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Tag: borno

  • Jonathan seeks extension of emergency rule in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday sought the approval of the National Assembly to extend the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states for another six months.

    The state of emergency, which was imposed by the Federal Government on May 14 following rising insecurity in the affected states, will elapse on November 12.

    Jonathan’s request was contained in a November 5 letter, titled: Re-Extension of the Period for the Proclamation of a State of Emergency.

    It was read yesterday at plenary by Senate President David Mark.

    The President noted that security agencies, with the support of the residents, had “achieved considerable success in containing the activities of the terrorist elements.”

    The letter reads: “May I respectfully draw your attention to the State of Emergency Proclamation 2013, in respect of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, which was approved by the National Assembly.

    “By virtue of the provisions of Section 305(6) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the Proclamation aforementioned will elapse after a period of six months from the date of approval, except the period is extended by the National Assembly.

    “As a result of the laudable efforts of our security agencies and the support of the citizens in the affected areas, we have achieved considerable success in containing the activities of the terrorist elements. However, some security challenges still exist in a few parts.

    “Consequently, it has become pertinent to request the approval of the Senate for an extension of the state of emergency for a further period of six months, during which time it is expected that normalcy would have been restored.

    “In view of the foregoing, I most respectfully request the Senate to consider and approve by resolution the extension of the Proclamation of the State of Emergency by a period of six months, with effect from November 12.”

  • Borno gives free textbooks

    Borno gives free textbooks

    The Borno State government has begun the distribution of 50,000 free text books to primary and secondary schools students in the state.

    Governor Kashim Shettima said at the launch of the pilot project in Maiduguri that, it was aimed at encouraging parents to send their children to school, thereby boosting school enrolment.

    He said that the state government would continue to place great importance on the development of the education sector.

    “We believe that the education sector has great role to play in laying solid foundation for the future development of the state,” Shettima said.

    He said that government would also provide free school uniforms and feeding to students in public schools.

    “These are part of measures to encourage students to attend school regularly,” the governor added.

     

  • Group fights illiteracy in Yobe

    After an initial postponement of its campaign for the school enrolment in the Northeast, the 1 GAME Campaigns, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has renewed its drive to end the spate of school-age children roaming the streets of Yobe State as beggars.

    The NGO’s earlier scheduled campaign was postponed because of the deadly attack on students at the College of Agriculture, Gujba by gunmen operating in the Northeast.

    Speaking at the commencement of the programme in Damaturu, the state capital, Project Development Coordinator, 1 GAME Campaigns, Agafi Kunduli, explained the essence of having a campaign on school enrolment.

    Kunduli said that the campaign, which is a replica of those held in Gombe and Borno states, was aimed at encouraging enrolment of children into schools, especially Almajiris in the state.

    “We want to cut illiteracy level in the North-East region to the lowest level. Our objective is to ensure that every Nigerian child has access to education which is the greatest tool we can use to defeat violence and ignorance.

    “This is the same state that, in recent months, had seen hundreds of innocent people killed by militants who campaign against what we have come here to do. But if we get all of our children in school, the militants will have no child to recruit, and the killings would stop.

    “Just as we are doing in Borno and Gombe states, we are getting everyone here in Yobe involved. Political leaders, community leaders, women leaders, youths and village heads will all play vital roles. We want to ensure that every child is in school and learning,” he said.

    Continuing, he said that as it was the case in Gombe, the campaign in Yobe State will involve airing of promotional messages on enrolment in the electronic media, advocacy visits to traditional, religious, community, women and youth leaders, town hall meetings and a door-to-door campaign for school enrolment.”

    The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) estimates that over 220,745 children of school age in Yobe State roam the streets as beggars without access to education. Only Taraba State with 63,168, Adamawa with 141,951 and Gombe with 123,923 have lesser amount of street children among states in the North-East region than Yobe.

    Non-school attendance is highest among North-Eastern states with only 49 per cent of school age boys and 37 per cent of girls of the same age attend schools.

  • Military kills 37 Boko Haram suspects in Borno

    Military kills 37 Boko Haram suspects in Borno

    Men of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army have said they killed 37 suspected Boko Haram insurgents at one of their camps at Alagarno villages in Borno State.

    The soldiers said several others were injured in the attack. Various arms and ammunition were reportedly recovered.

    Three Hilux vehicles and motorcycles belonging to the suspects were destroyed.

    The operation, which lasted three hours, was said to have been carried out by ground and air coordinated attacks on the insurgents’ camp.

    A statement in Maiduguri, the state capital, by the spokesman of the division, Capt Aliyu Danja, confirmed the killing.

    The statement said: “Based on available intelligence report, troops of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army launched an attack on terrorists’ camp in Alagarno. The operation, which began on Monday, October 21, involved a coordinated ground and air assaults by our troops, in conjunction with the 79 Composite Group of the Nigerian Air Force in Maiduguri. They destroyed the terrorists’ camp.

    “Thirty-seven terrorists were killed in the fight while several others fled with gunshot wounds.”

    The statement also confirmed Boko Haram attacks on motorists and passengers last Sunday at Logomari villages of Gamboru-Ngala- Dikwa Local Government Areas.

    It, however, dismissed the report that 20 people were killed, instead of four civilians and two injured persons.

    “In the early hours of Sunday, October 20, about 50 Boko Haram terrorists, armed with AK47 rifles and rocket-propelled launchers, blocked a road at Gamboru-Ngala- Dikwa in Logomari village. They killed four civilians and injured two persons.”

    Danja added that the insurgents set ablaze four civilian trucks loaded with provisions and attacked members of the vigilance group, called Civilian JTF who were returning from a funeral.

    According to him, three members of the vigilantes were killed and their vehicles set ablaze.

    The statement said: “Vigilante youths, who escaped, however, reinforced, pursued the insurgents and destroyed their hideout. They killed several insurgents, while others escaped.

    “Troops of the 7 Division are currently conducting aggressive patrols within the area to trace and destroy Boko Haram elements within its area of responsibility.”

     

  • NGO, Borno to partner on education

    NGO, Borno to partner on education

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the 1 GAME Campaigns has said it would partner Borno State government in the execution of some of its educational programmes for the benefit of the people.

    The Project Development Coordinator, 1 GAME Campaigns Agafi Kunduli, disclosed the stand of the organisation during a meeting in Maiduguri with the Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Inuwa Musa Kubo. He stating that 1 GAME is committed to offer a platform to enhance primary school enrolment as well as support the state in its educational programmes.

    Kunduli further said that during its visit to the state, 1 GAME had seen first-hand, the efforts of government in improving education, even as it noted that such inputs require the synergy of policy makers, non-governmental organisations, international agencies and the civil society in order to achieve results.

    Commending the 1 GAME Campaigns for embarking on the visit, Alhaji Kubo said the expectation of the state is high. He expressed his hope that the organisation would play its role in order to contribute to the development of the educational sector in Borno State, explaining that the state had recently built a strong relationship with 1 GAME and hoped the visit would strengthen the relationship.

    Alhaji Kubo promised that the government will partner 1 GAME in the overall interest of the state.

    Addressing elders and residents of Bama-GRA communities and representatives of 1 GAME Campaigns at a meeting, the Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima said: “My administration will start paying all parents from the Northern part of the state that will enroll their children in school in order to acquire western education.

    “All the schools burnt down by terrorists that stood at over 800 classroom blocks would be renovated.”

    According to him, the increasing case of poverty orchestrated by lack of access to education led to the insecurity in the state.

    School enrolment in Borno State is the lowest in the country with only 28 per cent of school children attending primary schools.

  • Army probes killing of 26 ‘Civilian JTF’ members in Borno

    The Nigerian Army yesterday said it has begun investigation into the killing of 26 members of a youths’ vigilance group, popularly called “Civilian JTF”, by suspected Boko Haram militants in Monguno, Borno State.

    Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, the spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri, the state capital, that the army was disturbed by the situation.

    Lt-Col Musa said: “The military high command is aware of the killing. This is disturbing. The Nigerian Army Brigade in Monguno has been mandated to investigate the matter.”

    The military spokesman blamed the incident on the youths’ group, saying it embarked on the trip without military backing.

    He said: “We have always made it clear to the vigilantes that they should not operate on their own but should always seek military backing.

    “They are just supporting the security agencies with information; the real battle should be left in the hands of security agents.”

     

  • Boko Haram: Sect ambushes, kills 24 civilian JTF members in Borno

    Boko Haram: Sect ambushes, kills 24 civilian JTF members in Borno

    SUSPECTED members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, ambushed and killed at least 24 members of a youth vigilante group who were on a mission to find and fight the sect in Borno State, a security official said yesterday.

    Those who returned from Friday’s attack told officials that 36 other vigilantes were missing, the official said on condition of anonymity because he is not permitted to speak to the media.

    “The vigilante youths numbering over 100 were on a mission to capture some Boko Haram terrorists in their camps around Kaleri, Shuwari, Maganari and Nannari villages around Monguno’s local government area, before they were ambushed by the terrorists,” he said.

    The attack took place somewhere near Monguno town, 160 kilometers from Maiduguri, the Borno state capital where the Boko Haram ideology sprang up some four years ago.

    The vigilante group, known as the Civilian Joint Task Force, said its attackers were wearing military uniforms. The official said the Civilian-JTF usually gets a military escort when it goes on a search mission but that when the military did not arrive on time the vigilantes headed out.

    They later told officials they saw three patrol vehicles painted in camouflage and approached them thinking they were the escorts. The sect members then opened fire, killing at least 24 Civilian-JTF members, the security operative said.

    The Civilian-JTF has recently become a target for Boko Haram . Two attacks one earlier in the week and the other last weekend killed at least 20 members of the vigilante group, residents and an official said.

     

  • Shettima visits Konduga

    Shettima visits Konduga

  • Borno…Sorrow, tears, blood and…peace

    Borno…Sorrow, tears, blood and…peace

    Its motto is the ‘Home of Peace’, but since Boko Haram began its reign of terror, Borno State has become the ‘home of violence’ to many. The government says it will return it to its good old days, writes Abu Dan’azumi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

    Some of Peace’’— the catchphrase for Borno State — is not out of place, according to its governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima.

    The governor, in a recent media interview, said the motto was coined after a thorough consideration of the state of affairs in Borno, which shares border with countries, such as Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon.

    “Borno is the gateway of Islam into this part of the world; a confluence state, a melting point of ideas and the citadel of Islamic scholarship.

    “We have always been a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society, while peaceful coexistence and tolerance have always guided our relationship with other nationals. We cherish peace and we don’t discriminate against strangers,’’ he stressed.

    Malam Usman Chiroma, the General Manager of Borno Radio Television Corporation, corroborated the governor’s viewpoints, saying that different ethnic groups across the country and even foreigners had been living in peace in Borno.

    However, analysts have been wondering whether the “Home of Peace’’ catchphrase for Borno is still relevant, considering the current security challenges facing the state.

    They note the violent activities of the Boko Haram, describing the bombing of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Bulumkutu, Maiduguri, in 2010 as the threshold of violence in the state.

    Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai, the Shehu of Borno, said the sect’s activities since then had been worrisome, as every member of the society was affected by it’s campaign, irrespective of ethnic or religious background.

    “Boko Haram makes no deliberate attempt to attack a particular interest group; if it does, they wouldn’t have attacked me,’’ he said.

    According to him, most activities in the state, including businesses, have been paralysed due to the fear of Boko Haram attacks.

    Irked by the growing security challenges facing Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in those states on May 14, as part of structured efforts to restore peace there.

    Jonathan said: “After wide consultations, and in exercise of the powers conferred on me by the provisions of Section 305, Sub-section 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, I hereby declare a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

    “I urge the political leadership in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states to cooperate maximally with the armed forces and the police to ensure that the exercise succeeds. We call on the citizenry to cooperate with our security agencies to ensure a return to normalcy within the shortest possible time.’’

    Months after the declaration, observers laud the President for the action which, they note, has been effective in efforts to restore normalcy to the affected states.

    Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF), said in a statement that the Boko Haram insurgents had been in disarray with no central authority, coordination or administration.

    “Most of the terrorist commanders and foot soldiers have either been arrested or killed in their daily encounter with the JTF. We have been able to destroy all identified Boko Haram camps and have discovered many arms, ammunition and improvised explosive device materials,’’ he said.

    According to Musa, the JTF has been able to restore peace and order in the affected areas, as people could now move about freely, while schools and other public institutions have reopened.

    “The situation has also created socio-economic relief and it has led to the emergence of youth vigilante group, popularly known as “Civilian JTF’’, which has created serious impact on the society.

    “We are monitoring, guiding and regulating the attitudinal disposition of members of the group, in terms of the way they display their weapons and approach members of the public,’’ he said.

    The army officer said the involvement of youths in the security operation was a testimony that the people of the state were appreciative of the JTF and its activities, adding that “they have been very supportive’’.

    Musa expatiated that the youths had assisted the JTF with useful information which facilitated the arrest of confirmed or suspected members of the Boko Haram group.

    In spite of the security measures put in place, Shettima stressed that in efforts to address the Boko Haram crisis, “we have to attack the causes of extreme poverty, illiteracy and hopelessness.

    “We have to create jobs, empower the youth in order to bring this problem to a final end.’’

    The governor pledged his administration’s determination to plan adequately for the members of the youth vigilante group, insisting that unless a proper framework was put in place to engage them meaningfully, there would be no progress.

    “It is part of our post-conflict management strategies to create jobs in public works, particularly in construction, vocational skills and agriculture.

    “Those that have the capacity to further their education will be supported, while those with limited skills will be assisted to enhance their skills so that they can become better citizens,’’ he said.

    Shettima said the state had spent more than N15 billion on agricultural schemes to ensure aggressive grassroots socio-economic development.

    “I am for dialogue and I will always be for dialogue; I will always support any Nigerian who wants peace, and we support the Federal Government’s dialogue with Boko Haram. Borno is ours, we have no place to call our home, we have a duty to re-invent and rebuild Borno’s shattered peace; this is a task which we must all work very hard to achieve,’’ he said.

    All the same, observers note that the declaration of a state of emergency and the JTF’s security operations in Borno have certainly facilitated efforts to restore peace to the state in a pragmatic way.

     

  • DHQ orders troops to fish out killers of 22

    DHQ orders troops to fish out killers of 22

    The Defence Headquarters has ordered Special Forces to fish out those who killed 22 persons in Dawashi and Mainok in Borno State last Saturday.

    It also confirmed that many innocent civilians, mostly women and children were killed during the attack.

    The DHQ, which made its position known in a statement by the Defence Spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said troops are being deployed in the affected communities to protect lives and property.

    Although it acknowledged that recourse to ambush by Boko Haram was meant to intimidate civilians, DHQ urged Nigerians not to waiver in the fight against terrorism.

    The statement said: “A large scale shooting and murder by terrorists of over 22 and infliction of varying degree of injuries on over 18 members of Borno Youth Vigilance Group in Dawashi and Mainok in Borno State last Saturday has been reported.

    “It is also believed that a number of other innocent civilians mostly women, children and elderly were killed in the unprovoked attack.

    “The incidents which followed separate attacks on the group and the two communities are consistent with the new pattern of operations by the terrorists after the loss of their camps.

    “This practice of laying ambush or attacking innocent civilians by terrorists lately is meant to intimidate Nigerians who have rejected the activities of terrorists in their communities.

    “The Special Forces have been directed to ensure that the perpetrators of the recent incidents are tracked down and the manhunt for them is in progress accordingly.

    “Meanwhile, more troops and equipment are being deployed in the operation to ensure better coverage and protection of communities in the operational area.

    “All citizens are enjoined to maintain high level of vigilance and continue to cooperate with security forces in the operation.

    “Members of the vigilance group in particular are being counseled to endeavor to work only under the strict guidance and protection of the security forces on ground in their localities.”