him.

“We are assured to inform our constituents that it will not go worse than what we have now. We believe from the charge we have given to them from tomorrow and perhaps the nearest couple of weeks, we are going to have better results.”

The Chief of Army Staff said: “We had a setback in Bassa that resulted in loss of territories up to Mubi and painful though but we are working very hard to retake those territories.

“And very soon we will reclaim those territories and indeed other territories that the insurgents have taken.

“I want to continue to rekindle the confidence of Nigerians and particularly the ordinary Nigerians who have suffered the pain of this insurgency that the Nigeria Army will continue to do its best and strive to win this war and reclaim the lost territories.”

Also yesterday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expressed concern over the rate the nation is losing ground in the current war against the Boko Haram insurgents and urged the Armed Forces to fight to reclaim their honour.

In a statement entitled “Reclaim Your Honour” by the General Secretary, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, the congress said it believed in the capacity and resolve of the Nigerian Armed Forces to contain the insurgents, while appreciating the challenges faced by them

The statement said: “We acknowledge that this is not a regular war. We appreciate other challenges of our security forces among which are logistics, numbers, indiscipline, motivation and others.

“We are, however, worried by the consistent loss of territory by troops that are supposed to be the pride of the nation to a band of insurgents, perhaps not more than a battalion or two, poorly trained and relatively ill-equipped but whose foremost strength is their resolve to fight!

“It is saddening that all but half the Northeast, the size of many countries, is under the control of the insurgents. Our soldiers swore to an oath to maintain the territorial integrity as well defend the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Today that sanctity is being violated with ease, the land is being desecrated and the blood of the innocent freely flow.

“Today, painfully, our armed forces have become the butt of jokes in not a few diplomatic circles as our soldiers have acquired for themselves the unenviable reputation of turning tail and becoming refugees at the slightest threat of a skirmish.

“We are concerned about the preparedness of our dear country and its capacity to fight. We are worried about our vulnerability. We at the Nigeria Labour Congress feel hurt and pained by what we are witnessing. We are saddened and petrified by what seems to be the unravelling of a dark prophesy.

“While our forces are retreating from the Boko Haram in various battle fronts, the sect has opened a new offensive,  that of winning hearts in conquered territories. In our estimation, this makes more difficult the task of reclaiming these territories. Yet our forces must go forth with a single-minded devotion.

“We want to see them reclaim their honour and dignity. But, beside this, they signed a pact with the Nigerian people to defend them with their blood. It was reason the citizens paid tax, made sacrifices as well as surrendered their right to bear arms.

“At this point in time, we at the Congress still believe the setbacks are temporary and remediable. Accordingly, we urge them to liberate and hold those occupied territories forthwith.

“We call on the government to avail our security forces all that they need to accomplish this task. We similarly urge our communities in the conflict area to build synergy with our security forces. This is no longer an in eternal security issue. Nigeria is at war.  The body language and attitude of our leaders must show this. Let us all rise with one accord and fight Boko Haram. We can beat them.”

THE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has demanded an international inquiry into the country’s growing spread of Boko Haram insurgency.

He said Nigerians and the international community should be concerned about why efforts at curtailing the insurgents had not yielded the desired results.

The APC Chairman said it was possible that the insurgency was being used for political purposes.

Odigie-Oyegun made the demand while responding to questions from reporters at the party’s national secretariat after a briefing on the state of the nation.

He said  it was unfortunate that having failed to protect Nigerians, especially those living in the Northeast, President Goodluck Jonathan was waiting to be elected for another four years before setting up a Special Force to fight Boko Haram.

Odigie-Oyegun said: “The issue of security is a fundamental challenge that is facing the nation. Boko Haram has been with us for almost a decade and has continued to grow in strength. We thought that a state of emergency would give our military the freedom to operate and so the nation supported the National Assembly when the President requested for a state of emergency.

“The state of emergency came and things have continued to degenerate. It is only logical that you ask yourself what could be wrong. As a matter of fact, we have on a number of times pleaded that an impartial international commission of inquiry be set up to look into this Boko Haram issue. Why is it what it is? Why is it growing at the rate it is growing?

“If necessary, tell us who are those behind it. Is it likely that the Boko Haram issue is now being exploited for political advantage? The more savage it is, the more they are allowed to threaten, the more they are allowed to progress, the more the people of this nation would feel the necessity to cling to the apron string of a failed government. It’s all blackmail, pure and simple.

“Between you and me, I want to say this. Nigerian troops have a world-wide reputation. Nigerian troops have confronted equally savage situations in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

“They have paid with blood and dear lives to bring peace to other countries where the whole nation has broken down into total anarchy and succeeded. Why are we unable to succeed in our own backyard? Ask yourself that question”.

The APC said there might be some political motives behind the rising insurgency in the Northeast.

He said: “Who stands to benefit if three APC states are unable to effectively participate in the elections come February 15, 2015? Why is it that contrary to simple common-sense, they have been making this endless claim that they know those behind Boko Haram?

“A few days ago. The omnipotent Governor of Akwa Ibom State pronounced that they were not going to hand over to sponsors of Boko Haram. It is clear that the PDP knows who the sponsors of Boko Haram are. So, why are they not tackling them? What is stopping them from arraigning them before the court of law. In fact, Nigerians will help them tear the people to pieces so long as there is proof; reasonable proof.

“In any conflict situation, when a town is captured, you are told the level of destruction, the number of death on all sides. How come Mubi could be captured without a single shot being fired? How come our troops have been withdrawn from Mubi? How come the security agencies were not in Mubi? Who is benefiting from all of these? Please ask yourself: why?

“My take on this is that some people are gaining politically from the continuation of this crisis in the Northeast. Why can that be? Is it the APC or the PDP? Are we in control of the security forces? If you want me to pronounce it, let them get up and wipe out all the savages that have turned the Northeast into a graveyard.

“Everyday, we hear that our troops are not adequately armed. What is happening to the resources being deployed in armament? The last time, we heard about the $9.3 million and the $5.9 million carried in suit cases to South Africa to buy arms.

“We are a sovereign nation. We can bring into this country plane and ship loads of arms from China, Russia and even South Africa itself through legal means. So, why must you carry suitcases of dollars to South Africa to buy arms? What was the intention?

“For whom were the arms to be purchased meant for? Or, was it a simple act of money-laundering or was it for buying arms for reasons that may even have to do with the 2015 elections? Till today, we have not been told who were in that plane even though the government has taken ownership of the money. Who were the agents that were going to buy these arms?

“We are in a terrible situation and I hope that the people of this country and the media will like in the days of the June 12 saga stand up bravely, even though those were military times. But it looks like civilian dictatorship is even more dangerous than military dictatorship.

Odigie-Oyegun took time to explain what the APC would do differently, if elected into power in 2015.

He added: “What are we going to do differently? Our troops will not abandon their positions, but will fight back. We will build up reasonable intelligence. How can a suicide bomber get all the way to Niger State?

“It means that these people are operating all over the place. Where is our intelligence service?

“What we will do is to make the system work; to make the system function and responsive to the situation on ground and not probably ask troops to withdraw and hand over the barracks and what is left of the armoury.

“When these people are coming, they come with tanks and don’t walk on foot and so, they are not guerrillas. Whether we like it or not, what is going on is a conventional warfare. So, why is our government that wants four more years waiting until you re-elect them before they set up this special force?

“How long does it take to train that force? Let us face it and realise that something very serious is wrong in the Northeast and it can only lead to one direction.

“We elected them to protect us and make life better for all of us. They have done none of these and they want four more years. May God save Nigeria from their hands”.

On the manifesto of the party, he said: “I have said that we will interact on a weekly basis and what we are going to interact about is what we stand for on the issues of this nation. Security, power, education, agriculture and issues like that. In the process, you will get to know every bit of the details of our manifesto.

“Yes, we are going to have a great, big launching event because it is a very colorful little booklet which will be available to all persons. Within the next few weeks, I will be leading other officers on this issue of where the APC stands and what it will do for the Nigerian nation and if possible, put a time span on some of these things, by which we would want to be judged and challenged when the time comes”.

THE Catholic Bishops Conference has decried the method of sharing relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP).

Millions of Nigerians have been displaced due to the violent attacks by the Boko Haram in the  north.

Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday, the Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama, urged the Federal Government to collaborate with the church, claiming it has good relief structure on ground.

He said: “We are here on behalf of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria. We came not to wish him a bad day, but to talk about our nation. We had some concerns about the situation of security in the nation as well as political developments. So, in general terms, we shared with him in a conversation and discussion.”

“We just wanted to remind him of things he already knows. There was nothing we said that was new. We just wanted to lay emphasis and we wanted him to know we are concerned.”

The Archbishop added: “The President is already doing his bit. He has assured us that he is on top of the situation. They are reviewing strategies and all that; and by the grace of God, this terrorism that we are witnessing will soon be a thing of the past. This is the assurance we are coming away with.”

Saying the bishops felt that things were not right, the cleric noted that Nigerian territory was being taken away.

He said: “The people we look after are displaced, their homes, their villages, towns are captured and they are internally displaced in their own land.

“We thought this is not right. We have families that are just stranded.

We thought that the President should know. As Catholics, we have laid a good structure for relief and taking care of such situations. We want the government to collaborate with us.

“We have what we call the Catholic Peace and Justice Commission. We respond when there is an emergency. We know how to technically do registration of displaced people.

“The little funds we gather, we buy clothing and materials, and are able to reach out very effectively to make sure every victim gets something.”