The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • Military declares total war on Boko Haram

    Military declares total war on Boko Haram

    * To comb Borno forests for sect members

    Following the killing of 161 in Benisheik in Borno State, the military may go full blast against Boko Haram members in their hideout in some forests.

    The latest onslaught was said to have international support although the extent of back up was kept under wraps last night.

    As at press time, however, security agencies were still analysing the video clip of a statement released by the leader of Boko Haram, Imam Abubakar Shekau.

    Also, the Defence Headquarters has ordered troops to make all roads in the state safe to protect lives and property.

    According to a top military source, the Federal Government was thinking of a full military option or ‘Mali Option’ against the insurgents.

    The source said: “The government has given enough room for dialogue and rapprochement with the insurgents but they have been killing innocent citizens and attacking troops. They have also set many buildings ablaze.

    “The slaughtering of 161 in Benisheik in Kaga Local Government Area and the appearance of Boko Haram leader, Imam Abubakar Shekau, have reinforced the renewal of strategy to take the battle to the insurgents.”

    Responding to a question, the source admitted that “more troops and fighter jets have been deployed in Borno for the last “stage of the battle against insurgents. If you look at it, the military and other security agencies have done well in securing more than 90 per cent of Borno State. But it is imperative to take the battle to the enclaves of these insurgents and have a clean sweep.”

    The source added that the battle would be a “constructive engagement.”

    He added: “The military and security agencies are conscious of innocent citizens that are living in the areas and vulnerable hostages who may be victims of merciless bombardment.

    “Everything is being done to protect Nigerians living in these hideouts to avoid a repeat of recent carnage. More security and intelligence officers have been deployed in the affected areas. And with tremendous support from locals and volunteers, things would take proper shape in the next few weeks.”

    Asked about the safety of the roads in Borno, the source said: “As I am talking to you, the Defence Headquarters has directed that all routes in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States should be secured. We want to make the Benisheik incident the last of such massacre.”

    Regarding threats from Boko Haram leader, the source said: “Security and intelligence agencies are analyzing the photographs and video clip which was released during the week.”

    Meanwhile, there were indications of international support for the fresh battle against Boko Haram.

    It was learnt that there might not be direct intervention as done by French in Mali but there will be covert support from some super powers.

    The source said: “The big nations like the US, the UK and even France appear to be pleased with the performance of our security agencies and the military in fighting against insurgency. So, there can only be technical and intelligence support. Since terrorism is now a global challenge, a lot of information sharing might be received by our military.”

     

  • ‘It’s a national disgrace if Shekau is alive’

    The Director of Advanced Centre for Sustainable Development, Dr. Bode Olaonipekun, on Thursday declared that it will be a national disgrace to Nigeria and the military if the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau is still alive.

    The military had claimed few weeks ago that Shekau died from wounds sustained during troops’ raids on the sect’s hideout in the northeast.

    But Shekau in a video released on Wednesday said he is still alive and kicking.

    Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Olaonipekun said the military was too quick to speak on the issue when it didn’t recover the dead body or had enough evidence to show that the leader was actually dead.

    He said: “The Federal Government has not done too badly in the fight, but I will quickly add that not too well. There are two aspects to this issue of terrorism, from my own point of view. Firstly, I think our attitude of talking too much is taking its toll on the issue of security. Before anything happens everybody is talking, the security chiefs are talking, the special advisers to the government are talking, meanwhile these are issues that should be regarded as security information.

    “Handling security information is not just saying everything, because when you give all the information to your enemy, the battle is as good as lost. They might have the strategies they are reserving, but giving hasty or too much information might not help matters and now if not a disgrace to us as a nation, with all apologies to the security operatives it might be a disgrace to them on the long run if truly Shekau is alive.”

     

  • Senate orders probe of Apo killings

    Senate orders probe of Apo killings

    The Senate on Tuesday ordered investigation into the killing of alleged Boko Haram sect members in Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja.

    The upper chamber mandated its joint Committee on National Security, Intelligence and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to probe the circumstances that led to the killing of over eight people at Apo last Friday.

    Due to the sensitive nature of the investigation, the joint committee was given seven days to submit it report for the consideration of the Senate in plenary.

    The committee was also asked to sit in camera because it involved security matters.

    This followed a motion by Senator Sahabi Ya’au (Zamfara North)

    In his presentation, Ya’u noted with dismay the shootings in an uncompleted building on Soji Aderemi Close, Bamanga Tukur Street of Apo Legislative Quarter, Abuja in the early hours of last Friday.

    The lawmaker said that he was deeply disturbed about the various accounts of the unfortunate incident which left eight persons, mostly tri-cycle (commonly called Keke Napep) operators dead

    He added that the unfortunate incident left about 16 other people with various degree of injuries.

    He said that most of the dead victims were indigenes of Zamfara, Katsina and Kano States.

     

  • Boko Haram kills three policemen in Kano

    The death toll in suspected Boko Haram’s latest attack at Benisheik in Borno State has risen to 142.

    During the attack, the suspected insurgents dressed as soldiers, mounted checkpoints and shot travellers on a highway.

    “We recovered 55 bodies on Wednesday and 87 on Thursday,” Abdulaziz Kolomi, an official of the Environmental Protection Agency in Borno State, told AFP.

    The previous casualty figure was 87.

    The insurgents, suspected to be Boko Haram members, also torched buildings.

    The motive behind the assault was not clear, but suspected Boko Haram members have carried out reprisals on residents over the emergence of vigilance groups, which were formed to assist the military.

    Residents said the attackers targeted people from Borno State, allowing other people to go scot-free.

    Benisheik was also a scene of clashes on September 8 between suspected Boko Haram gunmen and members of vigilance groups.

    Suspected Boko Haram members last night shot dead three policemen in Kano, it was learnt.

    The incident happened around 9:40 pm at Kabuga quarters in the ancient city of Kano.

    Kano, which has been relatively peaceful, was yesterday reawakened to the insurgents’onslaught.

    Information were sketchy, but sources said the Boko Haram members stormed a particular spot where the policemen were keeping vigil.

    The terrorists shot and killed them before escaping.

    Residents confirmed the killings. Police spokesman Mogaji Majia said he was aware of the killings, but had not been officially briefed.

  • 20 soldiers die in gunfight with Boko Haram

    20 soldiers die in gunfight with Boko Haram

    No fewer than 20 soldiers have died in a clash between troops and Boko Haram members in Kafia Forest in Nganzai Local Government Area of Borno State.

    The clash, which occurred between Friday and the early hours of Saturday, allegedly led to the death of one of the wanted leaders of the sect, Abba Goroma.

    Two other commanders of the sect were allegedly arrested by the troops.

    The alleged killing of Goroma and arrest of two commanders could not be independently confirmed as the Boko Haram leadership was yet to issue an official statement as at press time on the encounter.

    A military source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said the incident followed a raid of a Boko Haram camp by troops.

    The source said: “The Boko Haram terrorists were known to be regrouping in large numbers in Kafia Forest. When we secured a report on the newly found camp, the troops stormed the place.

    “The storming of the camp was complemented with air raid. Following heavy air assault, the terrorists were forced to relocate. But with sophisticated weapons, the terrorists started fighting troops as they were escaping.

    “So, there were casualties on both sides. In the process of the raid, one of the wanted Boko Haram leaders, Abba Gurama, was reportedly killed.

    “Two other commanders were arrested. We are still combing Kafia Forest to get at the insurgents who might still be hiding there. We will also use the opportunity to take stock of the casualty figures.”

    Asked if the troops were actually ambushed, the source said: “From field report at our disposal, the soldiers were not ambushed. The raid was at the instance of the troops following intelligence report.”

    The Defence Spokesman, Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “So far, the casualty figure of troops is less than 20. Many terrorists were also killed by troops.

    “We are still combing the forest to ascertain if there were more deaths. You should expect more update.”

    The defunct Joint Task Force in Borno had on November 23, 2012 placed a N10million ransom on Abba Goroma, who was feared killed in the clash at Kafia Forest.

     

  • Boko Haram kills 14 volunteers

    Boko Haram kills 14 volunteers

    MORE deaths were recorded yesterday in Borno State as the Boko Haram sect continued its bloody campaign.

    No fewer that 14 members of the youth vigilance group, otherwise known as “Civilian JTF”, were killed in Benishiek, 72 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital, early yesterday.

    No fewer than 18 other members of the “Civilian JTF” were injured.

    A Special Adviser to Governor Kashim Shettima, Mr. Garba Ngamdu, confirmed the killings in the town, which is the headquarters of Kaga Local Government Area.

    It was gathered that the ‘Civilian JTF’ killed five Boko Haram sect members and seized four Pump Action guns from them.

    Ngamdu was at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) where the 18 civilian JTF men who sustained gunshot wounds were receiving treatment.

    The killings followed the attack on the sect’s hideout by the newly created 7 Division of the Army in Borno during which no fewer than 50 members were killed.

    “The youths in Benishiek lost 13 of their members; 12 died when they were ambushed around 12.30am and one died in the hospital when doctors were carrying out a surgery to remove bullets from his stomach.

    “The youths had privileged information that the insurgents were perfecting plans to attack them; they then mobilised and informed the military operatives in the locality.

    “However, somewhere along the line, the insurgents learnt that information about their imminent attack was leaked. They then changed their strategy. When they (attackers) went to Benishiek, they divided themselves into two groups. The first group attacked the military formation on the outskirt of the town and the second group took cover.

    “On hearing sounds of gunshots, the youth vigilance members moved in a direction the insurgents ambushed, which led to the death of 12 of their members on the spot,” he said.

    Speaking on his hospital bed, Mohamed Abuwar, one of the leaders of the “Civilian JTF” in Benishiek, said the terrorists wanted to sack the community, adding: “We successfully repelled the attack because they wanted to kill all of us and our parents. We mobilised to the outskirts of the town and stopped them from gaining access.”

    Another injured member of the group Zanna Fannami, who is injured said: “The terrorists are angry with us and want to discourage us…there is no going back; we have taken our destiny in our hands.

    “If I survive the injuries I sustained, I will continue struggling.”

    The spokesman of the newly created 7 Division of the Army, Lt Col Sagir Musa, could not be reached for comments.

    The road linking Maiduguri from Benishiek has been closed down by military operatives who are said to be combing the bush to apprehend suspects.

    It is the major road that links Borno with Bauchi, Kano and Abuja.

  • Boko Haram: New Army Division visits North East states

    Boko Haram: New Army Division visits North East states

    A combined team of senior officers from the Army and Defence Headquarters are visiting various locations in the North East to check the deployment of the new 7 Division of the Nigerian Army.

    A statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Chris Olukolade, yesterday said the team will assess the level of effectiveness of the Division’s deployment for handling the next phase of the security operations in its area of responsibility.

    The team, he said, would brief the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff on the present state of the mission being undertaken by the Division.

    ” It will be recalled that the 7 Division was recently formed to take over the security operations meant to rid the nation’s territories of terrorist activities as ordered by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Azubike Ihejirika, yesterday arrived Maiduguri to check on the deployment of troops of the newly formed 7 Division of Nigerian Army.

    “After being briefed by the Division’s General Officer Commanding , the Army Chief will visit some locations of the troops and equipment of the formation which has been tasked to continue the operations to flush out terrorists from the North East”, the statement added.

  • Boko Haram kills 20 in Borno

    Boko Haram kills 20 in Borno

    The Boko Haram sect came back with fury yesterday, despite the serious efforts by the military to crush its insurgency.

    Men suspected to be members of the sect, bearing sophisticated weapons, launched attacks in Borno State, killing no fewer than 20 people.

    They attacked schools and hospitals, setting some houses on fire in Gajiram, headquarters of Nganzai Local Government and Bulabulin Ngawra village in Konduga Local Government Area of the beleaguered state.

    Nganzai is about 73 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital. Bullabulin Ngawra is 45 kilometres away. The local governments share boundaries with the terrorists’ major camps in Marte and the Sambisa Forests, which the military said had been destroyed since June.

    The terrorists reported to be about 40, were armed with Ak47 rifles. No fewer than 15 people were killed in the ambush on Gajiram. The vigilance youths also known as “civillian JTF” and military men later engaged them.

    The terrorists also laid ambush to the Damboa-Maiduguri road, which was reopened two weeks ago, where they were believed to have shot dead five people.

    “The Boko Haram sect members attacked Bullabulin Ngawra in the early hours of today (Thursday) and killed five people. I believe that they attacked us because of how our volunteers have succeeded in curtailing their atrocities in our area,” an eyewitness said.

    Some Maiduguri residents told reporters: “We saw two Hilux patrol vehicles of the military conveying bodies and the injured heading towards University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), but we could not ascertain whether they were victims of the latest attack in Nganzai or Bullabulin Ngawra”.

    It was gathered that on Wednesday, the “Civilian JTF” and the military arrested 14 terror suspects with arms and ammunition in Bulunkutu ward, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) premises and Sulimanti ward of Maiduguri metropolis.

    The suspects, according to sources in Maiduguri, sneaked into the hospital through the perimeter fence, before the youths sighted them with rifles and ammunition at about 10.35am on Wednesday.

    “The suspects disguised as injured and sick persons with rifles hidden under their flowing gowns. They perforated the barbed wires; before entering the hospital premises to seek medical attention. The vigilance youths saw the suspects and arrested them on the spot, before handing them to us here.”

    Some suspects were also arrested in Bulunkutu in Maiduguri when they were trying to collate information on the activities of the civilian JTF.

    The military spokesman in Borno Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said he was not aware of the incidents. He promised to get back to reporters after compiling his report.

  • Boko Haram: 91 police families receive N35.7m compensation

    The Assistant Inspector General of Police in-charge of Zone one, David Omojola, on Thursday presented the sum of N35.7 million to 91 families of police officers killed during the Boko Haram insurgency in Kano.

    Omojola said that families who were presented with their cheque were the third batch to receive cash support from the command.

    He said the money which is an insurance coverage for the policemen is meant to alleviate the sufferings of the deceased families and those wounded in the course of their duties.

    He explained that the money should not be seen as compensation for the families, saying no amount of money can bring back those killed in the course of service.

    Omojola said one of the families received one million naira while the least got N100, 000 naira.

     

     

  • Army probes killing of 26 vigilantes in Borno

    Army probes killing of 26 vigilantes in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Tuesday declared that it has commenced investigations into the killing of some members of a youths’ vigilance group called “Civilian JTF” by suspected Boko Haram militants in Monguno, Borno.

    The spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that the army was disturbed about the situation.

    “The military high command is aware of the killing and it is disturbing, the Nigerian Army Brigade in Monguno has been mandated to carry out investigations into the matter,” Musa said.

    He blamed the problem on the group which embarked on a trip without military backing.

    “We have always made it clear to the vigilantes that they should not operate on their own but should always seek for military backing.

    “They are just supporting the security agencies with information; the real battle should be left in the hands of security agents.

    “We will continue to appeal to them not to conduct any operation without armed military escort,” Musa said.

    NAN reports that 26 civilians were killed in Monguno, headquarters of Monguno Local Government Area while in search of Boko Haram militants.