The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chibok abduction

  • Four Chibok girls released

    Four out of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State,  have been released by the Boko Haram.

    The Chairman, Chibok Local government Council, Mr. Bana Lawan, said on Wednesday that the girls fell ill and were released by their captors.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Lawan gave the information in Abuja at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting for validation of draft humanitarian response plan for the abducted girls.

    The meeting was organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    He said the girls were released on Tuesday to bring the number of those that had regained their freedom to 57.

    Lawan commended Nigerians for showing concern and support for Chibok people, saying the support had restored the hope and aspiration of the people for the return of peace to the community.

    He also praised the Federal Government’s prompt intervention through the provision of relief items for the people.

    He urged the government to resuscitate the facilities destroyed by the insurgents and improve security in the affected school to boost the morale of the students.

    Lawan explained that boys were encouraged to attend GGSS in Chibok because of the lack of education facilities in the area and appealed for the construction of boys’ hostels in the school.

    He said the construction of the hostels would reduce the hardship faced by the students, who attended school from afar.

     

  • Dickson demands immediate release of abducted girls

    Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has condemned the abduction of over 200 female students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram insurgents.

    The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, demanded immediate and unconditional release of the schoolgirls by their abductors.

    Dickson was said to have bared his mind on the issue when he addressed select children in Government House on Tuesday evening at a low-key celebration to mark the Children’s Day.

    The governor had earlier cancelled the traditional march past and children’s party to reflect the mood of insecurity pervading the country.

    He, however, said some children would be hosted at the Governor’s Lodge in the evening to give them a sense of belonging

    While hosting the children, the governor was said to have attributed the low-key mood of the event to the abducted girls.

    Dickson lamented that some persons were playing politics with terrorism, adding that such evil politicians were behind the abduction.

    He said: “As a result of a few developments in our country, I would also like to use this opportunity to call to order, those evil people in our midst who want to use the children of this country; whoever they may be and wherever they are; who want to use the children of the world to play politics.

    “Today, we are sending a clear message to all those who are behind the regrettable and unfortunate kidnapping of our daughters. And to those, who are behind other atrocities, I urge them to stop these activities. Don’t play politics with terrorism.

    “Those who are responsible, including their supporters and financiers should heed the call of the world, because the world has spoken in one accord and in one voice condemning what has happened and I’m calling for their immediate release.”

     

  • Chibok: Multiple protests rock Lagos House

    No fewer than six different organizations stormed the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, to register their dismayed over the inability by the Federal Government to rescue the over 200 secondary school girls abducted in Chibok area of Bornu State in April.

    The organizations came in with large number of people carrying placards with emotional messages and others lamenting the attendant failure of government to arrest the situation.

    They include Center for Global Peace Initiative (CGPI), The Young Muslims Association (TYMA), Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Al-Mu’minaat Social Advocacy Project (SAP), Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit, League of Muslim Schools’ Proprietors (LEAMPS) and Pure Heart Foundation (PHF).

    After hours of chanting various slogans and singing different songs to seek the unconditional release of the abducted girls, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lateef Ibirogba, came over from another function to receive their protest letters on behalf of the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola.

    CGPI Convener Shakiru Yekinni lamented the attendant cluelessness and lackluster performance of the government in bringing Boko Haram activities to an end.

    He said: “We as Muslim organizations condemn in the strongest term this heinous crime, and also express our disappointment at the manner in which the issue was previously handled by the federal government until recent external intervention.

    “We say with every emphasis that acts of abduction, killing, kidnapping, wanton destruction and terrorism are all alien to Islam both in letter and spirit. We affirm that these acts constitute not only crimes against humanity, but also crimes against Allah and His religion, for Allah Has ordained that to kill a soul is likeable to killing the entire humanity.

    “We say likewise that Boko Haram and its ideology of forceful conversion of people away from their religion runs counter to the dictate of Islam which affirms that ‘Let there be no compulsion in religion, for truth is clear and distinct from error.

    “We also reiterate that Islam forbids spreading evil and corruption in the land and recommends appropriate punishments for harbingers of evil and destruction like the Boko Haram sect.”

     

     

  • Edo Assembly holds prayer session for abducted girls

    The Edo House of Assembly on Tuesday in Benin held a prayer session for the abducted female students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno.

    Mr. Johnson Oghuma, APC Etsako Central, who led the prayer session, prayed fervently for the girls to be rescued safely from the hands of their abductors.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the lawmakers also used the session to pray for the children as they mark the Children’s Day celebration.

    The Speaker, Uyi Igbe, said: “Let us also direct our prayers to other children irrespective of where they are right now.

    “Here in Edo, we have had incidence of children being kidnapped,” Igbe said.

  • APC governors to FG: Strengthen security operatives

    APC governors to FG: Strengthen security operatives

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) under the auspice of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), on Thursday urged the Federal Government to strengthen the capacity of the security operatives to counter terrorism.

    PGF Chairman, Governor Rochas Okorocha, in a statement expressed condolence to the families of those killed and injured in Tuesday’s explosions in Jos, Plateau State.

    He said, “We urge the Federal Government to strengthen the capacity of our security services and provide all the equipment and resources that our officers and men in the frontline need to become an effective fighting force and to carry out counterterrorism operations.

    “Similarly, we call on the Federal Government to recognize that terrorism has never been defeated anywhere by sheer force alone; all avenues must be explored to ensure the safety of the lives and property of all Nigerians; this is the minimum requirement of government.”

    The governors noted that the blast which occurred just three days after a similar attack in Kano marked a significant escalation in the senseless attacks on Nigerians and an affront on the Nigerian state.

    Okorocha said that it is apparent that the attacks were intended to cause as much carnage as possible and also increase mutual suspicion among people of different faiths and ethnicity.

    Charging the citizenry to remain steadfast, the governors said, “We urge Nigerians to stand firm and not relent to the antic of terrorists who seek to return us to the dark ages.”

  • Yobe NUT to FG: Protect our girls

    Yobe NUT to FG: Protect our girls

    Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Yobe State on Thursday joined their counterparts across the country to stage a peaceful demonstration to Yobe State Government.

    The teachers who marched from the Injiwaji Primary School across the Kano- Maiduguri High to the Governor’s Office were received by the Secretary to Yobe State Government, Engr. Babagoni Machina on behalf of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam.

    Led by the state NUT Chairman Comrade, Lawan Ibrahim, the union demanded the safe return of the girls and the need for the federal government to act fast, as according to them, time is running out.

    They carried different placards, some of which read: “Protect our schools”; “Bring back our girls”; “Our girls are not for sale” and “Don’t mortgage the future of our pupils” etc.

    Such situation according to the union has further discouraged school enrolments and attendance in the zone which hitherto was backward educationally.

    “We demand that both the federal and the respective state governments should exhibit true concern to the families of the 173 teachers (170 from Borno and 3 from Yobe state) who lost their lives to the barbaric, uncivilized and wicked acts of terror by paying them adequate compensation to assists in soothing their misery,” the chairman said.

    Ibrahim said schools in the north east are no longer safe and demanded for an insurance cover for teachers and students in the region, which he described as “vulnerable.”

     

  • Boko Haram scare in Edo

    News of a possible attack by Boko Haram sect on schools across Edo State made parents to quickly rush to collect their kids from schools on Thursday.

    The rumour started when students who were unaware of Nigeria Union of Teachers’ closure of schools  reported at schools but found them empty.

    The Nation learnt that some students called their parents and adduced Boko Haram presence in the state as reasons for the closure.

    Our reporter was called severally from different parts of the state that students have been kidnapped.

    The Edo State Police Command however described as untrue the rumoured presence of Book Haram in the state.

    The state police spokesman, DSP Noble Uwoh, in a press statement said there are no Boko Haram insurgents in the state.

    Uwoh said the state is safe and urged residents not to panic.

    He warned rumour mongers to desist from spreading false rumours or face the full wrath of the law.

    Meanwhile, teachers in the state joined their counterparts nationwide to urge the federal government to rescue the abducted schoolgirls.

    The placards carrying teachers marched through major streets of Benin City.

  • Northern governors to FG: Don’t blame us on terror

    Northern governors to FG: Don’t blame us on terror

    The Northern States Governors’ Forum on Thursday hit back at the Federal Government over allegation that governors from the region were not doing enough to fight terrorism, describing the statement as “uncharitable and unfortunate.”

    Reacting to the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku’s allegation that the 19 governors in the North are not doing enough at curbing insecurity in the region, the Chairman of the Forum, Dr. Babangida Aliyu said the “blame game must stop.”

    The governor said, “If it was his (Minister) view, it was unfortunate. If it is the view of the Federal Government, it is very uncharitable, it is more than unfortunate.

    “I think it is part of the hypocrisy because no governor as far as I know can be accused of not doing enough. As Chairman of Northern State Governors’ Forum, I can say that no governor can be accused of not doing enough particularly, with the circumstances that we find ourselves.”

    Aliyu continued, “I am not aware of any governor invited by the National Security Adviser (NSA) and told of what to do and he did not do it. I am not aware of that.”

    He said that instead of accusing the governors, it was the federal government that delayed in nipping the security challenges in the bud.

  • ‘Boko Haram killed 173 teachers in Borno, Yobe’

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers,  Bauchi State, on Thursday said 173 teachers were killed by Boko Haram fighters in Borno and Yobe States.

    Bauchi State NUT chairman,  Danjuma Saleh, said this during a one -day rally organized by the body to press for the release of over 200 schoolgirls abducted by the sect last month.

    Saleh, who led the teachers on a protest march on Bauchi streets to the state Government House, said “we demand that the Federal and State Governments must show genuine concern to the families of the 173 teachers.”

    He said 170 teachers were killed in Borno, while three lost their lives in Yobe.

    He also urged the government to do all they can to bring back the abducted girls alive.

    Receiving the teachers on behalf of Governor Isa Yuguda, the Secretary the state Government, Aminu Hammayo, commended the protesting teachers for the peaceful rally and assured that their message will be passed to the governor for onward delivery to President Good Luck Jonathan.

  • ‘Blame northern leaders for Chibok abduction, insurgency’

    Bayelsa State former Security Adviser, Chief Richard Kpodo, on Tuesday lampooned northern leaders for failing to curtail the Boko Haram insurgency in their domains.

    Kpodo in a statement titled: “Enough is enough, North should leave Jonathan alone,” argued that the escalating violence in the region including the abduction of over 200 girls by the terrorists is an indication of collapsed traditional institutions.

    He recalled that the crises of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in the west and the militancy in the south-south were resolved by the elders and indigenes of the area.

    He insisted that elders and monarchs in all the crises-ridden communities in the north should provide required intelligence to free the abducted girls and end the insurgency since they know their terrains better than others.

    Kpodo, who also served as a special assistant when President Goodluck Jonathan was governor of the state said it was diversionary and unpatriotic to ask the President to resign because of insurgency.

    He maintained that the development in the north was a slap on the hitherto highly revered traditional institutions in that part of the country.

    Instead of blaming Jonathan, Kpodo asked the leaders to reclaim their lost glory by looking inwards to identify and solve the problems that led to the insurgency.

    He said: “Critics should leave President Goodluck Jonathan alone. The Boko Haram insurgency was not created by him and he should not be blamed by the weakness and helplessness of the Northern leadership at assisting security agencies to end the ugly killings.

    “The situation is redeemable if the Northern leaders rise up and work to put an end to their selfish political interest in 2015. President Goodluck Jonathan should remain calm and focused at rescuing the people of the North from wicked clutches of some Northern leaders.”