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Tag: Chibok

  • Chibok Girls: 223 still missing out of 276

    The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and State Security Services (SSS) in Borno state have confirmed that 276 students of Government Girls Secondary School Chibok were abducted on April 14, 2014 by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

    This confirmation was made at a joint news conference of the Borno State Police Commissioner, Tanko Lawan and Ahmed Abdullahi the director of State Security in Borno state.

    Lawal who called for the briefing said it had been established that in spite of the raising down of the administrative block which has the school’s record of the girls at least 276 teenage girls were abducted at the Government Girls Secondary School Chibok on that fateful day.

    The Police Chief further disclosed that: “out of the 276 abducted students of the school, 53 students have been recovered while 223 are still missing.”

    Commissioner Lawal revealed that the new figures were arrived at following series of investigations by the police, SSS, the Nigerian military as well as information gathered from parents and relatives of the abducted girls, community leaders, officials of schools syndicate schools whose kids were in GSS Chibok for the exams, local and the Borno State government authorities.

    His words: “It is really difficult to state the actual number of girls that were abducted. This is because, students from other secondary schools within the catchment area were deployed to GGSS Chibok to write their final year examinations due to the peculiar security challenges in Borno State.

    “Some of the students were drawn from schools at Izge, Lassa, Ashigashiya and Warabe and that is why after the unfortunate incident the actual number of girls that were taken away could not be ascertained.”

    ” The actual students from GGSS Chibok on the register of the West African examination Council WAEC is not up to that figure but the additions of other schools too close to the Sambisa and risk boarder areas has swollen the figure that were in the boarding hall on that day.”

    He hinted that because of the different schools that were shelded in GGSS Chibok, they will not be suprised if the figure changes again

    “Especially when parents from some of the villages come forth and report the
    disappearance of their daughters. It is not the number that matters because all the girls are very important and we have to find them.

    “To this end there is serious collaboration between various security agencies at all a level towards rescuing the girls.”

    He therefore urged parents and community leaders to submit names and identities of their missing daughters through special telephone numbers which had been designated so that well meaning Nigerians can call and give useful information that would lead to the rescue of the girls.

    The numbers are +2348075897377; +23481777309 and +2348036121490.

  • Jonathan sets up panel on 234 abducted girls

    Jonathan sets up panel on 234 abducted girls

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday set up a fact-finding committee to find out the circumstances surrounding the reported abduction of about 234 secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno State.

    The decision was taken at a high-level meeting at Aso Villa to review the security situation in the country, especially the bombing at Nyanya on Thursday and the kidnapping of girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on 15th April, 2014 by suspected terrorists.

    The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of Jonathan’s meeting with the service chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau, Vice President Namadi Sambo and other security agencies and some other ministers.

    Maku briefed in the company of the Military spokesman, Chris Olukolade, Police spokesman, Frank Mba, State Security Service (SSS) spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe. Stressing that the composition and terms of reference of the committee will soon be made public, he said that it is made up of security agencies, civil society, international organizations and other stakeholders. He said: “On the unfortunate kidnap of the Chibok girls, the security chiefs briefed the meeting on efforts so far made to locate and rescue the girls, and bring the perpetrators to justice. Extensive and intensive aerial surveillance by the Air Force has been carried out in all the routes leading into and out of Chibok up to the Chad and Cameroun borders. Other parts of Borno and Adamawa states are also under the searchlight.” “Every information relayed to security agencies has so far been investigated, including the search of all places suspected as a possible hide-away of the kidnapped girls. The police, backed up by the military and DSS, have combed and are still combing all reported places that the girls might have been taken to. In view of the inconsistent and contradictory information available to government on the Chibok abduction, the President has set up a fact-finding committee comprising security agencies, civil society, international organizations and other stakeholders.” Noting that the President shares in the pain and anguish of the parents and guardians of the Chibok girls abducted by the terrorists, he said: “The President’s heart goes out to these our unfortunate daughters who have had to endure the trauma of abduction and separation from their loved ones. The government and people of Nigeria stand solidly by them.” He said that the President also appealed to the parents, guardians, relations and members of the public to furnish security agencies with all the information that will assist in the rescue of the girls. Maku added: “Government also appreciates the public outpouring of support and the sentiment expressed so far by all Nigerians, including civil society groups who have come out to condemn the abduction of the girls and terrorism in the country. Government strongly believes that the people of Nigeria, standing together, will overcome the current security challenges.” “The President has directed that the security agencies should intensify efforts to rescue the Chibok girls. The President assures Nigerians that “wherever the girls are in the world, we will get them back, apprehend and punish the culprits”. He stated. On the latest Nyanya bomb blast he said: “The meeting received updates on the second Nyanya bombing, the ongoing search for the Chibok girls, and efforts made so far to deal with related incidents of insecurity and terrorism in the country.” “On Nyanya, the President directed security chiefs to increase surveillance and expedite investigation into the explosion to ensure that those behind the heinous act are arrested and brought to justice.” The President, he said, commiserated with the families of the deceased in the latest bombing at Nyanya, sympathized with all those who were injured in the incident and directed full medical treatment for the victims at government expense. According to him, the President also directed for additional proactive measures by security agencies to enhance public safety, including increased public awareness for citizens to step up their cooperation with security agencies by reporting suspected activities and persons likely to cause a breach of public peace, safety and security. He also disclosed that the government is doing everything possible to ensure the successful hosting of the World Economic Forum in Abuja next week. Noting that the intention of the terrorists is to intimidate and shut down the government, he declared that terror will never shut down Nigeria. According to him, Nigeria has not invited any direct foreign intervention in the fight against insurgency but have been collaborating with other countries.

  • Police collate data on abducted girls

    The Commissioner of Police in Borno, Alhaji Lawan Tanko, on Friday appealed to parents whose wards were abducted in Chibok to forward the names and photographs of the girls for documentation.
    Tanko, who made the appeal at a news briefing in Maiduguri, said the move followed difficulties in accessing the records of the girls due to the burning down of the school by the abductors.
    “We want to appeal to parents of the abducted girls to please come forward with the names and photographs of their wards, so we can come up with a tentative figure of those missing.
    “The April 14 attack on the school by suspected insurgents has damaged the entire structure, including the administrative building where records were kept.
    “This makes it difficult to get records on the number of girls actually abducted at the school,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the police commissioner as saying at the briefing.
    Tanko said available information had revealed that 530 candidates registered at the school for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination.
    “Candidates from five areas – Ashigashiya, Izge, Chibok, Waraba A, and Lassa, registered at the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, for the SSCE,” Tanko said.
    He noted also that it was still not clear on the number of girls that were abducted when the insurgents attacked the school.
    “At present, there are flying figures on the actual number of girls abducted.
    “About 276 students were allegedly abducted by the insurgents going by claims of the people.
    “Out of the number, 53 have regained their freedom, and going by the figure about 223 girls are believed to be in the abductors’ den.
    “But we need the parents and guardians to come forward with genuine claims like names and photographs so we can get the actual figure,” the police chief said.

     

  • Abduction: Security agents quiz ‘lucky’ Chibok school girls

    Abduction: Security agents quiz ‘lucky’ Chibok school girls

    Military Intelligence and security agents have interacted with some of the 48 girls who escaped from Boko Haram camps, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The escapees were said to have written the school certificate examinations in other schools arranged by the government of Borno State, which is set to submit the list of the abducted students and their photographs to the police to assist the military in tracking them.

    The military and security agents quizzed the escapees as part of the ongoing search for their colleagues still being held hostage.

    It was learnt that some of the girls made “startling” revelations, including the complicity of some locals in their abduction. This, a source said, will make security agents to grill some teachers in the school.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Some of these girls had the interaction on audio and video tapes. The essence of this is to guide the operations of the military and other rescue teams.

    “From their submissions, there was complicity of some locals in the abduction because some of the insurgents were known to the girls. Security agents will also look into the activities and records of some teachers in the school.

    “All the clues at our disposal are being examined in order to rescue the girls unhurt.”

    A top government official confirmed that the girls were taken to different schools to enable them write the examinations.

    “We do not want them to lose this opportunity while we are searching for their colleagues.

    “We are collaborating with the military and security agents to ensure safe return of the girls.”

    As of press time, there were indications that Borno State may release the list of the students and their photographs to the police for onward transmission to Defence Headquarters to assist the military in its rescue operations.”

    The official went on: “We have delayed action in releasing the list because in this type of abduction, the girls would have been abused. So, publishing their names and photographs might lead to stigmatization in the society.

    “Again, we have reached a stage where we have to lay our cards on the table to ward off insinuations by some people on the actual number of students abducted.”

  • Anger over abducted girls

    Anger over abducted girls

    Borno senator: insurgents have married girls

    House summons service chiefs

    Women protest

    ABUJA was yesterday in a foul mood at the National Assembly and on the streets – over the April 15 abduction of school girls and the one-year-old polytechnic teachers’ strike.

    Women, many of them decked in all-black dresses, demanded action on the fate of the 234 girls who were snatched away from their hostels in Chibok, Borno State.

    Senators were locked in a charged session over the abduction by the fundamentalist Boko Haram sect. They unanimously voted for tougher military action against the insurgents whose activities have killed thousands.

    The Senate yesterday urged the Federal Government to seek the assistance of the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to rescue the girls.

    Besides, senators are to confer with President Goodluck Jonathan to seek ways of curtailing the insurgency.

    These resolution followed a motion entitled: “Abduction of School girls in Chibok, Borno State”, sponsored by Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba and 107 others.

    Some Senators in their contribution blamed the degenerating insurgency on sabotage and collaboration by insiders in the military.

    Others wondered why the President has not deemed it fit to visit Borno State to commiserate with the people and boost the morale of the troops on ground.

    A Senator from the area gave a graphic account of how the terrorists have been moving the girls from camp to camp in the forest since the day they were abducted.

    He named the locations where the girls were being camped.

    He lamented that the military did not act on the intelligence he placed at their disposal that could have facilitated early rescue of the girls.

    In his lead debate, Ndoma-Egba urged the Senate to note with grief the inhuman abduction.

    He told the Upper Chamber, which was just returned from its two-week Easter recess, the incident occurred just when the country was grieving over the rush hour bombing of a bus park in Nyanya near the nation’s capital, Abuja.

    He said when the nation was was trying to come to grips with the bombing that claimed over 75 people and wounded dozens more, the country was struck yet with another devastating blow: the girls’ abduction.

    He recalled that the terrorist broke into the Government Secondary School in Chibok, shot the guards and abducted the pupils, taking them away in trucks into the Sambisa forest, a known hideout of the sect.

    Ndoma-Egba said prior to the abduction, the school was closed down for four weeks due to the deteriorating security situation in the state, but the pupils were recalled to take their final exams in physics.

    He said that the Senate is disappointed that two weeks after their disappearance, the girls’ whereabouts remained unknown.

    The senator noted that about 44 of the girls escaped by jumping from the back of the truck used to ferry them away or by sneaking out of the abductor’s camp.

    According to him, besides the uncertainty, as to the whereabouts and fate of these innocent girls, whose only crime is to go to school, “is the lack of authentic information from the school authorities, the security agencies and their parents as to the exact number of girls that were abducted and the processes leading to same.”

    The lawmaker called on the Senate to be hopeful that the offer of assistance by the United States and Britain to rescue the students would come with all the required technology, including the deployment of the drones which the United States had used to great positive effect in tracking/fighting terrorism elsewhere.

    He, however, said that the Senate was afraid that time was fast running out as the girls’ captors may break them into various hideouts.

    The Senators unanimously resolved to urge the Federal Government and all security agencies to intensify efforts at bringing back the girls.

    They urged the Federal Government and the security agencies to seek assistance of the United Nations, ECOWAS and other countries to rescue the girls.

    They also prayed for the safe release of all the abducted girls and urged the government at all levels to provide adequate security for all schools.

    Senate President David Mark decried the “callous adoption” of the girls and called for full scale military action against the insurgents.

    Mark said it was time to be proactive in attacking the terrorists so much so that it is the insurgents that would beg the nation for dialogue.

    He said the insurgents had touched the “heart of the nation”, with the abduction of the girls.

    Mark said: “The people we are dealing with are not just locals. They are well trained and they know what they want. They are not terrorists, they are insurgents. And all along we have been reacting. Unless we are proactive, we are not going to get anywhere.

    “I have been in the forefront of saying we must go to dialogue with the insurgents, but I think we must take this battle to a level where they also will now call for dialogue.

    “We cannot do this unless the locals on the ground there cooperate with the members of the armed forces. Our armed forces are doing their best.

    “Those who study insurgency and terrorism know that the locals are extremely important because they must work hand-in-hand with the members of the armed forces.

    “This is not a conventional warfare. My prayer is that all hands must be on deck in this war. All of us must begin to appeal to the people in our constituencies.”

    The Senate President urged the Federal Government to ensure that the nation is briefed daily on efforts to rescue the girls.

    He lamented that the kidnap of the 234 girls would dominate the World Economic Forum scheduled to meet in Nigeria soon.

    Said Mark: “I believe that there are external connections because our local terrorists and insurgents cannot do what they are doing. They touch the heart of the nation.

    “There is no nation that would sit down and fold their arms and watch women and children killed at random by any group of people. Unless the local environment is conducive, terrorism and insurgency cannot succeed.

    “But once it takes root, let’s take note it’s not going to wind up tomorrow morning and my worry is that we should not allow it to get to a level where it becomes a permanent feature in this country. Unless we nip it in the bud now, it will get to that level.

    “If we need foreign assistance, the nation should not be ashamed to ask, because the world is such a small global village now that getting assistance for one action or the other is not a shameful thing. It is international cooperation and if we have to, let us go for it.”

    Senators mostly from the affected areas spoke on the insurgency.

    Senator Ahmed Zannah (Borno Central) said even though he had constantly updated the military about the movement of the terrorists who abducted the girls, all his intelligence reports were not acted upon.

    He gave a graphic account of how the insurgents had been moving the girls from one place to another since the abduction.

    Zannah said: “Since the beginning of this siege, I kept mute on this issue as far as press releases and press interviews are concerned.

    “I have been constantly in touch with the security agencies, telling them the developments, the movement of the girls from one place to the other and then the splitting of the girls and eventually the marriage of these girls by the insurgents.

    “What bothers me most is that whenever I inform where these are, after two to three days, they will be moved from that place to another and still, I will go back and inform them that see, this is what is happening.

    “I lost hope two days ago when I found out that some of them were moved to Chad and Cameroon.

    “Actually, some of them move through the Mandara mountain that is in Gwoza and some of them are just a stone throw from their barracks, even now as I am talking to you, in Cameroon because it is in Kolofata, which is in Cameroon about 15 kilometers or even less to the borders because one of the insurgents called somebody in Bama and said I just got married and said I am now settling in Kolofata’.

    “Then three or four days ago, some Fulani men reported that they saw some girls being taken by boats into the Island in Lake Chad and that some of them happened to be between Marte and Mungonu, maybe.

    “Maybe, those ones might still be within Nigeria, but that is the current and new base of the insurgents. They just took over that place less than a week and that village is called Chikungudua. The place is the constituency of Senator Maina Mai’ji Lawan.

    “But I informed the security agents about the situation and from that place, they can just go into the lake and go to either Chad or Cameroon because it is very open, there are no weeds in the lake and so they can go anywhere.

    “They have snatched all the boats around that area, including the one for NNPC, and so they are free to go anywhere without being chased by anybody.

    “There are about 40 islands there and they have ejected most of the occupants of the island and they have occupied the islands.

    “What is most disturbing is that hitherto, Sambisa was their base and is well known to the military and Nigerian security.

    The senator spoke of how he discovered that the terrorists were moving out of Sambisa forest. Even before then, I had been discussing with the military and they said they were going to attack that place, about 15 or 20 days ago, I don’t know what delayed them,” he said, adding:

    “But, eventually when they launched the attack, all the insurgents had already gone out of the place. So, I don’t know what is happening.

    “Even before then, I even told them about the shrubs in Northern Borno where they stayed last year till after the rainy season.

    “Since rainy season is approaching, I told them that these people will leave Sambisa and other areas and go to that shrub but it seems there is no much presence of military around that area up till now and they are now much moving into those shrubs.

    “And when they go in, the shrub has some canopy whereby the ground is empty and you cannot see any human or animal movement under that canopy even with aircraft.

    “It is the same place where they hid last year and came out after the rainy season without any challenge, they came into the hinterland.

    “I don’t know if the military can take very serious and willing action in this matter but if there is no way to fight them, I think we are wasting our time. It all depends on their willingness.

    “I was interviewed by the press on whether if the state of emergency was extended, the military would succeed and I said ‘yes, if there was willingness, they will’.

    He went on: “Their number is not all that much as being touted and without cooperation from certain group of people within the security agencies, there is no way these people will survive like this.

    “But when we talk, they will say we are against them; we are exposing them; we are demoralising their troops. These are the facts.”

    “So, unless there is spirit of seriousness on the part of our military, we have no hope of getting those girls; even if we are going to get them, we are going to get them in trickles; maybe getting two, three, four, and five. They are now scattered. So it is not possible for us to get 50, 60,100 in one particular position. This is the position as at today.”

    Senator Ali Ndume, (Borno South) noted that the girls would have been rescued if the Federal Government is serious and with proper equipment for the military.

    Ndume, who was apparently emotional during his contribution to the debate said: “The 53 girls we have were those that escaped. We have to speak the truth.

    “I am a little bit emotional because you cannot understand what we are going through until you visit these areas. The only place there is relative peace is where there are civilian JTF.

    “The military deployed there are doing their best, but I cannot ask any of them to do more than what they are doing. You need to see their equipment and there is no motivation.

    “Whenever we go there, we buy food. As days go by, most of these girls are divided and forcefully married out. How they do that and where they passed remain a mystery.

    “I appreciate the motion but there is no action. We speak to commanders on ground and their complaints are the same: no motivation.

    “Their number is few and there is no equipment to match their opponents. Every time we budget trillions of naira for defence but I have not seen any new equipment on ground. The armoured vehicles are those of 1950s.”

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), noted that the situation was degenerating as a result of internal sabotage

    Abaribe said: “In what way would somebody get information, give to the security and nothing happens. There must be internal sabotage; we cannot run away from that.

    “While we ponder about this, I joined Nenadi Usman to think about these children and the fact that a few things have happened in the world, people have disappeared and we saw the frantic efforts by those countries to get to the root of the matter to the extent that some people resigned. What manner of ineptitude is this?

    “I don’t want to add to what others have said but I want to say that no matter what happens, the buck lies on someone’s table. We are ill-equipped. Have we motivated our security agents enough?

    “They are doing their best. With all due respect, has the President visited Borno? We want to see our President visit the place and restore confidence in the people. There is no how you can get information from people who feel they are neglected.”

    Senator Mohammed Magoro (Kebbi South) urged the Federal Government to call up reservists to boost the manpower of the military.

    He said: “For Nigeria to win the war against insurgents, we must recall the nation’s military reserves, including retired soldiers if need be. Also, neighbouring countries are aiding insurgents. I stand here to say that they are aiding and abetting what is going in the country. If it means revisiting the budgets, we will do so to ensure that we win this war.”

    Senator Ehigie Uzamere (Edo South) accused local collaborators in the community of aiding and abetting the kidnap of the girls from a predominantly Christian community.

    “We must renegotiate the corporate existence of Nigeria,” he said.

    Senator Ayogu Eze (Enugu North) urged the Federal Government to summon the ambassadors of Chad, Cameroon and Niger to brief her on what their governments are doing in the circumstance.

    Eze added: “Something has gone wrong with professionalism and unless we arrest the drift, these people are not doing enough.”

     

  • Parents protest over abducted girls

    Parents protest over abducted girls

    Women from Borno State  yesterday protested the abduction of their daughters from the hostel 15 days after, by members of the Boko Haram sect, in Chibok.

    The women, dressed in black attire lamented the inability of the Federal Government to rescue the 234 schools girls who were writing their final examinations.

    Armed with placards containing emotional inscriptions, the bewildered women expressed fears that the kidnapped girls may be undergoing varied forms of torture and molestation in the hands of their captors.

    Some of the placards read: ‘Our girls in captivity for 15 days’; ‘Nigeria, come to the rescue of our girls’; ‘Mr President, rescue our daughters’; ‘A vacuum has been created’; ‘Save our daughters, please’; etc.

    The leader of the obviously traumatised parents, Mrs. Naomi Mukhtar, said the essence of their visit to the National Assembly was to further draw global attention to their predicament.

    She urged the leadership of the National Assembly to show sympathy for their plights by asking the Federal Government and the military authorities to ensure the immediate release of their daughters.

    She said: “On behalf of mothers of the 234 girls, we are here to express our anger. Our grievance is that we are not aware of the whereabouts of these girls. Our girls have been distributed to hoodlums in the forest.

    “It is painful that our daughters were carried away into the wilderness over 15 days now like cows to be slaughtered; since then, we have not heard anything from the Federal Government.

    “Where are the human right groups in the country? Where is the Women Affairs Ministry? Is there no government in the country? Are there no fathers and mothers in government again to deem it fit to see the parents of the abducted school girls and tell us what is actually happening.

    “If our children are dead, where are their bodies? Let us see their bodies. For the past two weeks, nobody has come to us, we are dying in silence, where is the international community? We need their assistance.”

    Four Senators, Hellen Esuene, Zainab Kure, Barnabas Gemade and Ali Ndume, addressed the protesters on behalf of Senate President David Mark.

    Ndume assured the women of the support and determination of the National Assembly to throw its full weight behind efforts by the Federal Government to ensure the safe rescue of the girls.

    Ndume, who is also from Borno state said: “We have heard your cry, we are with you on the matter. At the moment, we are considering a motion on the subject matter.

    “The Senate President sent the three of us to receive you. The Senate President has not slept over the matter. The very first motion upon resumption is the abduction.

    We wish to assure you that this matter will be addressed by the Senate. Our thoughts and prayers go to all of you because we are with you. We stand united in grief with you in your hour of pain, agony and anxiety.

    “We will do everything possible to make sure that the kidnappers release our daughters immediately, unconditionally.”

    Minister of Women Affairs Mrs. Zainab Maina, urged them to remain prayerful as the Federal Government and the military authorities would ensure that the innocent girlswere rescued and reunited with their parents.

    nd collective resolve of Nigerians.”

     

    Service chiefs to face

    Reps over 234 girls

     

    The House of Representatives yesterday resolved to summon the Chief of Defence State, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff over the abduction of 234 female students from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

    The Service Chiefs are to brief the lawmakers on the efforts to find the abducted girls and the challenges hampering them from securing their freedom as well as strategies they intend to employ to bring the insurgency by the Boko Haram sect to an end.

    They also urged t the Federal Government ” engage the sub-regional, regional and international organisations in coming up with a resolution that enables the Nigerian army engage other neighbouring countries in tackling the trans-border insurgency”.

    The adoption of the resolutions was sequel to a motion of urgent national importance brought before the House by a member, Hon. Peter Gumta (Borno) and titled: “Urgent need to secure the release of the abducted girls of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State”

    However, an amendment by a member Sadiq Asema Mohammed, seeking the resignation of the Service Chiefs, National Security Adviser, Director-General of State Security Service and Comptroller General of Immigrations should the children not be found within a week failed to sail through.

    The motion elicited a passionate debate yesterday as the lawmakers bared their minds on what most to them termed as “an unfortunate incident.”

    A member, Hon. Aisha Ahmed Moddibo was of the opinion that the efforts of the Chamber were a little too late. According to her, she expected that the House would have broken its Easter recess to convene an emergency meeting as it did in the past when it held a Sunday meeting over the fuel subsidy issue.

    “The debate is belated. The House should have suspended recess to discuss the issue. This is even more important that the fuel subsidy issue because the lives of children are involved,” she said.

    Gumtha, while moving the motion, said t 43 of the 273 students abducted by the Boko Haram sect, escaped on the midnight of 14/15 April 2014 and that two weeks after the incident 234 others are still being held captive by the insurgents in an unknown place.

    He expressed displeasure over the misleading information from the security agencies that the adducted children had been rescued when they were not.

    The lawmaker revealed that rescue efforts by the sector command at Damboa and Askira had been hindered by the neglected and untarred 50 kilometre long Mbalala-Chibok-Damboa federal road.

    Farouk Lawan while supporting the motion urged members to spend 30 seconds to imagine that their daughters were amongst the children carted away by the insurgents.

    Bitrus Kaze (Plateau State) said the Northeast is considered backwards in terms of education and that the abduction of over 200 girls from a school has dealt a deadly blow to education in the state.

    He urged leaders to eschew media war and stop politicising the fight against terror. “We must act as leaders and save lives and property, we must conduct ourselves as leaders. We must stop the media war. We need Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin, we should ask for help.”

    Hon. Momoh Abubarkar said there was need to seek international assistance but that first, the Federal Government should negotiate with the insurgents to free the abducted children.

    Another member, Rasak Bello-Osagie, said the ongoing insurgency in the country is not checked could tear the nation apart.

    “The issue threatens our corporate existence,” he said.

    Andrew Uchendu said there is the need to go spiritual to avoid the Balkanization of the country in line with the prediction of the Western countries. “Parliament should close down for a day and we should all go down on our knees.”

    According to him,” if care is not taken, the prediction that Nigeria will break in 2015 will come to pass.”

    Samson Osagie described the situation as ” a hopeless situation. It is a breakdown of government. Government must retrieve these children. If children of the 360 members are amongst, we will not be sitting here.”

    Hon. Garuba Datti Mohammed said there is no political will to defeat the terrorists, adding that in spite of the state of emergency.

    Other members, who spoke in support of the motion include Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, Robinson Uwak, Ifeoluwa Arewosoge, Patrick Ikheriale, Friday Itulah and Nnena Elendu-Ukeje whose amendment that ” engage the sub-regional, regional and international organizations in coming up with a resolution that enables the Nigerian army engage other neighbouring countries in tackling the trans-border insurgency, was passed.

     

     

     

  • Boko Haram requires decisive military response

    Boko Haram requires decisive military response

    For all Nigerians, this year’s Easter was foreshadowed by sorrow, gloom and anxiety. A few days before Good Friday, there was a bomb blast at Nyanya Motor Park in our nation’s capital at rush hour. The blast left in its wake, death, injury and massive destruction of properties. The anarchists followed up the bombing in Abuja with other acts of infamy in the North East, the most reprehensible being the abduction of secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno State.

    Our thoughts and prayers go to those affected by these needless acts of savagery. Our thoughts and prayers also go to their families. We stand united in grief with the families of these hapless school girls in their hour of pain, agony and anxiety. We call on their kidnappers to immediately release them unconditionally.

    There is no doubt that our nation is at war. The enemy has clearly and unequivocally served the nation notice of its vile intentions. Therefore, a clear, unambiguous and decisive military response from the government, beyond the imposition of a state of emergency, is urgently required in this circumstance. This is an option we must consider now.

    It is obvious that we are dealing with insurgents and well funded nihilists, who are determined to violently trample upon the secularity of the Nigerian State and destroy the country. A modern, vibrant, progressive, multi-ethnic, multi-religious Nigeria is an anathema to them. Because they are fired by zealotry and extremism, they are not likely to be swayed by overtures of any kind. We must, henceforth, shift from fighting terrorism to fighting insurgency.

    Our emphasis must, therefore, be on winning the hearts and minds of the communities in the immediate theatres of conflict. The full might and strength of our security services must now be deployed to confront this scourge and we expect our security services to rapidly reorient their assets and capabilities to overcome this difficult challenge. And this must be done within the shortest possible time frame with minimal casualties. Let me emphasise that for them to achieve this they require the cooperation of all and sundry.

    The Government must do all it can to immediately identify the sponsors and the source of funds to the terrorists and the insurgents. In this connection, nobody who is implicated, no matter how highly placed, should be treated as a sacred cow.

    On our part as federal legislators, we will continue to co-operate and work with all arms of government and the people to bring this unwarranted assault on our peace and unity to a swift end. We will activate and deploy every possible constitutional legislative instrument in aid of the war against terror. Every concerted effort must be made to bring this reign of terror to a decisive end.

    The breadth and scope of this assault on the Nigerian State makes for somber reading; places of worship have been violated; pupils have been brutally murdered en masse in their dormitories; school girls have been brutalised and kidnapped from their schools; police stations and army barracks have been attacked and incinerated; lives and properties have been destroyed and whole communities uprooted and made refugees in their own country.

    The tragedy is that at a time of grave national emergency like this when every Nigerian should stand in unity and openly rebuke evil, some of our countrymen and women, unfortunately, only see this as an opportunity for partisan politics. Appallingly, rather than condemn in the strongest possible terms, they have resorted to destructive partisan diatribes that can only demoralise our troops and the nation and encourage the insurgents. When a nation is faced with clear and present danger, what is required is a bipartisan approach and a show of support for the government and the security services.

    In other democracies where terrorism has been confronted with substantial success, bipartisan support for the government’s counter insurgency policy and war efforts have proved vital to lasting success. We must recognise these attacks as an egregious assault on the Nigerian way of life and a signal threat to her corporate existence. We must not quibble, nor speak along party lines. We must speak out as Nigerians, and collectively, we must flash a powerful signal against terror. Our instinctive patriotism should be on display and we must rally bipartisan support for the government to confront terror. This was what the Americans and the British did in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the 7/7 London Bombings.

    It is dispiriting that at the peak of bombings, abductions and senseless killings by insurgents, rather than stand together as Nigerians, some people are speaking along party lines, scheming and viewing anarchy from the prisms of partisanship. This is condemnable and totally unacceptable. We should not sell the truth to serve the hour. And the truth is that Boko Haram has declared war, not just on the present government, but on any government founded on the principles of democracy, secularity and tolerance.

    I do not by any means seek to discourage debate, nor do I abhor constructive criticisms. But the print and electronic media are daily inundated with criticisms so destructive that, at times, one is left to wonder whether the insurgents are now the heroes while those fighting them are the villains. The times do not warrant this kind of devious and divisive politicking. The impression must not be given that anybody who gives his life fighting insurgency has died in vain.

    The time has come for us to stand shoulder to shoulder as we confront this evil. As Nigerians, we must all unite across party lines with the sole aim of fighting and defeating our common enemy. If the enemy of unity, peace and progress prevails, there will be no political parties, except the party of hate, of intolerance, of anarchy, and of backwardness and bigotry and this must not stand. That is not a prospect that I or any other Nigerian would wish our dear country.

    I, therefore, call on every Nigerian to be patriotic, patient, prayerful and hopeful. There is no way a strange and anarchic ideology, not supported by any of the faiths to which we subscribe, will overcome the civilised and collective resolve of Nigerians.

    In spite of all these, I re-emphasise my stand that we should not foreclose the avenue for dialogue as a means of finding a lasting solution to the current acts of terrorism and insurgency.

  • Boko Haram kidnaps 100 girls in attack on hostel

    Boko Haram kidnaps 100 girls in attack on hostel

    Troops launch rescue mission

    NIGERIANS, who were struggling to free themselves from the horrific hangover of Monday’s suicide bombing, yesterday got another piece of bad news – the abduction of 100 girls at the Girls Senior Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

    Eye witnesses recalled that the attack was like a scene from an action movie. The gunmen stormed the town in the night, shooting and burning. There was commotion. They then invaded the school where they killed a soldier and a policeman who were on guard.

    The girls were preparing for their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) when they were forcibly taken away by the gunmen around 3 a.m., The Nation learnt.

    Chibok is a town close to the boundary between Borno and Adamawa states. It is on the edge of the Sambisa forest – the insurgent Boko Haram’s hideout.

    The military has ordered troops to rescue the girls, who are believed to have been snatched by Boko Haram fighters. The sect detests Western education. Its name translates to “Western education is a sin”.

    A resident, Joseph Walama, said the attackers were about 50, who stormed the town in a convoy of Toyota Hilux vehicles before unleashing terror on residents.

    “They started arriving the town from about 10 p.m. in a convoy of  seven Hilux vehicles and took control of the town. They set fire on residential and public buildings,’’ Walama said.

    He said the attackers engaged in mass looting of food items and harassed residents at will.

    “Then they suddenly headed for the Senior Secondary School, Chibok, which is a WAEC examination centre.

    “Some of the teachers and students took to their heels on sighting them, but they eventually abducted those who remained in the hostel.

    “They packed food items and the students into an abandoned lorry before heading for the Sambisa forest,’’ he said.

    “Many girls were abducted by the rampaging gunmen who stormed the school in a convoy of vehicles,” Emmanuel Sam, an education official, told the French News Agency AFP

    Borno Commissioner of Police Lawal Tanko confirmed the attack but said he did not have details of the incident.

    A local government official said he did not know how many of the girls have escaped but that “many” have walked through the bushes and back to Chibok. The girls were piled into the back of an open truck and, as it was traveling, some grabbed at low-hanging branches to swing off while others jumped off the slow-moving vehicle, he said.

    All schools in Borno state were closed three weeks ago because of an increasing number of attacks by militants who have killed hundreds of pupils in the past year. But the young women — aged between 16 and 18 — were recalled to take their final exams, the local government official explained.

    Abducting girls as sex slaves has become the stock in trade of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    When they attacked the school in Buni Yadi, Yobe State, some of the girls were also taken away.

    The Defence Headquarters yesterday ordered troops to liberate the girls.

    Some of the girls who jumped out of the Hilux vehicles used to abduct them are also being protected by troops, it was learnt yesterday.

    The Defence Headquarters denied that up to 200 girls were abducted. It said there were 129 girls in the school at the time the insurgents arrived.

    DHQ spokesman Maj-Gen Chris Olukolade said: “When the incident was reported, troops were swiftly mobilised to liberate the girls. The fact is that when they were being taken away, some of the girls jumped out of the vehicles and ran to the troops.

    “These girls provided information on the route taken by their abductors. The route is being trailed as I am talking to you.”

    He added: “The total number of girls in the school at that time was about 129. Not all the girls were abducted and some of those held by the insurgents escaped.

    “So, the number was not up to 200. But our concern is that even if one school girl is abducted, we are determined to set such a person free from hostage by the insurgents.  Troops have been ordered to liberate these girls; we are tracking them.

    “All the girls who escaped from the insurgents are now being protected by troops.”

    A top security source said: “From the courageous girls who escaped, we learnt that some of the insurgents are locals; they are known to them. It is something we are also investigating, to find out if there were issues in the area before the abduction.”

    A girl, who managed to escape and wished not to be named, told the BBC she and fellow students were sleeping when armed men burst into their hostel.

    “Three men came into our room and told us not to panic. We later found out later that they were among the attackers,” she said.

    The girls said she and her schoolmates were taken away in a convoy, which had to slow down after some of the vehicles developed a fault.

    Around 10 to 15 girls seized the opportunity to escape.

    “We ran into the bush and waited until daybreak before we went back home,” she said.

     

  • Boko Haram abducts 200 female students in Borno

    No fewer than 200 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, have been abducted by armed men suspected to be Boko Haram members.

    The students all girls kept in the boarding department were abducted on Monday night while in their hostels studying for the ongoing West African Senior Secondary Certificate examination.

    Eyewitnesses told The Nation that two explosions were heard at the schools premises while some buildings were raised by the insurgents.

    The Nation gathered that the men came in four trucks to the school and bundled the students into their trucks just as the students were busy preparing for their examination slated for Tuesday.

    Eyewitnesses said there were no security personnel around to rescue the pupils, most of whom wept profusely when they realized that their academic career was about to be terminated by the armed men.

    According to eyewitnesses, some of the pupils aged between 16 and 18 escaped when the last truck had problems, a situation that enabled them to jump off the vehicle and raced into the bush instead of following their colleagues to become sex slaves for the insurgents.

    Although the state Police spokesman, Gedion Jibrin, could not be reached at the time of filing this report, a top brass in the state police command, confirmed the development, saying investigation has commenced on the matter.