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  • Boko Haram’s explosions rock Borno, Yobe on election day

    The terror sect, Boko Haram, rained gunfire and explosives on parts of Borno and Yobe states yesterday moments before polls opened for the presidential and national assembly elections.

    But their efforts were not enough to stop hundreds of thousands  of voters in the two states to exercise their franchise.

    The Borno State police command confirmed that the sect “attempted to infiltrate.”

    It said there were no casualties.

    The security threat in neighbouring Yobe, however,  prevented   Governor  Ibrahim Gaidam from travelling to  his Bukarti home town in Yunusari Local Government Areas to vote.

    Residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital said they heard at least 13 blasts at about 6:00 am.

    The police said in a statement that the terrorists launched artillery fire apparently to disrupt the elections.

    Some missiles, it said, “strayed into vulnerable locations” but there were no casualties and the extremists retreated.

    The Director General, Media Affairs in the Yobe Governor’s office, Abdullahi Bego, said the attack on Yobe State had been brought under control and voting was going on.

    He said: “The security agencies would naturally seek to reinforce and increase security around the governor for him to travel to cast his vote.

    “The increased security around the governor will mean that vital security resources that are needed elsewhere in the state would have to be diverted and allocated to the governor,” the governor’s spokesperson said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that  the governor, in consultation with security agencies decided that it was more prudent to make the sacrifice.

    “It is better and more useful for the security agents, including soldiers, police, civil defence, DSS, to focus their attention on providing security for the election than devoting large security contingent for the governor to cast his vote,” Bego said.

    Gaidam, who is also a senatorial candidate in the Presidential and National Assembly election, commended security agencies for their effort to ensure a peaceful and successful election across the State.

    Meanwhile, Alhaji MaiMala Buni, the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Yobe, said adequate preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies ensured the success of the elections.

    He made the observation after casting his vote yesterday in Damaturu, saying the timely commencement of the elections, adequate provision of election materials and security to the electorate made the election successful.

    “The massive turn out of voters was encouraged by the security apparatus put in place and the commitment to the preparations made by INEC.

    “The turnout is very impressive and the momentum should be maintained,” he said.

  • Air Force kills scores of Boko Haram fighters in Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said it destroyed Boko Haram terrorists’ camp and neutralised some of its fighters at Arboko village in Borno State.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said the air strikes were launched after an intelligence platform established the presence of the terrorists in the area.

    He said: “The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole has decimated a Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) camp and neutralised some of their fighters at a settlement called Arboko in Borno State.

    Read also: I’ll drive to campaign without bulletproof, Shettima dares Boko Haram

    “The operation was conducted on February 18 while a NAF Alpha jet and an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform were providing close air support to troops of 82 Brigade, Nigerian Army.

    “In the course of the operation, the ISR aircraft spotted a group of BHT fighters within Arboko village and vectored the Alpha jet to engage their camp with rocket fire, thereby degrading the terrorists’ structures and neutralising some of their fighters.

    “The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its efforts to completely destroy all remnants of the terrorists in the Northeast.”

  • NAF jet destroys insurgents’ camp in Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force ( NAF ) says its Operation LAFIYA DOLE has decimated a Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) camp and neutralised some of their fighters at a settlement called Arboko in Borno.

    Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The NAF spokesperson said the operation of the Air Task Force (ATF) was carried out on Monday.

    Daramola explained that the Alpha jet destroyed the insurgent’s camp while providing close air support to troops of 82 Brigade, Nigerian Army.

    Read Also: NAF nabs 10 suspected bandits with weapons in Kaduna

    “The operation was conducted on Feb.18, while a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet and an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform were providing close air support to troops of 82 Brigade, Nigerian Army.

    “In the course of the operation, the ISR aircraft spotted a group of BHT fighters within Arboko village and vectored the Alpha Jet to engage their camp with rocket fire, thereby degrading the terrorists’ structures and neutralising some of their fighters,” he said.

    The spokesman said that NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, would sustain its efforts to completely destroy all remnants of the terrorists in the North East.

  • Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu, others meet in Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday met in Abuja in the party’s caucus meeting.

    The meeting started at the APC National Secretariat around 11.30am when the President arrived.

    Those in attendance included the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole.

    State governors at the meeting included that of Zamfara, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Jigawa, Borno, Bauchi, Kebbi, Niger, Lagos and Kaduna state.

    Read Also: Buhari: no plan to remove INEC Chairman Yakubu

    Also in attendance were the Senate leader, Ahmad Lawan, senators, Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF), Boss Mustapha, ministers, among others.

    Discussions at the meeting will not be unconnected with the issues affecting the party, including the postponement of the general elections by a week.

  • Who wears the crown?

    WHO rules Nigeria over the next four years? That is the major task before voters as they go to the polls today to pick the country’s president in the biggest election ever in its history. Although a  total of 73 candidates are in the presidential race, according to the list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the contest from all indications will be a straight fight between the  incumbent, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the only candidates to have physically gone round the country to canvass for votes. It has been a tough duel; it is the race of their lives. But the odds seem to be in favour of Buhari with projections and poll experts tipping him to win the most votes.

    There are a total of 84 million voters registered for the elections and the March 2 governorship and state assembly elections. Buhari’s APC  is in control of the four states with the largest concentration of registered voters: Lagos 6.8m, Kano 5.4m, Kaduna 3.9m and Katsina 3.2m, and his popularity in the Northwest with 20.1million voters and Northeast with 11.2m voters is unrivalled. Poll projections suggest that in the Northeast,the President will win in Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Yobe while Atiku is likely to win in Taraba. Adamawa, where Atiku comes from, is generally seen as a battleground between the two leading candidates, although many residents acknowledge Buhari as the brain behind the relative peace being enjoyed in the state now after many years of insecurity unleashed by Boko Haram.

    Most of the states in North Central – Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa- are regarded as battlegrounds but Buhari is tipped to win in Niger. The Northwest, especially Kano with its enormous votes, has always been Buhari’s comfort zone .His home state – Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kebbi, Zamfara and Jigawa are all considered safe for him. Same goes for the Southwest where the APC is in control of the six states in the zone:Lagos,Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo. Atiku is projected to win in all the five Southeast states of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo, although Buhari is tipped to receive more votes in the zone than he did in 2015. Most of the states in the South-South are also projected to vote for Atiku. These are Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and Cross River while Edo and Akwa Ibom are likely to cast their lot with Buhari. Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina have largest number of voters With  6,570,291 ,Lagos has the largest number of registered  voters for this year’s elections.It if followed by  Kano with  5,457,747, Kaduna with 3,932,492 and  Katsina  with 3,230,230. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it registered over 84 million voters for the elections .

     

    Following is the breakdown of  how voters were registered  state by state:

    Abia 1,932,892 Adamawa 1,973,083 Akwa Ibom 2,119,727 Anambra 2,447,996 Bauchi 2,462,843 Bayelsa 923,182 Benue 2,480,131 Borno 2,315,956 Cross River 1,527,289 Delta 2,845,274 Ebonyi 1,459,933 Edo 2,210,534 Ekiti 909,967 Enugu 1,944,016 FCT 1,344,856 Gombe 1,394,393 Imo 2,272,293 Jigawa 2,111,106 Kaduna 3,932,492 Kano 5,457,747 Katsina 3,230,230 Kebbi 1,806,231 Kogi 1,646,350 Kwara 1,406,457 Lagos 6,570,291 Nasarawa 1,617,786 Niger 2,390,035 Ogun 2,375,003 Ondo 1,822,346 Osun 1,680,498 Oyo 2,934,107 Plateau 2,480,455 Rivers 3,215,273 Sokoto 1,903,166 Taraba 1,777,105 Yobe 1,365,913 Zamfara 1,717,128

  • INEC has distributed 98 per cent election materials in Borno – REC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) says it has achieved about 98 per cent delivery of non-sensitive election materials to polling units ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The commission said it had also begun the distribution of sensitive materials to all the 27 local government areas of the state; adding that it was expecting to complete the exercise on Friday.

    The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim, made the disclosure at a news conference on Friday in Maiduguri.

    Ibrahim explained that non-sensitive materials, such as voter registers, voting cubicles, Smart Card Reader, power generator and others were currently being distributed to polling centres.

    He disclosed that 2, 315, 956 eligible voters were expected to vote in the elections in the state.

    Read Also: INEC begins distribution of sensitive materials in Imo

    Ibrahim said 435 candidates were presented by 41 political parties for various posts, including governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly.

    He also said about 11, 000 security personnel were deployed for the elections, to secure 3, 933 polling units (PUs), electoral officers, election materials as well as buildings and premises.

    The REC said the commission had registered 409, 000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from eight local government areas, who would vote in designated camps.

    The commissioner listed the affected councils to include Abadam, Guzamala, Marte, Dikwa, Ngala, Kukawa, Mobbar and Kala Balge.

  • Air Force strikes insurgents in Northern Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force said on Monday that its aircraft has obliterated terrorists base and neutralized several terrorists in Malkonory, northern Borno.

    Its spokesman, Air Commodore, Ibikunle Daramola, said in a statement that the strikes were conducted after intelligence reports have indicated the presence of the terrorists in the area.

    He said: “The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) training camp and neutralized several terrorists at Malkonory in Northern Borno State.

    “The operation was executed on Monday, 10 February 2019, after Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft observed significant human activities with several structures, equipment and vehicles spotted camouflaged under the dense vegetation in the area used by the terrorists for training.

    Read Also: Air Force strikes Boko Haram in Borno

    “Accordingly, 2 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft were dispatched to attack the location, dropping their bombs successfully within the camp leading to massive fires and resulting in the neutralizing of several terrorists.

    “Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) by own and allied ISR later revealed that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties as a result of the air strikes.

    “The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its efforts to completely destroy all remnants of the terrorists in the Northeast.  ”

     

  • Boko Haram: Army denies takeover of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa towns

    The Nigerian Army has said that no town in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States have been taken over by the Boko Haram terrorists.

    The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel  Onyema Nwachukwu said in a statement that it was untrue a report by an online medium that a town has been taken over by the terrorists.

    Colonel Nwachukwu lamented the report was not only misleading, but that it has created panic among the people.

    The statement reads: ” the attention of Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE has been drawn to a misleading news story on Sahara Reporters website, posted on 4th February 2019, alleging that Boko Haram terrorists have taken over four towns in Adamawa State. This is not true.

    “Contrary to Sahara Reporters’ claims in that online story,  the Headquarters Theatre Command wishes to inform the general public that the said publication is untrue and a far cry from the reality on ground in Adamawa state.

    “Categorically, no town in Adamawa, Borno or Yobe state is under the control of the insurgents. Unfortunately, the alarming publication has generated undue panic amongst the general public and therefore needs to be addressed.

    “In straightening the records, troops were alerted to an attack on Shuwa by Boko Haram terrorists who had infiltrated  the village through Karchinga on a looting mission, to which the troops of 143 Battalion swiftly responded by moblising themselves to Shuwa village, where they fiercely engaged the insurgents in combat and successfully repelled the attack and curtailed the incursion.

    “The troops, who recovered one Hand Grenade and 6 rounds of Anti Aircraft ammunition after the encounter are currently holding grounds in Shuwa village, while some elements of the Battalion are exploiting further in pursuit of the fleeing insurgents.

    “Sadly, before the arrival of troops to the location, the insurgents had killed 3 persons, looted and torched a shop, a health care centre and a local market.

    “It is pertinent to further inform that calm has been restored in Shuwa village, while  Madagali,  Michika, Gulak and Baza towns remain peaceful and firmly under control of the troops.

    “Our hearts go out in deep sympathy to those who fell during the attack and those who have been affected in one way or the other by the incident.

    “We, however, urge Sahara Reporters to desist from its alarming and sensationalized reportage to avoid panic.”

  • Presidential panel spends N10b on feeding Northeast IDPs

    The Federal government spent N10b on food for victims of insurgency in the Northeast in the last two years, it emerged on Tuesday.

    Due to the devastating effect of the Boko Haram insurgency on education in the region, the Presidential Committee on Northeast Initiatives (PCNI) is committing over N2b to support 67,000 students and 6,750 teachers to encourage conducive learning environment.

    The Education intervention programme was launched simultaneously on Monday in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

    Speaking in Abuja, PCNI Vice Chairman Tijani Tumsah disclosed that with about 1.7 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the region, a 25 kilograms food basket of seven items at a cost of N54, 000 is spent on a family monthly.

    “Food is a major consumer of our funds. In the last two and a half years, the PCNI has spent over N10b on food for the IDPs.

    “Before the inception of PCNI, there have been various interventions by various organisations but when we came on board, we have to coordinate and fill in gaps wherever they exist.

    “We now have about 1.7 million IDPs, before now, the figure was over 2 million.”

    Tumsah also said the panel’s intervention in the education sector of the region became imperative due to the massive damage done to the psyche and school attendance by the insurgency.

    On the Northeast Education Programme, the vice chairman said prior to the insurgency, the region was lagging behind other regions in all development indices but the situation was compounded by the insurgency that led to large scale destruction of infrastructures as well as the socio-economic life of the people.

    Read Also: IDPs can’t go home now – Ortom

    It was in view of this the PCNI conceived the idea of Education Support Programme whereby primary and secondary are targeted for assistance, he said.

    “Not all schools and students would be covered by the programme but only those with critical needs and so far we have identified 67,000 students and 6,750 in the State and Local Government Areas across the region.

    “The identification and selection was carried out in collaboration with Ministries of Education and individual school managements in the States and Local governments in the region.

    “About N800m has been committed to the three states where the programme was launched a couple of days ago and in a matter days, the other States in the region would follow suit.

    “The programme is designed to reduce the huge deficit recorded in that sector by encouraging a conducive learning environment for the children through provision of learning materials for the students and their teachers and equipment that would assist the school to meet its obligations to the children.

    “Even as reconstruction of the region is going on, it was our aim to ensure that the children are encouraged to go back to school and once they got back to school, they have aids to be able to have access to sound education as much as possible,” Tumsah said.

     

  • 60 killed in deadliest Boko Haram attack on Rann, Borno – Amnesty International

    Amnesty International claimed yesterday that no fewer than  60 people were killed in the  January 28, 2019 attack on Rann, Borno State, by Boko Haram.

    “We have now confirmed that this week’s attack on Rann was the deadliest yet by Boko Haram, killing at least 60 people,” Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria said in a statement.

    He added: “using satellite imagery we have also been able to confirm the mass burning of structures as Boko Haram unleashed a massive assault on Rann, most of which is now destroyed.

    “This attack on civilians who have already been displaced by the bloody conflict may amount to possible war crime, and those responsible must be brought to justice.”

    Source: Amnesty International

    He said: “witnesses told us that Nigerian soldiers abandoned their posts the day before the attack, demonstrating the authorities’ utter failure to protect civilians.”

    The terrorists allegedly stormed the town on motorcycles on the fateful day setting houses ablaze and killing those left behind.

    Eleven bodies were found within Rann town, and 49 bodies were found outside.

    Read also: Amnesty Int warns FG against hostility towards journalists

    The human rights group quoted an eyewitness as saying: “Ten of us [Civilian Joint Task Force] came from Cameroon to Rann for the burial. When we arrived, we found and buried 11 corpses within the town, but the soldiers told us that they buried several others yesterday [30 January] who had decayed. Outside the town, we recovered and buried 49 dead bodies all with gunshot wounds.”

    Attempts  to get the army  for comments on the Amnesty International’s account yesterday  did not succeed