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Tag: Borno State

  • Actionaid begins psycho-social support to IDPs in liberated communities

    Actionaid begins psycho-social support to IDPs in liberated communities

    A team of psycho –social support counselors trained by Actionaid Nigeria with support funding from UNFPA have commenced counseling of victims of Boko Haram on Sexual Gender Based Violence and other related issues in Borno State.

    Our correspondent who visited the NRC IDP Camp in Beneshiek, Kaga local Government saw the team interacting with the displaced people at the IOM Safe Centre at the camp.

    In what looks like an orientation or an introductory meeting, the PSS Team informed the IDP community of their mission and explained to them what they were expected to within the next two months in the community.

    The team leader of Kaga Local Government, Mala Kachala described their meeting with the community as fruitful, adding that, “with the kind of response we have received from the people today about this project, I am sure we are going to make serious impact in this community because the people are so cooperative with us. We are really encouraged by the turnout and we hope they will come out and speak about any kind of violence that has been meted against them”.

    Sani Abubakar, a resident IDP said the meeting with the Actionaid team has exposed them to some rights they ought to enjoy at the camp.

    Hauwa Bukar, did not have time to narrate her entire story but a scratch of clearly reveals a highly traumatized women left with a paralyzed husband and seven children to cater for from the small bean cake frying business she does every day in front of the camp.

    According to her, her hitherto energetic husband developed high blood pressure after a Boko Haram attack in their community that sent everyone packing. He never recovered from that attack and it presently confined in a house paralyzed with stroke.

    Her greatest worry is how to raise the seven children with N300 she makes from her kwese business. “I woke up every day and think of how to feed the children and take care of my husband. Sometime I feel like taking my life. I thank God for these people (Actionaid) for coming. From what they said, I have someone that can listen to my problems and help me solve them”, Hauwa informed our correspondent.

    Explaining the scope of the program, the Project Manager Health, Actionaid  Nigeria  Maryann Obidike, said forty  Psychosocial Support Counselors (PSSC) underwent five days intensive training under the program,  ‘Prevention and Response to Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV)’  at Command Guest House in Maiduguri where they were trained to give psychosocial Support on Sexual  and Gender Based Violence  to displaced people at designated IDP Camps and host communities.

    She informed that the  PSSC are divided into  four groups, ten each to cover liberated communities in four LGAs of Borno State which include Pulka in Gwoza, Beneshiek & Mainok in Kaga, Rann in Kala-Balge and Banki in Bama Local Government Areas.

  • Borno: Health workers protest non payment of three months allowances

    Borno: Health workers protest non payment of three months allowances

    Health workers under the Federal Government Health and Nutrition Emergency Response Program in Borno State have staged a peaceful protest in Maiduguri demanding the payment of their three months allowances.

    The protest which was staged at the Eye Hospital Maiduguri had in attendance many of the Nutrition health workers holding placards with inscriptions demanding the payment of their owed allowances.

    Some of the placards have direct messages to the President, Mohammadu Buhari, Federal Ministry of Health and the Borno State Ministry of Health. Some messages read: FMOH/SMOH PAY US OUR OUTSTANDING SALARIES (FOR 3 MONTHS); WE ARE NEGLECTED IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITHOUT INFORMATION; FROM AUGUST TO DATE, NO PAYMENT; HNERP IN BORNO 3 MONTHS WITH PAYMENT etc.

    In an interview with our correspondent, the leaders of the group Dr. Ahmed Balami expressed regrets over the non-payment off their allowances especially considering the sacrifices they making in very difficult areas of the state.

    Dr. Balami noted that after the expiration of their initial contract of six months and subsequent renewal for another six months, none of them have received any payment.

    “The last salary we collected salary from this program was in July. Since the extension of this program to December, we have been working without pay. We believe that this cry that we are making today will get to the appropriate authorities so that our problems will be solved,” Dr. Balami informed.

    He also added that in the event where their problems are not considered, they will resort to legal alternative.

    Speaking on the impact of the program on the malnutrition crisis in the state, Dr. Balami informed said “I can say that there has been drastic improvement and a serious drop in the cases of malnutrition since the beginning of this program”.

    According to him the Program apart from their non-payment also faces challenges like supply of equipment and drugs to areas of need.

    When contacted, the Director of Media and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Health Mrs BOADE Akinola appealed to the protesting workers to be patient as their payment are being processed.

    According to her, the delay in their payment was as a result of the extension of the program in another phase, adding that, “approval has been received for the extension and we are currently processing the release of the funds. We appeal to the affected workers to please exercise a little more patience”.

    The Nation recalls that the Health and Nutrition Emergency Response Program was set in the beginning of this year by the Federal Government of Nigeria following the Nutrition crisis that broke out in Borno state due to the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    To tackle the problem, 25 teams were set up comprising one medical doctor, one pharmacist, three nurses, two laboratory scientists, five community health workers, one nutritionist and One health record officer and deployed to 25 out of 27 LGAs in Borno State where they work in IDP camps and host communities of displaced persons.

     

  • Boko Haram: NAF air strikes kills scores of insurgents

    Boko Haram: NAF air strikes kills scores of insurgents

    The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) yesterday said it carried out two attacks on Boko Haram hideouts in Borno State, to signal the start of Operation Ruwan Wuta II, to further decimate the terrorists.

    It added that many insurgents were killed and their structures destroyed.

    NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, in a statement, said the operation was carried out after a series of surveillance and intelligence reports.

    The statement reads: “The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has begun Operation Ruwan Wuta II, as part of efforts to further decimate Boko Haram terrorists.

    “The operation, which began on October 23, is essentially an intensive day-and-night aerial bombardment to rain significant fire on freshly-discovered Boko Haram hideouts.

    “On the first day of the operation, several air interdiction missions were conducted, including one on a location in Garin Maloma.

    “Previous intelligence reports, gathered through Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, showed the presence of a large number of terrorists in some dispersed structures in Garin Maloma.

    “Consequently, the location was attacked in succession by two Alpha Jet aircraft. The first aircraft attacked the settlement with bombs, which destroyed the targeted structures and caused fire, sending a few survivors scampering for safety.

    “The second aircraft, which strafed the area with rockets, took out some of the fleeing terrorists. Their hideouts in Arra and Boboshe, among others, were successfully attacked by the NAF Mi-17 helicopter and the newly acquired Mi-35M helicopter.”

    Mallama Fitdasi, wife of Abubakar Shekau, leader of the Boko Haram terrorist organisation, appeared to be one of those killed in the air strikes.

    Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya said: “Human Intelligence indicates that the wife of the Boko Haram leader, Mallama Fitdasi, appeared to have been killed in the airstrikes on Durawa settlement.

    “Mallama Fitdasi was reported to have been representing her husband in a coordinating meeting with other terrorists.

    “Efforts are on to confirm her death.”

  • NAF Jets Bombs Boko Haram hideouts, kill scores

    NAF Jets Bombs Boko Haram hideouts, kill scores

    The Nigerian Air Force ( NAF ) said on Wednesday that it has carried out two aircraft attacks and bombardments of Boko Haram hideouts in Borno state to signal the commencement of Operation Ruwan Wuta II, to further decimate the ability of the terrorists.

    It added that the air strikes coupled with two helicopter attacks on the terror group has led to the death of scores of them and complete destruction of their structures.

    The Director of the NAF Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya in a statement noted that the operation was carried out after series of survaillance and intelligence reports.

    Air Commodore Adesanya said: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced Operation RUWAN WUTA II, as part of efforts to further decimate the ability of the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) to freely operate in the country.

    “The Operation, which commenced on 23 October 2017, is essentially an intensive day and night aerial bombardment that is designed to rain significant fire on freshly discovered hideouts of the BHTs.

    “On the first day of the operation, the NAF conducted several Air Interdiction missions in the Northeast, including one on a location in Garin Maloma.

    “Previous intelligence reports, gathered through Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions by NAF ISR platforms had revealed the presence of a large number of BHTs in some dispersed structures in Garin Maloma.

    “Consequently, the location was attacked, in succession, by two Alpha Jet aircraft. The first Alpha Jet aircraft attacked the settlement with bombs, which destroyed the targeted structures and caused fire around the structures where the BHTs were hiding, sending a few survivors scampering for safety.

    “The second Alpha Jet aircraft, which strafed the area with rockets, subsequently took out some of the fleeing BHT survivors. Similarly, BHT locations in places such as Arra and Boboshe, amongst others, were successfully attacked by the NAF Mi-17 helicopter and the newly acquired Mi-35M helicopter.”

    Read Also: Boko Haram kill three soldiers, injure five in an ambush 

  • 15 Terrorists, One Soldier killed in gun battle in Gwoza

    15 Terrorists, One Soldier killed in gun battle in Gwoza

    The Nigerian Army Wednesday said 15 Boko Haram insurgents were killed in a gun-battle at Gwoza, Borno state, while a soldier was also killed from the attack.

    It said the remains of the soldier have been evacuated and appealed to people in the communities to provide vital information on suspected activities of Boko Haram insurgents within the area.

    A statement signed by the Army Director of Public Relations, Brig. General Sani Usman, said the troops which engaged the terrorists displayed gallantry by eliminating 15 of them and capturing various equipment from them.

    The statement reads: “Troops of 192 Task Force Battalion of 26 Task Force Brigade of Operation LAFIYA DOLE at about 8:35pm on Tuesday, 10th October 2017 displayed their fighting prowess to dislodge terrorists onslaught by successfully repelling Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) attack at their outpost from Yamteke axis of Gwoza Local Government, Borno State.

    “The troops utilising heavy fire power and act of bravery dealt a decisive blow on the BHTs who attempted to infiltrate their outpost with improvised explosive Vehicles and persons borne improvised explosive devices.

    “In the ensuing fire fight, troops inflicted heavy casualty on the terrorists, repelled the attack on their location, neutralised 15 BHTs, captured one Panhard Vehicule Blinde Leger, large caches of various ammunitions, destroyed one Toyota Hilux pick up mounted with Anti-Aircraft and one Gun Truck.

    “Several other BHTs escaped with gunshot wounds. Sadly, one soldier died during the attack and his remains has been evacuated.

    “The troops remain determined in their task of safeguarding communities and providing a conducive environment for humanitarian agencies to do their work.

    “In this regard, the populace is encouraged to always provide vital information on suspected activities of BHTs to the security agencies in their respective localities.”

  • Army kills two Boko Haram insurgents in Bama, Borno

    Army kills two Boko Haram insurgents in Bama, Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday said its troops had killed two Boko Haram insurgents at Mayanti village of Bama Local Government Council of Borno State.

    Lt. Col. Kingsley Samuel, the Deputy Director Army Public Rations, 7 Division, said in Maiguri the troops had ambushed a group of insurgents while trying to cross into the Sambisa Forest.

    He explained that the troops neutralised two insurgents while many others escaped with gunshot wounds, adding that some food items were also recovered from the insurgents.

    “The Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE resolve to rout out the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists.

    “MST yielded yet another result with the troops successfully ambushed unsuspecting terrorists at about 10: 45 p.m. on Friday, 6th October 2017.

    “The insurgents were attempting to cross into Sambisa Forest from Mayanti village in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

    “The troops sprung the ambush on the terrorists and neutralised two of them, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds. The troops also recovered two bags of maize from the ambush site.

    “The MST has been a potent deadly mobile lethal force engaging and neutralising the insurgents in several staging areas”.

    NAN

  • Boko Haram: Troops kill 1, repell Borno attack

    Boko Haram: Troops kill 1, repell Borno attack

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday said it had killed one Boko Haram member after repelling an attack by the insurgents at Bocos village in Bama Local Government Area, Borno State.

    Lt. Col. Kingsley Samuel, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 7 Division, said this in a statement issued on Saturday in Maiduguri.

    Samuel explained that troops ambushed a group of the insurgents while trying to cross Banki Junction along Bama road on Friday.

    He said that the troops killed one insurgent and many others escaped with gun shots, adding that a number of items including foodstuff were recovered from them.

    Samuel disclosed that the troops also repelled another attack by the insurgents at a security outpost in Bama general area.

    He added that one police officer and a female displaced person were killed in the attack.

    “The Nigerian Army Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE at about 6:00 pm on Friday, 29th September 2017 laid ambush on Boko Haram terrorists crossing Bocobs village along Banki Junction, Bama Road in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

    “The troops sprang on the unsuspecting terrorists and neutralized one of them while several others escaped with gun shots wounds.

    ”The troops recovered several items including three bicycles, five Jerry cans and two bags of maize.

    “On the same day at about 7: 00 p.m. troops of 202 Battalion of 21 Brigade successfully repelled insurgents attack on an outpost within Bama general area.

    “Unfortunately a police personnel was killed in action while a female Internally Displaced Person (IDP) was hit by a stray bullet,” Samuel said.

    According to him, the Commander of 21 Brigade on Saturday visited the scenes of the attack, attended the burial of the deceased IDP and commiserated with the IDP community.

  • Boko Haram lunches fresh attack on Bama

    Boko Haram lunches fresh attack on Bama

    …set military base ablaze, kill one mopol

     

     

    Barely one week after some Internally Displaced People from Bama staged a protest to return to their town but were prevented by security agents, Boko Haram insurgents Saturday lunched a fresh attack on ancient city.

    An impeccable security source told our correspondent that the insurgents came in the evening of Friday and lunched a dastardly attack on a Military/Nigeria Police Force joint guard location in the town.

    The source disclosed that a police sergeant was killed as the base was set ablaze by the daring insurgents. The source also added that the insurgents took away an AK47 rifle.

    Details of the casualty from the military source is yet to be ascertained.

    The Nation recalls that Bama is one of the town that was worse hit by the Boko Haram insurgents. It was also one of the towns in Borno State that was completely taken over by the insurgents by it was liberated in 2015.

  • Three million children need emergency education support – UNICEF

    Three million children need emergency education support – UNICEF

    The security challenge in the Northeast has deprived an estimated three million children of education, United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) has said.

    The crisis caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in northeast Nigeria, according to UNICEF means that over 57 per cent of schools in Borno, the worst-hit state, are closed, even as the new school year begins.

    Since 2009, across the northeast, over 2,295 teachers have been killed and 19,000 have been displaced. Almost 1,400 schools have been destroyed with the majority unable to open because of extensive damage or because they are in areas that remain unsafe.

    “Children in northeast Nigeria are living through so much horror,” said Justin Forsyth, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF at the end of a three-day visit to Maiduguri, the epicentre of the crisis in the northeast.

    “In addition to devastating malnutrition, violence and an outbreak of cholera, the attacks on schools is in danger of creating a lost generation of children, threatening their and the countries future.”

    Some children living in camps for the displaced in Borno state, however, are actually benefiting from education for the first time in their lives. In the Muna Garage camp on the outskirts of Maiduguri, for example, an estimated 90 per cent of students were enrolled in school for the first time.

    In the three most-affected states of northeast Nigeria, UNICEF and partners have enrolled nearly 750,000 children in school this year, establishing over 350 temporary learning spaces, and distributing almost 94,000 packs of learning material that will help children to get an education.

    UNICEF is also working with partners to rehabilitate schools and classrooms, as well as training teachers to build a stronger education system for the future.

    While in Maiduguri, Forsyth met with families and children affected by the conflict who told him of their fear living under Boko Haram and the dire conditions they live in.

    To date, nearly 1 million children have been displaced by the crisis and 450,000 children under the age of five are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year. The use of children as human bombs – close to 100 so far this year – has sown a climate of mistrust among communities in the northeast, and a cholera outbreak has affected more than 3900 people, including over 2450 children.

    UNICEF’s life-saving emergency programmes in northeast Nigeria remain underfunded. With only three months left in the year, UNICEF has a 40 per cent funding gap in its needs for 2017.

  • Police arrest IDPs over protest in Maiduguri

    Police arrest IDPs over protest in Maiduguri

    The Borno State Police Command have arested many IDPs in connection with the yesterday botched protest to return back to their ancestral home after more than three years of exile from Boko Haram crisis.

    The Nation reports that some displaced people from Bama in the early hours of Sunday staged a protest at the welcome to Maiduguri, Bama/Maiduguri high way  close to unversity of Maiduguri gate II to push foward their resolve to return to Bama where they have been displaced by the Boko Haram crisis for more than three years.

    The protest which was coordinated by Bama Initiative for Human Development, led by their  their  Chairman, Alhaji muhammad Hassan, said they are not satisfied with the snail process of returning them home hence the need for them to embark on the journey to go back “even if it means by trekking to Bama” .

    He noted that  70 per cent of the reconstruction and rehabilitation projects hadģ been completed in the area, saying that they were tired of living as displaced persons. “We are in Maiduguri for more than three years without meaningful means of livelihoods. The condition of our people is pathetic. The elongation in the process of returning displaced persons to their homes is moving at a snail pace and exposed them to unbearable conditions. “We could no longer send our children to school; many have died of hunger and starvation. Most of us live in host communities and no one is supporting us,” Hassan stated.

    Mr Damian Chukwu, the Police Commissioner in the state, said that the group had not notified the command over their planned return to Bama. He advised the IDPs to dialogue with the state government and other stakeholders over their demand so that adequate preparations would be made. “The police have a duty to protect you and we will not allow you to gather people and expose them to danger in the name of home return.

    “Also, there is massive reconstruction and rehabilitation works going on in the town, executed by the Federal and State Government under the Bama Initiative. We will not allow you to go because of your safety, you better go back and wait for the time when government will permit your return to the town,” he said.

    Our correspondent gathered that despite the effort of the police Commissioner and his advice to the protesters,  some of them refused to listen to the plea and rather turned riotous  giving the police no option but to arrest them.

    A police source confirm to our correspondent in Maiduguri that a good number of the protesters including the leadership are in police custody and they would be prosecuted. “I cannot believe that despite the subtle approach and caution by the CP to these people, some of them went riotous and we were left with no choice but to arrest them. It is the duty of the police to protect lives and property at the same time maintain law and order,” the source informed.

    Meanwhile, there is a papable apprehension in the air for a possible of more protest from IDPs within Maiduguri metropolis as the news of the arrest continues to spread among the camps.

    In the spirit of reconciliation, Borno State Government called on the protesting IDPs to be patient and give his government more time to actualize their return.

    Gov. Kashim Shettima who spoke through his  Special Adviser on  Communication and Strategy said government is nothe in any way holding back the return of IDPs as they are rather economic burden to the state.

    “It is to the government’s advantage if IDPs return home because their return will lessen economic burden of supporting them as displaced persons.

    “The greatest wish of the governor is the safe and dignified return of all IDPs to their communities. Much as he wants the IDPs to return, he is also concerned about their safety.

    “Gov. Shettima is consistently committed to the ongoing rebuilding of private homes, police stations, hospitals, schools, water facilities, markets, council secretariats and other essential services in communities across 15 local government areas of the state,’’ Gusau  said.

    Gusau further  explained that government had constructed 20,000 housing units in Bama and provided modern health facilities, schools and police stations in the area. He added that the Federal Government was currently training a special Anti-Terrorism Squad and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to be deployed to the town under the Bama Initiative.

    According to him,   the special squad and the agro-rangers, specifically trained to secure farmers in their farmlands would replace the military.

    “We have to ensure that there is full return of civil security before IDPs can return. “The governor encourages safe and dignified return only after putting the right things in place,” Gusau said.

    He disclosed that the state government had re-built houses and re-settled displaced persons in parts of Kaga, Konduga and Gwoza Local Government Areas of the state. Newsmen report that thousands of persons were forced to flee their homes when the Boko Haram insurgents sacked Bama town in 2014. Hundreds of people were killed, maimed or abducted while the entire structures in the town were razed by the insurgents.