The Nation Newspaper

Tag: borno

  • Army probes soldiers’ misconduct in IDPs camp

    Army probes soldiers’ misconduct in IDPs camp

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. – Gen. Tukur Buratai, has ordered investigation into alleged misconduct by soldiers in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Bama, Borno.

    The  Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. – Gen. Sani Usman, disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

    ‘‘The Nigerian Army has noted with great concern growing allegations of misconduct against some persons on security duties at an IDPs camp in Bama, Borno.

    ‘‘We would like to state that Nigerian Army personnel have been doing their best in bringing peace and security in various parts of the country especially in the North East; any act of misconduct could negatively impact on these good works,’’ Usman said.

    He added: ‘‘Although these allegations are unsubstantiated, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen.Tukur Buratai, has directed that the matter be thoroughly investigated by both the Director, Military Intelligence and Provost Marshal (Army).

    ‘‘We would like to reiterate that the Nigerian Army has zero tolerance for any misconduct among its officers and soldiers especially those that are trusted with onerous responsibility of guarding and securing those Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps.

    “Anyone found culpable would be severely dealt with,” he warned.

    The Director enjoined the public to make use of the newly established Nigerian Army Information and Call Centre to report any such issue and other security concerns to the Army authorities.

    He advised the public to report such matters by calling the short code 193 using any of the telecommunication service providers network in Nigeria.

  • Boko Haram: NSCDC deploys 600 personnel to worship centres in Maiduguri

    Boko Haram: NSCDC deploys 600 personnel to worship centres in Maiduguri

    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Borno Command, has deployed about 600 personnel to various worship centres in Maiduguri to assure worshippers of their safety.

    The State Commandant of the Corps, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, made the disclosure on Sunday in Maiduguri in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said the deployment was part of efforts to curtail suspected suicide bomb attacks by Boko Haram at worship centres, especially during the month of Ramadan.

    He said that the team included men of the anti-riot squad, bomb detection and disposal unit as well as intelligence and detective unit.

    “We have also boosted our security checks and patrol at various institutions of learning especially University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) that had suffered many attacks this year.

    “The students should therefore have no course for alarm as they go about their studies,’’ he said.

    Abdullahi said the command had also increased its surveillance at commercial centres, markets, motor parks, amusement parks and shopping malls in the state capital to ensure protection of the populace.

    “ We therefore appeal to residents to assist the security agencies with relevant information that will enable us nip any suspected threat of Boko Haram or any other elements in the bud.

    “We advice all worship centres in the areas where we are not stationed our personnel to ensure that some persons be on the watch while others are praying.

    “They should also be alert to strange faces,’’ Abdullahi cautioned.

  • NSCDC deploys 50 armed personnel to UNIMAID to check attacks

    NSCDC deploys 50 armed personnel to UNIMAID to check attacks

    The Borno Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) has deployed 50 armed personnel to check incessant attacks at the University of Maiduguri.

    Its Commandant, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, told newsmen on Monday in Maiduguri that the measure was necessitated by the rising cases of suicide bombing and other attacks at the institution.

    He said that the personnel had been deployed to strategic locations like the business centres, motor parks, worship and social centres, among other areas.

    The official urged the students and members of the university community to be calm and report any suspicious movement around the vicinity to security agents.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the institution has recorded four incidents of attacks in the last few weeks.

  • NEMA DG wants more collaboration on humanitarian crisis in N. East

    NEMA DG wants more collaboration on humanitarian crisis in N. East

    Alhaji Mustapha Maihaja, Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has called for more collaboration among stakeholders toward addressing humanitarian crisis in the North-East.

    Maihaja made the call during an interactive meeting with humanitarian stakeholders on Sunday in Maiduguri.

    “NEMA has the primary responsibility of responding to emergencies and coordinating humanitarian crisis in the country.

    “The North-East, especially Borno, is worst affected by the devastating Boko Haram insurgency; we need massive collaboration among stakeholders to tackle the resultant humanitarian crisis here,” he said.

    He promised that NEMA would continue to provide the support necessary to improve the living conditions of displaced persons, noting however, that more would be achieved if all stakeholders worked together.

    The NEMA boss said that the interactive session had helped the agency to get a feedback on its performances, especially the shortcomings.

    “We intend to meet with experts and examine our performances; we will also contact international organisations and appeal for increased support.

    “We shall also discuss the current realities with the Federal Government and crave for more support,” he said.

    Mr Peter Lundberg, UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator to Nigeria, had earlier told the NEMA boss that there were 75 partners working in the North-East, among them UN agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders.

  • Borno residents appeal to military on suicide bomb attacks

    Borno residents appeal to military on suicide bomb attacks

    Borno residents have appealed to the military to intervene in the increased suicide bomb attacks by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in the state.

    Across section of those interviewed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri made the appeal on Sunday in Maiduguri.

    Malam Bakura Modu, a local hunter said that the wave of attacks especially in Maiduguri, has created negative impression about the current situation in the state.

    “There is no doubt that the military has recorded great successes against the Boko Haram insurgents.

    “But the recent spate of suicide bomb attacks is creating wrong impression in the media that the group is still strong,” Modu said.

    He said that the military must live up to the expectations by finding quick solutions to the bombings.

    Modu said local hunters were ready to join the military in the search for the insurgents in the bush.

    “We have been expressing our willingness to join the fight against the insurgents in the bush, but the military had always turned us back.

    “We are hoping that this time around they will consider our proposal,” he said.

    Mr Samuel Anjukui, a retired police officer corroborated Modu’s claim.

    “The military has within a few months decimated the insurgents, reclaiming territories and rescuing many abducted persons.

    “But the recent up surge in the number of suicide bomb attacks has created worries in the minds of the people,” Anjukui said.

    He added:” In the last few months it is almost certain that incidences of bomb blasts will occur every weekend.

    “The situation has even worsened now as the blasts have almost assumed a daily dimension”.

    Anjukui, however, expressed optimism in the ability of the military to address the situation.

    “The military has the capabilities to address the problem; it must therefore rise up to the occasion by halting the negative trend.

    “It is either they make use of high technology for early detection of explosive materials or take the battle to the door steps of the insurgents in the bush,” he said.

    Malam Musa Inuwa a civil servant offered a different perspective.

    “I think that the natives hold the key to ending the ugly trend the military has done its best by degrading the insurgents.

    “But ending the crisis depend on the natives because the insurgents live among the people, they plan their attacks among the people.

    “As long as the people are not willing to expose them, the attacks will continue,” Inuwa said.(NAN)

  • 3 suicide bombers die attempting to enter varsity

    3 suicide bombers die attempting to enter varsity

    Three Suicide bombers have been confirmed dead in the early hours of Friday in Maiduguri, Borno while attempting to enter some locations in the University of Maiduguri.
    Mr Sani Datti, Head of Media and Public Relations of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    Datti said that the vigilant University’s Security and Vigilantes group intercepted the suicide bombers before they could gain entrance into the University premises.

    He explained that immediately the suicide bombers detonated their explosives strapped on them, it led to injury of the two University’s security officers and two vigilantes.

    Datti said that the incidence occurred when the new Director-General of NEMA, Mr Mustapaha Maihaja is on a two-day visit to Maiduguri to meet with the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    He said Maihaja would also be meeting with leaders and stakeholders in the states to discuss ways forward in responding to humanitarian needs of the affected persons.

    He said that the remains of the three suicide bombers were evacuated to the Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that amidst stringent security measures in the State, there have been few cases of suicide attacks in IDPs camps and the University of Maiduguri.

    These attacks have claimed lives and left several injured.

  • Boko Haram: Security agencies return personnel to liberated communities in Borno

    Some security agencies have deployed their personnel back to communities in the 24 local government areas in Borno liberated from the Boko Haram insurgents by the military.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Damian Chukwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that his command had deployed its men in almost all the liberated communities.

    “We have our men in the local government areas liberated from the Boko Haram insurgents.

    “We are in Kala- Balge, Monguno, Gwoza, Askira-Uba, Damboa, Chibok, Nganzai, Gubio, Damasak, Konduga, Kukawa, Bama and other areas,” Chukwu said.

    He said, however, that the command had yet to mobilise its personnel to three local government areas – Abadam, Guza Mala and Marte.

    “The only local government areas we have yet to deploy personnel are: Abadam, Guza Mala and Marte, and this is due to an ongoing military operations there.

    “We are waiting for signals from the military to enable us to move in and as soon as the signals come we will deploy our men,” the commissioner said.

    He said the police deployed men from different departments to the areas due to their peculiarities.

    “Based on the peculiar situation in the state, we deploy personnel from police departments such as the Mobile Police, Counter Terrorism Unit and Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD),” he said.

    Similarly, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in the state says it has deployed its officers and men back to the liberated communities.

    The NIS Comptroller in the area, Malam Musa Jahun, said the command had returned personnel to three main border posts in the state.

    Jahun said that the NIS had reopened its posts in Gamboru, Banki and Damasak.

    “The first area we returned was Gamboru-Ngala, a border community with the Cameroon Republic. We deployed our men in the registration and control posts for refugees returning from Cameroon.

    “We have been there for almost four months now, but we are just providing skeletal services. We are registering returnees in conjunction with the UN Commission for Refugees,” he said.

    ” Any place that is liberated from the terrorists, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) will usually perform a kind of celebration after which the paramilitary chiefs will meet with him to decide on the next line of action.

    “The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other paramilitary bodies will then move in,” the comptroller said.

    He said the Service had also commenced rebuilding of its structures damaged by insurgents.

    “We have started rebuilding our structures. We began with that of Gamboru station. The NIS service headquarters has reconstructed the housing blocks, while the Borno Government has assisted in rebuilding the offices.

    Also, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said it had also deployed its personnel back to the liberated communities.

    The NSCDC Head of Operations in the state, Mr Danladi Daorong, said,“we have our men in a couple of places such as Bama, Konduga, Jere, Mafa, Gubio, Dikwa and Gamboru.

    “We are in the process of deploying our men in Damboa, and other few areas,” Daorong said.

    He, however, said that lack of logistics, especially operation vehicles, was hindering the exercise

    “Our operations are hampered by lack of mobility as we do not have vehicles to move around.

    “However, we are doing our best in the circumstances,” he said.

     

  • NNPC to resume oil exploration in Chad Basin in six weeks

    NNPC to resume oil exploration in Chad Basin in six weeks

    The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru says oil exploration activities in the Chad Basin will resume in six weeks time.

    Baru made this known in a statement issued by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu.

    Baru said the resumption of oil exploration activities became necessary following improved security in the North East.

    The NNPC boss said this when he visited Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno State and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar El-Kanemi in Maiduguri.

    “We have been discussing with military authorities in the area and they have assured us of improved security.

    “Once they give us the green light, we would resume operations in the area within six weeks,” Baru, who was represented by the Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power, Mr. Saidu Mohammed, said.

    Baru informed the governor that NNPC was keen on increasing its production from 1.9 million barrels per day (bpd) to three million bpd as well as increasing its oil and gas reserves, a target that necessitated exploring for more oil within and across some of the nation’s inland basins.

    He commended the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari and Shettima for restoring peace, reconstructing and rehabilitating the region, adding that the Corporation was ready to provide support in that regard.

    Baru appealed to the Shehu of Borno to prevail on his people to show oil exploration activities resumes.

    Highlight of the visit was the presentation of relief materials by Baru to the Shehu for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

    Responding, Shettima said the insurgency had taken a huge toll on the North-East region leading to the loss of more than 9.6 billion dollars, with Borno state alone losing 5.6 billion dollars.

    “We need your support in our reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, so that when the history of the new Borno is written, NNPC’s name will be written in gold,” he said.

    Shettima said while international donour agencies and good-spirited organisations like the NNPC were keen on helping the IDPs, the state’s ultimate target was to resettle the IDPs in their various communities.

    Also speaking, the Shehu of Borno commended the NNPC for identifying with the Borno people and expressed happiness over the prevailing peace across the state and the entire North East.

     

  • NIMET cautions Borno farmers against early crop planting

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) on Thursday advised farmers in Borno to tarry a little before planting crops following the recent rainfall in the state.

    NIMET’s North East Coordinator, Sabo Bitrus, gave the advice while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

    Bitrus was reacting to the ongoing planting of crops by farmers in Maiduguri and Jere after last week’s rainfall.

    “We are calling on farmers in Borno to hold on a little.

    “The farmers must wait for the actual commencement of the rainy season before planting their crops.

    “It is true that we have witnessed some rainfall in different areas recently.

    “But we must understand that this does not mean that the rainy season has commenced.

    “Before you can correctly say that the season has commenced, a specific amount of rainfall must have fallen,” the meteorologist said.

    Bitrus said that the onset for the 2017 rainy season in Borno had been put at June 20.

    “In essence, farmers must wait till June 20, when the actual rainy season will start before they can go to farm and start crops cultivation,” he said.

  • 600 households benefit from Fadama intervention scheme

    At least 600 households have benefited from the Fadama III North East special intervention project targeted at Internally Displaced Persons and host communities.

    Mrs Awotunde Bisayo, Community Action Plan (CAP) officer, Fadama III North East special intervention project, disclosed this in an interview the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Monday.

    She said that the intervention was in the form of food items, farming inputs and distribution of ruminants to IDPs and their host communities.

    Awotunde said 52 communities were identified in Gombe state alone to benefit further from the project, adding that already, 40 households in 15 communities had benefited.

    According to her, the beneficiaries that selected farming were given seeds and other inputs, as well as food items as assistance.

    She also said that others received foodstuff, as well as livestock and feeds for rearing.

    “We were impressed by what we have seen on ground in Gombe.

    “Most of the beneficiaries we interacted with, confirmed to us that the items were given to them, and we went round and saw it physically.

    “I commend Gombe Fadama office for proper intervention; they are working in line with our aims and objectives,” she said.

    She appealed to those that their names were taken but had not benefited from the intervention to exercise patience, assuring that they would soon benefit.

    An IDP from Chibok, Miss Maimuna Yau, told NAN that she received 50 chicks with feeds, a bag of rice, beans, maize and vegetable oil.

    “We will forever remain grateful for the relief material and means of livelihood given to us by the Federal Government,” she said.

    Another beneficiary, Malam Rabiu Hassan from Dikwa in Borno, said he received food items, as well as four sheep and feeds for rearing.