The Nation Newspaper

Tag: borno

  • Chibok community celebrates return of the 82 girls

    Members of the Chibok community in Borno on Sunday lauded the Federal Government for securing the release of 82 girls out of those abducted on April 14, 2014 by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

    Across section of those interviewed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Chibok, specifically commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the gesture.

    “Sincerely speaking I am overwhelmed, this is the kind of information that we have long waited for.

    “We appreciate God first and appreciate the government especially the presidency which championed the negotiations,” Mr Ayuba Alamson a community leader said.

    He expressed the hope that every other person in captivity of the insurgents will also be set free.

    “We pray that this will lead to the release of the remaining girls and all the people that have been captured by the insurgents.

    “Our prayer is all of them will be released,” Alamson said.

    Alhaji Zanna Modu the District Head of Chibok corroborated the feeling,

    “We want to commend all those individuals, organizations the Federal and the Borno State Governments for their role in ensuring the release of the girls.

    “Our prayer is for God to give them more wisdom to intervene, so that this thing will come to an end completely.

    “I also pray for the president for God to grant him good health, so he can  fulfill all the promises he made to Nigeria like the release of all the Chibok girls and ending Boko Haram insurgency”.

    Also speaking Elder Solomon Samuel, also a community leader, described the latest released of the girls as a big surprise.

    “Most people did not sleep yesterday in Chibok, they were praying, praising God and some were even shedding tears of joy because of the news.

    “I did not sleep until 1 a.m. because of the report on the release of the girls,” Samuel said.

    He added:”Sincerely speaking we cannot quantify the level of joy in the community.

    “We pray that the next information we will get is that the remaining girls have been released.

    “I want to call  on all Boko Haram members that violent campaign will not help them.

    “It is high time for them to embrace dialogue let them surrender and embrace dialogue so that peace will return”.

  • PPA chieftain hails Buhari, Red Cross, over release of 82 Chibok Girls

    A chieftain of Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), in Enugu state, Mr Godwin Ezeemo, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari, Red Cross and Non-Governmental Agencies for the release of 82 Chibok Girls.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Boko Haram members in 2014 abducted more than 200 secondary school girls of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno.

    Twenty one of the girls were released in October 2016, while President directed the security agencies to continue the search until all of the affected girls were released and re-united with their families.

    Ezeemo told NAN in Enugu on Sunday, that the release would help to check the emotional trauma the parents of the released girls might be facing for over three years.

    He noted that the release of this “massive number’’ was an indication that the Federal Government and its partners had the capacity to release the remaining girls.

    “I am overwhelmed with joy when I heard about the news.

    “It is a good development, coming, timely, before emotional trauma sends the parents of these girls to their early graves.

    “It is going to bring a lot of emotional and traumatic relief to these families that had anticipated the return of their daughters,’’ he said.

    According to him, the release will also give Nigeria commendable respect in the international circle, once more.

    Ezeemo, also a leading industrialist, commended the government of Switzerland for its special interest in ensuring a fruitful negotiation with the insurgents.

    “I urge other countries and friends of Nigeria to follow the example of government Switzerland in helping Nigeria, practically, in solving its national challenges.”

     

  • Borno elders commend release of 82 Chibok girls, want others freed

    Borno elders commend release of 82 Chibok girls, want others freed

    The Borno Elders Forum, on Sunday described reports of the release of 82 Chibok school girls from the Boko Haram insurgents as a good omen.

    Dr Mali Gubio, the Secretary of the forum told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that credit must go to President Muhammad Buhari.

    “We are extremely happy to hear the news on the release of the girls; we are grateful to God for showing us this day.

    “We believe that Buhari deserve great commendation on this.

    “The President has done so much and he is doing well in piloting the affairs of the nation.

    “We pray to Almighty Allah to grant him good health, so that he can continue the good work he is doing.

    “For the girls we are very happy, we hope they are not traumatised in anyway.

    “We believe that it is time the abductors release all the people in their custody; I think they have no reason to keep holding them for no just cause.

    “These are helpless vulnerable people who are supposed to be in their villages and hamlets waiting for the rainy season to return to farm.

    “It has taken so long, I think that they should have a change of heart to make sure that they end the insurgency.

    “There is no reason for us to continue to destroy ourselves, what they are doing is an act of self destruction, destroying themselves and the society at large,” Gubio, a former Head of Service said.

    He said that the insurgents had succeeded in showing their grievances to the world and “it is now time for the insurgency to end even without the military force.

    “The insurgents have expressed their grouses or whatever problem they have with the society,” he said. (NAN)

  • Borno to empower 150 women in Chibok

    The Borno Government says it plans to empower 150 women in Chibok Local Government Area with Livelihood Support as part of its post-insurgency Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement programme.

    The State Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Prof. Babagana Umara, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

    Umara said that the women would be trained in poultry and fish farming to enable them to acquire means of livelihood.

    He said the beneficiaries would be supported with tools to set up their own businesses after the training.

    “We are going to empower 150 women from Chibok with means of livelihood.

    “One hundred of them will be trained in poultry, while 50 will be empowered to engage in fish farming,” he said.

    He said another set of 50 women will be empowered through the Fadama farming project.

    “We also want to empower 50 women in villages through the Fadama project.

    “But the task of selecting these women lies with the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Chibok Local Government,” Umara said.

    He said that government would also distribute foodstuff to members of the community as part of its relief to communities ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    “By next week we shall distribute food items to members of the community to provide relief before the farming season,” Umara said.

    He said that government had also taken concrete steps toward addressing the problem of water supply in the area.

    “Gov. Kashim Shettima is very much concerned about the water problem in Chibok and he has directed that everything possible must be done to tackle the problem.

    “That is why we have sunk six boreholes in the area, we are in the process of reticulating the boreholes for maximum output,” Umara said.

    The commissioner expressed optimism that the project would be completed by the end of June.

    He also disclosed that the state government had purchased 30 heavy duty trucks for the construction of the Chibok-Nbalala road which he said, was in deplorable state.

    “Government has purchased 30 trucks to empower the State Road Maintenance Agency toward construction of the Chibok-Nbalala road, which is a federal road.

    “The agency has moved to site but lack of equipment has been the major obstacle,” he said.

    Umara said that with the acquisition of the trucks, the project would be completed within the year.

    He said that government was also constructing 60 houses for victims of insurgency in Chibok.

    “We have reached advanced stage in the construction of the 60 houses for victims of insurgency especially the vulnerable ones in Chibok.

    “We are hoping that donor agencies will come in to complement our efforts on these projects,” Umara said.

    NAN reports that 217 students of the Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok, were abducted on April 14, 2014 by suspected Boko Haram insurgents while writing their final year examination in the school.

  • We’ll not close Borno IDP camps by May 29 – NEMA

    We’ll not close Borno IDP camps by May 29 – NEMA

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said that the planned closure of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Borno by May 29 was no longer feasible.

    Mr Muhammad Kanar, the NEMA North East Coordinator stated on this Sunday while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri.

    Kanar said that IDPs whose communities had been liberated were, however, free to return home voluntarily.

    “Actually, Gov. Kashim Shettima arrived at the May 29 date for closure of all IDP camps based on his conviction that things will go on as they started from last year.

    “It was Shettima’s hope and the hope of every disaster management expert for the camps to close early so people can return to their normal life,” he said.

    Kanar said that the governor was motivated by the gallant efforts of the military in liberating many communities in a short period.

    “Stakeholders were amazed by the speed our gallant soldiers achieved a lot within a few weeks in the fight against insurgency.

    “They were able to recapture all the 22 Local Government Areas from the Boko Haram and liberated so many communities within and outside the areas.

    “These gave hope and focus that by May 29 government will be able to return IDPs back home.”

    He said that recent developments had almost made it impossible for the hope to be achieved.

    “But now it seems that closing the camps is not possible by the set date. We have to re-plan again.

    “By May 29, any IDP wishing to go back to his place can go, so long as the place is safe enough,” he said.

    Kanar said that the hope of returning all IDPs back home was not totally lost.

    “Up till today the hope is still there, if we can get the place safe, secured those willing to go back can still return.

    “Right now we have satellite camps in all liberated LGAs, where IDPs living in Maiduguri can stay pending when they can move to their communities.

    “If you do not want to stay in Maiduguri, you can go there. Many houses have been rehabilitated and normalcy restored in many LGA headquarters,” he said.

     

  • Emir appeals to FG on Maiduguri-Biu-Yola road

    The Emir of Shani in Borno, Alhaji Muhammadu Mailafiya, on Sunday, appealed to the Federal Government to intensify efforts in rehabilitating the dilapidated Maiduguri-Biu-Yola road to reduce the hardship faced by motorists in the area.

    Mailafiya made the appeal when he received member of House of Representatives representing Biu, Shani, Bayo and Kwaya Kusar constituency, Hon. Mukhtar Betara, on a courtesy visit in his palace in Shani, headquarters of Shani local Government Area.

    He expressed dismay over the failure of past governments to tackle the problem which subjected the communities to untold hardships.

    According to him, there is urgent need for government to expedite action toward fixing the road due to its socio-economic viability.

    He lamented that “in spite of the significance of the road, it suffered neglect by previous administrations.”

    The emir said he believed that the present government of President Muhammadu Buhari would rehabilitate the road “because we have seen his willingness to repair Nigerian roads and the Maiduguri-Biu-Yola highway should not be an exception.”

    The monarch added that majority of the population of the affected road were farmers and traders, saying the situation had undermined their sources of livelihood.

    “Our people are farmers and traders but the bad condition of the road pose serious threat to their activities. Farmers are confronted with challenges in transporting their farm produce to urban areas, while traders are unable to cope with the rising cost of transporting their goods.

    “We want Federal Government to urgently come to our aid,”

    The traditional ruler further called on the lawmaker to use his position and table a motion to facilitate  the inclusion of the project in the 2018 budget.

    He commended the lawmaker for the giant strides and contributions toward the development of the area, saying “though we really appreciate your numerous interventions in various sectors, we still want you to push for the rehabilitation of that road.”

    Responding, Betara assured the emir that he would do everything possible to ensure that he draw the attention of  Federal Government to the dilapidated road for prompt action.

    The legislator said he was in the area to donate to the people in the areas of health, education, poverty alleviation and skills aquisition.

    He said “your Royal Highness, I am in your domain to distribute several hospitatal and educational  equipment, as well as cash to the people as part of my poverty alleviation strategy.”

  • Islamic organization distributes relief materials to Borno IDPs

    The International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) on Sunday distributed relief materials worth millions Naira to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno, as part of its global support to people in need.

    IIRO Country Representative, Sheikh Adil Hussain, flagged off the distribution of the materials at the NYSC Orientation Camp IDP settlement.

    Hussain explained that the objective of the donation was to provide succor to the IDPs who had lost almost everything to conflicts in the zone.

    “We are here to flag off the distribution of these relief items to the Borno IDPs as part of our humanitarian service all over the world.

    “Our organization has been in the vanguard to provide care for the less privilege members of the society especially women, orphans and the vulnerable,” he said.

    Hussain said that the items were purchased from donations sent from the headquarters of the organization in Saudi Arabia.

    “I wish to convey the greetings of Ustaz Ali Hussain, the secretary of the IIRO from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    “The money for the purchase of the relief items came through him.

    “We pray to Allah for a lasting peace in the North East so that the IDPs can go back home,” he said.

    Hussain said that the distribution of the items would be done in four IDP camps in Maiduguri targeting about 1,500 beneficiaries.

    He said that the distribution would also be done for IDPs in Yobe and Adamawa States.

    He said that aside from the donations, the organization was also sponsoring the education of 600 orphans in Borno to safeguard their future.

    Items donated included bags of rice, spaghetti, cooking oil and blankets among others.

     

  • Insurgency: Borno to evacuate 78,000 IDPs from Cameroon

    Insurgency: Borno to evacuate 78,000 IDPs from Cameroon

    The Borno Government said on Sunday that it plans to evacuate 78,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) back home from Cameroon.

    The News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] reports that the affected IDPs fled to Cameroon at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

    The IDPs had a week ago urged the state government to facilitate their return home or they will trek back to Nigeria.

    Ahmad Satome, Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) told newsmen in Maiduguri that government plans to shelter the returnees in four temporary satellite camps.

    “The issue of the 78,000 Nigerian IDPs is purely a repatriation process, it is just to get them across the Cameroonian border back home.

    “Once they are back we will get them transported to transit camps in Kumshe, Gulumba, Ngoshe and Kirawa where they will feed for a week or thereabout, so they can stabilize before asking them where they want to go,” he said.

    Satome said that IDPs without any place to go would be kept in the camps while those who wanted to return home would be transported home.

    ” IDPs without homes or those whose communities are unsafe will be kept in the camps while those who want to return home will be transported home.

    “But for those who wished to remain in Cameroon they will be allowed to stay in accordance with the Geneva Convention,” he said.

    Satome said government was focused on ensuring early return of all IDPs back to their communities especially those in areas liberated by the military.

    “It is true that government is resolute in ensuring all IDPs return home in a dignified manner in accordance to the Kampala convention.

    “But sometimes a lots of uncertainties come in,” he said.

    Satome said that the continued rescue of persons by the military from terrorists enclaves had created new IDPs requiring attention.

    “The intensed pressure by the military on Boko Haram enclaves have led to rescue of new IDPs requiring care.

    “This means that they have to be kept in camps for care and other humanitarian services,” he said.

    Satome said however that government was resolute in moving IDPs who were interested in going back to camps close to their homes.

    ” I think it is unwise to keep 2,000 IDPs from Ngala in Maiduguri when you have about 200,000 others in Ngala town.

    “I think that the best thing is to move those willing to camps in their respective areas from where they can gradually move home,” he said. (NAN)

  • Suicide attacks: Buratai orders deployment of military dogs in Maiduguri

    Suicide attacks: Buratai orders deployment of military dogs in Maiduguri

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has ordered the deployment of military sniffer dogs in and around Maiduguri as part of efforts to checkmate incessant suicide bomb attacks in the city.

    Buratai gave the order on Tuesday after he inaugurated a sports complex built by 7 Division of the Nigerian Army at the Maimalari Cantonment.

    The army chief frowned at the incessant suicide bomb attacks in the city but noted that the attacks had reduced recently.

    He, however, said the attackers seemed to have “found another loophole but I want to assure you that that loophole will be blocked’’.

    “I have already directed the deployment of the military working dogs.

    “We have a battalion with the Nigerian Army Military Police and I have directed them to be deployed immediately around Maiduguri so that these continuous suicide bombings will cease once and for all,’’ he said.

    Buratai charged the troops and Maiduguri residents to be alert and conscious of their environment as well as strange people around them.

    He further charged the troops to work hard to ensure that peace was won after winning the battle with the terrorists, adding that the North East must be kept safe.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sports complex is named after the late Lt.-Col. U.B Umar, a commander of one of the army formations in the North-East.

    Umar died in an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists in 2016.

  • Police confirms foiled suicide attack in Borno

    Police confirms foiled suicide attack in Borno

    The Police in Maiduguri, Borno State have confirmed the death of two suicide bombers near a fuel station in the state capital.
    The incident according to the Borno Police Public Relations Officer DSP Victor Isuku, the two bombers only killed themselves without causing any harm to the community apart from a nearby truck which was partly damaged.
    The statement read; “Today, at about 0438hrs, two male suicide bombers detonated IED strapped to their bodies by Alh Bukar Gujari Filling station in Muna Garage area, Maiduguri killing themselves alone. A truck was partly damaged.”
    “Also at Dusuma village in Jere LGA , a suicide bomber detonated IED strapped on him almost at the same time , killing himself, while one person was injured,” the Police said.