The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • Troops, police repel Boko Haram attack in Borno

    The Nigerian Army and Police on Thursday repelled an attack by Boko-Haram insurgents who attempted to invade Jakana town in Kaga local government area of Borno.

    The insurgents armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the town at 5:30 p.m.

    Jakana is about 40km from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Div, Maiduguri, Brig-Gen Bulama Biu, who confirmed the incident, said the attack was promptly repelled.

    “Yes, there was an attack and we are on top of the situation,” he said.

    A policeman stationed in Jakana, who did not want his name mentioned, said the troops fought gallantly to repel the attackers.

    NAN

  • Soldiers, police repel insurgents’ attack

    The Nigerian Army and Police have repelled an attack by Boko-Haram insurgents who attempted to invade Jakana town in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno.

    Dozens of the insurgents armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the town at about 5.30 pm.

    Jakana is about 40km from Maiduguri, the Borno capital.

    Brig-Gen Bulama Biu, GOC 7 Div, Maiduguri, who confirmed the incident, said the attack was promptly repelled.

    “Yes, there was an attack and we are on top of the situational; I will get back to you for details,” he told NAN in a telephone interview on Thursday.

    A policeman stationed in Jakana, who did not want his name mentioned, said the troops fought gallantly to repel the attackers.

    Malam AdamuKemdi, a resident of Jakana who fled the town, told NAN that the insurgents came with sophisticated weapons mounted on more than 15 vehicles.

    Kemdi said he was suspecting they stormed the town in search of food items, as Thursday is the market day in Jakana. (NAN)

  • Forth coming elections and the rise of political propaganda

    One of the ravaging masks of deceit that our so-called politicians wear whenever the day of reckoning is fast approaching is that of political propaganda.

    Propaganda is a collection of persuasive techniques or skills which are devised to often create false impression or perception about a phenomenon, and when it becomes political, it is often applied as a means to a deceitful end.

    Propaganda paints a black phenomenon; white and makes what is old; look new. As the quest for the seizure of political power at the highest rung of the Nigerian political ladder builds up day by day, several politicians are increasingly utilizing the deceitful technique called “Plain folks”; which involves identifying with the lifestyle and norms of ordinary people/the masses.

    It is therefore not surprising to see many of the potential political candidates and incumbent leaders (who are seeking re-election) among poor people in public spaces, eating in local cafeterias, dancing with a group of common men, and identifying with major ethnic cultures in other to gain sympathy and widespread acceptance. Whenever elections draw nearer, it always seems our politicians suddenly realize it’s time to identify with the plight and lifestyle of the common men whenever their insatiable desire for power begins to push them for more.

    “Name calling” is another form of political propaganda that is so common within our political clime; it involves the utilization of undesirable terms (dictator, poverty, clueless etc) and negative descriptions to qualify the activities of a particular individual or party. In Nigeria, the PDP has ceased every opportunity at its disposal to put out its stinking mouth of criticism into the affairs of the current seemingly ineffective ruling party (APC), despite its (PDP) previous corruption laden leadership tenure. Terms such as; ‘’witch-hunting’’ corruption campaigns, ‘’figurehead’’ leadership and so on and so forth are Name Calling terms used to black out the pedigree and intents of the ruling party, with the ruling party also doing same to the former.

    The current minister of information and culture has also shown how consistent he can be in fashioning out terms that over – clouds the real situation or nature of events or things at hand. In December 2016, the Sir; utilized the political propaganda technique called “Euphemism” as he tried to cover up for his Master; after President Muhammadu Buhari gave the December ultimatum to the Nigerian armed forces for the eradication of Boko Haram insurgents from the Nigerian soil. In the Closing half of December 2016,  Mr Lai.M came out on a live broadcast and stated confidently that the Boko Haram insurgents had been totally defeated and eradicated from the Nigerian soil. But to the utmost surprise of many, Boko Haram insurgents came back striking and bombing in the early parts of the month of January 2017. Also, the exchange of terms such using “economic restructuring” for “economic recession” and many other word /term manipulations, word – tension reduction and falsification, are “euphemisms” used by political players with the aim of dosing down tensions and building a false reputation for themselves.

    “Glittering Generalities” involves the use of undue praises and commendation – driven terms to describe the activities or nature of an individual or a party. The “change” mantra utilized by the APC in the 2015 election has so far turned out to be an element of glittering generalities – used to create good impression or image, burdening on bragging about the ability of that political party which eventually made them gain massive support from the Nigerian masses.

    “Card stacking” is also one of the viable techniques Nigeria politicians and parties utilize to gain undue access to the seat of authority. Newly ambitious individuals and incompetent old politicians called – godfathers, form an alliance, and these so-called godfathers utilize the fresh cum ambitious political candidates as a cover up to get political position for themselves too.

    All the above listed and described political propaganda techniques are not exhaustive of the many lists, but the above seems very much accustomed to the Nigeria political field. And as we have observed a lot in the recently held gubernatorial elections in Ekiti state, and as other major political elections draw nearer, the psychological resistance and will of the Nigerian masses will further be put to test by desperate political actors and parties, but we cannot choose to fall for their deceitful ways.

    Bolaji Olaniba.

    Lives and work in Lokoja,

    Kogi state        Enter Content Here

  • Police arrest three suspects for armed robbery in Niger

    The Police Command in Niger state has arrested three suspected armed robbers who have been terrorising the people of Wushishi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

    The command’s Public Relations’ Officer, DSP Mohammadu Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Minna.
    “We received information that one Alhaji Samaila Usman of Zaragi Maito Fulani camp, had been attacked by hoodlums armed with cutlasses and a dane gun.

    “They stormed his house and inflicted injury on his mouth leading to the removal of his two teeth.

    “The suspects also robbed him of N87, 000, two sets of wrapper and one Tecno handset,” Abubakar said.

    He said the Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad swung into action, arrested the three suspects and recovered one single barrel gun and two cutlasses from them.

    Abubakar said upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and would be charged to court at the end of investigation.

  • Reps investigate military, police, security agencies’ budget utilization

    The House of Representatives is  to launch  an investigation into allegations of non-payment of allowances to personnel in the military, police and other security agencies.

    In addition, a House Committee would investigate the use of the contributions of State Governments and other forms of donations by the military and other security agencies

    The panel would also investigate and determine the status of releases from the military, police and other security agencies on the utilization of such releases including, Presidential intervention releases.

    This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance by Sergious Ogun (PDP, Edo), who noted that widespread kidnapping in Nigeria is affecting almost all states of the country with hardly a day passing without news of fresh kidnappings, even in places that did not experience kidnappings in the past.

    He said: “Kidnappers have become so emboldened that they now engage in mass kidnappings and in places such as Zamfara State, whole families are kidnapped.

    “Killings in rural areas have increased and have extended to almost all parts of the country.

    Read Also: Masari seeks support for security agencies

    “We are aware that the military has been suffering reverses and recording high casualties, including the killing of about 100 soldiers last week and the seizure by Boko Haram of 17 pickup vehicles from the army.

    “In the past, these reverses were always attributed to low morale of servicemen and the inability to pay them their full entitlements but despite the increased deployment of soldiers, Special Task Force and Police, these killings, kidnappings, and reverses have continued.

    “The media has been reporting complaints by military and para-military servicemen that they have not been receiving their pension as and when due and it is worrisome as there may be a link between the state of welfare of the military and the para-military since men and their morale and effectiveness”.

    The motion was unanimously adopted after a voice vote and the Committee has nine weeks to carry out its investigation.

  • Police parade Chibok girls’ abductors, 14 others in Borno

    The police in Borno State on Wednesday paraded 22 suspected Boko Haram terrorists including eight men said to be responsible for the 2014 abduction of over 200 girls at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok.

    The suspects, who were paraded by the state Police Commissioner, Damian Chukwu, were arrested between July 4 and 9 by Special Forces deployed to the North East by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

    It was gathered that the IGP had deployed the team following several suicide bombings and killings of innocent persons by insurgents and other criminal elements.

    He said the suspects were apprehended at different locations in Borno and Yobe States.

    Those allegedly responsible for the Chibok girls’ abduction and several murderous attacks were identified as Commander, Mayinta Modu (23), Adam Mohammed (20), Gujja Jidda (21), Mamman Wadi (25), Alhaji Modu Jidda (29), Ajiri Bulama Dungus (22), Mohammed Abba (20) and Fannami Mustapha (22).

    Chukwu said the police recovered 11 AK47 rifles and other weapons from the suspects, adding that they confessed to over 50 suicide bombings within Borno and Adamawa States, invasion of Bama, Gwoza and several other attacks.

    He also said the suspects admitted to killing thousands of innocent citizens including security agents in the North East.

    The police commissioner said: “Suspects narrated various roles each of them played. Amongst them are the commanders and coordinators of suicide bombings in Borno State, coordinator and members of the Chibok School Girls kidnapping, ambushes of security agents, logistics suppliers and receivers of gold, international currencies and cows, among others.

    “Mayinta Modu, 23, alias Abor, confessed to being one of the Boko Haram commanders, who coordinated and led the kidnapping of the Chibok School girls in 2014 and several attacks on Bama, Gwoza and Mubi towns in Borno and Adamawa States.”

     

  • Coalition warns against politicising renewed Boko Haram attacks

    As the 2019 General election approaches, the Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Terrorism in Nigeria  has warned against the continued politicisation of Boko Haram war, especially the recent attacks by the insurgents, as is being done by some politicians who are opposed to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
    In a statement in which the group said it was reacting to a recent statement credited to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, where He called for the sack of all the nation’s Service Chiefs,  and signed on behalf of the group by its Convener, Comrade Odeyemi Oladimeji, the group warned that challenges of terrorism, which has claimed several lives and properties of innocent Nigerians and many members of our Armed Forces, are beyond politics and should therefore not be trivalised on the alter of narrow political ambitions. The group lauded what it described as the demonstration of leadership by the Nation’s Service Chiefs, citing the recent relocation of the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai to Maiduguri, as a courageous move required to enhance the morale of  soldiers who are preoccupied with the war against insurgency in the Northeast region of the country.
    “As patriotic Nigerians, we must realize that the Challenge of Insurgency is beyond Partisanship interest and no one is immune to the consequences of the dastardly acts of these terrorists.” the statement said
    “Rather than blaming President Buhari for the pocket of insurgent attacks still being experienced in the country,  the administration deserves being commended for its efforts, especially in the milestones so far recorded, leading to the return of IDPs back to their ancestral homes, and also building international support and synergy to tackle the monstrous group”
    “We therefore wish to advise these politicians, to desist from all forms of actions and statements, that seeks to further embolden these terrorists, at the detriment of the innocent people of the affected communities and our gallant troops, who are putting in their best, to ensure that our country is rid of all insurgency at the earliest possible time.” the statement concluded.

  • I will end Boko Haram insurgency in short time – Atiku

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday promised to end the Boko Haram insurgency in the country if elected president in 2019.

    He said his government would end the nine years insurgency in the North East within a short time.

    Atiku, who is touring some parts of the country for his presidential bid, stated this while addressing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters at the Forshams Hall, Maiduguri, Borno State.

    The ex- Vice President said while the civil war lasted only two years the Boko Haram has not ended nine years after.

    He said: “Nigeria ended her civil war in only two- and- half years despite the thick forests in the South East. I wonder why the war against insurgency took us nine years.  There must be something wrong somewhere.

    “If elected I will not allow any commander to tell me stories. We must end insurgency within the shortest possible time because the insurgency has crippled everything in the North East.”

     

     

     

     

  • ‘Insecurity biggest threat in the North’

    The Emir of Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State, Malam Zubair Jibril Mai Gwari II has said that the biggest threat to the North is insecurity.

    According to him insecurity especially in the form of Boko Haram, armed banditry and ethnic clashes in the northeast, northcentral and northwest constitutes the biggest threat to Nigeria and its neighbors.

    He said that Nigeria needs to develop a strong mechanism of tolerance because the unfortunate religious crises and ethnic clashes in some parts of the North could be avoided through tolerance.

    Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, at the Blueprint Impact Series/Awards themed Tolerance, Unity and Security: Building a Legacy for National Development.

    Mallam Jibril added that Nigeria can only be said to be developed when the teeming youths can engage in various businesses, transforming their talent and skills to produced goods for survival.

    His words, “Nigeria must evolve a strong mechanism of tolerance because our national development is indeed based on that. The unfortunate religious crises and ethnic clashes in some parts of Taraba, Benue and Plateau States could have well been intercepted and avoided if we have evolved tolerance mechanism among us.

    “Nigeria can be said to be developed only when our teeming youth can engage in various businesses, transforming their talents and skills to produce goods that we need for survival. Nigeria can boost of development only when it uses the God-given opportunity not only to be agrarian but principally a nation that produces and processes agricultural goods for both internal and external use. When that is achieved, we can then feel secure from Food Insecurity.

    “Insecurity especially in the form of Boko Haram insurgency in Northeast, Ethnic clashes in North Central, armed banditry in North West, constitutes the biggest threat being faced by this country and its neighbors. For instance, in Kaduna state, several local government areas are severely affected by bandits.  Our story in Birnin Gwari of Kaduna state is that of agony and sympathy. The armed bandits have made hell out of the people’s lives in my area. They have completely ravaged the areas by armed robbery, armed banditry, cattle rustling and abductions.

    Read Also: Presidency releases timeline steps against insecurity

    “Our agricultural and socio-economic sectors have been crippled. Still in Kaduna state, areas like that of Sabon Birni in Igabi, Chikun and some places in Southern Kaduna are still battling with armed robbers and armed bandits. The story is same with Zamfara state where people are being killed on daily basis by the same armed bandits and agriculture is seriously crippled.

    “In Katsina and Niger states, the people are still experiencing threats and killings by the criminals who sometimes open fire sporadically on a complete village. Just last week Tuesday, in Rabah local government area of Sokoto state, more than 40 people including the village head of Tabanni were massacred by the armed bandits after rustling their cattle and scorching the entire village. These and several other crimes committed on innocent people in North West are indicators that insecurity has eaten deep into the fabrics of Nigerians.”

  • APC has not shut out any governor – Oshiomhole

    Says security agents must wake up and act now on killings

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said on Monday that the party has not shut its doors to any governor elected on the platform of the party, dismissing reports of reported exit of Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom as a mere rumor.

    Speaking with newsmen at the secretariat after a meeting of the National Working Committee, Oshiomhole also said Nigerians must come together with the same vigor they fought the Boko Haram insurgency to be able to defeat the menace of herdsmen killings rather than attaching ethnic and religious sentiments to the killings.

    He told the security agents to wake up to their responsibilities as no one will be satisfied with making explanations or try to explain away why we cannot secure human lives especially of a Nigerian citizen within the borders of Nigeria.

    Responding to a question on the reported exit of the Benue state governor who alleged that he was pushed out of the party, Oshiomhole said the governor had assured him on several occasion that he will not be leaving the party, pointing out that if he has actually left, the party would need to study the situation before formally reacting to it.

    He said: “I know that governor Ortom is a very senior member of the party and he has said so repeatedly in print and has said to me one on one basis that he will not leave the APC unless he was pushed out.

    “I have since assumed chairmanship of this party along with my colleagues in the NWC and I know of a fact that we have not shut out any governor and certainly not governor Ortom.

    “In these days of social media, I will not be responding on the basis of rumor and unverified reports. In fact, talking about unconfirmed sources, on Saturday, I was in Lagos to honour an appointment that had been booked for over the past six months and I felt obliged to honour that appointment and yet some of these merchants of untruth and fabricators of fake news posted all sorts of stories including one of which I was being interviewed in Ekiti.

    “I was only there in Monday to address Labour leaders and on Tuesday, to participate in the grand finale of the campaigns of which Mr President was there and I left Ekiti that same day on the same aircraft as Mr President.”

    Oshiomhole said the party is concerned about the rising wave of killings across the country, adding that security agents in the country must wake up and prove to the Nigerian people that they have the capacity to defend them and ensure the safety of lives and property.

    He said: “We have also deliberated on the unfortunate incident that occurred in Sokoto state last week in which a number of innocent Nigerians were killed in cold blood by gunmen.

    “We are worried about this and our preliminary investigations showed that those affected come from a part of the state that can be said to quite rural and probably a place where people don’t even have cattle. All they have is just their farm land.

    “This killing, like other killings across the country is condemnable and the NWC condemn them in the strongest words possible, we believe that every Nigerian, regardless of his location has a right to life.

    “We admit that the minimum obligation of government is to protect lives and property and we urge our security chiefs to do everything possible not only to arrest all those involved in this senseless killing, but to do everything possible to be seen to have the competence to protect lives and property.

    “No one will be satisfied with making explanations or try to explain away why we cannot secure human lives especially of a Nigerian citizen within the borders of Nigeria.

    “We want to strongly appeal to all Nigerians and the media should help us in this process. This is the only country that we have and so, we must do everything to give every Nigerian a sense of security regardless of his accident of birth place which some people refer to as ethnic origin or his choice of residence of religious belief.

    “It is not helpful to national efforts of security lives and property if any Nigerian, including religious leaders and Media seeks to explain criminality in terms of religion or ethnic nationality. This is unhelpful in terms of our collective responsibility to work with security agencies to provide useful information that can lead to the arrest of criminals and also help them to preempt any plan by criminals to undermine our collective security.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole gets spokesman

    “Those responsible for the wanton killings in Sokoto and those who are victims are of the same ethnic origin and unarguably of the same religious persuasion. It is the same thing in Zamfara state.

    “It is not between one ethnic group or the other and so, if these criminals found themselves in other parts of the country as they have done from time to time, and their victims are of different ethnic origin, we should insist that we treat them for who they are, criminals that government has a duty to pursue and chase out of the territory of Nigeria and all those who are perpetuating crimes be brought to justice in accordance with the provisions of our laws.

    “As a nation, we should all be united, not only in co democracy in this wanton killing, but also in helping government to do what it has to do compel security agents to live up to their mandate. It is clearly unhelpful and it bothers on divisive politics if we seek to disguise criminality either in religious terms or ethnic terms.

    “Government has a duty to protect all citizens regardless of their religious belief. I ask the Media to help us to educate the people that it does not help the process of law enforcement if crime and criminality are identified in terms of their ethnic origin or their religion.

    “But we are together as a party and Nigerians that this killings stand condemned and our security must do everything possible to convince Nigerians that under their leadership, we are safe and secured. They must continue to review their operational modalities in the light of emerging threats.

    “The Buhari government is determined to do everything possible to secure the live and property of every Nigerian. That is one of the key objectives that this government committed itself to.

    Unfortunately, as much as we have made progress, we cannot but commend the President and security agents in decimating Boko Haram.

    “Unfortunately, while we are making progress in this area, new form of criminality is emerging, we need the same kind of national effort and unanimity in working together to defeat this new criminals that are emerging. We will work with the government and encourage them to do everything it has to do to bring criminals to justice and secure the lives of every Nigerian.”