The Nation Newspaper

Tag: borno

  • Nigerian Army embarks on road project in Sambisa forest

    Nigerian Army embarks on road project in Sambisa forest

    The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said it had embarked on a road construction project in Sambisa Forest as part of the ongoing clearance operation to dislodge remnants of Boko Haram insurgents.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Kukasheka, made this disclosure in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

    Kukasheka said that the army had begun construction of access roads to open up the forest and link adjourning communities.

    He listed the projects as Gwoza-Yamtake-Bita-Tokumbere-Sambisa and Gwoza-Yamtake-Bita roads.

    “In its efforts to make Sambisa forest habitable and also a training ground, the Nigerian Army is following up the ongoing clearance operations with road constructions into the main heartland of the forest and adjoining communities.

    “Already, work has commenced in earnest on Gwoza-Yamteke-Bitta road, as well as the reconstruction of the road from Gwoza-Yamteke-Bitta-Tokumbere, leading into Tokum forest”.

    The military authorities had set up a military training facility in Sambisa Forest after dislodging the insurgents’ tactical ground at Camp Zero.

    Also, the Borno Government on Monday restricted vehicular movement on three major roads in the state, to prevent fleeing insurgents escaping military offensive from infiltrating into the communities.

    NAN

  • NDE trains 2,000 youths in Borno

    NDE trains 2,000 youths in Borno

    The National Directorate of Employment ( NDE ) on Tuesday said it had trained 2,000 youths in Borno.

    NDE Coordinator in the state, Wakil Kalanga, said this while fielding questions in Maiduguri.

    Read also: Borno govt bans vehicular movement on three highways

    Kalaga said the beneficiaries were exposed to various trades under its Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme ( B-NOAS ).

    He said the beneficiaries would be provided with resettlement packages to enable them set up their businesses.

    He said the exercise would provide job opportunities and enhance wealth creation in the society, adding that the agency would train 50,000 youths int eh state this year.

    NAN

  • Woman nabbed over theft at wedding in Maiduguri

    Woman nabbed over theft at wedding in Maiduguri

    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ) in Borno said it had arrested a 27 year-old spinster, Zainab Abdullahi, over alleged theft of  N12, 000 at a wedding ceremony in Maiduguri.

  • Army warn against harbouring fleeing Boko Haram insurgents

    Army warn against harbouring fleeing Boko Haram insurgents

    The Nigerian Army on Wednesday warned against providing sanctuary to fleeing Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.

    The army also called on the people to report suspicious persons in their communities to security agencies nearest to them.

    Brig.-Gen. Sani Kukasheka, the Director, Army Public Relations, gave the warning in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

    Kukasheka said intelligence reports indicated that the insurgents were taking refuge in dry wells and other hideouts to avoid the ongoing military offensive against them.

    Read also: Army urges vigilance against suicide bombers

    “This is to warn residents in the North-East not to harbour the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists who are trying to flee from their waterloo.

    “Credible intelligence revealed that several of the insurgents have resorted to taking refuge in dry wells and other hideouts in some communities along their escape routes from the Sambisa Forest in order to evade the sustained bombardments from air and ground troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.

    “Any unpatriotic and unscrupulous persons especially in the North Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe found providing safe sanctuaries or any assistance to the criminals will be treated as accomplices and given same treatment as  terrorists,” he said.

    The director appealed to the people to cooperate with the military by reporting any fleeing terrorists immediately to the nearest security agency or call the Nigerian Army Information Call Centre Number 193.

    NAN

  • Army hands over rescued Chibok girl to Borno govt

    Army hands over rescued Chibok girl to Borno govt

    The Nigerian Army on Tuesday formally handed over the rescued Chibok school girl, Salomi Pogu, to the Borno State Government.

    The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, presented two rescued girls, including Pogu, to the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Usman Durkwa, in Maiduguri.

    Nicholas said Pogu was rescued on January 4, alongside one other girl, Jamila Adams, by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole at Pulka in Gwoza local government area of the state.

    He called for proper registration of the girls before handing them over to their parents and guardians.

    Read also: Troops rescue Chibok girl Solomi Pagu

    Receiving the girls, Durkwa lauded the military for their commitment to the rescue of the abducted girls.

    “We waited for long for the rescue of the girls. It is a welcome development that the theatre commander was able to rescue the girl within one week,” the deputy governor said.

    He expressed the hope that the remaining abducted girls would soon be rescued from the Boko Haram insurgents.

  • Strike: Doctors in Borno issue 21-day ultimatum

    Strike: Doctors in Borno issue 21-day ultimatum

    Medical Doctors in the employment of Borno Government on Monday issued a 21-day ultimatum to embark on an indefinite strike over nonpayment of allowances by the government.

    The Chairman of the association, Dr Bukar Abbagana, made the disclosure at a news conference in Maiduguri.

    Abbagana said the association unanimously resolved to embark on industrial action following failure of the state government to settle backlog of unpaid allowances.

    He explained that the government owed over N300 million arrears of skipping allowances to 150 doctors in the past four years.

    The chairman recalled that the association had not joined the nationwide strike over the issue based on humanitarian gesture and security challenges in the state.

    Read also: Oyo tertiary institutions issue 14 day ultimatum over 15 month unpaid salaries

    “Doctors out of loyalty and empathy for the people, refused to down tools with the belief that the state government will extend similar gesture to them.

    “Four years down the line, there was no single acknowledgement for the correspondences to the government, and all avenues for dialogue were exhausted,” he said.

    He stressed that the association issued a 21-day ultimatum between January 8 and February 5, to enable the state government to meet their demands.

    Abbagana disclosed that the association had registered members in secondary and primary health facilities in the state.

    He noted that the association was mindful of the grave consequences such industrial disharmony on the people, and called on individuals and organisations to prevail on the government to avert the strike.

    NAN

  • Days of Boko Haram terrorists numbered, says Buratai

    Days of Boko Haram terrorists numbered, says Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai said the days of the rump of Boko Haram terrorists are numbered, in spite of occasional attacks of Nigerian targets.

    Buratai gave the assurance while addressing troops of the 8 Division at Monguno, headquarters of Monguno Local Government Area of Borno.

    He, therefore, charged the troops to be determined in the efforts to stablilise their area of operation and finally overcome the Boko Haram challenge in the country.

    “We must remain here to stabilise it.

    “You all know that we have some few attacks here and there by the same elements – Boko Haram, but I assured you that their days are numbered.

    “With your efforts, with your determination, we will finally overcome the Boko Haram challenge,’’ he said.

    The chief of army staff noted that the creation of the 8 Division was a “major strategic decision’’ which had helped in addressing the challenge of Boko Haram terrorism in Borno north.

    “I want to say that this division has lived up to its expectation of containing the Boko Haram challenge in this part of the country.

    “What remains is for us to continue to stabilise and continue to operate, to prevent any element that may raise their heads in the future.

    “This part of the country or this part of the region, especially the Lake Chad region has always been volatile.

    “That is why members of the Lake Chad Commission created the Multinational Joint Task Force.

    “So, we will see ourselves performing similar duties even after the final clearance of the Boko Hartam terrorists,’’ Buratai added.

    He warned the troops to refrain from all acts of indiscipline as peace was gradually returning to the area and displaced people returning to their communities restart their lives.

    The army chief further warned that those caught engaging in trading and extortion would be dealt with according to the law.

    “Issues of indiscipline must also be checked within the division.

    “As the people here gradually return to their communities, return to their businesses, they should be allowed to do their businesses free without any interference.

    “Report of extortion or soldiers engaging themselves in trading activities with the people here must be resisted.

    “We do not want any distraction. Trading in fish or cattle, if anyone – soldier, is caught, he is going to be dealt with according to the law.

    “You are here to maintain the peace, you are here to perform your duties as soldiers; you are here not to trade or do any other business.

    “Very soon, those that are in the IDPs camps will go back to their homes and re-establish themselves and the economic activities will increase.

    “Do not fall into that temptation to be involved (in trading),’’ he further warned.

    The 8 Division was created as a task force in 2016 to boost military operations against the Boko Haram menace, particularly in the Lake Chad region.

    But the division will move to Sokoto State in the North West, where it would be operationalised soon, according to Buratai.

    The army chief visited one of the camps in Monguno, holding 20, 000 IDPs and donated some relief materials, including food items, detergents and clothes to them.

    He used the opportunity to address the elderly men and women IDPs in the camp, including the 700 recently rescued by troops during operations in the Chad basin.

    A total of 2, 700 captives were rescued in the last one week.

    While 700 were rescued on Tuesday, 2,000 were freed on Thursday morning after intensive artillery and aerial bombardment of the terrorists’ enclaves in the Lake Chad region. (NAN)

  • Prices of rice drops by 25% in Maiduguri

    Prices of rice drops by 25% in Maiduguri

    As farmers began crop harvest, prices of local rice has dropped by about 25 per cent in Maiduguri, Borno, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    A check by NAN at Gamboru and Customs Area Markets in Maiduguri indicated that prices of the commodity had dropped in the past two months since the beginning of crop harvest by farmers.

    NAN reports that rice farmers had recorded bumper harvests this cropping season, forcing the prices of the staple food crushing.

    A 50kg bag of local rice goes for between N6,500 and N7,200 as against the old price of N9,000, while a measure of the produce is sold at N380.

    The development has affected the price of refined rice which also declined.

    A 50kg bag is being sold at between N15,000 and N16,500 from the old price of N17,500.

    A measure of the commodity now go for N900 as against N1,050, depending on its quality.

    Prices of other produce had also dropped significantly in the past months as a measure of maize is sold at N280, beans N450 and millet N350, as against the previous prices of N420, N600 and N500, respectively.

    Similarly, a measure of groundnut oil is sold at N280 as against N500.

    Traders at the markets attributed the drop in prices to improvement in the supply of food commodities to the markets.

    Malam Ali Muhammad, a rice dealer, said that prices of rice were falling on daily basis in view of the fresh supplies from the farms.

    Muhammad also attributed the situation to improvement in the supply of local produce to the market, adding that the development is encouraging.

    “There is a significant increase in the number of farmers who cultivated rice and other produce this cropping season.

    “Prices will further go down as supply improves,’’ he said.

    Muhammad said that rice dealers were now enjoying appreciable patronage.

    Also commenting, Ya-Ana Yusuf, a peanut grower, said that the massive mobilisation of farmers in liberated communities had encouraged production and forced

    grain prices down in the state.

    Malam Muhammad Dungus, a resident, expressed joy over the development, and urged traders to further reduce their prices.

    NAN reports that the Federal Government in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) had distributed fertilisers, seeds and inputs to over 1.1

    million farmers in the Northeast this cropping season.

    More than 5,000 rice farmers were also supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the Anchor Borrowers Scheme in Borno.

  • Family of rescued Chibok girl lauds army

    Family of rescued Chibok girl lauds army

    Mr Ayuba Aloson, a relative to one of the abducted Chibok girls on Friday lauded the Nigerian Army’s effort over the rescue of Salomi Pogu, the 15th in the list of the abducted girls.

    Reports say that troops of Operation Lafiya Dole on Thursday rescued Pogu in company of one other girl, Jamila Adams, at Pulka in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno.

    The 219 girls were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents at Government Secondary School, Chibok in 2014.

    Aloson, who is among thousands of displaced persons taking shelter in Maiduguri host community, commended the military over their commitment to rescue the abducted girls.

    He expressed joy over the development, and hoped that the remaining abducted girls would soon be rescued from captivity.

    Alonson said that he is a family member of the rescued girl, adding that four of his nieces abducted in the school were still held by the insurgents.

    Read also: Troops rescue Chibok girl Solomi Pogu

    “I am happy over the development; our abducted daughters are still with their captors.

    “This demonstrates the commitments of the military to the rescue of the girls,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Bring Back Our Girls movement had also lauded the efforts of the military in the rescue of Pogu.

    The spokesman of the group, Sesugh Akume, said in a statement issued in Maiduguri that the rescued girl was serial number 15, in the list of abducted 219 school girls.

    “Our movement is delighted to confirm this news to be true.

    “Salomi Pogu; is a daughter of Malam Pogu Yahi from Kaumutahyahi, a village in Kuburmbula ward of Chibok Local Government Area. Her parents are currently at an Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) camp in Rumirgo village, near Askira-Uba in Borno.

    “She is number 15 on the list of missing Chibok girls. This brings the number of our missing girls to 112”.

    Akume said that the group was yet to ascertain further details on Jamila Adams and her baby.

    Pogu’s rescue brought the number of girls that were freed from insurgents’ captivity to 107.

    NAN

  • Photos: Troops rescue another Chibok girl in Borno

    Photos: Troops rescue another Chibok girl in Borno

     

    From left: Deputy National Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service, Abubakar Dalhadu; National Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attah; and the Zonal Commander in the Comptroller-General of Customs’ compliance team, Tafida Yusuf, during a news conference on the 2017 Customs Seizure Management, in Lagos on Thursday

     

    Salomi Pugo, one of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped in 2014, who was rescued by the military troops at Pulka in Borno on Thursday.