The Nation Newspaper

Tag: borno

  • UN condemns deadly attacks on civilians in Borno

    UN condemns deadly attacks on civilians in Borno

    The Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon, on Tuesday condemned the deadly attacks targeting innocent civilians in Konduga, Banki and Ngala areas of Borno.

    Kallon expressed this view in a statement by Biodun Banire, Public Information Officer, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Tuesday in Abuja

    He said that four attacks in recent weeks, three of which were carried out by suicide bombers, had claimed the lives of over 45 civilians and injured countless others.

    Kallon said that the incidents were indicative of a surge in the brutal violence triggered by a regionalised conflict that is now in its eighth year.

    “Civilians are routinely killed in direct and indiscriminate attacks in the north-east of Nigeria.

    “This conflict, with all its brutality and horrors, is reaching new lows, with more than 80 children used as human bombs in 2017 alone.

    “I call upon all parties to the conflict to respect human life and dignity.

    “The latest attack occurred on September 18 in Konduga area, about 28 kilometers southeast of Maiduguri.

    “Three suicide bombers consecutively detonated explosive devices strapped to their bodies in Mashemari village, killing 13 and injuring many more,” he said.

    According to him, previous attacks in Banki and Ngala targeted camps for internally displaced persons and Nigerian refugees returning home.

    He said that these camps hosted thousands of vulnerable women, men and children, who had been forced to flee their homes and now rely on humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs.

    “The previous Konduga attack in August targeted a market in the town.

    “The frequency of the attacks is on the rise and ‘softer’ targets, such as camps for displaced persons, are being identified by insurgents.

    “This is an extremely worrying trend, while the Government of Nigeria has made significant progress in many locations in the north-east, allowing thousands of people to return home, there is more to be done.

    “I urge the Government of Nigeria to increase efforts to protect civilians,” he said

    He said that the protection of civilians was the focus of the ongoing humanitarian response in the north-east.

    Kallon noted with concern that 8.5 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in the most affected states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa state’s.

    “Women, children and men face grave human rights violations and sexual and gender-based violence, including rape.

    “Since the start of the conflict in 2009, thousands of people have been killed, thousands of women and girls have been abducted and children have been used as so-called “suicide” bombers,” he said. (NAN)

  • UN condemns deadly attacks on civilians in Borno

    UN condemns deadly attacks on civilians in Borno

    The Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon, on Tuesday condemned the deadly attacks targeting innocent civilians in Konduga, Banki and Ngala areas of Borno.

    Kallon expressed this view in a statement by Biodun Banire, Public Information Officer, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Tuesday in Abuja

    He said that four attacks in recent weeks, three of which were carried out by suicide bombers, had claimed the lives of over 45 civilians and injured countless others.

    Kallon said that the incidents were indicative of a surge in the brutal violence triggered by a regionalised conflict that is now in its eighth year.

    “Civilians are routinely killed in direct and indiscriminate attacks in the north-east of Nigeria.

    “This conflict, with all its brutality and horrors, is reaching new lows, with more than 80 children used as human bombs in 2017 alone.

    “I call upon all parties to the conflict to respect human life and dignity.

    “The latest attack occurred on September 18 in Konduga area, about 28 kilometers southeast of Maiduguri.

    “Three suicide bombers consecutively detonated explosive devices strapped to their bodies in Mashemari village, killing 13 and injuring many more,” he said.

    According to him, previous attacks in Banki and Ngala targeted camps for internally displaced persons and Nigerian refugees returning home.

    He said that these camps hosted thousands of vulnerable women, men and children, who had been forced to flee their homes and now rely on humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs.

    “The previous Konduga attack in August targeted a market in the town.

    “The frequency of the attacks is on the rise and ‘softer’ targets, such as camps for displaced persons, are being identified by insurgents.

    “This is an extremely worrying trend, while the Government of Nigeria has made significant progress in many locations in the north-east, allowing thousands of people to return home, there is more to be done.

    “I urge the Government of Nigeria to increase efforts to protect civilians,” he said

    He said that the protection of civilians was the focus of the ongoing humanitarian response in the north-east.

    Kallon noted with concern that 8.5 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in the most affected states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa state’s.

    “Women, children and men face grave human rights violations and sexual and gender-based violence, including rape.

    “Since the start of the conflict in 2009, thousands of people have been killed, thousands of women and girls have been abducted and children have been used as so-called “suicide” bombers,” he said.

  • NSCDC sets up special squad for Bama

    NSCDC sets up special squad for Bama

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has set up a special squad to boost security operations in Bama community of Borno.

    Spokesman of the Corps, Mr Emmanuel Okeh, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, said the squad was codenamed Special Bama Squad (SBS).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bama was declared an “Islamic Caliphate’’ by Boko Haram terrorists, who captured it along with Gwoza in 2014.

    But Nigerian troops reclaimed the community in 2015, and reconstruction works are ongoing in areas destroyed by the terrorists.

    Okeh stated that the Commandant-General (CG) of the NSCDC, Mr Abdullahi Gana, announced the squad while addressing members of management, and zonal and state commandants of the agency in Abuja.

    He quoted the CG as saying that the move was in compliance with a recent directive by the Federal Government to security agencies to beef up their presence in the North-East.

    The government, according to him, specifically directed the Army, NSCDC and the Police to provide 1,500 personnel each to Bama.

    They were mandated to receive the Emir of Bama and other returning IDPs, in addition to providing adequate protection for the civil populace of the community.

    “The Special Bama Squad is an additional number of personnel who will carry out round-the-clock patrols in all the nooks and crannies of Bama community and its suburbs.

    “They have been mandated to synergise with other security agencies in the Bama axis,’’ Gana said.

  • Police confirm murder of Islamic cleric, 16 others in Borno

    Police confirm murder of Islamic cleric, 16 others in Borno

    The Police in Borno on Monday said that Boko Haram insurgent had killed an Islamic cleric at Kurumari village in Magumeri local government area of the state.

    DSP Isuku Victor, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

    Victor said that three other persons were killed when the insurgents stormed the village on Sunday.

    “On September 17, at about 22:30 hours, some suspects reasonably believed to be Boko Haram terrorists attacked Kurumari village, about 14 kilometres east of Magumeri town, in Magumeri local government area.

    “Four persons including the Imam of the village were reportedly killed during the attack.”

    Victor disclosed that 13 other persons were also killed in multiple suicide bomb attacks at Mashemeri village in Konduga local government area of the state.

    “On Monday September 18, at about 10:50 hours, two male and a female suicide bombers carried out coordinated attacks at different locations at Mashemari village in konduga Local Government Area.

    “The first explosion occurred when there was echo of sporadic shooting in a farm. In the ensuing stampede, the first suicide bomber detonated the Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs).

    “The other two suicide bombers detonated their explosives inside the village close to the house of the village head.

    “Thirteen persons including the three suicide bombers died while sixteen other persons sustained various degrees of injuries,” he said.

    Isuku said that the victims were referred to the General Hospital, Konduga for treatment.

    He added that Police EOD team and Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) were deployed; adding that normalcy had been restored to the area.

  • 48 persons die of cholera in Borno

    48 persons die of cholera in Borno

    A humanitarian medical organisation, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said about 48 persons have died of cholera since the outbreak of the disease last month in Borno state.

    The organisation otherwise called Doctors without Borders, said that 2, 627 cases of the disease were recorded by the state ministry of health.

    Anna Cilliers, MSF’s Medical Coordinator said that the organisation had scaled up its campaign to contain the cholera outbreak in Maiduguri, Monguno and Dikwa local government areas of the state.

    “As new cases of cholera emerged from Monguno, Dikwa and other parts of Maiduguri, MSF continues to scale up its response in the state. Since the start of the outbreak, a total of 2, 627 cholera cases and 48 deaths were reported by the Borno State Ministry of Health.

    The state capital Maiduguri alone has witnessed 1,425 cases, while 600 cases in Dikwa and 602 cases in Monguno have so far been reported.

    “Early diagnosis and treatment is vital to tackle cholera outbreak. As cases of the disease increased in Maiduguri, we rapidly set up a 100-bed capacity Cholera Treatment Centre (CTU) at Dala area of Maiduguri”.

    Cilliers disclosed in a statement that since August 16, some 491 patients were admitted and 475 discharged at the centre.

    She added that the organisation had also set up another 50-bed capacity CTU centre at the Muna Garage Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in the outskirts of Maiduguri, adding that the centre would be upgraded to 100-bed capacity in the coming days, if the conditions warranted it.

    The medical coordinator lamented that the disease has begun to spread to other camps in the surrounding area and into the city.

    To contain the situation, Cilliers said, MSF operated an Oral Rehydration Point (ORT), where patients could access sugar and salt solution to help them to overcome severe dehydration.

    “Patients arriving here in critical condition are taken directly in our ambulances to the cholera treatment centres”.

    The statement also quoted Dr Felix Kouassi, another MSF’s Medical Coordinator, as saying that a 110-bed capacity treatment centre was established at Monguno to combat the disease.

    Kouassi noted that patients with suspected cholera cases were isolated to curtail spread of the disease.

    “We are worried that the number of beds currently planned may not be enough as cases continue to rise in the town.”

    According to him, the organization was working closely in coordination with state ministry of health, World Health Organisation (WHO) and other humanitarian organisations on prevention and treatment of cholera, as well as providing training to health workers.

    “Our facilities operate 24 hours basis providing free services. People with symptoms of cholera, acute diarrhoea, loose stools and dehydration should seek treatment immediately.

    “We remain alert and through our community health workers continue to monitor spread of the outbreak and ensure rapid respond,” he added.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the borno state government has commenced a five-day cholera immunisation campaign in the affected communities.

    About 900, 000 persons were targeted for vaccination against the disease in the exercise while community sensitisation on environment, sanitation and hygiene has also been conducted to control the disease.

  • NOA sues for peace in Borno

    NOA sues for peace in Borno

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Borno, has called on people of the state to eschew acts capable of disrupting the peaceful co-existence in the country.

     

    Mr Danladi Emmanuel, NOA’s Information Officer, made the call in a statement issued on Saturday in Maiduguri.

    Emmanuel said the call became necessary in view of the recent breach of peace by some parts of the country.

     

    “We should not engage in actions that would undermine the unity and progress of the nation.

     

    “We must support President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which focused on promoting unity, peace and progress of the country,“ he said.

     

    He urged community and religious leaders to admonish and sensitise their followers on the need to live in harmony with one another and remain law abiding.

     

    “We should mobilise to disown and work against any person or group trying to cause unrest in any part of the state,’’ he said.

  • Borno: NAF commences another medical outreach

    Borno: NAF commences another medical outreach

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Thursday said it had commenced another round of medical outreach programme in Borno.

    The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja  on Thursday.

    According to Adesanya, the new round of medical outreach programme was primarily aimed at enhancing available NAF medical facilities and personnel at the Medical Centre of NAF 105 Composite Group (CG), in Maiduguri.

    “This is to position the medical centre to adequately attend to the anticipated increase in the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as a result of the intensive day and night aerial bombardments by NAF,” he said.

    In the statement, the NAF Chief of Medical Services Branch, AVM Saleh Shinkafi, also said the programme was an initiative of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

    Shinkafi said that it was also designed to win the hearts and minds of the locals in the conflict areas.

    He said a team comprising different medical specialists had been deployed to the 105 CG Medical Centre to augment the existing medical manpower for the operation.

    He said Abubakar had also directed that surgeries be conducted, at no cost to the IDPs, for those requiring surgical interventions.

    “Upon deployment, the medical team immediately started attending to critical surgical cases in IDPs camps around Maiduguri, including Bakassi, NYSC, Gubio, Teachers’ Village, CAN Centre, Shuari, Farm Centre, Goni Kachalai, Muna Garage and Dalori.

    “So far, NAF medical outreach team has successfully performed 23 general surgeries and 30 eye surgeries on IDPs from the various camps at no cost to them.

    “The team of medical specialists extended the medical outreach to the IDPs camp in Rann from where over 30 IDPs had already been transported by  NAF helicopter for surgical interventions in Maiduguri,” Shinkafi said.

    He said further that the exercise was fourth in the series of surgical interventions lined up by NAF for the IDPs in Borno.

    According to him, it is envisaged that surgeries would be conducted on about 150 IDPs during the exercise.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NAF commenced Operation “Ruwan Wuta” few days ago to further degrade the capability of the insurgents thereby, preventing them from regrouping to cause havoc.

  • NAF destroys more Boko Haram’s structures in Sambisa

    NAF destroys more Boko Haram’s structures in Sambisa

    The Nigerian Air Force ( NAF ) says it has destroyed more structures in Borno used by Boko Haram insurgents as meeting points.

    This NAF announced this in a statement issued by Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Adesanya explained that on the fourth day of an ongoing intensive bombardment of the insurgents’ hideouts in the Sambisa General Area, the airforce conducted air interdiction on Boko Haram’s settlement in Njimia on Sept. 10.

    “NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms had previously confirmed that several structures used by the terrorists as meeting points were in the location.

    “The air interdiction was conducted by the Alpha Jet and F-7Ni aircraft, which took turns to attack the location with bombs.

    “Subsequent Battle Damage Assessment showed that the targeted insurgent’s structures were destroyed as a result of the attacks,” he said.

    The director said that the attacks were designed to further break the will and capability of the insurgents to regroup against the air force.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some buildings used by the insurgents in Borno, especially in the Sambisa General Area, had earlier been destroyed by the military in the newly launched operation.

  • Six Boko Haram insurgents surrender to NSCDC

    Six Boko Haram insurgents surrender to NSCDC

    The Borno Command of the  Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ), on Monday said  six Boko Haram insurgents had surrendered to the corps.

    The Spokesperson for the command, Mr Bulus James, made the disclosure in a statement in Maiduguri.

    James further disclosed that the repented insurgents surrendered to the corps under the Operation Safe Corridor initiated by the Federal Government.

    He said that a large number of demoralised insurgents had also indicated their willingness to renounce their crime and join the society.

    James reiterated the command’s commitment to support the military to ensure successful implementation of the counter-insurgency campaign.

    According to him, the command also conducts sensitisation activities with a view to exposing the personnel to the best practices in peace building and conflict resolution.

    “The campaign seeks to promote good understanding with sister security agencies as well as enhance mutual relations with society, “he said.

    “On Sept. 9, the command graduated sets of trainees who were exposed to modern security services.

    “The trainees were drawn from a security client of the University of Maiduguri.

    “Private security firms are also encouraged to provide useful information to the military and police to end insurgency and stimulate peace building process.”

    James warned that the command would de-list unregistered security firms and those that failed to renew their operational licenses  in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Operation Safe Corridor is a critical component of the counter-insurgency operation.

    It was designed to encourage Boko Haram insurgents to surrender, facilitate their deradicalisation and rehabilitation for reintegration into the society.

    Hundreds of repented Boko Haram insurgents are undergoing three-month deradicalisation process at a military facility in Gombe.

  • Boko Haram militants kill seven in Borno IDPs camp

    Boko Haram militants kill seven in Borno IDPs camp

    At least seven people were killed on Friday when Boko Haram fighters attacked an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Ngala Borno State.

    Ngala, which has its headquarters in Gamboru Ngala is located near Nigeria’s border with Cameroon.

    Two people were also killed by a blast outside another camp in Maiduguri, the state capital.

    A civilian militia member in Ngala, Umar Kachalla, said insurgents in two pick-up trucks fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the camp, which houses some 80,000 people.

    “The insurgents fired an RPG into the camp from behind the fire fence, killing seven people,” he said.