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Tag: borno

  • Troops destroy Boko Haram training camp in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Monday said its troops had destroyed a Boko Haram insurgents’ training facility at Benisheikh, Borno. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

    Nwachukwu said that the troops also killed one insurgent and rescued one person held captive by the terrorists at Afa hideout in the area on Sunday.

    He said that the troops acting on intelligence discovered the camp used for providing instructional training of insurgents’ foot soldiers.

    “Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole deployed at a forward operational base in Benisheikh, have uncovered a Boko Haram training camp where instructional training was provided to its foot soldiers.

    Read Also: ‘Don’t send refugees back to Boko Haram violence’, UN urges Cameroon

    “The camp, located in a hideout in Afa general area, was discovered on Sunday at about 9: 30 a.m. following a tip-off that insurgents were being trained in the hideout.

    “During the operation, troops encountered elements of Boko Haram insurgents who were withdrawing hastily from the camp.

    “In the shootout, troops killed one insurgent, recovered one Dane gun and rescued one Malam Abba, who was held hostage in the camp by the insurgents,” Nwachukwu said.

    He added that the troops had destroyed the camp.

    NAN

  • 11 killed, eight injured in Borno, Bama attacks

    The Army said yesterday that troops killed four Boko Haram insurgents in separate operations in Borno State.

    A statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, said three soldiers and two Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members also died.

    The statement reads: “Troops of 25 Task Force Brigade on Operation Lafiya Dole neutralised three Boko Haram terrorists following an attack on the troops.

    “Unfortunately, three soldiers died  and two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force died in the encounter.”

    Chukwu added that the troops recovered parts of a rocket-propelled gun and a fully loaded FN rifle magazine of 7.62mm NATO round belt.

    He said troops of 151 Task Force Battalion of Operation Lafiya Dole, while on patrol, intercepted and killed one insurgent on Ngurosoye-Bama Road.

    Chukwu said the terrorist was killed during an exchange of fire while other members of the group fled.

    Two bicycles, two bags of guinea-corn and a bag of onion were recovered.

    Troops of 25 Task Force Brigade in ongoing clearance operations also intercepted three women and children.

    “The women confessed to being wives of insurgents who escaped from Mangusun, following clearance operation in the area.

    “They are currently in custody and preliminary investigation is ongoing,” he added.

    Two worshippers were killed and eight others sustained injuries when two female suicide bombers attacked a mosque in Bama.

    A statement by the police spokesman, Edet Okon, said: “About 5.40 am today (yesterday), two female suicide bombers infiltrated Ajilari area in Bama town, Bama Local Government Area and attacked worshippers observing their morning prayers.

    “They detonated their Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), killing themselves and two persons. Eight persons were injured.

    “The injured were rushed to the hospital and the bodies have been evacuated.”

    Okon added that the command has deployed mobile policemen and Explosive Ordinance Disposal team to render the area safe.

     

  • Army begins operation last hold in Borno, Lake Chad

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai on Friday said the army would commence Operation Last Hold in northern Borno and parts of Lake Chad Basin to complete the decimation of the Boko Haram Terrorists and ensure the restoration of normal economic activities in the Zone.
    The COAS who addressed journalists at the Army Headquarters, Abuja, said the operation would commence on the 1st of May and end by August.
    Lt.Gen Buratai who was represented at the briefing by the Chief of Operations and Training, AHQ, Maj. Gen David Ahmadu said the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Navy as well as other security agencies would be participating in the four-month operation. He urged the people in the area not to panic as they would witness heavy movements of troops and equipment during the operation.
    Lt Gen Buratai said:” You may recall that the Nigerian Army has been engaged in the conduct of counter insurgency operation tagged Operation LAFIYA DOLE in the North East region for some years with considerable successes. However, the complex and adaptive nature of the Boko Haram insurgency has resulted in the dissident group still sometimes being engaged in abductions, attack on soft targets, Improvised Explosive Device attacks and suicide bombings.
    “It has become expedient for the Nigerian Army to change operating tactics, techniques and procedure in the North East region. Accordingly, the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2018 will be commemorated with the conduct of an operation tagged Operation LAST HOLD in Northern Borno within the North East Theatre. The design is to deploy personnel and equipment to showcase the combat efficiency of the NA and thereafter conduct operations to totally destroy Boko Haram locations in the Lake Chad Basin.
    ” Operation LAST HOLD is expected to last for 4 months and it will entail deployment of 6 additional manoeuvre brigades and other critical assets in Borno State. The operation is intended to facilitate the clearance of the Lake Chad waterways of sea weeds and other obstacles obstructing the movement of boats and people across the water channels.  It will also ensure the destruction of Boko Haram Terrorist camps and strong points in the Lake Chad Basin.
    ” The operation will also facilitate the rescue of hostages. The operational end-state of Operation LAST HOLD is the total defeat of the Boko Haram Terrorist Sect.  Strategically, the conduct of Operation LAST HOLD will facilitate the restoration of fishing, farming and other economic activities in the Lake Chad Basin. Additionally, it will facilitate the relocation of Internally Displaced Persons from IDP camps to their communities.
    ” Operation LAST HOLD is conceptualised to involve the conduct of population influence activities targeted to improve Civil-Military relations in the North East region. It is pertinent to note that Operation LAST HOLD is set to record remarkable achievements that would make the nation proud of the Nigerian Army’s determination at sustaining its constitutional role of defending the territorial integrity of the nation as well as its commitment to aid the civil authority to bring about peace and security.
    ” In this regard, law abiding members of the public in Northern Borno State are enjoined not to panic as their safety and well-being have been deliberately factored in the operation. The general public is requested to remain vigilant and be security conscious, as suspected insurgents may be fleeing from military operations in the North East and finding safe haven amidst our communities. The public is also reminded to report any suspicious activity or movement to the nearest military formation or other security agencies for prompt action. “

  • Army begins operation last hold in Borno, Lake Chad

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai Friday said the army would commence Operation Last Hold in northern Borno and parts of Lake Chad Basin to complete the decimation of the Boko Haram Terrorists and ensure the restoration of normal economic activities in the Zone.

    The COAS who addressed journalists at the Army Headquarters, Abuja, said the operation would commence on the 1st of May and end by August.

    Lt.Gen Buratai who was represented at the briefing by the Chief of Operations and Training, AHQ, Maj. Gen David Ahmadu said the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Navy as well as other security agencies would be participating in the four-month operation. He urged the people in the area not to panic as they would witness heavy movements of troops and equipment during the operation.

    Buratai said:” You may recall that the Nigerian Army has been engaged in the conduct of counter insurgency operation tagged Operation LAFIYA DOLE in the North East region for some years with considerable successes. However, the complex and adaptive nature of the Boko Haram insurgency has resulted in the dissident group still sometimes being engaged in abductions, attack on soft targets, Improvised Explosive Device attacks and suicide bombings.

    “It has become expedient for the Nigerian Army to change operating tactics, techniques and procedure in the North East region. Accordingly, the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2018 will be commemorated with the conduct of an operation tagged Operation LAST HOLD in Northern Borno within the North East Theatre. The design is to deploy personnel and equipment to showcase the combat efficiency of the NA and thereafter conduct operations to totally destroy Boko Haram locations in the Lake Chad Basin.

    “Operation LAST HOLD is expected to last for 4 months and it will entail deployment of 6 additional manoeuvre brigades and other critical assets in Borno State. The operation is intended to facilitate the clearance of the Lake Chad waterways of sea weeds and other obstacles obstructing the movement of boats and people across the water channels.  It will also ensure the destruction of Boko Haram Terrorist camps and strong points in the Lake Chad Basin.

    “The operation will also facilitate the rescue of hostages. The operational end-state of Operation LAST HOLD is the total defeat of the Boko Haram Terrorist Sect.  Strategically, the conduct of Operation LAST HOLD will facilitate the restoration of fishing, farming and other economic activities in the Lake Chad Basin. Additionally, it will facilitate the relocation of Internally Displaced Persons from IDP camps to their communities.

    “Operation LAST HOLD is conceptualised to involve the conduct of population influence activities targeted to improve Civil-Military relations in the North East region. It is pertinent to note that Operation LAST HOLD is set to record remarkable achievements that would make the nation proud of the Nigerian Army’s determination at sustaining its constitutional role of defending the territorial integrity of the nation as well as its commitment to aid the civil authority to bring about peace and security.

    “In this regard, law abiding members of the public in Northern Borno State are enjoined not to panic as their safety and well-being have been deliberately factored in the operation. The general public is requested to remain vigilant and be security conscious, as suspected insurgents may be fleeing from military operations in the North East and finding safe haven amidst our communities. The public is also reminded to report any suspicious activity or movement to the nearest military formation or other security agencies for prompt action. ”

    Read Also: Nigerian Army still proving its strength on the counter-insurgency campaigns

  • Two Boko Haram commanders surrender to Nigerian Army

    Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, said two Boko Haram commanders and the insurgents’ physician have surrendered to Nigerian Army.

    He made the disclosure when he presented the surrendered insurgents in Maiduguri.

    Nicholas said a woman leader of the insurgents’ group and three children also surrendered to the troops at Kumshe in Bama Local Government Area of Borno.

    He added that the insurgents voluntarily surrendered, noting that the move was acceptable under the Safe Corridor Scheme initiated by Federal Government to encourage the insurgents to lay down their arms.

    The theatre commander explained that the military initiated contact with the insurgents to encourage them to surrender, adding that more insurgents had indicated their interest to lay down their arms.

    He said “we had a contact group and two insurgents’ commanders, a local doctor and their women leader and their children surrendered to the troops.

    “We gave them clothes, food and medication and assured them of safety: we are not killing anybody.

    “Our duty is to protect lives and property, we call on the insurgents in the bush to come out, surrender and join the peace building process.”

    He pointed out that the surrendered insurgents would be engaged in deradicalisation, rehabilitation and skill acquisition training programme for possible integration into the society.

    In their submission, Ali Musa, the insurgents’ physician, said he conducted surgical operations such as bullet extraction, appendix, treatment of wounded insurgents, ante natal and post-natal services in the camp.

    Ali said he was indoctrinated and misled by the sect leaders, adding that the sect activities had damaged his life.

    Umar Ibrahim, one of the insurgents’ commanders, said he surrendered voluntarily as he became fed up with the group’s inhuman activities.

    Ibrahim disclosed that hundreds of insurgents were willing to surrender to the troops but their leaders prevented them from doing so.

    “We were told that the army will kill us and feed on our flesh when we surrender.

    “The sect’s leaders also planted landmines to stop us from coming to the troops.

    “Many insurgents are willing to surrender in view of the fact that we are against the destructive ideologies propagated by the sect.

    “We hardly feed, people are starving due to the lack of food in the camp.

    “We want peace and we want to join in building peace in our country, we ask Nigerians to forgive us.”

    Ibrahim called on other insurgents to surrender and commended the military for taking care of them.

    NAN

     

  • Police arrest female suicide bomber in Maiduguri

    The Borno Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the arrest of a female suicide bomber at the Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) camp in Maiduguri.

    According to a statement by Edet Okon, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in Maiduguri, the suicide bomber was arrested by men of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal ( EOD ) team, on Tuesday at about 6: 50 a.m. while lurking around the Internally Displaced Persons  ( IDPs ) camp.

    He said that policemen condoned off the area, diffused the bomb and apprehended the suspect.

    The police spokesman added that the suspect is in police custody.

    Okon said: “on Tuesday, at about 6:50 a.m.,  a female suicide bomber was sighted behind Bakassi IDP camp in Maiduguri metropolis.

    “On sighting the bomber, conventional policemen alongside the EOD team swung into action and cordoned the area, to prevent escape of the bomber into the city.

    “The suspect, one Zara Idriss was rendered safe, arrested and is now in custody”.

    Okon called on members of the public to go about their normal activities without fear and to report any suspicious movement in their localities to security agencies.

    He reiterated the command’s commitments to protect lives and property in the state.

    NAN

  • Borno confirms three dead from fresh cholera outbreak

    No fewer than three persons died in fresh cholera outbreak in Kukawa Local Government area of Borno, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Haruna Mshelia, has said.

    Mshelia made the disclosure when the Director General, World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Ghebrayesus, visited the WHO’s Emergency and Response Centre on Friday in Maiduguri.

    He said that about 700 cases of cholera were recorded in Baga, Doron Baga and Kukawa in the past weeks.

    He said that the state government in collaboration with WHO and other partner agencies had scaled up activities to combat the outbreak in the affected communities.

    Mshelia said the state government in the past six months conducted vaccination to control the disease.

    The commissioner added that the state government, with the support from WHO and other organizations, had also executed various programmes to control, hepatitis E, malaria, polio, measles, meningitis and other diseases.

    Mshelia called for closer collaboration with WHO to enhance healthcare delivery in the state.

    Read Also: Borno free of cholera outbreak – Commissioner

    Ghebrayesus assured of WHO’s commitment to contain the spread of cholera, polio and other diseases in the state.

    He said: “The current cholera outbreak was recorded in areas where vaccination was not conducted. The outbreak would be analysed to avert future ocurrence.”

    He commanded the state government for demonstrating the political will to control the outbreak and transform healthcare service delivery in the state.

    It would be recalled that 61 persons died of cholera between June and December, 2017.

  • FG relocated 3,000 IDPs to Bama – IOM

    The International Organisation for Migration ( IOM ) said the Nigerian Government has relocated no fewer than 3,000 Internally Displaced People ( IDPs ) of Bama origin in Borno to their hometown.

    IOM said the relocation followed the reopening of the Maiduguri-Bama-Banki road on March 24 by the Nigerian Military after four years of its closure due to Boko Haram activities.

    The road, which runs from Maiduguri through Konduga, Bama, Gwoza and also connects to the neighbouring countries of Cameroon and Chad, was shut to commercial and public traffic in September 2014.

    In a flash report, IOM said the return had increased the population of people in need of humanitarian assistance.

    IOM said: “Following the reopening of the road, about 3,000 IDPs of Bama origin at Dalori I and II Camps in Maiduguri were relocated to Bama town by the Government of Nigeria, on April 2, 2018.

    “The population of people in need of humanitarian assistance has increased significantly due to the influx, and larger number of returns are expected in the coming days/weeks”.

    The UN migration agency said Bama Local Government Area (LGA) had an IDP population of 49,139 individuals from 14,064 households as per the Displacement Tracking Matrix Round XXI.

    It explained that Bama is the LGA of origin for the largest number of 203,374 of displaced persons in Borno and neighbouring states.

    “Majority of the original population in Bama were displaced to other locations due to insecurity and inaccessibility.

    “Prior to the recent population return to Bama, over 95 per cent of the remaining people in the LGA resided in Banki Camp with 33,081 individuals and Government Secondary School Camp with 16,058 individuals.

    “The Government has rehabilitated some communities in Shehuri and Kasugula wards of Bama, and IDPs are being assisted to return to these rehabilitated areas,” it said.

    Flow monitoring and emergency tracking:

    IOM also presented the displacement emergency tracking in Bama and flow monitoring along Maiduguri-Bama-Banki road showed that since March 24 when the road was reopened.

    The UN agency said: “21 buses with capacity of 75 passengers each and 67 wagons transported about 3,000 returnees from Maiduguri to Bama on April 2.

    “IOM has registered 1,688 new arrivals – returnees – in Bama since April 2, and registration activities are ongoing “.

    It added that 55 trucks carrying relief items and commercial products had made trips to Bama and surrounding locations through the reopened road.

    According to the migration agency, more than 200 public vehicles have been witnessed carrying people to and from Bama.

    The UN agency noted the activities of the Federal Government had mainly through the State Emergency Management Agency and Ministry of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Reconciliation.

    It said the government functionaries had trucked food items, non-food items, tricycles, small power generators and other logistical items to Bama, with the aim of encouraging people to return to the area.

    IOM said: “Traffic along the road has increased significantly, with flows involving people travelling to Bama for business, individuals visiting to ascertain the safety situation and status of their properties.

    “And many who are returning to their homes due to the improved access. It is estimated that about 4,100 people have moved along the newly opened road since March 24th”.

    NAN

  • Suicide bomber kill self, injures three in Borno

    Three female suicide bombers have attack a housing estate in Konduga, Konduga Local Government of Borno State.

    A security source who revealed the attack to our correspondent said the female suicide bombers entered Konduga 20 Housing Unit Estate and detonated their IED ridden bodies killing themselves and injuring three other residents.

    Both bombers were said to have died immediately while the injured person have been taken to the hospital where they are responding to treatment.

    Read Also: 22 killed in Borno suicide attacks

    Normalcy is also said to have been restored in the area and the residents are going about their normal businesses.

    The attack was reported to have occurred at about 9.50pm last night.

  • I-G assigns four mobile police personnel to schools in Borno

    The Inspector- General of Police ( I-G ) Mr Ibrahim Idris has assured all schools in the North-Eastern parts of the country currently threatened by Boko Haram terrorists, of adequate police protection.

    The I-G gave the assurance on Friday in Borno during a visit to Government College and Yelwa Government Girls College Maiduguri.

    Idris said the police were determined to end the spate of kidnappings in the region and assured the students that each school would have 4 policemen, except in Yelwa Government Girls College where 10 police personnel were attached.

    The I-G explained that in the Girls College, five female and five male officers details would be attached.

    He, therefore, appealed to the students and the managers of the schools to cooperate with the policemen attached to their schools by reporting all suspicious characters to them for immidiate action.

    He urged them to shun all social vices and be law abiding to avoid jeopardising  their future.

    He gave a personal donation of 20 bags of rice and a cow to the students of Government College Maiduguri.

    In their separate responses, the Principal of Government College,  Mr Abba  Gana,  and  that of Government Girls College,  Hajia Bintu Abakura, commended the I-G for the visit.

    They both assured him of their support in reporting all suspicious cases to the police and lauded him for the initiative.

    NAN