The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • FG to de-radicalise repentant Boko Haram members

    FG to de-radicalise repentant Boko Haram members

    The Federal Government on Tuesday pledged to ensure the total de-radicalisation and rehabilitation of all ex-Boko Haram members before re-integrating them into the society in line with international best practices.

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, stated this at a National Stakeholders’ Forum on Re-integration in the North-East organised by the Kukah Centre in Abuja.

    Olonisakin, who was represented by the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Shafa, said the operation was designed by the government as part of efforts to find lasting solution to the lingering crisis in the North East.

    The CDS said: “The OPSC is an initiative of the Federal Government which emanated from National Security Council meeting of September 2015, to encourage willing and repentant Boko Haram insurgents to surrender and embrace peace.

    “The primary objective of the operation is to facilitate easy access and passage for surrendering insurgents to security forces for subsequent de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and re-integration process (DRR.”

    He explained that the ex-combatants would be made to go through a 16-week DRR programme, involving advanced profiling, therapies, counseling, capturing on National Identity Card data and vocational training.

    He said the OPSC is a joint multi-national and multi-agency humanitarian operation involving security agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) including National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Orientation Agency (NOA) and National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

    “At the moment, there are 96 ex-combatants in camp (Gombe) while 565 women and children are being prepared to undergo a 12-week rehabilitation programme very shortly,’’ he added.

    ‎Olonisakin, however‎, said one major challenge for the programme was the notion in some quarters that the beneficiaries were being given undue favourable treatment at the expense of their victims.

    He also said reluctance to accept the ex-combatants back into the society after the DRR was another challenge.

    The CDS promised to continue to engage relevant stakeholders such as the Kukah Centre, community, and traditional and religious leaders in finding lasting peace in the North East.

    ‎The Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese and convener of the programme, Rev. Matthew Kukah, said the forum was meant to develop a framework on continuous community engagement, reintegration and transitional justice in the North East.

    NAN

  • UNICEF decries use of girls in suicide bombing

    UNICEF decries use of girls in suicide bombing

    The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday decried the use of children, mainly girls, as suicide bombers by Boko Haram in North East Nigeria, describing the practice as an “atrocity”.

    The terror group had for several years been using children to attack crowded markets, mosques and camps for internally displaced people in North East Nigeria and the broader Lake Chad region.

    But the UN children’s agency said Tuesday that there had been an appalling increase in the cruel and calculated use of children, especially girls, as so-called “human bombs.”

    Since the beginning of the year, 83 children have been used to carry out bomb attacks in northeast Nigeria — four times as many attacks as in all of 2016, UNICEF said in a statement.

    “At least 55 of the children used as bombers were girls, most of them under the age of 15, 27 were boys and one was a baby strapped to a girl,” the agency said.

    “Since 2014, a total of 125 children have been used as bombers in northeast Nigeria.

    “Boko Haram had sometimes, but not always, claimed responsibility for the attacks.”

    It stressed that the children used as “human bombs are, above all, victims, not perpetrators.”

    UNICEF pointed out that the use of children in such attacks had also created suspicion and fear of children who had been released, rescued or had escaped from Boko Haram.

    “As a result, many children who have managed to get away from captivity face rejection when they try to reintegrate into their communities, compounding their suffering,” it said.

    Children in North East Nigeria are also struggling to survive a massive displacement and malnutrition crisis, triggered by Boko Haram’s bloody insurgency.

    The violence, which began in 2009, has killed at least 20,000 people and forced some 2.6 million others to flee their homes.

    Nearly half a million children in the region are at risk of severe acute malnutrition this year alone, UNICEF said.

  • Buhari meets security chiefs, others

    Buhari meets security chiefs, others

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with members of the National Security Council in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting, which started around 11.15a.m., was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.

    It is being attended by all the service chiefs, National Security Adviser, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno and Director-General, Department of State Security, Alhaji Lawal Daura.

    It would be recalled that President Buhari on Monday in a broadcast to the nation charged the security agencies not to let the successes achieved in the last 18 months in the fight against insurgents “be a sign to relax”.

    He said in the broadcast that “terrorists and criminals must be fought and destroyed relentlessly so that the majority of us can live in peace and safety.”

    Buhari also pledged “to reinforce and reinvigorate the fight not only against elements of Boko Haram, which are attempting a new series of attacks on soft targets, kidnappings, clashes between farmers and herdsmen, in addition to ethnic violence fuelled by political mischief makers.

    “We shall tackle them all.”

  • UNICEF express concern over use of children girls as “human bombs”

    UNICEF express concern over use of children girls as “human bombs”

    UNICEF on Tuesday said it is extremely concerned about an appalling increase in the cruel and calculated use of children, especially girls, as so called “human bombs” in northeast Nigeria.

    In a media statement, UNICEF said that children have been used repeatedly in this way over the last few years and so far this year the number of children used is already four times higher than it was for all of 2016.

    “Since Jan. 1, 83 children have been used as so called ‘human bombs’; 55 were girls, most often under 15 years old; 27 were boys, and one was a baby strapped to a girl,” UNICEF said.

    According to the UN agency, the armed group commonly known as Boko Haram has sometimes, but not always, claimed responsibility for these attacks, which target the civilian population.

    “The use of children in such attacks has had a further impact of creating suspicion and fear of children who have been released, rescued or escaped from Boko Haram.

    “As a result, many children who have managed to get away from captivity face rejection when they try to reintegrate into their communities, compounding their suffering,” UNICEF said.

    UNICEF stressed that all of this is taking place in the context of a massive displacement and malnutrition crisis, a combination that is also deadly for children.

    The UN agency said Northeast Nigeria is one of four countries and regions facing the specter of famine, with up to 450,000 children at risk of severe acute malnutrition this year.

    UNICEF said it is providing psychosocial support for children who have been held by Boko Haram and is also working with families and communities to foster the acceptance of children when they return.

  • Fed Govt. consolidates Gombe IDPs rehab with food

    After halting the terror group Boko Haram and scaling back much of their atrocities the federal government mapped out a bold plan to rehabilitate displaced persons. First they were profiled and sheltered in camps. Some educational activities have been introduced in the camps for traumatised children whose academic pursuits were halted by the Islamist gang.

    Another initiative of the government is the food intervention plan in the Northeast. No fewer than 40,009 metric tonnes of food items are distributed to the IDPs scattered across the region.

    The distribution team led by Abdulsalam Mohammed of the National Emergency Management agency (NEMA) has been in Gombe over the last one week to distribute about 1,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains allotted to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state.

    Speaking during the distribution exercise at Kagarawal community in Gombe metropolis, Mohammed said the team had been at work for about a week and would go round every community where IDPs reside in all the local government areas of the state.

    The exercise started with the house-to-house enumeration of IDPs, which was conducted a few weeks ago, an entirely new innovation in relief distribution. It is being carried out on a door-to-door basis; that is taking the items directly to the people.

    The IDPs after their enumeration were issued with enumeration cards to serve as proof of their status. This qualifies them for the relief items.

    The whole idea, the team leader said, is to guard against the mistakes of the past, such as diversion, stealing of other people’s rations through impersonation, and ensuring that only those qualified are given.

    Although the distribution at Kagarawal took place at a central location because of persistent downpour, but it was done at the IDPs’ community.

    Each household of six members and below, according to the team leader, is given a single ration of grains, made up of 50 kg of maize, 12.5kg of soya beans and 12.5kg of guinea corn.

    He explained that the food items were given to households or families, which is measured on the basis of six members and below, hence the ration allocated to a family is determined by its size.

    “A family/household is measured on the basis of six members and below. And where there is more than that, the family gets additional ration. For instance, if you are not more than six in your family, we will give you a single ration. If you are up to seven and above or 12 and below, we’ll give you two rations. It will again increase if we have 13 and above or 18 and below,” explained the NEMA Director.

    He called on beneficiaries that the items are for consumption and not for sale, even as he commended the IDPs’ leadership structure and effectiveness.

    The beneficiaries led by their state chairman, Abba Jatto Damboa thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the initiative. They also appreciated NEMA for delivering the goods to those they are meant for, even at their doorsteps.

    They described the exercise as the best food relief distribution they had ever witnessed because it takes into consideration the size of the various families. They said it is unlike the previous ones where even single adults got the same quantity of items as large families got.

     

  • Buhari tasks security agencies on fight against insurgents

    Buhari tasks security agencies on fight against insurgents

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday charged security agencies not to let the successes achieved in the last 18 months in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents be a sign to relax.

    Buhari gave the charge in a nationwide broadcast after his return from a medical vacation in London.

    “Terrorists and criminals must be fought and destroyed relentlessly so that the majority of us can live in peace and safety,’’ he said.

    He assured that his administration would reinforce and reinvigorate the fight against elements of Boko Haram, which were attempting new series of attacks on soft targets.

    Similarly, Buhari said government would reinforce against kidnappings, farmers and herdsmen clashes, in addition to ethnic violence fuelled by political mischief makers.

    “We shall tackle them all,’’ he stressed.

    He appealed to Nigerians to eschew petty differences and come together to face common challenges of political evolution and integration as well as economic security and lasting peace among all.

    “I remain resolutely committed to ensuring that these goals are achieved and maintained,’’ the president said.

    He thanked Nigerians for their prayers while he was away on the medical treatment in London.

    “I am pleased to be back on home soil among my brothers and sisters.”

    Buhari left Nigeria on May 7 to United Kingdom to seek medical attention for an ailment.

    He returned on Saturday amid tumultuous welcome by Nigerians.

  • 2 people killed as Boko Haram ambush travelers

    2 people killed as Boko Haram ambush travelers

    Not fewer than  two persons have been confirmed dead while three other sustained various degrees of injury on Sunday as gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram opened fire on travelers along Damaturu Biu high way, security and military sources have said.

    A military source who spoke on condition of anonymity informed that the insurgents had buried IEDs along the highway.

    Our  correspondent gathered  the travelers took off from Damaturu on their way to Biu located some 121 Kilometers east of  Damaturu the Yobe state capital when they encountered the Boko Haram terrorists’ midway into the journey.

    The source added that the militants opened fire indiscriminately on the travelers while in attempt to escape from trampled on IEDs  e which went off  killing two persons on the spot.

    The three injured were rushed to the Damaturu specialists’ hospital by security forces on patrol along the road.

    A hospital source at the Accident and Emergency ward of the Damaturu Specialists’ Hospital confirmed that   three peoples  have been treated and referred to the Federal Medical Centre Gombe on relative request.

    Sunday’s attack on the road further cast doubt on the safety of the Damaturu-Biu road opened to travelers  last year by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai  after Buni Yadi was  recaptured  from the Boko Haram insurgents by security forces.

    It has also increased fear along the only road connecting Borno and Yobe state to other north east states of the country.

    The Maiduguri-Gwoza – Yola road and Maiduguri- Damboa – Biu road have long been opened for commuters but continue to record cases of Boko Haram attack as several travelers have either been killed or kidnapped in different Boko Haram ambush.

  • Chibok boy paralyzed by Boko Haram gets help

    Chibok boy paralyzed by Boko Haram gets help

    A six year-old boy from Chibok, Borno State, who was paralyzed by Boko Haram three years ago, has the chance to be on his feet again.

    An Abuja-based charity group Dickens Sanomi Foundation, has offered to pay the medical bill of the boy, Ali Ahmadu.

    Boko Haram militants had run over the boy during the April 2014 invasion of the town where 275 schoolgirls were kidnapped by the terrorists.

    The medical bill for the spinal cord surgery to enable young Ali to walk again, is $48,000 (N14, 640,000.00). Surgery will take place at a medical facility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, according to a statement by the Foundation.

    “Ali needs corrective surgery to enable him walk again after he was over ran with a motor cycle in Chibok by Boko Haram members during a night raid,” said Nuhu Kwajafa, the coordinator of Global Initiative for Peace, Love and Care (GIPLC), an NGO spearheading the campaign for the medical aid of the young victim.

    Mr. Kwajafa said the total requirement needed for the complete treatment of Ali was put at $60,000.00 (N18, 300, 00.00), including feeding, accommodation for three months. Mr Kwajafa expressed his thanks and appreciation to the National Assembly and all well-meaning Nigerians for their support and contribution, thus far.

    Members of the GIPLC were at the Dickens Sanomi Foundation office in Abuja as part of the initiative to ensure that young Ali walks again.

    They were received by Chairman of the Foundation Igho Sanomi and Trustee members.

    Chairman of the Foundation, Igho Sanomi, who is also the chairman of the energy company Taleveras said, “as a father, it is very touching to see a young boy like this suffer. It is sad what some of our kids have to go through. This is an opportunity for us to show our love to those who need it.”

    “Although, education remains the key focus of the Foundation, kids have to be healthy before they can attend school. On behalf of the board of trustees of Dickens Sanomi Foundation, we will take care of Ali, this will include paying the Hospital bill and we will visit him in the Hospital after the surgery.”

    The Dickens Sanomi Foundation (DSF) was founded in 2011 by the children of Dickens Oghenereumu Patrick Sanomi.

    It serves both to commemorate the life of the family’s patriarch and to provide charitable support for that particular objective upon which he placed such great value, the education of Nigeria’s youth.

    The resources of the Dickens Sanomi Foundation are used to deliver and support charitable projects whose aims and activities are in accord with this objective.

    Examples of these include essay competitions, musical outreach programs and literacy awareness campaigns. Through this work, the Dickens Sanomi Foundation seeks to relieve the effects of socio-economic hardship amongst young Nigerians from vulnerable backgrounds, and to empower them with the knowledge they need to secure a brighter future for themselves and for Nigeria as a whole.

  • Army kills 10 insurgents, recovers 52 cows in Borno

    Army kills 10 insurgents, recovers 52 cows in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Thursday said that it killed 10 Boko Haram insurgents in a clearance operations in Marte Local Government Area of  Borno.

    A statement issued in Maiduguri  by Col. Timothy Atigha, the spokesman  of the 8 Task Force Division, said the troops also recovered bicycles and cows from the insurgents.

    He also said that the troops launched  two separate attacks against  the insurgents at Maza, Danari and Mowo villages of Marte and Monguno Local Government Areas.

    “In continuation of ongoing efforts to deny terrorists freedom of action in its area of responsibility, troops of the 8 Task Force Division have neutralised 10 terrorists in Maza village of Marte Local Government Area of the state.

    “The terrorists fell into an ambush laid by troops at about 9: 00 p.m.  on Tuesday  as they attempted to sneak back into their swampy hideouts in the Lake Chad Basin.

    “The troops also recovered 52 rustled cows from the insurgents at Danari and Mowo villages in Monguno Local Government Area,” he said.

    Atigha said that the troops recovered 10 bicycles, carts and  food items.

    He disclosed  that  the  insurgents had resorted to bicycles and carts as means of transportation due to the  intensified offensive of the military  against the insurgents.

  • Boko Haram attacks 2 villages in Adamawa

    Boko Haram attacks 2 villages in Adamawa

    Boko Haram insurgents have again attacked and razed Muduvu and Nyibango villages in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa.

    The attack is coming few days after similar ones in Ghumbili and Mildu villages of the area where several lives were lost.

    Chairman of Madagali Local Government Council, Malam Yusuf Muhammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Yola that the latest attacks lasted from 11 pm to 12 midnight on Monday.

    Muhammed disclosed that the recent incidence was the fifth attack in the area by the Boko Haram within two weeks.

    He called on the Federal Government to come to the rescue of the affected communities.

    “Again, at about 11 pm two of our villages Muduvu and Nyibango came under Boko Haram attack where houses, shops and worshiping places were completely burnt down.

    “The way and manner our people are always under attack by Boko Haram insurgents is a serious issue of concern.

    “We want the government to come to our aid by improving security as well as show sympathy by visiting the affected areas that are under attacks this two weeks,” Muhammed said.

    According to the chairman,the exact number of dead and injured people has yet to be ascertained.

    He added that villagers who escaped the attack as well as returnees in communities have relocated to Gulak and Madagali town for fear further attacks.

    He said that the community that were attacked include Ghumbil and Bakin Dutse in Gulak District as well as Mildu and Muduvu in Sukur.

    When contacted, Major Adetoye Fadare, spokesperson of 28 Task Force Brigade, Mubi said that he was on transit and out of town and therefore could not comment.