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Tag: Chad

  • Boko Haram: Chad fires military chief over death of 23 soldiers

    President Idris Deby of Chad has removed  his armed forces chief of staff  and two other ranking officers on account of  a Boko Haram attack that claimed the lives of 23 soldiers.

    Fired were Brahim Seid Mahamat and his two deputies hours after the insurgents struck at Dangdala on the northeastern bank of Lake Chad.

    The Friday attack has been described as the deadliest by Boko Haram on the Chadian military.

    Earlier on Thursday, the terrorists killed eight civilians at Karidi in southeastern Niger in the Diffa region bordering Lake Chad.

  • PDP faults plan to create polling centres in Chad, Niger

    …Accuses INEC, Buhari of plots to rig election

     

    The People’s Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO), has condemned plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create polling centres in Chad and Niger Republic.

    INEC had announced plans to create polling centres in the two neighbouring countries with the view to enabling thousands of Nigerian refugees taking shelter in the two countries to vote in the 2019 elections.

    Read Also:PDP accuses EFCC of witch-hunt

    Most of the refugees are persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgents from their homes in towns and villages in Northeastern Nigeria.

    But the PDP has declared the proposed polling centres in the two countries as illegal, accusing Presidency and the INEC of plots to rig the 2019 general elections.

    In a statement Thursday by the spokesman of the PDP Campaign Organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party protested the plan to create polling centres outside the shores of Nigeria.

    Ologbondiyan said it’s a total violation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), inexcusably criminal and exposes part of the plot to corrupt the electoral system and massively rig for President Buhari.

    The statement said, “President Buhari, INEC and all Nigerians know that there are no provisions for Diaspora voting under our system.

    “By the extant laws guiding elections in Nigeria, it is very clear who is eligible to vote, as well as the centers statutorily designated for elections. There is no provision for any special arrangement whatsoever.

    “It is therefore reprehensible that President Buhari, in his desperation to rig the elections, is now trying to hide under the guise of making special provision for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) outside the country, to illegally create rigging centers outside our country and import contrived figures into the election results.

    “This clandestine arrangement further validates the alarm earlier raised by the PDP, in April this year, of INEC’s plot to secretly create 30,000 illegal polling centers in some remote areas, through which they plan to allocate millions of votes to President Buhari and the APC.

    “Nigerians can now see that the APC and its candidate are not committed to peaceful, credible, free and fair election. Having realised that there is no way he can win in a peaceful and credible election, Mr. President is now seeking means to enmesh the 2019 elections in constitutional crisis, public confusion and trigger an imminent violence that is capable of derailing our entire democratic process.

    “Moreover, by seeking to open polling units outside the country, the Buhari administration has now agreed that it does not have full control of Nigerian territory and cannot provide security for Nigerians to freely participate in the elections.

    “If President Buhari is in any way inclined towards diaspora voting, he should send an appropriate bill to the National Assembly for approval to accommodate not only Nigerians in Chad and Niger Republic, but also those in other sub-Sahara countries as well as Europe, America and other parts of the world, who have been agitating for Diaspora voting.

    “Finally, the PPCO cautions the Buhari Presidency and INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, not to set our country on fire by engaging in provocative actions in desperation to rig the 2019 Presidential election for President Buhari.”

  • Buhari convenes meeting of Heads of State and Government of LCBC

    President Muhammadu Buhari, in his capacity as Chairman of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), has convened a consultation of Heads of State and Government of the LCBC scheduled to take place in N’Djamena, Chad, on November 29, 2018.

    Read Also:Buhari reiterates commitment toward improved welfare for Army

    The one-day meeting, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, will review the security situation in the areas affected by Boko Haram insurgency.

    According to him, the meeting is also to adopt measures to enhance the capacity of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to meet the challenges of securing the areas.

    The statement reads “The presidents of the LCBC member countries of Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and the Central African Republic have been invited to attend the meeting. The President of Benin Republic, a troops-contributing country, has also been invited to attend.

    “The MNJTF and the national operations of the affected countries have appreciably degraded the capacity of Boko Haram terrorists, although the insurgents still retain the capacity to attack isolated targets in desperate search for supplies,” he stated.

  • Boko Haram: Nigeria, Chad Defence ministers to meet

    Defence Minister Brig-Gen Mansur Dan-Ali is billed for N’djamena, Chad’s capital this week. His mission is to discuss with his Chadian counterpart Gen. Daoud Yaya on how best to respond to the worsening security crisis along the Nigeria – Chad border.

    The trip is coming in the wake of rising insurgency in the Northeast, especially the November 18 attack on troops at the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metete, a remote village in Borno State, on the Nigeria- Chad border.

    Scores of soldiers were allegedly killed by insurgents who invaded the camp in military uniforms as friendly soldiers.

    The Boko Haram fighters allegedly killed the Battalion Commander and those who were with him in the office before other insurgents who laid a siege swooped on the camp.

    Brig-Gen Ali’s Public Relations Officer Col. Tukur Gusau confirmed the scheduled meeting in a statement yesterday. According to the statement, the Defence minister’s visit was in continuation of consultations with the defence ministers of countries involved in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

    The MNJTF troops contributing countries (TCC) are: Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin Republic.

    Brig.-Gen. Dan- Ali was in Niger Republic last month over similar issue. He held bilateral discussions with his Nigerien counterpart, Brigi Rafini.

    Col Gusau said in the statement: “The visit is in continuation of consultations with Ministers of Defence of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Troops contributing countries (TCC) which include Cameroun, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin Republic.

    “Recall that the minister paid a similar visit to Niger Republic in September during which he held a similar bilateral discussion with his Nigerien counterpart.

    ”The  minister’s visit to Chad will revolve around strengthening the operations of the MNJTF to enable it achieve its mandate of eliminating security threats and creating a safe and secure environment in its area of responsibility.”

  • Boko Haram : Defence Minister to Meet Chadian Counterpart

    The Minister of Defence, Mansir Dan Ali is scheduled to visit Chad Republic during the week as part of efforts to strengthen relationships and hold bilateral meeting with his Chadian counterpart, General Daoud Yaya.
    The meeting comes on the heels of the deadly attacks of the Boko Haram Terrorists on Nigerian troops in Metele, a village in the northern part of Borno state where troops of 157 Battalion of the Nigerian Army were stationed.
    A statement from the Public Relations Officer to the Minister, Colonel Tukur Gusau said the minister would also meet with Ministers of the Defence of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to explore ways of curtailing and eliminating security threats in the border areas.
    The statement read: ”  The Honorable Minister of Defence Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali is scheduled to visit Chad at a later date within the week to hold a bilateral meeting with his Chadian counterpart General Daoud Yaya.
      “The Visit is in continuation of consultations with Minister’s of Defence of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Troops contributing countries (TCC) which includes Cameroun, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin Republic.  It may be recalled the Hon Minister paid a similar visit to Niger Republic in September 2018 during which he held a similar bilateral discussion with his Nigerien counterpart.
    ” The  Minister’s visit to Chad will revolve around strengthening the operations of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to enable it achieve its mandate of eliminating security threats and creating a safe and secure environment in its area of responsibility”.

  • INAC Expo: 27 countries, others showcase culture

    27 countries and states  were  in Abuja to display  their culture,  arts and crafts at the 11th edition of International Arts and Crafts (INAC) Expo.

    Among the participating countries were China, Hungary, Gambia, Trinidad and Tobago, Bangladesh, Chad, India, Iran, Burkina Faso, Pakistan, Sudan and many other countries.

    The impressive event was also an opportunity for many unemployed Nigerians to acquire free vocational training in arts and craft. The event  was declared open by the publisher of the Abuja-based Leadership newspapers, Mr. Sam Ndah-Isaiah. Also present at the opening ceremony were the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Aisha Abubakar; the Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji  Lai Mohammed, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Grace Gekpe; and a representative of the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris.

    Delivering a paper titled: Networking for Arts and Crafts to the World: Prospects and Challenges, the Chief Executive Officer of Le Look Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Chinwe Ezenwa,  called on Nigerians to embrace the nation’s art and craft industry as a commercial venture.

    She said African art and craft industry is currently enjoying huge international acceptability and has the prospects of not only alleviating poverty, but also creating jobs. Ezenwa said  at the time she started the production of Afrocentric crafts as beauty items, European designers were the order of the day in Nigeria. But this has changed with the current huge demand for African crafts.

    Her words: “At the time we started, the prospects were not there then, as our products were competing against famous and infamous international labels. Our women    and men were preoccupied in wearing European and Western outfits. Over time, as we approached a new millennium, things began to change. Afrobeat through Fela, Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade and other famous musicians started making waves outside the Nigerian shores.

    “We, on our part, invested in research to understand how and what was accepted internationally. We embraced training; we attended fairs locally and internationally. We became visible and could no longer be ignored by our own Nigerians as the Made in Nigeria campaign became the order of the day.

    “Then came the boom-Made in Nigeria, Made in Africa, the ankara revolution that we had already keyed into a long time ago and waited for the opportunity.”

    Ezenwa said Nigeria has never had the opportunity that it is having currently to expand its arts and craft to all parts of the world.

    In his welcome address, the Director- General of the National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, said even though the arts of craft expo  was in its 11th edition, he saw the need to drastically improve on the expo by not limiting it to the just Africa.

    He said:“This flagship programme of the NCAC was conceived in 2008 as a platform for craft men and women all over Africa and beyond to make contact, interact, showcase their arts and crafts products , exchange ideas and skills, network for investment partners.

    “I am delighted to note that this exposition has lived up to the expectation of bringing about regional integration, continental unity as well as unveiling the economic opportunities in the arts and crafts sector.”

    Runsewe said the decision to change the expo’s name from African Festival of Arts and Culture (AFAC) Expo to International Arts and Crafts (INAC) Expo was taken last year in view of the growing popularity and the need to reflect the global relevance and outlook of the programme. He said having consolidated itself as at the regional level, it became imperative to launch into the global arena so that Nigerian craft men could network with the world.

    Speaking on the expo and their participation, the head  of the Bangladesh  from their country’s embassy in  Nigeria, Mr. Yamin Khan, said:  “The main aim of our participation is that we don’t want to stagnate in a certain place. We want to expand our traditional craft. We want to expand our traditional craft to everywhere.”

    Asked if he was satisfied with the organization and level of participation at the expo, he said: “Of course, there are many booths here. We can share with each other. It is through this kind of programme that we can share with each other.  What we are having, they can pick from us and what we are not having, we can pick from them.  This is the way to go. This is the way to show your craft and your products. This way, it will help you to expand your business all over the world.”

    Some of the participating countries took time out to celebrate their day and showcase their culture. Among these countries was the People’s Republic of China which put up a beautiful show to the admiration and satisfaction of visitors and participants.

  • Boko Haram kills 13 in fresh Borno attack

    Boko Haram insurgents have killed 13 people and sacked two villages overnight in the restive town of Konduga in Borno.

    Brigadier-General Bulama Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, confirmed the attack on Thursday in Maiduguri.

    Biu said, however, that troops had risen to the occasion and had repelled the invaders, who had repeatedly attacked communities in the Konduga Local Government Area over the years.

    He disclosed that he had visited the attacked communities, Bularin and Kofa, including camps in the communities, housing thousands of displaced people.

    “I was there. We recovered one dead body and saw burnt houses. Troops have been following up on the attackers,” said Biu.

    Alfred Audu, a member of a militia, known as Civilian Joint Task Force, who claimed he was on duty at the time of the attack, said the insurgents engaged troops in a bid to force their way into the communities.

    Audu said the insurgents were pushed back when fighter planes were deployed to confront the invaders.

    Read Also: Boko Haram: Army receives large cargo of arms

    Another eye-witness, who gave his name simply as Alhaji Modu, said that hundreds of the insurgents on trucks with mounted guns and motorcycles, attacked the communities at about 7:45 p.m.

    Modu said the insurgents launched rocket attacks and forced their way into the IDP camps and also attacked homes with ferocious fire.

    He said that nine people were killed at Bularin IDP Camp and three others in the Kofa IDP Camp.

    “An Islamic cleric together with his wife and three children were burnt to death when the insurgents sacked their home at Bularin IDP Camp.

    “They burnt down the village market, shops, houses, animals and vehicles. Many people died in the attack while others are still missing.

    “Bularin village was razed and several tents in the camp destroyed. Many people were displaced in the attack,” Modu said.

    Boko Haram, which also operates in Cameroon, Chad and Niger has persistently attacked communities in northern Nigeria, especially the country’s vast northeast.

    The Federal Government has however, said that the insurgents have been decimated, although the group has been packing deadly punches over the years.

    Boko Haram launched its deadly campaign in 2009, vowing to enthrone a strict Islamic code in Africa’s most populous nation.

  • Falana gets information on N4.6b fuel drained daily from FG

    The federal government has forwarded to Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) information on fuel importation and sundry matters.

    The requested information was forwarded to the lawyer by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) which was acting on the directive of the Minister of state, Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachukwu as requested in his letter to the minister dated April 17, 2018.

    A letter dated July 9  and signed by Kingston Chikwendo on behalf of the DPR  to Falana and titled “Re: Request for Information on Fuel Importation and Sundry Matter” stated in part: “We humbly referred to your letter dated 17th April, 2018 to the Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum (HMSP) requesting for information on fuel importation and sundry matters.

    “The HMSP has directed the DPR to provide you with the requested information.

    “Consequently, we hereby forward to you the requested information as detailed in your letter”, it stated.

    In his letter dated April 17, Falana had specifically requested the minister to provide him with copies of the documents relating to: “ Bill of laden and DPR certified cargo discharged certificates of the imported subsidized petroleum products  into the country from December 2017 to March 2018;  Offshore processing  agreements pertaining to the sale of the 445,000 barrels of crude oil per day plus any additional crude barrels approved for domestic consumption from December 2017  to March 2018;  Volumes of domestic refined products by the nations’ local refineries against gross expenditure on refinery turn around maintenance(TAM)/ expended budget in 2017”.

    Others are  “Gross  amount of forex differential or forex subsidy (gap Between CBN rate and Special rate approved for fuel importation) from December 2017 to March 2018 and   amount expended by PEF on Project Aquila from inception aimed at tracking petroleum trucks nationwide to prevent smuggling of petroleum products”.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Falana seeks removal of service chiefs

    Falana’s request followed disclosure by the management of the NNPC that the nation’s  consumption rate of fuel was 28 million litres per day and that subsidy cost was N726 million per day,  that is,  N261.4b per annum.

    He also recalled that on March 5, 2018, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru claimed that the figure had metamorphosed to 50 million litres per day and that NNPC had spent $5.8billion (N1.7 Trillion) on fuel importation in January and February 2018 and that at a public forum held in Abuja two  weeks ago, the minister stated  that the consumption rate of fuel  has skyrocketed to 60 million and that the cost of  subsidy is N1.4 trillion per month!

    On the alleged subsidy of fuel importation, Falana reminded the minister that he failed to disclose the amount realized from the sale of the 60 million liters at N145 per liter.

    “You have also conveniently failed to account for the sale of the 445,000 barrels of crude oil allocated to the NNPC daily by the federal government.

    “Honorable Minister, the convenient defense of smuggling as cheap justification for a gap of 32 million litres a day (at N145 per litre is N4.6 billion daily) is untenable given the billions of Naira continually expended on Project Aquila Software by the Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF), a Parastatal under your watch in the Petroleum Ministry, to track every litre of petroleum product evacuated from the Depots and sold at retail stations in the country”, Falana stated.

    He argued “since the Project Aquila Software has capability to identify the owners and locations of all trucks loading petroleum products in Nigeria why has your office and NNPC continue to blame smuggling for the drain of N4.6 billion daily on petroleum products? How many of the Truck owners involved in the alleged smuggling have been arrested and arraigned in court since Aquila has the data base of all Truck Owners in the country?”, he asked.

    The federal government blamed the increasing consumption rate on the smuggling of fuel from Nigeria to neighboring countries by some economic saboteurs.

    Falana had insisted that the claims of the government does not explain the difference of 32 million litres per day between the consumption rate of imported fuel in December 2017 and March 2018 when it is assumed that

    The total volume of fuel consumed by Benin, Togo, Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Ghana is said to be less than 250,000 litres per day.

  • 9 people killed in Boko Haram attacks in Niger – Officials

    Authorities on Tuesday said nine people were killed on Monday night in Diffa city in southeast Niger in several attacks believed to be carried out by terrorist group Boko Haram.

    According to local officials on the spot, the tragedy was perpetrated by at least three suicide bombers who blew themselves up late at night in three different locations in downtown Diffa.

    The areas where the explosions occurred are cordoned off by the security Forces.

    The attacks came after a relative lull in the region, thanks in particular to the large-scale operations undertaken for over a year by a mixed multinational force composed of the armies of Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Nigeria, against the terrorist group Boko Haram.

    The localities of the Diffa region, especially those bordering Nigeria, have been suffering repeated attacks by the Nigeria-based terrorist group.

    Faced with the persistence of deadly attacks by Boko Haram, the region has been under a state of emergency since February 2015.

  • Olonisakin visits injured troops in Chad

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, has visited injured troops engaged in the war against Boko Haram insurgents in the Lake Chad region.

    Chief of Military Public Information, Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Col. Timothy Antigha, spoke in a statement yesterday.

    According to him, Gen. Olonisakin visited Nigerian, Camerounian and Chadian troops receiving treatment at hospitals in N’Djamena, Chad.

    He said the troops sustained injuries in the Operation Amni Fakat in Lake Chad.

    Col. Antigha noted that Olonisakin visited troops on admission at the Renaissance Hospital, N’Djamena and praised them for their sacrifice.

    He said: “Gen. Olonisakin expressed the appreciation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for their sacrifices, and assured them that every effort would be made to ensure their speedy recovery.

    “The Chief of Defence Staff also visited the Military Hospital, N’Djamena, where he praised them for their courage and doggedness in fighting alongside Nigerian and Nigerien troops, in a sub-regional effort to rid the Lake Chad Basin of violent extremism and terrorism.”

    Antigha added that Olonisakin donated drugs and clothes to the injured troops.

    According to him, Operation Amni Fakat, launched by the Task Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, is designed to flush out Boko Haram terrorists from their stronghold in the Lake Chad Basin.