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Tag: Damasak

  • We must finish off Boko Haram now, says Air Chief

    The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar on Tuesday said the death of the five crew members of the Nigerian Air Force Mi-35M helicopter that crashed in combat in Borno should spur all Nigerians to resolve to fight all agents of destabilization and extremism in the country.

    Air Marshal Abubakar also said time has come for the nation to throw all it has into the on-going war in the northeast and ensure the war comes to an end as soon as possible.

    He asserted that the death of the five crew members and others fallen heroes in the on-going war against Boko Haram Terrorists should no be in vain.

    The Air Chief made the remarks at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, at the burial of Flt. Lt. P Jacob and 4 other crew members of Mi-35M Helicopter that crashed on the 2nd of January at Damasak, Borno state.

    The Air Chief’s comforting voice came as tears rolled down the cheeks of family members, friends colleaques, and relations of the five air force personnel. Some of their relations wept uncontrollable, while some senior officers also fought back tears as they bade the fallen heroes farewell.

    The departed military personnel were buried with full military honours accompanied by the traditional 21 gun salute.

    Read Also: Nigerien troops kill 280 Boko Haram fighters

    Air Marshal Abubakar said: ” With gratitude to Almighty God, I welcome all of you here today to the burial ceremony of our fallen colleagues Flt Lt P Jacob, Late Flt Lt KP Kilyofas, Late Sgt Ibrahim A, Late LCpl Nura A and Late ACM Ishmael M.

    “These 5 heroes met their untimely death on 2 Jan 19 at Damasak in active Service of our fatherland. These gallant heroes lost their lives in the pursuit of the peace which we all enjoy and often take for granted. We salute the courage of these young men, whose lot it became to give their lives for this purpose.

    “The loss of these courageous and professional gentlemen must spur the rest of us not only to rededicate ourselves in the service of our Nation, but also to resolve that we expose and fight all agents of destabilization and extremism in our society.

    “We must throw in everything we have to this fight to ensure that our departed colleagues did not die in vain. We must do everything possible to bring the ongoing insurgency in the North East to a speedy end that is favourable to our nation.

    “I am indeed deeply touched and saddened by the price which our patriots had to pay in this needless fight against insurgency. Our departed heroes fought that we live in a safe and secure Nigeria where the freedom of worship and association of one and all are guaranteed under one indivisible nation.

    “Therefore, as we resolve to re-dedicate ourselves to the cause of defending the nation, let me at this juncture restate our profound commitment and unalloyed loyalty to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR in his efforts at tackling the challenges bedeviling our national security.

    “This is not a speech making occasion, but a time for sober reflections as we pray for the eternal repose of the gentle souls of our departed heroes, all of whom will be greatly missed but are fondly remembered for their invaluable services to the nation and humanity.

    “Jacob, Kilyofas, Ibrahim, Nura and Ishmael, today, as you go to your final resting place, may the Lord be with you forever and be assured that the Nigerian Air Force and indeed the Nation will remain ever grateful to you for your service and sacrifice.

    “To the families of the deceased, I know Nigerians everywhere join me in praying for you as you shoulder this heavy burden of grief. May time ease the soaring pain of today and please note that the entire nation shares this grief with you.

    “There can be no better consolation than the knowledge that the nation grieves with you on the loss of these amiable and patriotic Nigerians, who paid the supreme price in the course of their duty to the fatherland.

    “As we conclude the interment of Jacob, Kilyofas, Ibrahim, Nura and Ishmael, we fervently pray for all our departed colleagues who have paid the supreme price in the course of ensuring the integrity of our dear nation. As Nigerians, we will persevere, taking strength from the legacy of service of these 5 gentlemen and those before them.”

  • Air Force strikes terrorists in Damasak

    THE Air Force last night said it has destroyed gun trucks belonging to the Boko Haram terrorists and neutralised some of the insurgents in an attack.

    Its spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said the attack, which was carried out in Damasak, northern Borno, was conducted with support of ground troops.

    He said:  “The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed some Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) gun trucks in air strikes conducted near Damasak in Northern Borno State.

    “The attacks were executed yesterday, January 5, 2019, while providing close air support for ground troops at Damasak, who were in pursuit of the terrorists who had attempted to breach their location.

    “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Mi-35M Helicopter Gunship engaged the group of terrorists’ gun trucks in successive waves of attacks as they retreated, destroying and immobilising three of them while causing significant damage to others and neutralising several terrorists.”

  • Air Force Bombs Boko Haram locations in Lake Chad, Damasak

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Friday said more air attacks are being carried out against Boko Haram Terrorists in the fringes of Lake Chad and at Damasak in support of ground troops leading to the death of scores of the insurgents.

    The Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola explained in a statement that the air interdictions were conducted through the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole and Operation Thunder Strike II.

    Read Also:NAF neutralises Boko Haram vehicle, fighters in Borno

    He also said Boko Haram facilities and their vehicles were destroyed in raids conducted at Tumbun on the fringes of Lake Chad and at Damasak in northern part of Borno state.

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “As Operation THUNDER STRIKE 2 entered the tenth day, Friday, 12 September 2018, the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has recorded significant successes against Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) in air raids conducted at Tumbun Rego on the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno State.

    “The attacks were conducted in successive waves, involving Nigerian Air Force (NAF) F-7Ni and Alpha Jet combat aircraft as well as Mi-35M Helicopter Gunships supported by Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, resulting in the destruction of a BHT vehicle and neutralization of scores of insurgents.

    “Characteristic of the insurgents’ tactics, the BHT fighters were initially well camouflaged under foliage and inside abandoned buildings within the settlement. However, timely intelligence enabled the ISR platforms to track and locate one of the BHT vehicles as it was entering the settlement. The vehicle was engaged and destroyed by the attack aircraft.

    “Subsequent waves of attack targeted the scores of insurgents that emerged from their hiding places after the attack on the vehicle. These were engaged in turns by the attack aircraft and neutralized.

    “In another development, the ATF conducted several ISR and Close Air Support missions throughout the night of 12 and early morning of 13 September 2018 in support of troops of the 145 Nigerian Army Battalion, ensuring that the BHTs’ attack at Damasak was thwarted.

    “Meanwhile, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, was in Maiduguri today, 13 September 2018, to again assess progress of the operation as well as boost the morale of the frontline troops.

    “He seized the opportunity to commend the Command and personnel of the ATF for their efforts while urging them to sustain the momentum of operations with a view to locating and destroying all remnants of the insurgents within the fringes of Lake Chad and other areas in Northern Borno”.

  • Troops Kill Scores of Boko Haram Members in Damasak, Restore Order

    The Nigerian Army on Thursday said scores of Boko Haram insurgents who attack troops of 145 Battalion in Damasak, Borno state, were killed by gallant troops after a fierce battle.

    The Army Director of Public Relations, Brig. Gen Texas Chukwu, in a stament issued in Abuja said

    “The troops engaged and subdued the terrorists following a superior fire power of troops in Damasak”.

    According to him “The troops aggressive posture, tactics and marksmanship resulted in neutralizing many Boko Haram Terrorists”.

    Brig. Gen Chukwu debunked social media reports that Boko Haram captured Damasak 24 hours after the visit of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai to the area.

    The Army spokesperson said: “The Nigerian Army wishes to state categorically that the claim is not only untrue but capable of misleading members of the general public and the world at large.

    “In the said story, the report stated inter alia that, Damasak is the location of 134 Battalion. The Nigerian Army wishes to state that, there was no such battalion in Damasak.

    Read Also: Boko Haram repelled in attack on Borno town

    “The Nigerian Army earlier released a statement that, troops of 145 Battalion in DAMASAK, Borno State are engaging Boko Haram Terrorists who came to attack their location at about 6pm on 12 September 2018.The statement also stated that “fierce battle on going right now and the troops are dealing with the terrorists.

    “The troops engaged and subdued the terrorists following a superior fire power of troops in DAMASAK. The troops aggressive posture, tactics and marksmanship resulted in neutralizing many Boko Haram Terrorists.

    “Consequently, the Nigerian Army wishes to state that the fight against Boko Haram Terrorists in the North Eastern parts of the country is yielding positive result.

    “The Nigerian Army therefore advised members of the public particularly residents of the affected areas to go about their legitimate businesses and disregard the said report, as the Nigerian Army will continue to protect lives and property of citizens at all times.

    “The Nigerian Army also calls on the media to always exercise caution, verify facts as well as balance their reports before rushing to the press to avoid misinforming the public on sensitive issues.”

  • Northeast needs food intervention for 3m IDPs – UN

    The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) says an estimated three million displaced persons face critical food and nutrition insecurity in the northeast.

    OCHA, in its humanitarian situation report for the month of June, said no fewer than 1.7 million persons were displaced by the conflict in the region in the past nine years.

    According to the fact sheet, the number of people estimated to be facing critical food and nutrition insecurity is projected at three million, following recent assessments exercise in the area.

    It said that humanitarian actors and partners were carrying out a re-targeting exercise in Borno and Yobe to ensure that the most vulnerable people receive food assistance.

    OCHA also said: “Large-scale displacements continue to take place weekly; in the past seven months, since hostilities intensified in the northeast, more than 130,000 people have been displaced.

    “In May alone; 21, 207 people arrived in various locations. Bama, Ngala, Gwoza, Dikwa and Biu recorded the highest number of new arrivals.

    “These movements present major humanitarian challenges as resources are already overstretched in the locations where these civilians arrived.

    “Given that military operations have been announced to continue throughout the 2018 rainy season, displacement trend is likely to continue until end of August.’’

    To cope with the situation, the UN agency disclosed that it had adopted a contingency response plan for the expected high level displacement due to military operations.

    It explained that the plan aimed to provide life-saving assistance to about 115,000 IDPs, expected to move from hard-to-reach areas to key towns in Mobbar, Kukawa, Monguno, Ngala, Kala Balge, Dikwa, Bama, and Gwoza local government councils of Borno.

    “About 41.7million dollars is urgently needed to ensure sufficient preparedness and response activities to facilitate life-saving assistance for the new arrivals.

    “These include shelter and non-food items; health care, food, water and sanitation, protection and nutrition,” it said.

    The organisation revealed that it had initiated resource mobilisation efforts for the Rainy Season Contingency Plan, to support 463,000 vulnerable persons in extreme weather localities such as Bama, Damasak and Rann.

    OCHA noted that it had already commenced distribution of life-saving items including food, seeds, medicines, emergency shelter, non-food items and hygiene kits.

    The UN humanitarian body expressed satisfaction with effective response to control cholera outbreak in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, recorded between February and May.

    It lauded the timely response of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme and government to control the disease, adding that surveillance, monitoring and hygiene promotion activities were ongoing in the affected areas.

    The document further showed that the agency had set up five humanitarian hubs in Maiduguri, Gwoza, Bama, Ngala and Dikwa while additional four others would be established in Banki, Damasak, Monguno and Rann liberated communities.

    OCHA explained that the hubs were designed with safe accommodation and internet connectivity, to enhance aid workers’ presence in the field and stimulate effective response.

    “Following an early recovery perspective, the maiden Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum for Regional Cooperation on Stabilisation, Peace Building and Sustainable Development was held in Maiduguri between May 7 and 8.

    “The aim was to promote continuous dialogue to strengthen coordination and collaboration on cross-border initiatives at the sub-national level around the Lake Chad Basin.

    “In preparation for the 2019 Humanitarian Needs Overview, data collection for a multi-sector needs assessment will be launched by mid-June in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, while data analysis is expected to start in July.’’

    The organisation noted, however, that despite the generosity of donors, humanitarian response in the northeast was hampered by lack of fund for the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP).

    “As at May 31, only 39.7 per cent of the $416.4 million total funds needed have been received, according to the funding levels reported on the Financial Tracking Service (FTS).

    “For the response to be sustainable and to avoid interruption in life-saving services, it is crucial that additional funding is urgently received across all sectors,’’ OCHA stated.

  • Shettima presents N170bn budget for 2018

    Shettima presents N170bn budget for 2018

    Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno on Thursday presented N170.2 billion Appropriation Bill for 2018 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly.

    ‎Shettima said the bill tagged: “Budget of Resettlement and Empowerment”, was less than that of 2017 by N13. 560 billion or 7.38 per cent.

    He explained that the capital expenditure was allocated N108,408,580 billion while recurrent vote got N61,870,934 billion.

    ‎Shettima disclosed that the budget would be financed from projected Internally Generated Revenue ( IGR ) of N16,075,548 billion; allocation from the Federation Account of N115,734,194 billion, and Capital Receipt of N38,469,772 billion.

    Major highlights of the budget showed that education got the highest allocation of N27 billion.

    Breaking down the budget portfolio, Shettima said that N12.6 billion was set aside for infrastructure development and management of secondary school education, and N10.3 billion for tertiary education, while N4.4 billion for the State Universal Basic Education Board ( SUBEB ) programmes.

    Read also: 1.6m Borno IDPs benefit from UNFPA in 12 months

    The governor revealed that N22.6 billion was earmarked for construction of major roads, drainage and transport services through the State Ministry of Works and Transport.

    “N17.7 billion for healthcare infrastructure, consumables‎ and other related needs, and N9.8 billion for completion of reconstruction work of destroyed communities, rehabilitation and resettlement of victims of insurgency while N8 billion was set aside for agricultural sector,” he said.

    The governor recalled that his administration had made deliberate efforts to reconstruct and rehabilitate public structures and residential homes in the liberated communities.

    “I am happy to announce that most of the schools, health centres and residential houses in some of the local governments destroyed during the insurgency, have been reconstructed and services fully restored,” he said.

    Shettima listed Konduga, Damasak, Dikwa, Askira/Uba, Kaga and Mafa, as some of the benefiting local government areas.

    He added that the state government had returned the displaced persons to their ancestral homes in the affected areas.

    The governor said the government had also trained youths and women on various trades to build resilience and provide means of livelihood to the returnees.

    “Also, Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) in Damboa, Ngala and Monguno have been safely returned to their homes, to ensure that the displaced persons engaged in productive economic activities.

    “The state government trained youths and women in skills acquisition, provided them with entrepreneurship kits and farm inputs while building materials were also distributed to some of the IDPs to enable them to rebuild their homes within the period under review,” he said.

    According to him, the state government had achieved significant feat in areas of school development, roads, hospitals, agriculture and housing development projects as well as humanitarian services.

    NAN

  • Maiduguri: Front line troops get commendation

    Maiduguri: Front line troops get commendation

    Brig.-Gen. Stevenson Olabanji, the Acting-General Officer Commanding, 8 Task Force Division of the Nigerian Army, has commended the front line troops for expelling Boko Haram terrorists from Kareto, Damasak and Malam Fatori, Maiduguri.

    Col. Timothy Antigha, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, said in a statement in Maiduguri on Saturday that he gave the commendation when he made an assessment tour of the front line troops in the area.

    Antigha explained that the visit was aimed at having an on-the-spot -assessment of the enormous task of freeing the northern Borno and the fringes of Lake Chad of Boko Haram terrorists.

    Olabanji acknowledged their sacrifices and called for the relentless efforts at eliminating the terrorists from the area.

    He warned the troops to hold on firmly to all equipment issued as the loss of any equipment would attract severe sanctions.

    Olabanji urged them, particularly, junior commanders, to view their participation in Operation Lafiya Dole as an opportunity to learn the rudiments of the military profession.

    “You are the future of the Nigerian Army, therefore, you should view this operation as a unique opportunity to learn and also provide quality and effective leadership to troops,’’ he said.

    He commended the troops for their dedication and steadfastness in holding Malam Fatori in spite of the repeated attempts by Boko Haram terrorists to overrun the location.

  • Boko Haram: Nigerian military to reopen key Borno road after 3 years

    Boko Haram: Nigerian military to reopen key Borno road after 3 years

    Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno said on Thursday that the Nigerian military is poised to re-open the Maiduguri-Magumeri-Gubio and Damasak roads.

    Shettima made this known when the Governor of Difa, Republic of Niger, Muhammad Dandano, paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Maiduguri.

    The roads have remained closed to vehicular traffic since 2013 when Boko Haram activities in Borno were at their peak.

    He said the state government would commence reconstruction of Damasak in 2017 to enable inhabitants of the area to return to their homes.

    “Rebuilding Damasak is our priority.

    “The Borno Abadam, Mobar and Magumeri people are rich farmers; they do not need any help if you return them to their communities.

    “We commend the Republic of Niger for hosting about 90,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs),” said Shettima.

    Speaking, Dandano said his country had continued to give its maximum support to victims of violence displaced by Boko Haram insurgency.

    Dandano said IDPs from Nigeria were at the moment living peacefully and going about their normal socio-economic activities in Difa.

    “We are giving the IDPs our maximum support as many of them have taken up farming and other ventures.

    “When you go there you will hardly differentiate between an IDP from Nigeria from a Nigerien.

    “We have also issued birth certificates to the children, who were born in Niger to enable them to have an identity,’’ said Dandano.