The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • Boko Haram attacks military post in Cameroon

    Suspected  Boko Haram  members attacked a military post in northern Cameroon, state broadcaster CRTV reported Friday. Dozens of heavily armed militants opened machine gunfire at soldiers in the town of Bonderi, in Cameroon’s Far North region, about five kilometres from the border with Nigeria.

    In a 30-minute exchange of gunfire, a Cameroonian soldier was wounded.

    Pools of blood indicated that some of the insurgents had been hit by bullets as well, but no bodies were left behind when they fled back into Nigeria, according to the report. The attack is the second in the region this week.

    On Tuesday, Boko Haram attacked and looted a gendarmerie post in the town of Zina, also in Far North region, stealing vehicles, guns and ammunition.

    President Paul Biya in May declared war on Boko Haram after the Islamists started to frequently infiltrate into Cameroon.

     

  • Police uncover plot to attack Abuja transport network

    Police uncover plot to attack Abuja transport network

    The police said on Saturday it has uncovered a plot to attack the Abuja transport network.

    The force said in a statement that the plot could be carried out by suicide bombers, using devices concealed in luggage at major bus stations.

    Abuja has increasingly been targeted by Boko Haram sect, with three deadly bombings since April, including one in a bus park that killed at least 75 people, Reuters says.

    “Credible intelligence indicates that terrorists have perfected a plot to carry out attacks on the Abuja transport sector. The move is intended to cause panic amongst Abuja residents and visitors,” police spokesman, Frank Mba, said in a statement.

  • Troops uncover Boko Haram’s underground armoury

    Troops uncover Boko Haram’s underground armoury

    •Recover 80 machine guns, RPGs from Balmo Forest

    •Over 20 suspects undergo interrogation

    The Defence Headquarters is still counting the gains of the recent capture of Balmo Forest in Bauchi State from Boko Haram.

    The military authorities said yesterday that  troops uncovered an underground armoury owned by the Islamic sect in the forest which  stretches from Bauchi to Jigawa and to the fringes of Sambisa Forest in Borno State.

    Recovered from the armoury  were more than 80 General Purpose Machine Guns and  tubes of Rocket Propelled Grenades(RPGs).

    Besides,over 20 insurgents arrested from the forest  are  undergoing interrogation,according to Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade.

    The claims could not be independently verified last night.

    However,Gen.Olukolade,in the statement,said: “The mopping up operation in Balmo forest is yielding more discoveries of arms stockpiled in underground cells in the forest.

    “Troops who have been excavating various sites in the forest in search of hidden weapons, have so far recovered over 10 rifles along with parts and accessories as well as more than 80 General Purpose Machine Guns, tubes of Rocket Propelled Grenades and Launchers, cables, wires and thousands of rounds of assorted ammunition.

    “Also recovered in the search are uniforms of security agencies including protective clothing.

    “Meanwhile, suspects captured in the forest have been taken into custody and they are volunteering information linking the activities in the forest with other terrorist activities in the country.

    “The mopping up operation continues”

    Although,the  statement  was silent on the number of captured insurgents, a  top military source said: “They are over 20 insurgents in custody from the forest providing clues on the operation of the sect.

    “We decided not to publish their photographs for strategic reasons. We do not want the sect to know who among  their members in Balmo Forest  are  still alive or not.

    “But some of those captured were in charge of armoury for Boko Haram. They are helping ongoing investigation.”

    Responding to a question, the military source added: “The recovered arms and ammunition and the arrested insurgents have been moved to a military facility where security agencies are also collaborating to source vital information from them.”

  • Boko Haram: Immigration deports 182 illegal immigrants

    Boko Haram: Immigration deports 182 illegal immigrants

    About 182 illegal immigrants from different African nations have been deported by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos State Command.

    They were picked from different locations in the metropolis following an ongoing raid.

    Command boss, Comptroller Julius Ogbu said a few weeks ago, community leaders from various parts of African nations were told to advise their nationals to go to their countries and obtain all the necessary documents that could qualify them to stay in Nigeria due to security challenges.

    “We had a meeting with heads of the non -Nigerian nationals and advised them on the need to adhere strictly to the ECOWAS protocol which requires that non- Nigerians must come in through the recognized gateways and obtain ECOWAS travel certificate in their countries. By recognized routes, we mean the places where you have Immigration, Customs and all those security agents who are to screen you and ensure that you have good intentions before you come into the country.

    “We have therefore decided to ease out all those nationals who have refused to comply with ECOWAS protocols. The operation is meant to ensure that we control persons who are in Nigeria.  No African national who came into the country illegally is left out. We are not leaving any country out.

    “The Immigration Service have provided some of the logistics used to carry out the repatriation, but the Lagos State Government has been of tremendous assistance. We are not saying they should leave our country because they are our brothers, but what we are saying is that they should go back and come in using their passports or the ECOWAS travel certificate using the recognized routes. We are all ECOWAS nationals, we are brothers, but we are saying that they should do the right thing and come back and live with us.

    He debunked the rumour that the Immigration was sending Nigerian citizens from the North out of Lagos.

    Ogbu said Lagos belongs to all Nigerian and noted that there is no way the Immigration could send citizens from Northern Nigeria out of Lagos.

    “We cannot send Hausa’s out of Lagos. It is not possible for us to send our own out of Lagos. When we make the arrest, we profile them based on our training and send non- Nigerians back to their respective countries.”

    “I want to thank other security agencies who have been assisting us in this operation. The Police, SSS and other security agencies has been helping us in this operation.” He said.

    He told newsmen that 102persons have been sent back while 80 illegal immigrants are waiting to be deported back to their various countries.

  • Boko Haram: 173 teachers killed, says NUT

    Boko Haram: 173 teachers killed, says NUT

    •Threatens  strike  over unpaid 27.5 per cent  allowance in Unity Schools

    A total of  173 teachers have lost their lives in Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe states over the years,the National President of the  Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr Michael Olukoya,said yesterday.

    One hundred  and seventy of the teachers were killed in Borno and the remaining three in Yobe, he told  the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo.

    He  decried the continued detention of the Chibok schoolgirls by the insurgents and the unabated siege of the school system by Boko Haram in the country.

    The NUT president called on the Federal Government to expend all resources available to free the abducted schoolgirls and save them from the psychological trauma.

    “Government should appropriately police the school environment for the security of pupils and teachers and create conducive learning environment for quality education delivery,” Olukoya said.

    Speaking at a separate press conference, the NUT President who was in Uyo for the union’s  fifth quadrennial meeting with the theme, “Changing Nigeria’s fortune through quality teachers,’’ warned that the NUT would go on strike should  the Federal Government  fail to address the issue of payment of 27.5 Teachers  Allowance to its members  in unity schools and other federal schools.

    He said  the union would meet with teachers in the affected  schools and give the federal government deadline on the payment of the  allowance.

    “Up till now, our teachers in unity schools have not been paid the 27.5 per cent Teachers’ Allowance. After this conference, we are meeting with teachers of unity schools and we will give the federal government a deadline,” he said.

    “If, after the expiration of the deadline, the 27.5 per cent Teachers’ Allowance is not paid, we will embark on strike. The strike will be total. NUT will also join teachers of the unity schools and other federal schools in the strike.

    “The time is ripe in Nigeria for the regulated scale of salary and other conditions of service to take a central stage in national attention if, indeed, the quality of teaching and the quality of

    education are to translate into national fortune.”

    The union also blamed the nation’s worsening educational standard on the state of infrastructural decay, saying  the situation  has led to serious crises of confidence among stakeholders in tertiary institution.

    The NUT said that unless there is a revolutionary improvement in the state of facilities  in  primary and secondary schools, every other expenditure on education would amount to a waste of the country’s resources.

  • Boko Haram is criminal, says Lagos Solicitor-General

    Chairman, Lagos State Secretariat Mosque and Solicitor-General of Lagos, Alhaji Lawal Pedro has described Boko Haram as criminals that have nothing to do with Islam.

    The solicitor-general spoke at the maiden edition of the mosque’s annual Ramadan lecture in Lagos.

    “In the light of what is happening, some set of people who are not Muslims but by plainly iota of scandal are now bastardising the religion, we want to let people know that they are evils and have nothing to do with Islam,” he said.

    According to him, Islam abhors killing of self and other souls, saying those who perpetuate evil in the society are not true Muslims and should be excommunicated.

    “Everyone Muslim must go back to the Quran and teachings of the Prophet, it has stated clearly on what we should do and bearing in mind to recognise other religions and give them their respect and co-exist peacefully,” he said.

    Guest speaker, Chief Imam of Ogba Oluwole Central Mosque, Imam Sadullah Bello, urged Nigerians to be Godly, saying that is the only antidote to the nation’s crisis.

    Bello urged Muslims to be conscious of their environment and live in harmony with their neighbours.

    “Nigeria will never be peaceful except we go back to the manual of life which is the Quran; it is the light and solution to the world’s problems,” he said.

    Given the insecurity in the country, Bello stated that poverty and lack of knowledge are major problems.

    “Knowledge is a vital key to reduce insecurity in the country, the government should also eradicate poverty and provide jobs for the people,” he said.

  • Boko Haram: UN adopts new strategy to end insurgency

    The United Nations has adopted a new strategy that would assist the Federal Government in the fight against terrorism.

    This was disclosed by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa, Mr. Said Djinnit, while speaking at the opening of the 45th ordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    He expressed satisfaction with ECOWAS support for the counter-terrorism efforts of the Federal Government in tackling the Boko Haram scourge.

    According to him, the new strategy, known as integrated support package, aims to complement the ongoing efforts of government.

    He maintained that the current support from ECOWAS was also a reflection of the solidarity of countries in the region and their legitimate concern about the spread of violent extremism.

    He said: “The United Nations has adopted an integrated support package to complement Nigeria’s efforts, since we are convinced that only a multi-dimensional approach can bring lasting solution to the crisis.

    “Our primary and immediate concern is the plight of children including in particular those that are being held in captivity by the terrorists as well as the fate of the civilian population in the North East, where human rights and humanitarian conditions are distressing.”

    John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana and current Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Governments in his welcome remarks, commended the establishment of peace operations in Cameroon and Chad to defeat the Boko Haram sect.

     

  • Govt, Boko Haram ‘close to deal’ on Chibok girls

    Govt, Boko Haram ‘close to deal’ on Chibok girls

    Security probes politicians ‘with link to sect’

    The Federal Government is close to a deal with Boko Haram on the 219 abducted girls,  sources told The Nation yesterday.

    A likely swap of the girls with some detained Boko Haram members is said to be “very strong” on the cards, although the government has not made up its mind.

    Our correspondent gathered that there had been intense talks with the insurgents in the last 14 days.

    But the sources declined to name the groups and personalities involved in the talks.

    One of the facilitators, who pleaded not to be named because he is not authorised to talk to the media, said: “We are inching to a reasonable agreement on the release of the Chibok girls. I think a fundamental result will soon be achieved.

    “The mediators are really sincere to end the hostage of the girls. There will be something positive soon.”

    The facilitator, who refused to divulge the details of what he termed the “new deal”, said: “All the parties are hopeful. That was why the Council of State was optimistic about approach to the rescue of the Chibok girls by the government.”

    Sources in government and the military confirmed the development.

    One said: “The military hierarchy is aware that a kind of negotiation or discussion is on and it is being facilitated by some mediators. This is purely a government thing.

    “The government is actually flowing along with the insurgents, but it is treating all issues with ‘great’ caution.

    “The government did not reject the offer to have talks with representatives of the insurgents; it is only being careful because no one is sure of the commitment of Boko Haram leadership to the truce.

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The mediators have been making some demands like go and put certain things in place or a number of vehicles in some places or some logistics for the release of the girls.

    “The government cannot just jump at the logistics without getting the right signal that the insurgents are sincere.”

    The Chairman of the Presidential Fact-Finding Committee on the abduction of Chibok girls, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo(rtd), told President Goodluck Jonathan  last month that the abduction was real, contrary to the misinterpretation in some quarters.

    He also said 276 Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok pupils were abducted but 219 girls were unaccounted for as at the time of submitting the report.

    He said 57 of the abducted pupils had been reunited with their families after fleeing from the insurgents.

    Chairman, Northern States Governors Forum ( NSGF) and Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, said the Military is aware of where the girls are.

    He said the military was being cautious so as not to endanger the lives of the girls.

    Aliyu, who spoke in Minna while receiving members of the National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC),said the Council of State at its Tuesday meeting advised that federal and state governments should fight the sect to a standstill.

    “It is true the military know where our girls are, they have taken decision and are waiting for the right time. In trying to save the girls, the military does not want to give these terrorists the opportunity to kill the girls. We don’t have to throw the baby and the birth water away at the same time.

    “You cannot be sympathetic to people who keep on killing, abducting, and kidnapping people, people whose source of fund is the ransom of kidnapping. We don’t have to keep supporting them. The government would do everything possible to fight Boko Haram to a standstill.”

  • ‘Mis governance caused Boko Haram’

    An Islamic scholar, Ustaz Abdulhafeez Salaudeen, has attributed the rise of the Boko Haram insurgency to poor governance.

    Ustaz Salaudeen, the chief executive officer Kapel Foods, Abeokuta in Ogun State described as propaganda the linkage of Boko Haram to Islam.

    He spoke at the Annual Ramadan lecture, organised by the Movement for Islamic Culture and Awareness (MICA), Alimosho branch in Egbeda, Lagos.

    Ustaz Abdulhafeez said Muslims should not shy away from telling the world that Boko Haram represents evil, hence it should not be linked with Islam.

    He said: “One of the basic things Muslims must do is to spread the information that they (Boko Haram) are not part of us. Never should you have it in mind that Boko Haram is Islam. You know what? Nigerian government gave birth to Boko Haram. First, we are not having good governance; good governance guarantees social security for the people. So, in the event of violence, terror, you should take a cover under the government that is responsible to you.

    “Secondly, there is no social justice which engenders anger, violence, misbehaviour, crime among others;  the home is not secure, the schools are not secure, the job is not secured, everybody is exposed to temptation and what follow is criminal activities, emergence of different horrible and horrific groups,” he said.

    Ustaz Salaudeen said no matter how big is the propaganda, the image of Islam will not be tarnished.

    “Depending on the way you look at it, the Muslim image is not tarnished because tarnishing of an image by a kind of design is what I can call conspiracy. Our image is that we are not trouble makers and as Muslims, we are people who believed in social justice, who believed that everybody must be secured and protected no matter your religion, we are people who do not force anybody to practise our faith, we are people who believe others must be taken care of, so there is no reason to attribute Boko Haram activities to us,” he said.

  • Oritsejafor to herdsmen: Forget grazing reserves

    Oritsejafor to herdsmen: Forget grazing reserves

    The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has advised those clamoring for grazing reserves to forget the idea and embrace modern ranches.

    He also revealed that 80 percent of the people killed by Boko Haram are Christians, saying the sect is advocating a jihad in Nigeria.

    In his key note address at the CAN National Executive Committee meeting held in Makurdi, Benue State, Oritsejafor said the cattle rearers , especially the Fulani herdsmen should embrace modern ranches which would be created for meat processing .

    On Boko Haram, he said, “Who gave them AK 47, who trained them on how to handle the weapons and I wonder why they are not arrested and prosecuted?