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Tag: boko haram

  • Boko Haram highly degraded, expiring – Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has urged troops in the North-East not to relent in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents as the terrorists have been highly degraded and are expiring.

    Buratai described the recent sporadic skirmishes from the Boko Haram terrorists as a desperate effort from a highly degraded and expiring adversary striving to maintain its notoriety.

    In a goodwill message to troops in the frontline in the North-East on Friday, the chief of army staff said also that the recent skirmishes from the terrorists should be seen as an attempt by the group “to portray itself as formidable and cohesive; something that is completely false.”

    He, therefore, charged the troops not relent in their gallant efforts and draw back the hands of the clock.

    “It is merely the last kicks of a dying horse. We have achieved great successes over the Boko Haram terrorists.

    “Thus, absolute and conclusive victory is just inches away, he said.”

    According to Buratai, the Nigerian army is not known for cowardly behaviour.

    ” We have contained several incursions and several security challenges bedeviling our dear country within the last three years and now would not be an exception.”

    He warned that any soldier that turned away in the face of enemy incursion would be appropriately sanctioned and made to face “Field Court Martial in accordance with our extant laws.”

    Buratai stressed that the consequences could be grave.

    “Do not be complacent by being contented with repelling their attacks, instead, go after them, capture them, and when absolutely necessary, be decisive with the daring ones.

    “Some women and children have been held captive, you are therefore to ensure that adequate rules of engagement are employed to extricate them before any offensive action,” the army chief said.

    He assured the troops that as their chief of army staff, he had never relented in his pursuits of ensuring that their welfare was adequately catered for.

    “To this end, I have directed that your allowances are paid regularly as and when due.

    “I have also directed that troops’ rotation be carried out as scheduled. As soldiers in battle, I am aware of the effects of battle fatigue.

    “Consequently, I have also directed that passes be issued to officers and soldiers that require same to visit their families.

    “Recall that I approved the special promotion of more than 5000 troops for gallantry.

    “Be rest assured that the process is continuous. Your kitting has also been improved drastically,” he added.

    Buratai recalled that special uniform allowance was paid a month ago directly into the troops’ individual accounts.

    He said through the various intervention programmes to the army by the government, the stock of arms and ammunition had greatly improved.

    He said recently, the army took delivery of large consignment of high calibre weapons and ammunition which were already being injected into the theatre.

    “I, therefore, urge you to make use of them judiciously and ensure that they are effectively used against the terrorists and not taken away by them.”

    Buratai also noted that in a bid to swell their depleting ranks, the terrorists had continued with their false teachings and instilling fake ideologies in the youths of the North-East.

    To curb this, he said, he had directed the Department of Civil Military Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Nigerian Army Chaplain/Imam Services “to immediately provide counter narratives through the community resilience and stabilisation campaign programme.”

    “I have also established the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command to among others, prevent online terrorism, online radicalisation as well as online recruitment.

    “To this end, do not let the false propaganda and narratives being spread by the rag-tagged terrorists sway your thoughts and actions about our dear country.

    “We should continue to stand and fight even when the going gets tough and the ignorant and enemies of the state choose to castigate us,” he said.

    The chief of army staff reminded the troops that many people had returned to their respective communities that were hitherto abandoned, but that the terrorists had taken advantage of the large population in the towns and villages to infiltrate them.

    “You must, therefore, be extra vigilant and establish good civil military relations with the locals.

    “You are to use this to acquire actionable intelligence to prevent any attack on the communities as well as your positions,” he said.

    He thanked Nigerians from all walks of life for their support, prayers, encouragement and goodwill toward the Nigerian army in the service of “our fatherland.”

    “I wish to also convey my appreciation to you all, the troops, for your selfless service toward the defence of our dear country.

    “Your courage and gallant demonstration of our core values of sacrifice and selflessness amidst the daunting challenges being confronted daily in the theatre speak volumes of your professionalism and patriotism to the Nigerian State.

    “I implore you to continue to uphold the trust the nation has placed on your noble shoulders for the maintenance of the sanctity of her territorial integrity. We must all remain steadfast.

    “We must see this victory to a conclusive end.

    “We must justify our oath of allegiance to our fatherland and dedication to her sovereignty.

    “I once again salute your courage and wish you the best of successes out there,” Buratai added.

    NAN

     

  • Boko Haram attack Yobe village

    Suspected armed Boko Haram insurgents have launched a heavy attack on Katarko village, 23km away from Damaturu the Yobe State capital.
    A security source told our correspondent that he can confirm the attack but does not have details.
    Modu Aishami, one of the residents who ran to the bush informed that the insurgents stormed the village in unspecified number of gun truck and started shooting indiscriminately.
    Another resident said the insurgents started setting some houses ablaze causing people to run to the bush for their lives.

    Read also: Air Force kills Boko Haram terrorists in Borno operation

    Katarko is one of the town that was siezed by Boko Haram in 2013. A multi-million naira bridge in the village linking Buni Yadi to Biu in Borno State was also blown off by the insurgents.
    A few days ago, the insurgents attacked a military base and killed 6 soldiers at a border town between Yobe and Borno.
    The recent attacks are really causing fears in the minds of Damaturu residents especially the latest one which is just 23km from the state capital.
    No official statement has been issued by the army as at the time of filling this report.

  • Air Force strikes Boko Haram camp in Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force said Tuesday that Boko Haram terrorists camp at Ngwuri Gana in Borno state has been destroyed through air strikes while scores of terrorists were also neutralised.

    The Spokesman of the Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that the air operations were conducted after intelligence reports have established the presence of the insurgents in the area.

    Read Also:Air Force strikes Boko Haram base in Borno

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “In continuation of operations to seek out and destroy remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) in the North East, the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE yesterday, 5 November 2018, destroyed a BHT Camp and neutralized several terrorists at Ngwuri Gana in Borno State.

    “The operation was carried out based on human intelligence reports indicating that the settlement was one of the locations from where BHTs launch attacks against own troops’ positions and villages around the general area of Kumshe.

    “Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions later confirmed the presence of a large number of BHTs in the settlement and also identified a suspected Communications Centre with BHT flag and solar panels mounted.

    ” Accordingly, the ATF launched a coordinated attack on various targets within the settlement employing Alpha Jet and F-7Ni aircraft as well as Mi-35 attack helicopters leading to the destruction of BHT Communication Centre and neutralization of several BHTs.

    ” The NAF, working in concert with surface forces, will sustain the tempo of operations with a view to destroying all remnants of the terrorists in Borno State”.

  • ‘We can’t understand why Leah still held’

    Nearly two years after the Dapchi abduction by Boko Haram, the Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS), of which Leah Sharibu, the only abductee still with the terror group, is a member, has called for her immediate release. YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU reports

    Time has not healed the wound of the Dapchi schoolgirls’ abduction by Boko Haram. On February 19, 2018 members of the terror group invaded Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, Yobe State, abducting over 100 girls. One month after the abduction, all the abducted girls were freed, except one: Leah Sharibu.

    Since the incident, the world has been grieving. Last week, a Christian group to which Leah was said to be a member since age seven, the Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS) made its position clear on Leah.

    At their headquarters in Jos, the Plateau State capital, members of FCS captured their agony. Their dark T-shirts spoke even louder than they could. Some were Leah’s schoolmates, some classmates. Together, they joined other human right crusaders all over the world to demand unconditional release of Leah from Boko Haram captivity.

    The students group also called on the federal government not to fail to secure Leah’s release.

    They held special prayer services in honor of her.

    The FCS is a body of inter-denominational young Christians reaching out to children and youths in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across the country. The body has a mission to promote the transformation of lives of Christian children, students and other Christian youths through evangelism, discipleship, leadership and family life development. The Jos-based Christian body has a strong vision to be a well-developed and equipped organisation with stable and adequate resources for holistic ministry among young people and families leading to a godly society.

    National president of FCS, Elder Joshua Makori said Leah has been an active member of the group since age seven and has never shied away from her faith in Jesus Christ.

    “Our Leah has been a role model to female members of this group,” he said. “The entire Secretariat has been in pain since the abduction of Leah. We have never experienced such a predicament since our sixty years of existence.

    “Our pain over the abduction of Leah got doubled when other victims abducted with Leah were released and only Leah was held back. And up till this moment the captors are still holding on to Leah.

    “We cannot understand why the same government that negotiated for the release of other victims is failing to secure the release of Leah. The only offence Leah committed against her abductors is that she is a Christian and chose not to deny her faith. The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for secularism of religion, and if Leah has chosen to be a Christian, it’s her constitutional right. So, the idea of the abductors refusing to release her on the basis of her religious belief is completely senseless and a spite on the Nigerian constitution.

    “We are therefore calling on the federal government to stop acting as a partial father, that you can secure the release of others and you can’t secure the release of some is unthinkable. The whole world is watching this crime against humanity. The continuous incarceration of Leah in the camp of Boko Haram is only a proof to the world that Boko Haram is more powerful than the Nigerian government. So, we organised this special session to cry out to the world to hear our cry, we can no longer accept the excuse of the federal government for the delay in the release of Leah. We are going to hold the federal government responsible if anything happened to Leah.

    “We are also calling on Christians, churches and well-meaning Nigerians to join us in prayers for the safety of Leah wherever she is. The international community should help us impress on the federal government to discharge their responsibility towards the release of Leah without delay.

    Mrs. Elizabeth Payi, a mother and national treasurer of FCS in her remarks said, “Our daughter Leah deserves to be free like every other Nigerian, she did not commit any crime against Boko Haram. Leah should be set free without delay. Our expectation on the federal is fading on a daily basis, federal government has no more excuse or reason to fail in its primary responsibility of protecting citizens of this country. The case of Leah particularly is giving women a source of concern. Why have women and young girls become a target of Boko Haram? Why is it that a government dominated by men is failing to protect women? We are not talking of only Leah here, there are still Dapchi school girls and Chibok girls still in captivity; Is government going to allow them to be used as slaves forever? Women are already losing hope in the society.”

    Isaac Godwin, a student of University of Abuja, said, “The continuous incarceration of Leah is giving us, youths, so munch fear over our safety and our future. It’s like we are not safe in our country and we have no other country other than Nigeria. The federal government must do something fast; she must be free now.”

  • Boko Haram kills 13 people in fresh Borno attack

    Boko Haram insurgents have killed 13 people and sacked two villages overnight in the restive town of Konduga in Borno State, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, confirmed the attack yesterday in Maiduguri, the state capital.

    Biu said troops repelled the invaders, who he said had repeatedly attacked communities in Konduga Local Government Area for years.

    The GOC visited the attacked communities, Bularin and Kofa, including camps in the communities, housing thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

    “I was there. We recovered one body and saw burnt houses. Troops have been following up on the attackers,” Biu said.

    A member of a militia, known as Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), Alfred Audu, who claimed he was on duty at the time of the attack, said the insurgents engaged troops in a bid to force their way into the communities.

    Audu said the insurgents were pushed back when fighter planes were deployed to confront the invaders.

    Another eyewitness, who gave his name simply as Alhaji Modu, said hundreds of the insurgents on trucks with mounted guns and motorcycles attacked the communities at 7.45 p.m.

    Modu said the insurgents launched rocket attacks and forced their way into the IDP camps and attacked homes with ferocious fire.

    The eyewitness said nine people were killed at Bularin IDP Camp and three others in the Kofa IDP Camp.

    “An Islamic cleric, together with his wife and three children, were burnt to death when the insurgents sacked their home at Bularin IDP Camp.

    “They burnt down the village market, shops, houses, animals and vehicles. Many people died in the attack while others are still missing.

    “Bularin village was razed and several tents in the camp were destroyed. Many people were displaced in the attack,” Modu said.

    Boko Haram, which also operates in Cameroon, Chad and Niger, has persistently attacked communities in northern Nigeria, especially the country’s vast northeast.

    The Federal Government has said the insurgents have been decimated, although the group has been packing deadly punches over the years.

    Boko Haram launched its deadly campaign in 2009, vowing to enthrone a strict Islamic code in Africa’s most populous nation.

  • 2019: Senior staff association sues for restraint

    Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) rose from its meeting in Enugu State with a call on politicians to exercise restraint as the 2019 electioneering period approaches.

    The association said it was of the view that no human life is worth losing in the quest for power.

    In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the association advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain unbiased ‎as the umpire and ensure that the general elections were free, fair and credible.

    The communique signed by the national president, Comrade Muhammad Yunusa and the secretary, Comrade Ayo Olorunfemi also commended government’s efforts in fighting insecurity and criminality in the country.

    It, however, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to combat “the nefarious acts of herdsmen, kidnapping and Boko Haram insurgency in the country “.

    It frowned at the non-payment of workers’ salaries in the states despite the release of bailout funds and Paris Club refunds to them.
    ‎
    “We hereby call on state governments to as a matter of urgency pay salaries owed workers in order to ameliorate the sufferings and hardship being experienced by workers” the association demanded.

    The communique further states: “The NEC in session noted clearly that the present National Minimum wage has been eroded with the current inflation in the country. We hereby call on the government to immediately forward a Bill to the National Assembly on the proposed new minimum wage so as to ameliorate the economic hardship workers have been made to go through.

    “The NEC in session noted with dismay how government at all levels had abandoned the provision of potable drinking water for her citizens, we hereby call on governments to as a matter of urgency begin to resuscitate moribund water distribution networks in the country and fund the Water Corporations in the states.

    “The current poverty in the country is alarming and the need to curb this cannot be over emphasized. We call on governments at all levels to consciously create economic policies that will genuinely alleviate poverty in the land”.

  • Protesters storm Amnesty International’s Abuja office

    Protesters have stormed the Abuja head office of Amnesty International (AI) to demand that the Federal Government expel the internationally acclaimed non-governmental organization for inducing chaos in the country.

     

    The London-based group, whose primary focus is on human rights, has been fingered in collaborating with other groups and disgruntled individuals to bolster violent demonstrations just to blackmail the FG.

     

    AI is allegedly known to be smitten with Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Islamic Movement of Nigeria and other terrorist groups in the country.

     

    It was on this premise that Concerned Citizens Conference of Nigeria (CCCN) declared a seven-day non-stop protest at AI’s office until the group quits.

     

    In a statement signed by President, Hon, Samuel Adadu, the protester revealed that AI is exploiting the likes of Omoyele Sowore as primers to trigger the destabilization of Nigeria.

     

    The group, therefore, vowed not to depart AI’s office except their demand is met.

     

    Read full statement below:

     

    We have as a matter of discipline resisted reacting to the so-called “RevolutionNow Movement” convened by one Omoyele Sowore. We have since found out that Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), suffers such credibility crisis that his own party suspended him for “anti-party activities, misappropriation of funds and inability to convene the National Executive Committee (NEC).” This tells you a lot about the character of the man leading a supposed revolution: one who is not loyal to his party and can never be loyal to Nigeria; one who steals even from his own party and is desirous of accessing the public treasury; and one who is incapable of managing a party he leads but is eager to mismanage Nigeria.

    Read also: Shi’ites: Police reject Amnesty International’s report

    The Revolution Now Movement, unfortunately, beyond even this charlatan, who in reality is fronting for several proscribed terrorist organizations. Subsumed in the protests are the interests of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Nigeria’s latest terrorist organization and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), another terrorist organization. These are groups that initially owned the protests that they claimed they want to use to express their RAGE, a clear indication that they want to go on an orgy of arson and terrorism of industrial proportions.

     

    Sowore, IMN, IPOB and their co-travellers in the planned violence are all united by one factor, their connection with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with its candidate that was defeated in the last presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. They have all enjoyed funding and material support from him. It is no coincidence that the criminal demands that they had each in the past made differently are now harmonized as a group of demands RevolutionNow Movement. The demands are also consistent with the predictions of how Atiku will destabilize the country to precipitate the formation of an interim national government.

     

    The tantrums of these failed entities and individuals have proven inconsequential, which was why we had concluded that reacting to their gripe would have amounted to giving them relevance and promoting them. They know not to break the law as there are ample provisions by way of legislation and judicial processes to address whatever crimes are committed in the course of them pursuing their illegality.

     

    Our discovery that these individuals and organizations are in reality proxies for a foreign interest, Amnesty International, has altered the dynamics. Amnesty International is exploiting them as primers to trigger the destabilization of Nigeria, which is an agenda it has been trying to implement for a long time. The long term support that the international NGO has given to Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), IMN, IPOB and other criminals in Nigeria is meant to culminate in the meltdown to be caused by the RevolutionNow Movement.

     

    Amnesty International has been running social media campaigns in support of the protests, which is in addition to its trying to blackmail the Federal Government of Nigeria into not responding to the threats posed by protests being organized by the terrorists and scammers.

     

    We have no other country to call our own hence our resolve to defend Nigeria from Amnesty International’s attacks on the sustenance of our democracy. We have therefore decided to launch an a 7-Day #ExpelAmnestyInternational Protests beginning from August 5 to send Amnesty International put of Nigeria. The protests will not only target Amnesty International’s offices and interests everywhere in Nigeria but will also target any protest that Amnesty International is supporting, like the RevolutionNow Movement. The protest will be seven days non-stop, including Saturday and Sunday.

     

    The Federal Government and the law enforcement agencies should note that the only way to stop our protest is if they successfully expel Amnesty International from Nigeria before August 2, 2019. We will not at this time announce what will happen if the NGO is not out of Nigeria at the close of the 7-Day #ExpelAmnestyInternational Protests since that will be premature. But we are confident that the protests will be so intense and effective that the nuisance group would have left Nigeria before we are done.

     

  • Boko Haram kills 13 people in fresh Borno attack

    Boko Haram insurgents have killed 13 people and sacked two villages overnight in the restive town of Konduga in Borno State, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, confirmed the attack yesterday in Maiduguri, the state capital.

    Biu said troops repelled the invaders, who he said had repeatedly attacked communities in Konduga Local Government Area for years.

    The GOC visited the attacked communities, Bularin and Kofa, including camps in the communities, housing thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

    “I was there. We recovered one body and saw burnt houses. Troops have been following up on the attackers,” Biu said.

    A member of a militia, known as Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), Alfred Audu, who claimed he was on duty at the time of the attack, said the insurgents engaged troops in a bid to force their way into the communities.

    Audu said the insurgents were pushed back when fighter planes were deployed to confront the invaders.

    Another eyewitness, who gave his name simply as Alhaji Modu, said hundreds of the insurgents on trucks with mounted guns and motorcycles attacked the communities at 7.45 p.m.

    Modu said the insurgents launched rocket attacks and forced their way into the IDP camps and attacked homes with ferocious fire.

    The eyewitness said nine people were killed at Bularin IDP Camp and three others in the Kofa IDP Camp.

    “An Islamic cleric, together with his wife and three children, were burnt to death when the insurgents sacked their home at Bularin IDP Camp.

    “They burnt down the village market, shops, houses, animals and vehicles. Many people died in the attack while others are still missing.

    “Bularin village was razed and several tents in the camp were destroyed. Many people were displaced in the attack,” Modu said.

    Boko Haram, which also operates in Cameroon, Chad and Niger, has persistently attacked communities in northern Nigeria, especially the country’s vast northeast.

    The Federal Government has said the insurgents have been decimated, although the group has been packing deadly punches over the years.

    Boko Haram launched its deadly campaign in 2009, vowing to enthrone a strict Islamic code in Africa’s most populous nation.

     

     

  • Boko Haram kills 13 in fresh Borno attack

    Boko Haram insurgents have killed 13 people and sacked two villages overnight in the restive town of Konduga in Borno.

    Brigadier-General Bulama Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, confirmed the attack on Thursday in Maiduguri.

    Biu said, however, that troops had risen to the occasion and had repelled the invaders, who had repeatedly attacked communities in the Konduga Local Government Area over the years.

    He disclosed that he had visited the attacked communities, Bularin and Kofa, including camps in the communities, housing thousands of displaced people.

    “I was there. We recovered one dead body and saw burnt houses. Troops have been following up on the attackers,” said Biu.

    Alfred Audu, a member of a militia, known as Civilian Joint Task Force, who claimed he was on duty at the time of the attack, said the insurgents engaged troops in a bid to force their way into the communities.

    Audu said the insurgents were pushed back when fighter planes were deployed to confront the invaders.

    Read Also: Boko Haram: Army receives large cargo of arms

    Another eye-witness, who gave his name simply as Alhaji Modu, said that hundreds of the insurgents on trucks with mounted guns and motorcycles, attacked the communities at about 7:45 p.m.

    Modu said the insurgents launched rocket attacks and forced their way into the IDP camps and also attacked homes with ferocious fire.

    He said that nine people were killed at Bularin IDP Camp and three others in the Kofa IDP Camp.

    “An Islamic cleric together with his wife and three children were burnt to death when the insurgents sacked their home at Bularin IDP Camp.

    “They burnt down the village market, shops, houses, animals and vehicles. Many people died in the attack while others are still missing.

    “Bularin village was razed and several tents in the camp destroyed. Many people were displaced in the attack,” Modu said.

    Boko Haram, which also operates in Cameroon, Chad and Niger has persistently attacked communities in northern Nigeria, especially the country’s vast northeast.

    The Federal Government has however, said that the insurgents have been decimated, although the group has been packing deadly punches over the years.

    Boko Haram launched its deadly campaign in 2009, vowing to enthrone a strict Islamic code in Africa’s most populous nation.