The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • ‘PDP, Senator behind Boko Haram’

    ‘PDP, Senator behind Boko Haram’

    Former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff yesterday alleged that the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapter “is the engine room of Boko Haram”.

    He also alleged that Senator Ahmed Khalifa Zanna, who is undergoing interrogation after a suspected Boko Haram Commander was arrested, allegedly in his house, engaged in terrorism.

    Sheriff, who was also a Senator, has been exchanging accusations with Zanna over the arrest of suspected Boko Haram Commander Shuaib Bama.

    Sheriff denied being an accomplice of terrorism urged the State Security Service (SSS) to intensify its interrogation of Zanna.

    Borno State, along with neighbouring Yobe, is the hotbed of the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Sheriff spoke in a statement by his Special Assistant, Umar Duhu.

    He said: “It is common knowledge in Borno State that Senator Zanna takes along some hapless Nigerians on a seeming religious voyage by road only to put some of them into terrorist activity and illegal arms importation.

    “Some of the so-called pilgrims by road have been traced to terrorists’ camps in Afghanistan and Syria, and not Saudi Arabia, their preferred destination. It is very much on record that 27 of such pilgrims are still missing till date.

    “Senator Zanna’s inconsistencies in trying to defend himself are clear indication of a sinking man’s desperate attempt to hang himself on anything available in order to save his neck. If not so, what would his nephew be doing in the so-called house of Senator Ali Sheriff, the man he said is his political rival?

    “Contrary to his claims in the media that he had parted ways with the suspect, we can authoritatively confirm that his nephew, Shuaibu, was still his associate up to the time of his arrest.

    “It is an act in futility for him to try to name Ali Sheriff as an accomplice in his nefarious activity with Boko Haram, knowing full well that the wild allegations being levelled by him will never amount to an acquittal of his guilt.”

    Sheriff raised some posers for Zanna, which he also asked security agencies to look into.

    He added: “The one million dollar question is why has Senator Zanna never spoken against the atrocities being committed by Boko Haram; rather, he has been calling for the declaration of state of emergency or the disbandment of the Joint Task Force (JTF) which he knew are antithetical to the quest for peace.

    “Again, being the second senator fingered as having links with Boko Haram, it is a confirmation of the wildly believed theory that the PDP in Borno State is the engine room behind Boko Haram.

    “At his age and with the position he holds as a senator of the Federal Republic, we felt it is the height of un-patriotisms and irresponsibility for Senator Ahmed Zanna to not only fuel the crisis in Borno, but to attempt to drag the names of decent citizens, like Ali Sheriff, in the mud.

    “We know that since his inauguration, Senator Ahmed Zanna, who has visited neither Borno nor his constituency, even for once can afford to play politics with the serious issue at stake by sponsoring terrorism against his own people.

    “On this note, we want to call on the relevant security authorities to fully investigate the incident and Senator Zanna’s possible links with Boko Haram, and also his Hajj-by-road activities for which he was suspected to have used as a façade for the importation of arms and window for the training of terrorists.

    “It is on record that the Joint Task Force in Maiduguri had on Friday 19th October, 2012 announced the arrest of one Shuaibu Muhammed Bama in the house of a serving Senator along Damboa Road, GRA, Maiduguri.

    “It is on record that shortly after the JTF announcement, Senator Ahmed, who represents Borno Central, came out publicly in a BBC Hausa Service interview to own up that he is the only senator whose house is along Damboa Road; he also went ahead to admit that the arrested suspect is his nephew and lives with him in his house.

    “It is also on record that the State Security Service has invited Senator Zanna to clarify his involvement with the suspect and his links with Boko Haram.

    “Senator Zanna, in a comic u-turn, shortly after these developments, told journalists in a face-saving interview that while he could not deny his relationship with his nephew, he disowned his house where the JTF arrested the suspect, stressing that the house belongs to Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff, the immediate past former governor of Borno State.

    “Given his recent political encounter with the immediate past governor, now the BOT chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff, he appears desperate to settle scores by dragging Ali Sheriff into the controversy.

    “It is laughable that instead of defending his obvious involvement with Boko Haram, given his antecedence where people finger him as an illegal importer of arms via his Hajj-by-road fame, Senator Zanna is desperately looking for somebody to hang for his sins.”

     

  • U.S-based Nigerians seek probe of Boko Haram’s funding

    United States-based Nigerians are calling for a national and international probe that will uncover the sources of funding of Boko Haram, especially on how the group gets its deadly arms and weapons.

    In a chat with Empowered Newswire after addressing an international press conference in Washington DC, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, Dr. James Fadele, said it is now imperative for concerned governments, international agencies, global bodies and think tanks to carry out a probe on how the Boko Haram are able to get deadly weapons to carry out their mayhem in Nigeria.

    The CANAN leader spoke just as the association formed last month in New York launched its regional chapter in Maryland.

    The launching took place at an event in Jesus House DC, located in Silver Spring, Maryland, and was attended by members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Gospel Faith Missions, Jubilee Christian Church International and Christ Apostolic Church, among others.

    Speaking earlier at a press conference on Tuesday, Dr. Fadele, observed that “Boko Haram is sustained by the procurement of unbelievable amounts of heavy arms and weapons, clearly transported from country to country and certainly funded by some fat pockets.”

    He for a critical investigation into the likely backers of the sect within and outside Nigeria.

    “CANAN also frowned at the fact that while a number of top politicians have been linked with Boko Haram, a conclusive investigation and trial had not been carried out.

    “Only last week, it was reported that the Joint Task Force, announced that it has caught a Boko Haram commander in the house of a national politician in Borno State,” the CANAN leader said.

     

  • A memory forever

    A memory forever

    While serving in Borno State in 2009, Miss Grace Ushang Adie, who was a graduate of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), was murdered by suspected members of Boko Haram sect. She was shot in broad daylight.

    Pained by the circumstance surrounding the killing of the promising Corps member, members of the UNICAL alumni, under the leadership of Kennedy Dike, held a memorial lecture in her memory.

    Held last week, the lecture was the second edition. The programme took place at the new Senate Chamber. It was graced by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof James Epoke and Pro-Chancellor Dr Roland Ehigeamosea.

    Others in attendance were Appolo Goma, who chaired the event; Prof Austin Obiekezie, Deputy VC (Academics); his Administration counterpart, Prof James Utsalo; Dr Julia Omang, Registrar; Dr Chike Ekeokpara, member of council; Dr Ezi Ihiegbunam, who represented the Ministry of Education; Prof A. E. Odock and Mr Okorile Okorile, head of Calabar chapter of the alumni body and members of the deceased’s family.

    That Corps members serving their father land become victims of brutality, Dike said, showed that ethnic hostility was rife in the country. He stressed the need for government to strengthen security in the North and protect the lives of Nigerians, who dwell in rural areas.

    Ehigeamosea said unless the security agencies were ready to guarantee the security of Corps members in the troubled states of the North, the youths should not be mobilised to northern states. He urged the Federal Government to arrest the violence against the defenceless youths.

    While paying tribute to the deceased, Epoke observed that members of the Governing Council temporarily suspended their meeting to attend the memorial lecture. He praised the alumni for remembering their fallen colleague, who fell to criminals’ bullet in Maiduguri.

    The guest lecturer and chairman of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Sam Amadi, who graduated from the university, noted that Nigeria was not yet a liberal state. He said Grace was a victim of mutual distrust between ethnic nationalities in the country. He decried the growing threat of religious fanatism among Christians and Muslims, querying the impact of religion in contemporary Nigeria.

    Amadi urged politicians to dissociate religion from governance, saying it was the only solution to curb the menace of fanatism in the system.

    Ray Adie, the elder brother of the deceased, told the gathering that the National Assembly members passed a resolution to compensate the family, but said nothing had come from the chambers. He eulogised his late sister through a poem, which reads: Don’t blunt at my grave and weep; I am the gentle showers of rain. I am the spark of light of the night; I am in a quiet room where there is not trouble. Do not stand at my grave and weep for I am out there and I do not die.

    Maxwell Ebe, National Secretary of the alumni association, gave the closing remark. The programme was preceded by a tour to the site of the one-storey alumni building. Dike charged the members to put resources together in order to complete the building before next year’s meeting.

     

  • Boko Haram: Anambra community buries father, daughter, apprentice

    Boko Haram: Anambra community buries father, daughter, apprentice

    Umunnachi, a community in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State was in tears yesterday.

    The residents were burying 65-year-old Basil Okonkwo Azodo, his daughter, Ifeoma, and his apprentice, 21-year-old Sunday Ezechukwu.

    They were killed by suspected Boko Haram members in Bauchi State.

    Ezechukwu hailed from Aguleri Otu in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Suspected members of the sect had killed Azodo’s first son, 31-year-old Christian Nnaemeka Okonkwo, on April 18, last year.

    The father, daughter and apprentice were killed on October 14.

    Residents of Mgbuke village in Umunnachi broke down in tears yesterday as the caskets bearing the bodies of the deceased were being conveyed to the church for a service.

    The widow and mother of the deceased, Virginia, was inconsolable. She looked lost in the tragedy that had befallen her.

    A funeral service was conducted by the Vicar of Saint Gabriel’s Catholic Church, Umunnavhi, Rev. John Manafa. He was assisted by Azodo’s brother, Rev. Fred Uche.

    Rev. Manafa said nothing can happen without the knowledge of God.

    The cleric noted that God had prepared the way for the victims.

    He said: “My only regret is not that these people died but because of those who will go to Hell because of them. The most important thing is where we go when we die.

    “But we have to be very careful about what we do or say in life. Instead of crying for the deceased, we should pray for the repose of their souls. Let us stop crying like a people without hope.”

    The Transition Chairman of Dunukofia Local Government Area Onochie Okagbue said Azodo was a man of the people.

    He said: “From what is happening here today, you can see that the man was a man of the people. He never wronged anybody. He was a man of peace. This is a great loss.”

    The deceased’s first daughter, Mrs Blessing Ezemanari, told The Nation that it was as if the family had come to the end of the world.

    She said the family was mourning the killing of the first son when the trio was killed on October 14.

    Mrs Ezemanari said her father was arranging to relocate to Anambra when he was killed.

  • Boko Haram: My arrested nephew a drug addict – Senator

    Senator Khlaifa Ahmad Zannah on Monday disclosed that he knew that his nephew, Shuaibu Bama arrested by the Joint Task Force for allegedly being one of the commanders of the Boko Haram Islamic sect is of a “bad character” and a “drug addict.”

    The embattled Senator representing Bornu Central told reporters at a press conference in Abuja that he was not aware that Bama was a Boko Haram member.

    He decried the activities of the JTF personnel in Maiduguri, saying all their atrocities are not known by the public.

    He blamed the “mixing of politics with security” for the escalating menace of Boko Haram insurgency in the area.

    He added that the former governor of the state Ali Modu Sheriff was colluding with the JTF to tarnish his image for political gain.

    Zannah said: “I was never told or contacted by anybody that they are looking for Bama. I saw him about six months ago.

    “He lives around that area although for the past four months, I have not gone home. I went for an operation outside the country.

    “I never knew him (Bama) to be a member of Boko Haram. But I know him to be of a bad character and a drug addict.”

    The Senator said he strongly believes that ex-governor Modu Sheriff masterminded the allegation that Bama was arrested in his house.

    He said: “I think so because the JTF is taking more directives from him (Modu Sheriff) than anybody in this country.

    “Wherever he goes to in Maiduguri, the paraphernalia employed to welcome him cannot be done even to the president.”

     

     

  • Pity, forgive Boko Haram members, cleric pleads

    The Senior Pastor/ District Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Omole, Lagos, Pastor Dayo Adewunmi, has urged Nigerians to pity, pardon and pray for members of the Boko Haram sect.

    The sect, he said, needs sympathy despite numerous deadly attacks in northern states and not condemnation or criticism.

    Adewunmi spoke with reporters last week ahead of the 25th anniversary celebration of the church, which commences today.

    He said the sect is motivated in its nefarious activities by sheer ignorance, saying the members deserve sympathy for not knowing any better.

    According to him: “What they are doing is borne out of ignorance. The right way to respond is to forgive them so that good can overcome evil.

    “Jesus is the advocate of peace at all costs and forgiveness is the answer to activities such as these.”

    He challenged Christians especially to demonstrate the love of Christ towards the sect, noting that the Apostle Paul was a terrorist too before he was converted and went on to become the greatest evangelist of the Apostolic era.

    “Jesus’ love is so great that it can accommodate Boko Haram members despite what they are doing,” he stressed.

    The anniversary with the theme “unto a higher altitude” ended last week with the dedication of the Church’s ultra modern auditorium by the general overseer, Rev. Felix Meduoye.

    There was also a fitness walk by the youth arm and outreaches to commercial motorcyclists and market women by the men and women wings of the church respectively.

  • Forgive Boko Haram members, cleric pleads

    The Senior Pastor/ District Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Omole Lagos, Pastor Dayo Adewunmi, has urged Nigerians to pity, pardon and pray for members of the Boko Haram sect.

    The sect, he said, needs sympathy despite numerous deadly attacks in the northern states and not condemnation or criticism.

    Adewunmi spoke with reporters last week ahead of the 25th anniversary celebration of the church, which commences today.

    He said the sect is motivated in its nefarious activities by sheer ignorance, saying the members deserve sympathy for not knowing any better.

    According to him: “What they are doing is borne out of ignorance. The right way to respond is to forgive them so that good can overcome evil.

    “Jesus is the advocate of peace at all costs and forgiveness is the answer to activities such as these.”

    He challenged Christians especially to demonstrate the love of Christ towards the sect, noting that the Apostle Paul was a terrorist too before he was converted and went on to become the greatest evangelist of the apostolic era.

    “Jesus’ love is so great that it can accommodate Boko Haram members despite what they are doing,” he stressed.

    The anniversary with the theme “unto a higher altitude” kicks off today with the dedication of the church’s ultra modern auditorium by the general overseer, Rev. Felix Meduoye.

    On Tuesday, the anniversary lecture with the theme “rekindling the embers of true gospel and disciple-making for end time revival” will be delivered by former Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Prof. Israel Adu, by 5pm.

    There will also be a fitness walk by the youth arm and outreaches to commercial motorcyclists and market women by the men and women wings of the church respectively.

  • Shehu reiterates call on Boko Haram to embrace dialogue

    The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai, on Saturday renewed calls on the Boko Haram sect to embrace dialogue and end its violent campaign.

    Ibn Garbai made the call at an emergency meeting with some Borno elders in his palace in Maiduguri.

    “I want to make special appeal to members of the sect to please sheathe their sword and embrace dialogue with the government.

    “They should please consider the hardship being faced by the people due to their violent campaign,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the monarch as saying during the meeting.

    Ibn Garbai also denied claims that he was instrumental to the arrest of some individuals by the Joint Task Force (JTF).

    “I want to say categorically that I have no hand in the arrest or victimisation of any persons by the JTF.

    “The people must understand that the JTF does not take orders from anybody in the state, they take orders from their commanders only,” he said.

    Ibn Garbai also challenged the Borno Elders to come up with suggestions on how to end the Boko Haram crisis.

    He regretted the escalating crisis, which he said had crippled both economic and social activities in the state.

    “I want to appeal to all residents of the state to embark on prayers and fasting to seek divine intervention on the crisis,’’ he said.

     

  • Human Rights Watch indicts Boko Haram, JTF

    Human Rights Watch indicts Boko Haram, JTF

    The Boko Haram sect and the Joint Task Force might well have committed crimes against humanity during three years of conflict that has killed at least 2,800 people, Human Rights Watch said on Thursday.

    Crimes against humanity are offences that can lead to prosecution by the International Criminal Court.

    Boko Haram said it is fighting to create an Islamic state in Nigeria, and its fighters have killed hundreds in bomb and gun attacks since launching an uprising in 2009.

    Reuters says the sect has become the No. 1 security threat to Nigeria.

    The report documents multiple cases of abuses by Islamists, including brutal killings of Christian civilians and the assassination of Muslim clerics who criticised them.

    Some of these attacks were “deliberate acts leading to population ‘cleansing’ based on religion or ethnicity”.

    The ICC defines crimes against humanity as grave offences that are “widespread or systematic.”

    There was no immediate reaction from Boko Haram.

    The report also accused the JTF of “physical abuse, secret detentions, extortion, burning of houses, stealing of money during raids, and extrajudicial killings of suspects.”

    “Despite allegations of widespread security force abuses, the Nigerian authorities have rarely held anyone accountable … further solidifying the culture of impunity for violence.”

    The study came as the JTF tried to fend off accusations of a shooting spree in the insurgent stronghold of Maiduguri on Monday that residents said killed at least 30 civilians.

    Asked about the report, the JTF spokesman for Borno State, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, reiterated a statement on Wednesday that there was no evidence of such abuses.

    “There is no established or recorded case of extrajudicial killings, torture, arson or arbitrary arrests by the JTF in Borno State”, where most of the violence has occurred, he said.

    “It is important to state that terrorists killed were during gun battles with the JTF troops”, not executions,” he said.

    The military campaign against Boko Haram has had some success – limiting Boko Haram’s ability to carry out large scale attacks, but the heavy-handedness has angered locals.

    “These killings, and clashes with the group, have raised the death toll of those killed by Boko Haram or security forces to more than 2,800 people since 2009,” the report said.

     

  • Bomb factory found in Minna

    A discrete raid by Police in Minna, Niger State capital on Saturday night led to the discovery of a bomb  factory in Maitunmbi quarters of the town believed to belong to the  Islamic fundamentalist sect – Boko Haram.

    Acting on the tip-off by one of the five suspects earlier arrested over the killing of three Policemen in two operations in the town last week, a team of armed plain cloth men stormed the sect’s bomb factory behind a popular private school in the area at about 8:30pm.

    The raid which lasted for about two hours led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police from the state Command headquarters recovered from the building two domestic gas cylinder already prepared for explosion.

    Other lethal weapons found in the house include about 30 disposable food beverage and soft drinks cans as well as body spray cans all stockpiled with explosives, 25 kilograms of fertilizer, batteries, remote control devices and other electrical gadgets.

    Though no arrest was made at the time of the raid, it was gathered that the team deployed the best practice in carrying out the raid as majority of the residents in the neighborhood did not know of their action while it lasted.

    When contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer Mr. Pius Edobor refused to give details on the raid, but promised a statement later.

    According to the Police spokesman, ”We are still on that operation, we will issue a statement later.”

    Meanwhile a serious hunt for was launched by a Joint Military Team (JMT) of about 40 armed military, Police and State Security Service (SSS) to comb for armoury of members of the sect in Maitunmbi area on Sunday morning.

    End.