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Tag: boko haram

  • Troops bring back 50 girls abducted by Boko Haram

    Troops bring back 50 girls abducted by Boko Haram

    Troops last night rescued Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) Dapchi, Yobe State, pupils who were reportedly kidnapped by Boko Haram.

    The school was attacked on Monday night by the terrorists, who took away some of the girls. The state government put the figure of the girls that were missing at 50.

    A statement last night by Abdullahi Bego, Spokesman to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, said:  “The Yobe State Government hereby informs the public that some of the girls at Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) whose school was attacked by Boko Haram terrorists last Monday have been rescued by gallant officers and men of the Nigerian Army from the terrorists who abducted them.

    “The rescued girls are now in the custody of the   Nigerian Army.

    “We will provide more details about their number and condition in due course.

    “Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, who is very grateful for the gallantry and hard work of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army involved in the operation, is monitoring the situation closely and will make a statement in due course.”

    President Muhammadu Buhari directed security agencies to take immediate charge of the situation in Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State where 50 pupils are missing following  Monday’s attack by Boko Haram terrorists.

    Dapchi is 100 kilometres from Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. It is 75 kilometres south of the Nigerian border with Niger Republic.

    Minister of Information Lai Mohammed told reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that the President also directed the Minister to Defence Mansur Dan-Ali, Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama, and himself to proceed to Yobe State today on a fact-finding mission.

    He said: “Mr. President has directed military and other security agencies to take immediate charge and control of Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, and inform him of developments.

    The Yobe State Government, in an initial  statement by Governor Ibrahim Gaidam’s spokesman  Abdullahi Bego, said: “Following the incursion of suspected Boko Haram terrorists into Dapchi, headquarters of Bursari Local Government Council and the Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) there, the Yobe State Government is working with the Nigerian Army and other security and law enforcement agencies to ensure that all students in the school are fully accounted for.

    “As the public is aware, the students were helped by their teachers to escape through the night to the surrounding bush and villages as the terrorists stormed the town last Monday.

    “Out of the 926 students in the school, over 50 are still unaccounted for as of the time of this statement. However, the Yobe State Government has continued to receive information about some of the girls being found in the general area to which they escaped.

    “The state government is coordinating with the army and law enforcement to ensure that those girls are returned safely.

    “The Yobe State Government has no credible information yet as to whether any of the schoolgirls was taken hostage by the terrorists.

    “His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam is deeply saddened and outraged by the unfortunate event and has directed that all relevant personnel and agencies work closely with the army and other security organisations to address the situation.

    “The Yobe State Government assures parents and the school community that it will do everything necessary to ensure that all the missing girls are found and returned to their school and families and that security is improved in the area.”

  • I will only return to that school if Buratai is the gateman, says pupil

    I will only return to that school if Buratai is the gateman, says pupil

    The Boko Haram attack on Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, may have created a setback for the efforts to get girls to remain in schools in Yobe State.

    One of the pupils, Faiza Mohammed, said yesterday that she would not return to school except Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai is the gateman.

    The attack on the school has also caused some level of panic across the northern part of Yobe State which witnessed fewer attacks of the insurgents in the last seven years.

    Faiza, who gave a graphic account of the pupils’ experience while avoiding the marauding terrorists, said one of her classmates was bitten by a snake as they tried to escape through the bush in the night; others broke their legs.

    Faiza praised the efforts of “our teachers who tried to keep us together”. “They tried their best to control us not to scatter into the bush but some stubborn students started jumping the fence to run into the bush. There were some of us that hid in nearby houses from the school.”

    She said the Vice Principal (Academics) and the Vice Principal (Admin) were monitoring the movement of the Boko Haram men around the school.

    “I told my mother that I will not go back to that school again, except Buratai is the gateman. But my sister’s daughter told me that my demands are impossible because Gen. Buratai cannot come down to Dapchi to become gateman in my school. What I simply want is for government to provide for us enough security.

    “Because of what my sister said, I will go back but if I see no security, I will just come back and study at home and write my final exams and my JAMB,” Faiza said.

    The state government closed down the school for one week. The Army has launched a search and rescue operation for the missing students.

    Some of the parents have taken to the social media to demand explanation on the missing girls.

    One wrote on his faebook page:

    #Tragedy #Disaster#Trauma #Emergency 

    Where are our Girls?

    Following the attack on Dapchi my hometown by suspected Boko Haram members and their penetration into the Government Girls Science and Technical College in the town on Monday 19/2/2018. A lot of families are left in confusion and trauma of not knowing the whereabout of their daughters and the authorities concerned did not give any genuine  feedback to the people.

    The Authorities insist the  Girls are missing while parents of the Girls and Community members including myself have established that those girls were abducted by the insurgents just as the widely  publicized Chibok Girls.

    I am by this urging the Government at all levels to be sincere with us and let us know and possibly participate in any effort put in place for  finding  the “missing “ girls. To the  media also, your investigative reportage  should not just stop at political wrangling, this  is a time  the  helpless community people need your  services.  

    So far, within Dapchi town alone, nothing is heard of over forty girls and no Authority consoled their families after almost 48hrs. Haba!

  • ‘I’ll only return to school if Buratai is the gateman’

    ‘I’ll only return to school if Buratai is the gateman’

    …no girl is abducted – Yobe Education commissioner insist

    Faiza Mohammed, one of the girls who escaped Boko Haram onslaught at Government Girls Science and Technical  College Dapchi  said she will not go back to school except the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai is the gateman of the school.

    Faiza statement underscores the need for authorities to beef up security in the school so as to build confidence both among the students and parents who are at the moment apprehensive of the resurgence attacks especial the Monday attack on the school.

    The attack on the school has also caused some level of panic across the northern part of Yobe State which has witnessed fewer attacks of the insurgents in the last seven years except Geidam.

    According to Faiza who gave a graphic account of the experiences they went through in the process of shielding their presence from the marauding Boko Haram terrorists also informed that one of her classmate was bitten by a snake as they tried to escaped their way through the bushes in the night to unknown destinations.

    Faiza who praised the efforts of their teachers during the time noted that, “our teachers tried to keep us together. They tried their best to control us not to scatter into the bush but some stubborn students started jumping the fence to run into the bush. There were some of us that hide into nearby houses from the school”.

    She informed that the Vice Principal Academics and the Vice Principal Admin were together monitoring the movement of the Boko Haram around the school.

    “I told my mother that I will not go back to that school again except Buratai is the gateman. But my sisters Daughter told me that my demands are impossible because Buratai cannot come down to Dapchi to become gateman at my school. What I simply want is for government to provide for us enough security.

    “Because of what my sister said. I will go back but if I see not security, I will just come back and study at home and write my final exams and my JAMB, Faiza said.

    Speaking on the number of students that ran to the bush, Faiza informed that one of her friends and her classmate from Gashua  was bitten by a snake, while others have broken their legs in the process of running into the bush.

    Meanwhile, Yobe State Government has closed down the school for one week, as the Army has launched a search and rescue operation for the missing students.

    The commissioner for Education in the State Hon. Mohammed Lamin has insisted that no child was abducted by Boko Haram but however admitted that some children are still missing from the attack.

    The commissioner in a text message admitted that the insurgents were in Dapchi but no form of abduction took place at the school.

    In the meantime, some parents of the students who are yet to see their children are still faced with frustration and anxiety and trauma after they have not spoke to their children for more than 48 hours.

    Some of them have taken to the social media to demand explanation on the missing girls.

    One of the parent wrote on his faebook page as captured by our correspondent thus:

    #Tragedy #Disaster#Trauma #Emergency
    Where are our Girls?
    Following the attack on Dapchi my hometown by suspected Boko Haram members and their penetration into the Government Girls Science and Technical College in the town on Monday 19/2/2018. A lot of families are left in confusion and trauma of not knowing the whereabout of their daughters and the authorities concerned did not give any genuine  feedback to the people.
    The Authorities insist the  Girls are missing while parents of the Girls and Community members including myself have established that those girls were abducted by the insurgents just as the widely  publicized Chibok Girls.
    I am by this urging the Government at all levels to be sincere with us and let us know and possibly participate in any effort put in place for  finding  the “missing ” girls. To the  media also, your investigative reportage  should not just stop at political wrangling, this  is a time  the  helpless community people need your  services.
    So far, within Dapchi town alone, nothing is heard of over forty girls and no Authority consoled their families after almost 48hrs. Haba!

    One of the teachers told our correspondent that over 70 students are still missing.

    In the latest update, the Yobe State Police Commissioner Abudulmaliki Sunmonu told journalist in Damaturu that  a total of  815  students have been physically counted and seen out of 926 student population of the school.

    We have physically seen 815 students out of the 926 students in the school. That gives you the figure of 111 still missing,” CP Sunmonu said

    He informed that the rescue operation comprising the police, military and the DSS is still ongoing in the gener

     

  • Defence Minister, two others to carry out assessment of Boko Haram attack

    Defence Minister, two others to carry out assessment of Boko Haram attack

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday directed the military and other security agencies to take immediate charge of the situation in Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State.

    Boko Haram had on Monday attacked the school.

    Briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said that the President also directed the Minister to Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and himself to proceed to Yobe state on Thursday on fact finding mission.

    He said “Mr. President has directed military and other security agencies to take immediate charge and control of Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, and informed him of developments.

    “He has released a delegation led by the Minister of defence to Dapchi, to get firsthand information as to what is happening.

    “Others in the delegation are Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Information.” he said

    Asked give more information on the girls apart from the 48 that has returned, he said “That is precisely why Mr. President is in direct contact with military and police and as soon as we get any information we will let you know.”

    Read Also: Our experience caring for orphans, widows from boko haram, herdsmen killings-74-yr-old first female medical doctor from North Mary Ogede

  • Update: 50 Dapchi schoolgirls yet to return, says Yobe government

    Update: 50 Dapchi schoolgirls yet to return, says Yobe government

    the Yobe State government on Wednesday said 50 out of 926 Dapchi schoolgirls, whose school was attacked by Boko Haram on Monday have not reported back to school.

    The government doubted whether any of the girls at Government Girls Secondary School in Dapchi,  had been abducted by the attackers, saying there was no credible information to back the story of abduction.

    Abdullahi Bego, Director General on press affairs to the governor in Damaturu said:

    “The Yobe State Government is working with the Nigerian Army and other security and law enforcement agencies to ensure that all students in the school are fully accounted for.

    “As the public is aware, the students were helped by their teachers to escape through the night to the surrounding bush and villages as the terrorists stormed the town last Monday.

    “Out of the 926 students in the school, over 50 are still unaccounted for as of the time of this statement.

    “However, the Yobe State Government has continued to receive information about some of the girls being found in the general area to which they escaped.

    ” The State Government is coordinating with the army and law enforcement agencies to ensure that those girls are returned safely.

    “The Yobe State Government has no credible information yet as to whether any of the schoolgirls was taken hostage by the terrorists.

    The statement said Gov Ibrahim Gaidam was saddened and outraged by the unfortunate event.

    ” The governor has directed that all relevant personnel and agencies work closely with the army and other security organisations to address the situation.

    “The Yobe State Government assures parents and the school community that it will do everything necessary to ensure that all the missing girls are found and returned to their school and families and that security is improved in the area.

  • Boko Haram: EU/British council build sexual abuse referral centre

    Boko Haram: EU/British council build sexual abuse referral centre

    The European Union in collaboration with British Council has built and donated   a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) to Borno State.

    The centre is expected to provide care for women children and other group of people that have suffered  rape and other abuses due to the Boko Haram activities in the state.

    Borno First Lady, Mrs Nana Shettima, on Monday commissioned the centre which is the first of its kind in the region ravaged by the Boko Haram crisis.

    Mrs Shettima, expressed delight on the initiative which she said had come at the right time when cases of sexual abuse have become a disturbing trend in the state.

    “All hands must be on deck to cub this vices rearing its ugly head in the society”, she said

    The Centre which is located within the premises of the Umaru Shehu General Hospital, Maiduguri will now serve as management centre where victims of cases of abuse will report their ordeal for proper management and subsequent prosecution of the perpetrators unlike in the past where people were reluctant in reporting such cases to the law enforcement agencies.

    According to Borno state Commissioner for health, Dr Haruna Mshellia,  “ this  SARC facility would also function as a hub for collation of forensic evidence that will aid the possible prosecution of rapists and related sexual abusers” adding that,  “the services of the centre would not only be restricted to only females but also to males who may have suffered one form of sexual abuse or the other”.

    In his remarks, the  Managing Director Borno state hospital management board, Dr Ibrahim Kwayabura, said the establishment of the SARC by the state government in collaboration with the British Council came at a time when a 2014 WHO statistics indicate that one in every five women has either been raped or sexually abused in one form or the other.

    He said “records have shown that the culprits are usually very close associates or relatives”.

    Borno state Commissioner of police, Mr Damian Chukwu, is also worried over the high rate of cases of rape in the state especially minors which he said are on a “daily basis”.

    “You find a 60 year-old man defiling a four year-old girl. I call on people to change their attitude toward rape suspects and stop making unnecessary pleas to save them.

    “It is disheartening to see victims’ families asking the police to drop charges against rape suspects. Unless we change this attitude, we will continue to witness rape in the society,” he said.

    Mr. Chukwu noted that one of the biggest challenges of apprehending  cases of rape is the unwillingness of victims to seek prosecution of perpetrators.

    He advocated for a possible “enactment of the sexual abuse law, and setting up of special tribunal for the trial of all offenders”

    The Project Manager of MCN, Professor Tabiu Mohammed, said that the SARC centre is part of the core programmes of the organization geared at promoting the involvement of women in peace-building and addressing the impact of violence on women and girls.

    He said, “ British Council, through its MCN project takes into account the large scale of violence directed at women, girls and boys in the course of the counterinsurgency and the likely escalation of such violence in the affected communities in the course of resettlement after the insurgency”

    Team Lead of the MCN in Borno state, Mrs Zara Goni, said it is in the best interest of relatives to encourage victims to visit the facility as soon as cases of rape is confirmed so that the girl could be provided with medical care that could prevent not only unwanted pregnancies, but all other kinds of diseases.

    She it is part of the MCN programme to establish SARC desk in police stations where cases of rape could be referred to the SARC facility for immediate medication and psychosocial support

    The SARC facility is expected to run an integrated service with various organs of government like the police, the military, the ministries of justice, ministry of Women Affairs as well as the Ministry of Health.

    With the Boko Haram displacing well over 2 million people, mostly women and children, several cases of sexual abuses – especially raping of young girls – have become order of the day within and outside the IDP camps in Borno state.

  • Police say no lives lost to insurgents attack on GGC Dapchi, Yobe

    Police say no lives lost to insurgents attack on GGC Dapchi, Yobe

     Mr Abdulmaliki Sumonu, the Yobe Commissioner of Police, said on Tuesday that there was no loss of live in the suspected Boko Haram insurgents attack on Government Girls College in Dapchi town.

    The News men reports, terrorists attacked the town on Monday and carted away foodstuffs at the Government Girls College, while firing sporadically forcing staff and students to flee into surrounding for safety.

    Sumonu told newsmen in Yobe, three males were later abducted by the insurgents in a remote community in Geidam Local Government Area after the attack on Dapchi.

    He said so far, there was no report of abduction of any of the girls in the school.

    Read Also: Police warn Enugu residents against bank fraud

    “We are still collecting the details on the attack, census of the girls and the general public,” he said.

    The news men gathered from Dapchi residents that there was no casualty recorded and no injury sustained as the terrorists sporadically shot in the air to scare people away when they arrived in the town.

    According to the residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the terrorists carted away food items from the stores of the Government Girls College, Dapchi, and petrol from hawkers, who abandoned their products to run for safety.

    The news men recalls, there were fears on Monday over the safety of students of the Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS Dapchi, in Bursari Local Government area of Yobe State, over the reported presence of insurgents in the area.

    NAN

  • Boko Haram attack Yobe community

    Boko Haram attack Yobe community

    Yobe Commissioner of police, AbdulMaliki Sumonu, on Monday confirmed an attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Dapchi, headquarters of Bursari local government area.

    Sumonu confirmed the attack in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said “at about 5.30 p.m today, the suspected insurgents attacked Dapchi, headquarters of Bursari local government area.

    ” The details are not immediately available, we are still collating the details including the casualties” he said.

    The commissioner said security operatives have been reinforced in the area to ensure total security.

    NAN gathered that the residents of Dapchi  fled the town to seek for safety in the bush.

    Alhaji Zanna Abatcha, chairman Bursari local government council told NAN that the suspected insurgents have already left the town and more security operatives have been deployed to maintain security.

    “The details are not known yet because it’s already night, we will get the comprehensive details tomorrow” he said. (NAN)

  • Court convicts 205 Boko Haram members

    Court convicts 205 Boko Haram members

    The special sitting of the Federal High Court in Wawa Cantonment, Kainji, Niger State has ended with the conviction of 205 Boko Haram members, who were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.
    One of the convicts, identified as Alhaji Bukar Jindi got the longest term of imprisonment.
    A statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Justice yesterday revealed that 19-year old Jindi got a totla of 66 years upon being convicted on a two count charge.
    Media Aide to the Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami, Salihu Isah said, in the statement, that Jindi got 16 years on the first count and  and 50 years on the other.
    Jindi, Isah added, was convicted for admitting to be a member of Boko Haram and  carrying out several attacks leading to loss of lives and properties.
    “The unremorseful and unrepentant convict vowed to go back to crime if he is released.
    “He was arrested in 2015 at the age of 17 years. He will have to spend 50 years in prison with effect from the date of his arrest.”
    Isah said only one of those tried, Modu Maina, a native of Bama LG, Borno State was  discharged and acquitted.
    He was arrested in Ketu, Lagos State where he worked as a gateman.
    “Maina confessed that he was forcefully initiated into the Boko Haram group but relocated to Lagos to avoid being arrested in Bama.
    “He said that all the confessional statements he made to Joint Task Force (JTF) was under alleged torture.
    “The presiding judge, having reviewed the defendant’s written confessional statements, found him not guilty,” Isah said.
    He added that a total of 526 Boko Haram “suspects were discharged for want of evidence, under aged and persons suffering from mental illness.”
    Isah said most of the 205 that were convicted were found guilty of admitting “to belonging to the terrorist group; concealing information about the group which they knew or believe to be of material assistance that could lead to the arrest, prosecution or conviction of Boko Haram members.
    “Their jail term ranges from 3 to 60 years.
    “Most of the convicts said the fear of being killed prevented them from reporting to the JTF (Joint Task Force) or any security agencies coupled with the fact that most villages had been ravaged by the Boko Haram including the security posts.
    “They insisted that it was difficult and a dangerous venture for them to travel a long distance to make a report.”
    The Federal High Court had to move its sitting to the Wawa cantonment, which served as a detention facility for Boko Haram suspects, to ensure prompt disposal of the cases.
    According to Isah, the court, during its latest sitting, which ended last Friday tried 301 cases, convicted 205, discharged and acquitted 1 and adjourned 73  for continuation of hearing.
    The cases involving the freed 526 were not tried because the prosecution could not charge them for lack of sufficient evidence, among other reasons.
  • Oyo-born twins, 473 Boko Haram suspects freed

    Oyo-born twins, 473 Boko Haram suspects freed

    A Federal High Court convened at the Wawa Cantonment, Kainji, Niger State, has ordered the release of  475 Boko Haram suspects among them Oyo state-boen twins.

    The court, which is handling the trial of about 1,000 suspects held in the cantonment in relation to the Boko Haram crisis, ordered that those released should be sent to their state governments for proper rehabilitation. Media aide to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF),m Abubakar Malami (SAN) stated this in a statement yesterday.

    Mr. Salihu Othman Isah said the court ordered the release of the Boko Haram suspects at its sitting on Friday.

    Isah said the suspects were arrested at different states and detained at Wawa Cantonment.

    He said their release was upon a motion ex-parte filed by the prosecution pursuant to Section 35 (4) of the Constitution.

    Isah said the prosecution sought their release because it could not charge them with any offence due to lack of sufficient evidence against them.

    He said they were detained based on the information that they belonged to the terrorist group Boko Haram.

    Part of the statement reads: “The court also directed states to provide for the released persons, rehabilitation at any appropriate centre provided by the states before being released to their families.

    “Those suspects who suffer from mental or other health challenges  are to be provided with necessary medical assistance at appropriate medical facilities.

    “The states are also to provide appropriate training in the manner and for the period that the state deemed appropriate and reasonable.

    “Among the list of the group released was a pathetic case of a female suspect, Lubabatu Yakubu who was arrested in 2014, two days after marriage and divorced by her Boko Haram husband.

    “Also freed was a young mother, with her three months old baby, Mariam Mohammed, said to be a Shua Arab from Borno State

    “She was said to have been lured into the Boko Haram sect and taken to Sambisa forest by her elder brother and married off to his friend at eleven years old.

    “Taye Hamza and Kehinde Hamza are identical twins from Oyo State. They were based in Bauchi State. They were among the lucky ones released.

    “The twins who were said to be motor mechanics, were arrested in 2010 by the DSS at their workshop in Bauchi State for servicing a vehicle belonging to a Boko Haram member.

    “A 35 year old, Haruna Yahaya who was earlier sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for participating in the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State on Monday, was on Friday handed additional 15 years jail term.

    “On Friday, the court sentenced him to additional 15 years imprisonment for being a mastermind of the said abduction.”