The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • Army puts 18 on trial for alleged Boko Haram link

    Army puts 18 on trial for alleged Boko Haram link

    GOC promises justice as soldiers stand trial for murder, others 

    A lieutenant and 17 other ranks were yesterday arraigned before a court martial for leaking official information to terrorists. .

    The 18, who are all members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno and the Special Task Force (STF) in Jos, were taken before the military court sitting at the 3 Armoured Division Headquaters, the Marxwel Khobe Cantonment, Rukuba, Jos the Plateau State capital.

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Armoured Division, Major-General Ebiobowei Bonna Awala, inaugurated the court martial.

    The accused were said to have been investigated for various offences ranging from communication with the enemy, cowardly behaviour, murder and manslaughter, among others. They were being tried by the 3 Armoured Division because the offences were committed within its area of operational responsibility.

    It was learnt that some of the suspects may have been implicated in the invasion of Baga community in Borno State when some soldiers were reported to have committed some acts against the rule of engagement.

    Chief of Army Staff Gen Azubuike Ihejirika recently lamented that some soldiers gave out information to terrorists, thereby compromising the nation’s security.

    Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika on May 22 said soldiers, who leaked information to terrorists had been arrested and would face a military court.

    He spoke at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Army transformation and Innovation Centre on Personnel Management and Development at the Command Officers Mess, Abuja.

    Information about the movement of troops to Mali for AFISMA operations was leaked to terrorists. They were ambushed and two soldiers were killed on the Okene-Lokoja road.

    The Army Chief said some soldiers had been helping Boko Haram with intelligence and conspiring with the sect to frustrate military operations against terrorists in the North.

    He warned that disloyal soldiers whose actions negatively affect the work done by the Army by leaking information via the Internet or to insurgents will be “disciplined severely”.

    Plateau State is enmeshed in communal clashes, leading to the death of many people. Many of the times, terrorists or gunmen had been accused of wearing military uniform while attacking their victims.

    The STF has been battling communal attacks on the Plateau.

    Gen. Awala described the General Court Martial as one of those instruments conferred on him by the Armed Forces Act Chapter A 20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria to address problems of this nature.

    He said “discipline is the foundation on which the military career rests”, adding that “discipline and loyalty are two essential requirements no officer or soldier who wants to succeed in professional soldiering can afford to lack.”

    He said: “It is the duty of superiors to observe, correct and instantly deal with negligence or any misconduct on the part of subordinates. When there is any breach. It is expected that appropriate disciplinary measure must be taken by commanders to forestall future occurrences.

    “This way, the Nigerian Army can continue to play its constitutional role and sustain its accolade as the pride of the nation.”

    Gen. Awala, said he is not happy convening the court but said:

    “It is with a heavy heart though, that I have to convene this General Court Martial, being the first within four months of my assumption of duty as the GOC of this Division. However, I must state that if this Division is witnessing this Court Martial, it is because I want to sustain a high level of professionalism required to confront the mounting security challenges in the Division’s Area of Responsibility.

    “I, therefore, enjoin all parties to this Court Martial to discharge their duties expeditiously and with a degree of commitment that will ensure the accused persons know their fare in good time.”

    He continued: “To be effective however, the legal system must be fair and just. In this regard permit me to once more quote a renowned Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice C. A. Oputa, when he said: “Justice is not a one way traffic. It is not Justice for the appellant only. Justice is not even only a two–way traffic. It is really a three–way traffic – Justice for the appellant accused of a heinous crime of murder, justice for the victim, the murdered man, the deceased, whose blood is crying to heaven for vengeance and finally justice for the society at large, the society whose social norms and values had been desecrated and broken by the criminal act complained of.”

    The GOC implored the General Court Martial to ensure that no effort is spared to achieve the three–way traffic of the justice system for the accused, the Army and the state.

    Said Gen. Awala: “At the point where a person is convicted of an offence, sentence ought to be passed. Such sentences must be humanely meted out. Punishment is among the means available for the maintenance of discipline in the Nigerian Army. As such, the kind and amount of punishment should be adequate enough to achieve its purpose and serve as deterrence to others.

    “Due consideration should also be given to first–time offenders and those who plead guilty while bearing in mind the gravity of the offence. Justice must be seen to be done. With this in mind, let me urge the President and members of this court to uphold the tenets of fairness and impartiality in the proceedings of the court and the dispensation of justice.”

    The President of the Court Martial, Col. Afolabi Olonisakin, who inaugurated the five–man panel, said the sitting would begin immediately.

    Most of the accused, who appeared at the first sitting of the court, pleaded not guilty to all the charges read to them.

     

  • Afenifere urges govt to compensate Boko Haram’s victims

    The Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, has urged the Federal Government to compensate military and civilian victims of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    In a statement yesterday in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr ‘Yinka Odumakin, the group gave reasons for asking the government to compensate the victims of the insurgents.

    The statement faulted a statement allegedly made by the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution on Security Challenges in the North, Taminu Turaki, that the victims would not be compensated.

    It reads: “The attention of Afenifere has been drawn to a statement credited to the chairman of Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution on Security Challenges in the North, Taminu Turaki, that there would be no compensation for the victims of Boko Haram insurgency.

    “Turaki, who spoke at a gathering of Muslim leaders at the national conference organised by the umbrella body of Muslims in the North, the Jama’atul Nasir Islam (JNI), was quoted to have said: ‘Government cannot pay compensation… It will compensate military personnel that were affected by this insurgency… Government will not have the capacity to give compensation because the number of victims involved in the insurgency incidents.’ We are at a loss as to what message the committee chairman is putting across…”

     

  • JTF kills 50 Boko Haram suspects

    JTF kills 50 Boko Haram suspects

    The end came at the weekend for about 50 suspected Boko Haram members in Borno, one of the three states under a state of emergency.

    They were killed by the Joint Task Force after a raid of Zabarmari ward in Jere Local Government Area of Maiduguri .

    Three suspected terrorists on their way to Jigawa state to unleash terror were arrested at Borno Express Motor Park on Saturday by volunteered youths, a.k.a Civilian JTF, a security source claimed yesterday.

    Zabarmari, according to the source, is one of the black spots where Boko Haram operates in Maiduguri.

    The source said: “At the weekend, we received intelligence report that Boko Haram terrorists regrouped and were residing/ hiding in Zabarmari ward. We mobilised our troops to the area. On getting there, the suspected terrorists noticed our presence and started shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is Great) as they fired sporadic gunshots at the JTF troops. We had no option than to repel the attacks as we succeeded in killing about 10 of the suspects.

    “We did not take their bodies away, leaving them in the area. The following day when we mobilised our men to the area, we found out that hundreds of the terrorists were at the grave yard burying their dead and and as we approached, they started shooting at our troops which led to the exchange of gun fire, where we succeeded in killing over 40 of them”. The JTF source said. He could not be quoted because he does not have the authority to speak..

    “As I am talking to you now, our men are still in Zabarmari hunting for any suspected terrorists who might have escaped the deadly encounter”. He added.

    On the arrests of three suspected Boko Haram members who were allegedly on a suicide mission to Jigawa Statre, the source said, “The men of the JTF are highly delighted with the zeal/effort being put in place by the vigilance youths popularly called Civilian JTF.

    The JTF source added: “They (the vigilance team) handed them to the JTF unit and one of them, now dead, said, they were from Bama Local Government Area on a suicide mission to Jigawa and other states in the north. In fact, the deceased, before his death, told us that already, all their weapons of massive destruction had been transported to the target areas before luck run out of them”.

    Due to the total closure of GSM network services in Borno state, JTF Spokesman Lt. Col. Sagir Musa and Police spokesman Gideon Jubrin could not be reached to confirm the story.

    Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika yesterday said the military is winning the war on terrorism.

    He added however that it is a war that has tested the Army because insurgents have been disguising as civilians to ambush soldiers.

    Gen. Ihejirika spoke at the Inter-Denominational Service at the All Saints Military Protestant Church, Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, to mark the 2013 Army Day Celebration. The army is 150 years old.

    He said the military had made tremendous achievements, but a lot still had to be done.

    “Wining the war starts from in-house, I am aware of the improved capacity of the units, improved capacity of the officers and men, and this is what gives me the confidence that we will excel.

    “And as for the operation itself, the nature of insurgency is such that you will continue to have occasional setbacks because you are dealing with people who disguise as civilians,’’ he said.

    Gen. Ihejirika said some soldiers had been ambushed a number of times in the current operation, adding that it was made possible by the fact that the insurgents disguise as civilians.

    He said some of the soldiers might not be on their best guard.

    Gen. Ihejirika said attitudinal change would “transform the Nigerian Army into a force able to deal with contemporary challenges.”

    The Civilian JTF yesterday apprehended two women attempting to smuggle assault weapons into the Monday market in Maiduguri.

    Eyewitnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NANS) that the women, who concealed the weapons in their dresses, were arrested at the Bulabulin entrance gate of the market.

    One of the witnesses, Malam Modu Bulama, a trader, said that they were in the market when they heard noise from the gate.

    “We rushed to scene, but on getting there, we saw two women in veil with assault weapons,’’ he said.

    Bulama said each of the women concealed an AK 47 rifle, a pistol and some items believed to be Improvise Explosive Devise (IED) in their veil.

    A member of the gropu, Malam Usman Ibrahim, corroborated Bulama’s claim, adding: “we were on a routine checking at the gate when these women came with heavy veil.

    “At first we did not bother to look at them, but we realised that one of them was shivering, we said something must be wrong,’’ Ibrahim said.

    He said that when they were searched, “we found that each of them concealed an AK 47 rifle, a pistol and IED in their veil.

    “We were surprised at the discovery, so we took them to officials of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) for investigations,’’ Ibrahim said.

    JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, could not be contacted for comment, but a senior military officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the story.

    The official said the JTF was already investigating the case.

  • Boko Haram: Special Forces arrest 20 commanders, comb Baga, three others

    Boko Haram: Special Forces arrest 20 commanders, comb Baga, three others

    Following threats of reprisals, Special Forces in Borno State have intensified their cordon-off and search operation in the last 72 hours leading to the arrest of 20 top leaders of Boko Haram.

    The troops are also combing Maiduguri, Baga, Bama and Gwoza to fish out the insurgents.

    But the Defence Headquarters has also put a control mechanism in place to check volunteers in Maiduguri trying to assist in trailing the insurgents.

    According to investigation, the nine-man team sent for stock-taking on reprisal plot by Boko Haram in Borno had submitted its report to the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ibrahim Ola Sa’ad.

    It was gathered that one of the key recommendations of the team was the sustenance of the ongoing land and air raid of Mandara Mountains, including Gwoza Hills, where the insurgents had relocated.

    It was learnt that the raid or mopping up had yielded results in the last few days.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, more than 20 insurgents had been arrested in the last few days due to intense cordon off and search of hideouts of the insurgents.

    The source said: “The Special Forces have isolated Maiduguri, Baga, Bama and Gwoza for cordon-off and search. So far, more than 20 deadly insurgents have been arrested, we are closing in on others.

    “It is also curious that more weapons and IEDs had also been retrieved from the bases of these insurgents in the forest, hills and homes. In spite of the heavy presence of the Special Forces, these insurgents still disguise to live among the populace.”

    Responding to a question, another source added: “We are employing pre-emptive strike by cordoning and searching cells and bases of the insurgents in order not to give them a breathing space. These insurgents have resorted to ambush but the Special Forces have risen up to the challenge.”

    When contacted, the Defence Headquarters spokesman, Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said: “We have made substantial progress because more arms and ammunition have been recovered from the Boko Haram insurgents.”

    Meanwhile, investigation also confirmed that the Defence Headquarters has also put a control mechanism in place to check volunteers in Maiduguri trying to assist in trailing the insurgents.

    The volunteers, who branded themselves as “Civilian JTF,” had assisted the troops to locate Boko Haram members terrorizing Maiduguri.

    But there were fears that they could be reckless and frame up innocent citizens.

    But a top source added: “As a matter of fact, the DHQ has put control mechanism in place to regulate the activities of the Civilian JTF members.

    “They provide intelligence and put the troops into confidence on their activities. We also conduct a post-operation analysis of the activities of these volunteers. As locals, they have assisted the JTF and now the Special Forces in place.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    However, the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe State yesterday claimed that it had smashed a Boko Haram group in Fune, recovering two vehicles, arms, ammunitions and other materials.

    Although The Nation could not independently confirm this, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Lt. Lazarus Eli, JTF spokesman in Damaturu as saying that the terrorists attacked a JTF checkpoint in Fune on Friday and took away a police vehicle conveying police items to Borno.

    He told journalists while displaying the recovered items that “The JTF pursued and engaged them in a gunfight and they were overpowered, thereby recovering the stolen vehicle as well as a similar one used by the group. Other items recovered include one AK47 rifle, three Rocket Propelled Gun (RPG) bombs, three RPG chargers, one riot gun and 485 rounds of ammunition.”

    Lazarus also said 42 police jackets, 44 police helmets, six AK47 rifle magazines, 80 fragmentation blades and illicit drugs were recovered.

    He said some of the suspects fled with gunshots wounds and appealed to the public to report anyone found with gun wounds to security operatives.

    Meanwhile, the people of the state have appealed to the federal authorities to lift the suspension of telephone services, to enable them to provide security operatives with useful and timely information.

    Damaturu residents claimed that the attack on a college two weeks ago would have been averted, if there was telephone service.

    “People noticed suspicious movements on that fateful day just about the commencement of the curfew, but one could not move out. Also, there was no telephone network for us to report to the security,” a source stated.

     

  • Terrorism and tinted glass phobia

    Terrorism and tinted glass phobia

    The country’s security gurus have not shown how many terrorists have been nabbed operating from vehicles with tinted glass

    Who says that Boko Haram has not changed the lifestyle of Nigerians? That person should ask car owners, not only those that look tense when they are on a bridge or Nigerian Christians that are afraid to go to church on Sundays and their liberal Islamic counterparts who are no longer enthusiastic about going to pray in public mosques on Fridays. The latest group to ask this question is Nigerians who are now being harassed for using cars with tinted glass that engineers in other parts of the world manufactured after years of innovative thinking and research to save human skin from over exposure to sun rays. Managers of the country’s security need to be asked why they have unearthed a law created under military dictators under an elected government.

    Terrorism is a major challenge for governments all over the world. It has led to creation of special agencies in some parts of the world. There was nothing like Homeland Security in the United States in the years before September 11, 2001. Since the creation of Homeland Security, millions of air travelers have learnt how to leave their belts at home to reduce the pain of going through security checks in all airports of the world. Even women obsessed with their femininity have had to live with small volume of face powder, small amount of perfume, and sometimes without toothpaste if they want to travel without hassles. It is therefore not strange that Nigeria’s security chiefs have gone into the archive of laws created during the era of military dictatorship, to fight the rise of Islamic terrorism in the country.

    What is strange is that the archaeologists of military laws have not given citizens good reasons to believe that they are not just being capricious or arbitrary. No data have been provided to show any link between terrorist acts in the North and vehicles with tinted glass. Smokers did not have to complain about being prevented from carrying their matches or firelighters with them on the plane, after the experience of shoe bombers or the botched attempt of young Nigerian international terrorist to light the bomb under his underwear a few years ago. Air passengers all over the world who are lovers of peace and order have not complained about ordinances that forbid them to carry machetes, knives, and bows and arrows into aircrafts. The connection between these dangerous items and in-flight terrorism had been made clear to passengers and non-passengers.

    What has not been made clear to Nigerians is the connection between tinted glass on the two rear sides of cars and the killing of innocent people by Boko Haram bombing of the UN office in Abuja, churches, motor parks, and police stations. The country’s security gurus have not shown how many terrorists have been nabbed operating from vehicles with tinted glass. They also have not shown citizens, particularly car owners how many explosive devices have been recovered by police from cars with tinted glass. Innocent citizens in their millions need to be told how many guns have been shot and how many bombs have been thrown from moving cars with tinted glass since the emergence of Boko Haram. It is necessary for the police to use data obtained from such heinous crimes to enlist the support of innocent Nigerians who had taken loans to buy cars with tinted glass made by their manufacturers abroad.

    Reports have indicated that Islamic terrorists had thrown bombs from motor cycles while some had shot innocent citizens from moving bicycles. Is the change in our security protocols going to ban motorcycles and bicycles? Nigerians have been told that Boko Haram bombers have used empty houses and occupied houses to store explosive devices and powerful assault guns. What is the attitude of the Inspector-General of Police to thousands of such houses in the north and south of the country, board them up? Invoking an obsolete law in the books against owners of cars with tinted glass is reminiscent of erecting road blocks as a means of fighting crimes. It is obsolete and may be counterproductive.

    In a war that requires cooperation of civilian population, policymakers in the security sector need to know how to cultivate citizens. They should not create policies that anger or antagonize citizens unnecessarily. Asking car owners to obtain special permit for using cars that they had duly registered and for which they had paid duties to Customs is similar to punishing or blaming the victim. Anyone that drives an unregistered car in the country has committed a punishable crime. It should not be criminal for citizens who have paid customs on their vehicles and paid for registration with their local government or the Federal Road Safety Commission to use those vehicles. It should be safely assumed by citizens that Customs department, FRSC, and the NPF are interlinked and are agencies that share common interest in the country’s security.

    In the fight against Boko Haram, our rulers need to learn from good policies and practices in other countries that have security challenges from Islamic terrorists or any other category of terrorists: Ensure that cars do not carry tinted glass that is in excess of what is allowed in other parts of the world and ensure that security officers are given gadgets that can see through tinted glass from a distance. It will be less expensive for the federal government to acquire such devices than to have to respond to litigation seeking refund of huge sums of money to citizens who own duly registered vehicles. It is worth stressing that when the law being excavated by the police was made, it was to give special protection to military governments without mandate to rule. Even in those days when civilians were prevented from buying cars with green and jet black colors, and owning cars with tinted glass, military rulers were exempted from the rule, an indication that the law was not to fight crime but to accentuate privileges of new class of rulers.

    Thomas Paine and David Thoreau at different times had warned makers of bad and oppressive laws about the danger in making such laws. They had argued that human beings have the capacity to resist or disobey unjust laws. The National Assembly should not engage in panel beating an unjust and unreasonable law inherited from decades of military dictatorship. What senators need to do is to jettison the law against the use of cars with tinted glass, not to ignore attempts by the police to make citizens pay twice for the same product.

    •This piece is being republished after observing that policemen and women are back to harass car owners on highways for driving cars with tinted glass and without proper permit to use such cars, weeks after declaration of emergency and deployment of full military action that have been reported to be ridding the country of Islamic terrorists by the day.

  • Boko Haram burns 209 schools in Yobe

    Boko Haram burns 209 schools in Yobe

    The scale of the massive destruction carried out by Boko Haram in Yobe State was laid bare yesterday.

    The government said it had spent over N4billion battling the insurgents. Yobe, Borno and Adamawa are under a state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan last month.

    Deputy Governor Abubakar Aliyu, who stood in for Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, told the visiting members of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, led by Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, that since November 2011, many lives had been lost.

    He said property belonging to government institutions and individuals were destroyed by the insurgents. They include 209 schools estimated to cost N2.5 billion.

    This is in addition to private structures worth N629 million, which were burnt by the insurgents.

    Aliyu said: “Within the span of one year, November 2011 and October 2012, in addition to the loss of lives, public buildings like schools, mosques, churches and vehicles were razed down by the insurgents.

    “About 209 government school buildings, comprising classrooms, hostels, workshops, laboratories, administrative blocks, vehicles were destroyed by the insurgents, costing an estimated N2.5 billion. This is in addition to the office blocks of government agencies belonging to both state and federal governments.

    “Similarly, private houses with estimated value of over N629 million were also burnt,” he said.

    Over 200 Hilux patrol vehicles were bought for security operatives, Aliyu said, adding that N200 million is being spent on logistics and monthly allowances, among other needs of security operatives every month.

    The government praised the people for their prayers, which it noted have drastically helped in the improvement of security and the gradual return of peace, in the state, adding that schools and economic activities have picked up.

    Aliyu regretted the recent attack on the Government Secondary School, Damaturu, saying: “The attack came as a surprise as the state has done 10-month of uninterrupted peace.” It praised the Federal Government for deploying more security in the state.

    The deputy governor praised the gallantry of the men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and urged the people to continue to support them.

    He said the state would empower the 17 women and 21 children so far released by the JTF through the Women Development Centres.

    The chairman of the committee and Minister of Special Duties Turaki, condoled with the government and people over the loss of life and property since the attacks began.

    He stressed the need for the cooperation of the people towards finding a lasting solution to the problem.

    Turaki said they were in the state as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to reconciliation with insurgents, adding that the committee would meet with the clergy, royal fathers, elders and heads of security agencies to find a solution to the security challenges.

    Turaki said: “Life is gradually and steadily returning to Yobe State. Despite the state of emergency, all democratic tenets are being adhered to as security operatives are operating within the ambits of law.”

  • Special Forces capture 11 Boko Haram chiefs

    Special Forces capture 11 Boko Haram chiefs

    Eleven suspects, who the military claim to be Boko Haram leaders, have been captured, the authorities said yesterday.

    Among the suspects is said to be one of those believed to be behind the posting of online videos. They were seized by member of the Special Force who combed Mandara mountains and Sambisa forest.

    But the Special Forces also recorded some casualty from encounters with Boko Haram insurgents who are regrouping in Borno State.

    According to a member of the nine-man team, which visited Borno State on an appraisal tour, the Special Force is making progress in warding off Boko Haram members who shifted base to Manadara mountains, including Gwoza and 1 Kirawa Hills, which are under heavy surveillance.

    The nine-man team was led by the Director of Operations in the Defence Headquarters, AVM M. O. Faloyin.

    The source said: “The land and air raid of these mountains have yielded results, in spite of the difficult nature of the terrain. The special troops have captured more than 11 leaders of Boko Haram, including one of the coordinators suspected to be behind the posting of online videos.

    “We are hopeful that we will be able to secure these mountains, hills and forests in the next few days. We won’t allow the insurgents any breathing space.”

    A statement by the Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, confirmed the arrest of some Boko Haram leaders but it was silent on the actual figure.

    The statement also confirmed that the Special Forces recorded some casualty in one of the units deployed to secure the mountains and Sambisa Forest.

    “As a follow-up to scheduled assessment visits to troops in the Northeast of the country, a nine-member Defence Headquarters Operational Assessment Team returned from Yobe and Borno states to brief the Chief of Defence Staff with updates on the situation in the operational area of the Special Forces operating in the Northeast.

    “The force, which has been tasked in support of the implementation of the State of Emergency, is conducting operations to stop terrorism and to restore normalcy to the security situation in Northeastern part of the country.

    The team also visited troops’ location in various parts of Borno and Yobe states. Interacting with the troops inside Sambisa forest, the team leader, and Director of Operations in the Defence Headquarters, AVM M. O. Faloyin, conveyed the greetings and commendation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), whom he said was very proud of the troops.

    “He said the CDS was satisfied with the high level of successes so far recorded in the operation and thanked them for a job well done, urging them not to rest on their oars until the entire region was fully sanitised and cleared of all terrorists activities. The team also assured the troops of regular logistic supplies while the mission lasts.

    “Briefing the team earlier, the Commanding Officer narrated the conduct of the operation to rid the forest of the insurgents who had made the location their sanctuary.

    “ He said some notorious leaders of the terrorists have been captured while some materials recovered in the camp have also provided useful intelligence for subsequent operations.

    “The team was shown the various weapons, including rockets, and locally fabricated weapon accessories captured in the forest. Other items include a large number of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) making materials, among others.

    “Other items, such as laptops, mobile communication equipment (GSM phones), used for shooting and posting online videos, locally made rockets and rocket launchers were among several items seized by the JTF from the arrested terrorists and displayed for the team to see.

    “Also, seized vehicles of different brands were shown to the team. Several vehicles destroyed by the terrorists as well as their tailoring equipment, apparently used for producing fake uniforms, were also shown to the team.

    “ The Commanding Officer also said that the unit also incurred some casualty in men and equipment. According to him, the troops are currently engaged in night and day patrols of the area to dominate the forest and apprehend any terrorist who may be lurking around.”

    Security funds may soon be on the first line charge in the nation’s budget. This move is to ensure that the armed forces and security agencies in the country are proactive in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.

    This was an outcome of a four-hour closed-door meeting between the Service Chiefs and members of the House of Representatives yesterday over the security situation in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states where a state of emergency was declared by the Federal Government.

    Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim led the military brass to the meeting. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Immigration, Customs, Prisons and the Police were at the briefing for lawmakers.

    Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Victor Ogene said the interaction was on a need-to-know basis.

    He told reporters that considering the relative restoration of peace achieved by the armed forces and security agencies in Yobe and Adamawa states, members of the House had been informed that the curfew may be relaxed during the Ramadan.

    He said the House while endorsing the emergency declaration of President Goodluck Johathan said it would monitor the events closely and that the meeting with the Service Chiefs was a fulfillment of that promise.

    According to ,Ogene, 13 Boko Haram camps, which served as the operational bases of the sect were now in the custody of the armed forces and security operatives.

    “They are in charge of places where the symbol of Nigeria has been supplanted and now the green-white-green has been restored in those places.”

    On challenges being faced by the security forces, the lawmaker said one of such challenges is distinguishing between Nigerians and Nigeriens because there are six states that are Kanuri speaking.

    While praising the armed forces and security agencies for restoring peace in the affected areas, he assured them of the continued support of the House.

    “The leadership of National Assembly is working on an amendment and funding for security. In the proposed amendment, it will be on first-line-charge. In fact, they will get the money before the sharing,” he added.

    Ogene added: “We’ve found that there is institutional and infrastructural decay. Men of the Nigerian Customs and Immigration who are at the border don’t have houses. Whatever is being budgeted should get to them and be used for what it is meant for.”

    He added, “We also wanted to know where the funding for these nefarious acts is coming from. All in all, it was a useful interaction which we will engage in from time to time.

     

  • Special Force captures 11 Boko Haram leaders in Borno

    Special Force captures 11 Boko Haram leaders in Borno

    Following the raid of Mandara Mountains and Sambisa forest in Borno State, the Special Force has captured 11 Boko Haram leaders, including one of those suspected to be behind the posting of online videos.

    But the Special Force also recorded unspecified number of casualty in gun duels with Boko Haram insurgents who are regrouping in Borno State.

    According to a member of the nine-man team which visited Borno State on an appraisal tour, the Special Force is making progress in warding off aggression from Boko Haram members who had shifted base to Manadara mountains, including Gwoza and 1 Kirawa Hills which are under heavy surveillance.

    The nine-man team was led by the Director of Operations in the Defence Headquarters, AVM M. O. Faloyin.

    The source said: “The land and air raid of these mountains have yielded results in spite of the difficult nature of the terrain. The special troops have captured more than 11 leaders of Boko Haram, including one of the coordinators suspected to be behind the posting of online videos.

    “We are hopeful that we will be able to secure these mountains, hills and forests in the next few days. We won’t allow the insurgents any breathing space.”

    A statement by the Director, Defence Information, Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, confirmed the arrest of some Boko Haram leaders but it was silent on the actual figure.

    The statement also confirmed that the Special Force recorded some casualty in one of the units deployed to secure the mountains and Sambisa Forest.

  • PFN to raise fund for Boko-Haram victims

    PFN to raise fund for Boko-Haram victims

    Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) said it has set-up a committee to raise fund for the rehabilitation of Christian victims of Boko-haram attacks across the country.

    It said the committee was set-up because it could no longer wait indefinitely for the federal government assistance to the victims.

    President of PFN, Rev Felix Omobude who disclosed this at a press briefing on Monday in Benin City said many pastors and family have become destitute in areas affected by book-haram attacks.

    Rev Omobude said leaders of PFN from the six geo-political zones would assist in the management of the fund.

    He appealed to corporate organisations and individuals to donate towards rehabilitating the victims.

    Explaining steps taken to reposition PFN since assuming its leadership, Rev Omobude said a Peace and Reconciliation Directorate has been set-up to help promote peace and harmony within the body.

    He said the PFN has started creating a data base for all Pentecostal pastors in the country as a way of positioning PFN for greater effectiveness.

    Rev Omobude praised the operation of the military in the three states were state of emergency was declared by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    According to him, “We want to pursue our core biblical values, reorder our priorities, intensify evangelism and prayers and holy living.

    “I think the President was courageous to take the emergency order. We may not have 100% but to a great degree we have respite in spite of inherent threat. The federal government should be commended. We commend our troop. They have been acting professionally and not much reported abuses or collateral damage has come to my notice.”

    “The President should fight corruption to a stand-still. It should not be fought with kid gloves. He should do more to convince us that they mean the war against corruption.

    He appealed to politicians to consider the nation in their quest for the 2015 general elections.

  • Boko Haram regroups in Borno

    Boko Haram regroups in Borno

    •Warns civil servants: Resign or  face death

    Boko Haram insurgents are regrouping in parts of Borno State following a month-long military crackdown.

    The fundamentalists have been largely on the run since the May 14 declaration of state of emergency in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states by President Goodluck Jonathan as part of the effort to restore peace to the Northeast.

    However, refugees fleeing the battle zone in Borno State said they sighted some of the insurgents regrouping and terrorising residents in Gwoza and Bama districts.

    The refugees who arrived Maiduguri, the state capital, said the militants have also written letters warning government workers to resign their jobs or face death.

    Other refugees have reportedly fled to neighbouring Cameroun.

    “They warned government officials and civil servants in Bama to resign or else face death in the next seven days. We are all scared, this could be more deadly, so we ran for our dear lives,” said Abba Fannami, who fled to Maiduguri with six family members.A police officer said Boko Haram fighters were ransacking homes in Gwoza district, forcing residents to hide in caves in the rocky hills.

    Soldiers and police on bombing raids with jet fighters and helicopter gunships have dislodged the insurgents from camps in a game reserve. But the refugees confirmed reports that the fighters have regrouped in the mountains and rocky hills of Gwoza and Bama districts.

    In recent days the extremists — whose name means “Western education is sacrilege” — have targeted schools, killing 16 high school students and two teachers in two attacks.

    The militants also have attacked primary schools, burning down at least 50 in the past year, according to the Borno State Commissioner for Primary Education, Tijjani Abba Ali.

    Spokesmen for the Defence Headquarters and the Army could not be reached for their comments on the development.

    In a separate operation in Kano State, police said they rounded up 400 migrants yesterday and are deporting those who do not have the necessary documents.