Tag: boko haram
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Photo: Nyanya Boko Haram suspects
Suspected Boko Haram Members Ahmad Rufai Abubakar(left) Muhammadu Sani Ishaq Adamu Yusuf Yau Saidu and Anas Isah that masterminded April 14 El.Rufai bMotor Park Nyanya paraded yesterday by joint security at DSS headquarters in Abuja on Monday photos Abayomi Fayese -
Boko Haram: Hundreds of illegal immigrants arrested in Warri
Hundreds of persons, suspected to be illegal immigrants were arrested on Monday in Warri, Delta State, by members of a special task force constituted by the state government.
The state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, recently constituted the special taskforce, headed by the state’s Commissioner of Police, to monitor the influx and spread of illegal immigrants in the state, especially persons without genuine means of survival and with possibilities of perpetrating criminal acts.
The governor’s decision followed outcry from different parts of the state over incessant attacks on civilians and security agents by criminals camouflaging as cattle herders.
The operation which started in the early hours of the day, was carried out at the popular Igbudu market, also known as Hausa Quarters and the Warri Garage, which is notorious for the numerous criminals taking residence there.
It was carried out by a joint team of security operatives, drawn from Nigeria Immigration Service, the Police, the army, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
An immigration officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Monday’s raid was sequel to a directive from the leadership of the service in the state to clamp down on the suspected illegal aliens.
“We are doing this to check the menace of Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen,” he said.
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Boko Haram video shows abducted girls in ‘hijab’
A new video released by the Boko Haram sect showed around 100 girls kidnapped from a school in Chibok, Borno State, last month.
The group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, said the girls would be held until all imprisoned militants had been freed.
He said the girls had converted to Islam. The video, released on Monday, showed them praying.
Boko Haram abducted more than 200 girls from Chibok on April 14 and threatened to sell them.
The BBC reports that Boko Haram’s comments showed signs that the group was willing to negotiate.
Three of the girls are shown speaking in the 17-minute video, obtained by French news agency AFP, wearing the full-length hijab.
Two girls said they were Christian and have converted to Islam, while the other said she is Muslim.
“These girls, these girls you occupy yourselves with… we have indeed liberated them. These girls have become Muslims,” Abubakar Shekau said in the video.
It is thought the majority of the abducted girls are Christians, although there are a number of Muslims among them.
The BBC reports the girls appeared calm and one said that they had not been harmed.
There is no indication of when or where the video was taken.
It is estimated to show about 130 girls – just under half of the 276 pupils abducted from their school in Borno State.
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France to host African summit on Boko Haram
France has offered to host a summit on the Boko Haram sect with Nigeria and its neighbours, President Francois Hollande has said.
Global outrage over the Boko Haram’s abduction of 200 schoolgirls last month has focused attention on the group, which has destabilized large swathes of northeast Nigeria and its neighbours.
“With Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, I have proposed to hold a meeting with the countries bordering Nigeria,” Hollande said during a visit to the Azerbaijan capital of Baku.
“If the countries agree, it should take place next Saturday” in Paris, Hollande added.
His aides said the leaders of Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger might attend. Britain, the European Union and the United States would likely be represented as well.
Reuters reports that France, Britain, the U.S and other countries have said they were sending experts to help Nigeria track down and free the schoolgirls.
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I have information on abducted girls – Borno governor
The governor of Borno State, Kashim Sheetima, said he has information on the whereabouts of about 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the Boko Haram sect.
Shettima, according to the BBC, said he had passed reports on the sightings of the girls to the military for verification.
The governor added that he did not think the girls had been taken across the border to Chad or Cameroon.
Meanwhile, President Jonathan said an Israeli counter-terrorism team would arrive in Nigeria to help in searching for the schoolgirls, who were abducted last month in Borno State.
Both the United States and United Kingdom distanced themselves from suggestions that they would send soldiers to take part in the military operation in the northern part of the country.
“There’s no intention at this point to be putting any American boots on the ground” said U.S Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel on Sunday.
UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, said it was unlikely Nigeria would ask for British troops to help, but he added: “I said to President Jonathan where we can help, please ask, and we will see what we can do.”
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Boko-Haram: Why not secret mission?
SIR: Conceal your intentions: keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to they cannot prepare defense – 48 Laws of Power, (Law 3).
If we must overcome the enemy of our beloved country Nigeria, we must learn how to attack Boko-Haram secretly without publicizing our moves. Publicizing our moves will do no good, and it will be detrimental to the military men on the mission. This is because when the terrorist know the number and strategy which the Nigerian armed forces are using, they will get to develop their own plans which will easily overcome the plan of our armed forces.
America discovered the hideout of the then head of Al Qaeda Osama Bin Ladin and it was not publicised. For several month they monitored the hideout secretly, secretly they attacked the hideout in Abbotabad, Pakistan. Had it been that Osama know that the American special squad were coming for him , he would have changed location. But in the case of Nigerian armed forces dealing with terrorist, reverse is the case.
I found it very difficult to answer these questions: did Boko-Haram announce before they abduct our 234 school girls? Did they announce the first and second Nyaya bomb blast? Did they announce the Madalla Christmas day bomb blast? Did they announce the multiple bomb explosion in Maiduguri and the rest? Absolutely the answer is NO. but whenever our armed forces are trying to make a move, they myopically publicize it and by this lapse Boko-Haram get to know how they will operate and avoid areas which are not safe for them.
On Friday May 2, four battalions were mobilized for Sambisa forest and this new development was publicize by the media. The publicity of this move is not a welcome development because it will do the military men on this mission more harm than good and this is because since BH are aware of their coming, they will know how to best prepare for these four battalions. They are publicizing this for we the masses to know their moves and to calm our nerves, but we are not interested in knowing their moves, what we are interested in is the end result of their moves.
“The General who wins the battle makes many calculation in his temple before the battle is fought. The General who loses make but few calculations beforehand.” -Chapter 1, The Art of War.
What I am tryig to say is that our armed forces should always strive hard to set a working plan that will yield a pragmatic result for our beloved country Nigeria without really publicising the strategy.
We are tired of incessant bomb blast which is gradually becoming norms in the Northern part of Nigeria and we are tired of kidnappers; be them Boko-Haram or any body who they might be.
I always wonder how many Nigerians do these insurgents want to kill? Do they really have human sympathy at all? Do they even believe in God? I always go deep in thoughts regarding these questions because I know that neither the Qur’an or Bible is in support of killing of innocent people especially children and women.
I also commend the effort of the Nigerian armed forces towards combating terrorism in Nigeria and I advise the Nigerian armed forces to work as a team, they should forget their differences be it religious or ethnic difference. We hope on you people, because without the armed forces we are not safe ad our country as a whole will be unsafe. The weakness of the armed forces is the downfall of our beloved country which we never prayed for.
• Jamiu Abdulrazaq,
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai
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Troops on alert as Boko Haram insurgents surround Gwoza
• Terrorists blow up second bridge, kill many in village attack, abduct two kids
Troops have been placed on red alert following information that Boko Haram insurgents had surrounded Gwoza, Borno State.
A military source said the insurgents had been “massing up in Gwoza with intent to strike.”
“We have placed troops on red alert. We are also sending reinforcement as I speak with you. We are taking pre-emptive measures to avert a repeat of what happened in Gamboru during the week.”
The news broke as the terrorists blew up another bridge, killed an unknown number of people and abducted the wife and two children of a retired police officer at Limankara village in Adamawa State.
The Limankara bridge served as a link between Adamawa and Borno states.
A team of French experts arrived Abuja yesterday to join those from the USA and UK to help look for the girls.
An official in President Francois Hollande’s office in Paris said they are experts in collecting intelligence from technical and human sources and in image analysis.
Father of two of the abducted girls, the Rev. Enoch Mark, described his despair and anger at the military for not yet finding his daughters.
“For a good 11 days, our daughters were sitting in one place,” he told The Associated Press. “They camped them near Chibok not more than 30 kilometres, and no help in hand. For a good 11 days.”
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Abductions: Cameroon, Chad reach out to Nigeria
• Say girls not on their territories
Fresh indications emerged yesterday that Cameroon and Chad have reached out to the federal government that Boko Haram is yet to relocate any of the over 200 abducted girls to their territories.
It was also learnt that some of the surveillance aircraft for the rescue of the girls might be stationed in either of the two countries.
It was gathered that it has been difficult to liberate the girls because the military have been receiving misleading information from locals.
Some of the locals are suspected of working for Boko Haram.
One of the wrong clues allegedly led to the invasion of Gamboru on Monday where over 300 people were killed.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that Cameroon and Chad have conducted covert military operations and there was no proof that the abducted girls have been relocated to their territories.
A top security source said: “These two neighbouring countries have told our government and the military high command that there was no trace of the girls being in their domains.
“They have, however, strengthened their security and intelligence gathering to prevent any cross-border movement of the girls.
“We have asked them to dig more and we have been passing clues to them as appropriate to seek their assistance.”
It was learnt that some of the surveillance aircraft might be stationed in either Cameroon or Chad.
“The US, UK operations will not be limited to Nigeria. With the cooperation of France, all border towns with Nigeria in Cameroon and Chad will also be policed to rescue the girls.
“Some surveillance equipment will be mounted in these countries. Already, the National Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki has held discussions with the US on the level of assistance for Nigeria to bring back the girls.”
Responding to a question, the source said a major challenge confronting troops in Borno State is wrong or misleading information.
The source added: “Some of the locals have not helped the situation. Each time they gave us information on the whereabouts of the girls, it turned out to be false.
“Some deliberately give misleading information to relocate troops from their position of strength. We cannot rule out the suspicion that some of the locals are working for Boko Haram
“For instance, the killing of over 300 in Gamboru during the week was also caused by misleading information. They gave wrong information to the military command in Damboa on how the girls had been sighted.
“While the troops were working on the clues, the insurgents invaded the market in Gamboru to kill over 300.
“We are now being careful with information given to troops.”
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We must fight Boko Haram together, says Babangida
Former Nigerian leader, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, yesterday asked Nigerians to set aside religious differences and join hands in prayers and action to put an end to the activities of the Boko Haram insurgency in the country and the recovery of the abducted school girls from Chibok.
He spoke just as the Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Abubakar Gumi, warned against allowing the foreign troops kill any member of the Boko Haram group, saying allowing such will trigger a new wave of terrorism never witnessed in the country before.
Speaking in an interview with the Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) monitored in Kaduna, the former leader also asked Nigerian Muslims to rise to defend bad image being given to their religion through the activities of the group as Islam had never allowed the killing of innocent souls, or to antagonise fellow human beings.
According to him, this was the time for Nigerians to unite to rescue the missing female students from Chibok in Borno State, saying “First, I am together with the parents of those girls in prayers so that Allah will protect them. Secondly, this has affected the entire Nigeria. Once you are a Nigerian, no matter your religion, what happened to these children has affected every one that is called a Nigerian.”
On the public outcry by Nigerians about government inaction in recovering the girls, the former president said this was not the time to apportion blame saying “Allah has destined that this thing would happen this way. What we are supposed to do now is to look for ways of assisting in finding these girls because they are not just girls from Chibok, but Nigerian girls.
“So what I hope is that, the Muslims, the Christians, even the animists, should tighten our belt and ensure that we give our full support in the search that could lead us to success in this regard. This is not only affecting Nigeria. Therefore, if there are offers to assist us, Alhamdulillahi (Thanks be to Allah).”
Babangida allayed fears being expressed in some quarters that once the American soldiers are allowed into the country, they would not want to leave. The former military President said before they come into the country, there would be certain regulations that must be adhered to, saying “if they offered to assist, first of all they should be given the opportunity, and we must express our gratitude to them”.
He noted that Islam had never allowed the killing of innocent souls, saying “Islam enjoins you to live peacefully with fellow human beings. Allah says there is no compulsion in religion, so this alone is okay for us. Therefore, anybody who will come and smear our name, all Muslims should kick against that. Muslims should also do everything possible to stop this continued blackmail against the religion of Islam. We must prepare to fight it and ensure that we become successful.”
Meanwhile, Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Abubakar Gumi said the fight to recover the missing school girls from Chibok was a special war that needed special approach.
In a statement in Kaduna, the Islamic scholar said “don’t let the foreigners’ fire and kill any Nigerian. This may trigger waves of terrorism never seen before, especially with the latest pronouncement by the Amnesty International which is broadcast in the major international media.”
According to him, it is no more secret that the Nigerian Army has not been engaging the enemy, saying “for us that have been keen observers of the development and progress of this evil situation which the northern states are passing through since the inception of this government, this is no news”.
He wondered why the USA and other countries are just offering assistance on the war against insurgency, when many innocent lives have been lost and so many families were destroyed, saying “the interest is intensifying after it becoming more evident that the Boko Haram are going to enslave or sell the innocent girls with religious bias as most of them girls are Christians. In fact, there is news that those that escaped might have been the few Muslim girls ‘released’ by the evil group.
“There is no reason whatsoever that can justify the abduction of innocent people irrespective of their religious affiliation or ethnic composition. This has to be clear. It is at this juncture, that the efforts of the Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch should be appreciated, because they have times without number published the atrocities committed by the both the Boko Haram and the Nigerian military.
“Atrocities of rapes, extra-judicial killings and concentration camps and illegal detentions. If these atrocities are committed by a lawless group there is no much surprise about it. What do we expect of them? But for a constituted authority to be engaged in these same atrocities, the issue becomes more abominable.
“Yet years passed without concern from the public. It is now we are all facing the evil we collectively neglected and refused to heed the cries of the very few. When our government was committing crimes most people were aloof. Now the evil is haunting us all. Now the Nigerian government is branded in the international arena as callous, irresponsible, corrupt and also blood stained.”
According to him, there will always be repercussions for killing innocent people or aiding in killing an innocent soul as well as refusal to take responsibility over the lives and properties of people.
“It is shocking for most of us, especially since the revelation on the Voice of America interview by a soldier about the situation in Bama. He was plain that the Nigerian military is not truly engaging the enemy and that there are elements of his military instructors on the side of Boko Haram firing at them, an allegation the military dismissed yet the public is not convinced.”
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Kevin Lucciano laments insecurity in Nigeria
THE President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Kelvin Lucciano, has called on the Federal Government to step up its act, particularly as it concerns providing adequate security for Nigerians. Luciano made this call in Ghana, following reports that the Boko Haram sect had threatened to sell the students abducted at Chibok, Borno State.
“It is my belief that if the entire nation wills it, Boko Haram can be a thing of the past in Nigeria. It is not the fight of President Jonathan Goodlock alone; it is the fight of all Nigerians”, he said.
He urged Nigerians not to fold their arms and watch the country brought down to its knees or suffer the dire consequence.
The PMAN President also sent condolence messages to the bereaved families of the Oputas, Amatas and the Otedolas who lost their patriachs within the week. On the death of former governor of Lagos State, Sir Michael Otedola, he said the father of his friend, Femi, was a hard working man who used all he had to serve the people, especially when he held sway as governor in Lagos.
“It is a sad loss. I commiserate with the Otedolas, just as I condole with the Amatas and Oputas over the deaths of Igwe and retired Justice Oputa. This has been a long, sad weekend for Nigeria as we have lost three citizens who had in diverse ways positively affected our nation. I send my sincere condolences to their families,” he added.