The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • Rescue Chibok girls

    The capacity of the Boko Haram insurgents for evil  is indeed legendary. Not satisfied with the endless killings of people through its various attacks like the recent one in Abuja when scores of persons were killed and many others injured, the group recently abducted over 200 secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno State.

    The abduction of the girls whom they have refused to release despite all appeals has damaged whatever is left of our image in the international community.

    The ability of the terrorist group to beat the military security network despite the partial state of emergency in force in Borno State and ferry away the girls into the forest has again confirmed its near invincibility despite claims by the federal government that it is on top of the situation.

    The abduction of the girls is a litmus test for the federal government to prove that it has the capacity to checkmate the insurgents, now or in the future. The military unfortunately started the rescue efforts on a wrong note by claiming to have rescued the girls when then they had no clue of their whereabouts.

    The initial controversy over the actual number of students abducted and those who have escaped is also not good enough as it gives room for doubts on who to believe.

    Except the girls are rescued alive and not allowed to be abused as sex slaves or used as human shield, the federal government should consider the battle a lost one.

    We cannot afford to allow the reign of terror being unleashed presently in the north east part of the country to continue. The terrorists have become a law to themselves and except they are permanently curtailed, they will do more damage and seize control of some more states.

    Much as the military must exercise caution because of the civilian population trapped in the battle zone, no effort must be spared in regaining the areas the terrorists are based.

    From all indications, the insurgents are well-equipped and can only be defeated with superior intelligence and weapons. The welfare of the  soldiers serving in anti-Boko Haram operation must be catered for and they should not be dispirited in anyway.

    Where we need foreign support, we should not hesitate to ask, considering the international network of terrorists.

    This is a battle that must be won to save our country from the looming danger where the onslaught of the insurgents will spill over to other parts of the country.

    The confusion along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway last week over the false alarm of Boko Haram members attacking motorists should serve as a warning why security should be firmed up nationwide, instead of pretending that the problem is limited to the northeast and Abuja.

    It is bad that our leaders have allowed the situation in the country to degenerate to where Nigeria is being named along with Somalia and Afghanistan as terrorists enclaves, but there is still time to stop our dangerous slide to anarchy.

  • False terror alert: matters arising

    False terror alert: matters arising

    The federal government should make new efforts to improve intelligence needed to fight Boko Haram

    It is an understatement to say that any mention of Boko Haram these days creates panic among peace-loving Nigerians. This situation has become aggravated since the spreading back of Boko Haram violence to Abuja to bomb a crowded bus terminus—material, men and women. The scare induced by the terrorist Islamic sect got worsened when over 200 innocent girls of mixed ethnic and religious backgrounds experienced mass abduction over one week ago in Chibok, Borno State recently on the eve of their school-leaving examination. Though Boko Haram appears to be aiming at becoming ubiquitous, crying the wolf of Boko Haram where none exists, as happened in Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo States a few days ago, has added another source of tension and instability to living in Nigeria. The phenomenon of false terror alert calls for additional responsibility on the part of the government and its media.

    Though the menace of Boko Haram may have lingered longer than expected, it is obvious that the federal government, constitutionally charged to end such menace, has not shied away from efforts to engage physically and rhetorically the scourge from the sect. There is no day that messages of optimism and hope do not emanate from the presidency and the military agency that is deployed by the president to bring the violence of Boko Haram to an end. Recently in Nyanya, near Abuja, President Jonathan assured the nation, while consoling victims of bomb blast at the hand of the sect, that terrorism would soon be over. So does the military commander in charge of the offensive against terror continually assure citizens that the military would soon obtain the release of abducted girls and end the problem of terrorism, wherever it exists in the country.Using its own arsenal, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been calling for periodic fasting and praying against terrorism.

    On the whole, government leaders at all levels have not missed any opportunity to tell citizens to accept that the security of the country is not the responsibility of government alone, but of all citizens. Critics of government efforts also do not fail to draw attention to what they perceive as lapses in the fight against terror: failure of intelligence. While the government and security staff need assistance from citizens with respect to intelligence, so do citizens need adequate information from the government in respect of terror attacks. The need for information by citizens includes government’s preparedness to defuse false terror alert. Just a few days ago, half of the southwestern region of the country was thrown into confusion as a result of false alert. The chaos on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that lasted for hours brought home to citizens some intelligence deficits that require immediate remediation by government and its security agencies.

    A major aspect of the fight against terror in other countries is readiness on the part of the government to prevent the media, especially social media (which includes the use of telephone texts in Nigeria) from doing anything to further terrorist goals. The dynamics of the terrorist enterprise includes sophisticated use of disinformation, such as citizens fell victims to a few days ago, when someone initiated mass circulation of falsehood about the cause of traffic snarl on the Lagos-Ibadan highway. The fact that it took government’s traditional media several hours to announce that there were no Boko Haram merchants of death on the highway illustrates that the government has not taken (and is not taking) as much advantage of digital age communication systems as leaders of Boko Haram or their sympathizers.

    If political leaders and governors use Facebook and Twitter to establish communication with citizens, and governors use text messages to campaign for second term in office, then there is no good reason for the federal government not to have established a Terrorism Information Centre that is capable of providing a warning system to citizens and to disabuse the minds of citizens of disinformation planned by terrorists, their supporters, sympathizers, and even innocent citizens who take advantage of instant mass communication made possible by texting via cell phones to send inaccurate information. Although there is no evidence about the origin of the recent false terror alert about Boko Haram across the Southwest, it is not out of place for the government to investigate this. Such disinformation could have come from agents or allies of terrorists to test the effect of such alert on citizens. It is also capable of strengthening terrorist groups while at the same time creating avoidable panic among citizens.

    Since the federal government is in the process of getting assistance from other countries in the fight against terror within its borders, those negotiating for such help need to ask for support to use current technology to ensure adequate and timely information sharing between government agencies and citizens. Borrowing models from such countries may also be an advantage to government and the citizenry. America’s Homeland Terror Warning System is a case in point. Government provides citizens with information on traditional and digital communication channels regarding the level of threat from terrorists as many times as it perceives that such information is needed by citizens.

    Three years after the emergence of Boko Haram should have been enough for the federal government to change the architecture of communication between the government and citizens. All highways ought to be provided with digital bulletins that can be used to inform citizens about movement of traffic and cause of traffic snarls when they exist. If such system had been in place, it would have been easy to counter the false alarms sent to thousands of telephones about the wolf of Boko Haram a few days ago. Traffic management being done by Federal Road Safety Commission on federal and non-federal highways should go beyond stopping drivers to check their papers. It should include using this agency to feed information into digital highway bulletins as the need arises. Such need arose a few days ago on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, but the ubiquitous red-capped traffic police was of no use to reduce the pain of citizens. Neither was the National Emergency Management Agency able to respond to the situation in a timely fashion, to mitigate the pain caused by inaccurate information from anonymous sources.

    Given the negative impact of the false alarm of the past Wednesday on movement of citizens and goods, it is conceivable that terrorists may want to add the use of modern communication gadgets including the Internet, cell phones, and social media to their strategies and tactics to create panic in places where terrorists do not have substantial presence. The federal government that is solely in charge of security and law enforcement thus needs to face the new challenge posed by use of cell phones to dis-inform citizens and, in the process, cause pains for citizens while stalling traffic and disrupting normal economic activities.

    The federal government should make new efforts to improve intelligence needed to fight Boko Haram and also to prevent disinformation about Boko Haram that is capable of paralysing the country’s economy and inflicting avoidale pain on citizens.

  • Boko Haram will pay for Abuja bomb blast victims – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that the perpetrators of the bomb blast at Nyanya Bus Park in Abuja which claimed many lives will not go unpunished but pay for their deeds.

    Speaking at the 4th Presidential National Prayer Breakfast session in Abuja, he said that his administration is doing everything within its powers to support the living and injured victims of the blast.

    According to him, the security agencies are not only working to unravel the scourge of the evil attacks, but also to forestall further senseless attacks in the country.

    He said: “Today our prayers are with the victims of Boko Haram and their families and loved ones. The last tragedy of these heinous ideology occurred while we were preparing to mark the resurrection of our Lord at Easter bringing sorrow to many families who …the reflection of lent.”

    “The government is offering all assistance to support the
    affected families as the security agencies work tirelessly to unravel
    the scourge of this evil and to forestall further senseless desecration of our homeland.”

    “And of course, no matter what the government does, we cannot recover the dead but one thing we promise is that all those who took part in
    that act will surely pay for it. We must all come together and have faith to combat the ignorance, intolerance …. that may lead to this unwarranted hatred and continued violence because we are all children
    of God.”

    Continuing, he said: “As we celebrate Easter, it is no wonder that we are overwhelmed by the mercy and awesome God. His love for us is so deep and inspiring. We need to rely on Him to pursue peace and overcome the enemies of the nation.”

    “My message to you this morning is a sincere appreciation of your
    prayers. Your love for our country gives me hope and encouragement to do more for the good of our country. I urge you not to relent in your prayers and dedication because overcoming the present challenges we face may look impossible with men, but with God all things are possible. This is clearly seen in the scriptures and this is my article of faith. And of course, this is one of the things that make me smile whenever you see me.”

    “By the grace of the almighty, Nigeria will overcome the evil of terrorism and with these strides of development which the country is undergoing in many sectors, we will not be slowed down. We must all
    increase our vigilance and alertness as well as cooperation and understanding to our men in uniform who are at the forefront on our behalf. May God bless and protect them.
    Nigeria is our home and cannot be abandoned to anyone else.” He added

    Apart from prayer for the first family and the nation at the occasion, special prayers were also said for God to help in rescuing all the 232 secondary school girls abducted by Boko Haram in Gibuk, Borno State.

    The President of Benin Republic, Boni Yayi specially prayed for the children’s release stressing that Boko Haram and their collaborators are not needed anywhere in the African continent.

    “No one has the right to destroy what God has created Good will always overcome hatred and wickedness.” He said

  • Rawlings urges Nigerians to collectively fight Boko Haram

    Rawlings urges Nigerians to collectively fight Boko Haram

    Former President of Ghana,Mr. Jerry Rawlings,declared yesterday at Igueben,Edo State that the time has come for Nigerians to collectively rise up to tackle the security challenge in the country.

    Rawlings said the battle should not be left for the military alone to fight.

    The occasion was the 70th birthday celebration of one-time Minister of Foreign Affairs and national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Tom Ikimi.

    The former Ghanaian leader hailed Chief Ikimi as a respectable personality whose contribution to international diplomacy sets him apart in Africa.

    Also speaking ,former military President Ibrahim Babangida called Ikimi a “seasoned technocrat, a hard-core politician and eloquent speaker whose carriage invokes authority in the truest sense.”

    He added:”The man celebrating the milestone is not just as remarkable as the age; he symbolizes what makes that age instructively unique: uncommon wisdom, elegance, ageing gracefully, a show of quintessence, a display of finesse, with uncommon outlook.”

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State described Ikimi as a political architect ,saying Nigeria at this point in its life “requires leaders that can stand for Nigeria in order to guarantee future for the younger ones.”

    Also at the ceremony were that interim national chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Audu Ogbe,Chief John Oyegun, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion,Chief Johnson Arumenmen, Dr Chris Ngige, and Senator Ben Obi.

    Other guests were Dr. Raymond Dokpesi,Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, former Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor and Dr Doyin Okupe.

  • Insurgency: Health services collapse in North East – NEMA

    Health services have collapsed in states affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, a report from the National Emergency Management Agency has said.

    The report said the insurgency has brought the health system to “total collapse” in most local government areas of Borno State.

    According to the report, 37 per cent of the primary health care centres in most affected local government areas have been shut because of the insurgency.

    The report added that the existing health centres are overwhelmed by the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) requiring health care assistance.

    It noted that in spite of relentless efforts from actors to attend to IDPs, the need for emergency health support is enormous.

    “In spite of the of relentless efforts from actors on ground, the need for emergency health support are acute, especially regarding provision of health care for pre-existing conditions,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the report as saying on Thursday.

    It also said the risk of epidemics is high in states affected by the state of emergency but the World Health Organisation in partnership with the Ministry of Health in the affected states is carrying out disease surveillance in communities that are accessible.

     

  • Boko Haram scare seizes Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

    Boko Haram scare seizes Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

    LONG rows of vehicles crawling bumper-to-bumper, a sea of people trekking and a police helicopter hovering overhead.

    It was a terrible experience yesterday for commuters on the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. They were trapped in a traffic jam that lasted for hours, following a rumour that suspected Boko Haram gunmen had seized the road – Nigeria’s busiest.

    A widely circulated message on the social network and text messages early in the day said nine policemen and 11 civilians had been killed in an attack by the dreaded sect’s gunmen, who have turned the Northeast into a vast killing field.

    There was anxiety in Ogun, Oyo, Lagos and other neighbouring states over the message, which warned travellers going to either Ibadan or Lagos to avoid the expressway.

    But the police and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it was all a hoax.

    A variant of the message reads: “If you are on the Lagos/Ibadan Express Road going towards Ibadan, please turn back… 18 suspected Boko Haram members with AK47 riffles are on the highway now displaying their skills. Nine policemen and 11 civilians have been confirmed dead by these gunmen while trying to stop them from shooting. Please rebroadcast to save lives. May God help us in Nigeria.”

    The police deployed men on the expressway to ascertain the veracity of the rumour. They mounted roadblocks, searching vehicles. This led to the gridlock.

    A police helicopters was deployed to provide aerial search for the joint security team which arrived the area as early as 7am when the information spread like a wild fire.

    Commuters from Arepo Bus Stop to Berger, a journey which normally takes about 10 minutes, spent over two hours in traffic.

    Passengers going from Mowe/Ibafo to Warewa and Kara waited for hours to catch a bus.

    Riot policemen were blocking the access road to Ojodu from Berger, searching vehicles.

    It took another reporter about three hours to drive from OPIC House in Ogun State to Berger Bus Stop in Lagos between 11.50am and 2:48pm.

    Residents of Ogun State and travellers experienced a gridlock at the Iwo and Ogunmakin stretch of the expressway in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area. Several motorists made U-turns on receiving the message.

    Many turned back half way into their journey. Others shelved their travel plans, waiting until there was assurance of safety.

    Assistant Director, Public Relations in charge of 81 Division of the Army, Lt.-Col. Omale Ochaguba, said: “You can see the presence of our men all over the state. This is as a result of the directive issued by the Nigerian Army authority to all divisions.”

    Lagos Police Commissioner Umar Manko explained the source of the rumour.

    According to him, a truck carting wheat fell on the expressway, spilling its contents in the middle of the road.

    Policemen, he said, dispersed some hoodlums who attempted to attack the truck with a view to stealing its contents.

    “It was these hoodlums that were sighted by villagers who thought they were members of Boko Haram who had come to attack them. The rumour spread from that village.

    “When we got the information, we sent our men to protect our own Area of Primary Responsibility (APR), which is Lagos State. I tell you with due sense of responsibility that there is no iota of truth in the information. I urge members of the public to go about their businesses without any fear.”

    NEMA spokesman Ibrahim Farinloye warned “mischief makers” against spreading such unfounded rumours.

    He said in a statement: “This is to inform the general public that NEMA received a false alert about a purported Boko Haram attack along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The story is a complete lie and unfounded.

    “Security agencies have combed all routes and beyond without any trace of such incidents. Included in the response team on the false alert are the military Joint Task Force (JTF), the Department of State Security (DSS), the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the police from Ogun, Oyo and Lagos, who deployed aerial chopper in the search.

    “They carried out searches and surveillance in different ways. the JTF is manning the Ogere end where it was said that about 20 policemen were killed.

    “Mischief makers broadcasting these evil machinations are strongly warned to desist from circulating unfounded messages in the country. The public should disregard and discourage further circulation of such inciting messages against the nation.”

    Oyo State police spokesperson Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor, a Superintendent of Police, urged residents to desist from spreading false information capable of breaching the peace.

    “The story that 18 suspected Boko Haram members operated on the highway with AK47 rifles, killing nine policemen and 11 civilians, is untrue. There was an occurrence of a lone auto accident involving a trailer loaded with bags of wheat.

    “FRSC officials, policemen and other security officers were only at the scene to control traffic and clear the gridlock,” she said.

    Ogun Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who acknowledged the false and alarming text messages in circulation, told The nation that there was no Boko Haram attack in the state.

    Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said: “The police and other security agencies including FRSC, the state -owned traffic agency – TRACE, and Nigeria Army were at the point to clear the obstruction and not a Boko Haram attack.

    “The command urges the general public to disregard the rumour and go about their lawful businesses as all hands are on deck to curtail any breakdown of law and order in the state.”

  • When will these killings stop?

    Gradually, life is disappearing in Baga Town, which used to be a lively neighbourhood in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. Given its proximity to Lake Chad, the town used to be a business hub and abode for farmers and fishermen. The story changed last year when DoronBaga fish market, located about six kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital, came under attack by the Nigerian troops.

    Doron Bagais one of the biggest fish markets in the region.

    It was on a Friday evening. Corpse of a military officer was discovered by residents, who immediately called in soldiers to identify the body. From account of residents, the deceased may have been killed by gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect and dumped in the town.

    A few hours after the corpse was taken away by soldiers, the troops returned and overran the town. They shot sporadically and at anything on sight. By the time the dusts were settled, over 200 innocent citizens had been massacred. Over 2,000 houses and businesses worth millions were destroyed

    Recently, the same episode played out in Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, where about 30 Fulani were sent to their early graves while they gathered to mourn their village head. Eyewitnesses said 10 Toyota Hilux pickups allegedly belonging to the Joint Task Force (JTF) on “military operation” drove into the community and opened fire on the victims.

    All these bore the hallmark of pogrom against defenseless citizens whose only offence is that they never belong to ethnics in the majority. Disturbing is the fact that the government of the day has not shown readiness to investigate these cases of arbitrary killing. The people of Baga Town Dust have since move on but they may have been taken aback to learn that nobody has been brought to book. Little wonder why Keana came under similar attack by assailants suspected to be uniform men.

    Now that lives of the citizens do not matter to the government, we should not be surprised that soldiers can just work in to villages and kill with relish. Forget about justice for the victims, such will never come because the cases will not be investigated. If the tempo of the attack is sustained, I am afraid Nigeria may end up like Somalia and Sudan.

    No right thinking man would support arbitrary killing of anyone, no matter what. In 2011, Mr. Mark Duggan was unjustly killed by Metropolitan police in Tottenham, a city in North London. Widespread riot greeted the incident, which left the United Kingdom unsettled for about two weeks. People called for thorough investigation and the police man, who shot Duggan, was charged to court for unlawful killing.

    In Nigeria, security agents, who are supposed to protect the citizens, get away with murder. If the government is serious about solving the insecurity riddle, it should not hesitate to investigate men in uniform, who visited Baga and Keana to kill innocent people.

    If the statement credited to the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen Chris Olukolade, is anything to go by, the killers of the 30 Fulani people may not be produced just the same manner the police are unable to prosecute high-profile murder cases.

    It does appear the right to life, as stipulated by the Constitution, is now subjected to the caprice of the military. Nigeria may be tottering towards precipice if the government does not rein in the security agents whose newfound habit is to invade people’s home and kill them in bulk.

    The Keana killing victims have joined the list of unfortunate citizens unjustly killed by people who are supposed to protect them. But when will these arbitrary killings of Nigerians stop?

     

    Ibrahim, 400-Level Zoology, UDUS

  • Oyo police dispel Boko Haram rumour

    The Oyo State Police Command on Wednesday in Ibadan urged residents to desist from spreading false information capable of breaching the peace.

    The command’s spokesperson, Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor, stated this in a press release issued to dispel the rumour that Boko Haram members had laid siege to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday.

    “The story that 18 suspected Boko Haram members operated on the highway with AK47 rifles, killing nine policemen and 11 civilians is untrue.

    “There was an occurrence of a lone auto accident involving a trailer loaded with bags of wheat.

    “ FRSC officials, policemen and other security officers were only at the scene to control traffic and clear the gridlock,” she said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that residents of Ibadan had started receiving messages of the rumoured attack through the social media and text messages in the early hours of Wednesday.

    In a related development, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Indabawa, said on Wednesday that there was a security report of an influx of foreigners into the state.

    Indabawa, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Clement Adoda, said this at a security meeting held with leaders of the Hausa, Fulani and Yoruba communities at the command’s headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan.

    He urged the communities not to accommodate strangers as doing so could threaten security.

    “You should be vigilant and watch out for foreigners from Chad and the Republic of Niger,” he said.

    The police boss also called for peaceful co-existence between farmers and Fulani herdsmen.

    “Herdsmen should stay off farmlands and where an infringement occurs; aggrieved farmers should seek redress through appropriate authorities,” he said.

     

  • No Boko haram attack on Lagos – Ibadan expressway – Police

    There was anxiety  in Ogun State on Wednesday over text message  warning travellers going to either Ibadan or Lagos, to steer away from the Lagos – Ibadan expressway for their safety.

    The text messages circulated on GSM phones and facebook pages warned would be travellers on the designated route that over a dozen of members of the extremists Boko Haram sect bearing AK – 47 riffle had taken over the expressway and equally shot dead civilians and a number of police officers trying to repel their attack.

    The fear aroused in residents of Ogun, particularly travellers was compounded by a gridlock experienced Wednesday  at the Iwo and Ogunmakin stretch the expressway in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, as people unable to have free flow of traffic soon began to believe the rumour as true.

    Many turned back, half way into the journey while others didn’t venture to take off, waiting until there was assurance of safety.

    Reacting, the Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who acknowledged the false and alarming text message in circulation, told The Nation that there was no Boko haram attack in Ogun state.

    Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP), said the gridlock which was perhaps mistaken for Boko haram attack, resulted from a truck carrying wheat flour that fell on the highway and obstructed movement at the Iwo and Ogunmakin stretch of expressway in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.

    Adejobi said: “The attention of the Ogun State Police Command has been drawn to a  rumour widely circulated  on social media that Boko Haram members were on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway displaying AK47 rifles and killed  some policemen and civilians.

    “There  was no iota of truth in this social media broadcast as nothing of such happened along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway or any other part of Ogun State.

    “Probably the rumour mongers took the presence of police and other security agencies at a point where a truck loaded with wheat  fell across the express between Fidiwo and Ogunmakin in Obafemi Owode local Government Area of Ogun State  for Boko Haram attack. The police and other security agencies including Nigerian Army,Federal Road Safety Corps and TRACE( Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps of Ogun State) are at the point to clear the obstruction for free flow of traffic  and not a Boko Haram attack.

    “The rumour  was a handiwork of mischief makers who wanted to create fears in the minds  of the people of Ogun state and Nigerians in general.

    “The command therefore debunks this rumour and urges the general public to disregard it and go about their lawful businesses as all hands are on deck to curtail any threats or security challenges in Ogun state and even beyond its boundaries.

    “The Commissioner of Police Ogun State Mr.  Ikemefuna Okoye has assured the people of the state of adequate protection of lives and property;and has put all officers and men of the command on red alert to forestall any break down of law and order.

    “The command also wishes to give out the following telephone numbers to contact the police  in case of any strange movements or faces within the state. The numbers are 08081770416 or 08081770419 or 08036197688(State Intelligence Bureau).

    “The command urges d general public to disregard d rumour and go about their lawful businesses as all hands a on deck to curtail any break down of law and order in d state,” the Police stated.

  • FG to world powers: Cut terrorists’ sources of funds

    FG to world powers: Cut terrorists’ sources of funds

    The Federal Government on Wednesday urged the international community to assist in the current fight against terrorism ravaging the Northeastern part of Nigeria by cutting the sources of funds for the Boko Haram sect.

    The Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, made the appeal while responding to questions from reporters in Lagos at the closing ceremony of Exercise Obangame Express 2014, held at the Western Naval Command (WNC), where he represented the Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau Mohammed (rtd).

    While acknowledging that the extremist sect has international sponsors, Obanikoro said the nation was collaborating with the international community because no single nation can tame terrorism.

    “Despite being the richest nation in the world, the United States has not been able to tame terrorism in Afghanistan, Libya…same experience is what we are going through in Nigeria today.

    “How to curb these challenges is the main reason we are cooperating and collaborating with the international community. Yes, it is happening in our country, but when funding is coming from oversees, that is not Nigeria.

    “We are saying there is an international dimension to these crises that we are going through. We are not saying the whole world should come and join us in fighting but all we are saying is that the sources of funding for these terrorists should be cut off and that will to a large extent, help us in bringing the challenges under control,” he said.

    On Exercise Obangame Express, Obanikoro said: “given the activities of pirates and the ideas of capacity building coupled with the globalisation of the world, it is important for nations to put resources together to conduct this kind of exercise because what affects a nation affects the others.”