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Tag: boko haram

  • I can make Shekau, others surrender: Ex-Boko Haram commander

    A 32 year-old former Boko Haram Commander, Rawana Goni, has appealed to the Nigerian military authorities to allow him make a phone call to the elusive leader, Abubakar Shekau and at least 137 other terrorists to make them surrender.

    Goni, who is undergoing rehabilitation at a military detention camp in Maiduguri, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    The former Boko Haram commander is an indigene of Bama in Borno state. He surrendered to the military in Cameroon after escaping from Sambisa Forest eight months ago.

    He claimed to have held several positions in ten different cells of Boko Haram in Sambisa. He said the last position he held was as the Chief officer of Dispute Resolution for the group. He explained that many militants came to him to settle problems ranging from family matters. He also reconciled Boko Haram factions.

    “I rescued people sentenced to death and minimised punishment of those who committed crimes. I am one of the most influential persons in the group and they always listened and abided by what I said.

    “I  joined Boko Haram because of the condition I found myself in the last five years. When the insurgents invaded Bama town, I ran with my family to Cameroon thinking I was in a safe destination. But on reaching Cameroon, I was shocked to realise that I brought myself into another Boko Haram camp. By that time, I knew I would not survive without joining the group.

    “Days after my induction, we opened a permanent camp at the Cameroon border and named the forest “Aluska”. It was in that camp that I learnt all types of trainings including handling weapons.

    “After the training,  we embarked on our first mission.We invaded a military formation in Cameroon, dislodged the soldiers and took many weapons from their armoury. We couldn’t take any vehicle because the area was surrounded by river.

    “We took the weapons we recovered to our leader Abubakar Shekau and briefed him on our success. He was happy that five of us could dislodge a military formation. After congratulating us, he appointed me to lead the group and returned our weapons to us.

    “Few days later, I recruited many fighters, because as a commander, you are expected to have no fewer than 250 fighting troops.

    “With the new fighting force, we invaded Waza village, Damaga and Banki. We also invaded Bama which is my hometown.

    “I was touched to see my people being tortured and killed, while many women and children were living in excruciating hardship. So I decided to pass a message to my fellow insurgents from Bama and we formed a group comprising of about 137 persons to help our people in prison to escape.

    “I was able to rescue about 300 hostages at the prison facility in Bama. I usually lied to the guards at the prison that I was going to kill the inmates. But I would take them to a safe place in Konduga and ask them to run to a safer destination.

    “Many of the prisoners were exposed to hard labour while some were used as guinea-pigs at shooting range by new arms handlers among Boko Haram,”he said.

    On Abubakar  Shekau’s health status, Goni told NAN that the insurgents’ leader was healthy as against a report that he was ill.

    “Nothing happened to him. He broke his leg five years ago while riding on a horse. But he had since recovered. Any one saying Shekau is sick is only deceiving himself. We used to communicate through radiophone but not any more,”he said.

    Goni who believed that the war was coming to an end, urged  the military to let him tell Shekau and other insurgents that he is still alive.

    “My 137 boys are on standby to hear I am still alive and I can assure you they will run out of Sambisa Forest and surrender to the military. I once told them to surrender and they said we shall all get killed.But I told them that I will surrender and they said if nothing happened to me, they will all come out,” he said.

    Goni commended the military for the special treatment given to inmates who surrendered.

    “They received us with joy and interact with us at all time. They feed us well and always want to know our problems. If other Boko Haram members knew how we are being treated, they will never want to remain where they are,”he said.(NAN)

  • Boko Haram: Future of recovery looks bright – Shettima

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has said the future of recovery of the internally displaced People (IDP) suffered by the Boko Haram crisis looks bright with the scale up of humanitarian activities both by the Federal, State Government and the strategic partners.

    “The future of reconstruction, Resettlement and Rehabilitation is bright as humanitarian activities are been scaled up by both government at all levels and strategic partners like FAO as peace is gradually returning to the troubled communities,” Shettima said.

    Shettima who disclosed this at the lunching  of the 2018 rainy season distribution of agricultural seedlings to farmers displaced by the insurgency and other people living in the host communities at the Farm Centre in Maiduguri.

    Over 1.1 million IDPs including returnees farmers  and members of the host communities in the Boko Haram troubled northeast Nigeria will benefit from the 2018 rainy season input distribution of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations from Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

    FAO support apart from the distribution of quality agricultural kits comprising of seedlings such as millet, sorghum, cowpea, maize, vegetables and fertilizer will also carry out critical capacity building of the farmers.

    Read Also:Minister raises the alarm over Boko Haram, high profile inmates in Kuje prison

    Represented by his deputy Dr. Mamman Durkwa at the event commended FAO for their effort in tackling food security due to the strategic intervention on IDPs in the region.

    The governor charged them not to relent in their collective effort to salvage the situation in the overall interest of Borno State and the country at large.

    He urged the benefiting farmers to make good use of the opportunity and rebuild their livelihood as they return to their communities.

    Earlier in his address, the FAO Country Representative in Nigeria Mr. Suffyan Koroma said Agriculture is the backbone of northeastern Nigeria therefore restoring normalcy in the region requires a restoration of agricultural livelihoods.

    Mr. Koroma who was represented by the Program Officer and Head of Program FAO Sub-office Maiduguri, Mr. Michael Oyat noted that insurgency in northeastern Nigeria has led to high levels of displacement.

    “Of all internally displaced people, 80 percent identified agriculture as the main sources of livelihoods before the crisis. A restoration of livelihoods, particularly in agriculture will be central for a full recovery in the region.

    “FAO’s overall role in northeastern Nigeria is simple –enhance food security through agricultural support, particularly to those most affected and vulnerable to shocks both in the external or the local contexts.

    “As the main planting season, the rainy season is a major opportunity to strengthen livelihoods in the region. For farmers who are able to farm this season, FAO’s programme will link them to agricultural inputs that will improve their incomes and food insecurity,” Mr. Koroma explained.

    Some of the farmers who spoke to our correspondent after collecting their inputs expressed delight over the intervention by FAO, describing it as timely.

    Ya Bintu, 50 year old mother of seven children from Muna Garrage who was displaced from Bama said, she has already gotten a farm and that the intervention is coming when the rains just set in.

    Another beneficiary Musa Ibrahim praised FAO, adding that IDPs now have no excuse to sit at the camps and continue to beg for food.

    “This is an opportunity for us to stop depending on the government. We should take the advantage of what FAO has given us and go back to farm and feed ourselves. Anybody that prefers to stay at the camp to wait for government now has no excuse because, the opportunity has come,” Musa advised.

  • PDP shedding crocodile tears over Plateau killings – Presidency

    The Presidency on Thursday said that the sad and unfortunate killings in Plateau State over the weekend is been used to play irresponsible politics, particularly by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The PDP has declared seven days of mourning.over the killings.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said “These are dolorous times that call for deep introspection on how cheap human lives have become, and the proffering of actionable ideas on how to get out of the bind. But the PDP would rather dance on the graves of the dead, playing cheap, infantile politics.

    “The comatose and prostrate party is declaring seven days of mourning, during which flags in its offices would be flown at half mast nationwide. But unknown to the party, those flags had been forcefully lowered since its 2015 loss at the polls, and may remain so for a long time to come, because Nigerians are politically discerning, and cannot be hoodwinked by cheap antics.

    “A quick checklist of some savage and brutal killings in Nigeria during PDP rule, between 1999 and 2015, for which no national mourning was declared:

    “November 20, 1999. Odi, in Bayelsa State, was invaded on orders of a PDP President. About 2,500 people killed. No national mourning.

    “Between February and May, 2000, about 5,000 people were killed during riots over Sharia law in different parts of the North. No national mourning.

    “In 2001, hundreds of people, including the old, infirm, women and children were killed in Zaki Biam. No crocodile tears.

    “Between September 7-12, 2001, Jos, Plateau State, erupted in internecine killings. Between 500 and 1,000 people were killed. Flags were not flown at half mast.

    “In February, 2004, at least 975 people were killed in Yelwa-Shendam, Plateau State. No mourning by the then ruling PDP.

    “Between November 28 and 29, 2008, Jos was in flames again, with 381 deaths. No mourning.

    “In 2010, 992 people killed in Jos. Mum was the word.

    Read Also: Plateau Killings: Residents on guard against attack

    “In 2014 alone, according to Global Terrorism Index, at least 1,229 people were killed in the Middle Belt. No mourning.” he said

    Boko Haram killings in PDP years, he said, were over 10,000 while PDP flags were still fluttering proudly in the sky.

    He added “Those who take pleasure in twisting statements from the Presidency may claim we are saying that many more people were killed under PDP than under President Muhammadu Buhari. It would be unconscionable to do so.

    “The intendment of this statement is to show that wanton killings had been with us for awhile; this government is working towards enduring solutions; and should be given the opportunity to do so.

    “Even a single soul is precious, and no man should take a life, which he cannot create. But when tragic situations as had happened in Plateau State occur, such should never be used to play crude politics. Those who wont to do so should have change of hearts, or lose their very humanity.” he said.

  • Oshiomhole takes over APC, says Party Supremacy will be paramount

    Wants Obasanjo to refund $16billion spent on power

    The new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Tuesday assumed office at the APC national secretariat with a strong commitment to deepen the principles of internal democracy and party supremacy, saying all organs of the party must learn to respect decisions arrived at meetings of the various organs of the party which must be made functional.

    Oshiomhole took over the leadership of the party from the former Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun at about 2.45 said even the President can be accused of anti-party activities if he deviate from implementing decision taken by the National Executive Committee which he is part of.

    Oshiomhole who spoke for almost 40 minutes also wonder why President Muhammadu Buhari has not demanded former President Olusegun Obasanjo to return the 16 billion dollars spent by his government on power which did not yield results.

    In apparent reaction to a letter said to have been written to the Independent National Electoral Commission by the Social Democratic Party accusing the APC of “stealing’s slogan”, Oshiomhole said the slogan of the party remain Change, adding that the party has not taken any decision to alter its slogan.

    He said: “When we talk about party supremacy, it can only be operational if there are organs of the party meeting to take decisions on variety of policies and when we take decisions like that, at the National Executive Council meeting and the President is seated, if the President act to violate such decision, he can be accused of anti-party because he is a party to the decision.

    “The same thing goes for the National Assembly. If we establish these basis for quality decisions, executive and legislative actions must coincide with the promise and the manifesto. Where they don’t, we will have the kind of situation where the chassis is going right and the engine is going left. We must bring that to an end by creating a platform.

    “We have come in to build on what we met and to reposition our party as we approach 2019.

    “We want to go beyond being Electoral platform to be a party that is guided by its constitution and manifesto and we will do everything possible to support both the federal executive and federal legislature to ensure that both executive and legislative actions are informed by our commitment as reflected in our manifesto on the basis of which we were elected.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole: Beyond the song and dance

    “We will create a situation where every year, we must have convention, not in the open like Eagle Square in centers we choose. The agenda will not be election, but to look at our manifesto and our performance and see the gap, if there is, between what we promised and what is happening and to explain that gap and get those elected to explain to us what they will do differently to avoid deficit between promise and reality.

    “I also believe that in a world that is ever changing, the manifesto you wrote in the morning might be obsolete in the evening. For example, we promised to fight Boko Haram and to the credit of Mr. President and the armed forces, the Boko Haram that forced us to postpone national election in 2015 has been decimated which is a huge project.

    “As that time, we never envisage the current magnitude of the herdsmen crisis even though they have always been there, maybe it has escalated. In terms of going forward, we must now review our security architecture to deal with new forms of criminality as they arise.

    “People will also agree that level of kidnapping was much higher in 2015, but it has substantially reduced. But as you deal with one issue, new issues emerge and so, because the environment is dynamic, policies reflected in our manifestos must be subjected to constant review and ensure that they meet changing reality.”

    While lamenting the polarization in the nation’s body polity at the moment, he said “Right now, one of the things that is faction-able in headlines is crime, new ethnic groups emerging and even those who have presided over Nigeria are returning to their places of birth to whip ethnic sentiment because their conscience tells them that they have committed a crime for which they can possibly be candidates for prison.

    “We must scrap our these ethnic champions and religious bigots by putting up for national discourse policy issues that has to do with the Nigerian policy, economy and society.

    “Let that be the basis for our agreement and disagreement and if there is going to be a fight within the rank of the APC, let the fight be that some people are raising issues about our educational policy and what we promised, our economic choices. The policies of the CBN as it affect investments and wealth creation rather than have ethnic nationalities conferences.

    “If we fix Nigeria, everybody can worship in full freedom without worshiping on an empty stomach. We must work together to understand that in the 21st century, we need brains to drive our programmes. We are celebrating quantity which is not right. We are the most populous and the most endowed nation.

    “I think the real challenge is that our party must work to move on to becoming the most skilled and united nation on the account of what we have achieved. What we should be celebrating is how democratic are we, how smart are we are how inclusive are we. How participatory are our processes for decision making.

    “I am not aware that any organ of the party, there was a decision to change the slogan of the party that we all agreed to and as far as I know, we have not changed it and so, our slogan remains Change. We must sustain the change and deepened the change.

    “When we do that and we are consistent, then progress will be the outcome because progress is the outcome of a sustained change. We have a duty to correct people on this one. We are proud of our slogan, we are committed to it.

    “Recently, I watched the President asked questions about power and he 16 billion dollars that was spent on it. Maybe the President need to now asked the follow up question that since we cannot find the power, then, you must return the money that you spent.

    “If he doesn’t do that, then the accusation of limited anti-corruption may begin to have come currency. So, to assist PDP to overcome their accusation, our President needs to do the needful. Courage should not fail him and he should recover the 16 billion dollars back into the treasury from the man who presided over the spending.”

    Turning to Chief Oyegun, Oshiomhole said “I want to thank you for your leadership of our party and for leading us to victory in the presidential election and winning more states than the number of states that came together to form the APC.

    “However hostile the historian may wish to be, there are facts that are stubborn. These are stubborn facts that are to your credit and I think that you have every right to enjoy the fact that you made records as chairman of our party.

    “People are too busy pursuing day to day survival that basic fact often escape. We have the PDP as the first governing party in Nigeria and in their 17 years of existence as a political party, they had 14 National Chairmen.

    “So, when they are going to write the history of internal democracy, stability of leadership and adherence to constitution as to when people leave office and how the6 leave, you will be the only in our history so far since 1999 who was elected, run the party on its rules and exited in glory on the basis of those procedures provided for in our constitution.

    “It is to your credit that you didn’t have to be chased out of office for refusing to resign. There are so many things you have accomplished. So, when we talk about democracy, stability, due process and internal democracy, you led us to internalize these values.

    “Our President also demonstrated that we can, when convenient speak to party supremacy and the next minute, the executive is treating party executives as if they his appointees. Between you and President Buhari, you have kId the foundation which I hope others will be able to copy.

    “I wish that now that you are going to be less busy, I am going to be disturbing you about advise, about things I see and how you think we can deal with them. You can be elected to a position, but age is not by election and there is wisdom associated with aging.

    “What you have going for you is not just age, but experience in various facet of life. This is not the first time I will be subjecting you to such unremunerated service. As governor, you freely offered advise sometimes and they were helpful and I will continue in that direction. I want to assure you that we will work hard as best as we can to improve the record that you have already set.”

    On the elections in Ekiti, he said “I am also clear that we are assuming office on the eve of an election in Ekiti State. I am confident that all that we need to do is to make sure that the instrument that was ruthlessly deployed be then ruling party to rig us our is dismantled.

    “They must now go through the rigour that we have a,ways gone through to persuade people why we are better. We won’t resort to using their own tactics because we promised to be different and we will be different. But I know that old gangs can’t change their habit and cannot learn what they have never known, which is how to win votes.

    “They perfected how to write results which is no longer in vogue. I am very confident that Ekiti state will be won the basis of our record in comparison to their own records and ensuring that there is free and fair election. As you know, we launched one man, one vote.”

    Handing over the reign of office to Oshiomhole, former Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun apologized for delaying the handover, saying he needed time t9 rest after spending two days at the Eagle Square for the convention.

    Oyegun said “I pay my due respect. I congratulate you for your signal victory and also all members of your team for their victory. It is my hope, expectations and prayers that yours will be a most distinguished and successful four years.

    “My duty today is brief and short and that is to introduce you to what is now your property, your headquarters, your building and your office and to go through the formality of a handover.

    “I have put my thoughts on paper and I thank God that you have some of the best brains that has survive the electoral process and will be working with you.

    “So, I have put everything I thought is important on paper, with a lot of attachment which include an inventory of everything in this building and the papers for the purchase of this building and all the minutes of the National Working Committee, the caucus and the NEC. They will serve as a bank of knowledge.

    “All that is left is to pray that during your period being signal successes to the party, that your period will make the party grow to greater height and your period will finally establish what we stand for, the smartest party in Nigeria and Africa.

    “I have no doubt that it will become a reality that this party is the smartest party in the whole of Africa. May God grant you success in the elections that are coming, beginning with Ekiti and then Osun”.

  • Dialogue is solution to Boko Haram, says Turaki

    A presidential aspirant Mallam Kabir Tanimu Turaki  yesterday said the only solution to Boko Haram insurgency is dialogue.

    The former Minister of Special Duties said there is nowhere in the world where terror war was won on the battlefield.

    He urged the Federal Government to change its strategy against Boko Haram and other terror groups.

    He also said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on whose platform he is seeking presidential ticket, is not in disarray.

    Turaki said: “On terrorism, we have to appreciate also that Nigeria’s brand of terrorism is different from what they have in other places.  Nigeria’s brand of terrorism is one that is based on dogma and in situations where you have people that have become dogmatic. The case of Boko Haram is in a very wrong manner. We have a group of terrorists that are amoebic in shape and manner.

    “Today, you see members of Boko Haram dress in jeans and Tee-shirt and tomorrow you see them in Agbada and next tomorrow, you will see them in Kaftan or with turban.

    “So it is really difficult for Nigerian security agencies to readily pinpoint even in the way and manner they dress to say this is one of their members.

    “So the best form government must employ is to ensure that they are engaged in dialogue. When you succeed like the previous regimes had started doing, then you are faced with other problems. Now you have members of terrorist organizations that are willing to lay arms but is that the end of the matter? No.

    “Whether you get them through dialogue or you conquer them on the battlefield, let it be that you have won the battle.  After winning the battle, you must also win the war.

    “How do you win the war? You must initiate a holistic de-radicalization programme. Those motives must be taken out from their mind because if you don’t, you are a non-starter.  When you do that, you must also then look at reintegration or reinsertion into the society. So it is something that has to be taken holistically.

    “Let me say that there is nowhere in the world where terror war was won on the battlefield.  That is why we are saying the approach this government has taken is a wrong one and there is need for it to be reviewed.”

    On the issue of PDP being in disarray, Turaki said the party was only going through a healing process.

    He said he was not afraid of competing with other gladiators for the presidential ticket of PDP.

    He said:  “I can tell you and I can confirm authoritatively that there is no disarray in PDP now.

    Yes when you quarrel, you may forgive and you may even forget but there could be some scars and wounds that may take a little longer period than others to heal.

    “I want to assure you that indeed, we are now going through healing period as far as PDP crisis is concerned.

    “I started by saying we have a lot of aspirants and we are expecting more to come but that is vintage PDP, the more the better.

    “Now, in spite of these gladiators that are aspiring to pick the pick up the ticket with me, I assure you that at the end of the day, it would be determined on merit.

    “I assure you that at the end of the day, this PDP leadership will conduct a fair and transparent election to select a candidate just like we did recently in Ekiti State. “

    The ex-Minister said he was confident of winning the PDP ticket on merit.

    “For me, I feel my chances are very bright because I am a bridge maker, I have a lot of integrity, I am well educated and I do not have any excess baggage. I am not fighting anybody and I am not aware that anybody is equally fighting me inside PDP or outside PDP.”

  • How to end killings, by NHRC, ex-Ekiti AG, others

    …Killers could be Boko Haram – Ojukwu

     

    Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu, ex-Ekiti State’s Attorney General, Olawale Fapohunda and others have given insight into how the Federal Government could address the incessant killings across the country.

    Ojukwu, Fapohunda, Law Professor, Agbo Madaki and rights activist, Chino Obiagwu suggested a general overhaul of the nation’s security architecture to enable the country address the heightening insecurity in the land.

    They spoke in Abuja Monday at an event tagged: “Civil Societies/NHRC dialogue on the state of human rights in Nigeria,” jointly held by NHRC and Human Rights Agenda Network (HRAN).

    They contended that the Nigerian government cannot argue not to have failed in the area of rights protection where its security agencies appear helpless when its citizens are massacred daily and yet the perpetrators are not identified.

    Ojukwu argued that the reluctance of security agencies to properly situate the identity of perpetrators these killings was either a lapse or a deliberate ploy to shield them.

    He added: “See what is happening in Benue and Plateau states. I keep telling people that this may be another Boko Haram in another guise, because the way these killings were being done, I am surprised that herdsmen can kill people like this.

    Read Also:PDP bemoans Plateau killings, blames Buhari, APC

    “I am really surprised that people will just wake up and take joy in just killing human beings. For what? Just for you to have your herds graze in the bush?

    “I think there is more than meets the eye. But, because they just want to maintain the narrative that Boko Haram has been degraded and defeated, they don’t want to look at that direction that this could be another Boko Haram.

    “This is because when they scattered them in the North-East they (the Boko Haram members) dispersed into small groups and entered communities and that is what we are seeing.

    “The clinical way these people are handling AK47 and killing, it is difficult for me to accept and believe that these are herdsmen,” Ojukwu said.

    On the need to overhaul the security arrangement, the NHRC boss said: “I have been one of those, who have always said that unless we have state police in this country, it is going to be a problem to protect us. I can give you an instance.

    “We have a federal police, yes. You take a man from Katsina and send him ke him my village and transfer him to my village, he does not understand Igbo language. There is not enough he can.

    “But, look at how the vigilantes work in some villages or even in towns. Every neighbourhood has its own vigilante. They put a bar and it is working for them.

    “Look at what happened in the North-East. Part of the problem we had while fighting Boko Haram was that they were brothers living among brothers. The soldiers did not know who was who.

    “But when the indigenes themselves formed the civilian JTF, they were able to know those, who among them, were Boko Haram and they started fishing them (Boko Haram) out.

    “If you continued sending soldiers from Abuja to go to those places we would not have been able to record the successes we have recorded now.

    Can’t we see? Do we need anybody to tell us? So, part of our duty as human rights commission and civil society organisations is to engage government.

    “”So we can use advocacy to wake them up to their senses, so that we talk true to power. Otherwise, it is going to be difficult to change things,” Ojukwu said.

    Fapohunda argued that it was wishful thinking for anyone to think that the present Nigeria Police Force (NPF), as currently constituted, will be able to respond to the country’s security challenges.

    He added that the NPF “today, is incapable of solving our security problems.  The policemen are not even the problem, because the institutional framework is weak.

    “I am sure you will not be surprised that the law that governs the police force now was drafted in 1948. The law is not responsive to the police needs; it is not responsive the security needs of Nigeria,” Fapohunda said.

    Madaki argued that it was wrong for the NHRC not to act in the face of the endless killings in the North Central and part of North East, because it has the powers to investigate and monitor human rights violation and make reports to the President.

    He added: “I am also suggesting that the enabling Act of the NHRC be amended to confer on it the power to prosecute criminal cases that relate to human rights violations.

    “Because, it is not enough to seek redress by way of compensation, let the power be extended to the commission to prosecute those who are responsible for rights violation.”

    Obiagwu, who expressed disappointment that the killings have gone on unabated, said “our sense of humanity has been lost because we see corpse lying on the streets and people will leave the corpse and go to church or mosque.

    “We are very religious, but not godly. I think we should begin to re-visit our sense of humanity. Right to life is primary to our sense of humanity and I will call on the NHRC to reflect on this,” Obiagwu said.

  • Inter-Faith Group tackles Christians, TY Danjuma over allegations

    The National  Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace [NIFROP] has reacted to the recent claim by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Nigerian Army and the Police to recruit rehabilitated Boko Haram members into their ranks.
    Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant on media CAN President, Rev Dr Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, said it had information that a number of ex-terrorists were allegedly being considered for recruitment into the Nigeria Police and Nigerian Army.
    Reacting to the claim, the National  Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace [NIFROP] said it is worried by the abuse of religious groups that are now being deployed as canon fodder by political clerics
    The group said Oladeji’s claim is targeted at stirring the fire of hatred among Nigerians.
    Bishop Edward Chanami, National President of the Group while addressing the media on Sunday in Abuja, noted that the claim was the handiwork of the devil and not deserving of being associated with any group that professes faith in God.
    “There is none of the testaments in God’s name that promotes the kind of wicked lie contained in the misleading claim. We can only thank God that the sectarian crisis that those behind this lie hoped to trigger did not materialize while praying that Nigerians will continue to be discerning and not allow themselves to be deceived into engaging in self destruction.”
    NIFROP also took a swipe at a group of Christians under the aegis of National Christian Elders Forum,NCEF, championed by a former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), and Solomon Asemota (SAN), who recently warned that  Christianity in Nigeria may cease to exist in 25 years from now (2043), beginning from 2018.
    Danjuma’s group said that the present generation of Christians may be the last set in Nigeria.
    Chanami, while reacting to the claim, said it is sad that some persons parading themselves as Christians elders arr stoking the embers of war in the country
    He said, “It is also alarming to mention the activities of supposed elders either in the Church or any sane society led by Lt. Gen TY Danjuma [rtd] and some other Christian folks perpetually stoking the embers of war in the country. Neither did our Lord Jesus Christ or Apostle Paul ever in the scripture embarked on this destructive path to defend the Church. Our weapons of warfare are not carnal and we demand that they review whatever scriptures they are reading as Christians before we destroy the country.
    “Ordinarily, we had hoped that the era where CAN or any other religious organization was deployed as an attack dog for government or the opposition was over only for this to happen. Our concern over this matter is that the events that led to a CAN president being linked to gun running and money laundering began on similar notes. It started with the CAN leadership being used as an extension of a ruling party only for it to eventually become the errand boy for the importation of weapons of destruction.
    “The ugly conduct of CAN in those nauseating years can be credited for provoking an explosion in the number of persons from across all faiths that have renounced belief in God. The gun running saga set off the chain reaction that have seen more young persons take to crime in order to make it like the flamboyant clergies that ran errands for politicians. This is a scenario that must not be allowed to repeat itself for we are yet to recover from the ravages caused to our collective psyche by CAN when its leaders acted without decorum.
    “We are also speaking out because we have reliably gathered that the lie about recruiting Boko Haram members as soldiers and policemen is the first in the series of negative propaganda for which CAN has been recruited. It is similar to the brief it ran under the past administration. It must be noted that Nigeria cannot withstand another campaign of lies and hatred spewed from hallowed pulpits that should have been proclaiming the good tidings of God’s infinite love.
    “It is equally pertinent that we prick the conscience of the clergy in Nigeria. Religious leaders critical stakeholders in the global drive to curtail the evil of fake news so where do we stand as a people if those who should condemn fake news have become its purveyors? On what basis should the faithful believe the admonitions of a clergy that lies for whatever reason? The days are indeed evil.
    “These series of falsehood coming from CAN have become the impetus for the rest of us to ask that organization of believers not to continue acting like a political party. Those who wish to join one political party or the other should resign from the leadership of CAN to do so that the exalted name of God will not be blasphemed.
    “We realize and admit that the anti-corruption stance of President Buhari has impacted donations to religious institutions and causes. The resulting drop in the revenue available to religious institutions calls for thanksgiving because it means proceeds of corruption, unholy offerings, are no longer finding their way into the house of God. Whatever hardship religious organizations may be facing should be considered as being purified by fire for the years that we allowed stolen money to be mixed with the harvest of God. Those who decide to concoct lies against the Government of the day  because they are bitter over this development should repent and seek God’s forgiveness.
    “May we however point out that we are not standing in judgement over those who decided to lie even as clergymen. We will rather that they repent and thread a new path of repentance; that they will act I’m accordance with the promptings of the song we shall be singing as we close this press conference. As leaders of faith we should continue to be instruments of peace and this should not be too difficult a task for those currently leading CAN.

  • Minister raises the alarm over Boko Haram, high profile inmates in Kuje prison

    Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau (rtd), has expressed worries over the rate at with Boko Haram and dangerous inmates are kept in the same prison facility in Kuje, Abuja.

    Danbazau disclosed that government is urgently building new prisons to relocate the high profile inmates.

    He said this in Abuja when he paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello.

    Danbazau also urged the FCT administration to have a closer look at the small markets springing up around the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the FCT, saying some of them have been turned to platforms for sale of dangerous and prohibited drugs.

    According to him: “We have received approval to build maximum and minimum prisons in Abuja as well as renovate and reconstruct existing facilities.

    “It’s very important that we build because Kuje houses all manner of convicts and those awaiting trial.

    “We have suspected Boko Haram persons, we have very dangerous criminals awaiting trial all in the same place.

    “We have high profile convicts in the same place and we have those who committed offences that should keep them in prison for probably six months.”

    He went on: “We have all kinds of mix which we think is not the standard we should achieve.

    “Some of them will claim they are IDPs from the Northeast; of course, there is need for us to accommodate these displaced persons but we have to do it in a way that it does not have negative consequences on security.

    “I thought I should seize this opportunity to bring it up so that we can put heads together and know precisely how to deal with the situation.”

    Speaking on the Old Secretariat building housing his ministry, Danbazzau said the Ministry is looking for a befitting area to erect a new secretariat that would reflect its image and importance.

     

  • Army kills seven Boko Haram terrorists, recovers weapons in Borno

    The Nigerian Army says its men killed seven Boko Haram terrorists and recovered weapons in Azaya Kalmari village in Mafa local government area of Borno state on Friday.

    Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, Deputy Director Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, disclosed this in Maiduguri.

    Nwachukwu said that the troops encountered the insurgents at about 12.00 noon. While conducting clearance operation at remote villages around Mafa town.

    “The gallant troops overpowered the insurgents in the ensuing firefight, killing seven of them. The troops also recovered two AK 47 rifles, one Ak 56 rifle and 7 rounds of 7.62 mm (special) ammunition.

    Read Also:Air Force hits Boko Haram fighters

    “Troops also successfully cleared Moduhum, Njimtulur, Hayaba Gana, and Hayaba Kura, Hashime, Azaya Kura and Azaya villages. All located in the outskirts of Mafa.

    “After clearing the initial resistance posed by the insurgents, the troops proceeded to further clear other surrounding villages including, Koshebe Kanuri, Buramburi Gana, Kashakasha, Ngudda, Kezamari, Kellori, koshiri  and Ngwon villages, all located in the remote parts of Mafa Local Government Area.

    “The troops remain resilient as they continue the fighting patrol and taking the battle to the insurgents in their hideouts,” said Nwachukwu.

  • Terrorism: Osinbajo urges policies to tackle poverty, illiteracy

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that enduring victory against violent extremism and terrorism can only be achieved through implementing policies that comprehensively tackle poverty, illiteracy and frustration.

    Osinbajo said that it was those factors that predispose individuals and communities to imbibing extremist beliefs and ideologies.

    He made the assertion on Thursday in Abuja, while declaring open the 7th meeting of the Ministers of Defence of the Community of Sahel-Sahara States – CED-SAD.

    “Indeed, the military aspect of the fight against terrorism is the short-term one; enduring victory will only come from swiftly and diligently building on military victory by implementing, over the long term, policies that comprehensively tackle the poverty, illiteracy and frustration that predispose individuals and communities to imbibing extremist beliefs and ideologies.

    “If there is one thing we have learned from our experience fighting Boko Haram in Nigeria, it is that the battle is as much social and economic as it is a military one.

    “But the narrative is worsened by the fact that violent extremism and terrorism do not walk alone, they are usually to be found interlinked with human trafficking, drug trafficking, illicit trade in drugs and arms, and various other forms of transnational organized crimes,’’ he said.

    The vice president said that within the community, security challenge had assumed new dimensions since the Arab Spring, with the collapse of the Gaddafi regime in Libya, proving to be a watershed moment.

    According to him, countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria have since then experienced an escalation of the twin global threats of violent extremism and terrorism, among others.

    The escalation of threats and vulnerabilities in the region, he said, had became an immediate and urgent security threat to the community.

    Read Also: Osinbajo urges monarchs to ensure peaceful co-existence

    He, however, said that it was encouraging that significant progress had been made to contain the terrorist challenges through the individual and collective actions.

    Osinbajo also noted that other elements that fuel violent extremism and terrorism were ecological threats of desertification and drought, as well as the phenomenon of forced human migration, among others.

    “Africa has historically been susceptible to desertification due to the preponderance of semi-arid, arid and hyper-arid lands.

    “Climate change and other factors collectively exacerbate these natural geographical conditions to make more than 319 million hectares of Africa vulnerable to desertification.

    “In the CEN-SAD Community, the Sahara desert is advancing southwards at an alarming rate of approximately 600 meters annually,’’ he added.

    Osinbajo urged leaders in the community to promote agreements and partnerships that “will enable the Community fully bridge our development gaps, and meet the rapidly growing needs of present and future generations.’’.

    He added, “It is certainly in our collective interest to act proactively in this regard, by enabling and catalysing the jobs and prosperity without which these battles cannot be lastingly won.’’

    Earlier, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali said that the security climate in the Sahel-Saharan States “is characterised by several internal threats and a lineage of organised cross-border crimes.’’

    He said that those threats posed challenge to internal security and stability of the states and the region generally.

    The minister, however, said that cooperation and collaboration by members’ states in the fight against insurgency and terrorism had yielded positive results.

    “For instance, the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) comprising of troops from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, operating in the Lake Chad region against Boko Haram insurgency in collaboration with Nigeria’s Operation Lafia Dole forces have significantly degraded the Boko Haram terrorists,’’ he said.

    NAN