The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Insurgence

  • CAN to FG: tackle increasing kidnapping, insurgence

    … Calls for peaceful coexistence among Christians, Muslims

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday appealed to the Federal Government to urgently put an end to the raising case of kidnappings and killings especially in the northern part of the country.

    President of CAN, Rev Samson Ayokunle, in his Easter message also urged government to secure the country and ensure safety of lives and property.

    This, he said, would allow free movement of people during and after the festive period.

    Ayokunle advised all Christians, Muslims and non-religious citizens to pursue peace, tolerance and love for one another no matter the situation.

    In a statement he personally signed and made available to The Nation, Ayokunle said: “On behalf of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), I congratulate all Christians in Nigeria and beyond on this most auspicious occasion of this year’s Easter, which is a commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour!

    “In this season and beyond, I advise Nigerians to love one another as Christ loved us and gave His life for us! Lack of love today is the breeding ground for religious intolerance, killings and destructions, which in turn lead to insurgency and other forms of violence with their attendant humanitarian crises such as mass human displacements, hunger, outbreak of sicknesses and diseases, etc, in many parts of the country today.

    “The Federal Government is further called upon to secure the nation for the purposes of safety of lives, property and free movement of people. Kidnapping, increasing wave of armed robbery and resurgence of insurgency, coupled with relentless attacks by ethnic militia men are a great concern for patriotic Nigerians and an embarrassment to the nation. These issues should be addressed squarely, promptly and fairly,” CAN said.

    In the spirit of the season, and as citizens of this country, Ayokunle urged all Christians, as well as Muslims and non-religious citizens of Nigeria to pursue peace, tolerance and love for one another: “just as Jesus offered His life to reconcile humankind to God. This is one of the greatest needs today in our dear country and it requires genuine sacrifice to achieve it. This is because it is in the atmosphere of peace that we would have progress as a nation.”

  • Insurgence: United Nation must help West Africa now

    UNITED Nations should act now to prevent humanitarian crisis in West Africa. Military operations are on in some regions in Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria. Niger, Chad, Cameroun and others. This is the time to avoid humanitarian disaster in West Africa.  The war on terrorism in West Africa should be fought on many fronts: diplomatic, intelligence, covert action, economic sanctions, law enforcement as well as military. Diplomacy, intelligence, covert action, and economic sanctions have historically served as auxiliary measures in wartime. Economic sanctions, in particular, have routinely foreshadowed or accompanied broader war efforts. There is need for sanctions against Islamic countries that are exporting terrorism to West Africa. In the 21st century it is dishonest for members of the United Nations Security Council to pretend that they do not know the Islamic countries that are exporting terrorism to West Africa. Members of United Nations Security Council know the Islamic countries that are supporting Boko Haram in Nigeria.

    A lot depends on the amount of international support that will be available for Mali, Nigeria and the regional G5 Sahel Force. Currently, there are serious shortfalls and this poses future problems. A failed Nigeria, Mali and others are a danger not only for its neighbors, but for a region stretching from the Sahel, across the Mediterranean and deep into Europe. Containing the terrorist problem is better than dealing with its effects. The UN Security Council should authorize peace operations in Nigeria and other West African countries.  United Nations should focus on duties, such as ensuring security, stabilization and protection of civilians; supporting national political dialogue and reconciliation; and assisting the reestablishment of State authority, the rebuilding of the security sector, and the promotion and protection of human rights in the countries terrorized by Boko Haram and ISIS in West Africa.

    There should be a wide array of sanctions against Islamic countries exporting terrorism to Nigeria and other West African countries which include arms embargoes, targeted sanctions on individuals, restricting trade of commodities that support combatants, and travel restrictions. We need sanctions from the UN, the European Union (EU), and the U.S. against Islamic countries that are exporting terrorism to West Africa in the name of Boko Haram and ISIS. The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression. In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.

    In accordance with paragraph 13 of resolution 1822 (2008) and subsequent related resolutions,  the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee makes accessible a narrative summary of reasons for the listing for individuals, groups, undertakings and entities included in the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List.

    Leaders in Africa and within the UN should play a larger role in securing peace and stability on the continent. While the UN has a regular peacekeeping budget, the AU must continually seek out donors, such as the UN, the EU, and the United States, to fund its missions.

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has said 2018 was a challenging year for the Nigerian military. He also said experienced and skilled fighters of the Islamic State terrorists dislodged from Syria, relocated to the North-East of Nigeria.

    The air chief added that the military’s helicopter gunships were adapting to emerging threats and making good progress to take out terrorists. Abubakar stated this on Monday in his New Year message to the troops, made available by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola.  The air chief said the war against Boko Haram insurgency had been enhanced by the acquisition of new aircraft platforms and reactivation of existing ones. He noted that the military must also prepare for the 2019 General Elections, remain apolitical and “firmly resist any entreaties against the interest of our beloved country.”

    Abubakar said, “The out-gone year 2018 was indeed marked by both challenges and opportunities; however, the NAF, with the vital support of all stakeholders, was able to exploit the opportunities while overcoming the challenges encountered along the way.

    “In the fight against the Boko Haram, we saw the emergence of new tactics as well as the introduction of highly experienced and skilled fighters and technology, as ISIS elements, dislodged from Syria, relocated to the North-East of our country. Our fighter and helicopter gunship pilots are adapting creditably to these emerging nuances and making good progress, despite the recent setbacks.

    United Nations should provide international financial support for Nigeria and the G5. The G5 is tasked with fighting terrorist movements and organized crime in the Sahel region and help protect the civilian population. But its financial situation is insecure.

    Mali’s own soldiers are taking part in the fight against regional instability but are in great need of better equipment and better pay. Until they receive those things, Mali will depend heavily on foreign forces to protect its borders and its people.

    To defeat Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa we need targeted economic sanctions which will become the preferred form of sanctions. That is because broad sanctions on a country that affect imports of vital products, restrictions on investment and trade, and other broad economic sanctions, have had a disproportionate impact on the population, less on the regime or rebels. Targeted sanctions, particularly financial ones and travel bans, have become steadily more sophisticated and effective, especially when enforced by the U.S. and its specialists in the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury and other parts of the U.S. government.

    United Nations and African Union should pay attention to 1994,report by Robert Kaplan when he wrote a controversial Atlantic article, “The Coming Anarchy,” warning of West Africa’s ungoverned spaces, disease-ridden slums, weak borders, and impoverished masses. Kaplan declared: “we ignore this dying region at our own risk.” In 2004, Douglas Farah and Richard Shultz published a Washington Post op-ed that picked up the argument where Kaplan had left off. West Africa had become a terrorist sanctuary. Three years after the 9/11 attacks, the authors proclaimed, “weak and corrupt governments, vast, virtually stateless stretches awash in weapons, and impoverished, largely Muslim populations make the region an ideal sanctuary…The now-identifiable presence of al Qaeda in other countries shows that these once-marginal wars and regions matter. We ignore the warnings at our peril.”

    History has not borne out this “coming anarchy” of terrorism, and West Africa is not rife with international extremism. Alas, the region is not beyond terrorism’s grasp either. This means several longstanding arguments about extremism in West Africa need to be carefully revisited. Many observers perpetuate the image of West Africa as a blank slate for counterterrorism experiments. Yet efforts have been ongoing for decades, and international, regional, and local frameworks already exist. UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) established the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) in an effort to stop terrorism in all of its forms. UN Security Council Resolution 1624 (2005) is designed to improve border security and encourage member countries to submit updates to the CTC.

    • Inwalomhe Donald writes from Benin City

  • ‘Boko Haram insurgence is God’s punishment for Nigeria’s sins’

    Coordinator of an interdenominational prayer group, Women of Intercession International Fellowship (WIIF), Mrs. Patricia Eworo, has said that Boko Haram insurgent in the North Eastern Nigeria is God’s punishment for the many sins and oppression in Nigeria.

    She made the statement on the first day of the group’s end of the year programme in Lagos.

    Tagged “When the Woman is Weary,” itdrew a large turnout of participants from the Lagos metropolis and beyond.

    Eworo said, “In summary, the vision of this group is borne out of the Spirit of God to raise peculiar, sanctified and separated women who would touch God with their cry until a change comes.”

    According to Eworo, the group, which began ten years ago, meets three times a month to intercede. “We meet to intercede, we started ten years ago, and by the grace of God, we have diverse testimonies.” She added that “When the Buhari presidency was to come to being, God already showed us in the place of prayer.”

    She said further that “initially we were interceding for Edo State, but later that year, the Holy Spirit told me God does not only need intercessors for Edo State but He needs women who would yield their wombs to Him just like how we yield to our physical husbands, just like Mary yielded herself and gave birth to our Lord Jesus Christ. By the time I got that understanding, I started talking to women outside Edo State and the few that yielded have been unapologetic supportive of the vision.”

    Talking about various encounters of the ministry, Eworo said, “There was a year God gave a clear word that He was going to deal with this nation because of the iniquities. We went to Edo State, the ‘heart beat of the nation’ to go cry to God. That was about five years ago, we later invited women from the geo political zones of the nation to cry for mercy because that was very clear, that message came to us from one teenage girl.”

    Remembering her revelation about the current insurgents in the country, she said, “Before Boko Haram came, about seven years ago, God already showed it to us, I told my team and we were praying, I was seeing terrorism like the Al-Qaeda, but I didn’t understand it. We thought it was going to be in Lagos State, so we went to every road that leads to Lagos, and raised altars everywhere that terrorism must not enter Lagos. But by and large, here we are, there is Boko Haram, that is the weapon of God’s wrath and I still believe when women pray, God will have mercy.”

     

  • Boko Haram: Army chief unveils vision

    Boko Haram: Army chief unveils vision

    Major Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai, Chief of Army Staff has on Tuesday unveiled vision for the Nigerian Army in the fight against insurgency in the country.

    The Army chief was quoted by the Nigerian Army Headquarters through Twitter, describing the vision as one that includes: “To have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles”.

    Find Post and replies below:

     

  • Insurgence, others raise army insurance claims to N1.5b in six months

    Insurgence, others raise army insurance claims to N1.5b in six months

    INSURERS are paying more claims – no thanks to the insurgency in the Northeast. Over N1.5 billion has been paid to the families of military personnel who died in the anti-terrorism war. This is besides those who died from other causes between January 1 and June 30, last year.

    More casualties are being recorded, raising fears of higher claims, bolstered by police and state security personnel casaulties.

    The Nation stumbled on a letter, titled: ‘Group Life Assurance Scheme for the Nigeria Police Force 2013 Assurance Year’, from the Inspector-General of Police ‘A’ Department (Insurance Unit) to the Office of Head of Service of the Federation (OHOSF).

    The letter shows that the N1.5 billion is classified as uninsured losses as a result of the inability of the Federal Government to facilitate premium payment on the Group Life Assurance Scheme (GLAS) to the assurers, following the military, security operatives and the police exit from the Contributory pension scheme (CPS) in April 2011.

    It is unclear how the government intends to settle the claims of the security personnel as the ‘No Premium, No Cover’ policy bars operators from providing cover without premium payment.

    The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) from January 1, last year, started the enforcement of sanctions against operators who issue policies, or grant covers in violation of Section 50 (1) of the Insurance Act 2003.

    According to documents obtained by The Nation, titled: “Report of meeting held between Director, Inspectorate, NAICOM and Director, Expenditure, Federal Ministry of Finance on GLAS for Federal Government Employees 2013”, the problem started with the administration of the Group Life Insurance Policy (GLIP) of the security personnel when the Appropriation Acts 2012 and 2013 made separate allocations to GLAS of MDAs, Nigerian Police Force and Armed Forces.

    A consortium of insurance firms and brokers was appointed as underwriters and brokers on the GLAS. The appointments were to cover January 1 to December 31, last year. Having secured the approval to start the disbursements of premium to the firms in September, last year, the OHOCSF’s attention was drawn to the cover policy.

    However, the scheme, which is funded from the budget, was not passed until April, last year by the National Assembly, thereby delaying contracts awards in January when the scheme ought to have taken off.

    The OHOSF, who did not want to violate the law on premium payments, sought the advice of NAICOM.

    Recommendations were made to the commission through its Director of Inspectorate, Mr. Barry Thompson, who said last year’s premium should start on October 1, last year and end on September 30.

    In his response on September 23, last year, Thompson advised that as the premium was not yet paid, cover could not start, because of its security implications.

    Thompson said: “Since the premium is yet unpaid, this liability may be borne by the government possibly through another budgetary allocation in 2014 to pay these uninsured losses.”

    Under the Pension Reform Act, 2004, by virtue of section 9, subsection 3; employers are required to maintain Life Insurance Benefit Scheme of three times the annual total emolument for their employees.

    Following the military, police and the SSS exit from the CPS and in line with Pension Reform (Amendment) Act 2011 and the 2013 Appropriation Act, they have since reverted to a benefit scheme managed by them internally.