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Tag: boko haram

  • 1,350 Borno Corps members observe 2018 Batch ‘C’ Orientation in Katsina

    As a  result of growing insecurity in Borno State occasioned by increased attacks by Boko Haram insurgents, the 2018 Batch ‘C’ National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed to serve in the state have been relocated to Katsina State where they began their three-week orientation course.
    Speaking at their swearing-in ceremony at the temporary camp located within the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Training College in Katsina, the Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima noted that their relocation was due to the temporary security situation in his state, urging the corps members to re-dedicate themselves to nation building.
    Shettima, who was represented by the state Chairman, NYSC Governing Board, Mahdi Gazali, however, noted that the state government under his watch was doing everything humanly possible through its programme of reconstruction and rehabilitation to return the state to the path of peace and development.
    He said “The government and good people of Borno State are doing everything humanly possible through our programme of reconstruction and rehabilitation to return the state to the pedestal of peace, security and development it has been known for before the insurgency problem that nearly crippled the socio-economic of the state’’.
    “I therefore wish to assure you of your safety during the three weeks orientation exercise and the service ahead. It behoves you to be part of the problem solving team by expressing your potentials through rendering honest and dedicated services to your host communities’’.

    Read Also: Boko Haram sacks two communities in Borno

    “I urge you to summon courage to come and stay in Borno and you will understand the fact that the security situation of the state is not bad as it is being propagated by some media.”
    Governor Shettima said the NYSC scheme has provided a platform to develop great virtues of discipline, industry and patriotism, adding that as change agents, government believes in the scheme in view of its importance in nation building and selfless service to humanity.
    Speaking earlier, the Borno State NYSC Coordinator Rabiu Aminu said 1,350 corps members were posted to the state and enjoined them to exhibit high level of respect and discipline, adding that the camping period is filled with vigorous activities which need active participation.
    While applauding the state government for providing remedies to the operational challenges confronting the scheme in the state, the state NYSC coordinator tasked the corps members to be security conscious, saying issues of security does not only rest on security personnel alone but all the citizenry.

  • Photo story of Benue’s forgotten children

    A Childhood Lost...

  • Leah’s mother condoles Hauwa’s family

    …still hopes of Daughter’s freedom

     

    The mother of Leah Sharibu, the only christian Dapchi girl still held by Boko Haram, Mrs Rebecca Sharibu has condole with the family of Hauwa Liman recently executed by Boko Haram insurgents.

    Mrs Sheribu who spoke with our correpondent on phone called on God to comfort Hauwa’s family while praying for the repose of her soul.

    According to her, the killing of Hauwa by Boko Haram just a few days after the visit of the Federal Government delegation has brought more trauma and disappointment for her but still hopes for the freedom of her daughter.

    “I feel so sad for the killing of Hauwa. Her death has brought more trauma and confusion for us because, the government people visited us just a few days assuring us of the freedom of our children then suddenly the news of the killing of Hauwa came in.

    “My prayers is for Almighty God to comfort her family and grant her soul peace. I am sure that Hauwa is in the bossom of our Lord. For dying in service for humanity, God will surely grant her peace.

    “The last wish of a parent is to see the death of his child. This one is worse because you can’t even see the dead body of your child. Only God can comfort the family,” Mrs. Sharibu said.

    Speaking on her trauma, Mrs Sheribu said, I must tell you that it has not been easy with me and my family. When I heard that they killed Hauwa, I broke down and cried but i still stood up and prayed to God to spare the life of my daughter, Leah. I was actually taken aback by the development but there is nothing God cannot do”.

    Read Also: Leah Sharibu: Beyond the president’s call

    On Boko Haram’s threat that they will keep her daughter as a slave for life, Leah’s mother said, ” I am calling on the Federal Government not to relent from their efforts and promises to secure the release of my daughter and any other person in the hands of Boko Haram.

    “At least they have told us that Leah is still alive so we are still hopeful. We cant lose hope and I am sure God will answer our prayers by touching the hearts of Boko Haram to release my daughter for me,” Rebecca pleaded.

    When asked if the Federal Government has contacted the family after Hauwa’s execution, Mrs Sheribu disclosed that, ” no one has contacted us. We are still relying on the last promises that they gave during their last visit to me”.

    Comenting on the sincerery of Federal Government on their efforts, Mrs Sheribu said, ” I have no reason to doubt the efforts of the Government in securing the freedom of my daughter. I just call on them to double their efforts to get my daughter release.

  • Air Force strikes Boko Haram base in Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force said on Thursday that it has launched air strikes against Boko Haram terrorists’ base and facilities in the northern part of Borno.

    It said the strikes resulted in the death of the insurgents who had gathered to attack Nigerian troops.

    According to a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and information of the NAF, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the attacks destroyed the terrorists’ logistic base and their vehicles at Tumbun Sale, a village in northern part of Borno State.

    Air Commodore  Daramola said :”The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed a Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) logistics base, along with some vehicles, at Tumbun Sale in Northern Borno State.

    “The operation was conducted on 23 October 2018 after Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions revealed the presence of some BHT vehicles and several fighters camouflaged under thick vegetation within the area, where the BHTs had converged in order to launch attacks against own troops’ positions.

    Read Also: Boko Haram sacks two communities in Borno

    “Accordingly, the ATF scrambled 2 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, supported by an ISR platform, to attack the target area in multiple waves.

    ” The first wave of attacks recorded direct hits on a suspected BHT ammunition/fuel dump, sending it up in flames.

    “Subsequent strikes also resulted in the destruction of some vehicles and neutralization of several BHTs. The few surviving BHTs, that were seen fleeing the area, were mopped-up in follow-on attacks.

    “The NAF, working in concert with surface forces, will sustain the tempo of operations with a view to destroying all remnants of the terrorists on the fringes of Lake Chad and other areas in Northern Borno. “

  • NHIS Crisis: Presidency orders due process

    A Presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, says the presidency has stepped into the crisis rocking the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) following the purported suspension of its Executive Secretary, Prof. Usman Yusuf.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the Governing Council of the NHIS had on Oct. 18 suspended Yusuf over alleged gross misconduct.

    But, Yusuf resumed work on Friday, a day after his fresh suspension by the council.
    Some workers acting under the aegis of Association of Civil Servants of Nigeria, and Medical and Health Workers Union of NHIS, almost prevented him from gaining entrance to the office on Monday.

    Their colleagues of the Nigeria Civil Service Union in support of Yusuf mobilised themselves and countered the protest.

    The situation that almost degenerated into security breach was however contained with the intervention of a combined team of police, civil defence and state security operatives.

    However, the presidential aide, who featured on Channels TV Sunrise Daily on Tuesday in Abuja, said Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, and the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, had intervened in the NHIS crisis with a view to finding lasting solutions.

    Read Also: Military to militia groups: Vacate Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa

    Shehu, who is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, noted with regret that the NHIS crisis had been ethnicised and politicised by some interest groups within and outside the agency.

    “Did the board follow due process in suspending this gentleman? There are opinions that said `no they haven’t’.

    “Again we all have to do the right thing all of the times. I don’t deny the fact that there is a lot of work to do – (the crisis) is complicated by the fact that the whole thing about the NHIS has been ethnicised and politicised.

    “Even a political party was issuing a statement on matters that are unknown to it.

    “I’ll tell you one thing, as we speak now, you know that no matter whatever mistakes this gentleman may have made, and that is to be proven because I don’t have the records to say yes or no, he has launched a major reform in that institution which had blocked access to public resources.

    “Money from the NHIS is not money belonging to government, is money taken from your salary, from my salary.

    “If we have been enlisted, we are supposed to get treatments when we fall ill then you should ask the question in 13 years of the NHIS how many Nigerians have received the treatments.

    “Yet you have HMOs, these vendors, taking N5 billion every month, money that is just being shared and somebody came and said, `look, this can’t go on’ and with strong support from this administration the N5 billion has been reduced to N1.3 billion.

    “And even at then, the administration is not satisfied. We want to see healthcare delivered to the citizens of this country. So there is a lot of work to do,’’ he said.

    The presidential aide stated that he was not in the position to challenge the allegations of wrong doings levelled against the executive secretary in some quarters.

    Shehu, however, maintained that the two chambers of the National Assembly had previously cleared the Executive Secretary of the allegations against him.

    He also dismissed the accusation of `double standard’ by the Buhari administration while dealing with cases of corruption being levelled against public servants or political office holders in the country.

    He said it was wrong to compare the case of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, and that of the NHIS scribe.

    “Well, there is no double standard there either than to say that the pictures that the government is looking at many Nigerians perhaps may not be seeing those pictures,’’ he added.

    NAN also recalls that the minister of health (Adewole) had earlier suspended Yusuf over similar allegations on July 6, 2017.

    But the Federal Government reinstated him on Feb. 6, 2018, after an administrative panel found him not guilty of the allegations of abuse of office and maladministration.

    Yusuf officially resumed work on Feb. 8, 2018, after he was given the clean bill.

    Shehu, who also spoke extensively on the security efforts of the federal government in combating the menace of Boko Haram insurgency, said Nigeria had earned international commendations for suppressing the terrorist group.

  • Kaduna: UN urges stakeholders to bring perpetrators to book

    The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Dr Edward Kallon, has appealed to stakeholders to commence processes to amicably address the underlying causes of communal clashes in Kasuwan Magani,Kajuru Local Government Kaduna State and bring the perpetrators to account.

    The resident coordinator made the appeal in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

    “I have also learned with sadness, the loss of over 50 lives following communal clashes in Kasuwan Magani area, South of Kaduna State.

    “I urge authorities in the State to seriously look into circumstances leading to these clashes, which have become too common,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Killings: IGP deploys forces as Kaduna declares curfew

    Similarly, the resident coordinator expressed grave concern over news of renewed killings by the armed insurgent group, Boko Haram in Borno.According to him, close to 40 lives were lost in separate incidents over the last few days, when the group attacked civilians in Borno.

    He appealed to the Government of Nigeria and security forces in the region to scale up efforts aimed at protecting civilian communities especially in areas where sporadic attacks had been recorded recently.

    He therefore, noted that the attacks, if unchecked, might reverse the gains made so far in securing lives and property in the region.

    “On behalf of the United Nations  family in Nigeria, I wish to express my sincere condolences to the families and friends of the bereaved.

    “The UN remains ready to support the Government and people of Nigeria in seeking sustainable solutions to related national challenges,’’ he said.

  • Corruption, biggest obstacle to Nigeria development

    Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi has described corruption as the biggest obstacle to the nation’s development, saying President Buhari remain the only antidote for corruption in the country.

    Speaking at his investiture as Patron of the Women for Buhari and Osibanjo, Lulu said he will join in mobilizing support for the second term bid of the President whom he said has been a blessing to the nation.

    The formal NFF Boss hailed President Buhari for sanitizing the nation and the great efforts he has been making in addressing corruption which he said has been the greatest impediment to the development of the country.

    Read Also: As NFF faces the future

    He said: “Before the coming to power of Buhari, Nigeria used to be seen as money-laundering, pariah nation. But today, the story is different, as Buhari is the first leader to really tackle corruption headlong, and the task has not been easy.

    “In all my years on earth I have not seen a leader who has fought corruption like Buhari. There is no doubt that God has ordained him to lead Nigeria and no human being can change this.”

    He scored President Buhari high on security, adding that without him coming to office Boko Haram insurgents would have taken control of the larger part of the country, especially the North. He scored Buhari and his team more than 90 per-cent and urged Nigerians from all walks of life to rally round Buhari and his deputy in the 2019 elections.

    Leader of the Women for  Buhari and Osibanjo, Amb.Fatima Adams said they decided to confer the honour of a patron on Alhaji Lulu Abdullahi because of his track records in football administration, especially when he was the president of the Nigerian Football Federation from 2006-2010.

    She said Lulu’ s transparency in the administration of the place, as well as his overall administrative qualities speak volume about his competence and eligibility, where he impacted on the people that came across him, especially those from his home state Kogi.

    Ambassador Adams said even since his leaving office, Alhaji Lulu Abdullahi has continued to conduct himself exemplarily, providing education and jobs for the poor and those in need. She said with Lulu’s appointment into President Buhari’s Support Group, he should bring his qualities to bear in ensuring that President Buhari is re-elected in 2019.

  • Boko Haram displaces 1,300 in Borno, says NEMA

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday said 12 farmers were killed and 1,300 others displaced in separate attacks coordinated by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.

    NEMA’s Northeast Zonal Coordinator Bashir Garga stated this in a statement in Maiduguri, the state capital.

    Garba said the insurgents killed 12 farmers on their fields on Saturday afternoon at Kalle village, 17 kilometres from Maiduguri.

    “They used machetes to kill their victims who were working on their farms, as confirmed by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

    “So far, we recovered 12 bodies from the fields and nearby bush.

    “Three persons were injured in the raids. The insurgents had guns, but did not use them so as not to attract the attention of troops in nearby Molai village,” he said.

    Garga said the Boko Haram insurgents stepped up attacks on farmers and loggers in recent years because they accuse them of passing information to the military.

    The coordinator added that one person was killed and 1,300 others displaced when the insurgents sacked three communities on Saturday night in Jere Local Government Area.

    Garga listed the affected communities as Dala-Malari, Fuguri and Femari.

    The NEMA zonal coordinator urged the residents to be vigilant and report suspicious movements and persons to security agents.

    He said: “Attacks on soft targets are the hallmarks of the insurgents due to increased military clampdown that has curtailed their activities.

    “Humanitarian partners were being mobilised to cater for the victims as soon as possible.”

    Also, troops at the weekend repelled an attack by Boko Haram on Mairari and Femari communities in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the insurgents attacked the communities at about 8.30 p.m, killed one person, set houses ablaze and carted away food items.

  • Boko Haram machetes 12 Borno farmers to death

    Men suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists yesterday invaded farms on the outskirts of Maiduguri, Borno State, macheting  12 farmers to death.

    Attacked was Kalle, a short distance from Maiduguri.

    Residents said the farmers were busy working the fields when the terrorists unexpectedly swooped on them.

    Attempts by the victims to run for their lives were largely unsuccessful, as the assailants gave them a chase, caught up with them before hacking them.

    The terrorists opted against using their guns so that they might not attract the attention of soldiers deployed around the area.

    Twelve bodies were evacuated from nearby bushes while three men were injured.

  • Pope Francis to rebuild churches destroyed by Boko Haram

    •As Catholics nationwide raise fund today

    Catholic Churches across the country will on today contribute funds, part of which will be used to rebuild churches burnt by the Boko Haram sects in the northern part of Nigeria.

    National Director, Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS), Rev. Fr. George Ajana, disclosed this in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the forthcoming World Mission Sunday celebration to be held on October 21.

    Ajana said following the extraordinary missionary month, all funds raised on that Sunday will be sent to Pope Francis, adding that he will send part of the money back to Nigeria to enable the church assist in the rebuilding process of churches burnt by the Boko Haram sects.

    World Mission Sunday, Ajana said is an annual event to assist humanity in various ways.

    He urged both the rich and poor to contribute no matter the amount to rebuild the affected part of the north.

    His words: “The Pope since 1926 have mandated our participation in and support of mission Sunday through prayers which is most important and then material offering, that is the money and other materials that we give to support the mission of the church. All collections that very day are to be given to the missions. All Catholics are encouraged to give no matter how small.

    “The collections will be sent to Rome, to the holy father Pope. Remember no body is too poor that cannot give and nobody is too rich that cannot receive. Some people are suffering out there who do not have what to eat. That is where the church comes in to help.

    “In the North Eastern part of the country we are all aware of the impact of Boko Haram insurgency. Churches have been burnt, Reverend Father’s houses have been burnt, Christians have been killed and a lot of lives have been lost. Thank God things have improved now. And many of these churches need to be rebuilt.

    “For instance in the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri, the Catholic Bishop of that diocese have embarked on rebuilding the burnt Churches and you know what that will cost, a lot of money. You don’t just build churches with prayers, we need money.

    “In many of these areas, the people are very poor. They cannot afford to build these churches all by themselves; that is why they need external sources and assistance. And that is where the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) comes in.

    “So the collections that we raise here after sending it to Pope Francis in Rome, part of them are sent back to us as assistance towards the rebuilding of the churches, father’s houses and convents for sisters. Priests who have been away as refugees in other areas have started coming back but they need places of worship and residences. Even non Catholics can contribute. Hospitals, other churches that are not of Catholics will also be rebuilt. Churches that were destroyed should be more than 200,” he said.