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Tag: boko haram

  • Boko Haram: have we learnt any lesson to end the war?

    Boko Haram: have we learnt any lesson to end the war?

    Like most other policies, including the flip-flop on rice import ban and the automotive policy, there is little debate, not to talk of deep, intellectual introspection accompanying the Goodluck Jonathan approach to fighting Boko Haram and terrorism in general. We are conversant with the endless presidential dithering on the menace, but finally, it seems, events and circumstances have compelled the government to stand and fight, instead of yielding, as its natural instincts always dictated. Horrifyingly, however, the government and the populace have decided to do nothing but fanatically fight the terrorist sect almost to the total exclusion of other measures. There is no discussion going on with the sect, as now seems obvious. And there is nothing beyond the trashed panel reports on the sect to show that both the government and the military have a minimal understanding of the sect’s social, political and ideological underpinnings.

    This column has always maintained that the sect should be fought with single-minded resolve. But it has also always reminded the government of the need to address the factors that predisposed the Northeast in particular to the revolt, and urged the military to appreciate the kind of tactics required to defeat the sect and other revolts like it. I once reminded the military after the Baga, Borno State debacle that it must begin to furnish itself with the requisite knowledge needed to combat the multifarious challenges to stability and peace in the modern era. The country’s military doctrine, not to say our foreign policy doctrine, should be thoroughly revamped and modernised to take care of modern exigencies.

    But given Dr Jonathan’s often inexplicable silence on the war and his reluctance to empathise with the victims, as well as the military’s sometimes exaggerated opinion of its understanding of the sect’s methods and what should constitute the rights and liberties of enemy combatants and victims of the war, it appears nothing is being done to ensure that when the war ends, the right lessons have been learnt and future reoccurrence made nearly impossible. There are a number of elements that show no lesson has been learnt. First, is the all-important matter of justice. Not only has the trial of the policemen who extra-judicially murdered the sect’s former leader, Mohammed Yusuf, been clumsily handled, even the trial judge recently threatened to discharge the suspects on account of state/prosecution apathy. The government is truly apathetic to justice.

    Second, all those who contributed to the impoverishment of the region and other parts of the country continue to underplay their guilt and complicity. To show how distracted the federal government is, it managed to allocate two billion naira to address the devastation in the Boko Haram region. And third, and of course very significantly, the Northern political class that inherited the political mantle of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, without his wisdom, restraint and accommodation, have shown absolutely no contrition for perpetrating decades of religious discrimination that fostered the fanaticism being witnessed today. It was obvious to most Nigerians that they were at first silent over the sect’s bestiality, before waking up to the reality that extremism of any kind and within or outside any faith is absolutely intolerable. Do Northern leaders now have this clear understanding, learning, as it were, from the experiences of Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan, among others?

    The military has appeared to find its teeth in facing up to the Boko Haram madness. Hopefully the cessation of hostilities will not morph into scattered and intermittent suicide attacks on selected targets such as take place in Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia and now China. However, the factors that sparked and now feed the war can only be denied fuel if the injustices and short-sightedness that serve as its lifeblood are eliminated. Could we trust the federal government and the political elite to take the revolutionary steps needed to remake the northern society and build it into a beautiful tapestry of heterogeneousness, the kind conceived and administered by the late Sardauna of Sokoto? Could we, indeed, trust those saddled with the onerous responsibility of ruling a large and complex society like Nigeria to embrace reason rather than emotions in administering the affairs of the country?

    I have my doubts. For, even after Boko Haram is defeated, the absence of a remade and re-engineered society, one anchored on the right mix of liberal values, could yet trigger sporadic outbreaks of sectarian and ethnic wars that may ultimately doom the polity. This is the time for the philosopher-king, if we can find one.

  • Boko Haram: 500,000 Nigerians displaced, says UN High Commissioner

    Boko Haram: 500,000 Nigerians displaced, says UN High Commissioner

    The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights  Navi Pillay yesterday said that  about 500,000 Nigerians have been displaced by  the Boko Haram insurgency.

    The New York based Human Rights Watch said that the situation has sparked a  humanitarian crisis.

    Pillay, speaking  to reporters in Abuja, also  called for a regional approach  in containing the insurgency in the Northeast.

    With what Nigeria is currently passing  through, she said  that the  Boko Haram challenge could no longer be treated as  the country’s  internal matter.

    She said that the National Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki,   has, accordingly, agreed to facilitate access to the areas affected by Boko Haram insurgency  by  humanitarian agencies and human rights monitors.

    She said:  “The actions of Boko Haram have grown increasingly monstrous. The group has targeted some people simply because of their religion or professional occupation, and indiscriminately killed and maimed many others. They have burnt down houses, churches, clinics and schools.

    “They have murdered children in their beds. Some of its members are reported to have abducted and raped women and girls.

    “Close to half a million people have been displaced inside Nigeria and some 57,000 are now reported to have spilled across borders into neighbouring countries. Farmland has been abandoned, and the food security in many areas has most likely been compromised as a result of the terror that Boko Haram has sown.

    “In such circumstances, the Government has of course had no option but to deploy the army and other security services.

    “However, it is vital that government forces do not exacerbate the problem by taking actions that displace, endanger or kill civilians.

    She said although there had been alleged cases of human rights violations by troops curtailing insurgency, there was assurance by the NSA that the excesses would be checked.

    She added: “Many people I have met with during this visit openly acknowledge human rights violations have been committed by the security forces, and these have served to alienate local communities and created fertile ground for Boko Haram to cultivate new recruits.

    “While the scale of such abuses is not clear, the Government is evidently aware they are counter-productive, and I was assured by the National Security Adviser that steps are being taken to rectify excesses.

    “A good first step came in the form of the establishment of a Joint Investigation Team by the Chief of Defence Staff to review cases of those detained during counter-terrorism operations against Boko Haram.

    “The outcome of that review, announced in December 2013, indicated that 500 individuals were recommended for trial, 167 for release, with 614 other cases deemed inconclusive.

    “In order to inspire confidence and deter further illegal actions, it is important that transparent investigations into alleged violations by security forces are also carried out as a matter of course, and essential that credible and reliable information about what is going on in the North East becomes more readily available.

    Pillay said  that the  decision of the NSA  to facilitate access  by  humanitarian agencies and human rights monitors to the  areas affected by Boko Haram insurgency   would  ”not just enable humanitarian assistance to be provided to civilians in need, but may also deter further excessive acts, combat impunity and help dispel any unfounded rumours tarnishing the reputation of the forces engaged in the extremely challenging task of combating Boko Haram.”

    She recommended a regional approach to tackle Boko Haram insurgency.

    She said: “With thousands of refugees fleeing from Nigeria, and arms and fighters reportedly flowing across international borders in the other direction, this terrible conflict is no longer solely an internal matter.

    “I suggested to the National Security Adviser that a regional approach to combat terrorism, resolve the conflict and alleviate the hardship of all civilians that are caught up may be an option worth exploring with neighbouring countries and the broader international community, and I also raised this issue with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I call on States within the region to enhance their collaboration with Nigeria.”

  • Fear of Boko Haram invasion as gunmen attack banks in Kebbi

    Fear of Boko Haram invasion as gunmen attack banks in Kebbi

    There was confusion and pandemonium on Thursday night in the ancient city of Argungu in Kebbi State, as rumours about the presence of the dreaded Boko Haram sect spread round the town. Terrified residents of the town ran helter-skelter, making efforts to contact friends and families, including security agencies to confirm the story. The State Commissioner of Police, Benjamin Uche Onwuka, who responded to a call by our correspondent at about 10.pm, denied the rumour, saying the story of invasion by the Boko Haram was not true. Onwuka explained that it was a case of armed robbery. According to him, three armed robbers, who were operating on a motorcycle, attacked and robbed the government-owned Savings and Loan Bank in the town. The armed robbers were said to have later attacked a new generation bank in the town, where they shot and killed two persons, including the policeman on guard, while two other persons sustain injuries He said the armed robbers were later confronted by some security agencies and youths in the town, and arrested one of them. “What happened was not an invasion by the Boko Haram. It was an armed robbery attack on two banks in the town. One of the suspects was arrested with an AK-47 Riffle and rounds of ammunition.”

  • CP denies attack on UniMaid

    The Police Command in Borno on Friday denied reports of suspected Boko Haram insurgents attack on the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) campus.

    The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Lawal Tanko, made the denial in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

    “The story indicating that the university had been attack is not true.

    “What happened was that the insurgents passed through a river channel behind the university to launch the attack on the barracks,’’ he said.

    Tanko said that the university campus was safe as both students and lecturers had been adequately protected.

    He, however, confirmed an attempted attack on the Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri, by suspected members of the sect.

    “It is true that there is an ongoing exchange of fire between security agents and some suspected insurgents, but the incident is limited to the barracks area alone,’’ he said.

    Also, Malam Ahmed Mohammed, the Chief Information Officer of the university, who spoke to NAN, corroborated the claim of the commissioner.

    “The university camp was not attacked; the attackers only used a narrow river side near the campus to carry out their nefarious act.

    “Many people assumed that the university was affected because the hostilities took place near the campus,’’ Mohammed said

  • Update: Military repels Boko Haram attack in Maiduguri

    Five sect members arrested, female student of University of Maiduguri shot.

     

    Two hours after the first triple assault on Giwa barracks in Maiduguri, Borno State capital by suspected insurgents, gun shots are still being heard from a distance from the GRA police station.

    Fighter planes of the Nigerian air force which responded with record speed according to one security personnel seem to be dropping bombs in a staccato manner returning back to base after the operation.

    The varying sounds indicate different types of weapons used by both soldiers and insurgents said residents of the state hotel who have witnessed such encounters in recently.

    Meanwhile five members of the sect have been caught close to the University of Maiduguri where they have been said to have stormed the town very close to the University simultaneously.

    Students living around Barma road said a stray bullet hit a female student who was going to school about the same time when the others stormed the town from the University side.

    Although no death figure has been confirmed by the University, a mass communications student Mayum Etim told The Nation on phone that ” It was correct that the insurgents stormed an area close to our school but they did not enter the campus. ”

    ” A female student was said to have received bullet wounds on her shoulder just above her breast but she has gone for treatment to stop the bleeding at the teaching hospital where services were still on going since they have soldiers keeping on guard.

    “They did not enter our campus. It is however deserted by students who took off for their lives when the shots started booming opposite the campus. Soldiers have completely cordoned the place and the usual 7th division trucks are patrolling our streets from the Konjuga end of the University to Customs area which has porous areas where they dared to enter having being repelled from the Giwa barracks axis.

    “The civilian JTF guys are doing a great job as they have been fishing out the determined insurgents who are bent on destabilizing the town. As a matter of fact, they have just caught five fleeing members of the sect near our home outside the Campos. They have been handed over to the men of the 7th division.

    Meanwhile the daring seige on Maiduguri from about three fronts of the town continues. Fire Service vehicles were seen being escorted by soldiers to an unknown destination to put off fire on buildings that may have been set on fire by the insurgents from the Giwa barracks end of the town.

  • Boko Haram: Parents withdraw children from Yobe schools

    Boko Haram: Parents withdraw children from Yobe schools

    Every parent wants his child to be educated. But where the school becomes a killing field, what would parents do? This is the dilemma in which parents in Yobe State schools now find themselves. Many are withdrawing their children from school because of Boko Haram attacks in which hundreds of pupils have been killed. JOEL DUKU (Damaturu) reports

    Even before the Federal Government shut some unity schools in Yobe and other Northeastern states, parents had been withdrawing their children from those schools for safety reasons. Many pupils have become targets of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

    No fewer than 136 are feared to have been killed so far.

    On February 25, the sect killed no fewer than 59 pupils when it attacked the Federal Government College (FGC) at Buni Yadi. Scores are still missing. Hunters have been hired to comb the bushes near the school for them. Schools in Borno State have also suffered similar attacks, with scores of pupils also killed.

    The Yobe state government and the Joint Task Force (JTF) had assured parents of their children’s safety before the Buni Yadi attack. Some parents took solace in the government’s assurance and left their children in school. Some withdrew theirs following the fate of other children in other schools.

    Many top government officials are said to have relocated their children to Kano, Abuja, Kaduna and big cities to continue their education. children of low income earners are said to be at the mercy of the because of lack of funds.

    Adamu (not real name), the father of one of the surviving pupils of the FGC, Buni Yadi attack appears worried. He told our reporter that as long as there is no end to “these senseless killings”, he will never compromise his son’s future.

    “I must tell you that Allah is our only hope for these senseless killings. I am confused and devastated but I cannot compromise the future of my son for fear. He must go to school,” Adamu assured.

    Parents, who moved their children, said they acted on instinct. Hauwa, a single mother, said she withdrew her two daughters from FGC, Buni Yadi after the College of Agriculture in the same area was hit by Boko Haram in December.

    “As if I knew, I was uncomfortable since the attack on the College of Agriculture, Gujba because my two daughters were in FGC, Buni Yadi which is very close to that place. I had to borrow money to transfer them to another school in Jigawa State. Look at what has happened now. May Allah save us from this problem,” Hauwa said.

    Idris Abubakar, a civil servant, relived the pains of living without his children whom he relocated to Abuja.

    “I had to relocate my children to Masaka close to Abuja for them to get better education. But it has not been easy managing a family away from my location. I travel often to see them. My only consolation is that I will soon retire from the Yobe State Civil Service. So, I will move and connect permanently with my family,” he said.

    Since the Boko Haram attacks started, Government Secondary School (GSS), Damaturu, Government Secondary School, Mamudo in Potiskum, College of Agriculture Gujba and FGC, Buni Yadi have been hit.

    The attacks are impeding government’s efforts to turn things round in the educationally disadvantaged state.

    Aishatu and her husband are civil servants in the state; but she is against parents withdrawing their children from school. According to her, any reasonable parents must ensure that his or her child gets education regardless of the circumstances.

    “For those of us that work and live in this place, we have no choice but to put our children in school. My problem is not even Boko Haram but there are no good schools around for the children to get good and qualitative education.

    “I feel sorry for the state government because they are trying a lot but the crisis keeps dragging them backward. I am aware that many schools were burnt and government has to spend more money to rebuild these schools.

    “One area that is lacking on the part of government is to sustain an awareness campaign among the citizenry on the need for parents not to give up on education. Without proper education, there will be more crises in future,” Aishatu said.

    The FGC Buni Yadi attack made a woman popularly known as Mama Comfort to almost change her mind about her only daughter’s education. It took the school authority to convince her not to take the girl home.

    Mama Comfort told our reporter that she and other parents took the same decision that fateful day.

    “Many of us went there to remove our children, from that school. The principal of the a school assured us that nothing will happen to our children, but for me, I had made up my mind that I was not leaving without my only daughter. Other people left but I refused to. After several pleas from the principal and my refusal to shift ground, he had to go and call soldiers who came and chase me out of the school”, Mama Comfort told our reporter.

    The woman noted that the school has no fence; hence her fears on the security of the school.

    “I was surprised that the back of the school is empty without fence, you only see fence by the main road but the back of the school is empty, not even a wire to restrict movement.”

    “It is better for me to keep her (daughter) safe and alive than to die. Let her stay with me here. When I get money, I will find another school for her outside Yobe,” Mama Comfort said.

    Msheliza (not real name) is a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic in Damaturu. He has relocated his three children to another school in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

    “Since 2012, the attacks on Damaturu by Boko Haram insurgents have had a serious effect on student enrollment.

    “Whenever there was an attack in those days, children would stay out of schools for days, sometimes weeks so I decided to take my children to Jos where education and the environment are better.”

    “Take it or leave it, the quality of education in Yobe has become poorer because of these attacks. Student enrollment has dropped and the apathy for learning is on the increase. The government of Yobe State may be doing its best but if you are reconstructing schools that are burnt by the insurgents and there are no pupils in the schools then what are you achieving? Msheliza asked.

    To keep Boko Haram at bay, many private schools in Yobe are using private guards.

    A head teacher in a private school said the measures became necessary to forestall attacks.

    “Though we cannot stop these attacks but we need to put up measure that can reduce the impact in case we have to contend with one”, he said.

    Most private school owners were reluctant to divulge their security arrangements.”

    “It will amount to no sense if I tell you the security measures we have in this school. That would further weaken our strategies. I am sorry”, a head teacher in a private school told our reporter.

    Another teacher, who pleaded anonymity said: “Let me tell you, the security situation in this region has made everybody alert and security conscious. Most of our school children are aware that things are not the same in this area. Some of the parents are seriously doing the orientation at home. But as a school, we always remind our students during assembly to be vigilant and careful.

    “As for the little ones, we normally tell them not to collect gifts or talk to any stranger but to report to their teacher anybody that insists on something from them, or better still run away”, the teacher said.

    Our reporter, who went round Damaturu, the state capital, noticed that almost all the private schools now have fortified gates.

    Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has condemned the killing of pupils. He said his administration would not be deterred from providing quality education to all.

    “I must say that the act of these insurgents is unfortunate, devastating and highly barbaric; but their attitude will not stop us from fulfilling our campaign promises to the people of Yobe State, Insha Allah. We will continue to provide quality education to our children, free medical treatment to pregnant women and children under five years, poverty alleviation, good water, and infrastructural transformation of the state.

    “I am sad that the resources we would have used to provide other infrastructure are now being channelled to the reconstruction of the schools. But we have to do it for the sake of the future of our children,” Gaidam said.

    As at June, statistics from Yobe State Ministry of Education indicated that over 209 schools were destroyed by the insurgents. the state requires over N2.5 billion to rebuild them. The figures may have increased by now, with the insurgents recurring attacks.

    To win back parents’ confidence and restore hope in the education sector, the government has rebuilt over 300 burnt classrooms.

    The government has also begun the construction of perimeter fencing around the schools. A visit to GSS, Damaturu, showed an overhaul of dilapidated infrastructure. The school has also been fenced round. The fencing of the College of Agriculture, Gujba, is ongoing, while that of GSS, Mamudo, has been completed.

     

    ‘Don’t withdraw your children from school’

    Yobe State Commissioner for Education Alhaji Mohammed Alamin, in this interview with DUKU JOEL speaks on the fortune the government is spending on infrastructure and security in public schools. He is calling on parents not to withdraw their children to schools outside the state.

    Until the insurgents redirected attacks on schools in the state, the education sector was on the priority list of government. What is government doing to improve security in schools?

    Initially, we thought their (Boko Haram) attacks will not be carried to this magnitude; but as soon as they started showing interest that they wanted to destroy some of our schools, we made efforts in collaboration with security agencies to provide security round our schools. That was after the Damaturu and Mamudo attacks. Even the Defence Headquarters sent senior officers to assess the situation, we told them that we needed soldiers to be around our schools. They said they didn’t have such manpower for all schools. They only promised that their men would patrol the schools. To be fair to them, they have been providing the security and by the grace of God, we stayed for a few months without any attack on our schools after the College of Agriculture attack in Gujba. All of a sudden, the unfortunate incident at FGC Buni Yadi happened again. This one too is very devastating, pathetic, callous and in fact inhuman because it is the same manner and way they killed these students in the previous attacks that they still did; gathering them and killing about 29 of them.

    Tell us about efforts geared towards the schools’ reconstruction

    Since the Damaturu, Mamudo and the College of Agric incidents, the Yobe State government has been trying to rebuild these schools. Despite our challenges, you will realise that education still tops our priority as a state. We have rebuilt and reconstructed the entire schools. If you go to these schools, you will realise that in addition to those structures provided, we have also fenced the schools round. Now we have provided some form of security to the students and we have assured parents that the students would be secured in these schools. All these are efforts being made by the Yobe State Government that in spite of the challenges, we will not relent in our efforts to providing an enabling environment for our teachers and students to learn.

    Have you received assistance or an intervention fund from the Federal Government for the rebuilding of these schools?

    In terms of schools, we have not received any intervention from anybody. I was made to understand that the Federal Government granted about N150million or so to the state government. But even that amount is nothing compared to the destruction made by these mindless insurgents and the repairs we have undertaken.

    How much did it cost you to rebuild the schools?

    The GDSS Damaturu alone cost us overN339million, GSSS Mamudo cost us about N160million, and just the fencing of College of Agric is about N120million. What I have told you is excluding all the primary schools being destroyed in the state and the equipment by the insurgents across the state. As far as relief or assistance is concerned, we have not received anything from anybody for the reconstruction or rebuilding of these schools. Not that I know of.

    To what extent have you been able to rebuild confidence in parents with respect to security?

    Yes, fencing is one of the confidence we are providing both for the parents and the students.Before, GDSS Damaturu was very porous and you can come in from any direction. But now, we have fenced the school and very soon we will provide security wires on top of the fence to give the students and even parents some confidence that the government is providing security. At least, there is only one entrance to the school because the land mass, which was before free, has been fenced. By the time we provide the security wire, nobody can climb the wall. We have done the same thing at Mamudo and the College of Agric and, eventually, all the schools in the state would be provided with this security measure for the pupils to, at least, have some level of security in all schools across the state.

    There is panic among parents as many are withdrawing their children from schools across the state after the Buni Yadi attack. What is your advice to them?

    I would like to assure them that our children would be safe in all our schools. The Buni Yadi incident is unfortunate. According to the information reaching us, it occurred when they withdrew security agents posted to the school. I learnt they (government) withdrew security in certain places and took them where they would be needed them most. By so doing, they weakened the security around the school. If the re-enforcement were at Buni Yadi, I am sure this unfortunate killing wouldn’t have occurred because the soldiers’ base is less that 2km from the school. The entire Federal Government College was burnt. No structure – a classroom, dormitory, laboratory, staff quarters, library – was left. One needs to see the extent of the destruction to appreciate what has been done in that school by the insurgents. No structure is standing. There are over 40 houses for the staff alone, not to talk of the classrooms – all were burnt. On the final note, there is no sense for parents to withdraw their kids from schools.

    What is the state approach to education now in view of the development?

    Education still remains a priority for Yobe State government. Despite the challenges, we will continue to provide education to our citizens. If we dare say we cannot provide, that is what the insurgents want. You know they say, Boko Haram traslates to ‘education is sin’. So, we will not do that. Rather, we will continue to rebuild, reconstruct, and provide all that is needed for our children to be educated. That knowledge we must not fail to give to our children.

     

  • Abia Warriors: Boko Haram don’t scare us

    Abia Warriors: Boko Haram don’t scare us

    Abia Warriors striker Bishop Onyeudo has said he expects his newly-promoted club to upset El Kanemi at home despite the threat of a Boko Haram attack.

    Warriors got off to a bright start in the new Nigeria League season on Saturday when they beat visiting Kaduna United 2-0 at home.

    Onyeudo came off the bench to score the second goal for Warriors and he has tipped his new team to be the first to win in Maiduguri when both teams clash at the weekend.

    “It has been difficult, almost impossible, to beat El Kanemi in Maiduguri, but we could be the first team to beat them there,” said the former Rangers and Enyimba striker.

    “Most teams have lost in Maiduguri because they are emotionally drained even before they play there because of the danger of a Boko Haram attack. But I do not expect any attack as I have played in Bauchi and Gombe, where there are also tendencies for these attacks.

    “El Kanemi are not fantastic and like us, they have a new coach. And we will not allow the fear of Boko Haram to defeat us even before the match.”

  • ‘North should solve Boko-Haram problem’

    Northern political leaders have been urged to find a lasting solution to the Boko Haram insurgency . The Spiritual Head of the Eternal Order of Cherubim and Seraphim [C&S] Church worldwide, and the Prelate of the Church, His Most Eminence,Baba Aladura Lazarus Anuba Onyeleonu gave the advice in Umuahia.

    Speaking in Umuahia, Dr Onyeleonu said that Boko-Haram came into being as a result of bad leadership and selfish interests of politicians and advised the insurgents to lay down their arms and embrace peace.

    The cleric warned that bloodletting can only aggravate the situation instead of solving it, quoting the Biblical injunction that: “he who lives by the sword, will die by the sword”.

    The man of God claimed that there are enemies within sponsoring or supporting the bloodletting. “The problem of bloodletting by the Boko-Haram insurgency is being sponsored by politicians in our midst. I suggest that the North should rally round and solve the problem, more so when the president has promised them amnesty “,he said.

    The cleric said that politicians should be made accountable to the masses and use the resources at their disposal judiciously for the development of their communities.

    Onyeleonu urged politicians to wage a relentless war against ills that have been pulling the society back, saying : “They should desist from stealing, political and economic sabotage, godfatherism, etc, because posterity and God will judge them”.

    He extolled the virtues of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan whom he said has done better than most past rulers in Nigeria, adding that given the opportunity, he will do more for the people and the country.

    The spiritual leader said: “The fact that he is not a lion, but came in a lowly guise and allowed people to criticise his government, even unconstructively without them being harassed or assassinated is one of the greatest gifts any leader can give to Africans”.

    He advised Jonathan to remain focused on his developmental efforts, but that he should step up the fight against corruption, stressing that by so doing, the people will have confidence in the government.

    Dr Onyeleonu warned ahead of 2015 elections, that Nigerians should be careful so that selfish politicians do not divide the country because of parochial interests, adding that people should be vigilant to avoid mistakes of the past.

    He said: “ The solution Nigerians should look for is how to drive away hunger, illiteracy, tribalism, corruption, and other ills from our polity. We should embrace peace and unity rather than dwell on where a ruler comes from because it is only God that anoints a leader.”

  • Military captures Boko Haram fighters in forest

    Military captures Boko Haram fighters in forest

    House mourns slain Yobe pupils

    Many injured Boko Haram fighters have been captured in some parts of Borno State and on the fringes of Lake Chad, military authorities said yesterday.

    Besides, weapons have been recovered by troops in collaboration with the Multi-National Joint Task Force.

    The captives, who were described by a military source as “famished”, were said to be begging troops to spare their lives.

    But air raids on Boko Haram camps continued yesterday. Besides, security has been tightened in borders with Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic to prevent the insurgents from fleeing.

    According to a statement by Defence Headquarters (DHQ) spokesman Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, some of those arrested have made vital disclosures.

    The statement said: “Scores of wounded terrorists who escaped from various camps under the fire of security forces have been captured in the fringes of Lake Chad.

    “The captured terrorists, some of whom are fatally wounded, are already making useful statements to interrogators of the Multi-National Joint Task Force.

    “Others were captured by troops in locations around Dikwa, Cross Kauwa, Kukawa and Alargarmo.

    “In their confessions, it was revealed that some of the camps have been disbanded following the directive of their clerics who declared that the operation of the sect had come to an end as the mission could no longer be sustained.”

    The DHQ also claimed that some of those being interrogated pleaded with troops not to kill them.

    The statement added: “The terrorists, who gave useful information as to the locations of their remnant forces, were full of apologies and pleas for their lives to be spared, promising to cooperate.

    “They confirmed that starvation was a major problem, in addition to ceaseless bombardments on the camp locations even when they kept relocating.

    “They also confirmed that several members of the group have been wounded and no treatment was forthcoming. Troops have continued their assault on other locations across the states covered by the state of emergency.”

    The DHQ however warned members of the public against visiting captured camps of Boko Haram for “sight-seeing.”

    It said: “Meanwhile, members of the public who have started visiting to engage in sight seeing in some dislodged camps and fringes of forests, such as Sambisa and others have been warned to desist from doing so as the tendency will no more be condoned where operations are still ongoing.

    “The general area still remains a theatre and movement remains restricted as the environment has to be cleared for safety of citizens. The public will be informed when the locations are safe enough.”

    A top military officer said air raids and surveillance in borders with Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic were heightened yesterday to prevent the insurgents from fleeing.

    The source said: “You see, continuous air raids and water-tight security along our borders with neighbouring countries have helped in our campaign against the insurgents.

    “We are determined not to relax air assaults and stoppage of movement along the borders until the insurgents surrender.

    “The troops are really taking the battle to the insurgents instead of being on the defensive.”

    Responding to a question, the source said: “Preliminary findings confirmed that Boko Haram manages rag-tag fighters similar to those in Mali, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

    “No matter how long they pretend to be organised, the battle continues as our troops will not give up.”

    On the outcome of the search for some missing pupils of the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, the source said: “The Yobe State Government set up a committee on this and the state will be able to talk appropriately on this.”

  • House declares day of mourning for slain Yobe pupils

    House declares day of mourning for slain Yobe pupils

    House of Representatives members rose yesterday in unison to declare that the government (not executive alone) has run out of excuses reining in the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

    The lawmakers noted that the most affected states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa were under state of emergency , yet the killings have not abated, despite efforts made to strengthen military and intelligence apparatus deployed there.

    The lawmakers agreed that the recent killings made it imperative for the government to come up with fresh ideas to tackle the problem.

    Among others, they suggested a need to look in the direction of community policing and neighborhood watch, in addition to strengthening intelligence gathering capabilities of security agencies.

    The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a speech by Speaker Aminu Tambuwal at a special session on the killings.

    The Speaker, while welcoming his colleagues from the short budget consideration break, expressed sadness that a day of mourning had to be observed as a result of the pains the sect had been inflicting on Nigerians.

    He opened the plenary with his speech titled, “One massacre too many” but while throwing open the debate to his colleagues for contributions on the way forward, other lawmakers could not add to what the Speaker had said.

    The speech was adopted as a resolution of the House by the entire floor and a day of mourning was observed with the suspension of plenary for the day.

    Tambuwal said it was to remember the innocent children and other victims of violence that the House declared yesterday “a day of mourning to express our collective outrage on these killings that have gone on for far too long”.

    He said: “Our reunion at times like this has always been one of joy for accomplishment of a civic responsibility. However on this day, it is with the greatest sense of anguish that I welcome you back.

    “On February 25, 2014, the very day the House adjourned plenary, Nigeria suffered a horrendous terrorist attack that struck a fatal blow at the heart and soul of the Nigerian nation and desecrated values that decent peoples of all nations hold dear. On that night, about 59 students of Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State were killed in the most heinous manner.

    “Some of our future national leaders were mowed down in gruesome circumstances in their sleep. Some were shot dead while many were burnt beyond recognition. That day was a day that will live in infamy in the history of this nation.

    “When innocent, harmless and defenceless women and children become the targets of these heartless murderous bandits; when the lives of sleeping children are so callously snuffed out, it becomes clear that these agents of terror have murdered sleep and they henceforth deserve none.”

    Besides, Tambuwal noted that whatever grievances the terrorists harbour against the government, Nigeria’s innocent children have nothing to do with them. Nigeria’s children bear no responsibility for either policy making or policy implementation, he said.

    “It is, therefore an act of cowardice worthy of ringing condemnation to target the children, to strike at those who are not only innocent but are also unable to strike back or defend themselves.

    “There can be no reason, no justification and no acceptable excuse for this act of mindless brutality. Whatever message the terrorists set out to send to the Nigerian government has been drowned out by the cries for justice by the blood of these innocent martyrs,” he added.

    In the emotion-laden speech, Tambuwal empathised with the families of the victims, urging his colleagues to, please travel with him on an imaginary journey to the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi to drive home the effect of the massacre.

    He said: “Picture the scene as the terrorists creep into the hostels and the children begin to wake up one after the other, with their eyes heavy with sleep, each of them convinced that this is some nightmare.

    “Picture the chaos in the rooms and the terror on the faces of the children as they watch the murderers attack the first set of pupils, the ones nearest to the entrance, and the pupils begin to realise that what is happening is not a nightmare but a reality far harsher than any nightmare the mind of a child can construct.

    “Hear the panic in the voices of the children as they begin to scream for help, from God, their parents or security. But no help will come tonight.

    “Feel the unbearable horror of this night, and hear the fading cries of these children as they finally succumb to the murderous onslaught.

    “Finally, my dear colleagues, imagine that it is your own child in the hostels at Buni Yadi on this hellish night.

    “I can still hear the voice of the father of Aliyu Yola, one of the victims of the school massacre, crying, ‘Aliyu was scared to go back to school after the last holiday. I forced him to resume, not knowing he will never come back to me again.”

    “As Jodi Picoult writes in her book: ‘My Sister’s Keeper’, ‘In the English language, there are orphans and widows, but there is no word for the parent who loses a child”.

    Though, he said it was not a day to apportion blames, Tambuwal said: “We have run out of excuses. We no longer have any excuse for our inability to protect our innocent defenceless children from gratuitous violence.”

    He recalled that in recent times, it seems the nation wakes up every morning to the sad news of one gory tale of bloodletting and killing of innocent Nigerians or another.

    “In the Northeast states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe; in the North Central States of Benue and Plateau; and in other parts of Nigeria.

    “We wake up to the disturbing news of daring and dastardly attacks on our military establishments, resulting in the dissipation of our military infrastructure and the destruction of the lives of the heroic Nigerians who have committed their lives to the defence of our territorial integrity.

    “In Maiduguri, for instance, expensive military aircraft and equipment and whole military barracks have been lost in addition to the loss of men and women of our military and other law enforcement agencies.

    “We wake up to the chilling news of the total annihilation of innocent, law abiding families and entire communities in the most callous, reprehensible and bizarre fashion. This cannot continue. We must rise up collectively and decisively to stop these orgy of deaths, destruction and waste.

    “Section 14 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that the security and welfare of our people is the primary purpose of government. In making this provision, the Constitution places a duty on all of us here and everyone else entrusted with the mandate of governance and representation to place a high premium on the security of lives and property of Nigerians.

    “By this parameter, the Nigerian government must rise to the occasion. And by government I do not mean only the Executive. We in the Legislature are also part of government. And we cannot, therefore, merely join in the chorus of lamentations. Our duty is to act swiftly and decisively in the protection of the citizenry.

    “In the past, this House had initiated and supported all measures needed to combat terrorism in the Country. Since active terrorism started manifesting itself, the House has taken the following steps:

    “We have passed over 20 resolutions on the issue of national security. We amended the Anti-terrorism Act, 2011 to strengthen the security agencies. We have appropriated huge sums of money for the security agencies.

    “Only recently, January 30, 2014 the House in making its recommendations for Constitutional Amendment voted to include the National Security Agencies and the Nigerian Police on the First Line charge for purpose of ensuring their financial independence and timely release of funds when appropriated.

    “While we await the completion of the Constitutional amendment process in which we have thus sought to remove the funding bottleneck that impedes the operational effectiveness of our security institutions, we must in the interim adopt definite measures to ensure that the security agencies have all the support they need to put an end to this long-running orgy of bloodbath so that Nigerians can sleep with both eyes closed. That is the most basic service citizens expect from their government.

    “Let us not forget that we have in place a State of Emergency in the three affected Northeast states, yet the killings have continued unabated in spite of the gallant efforts of our security forces. It is therefore clear that we need to come up with other ideas for a solution. There are certain questions that this House must now ask.

    “How do we ensure that the welfare of our military is effectively administered and that they have the appropriate equipment to execute their hazardous assignment? The sad events of recent weeks have once again made Nigerians ask whether moneys appropriated for the welfare of our security forces are properly administered.

    “How do we strengthen the intelligence gathering capabilities of our intelligence agencies?

    “How do we encourage the Nigerian Police Force to institutionalize Community Policing as a framework for engaging local Communities in a partnership for checking crime and terrorism?

    “What about integrating local security structures into the regular security windows of the Nigerian Police Force with the Federal, State and Local governments supporting them with necessary resources? Is it perhaps time for us to revisit the idea of State Police?

    “How do we develop an institutional framework for securing the land through a neighborhood audit where a tab is kept on every member and every housing structure whether completed or uncompleted?

    “A fully engaged and strongly organised local population would not allow terrorism in their community or across their territory. Nigerian citizens must, therefore, be mobilized to take back their communities. Intelligence gathering will improve tremendously if security structures at the local levels are tapped effectively by the police.

    “How do we institute a form of ‘Marshall Plan’ to effectively address the economic circumstances of the affected regions? Such a measure will serve to check youth restiveness, unemployment and mass poverty. The private sector also has a huge role to play in this.

    “What about our traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders? Does the government now need to intensify engagement with these elders to take advantage of their unique position, wisdom and influence?

    “These few suggestions are only intended to serve as stimuli for further discourse. I challenge my colleagues and other Nigerians to come forward with other ideas and solutions on how we can as a nation address this situation.

    “The involvement of the citizenry in the fight against terrorism is a vital issue. For the campaign against terrorism to succeed the people must get involved.

    “A crisis of this magnitude is beyond the capacity of any government to resolve on its own without the support of the people. Whenever the stability and survival of a nation is threatened, the most potent weapon in repelling the threat is the active engagement of the people of that nation.

    “I humbly appeal to the Nigerian people to join in this struggle for the soul of our nation and embrace as a sacred duty the mission of restoring peace and stability in Nigeria. We must draw from the heartbreak of Buni Yadi, and other areas affected by mindless violence, an inspiration to rededicate ourselves to the cause of nation building.

    “One hundred years after Nigeria was amalgamated into one country, there are Nigerians who would still prefer to emphasise and celebrate our differentness and blame the British for amalgamating us, rather than embrace the reality of our oneness.

    “At this stage of our journey of nationhood, all Nigerians should be highlighting the ties that bind us. We should be promoting the elements of our common heritage and emphasizing the imperatives of our common destiny.

    “In the light of a heart-wrenching tragedy like this, our people must now see that those political, sectional and sectarian differences that have made it impossible for us to present a united front against our challenges are petty and self-absorbed.

    “If a tragedy of the Buni Yadi magnitude does not bring us together as one nation, if the loss of our innocent children whose only offence was that they went to school to gain education and wisdom in preparation for a future of service to Nigeria and humanity does not unite us in grief, then we need to ask ourselves if we truly meet the basic spiritual requirements of nationhood.

    “We cannot claim to be one nation, if we cannot find unity in grief; just as we cannot claim to be a great nation when we are incapable of preventing horrendous attacks on our children peacefully asleep in their beds.

    “As a people we are known to be our brothers’ keeper. Terror has never been in our character and with God on our side we shall surely defeat this minority tribe of violence. Let us therefore arise with a single-minded resolve that the Buni Yadi massacre is one massacre too many and we shall tolerate no more.

    “Our nation is in mourning, and it is in urgent need of consolation, our nation is in pain, and in urgent need of healing, our nation is puzzled, and in urgent need of answers, our nation is disillusioned, and in urgent need of reassurance.

    “As the elected representatives of the people, it is our duty to offer that consolation, administer that healing, provide those answers and furnish that reassurance that our people need to make them continue to believe in the Nigerian nation,” he said.