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The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Colonel Rabe Abubakar, has re-affirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces to ward-off insurgency and other insecurity plaguing the North East and other parts of the country.
Colonel Abubakar on Wednesday appealed to the general public to be security conscious, saying that security is everyone’s business and should be treated as such.
He also solicited public cooperation with the military and other security agencies by volunteering needed information that would help in the operations against terror as 'terrorists are anti-human, anti-development and act in desperation and callous manner'.
"Therefore they must be identified, pursued and annihilated in line without Rules of Engagement".
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Tag: insurgency
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Army restates commitment to war against insurgents
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How insurgency affect international peace
- The Security Council recalls its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security
The Security Council has reaffirmed Member States’ determination to continue to do all they can to resolve conflict and to deny terrorist groups the ability to put down roots and establish safe havens to address better the growing threat posed by terrorism.
The Council stresses that terrorism can only be defeated by a sustained and comprehensive approach involving the active participation and collaboration of all States and international, regional and sub-regional organizations to counter the terrorist threat.
According to the council, terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whosoever committed.
Thus, the council expresses its concern at the continued threat posed to international peace and security by Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad (also known as “Boko Haram” and hereinafter referred to as such) and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with A1-Qaida, reaffirms its resolve to address all aspects of that threat, and reaffirms that terrorism, including the actions of the Boko Haram terrorist group, cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, or civilization.
The Security Council reiterates its strong condemnation of all the terrorist attacks, abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law by Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin region.
The council also recognized that women and girls are particularly targeted by Boko Haram, expresses its deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims as well as to the peoples and Governments of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.
The Security Council recalls that those responsible for abuses and violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable and brought to justice.
The Security Council takes note of the Communiques of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) of 25 November, 2014 on the threat posed by Boko Haram and the efforts of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) Member States (Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria) and Benin to combat Boko Haram.
It further takes note of the Letter sent by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) to the United Nations Secretary-General on 6 March 2015, forwarding the Communiques adopted by the AUPSC on 29 January and 3 March 2015, as well as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Strategic Concept of Operations (CONOPS) to fight against Boko Haram.
The Council, while acknowledging the progress made on the ground following joint regional military efforts in recent months, condemns strongly the continued deadly attacks perpetrated by the Boko Haram terrorist group, particularly against civilians and encourages increased regional cooperation.
The Security Council encourages all actors involved in the response to support recovery programmes and the provision of the necessary protection measures for civilians, and to pay particular attention to the release and reintegration of children abducted by Boko Haram or formerly associated with this terrorist group.
It recalls that Boko Haram has been designated as associated with Al-Qaida by the Committee established, pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) and in this regard, expresses its readiness to consider listing individuals, groups, undertakings and entities providing support to Boko Haram, including those who are financing, arming, planning or recruiting for Boko Haram and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida through information and communications technologies including the Internet and social media or through any other means.
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Mission to liquidate insurgency now or never, says Shettima
Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima is hopeful that the insurgency battle will soon be over, with the appointment of new service chiefs, reports VICTOR IZEKOR
Happy days are here for Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, who once lamented how he was being treated under former President Goodluck Jonathan. As governor of a state, which is the epicentre of Boko Haram insurgency, Shettima was kept in the dark about security issues in his domain by the then government. He was not invited to security meetings neither was he informed of postings of security personnel. Borno is close to Chad, Cameroun and Niger, the three countries which Boko Haram either uses as a launch pad or crosses into after attacking Nigerian communities.
In the negotiations with those countries on how to stem the Boko Haram insurgency, the Jonathan administration also did not carry Shettima along. The governor may have drawn the ire of the government then because of his declaration that the military was not as equipped as the Boko Haram insurgents.
Following that statement, the soldiers deployed in the Government House in Maiduguri, the state capital, were withdrawn and replaced with policemen. During Jonathan’s visit to troops in Baga after the town was recaptured from insurgents, Shettima, as host governor, was not on hand to receive him. Reason: he was not aware of the former president’s visit. Watchers felt the federal and state governments should collaborate on the war against insurgency and as such were worried by the development. To elder statesman, Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno, the federal and state governments must work together to defeat Boko Haram. He lamented what he called the communication gap between the two tiers of government, saying it was not good for insurgency battle.
Faced by what he felt was an adverse situation, Shettima declared: “I am an unhappy man.” With his state under Boko Haram siege, he was not getting help from the Jonathan administration, which should have supported him with men and materials. Why was this so? Was it because Jonathan and Shettima are not members of the same party? Things are now looking up for the “unhappy” governor. The appointment of new service chiefs on July 13 seems to have made Shettima a happy man. Two indigenes of his state are among the security chiefs. They are the National Security Advisers (NSA), Maj. Gen Babagana Monguno and Chief of Army Staff, Maj- Gen. Tukur Buratai.
Speaking when he hosted the Lt. Gen. T. Y. Danjuma-led Insurgency Victims Support Fund in Maiduguri, Shettima expressed joy at their appointment. According to him, with the duo working in concert with other top security chiefs, the battle to liquidate insurgency is now or never. This, he said, is the best opportunity to curb the insurgents’ excesses. He said President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice of Monguno and Buratai as NSA and COAS was a “classic case of putting square pegs in square holes because both men have been given the mandate of liberating their state, which is the epicentre of Boko Haram activities”.
Shettima said: “Monday, July 13 was the happiest moment of my life. President Muhammadu Buhari made a strong statement by his decision to appoint two highly competent sons of Borno to the offices of the National Security Adviser and the Chief of Army Staff. I think his strategy was to get people with ancestral knowledge of the Borno terrain. Maj. Gen. Tukur Buratai is even a direct victim of Boko Haram attacks. He lost family members when his residence was attacked earlier this year in Buratai, a town in Biu local government area. Monguno was destroyed and once occupied by Boko Haram and that is where the new NSA, retired Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno hails from. In fact, a key family member of General Monguno is still being held captive by Boko Haram insurgents.
“These two Generals are from Borno, they know exactly where it pinches and most importantly, they understand the terrain and can easily connect with communities to get local support. Added to them is also the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar who hails from Bauchi, also in the Northeast. AVM Abubakar spent many of his formative years in the military here in Borno State. He spent over 10 years in Borno; he knows the terrain very well also and can connect with the people. I think for us, it is now or never because the President has generously put sons of Borno and the Northeast to lead the battle for the freedom of Borno, the Northeast and the rest of Nigeria, from the murderous threats of insurgents”.
Since Buhari assumed office on May 29, there has been a thaw in relationship between the federal and Borno State governments. Unlike in the past, Shettima is now being recognised by the Federal Government. He was a member of the Federal Government delegation to Chad and Niger where the joint military operations of Nigeria and its neighbouring countries against insurgency were discussed.
Shettima was also a member of the Federal Government delegation to the United States where securities and other issues were thrashed out. The Federal Government through the National Emergency Reflief Agency (NEMA) has also relieved Borno State of the burden of maintaining millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), a programme, which costs billions of naira. Under the Jonathan administration, the state bore the huge cost of the programme as the Federal Government only gave it N200 million for the scheme. The Federal Government also distributed relief materials to the IDPs at random.
- Izekor, a journalist, wrote from Maiduguri
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Insurgency: Onwenu urges Fed Govt to rebuild women, children
The Director General of the National Centre for Women Development (NCDW), Lady Onyeka Onwenu, has urged the Federal Government and development partners to rebuild women and children.
Many women and children have lost their means of livelihood in the Northeast, following the activities of Boko Haram insurgents.
Lady Onwenu, who spoke at the weekend in Abuja at the graduation of 330 youths, mostly women, in vocational skills acquisition, said the centre was working with the Women Development Centres in the states and local governments to reposition them to reduce poverty.
She added that rural women would be empowered with vocational skills.
The NCDW director general said: “This will enable them establish businesses and generate income.
“We have, in collaboration with the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), developed training manuals to facilitate uniformity and maintain standards in the establishment and operations of the centre nationwide.
“Our programmes are based on the recognition that women’s economic empowerment is the first step to freedom and we are contributing to raise a viable and skilled workforce to meet the challenges of unemployment.
“What is more interesting in the composition of our students is the fact that we have more university graduates in these programmes.
“This is no doubt a pointer to the fact that white collar jobs are becoming elusive and vocational training will in the long run lead to a more fulfilled life.”
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Service chiefs vow to crush insurgency
•Ex-military leaders hand over to successors
THE new Service chiefs resumed duties yesterday, vowing to crush insurgency that has ravaged the Northeast in the last five years.
Maj.-Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin took over from Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas took the baton from Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin as Chief of Naval Staff.
Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu also handed over to Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar as chief of Air staff.
Former Cchief of Army saff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah had already handed over to Major Gen. Yakubu Buratai on Thursday.
The CDS promised to fashion a new strategic direction for the prosecution of the campaign against insurgency.
He said efforts would also be made to strengthen operational arrangements to sustain achievements in the counter-insurgency operations.
The CDS promised to intensify intelligence, logistic communication and equipment provision with every support given by the administration.
Maj.-Gen. Olonisakin said: “A lot has been done in the on-going counter-insurgency operation in the Northeast. In furtherance of the successes so far achieved, we will look at ways to strengthen the existing arrangement as well as provide new strategic direction.
“We will set specific timelines and milestones to be achieved; look at gaps in the on-going efforts and do all that are needful, with the support of government, to address these gaps, especially in the areas of actionable intelligence, logistics, communication and other critical equipment.”
He urged the Armed Forces to redouble efforts in the counter-insurgency campaign to justify the confidence reposed in them by President Muhammadu Buhari and the people.
The CDS called for improved collaboration among other security agencies, with emphasis on intelligence gathering in all military and security operations.
He admonished officers and men on the need to tackle oil theft, illegal bunkering, armed banditry and other criminal activities.
The Chief of Air Staff appealed to the National Assembly for support to enable the Air Force deliver on its mandate.
On his part, the new chief of Naval saff promised to provide responsive and motivational leadership that would institute appropriate reward system.
“My vision is to develop a credible naval power in fulfillment of the Nigerian Navy’s constitutional roles towards enhancing national prosperity and security,” Admiral Ibas said.
He assured Buhari and the people that he would do everything in his power to justify the confidence reposed in him.
The Naval chief urged Nigerians to continue to support the Navy in contributing meaningfully to enhance maritime security and national development.
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Co-operate with Buhari to end insurgency —Lagos Speaker
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has urged Nigerians to give adequate co-operation to President Muhammadu Buhari in his effort at putting an end to insurgency in the country.
Obasa gave the advice shortly after observing his Eid el-Fitri prayers at Oyewole Primary School, Mulero, Agege, Lagos, yesterday.
He said: “We are all aware of what is happening in Ukraine. The whole world is in support as regards their challenges. We have similar problems in the Arab world. So, there is no problem if our president is seeking the support of the world on insurgency.
“We must all support the president in this regard. Our concern should be on the way to put an end to the crisis,” Obasa said.
While commenting on his plans for Lagos as the newly elected Speaker, Obasa premised the anticipated success on collective readiness of all members of the House.
“Success of any Assembly lies on the members. It is not about a single person; it is about collective responsibilities. Whatever achievements recorded are collective,” he said.
The Speaker urged Muslims to be law-abiding as citizens, adding that virtue exhibited during Ramadan should not be discarded.
Earlier, the Chief Imam of the Papa-Ashafa Central Mosque, Sheik Shereefdeen Ali, called on Muslims to continue to uphold virtues already acquired during Ramadan fasting.
He said: “Fasting has endowed us righteousness; it is incumbent on every one of you to be upright as you did during Ramadan.”
While praying for a successful tenure for the Speaker, Sheik Ali stated that as the Speaker it would be a glorious moment for him and the entire Lagos residents.
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Insurgency takes toll on manufacturing
Boko Haram insurgency has crippled the economy of many of the northern states with the real sector, especially manufacturing, hardest hit, chief executive officer, Forenovate Technologies Ltd, Mr. Don Okereke, has said.
Okereke, who is a UK-trained security expert, said many manufacturing outfits in the north generally and the Northeast in particular, have closed shops.
“The manufacturing sector seems to be the hardest hit because electricity supply, telecommunication services and other amenities have been crippled in those areas. Even the requisite manpower that the industries need is not there any longer for obvious reasons,” he said.
Citing the ‘Global Peace Index’ rankings for last year, which rated Nigeria as the second most deadly country for terrorism after Iraq, experiencing 140 per cent increase in deaths to about 4,392, Okereke said the consequence of this is that economic activities in the affected states in the north are being crippled daily.
According to him, no organisation or individual can thrive in an atmosphere of uncertainty and wanton killings; every business, big and small, even individuals need some level of stability and certainty to plan and execute their projects. He said because of the closure of many manufacturing firms, inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country has declined.
For instance, the World Investment Report (WIR) 2013 says FDI flows into Nigeria dropped by 21 per cent in just one year — from $8.9 billion in 2011 to $7 billion in 2012. This translates to loss of $1.9 billion, a figure considered unacceptable for a country in dire need of shoring up its dwindling revenue.
Nigeria’s economic growth rate is also affected. Okereke said figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released sometime in 2014 indicated a drop in first quarter growth to about 6.21 per cent, from 6.77 per cent obtained in the fourth quarter of 2013.
He said the economic implications of the drop are far-reaching. “The North-east governors are already complaining that their purses are over-stretched. The Borno State governor – Kashim Shettima was quoted as saying there are about 100,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in various camps in Maiduguri metropolis. If you factor in the cost of feeding, providing health care, clothing to these people, it runs into hundreds of millions of naira,” he said.
Okereke also said a lot has been expended on the fight against Boko Haram, with Nigeria spending an estimated N4.62 trillion on security in five years, yet insecurity persists.
He added that the dwindling fortunes of the manufacturing sector due to the activities of insurgents have unsavoury social consequences. “If this trend continues, then it is a national disaster waiting to happen because of its far-reaching consequences: unwanted pregnancies, proliferation of sexually transmitted infections, increased criminality and social vices, high-rate of school dropouts amongst others,” he said.
He said in addition, life expectancy has and will continued to drop, even as the psychological trauma especially for those that witnessed the killing of their loved ones or those women/girls that were raped/impregnated by Boko Haram members is unimaginable.
While insisting that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration must rein in wanton profligacy, corruption by government officials and establishments, he said the impact of insurgency on the economy especially the manufacturing sector is huge because of the nation’s reliance on crude oil.
He therefore, urged President Buhari to brainstorm on alternative sources of income and at the same time continue its military offensive in an effort to completely decapitate the insurgents, dismantle their networks (arms/technical supply), and go after their sponsors.
Okereke however, said while military action tackles the symptom of the disease, other actions to eliminate the causative agents, which constitute long term solutions, must also be pursued with vigour.”Terrorism/insurgency basks on unemployment, extreme poverty, injustice and brainwashing by run-off-the-mill-religious fanatics with warped ideologies.
“It follows that these precursors must be addressed too. As this is been done, there is also need for a ‘battle of hearts and minds’: wean or de-radicalize remorseful violent extremists of their distorted belief system,” he recommended.
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Kaduna bans beggars, hawkers for security measures
Kaduna State Government has commended the people of the state for promptly embracing the crucial necessity of watchful vigilance and attention to security.This was as the government announced further measures to enhance public security in the state.It said: “All beggars and hawkers are to stay off the streets until further notice. Any beggar or hawker found on the streets will be arrested, until these measures are relaxed.”This was contained in statement issued by the Special Assistant to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Samuel. It read that: “In addition, government reiterates that the ban on motorcycle taxis (achaba) remains in force, and the law will be strictly enforced in this regard.“The government hereby urges all citizens to report all suspicious persons and movements to the security agencies, and to afford these agencies their maximum cooperation.“These measures take immediate effect,” the statement read. -
Insurgency: 1,385,298 displaced in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Taraba
No fewer than 1,385,298 persons have been displaced, following insurgency and communal clashes in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba states.
This is based on the June Displacement Tracking Matrix report released by the International Organisation for Migration, in conjunction with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The agency’s Director of Press Affairs, Mr. Sani Datti, said the report showed that Borno had the highest number of internally-displaced persons (IDPs), with 1,002,688, followed by Yobe, 125,484 and Adamawa, 113,437.
He said Bauchi had 76,504, Gombe, 16,984 and Taraba, 20,501.
The report indicated that there was a slight decrease in the number of IDPs compared to the last report released in April, due to the movements of return observed on the ground, most especially in Adamawa State where the IDPs population had decreased. In Borno State, the IDPs population has increased since April, reaching over a million.
Datti said 92 per cent of the IDPs lived with host communities and eight per cent lived in camps or camp-like sites.
The survey shows that 52 per cent of the IDP population are women and 48 per cent, men. Children of less than 18 constitute 56 per cent of the IDP population and more than half of them are five years old or younger.
The NEMA director of press affairs said the report highlighted that 95 per cent of the displacement was due to insurgency. Five per cent were forced to leave their place of origin because of communal clashes.
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No insurgency suspect sent to Anambra, says Ogene
A former member of the House of Representatives, Victor Afam Ogene, has urged Anambra State residents, especially traders, to discountenance the rumours of the transfer of Boko Haram convicts to the state.
The former lawmaker urged them to reopen their markets and businesses, which were shut at the weekend, following the apprehensions the rumour caused among the residents.
Ogene, who represented Ogbaru Federal Constituency of the state, was the House spokesperson.
He noted that although the prisons were under the Federal Government, it was inconceivable that persons awaiting trial for insurgency would be transferred to states outside the jurisdiction where they are being tried.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Ogene said: “So far, I don’t think there are more than five convictions for Boko Haram offences in Nigeria. Indeed, the bulk of those in custody for insurgency are awaiting trial inmates, who are routinely brought to court near their places of remand – certainly not anywhere near the Southeast.”
The former lawmaker recalled that, following last Saturday’s protest, he contacted some officials at the Presidency and was assured that nothing of the sort was being contemplated.
He said there was a political motive behind the rumours.
Ogene wondered why the Anambra State Government was silent for over 24 hours, when the state’s economy and life in its commercial cities were grounded.
He queried: “Could there be a correlation between Governor Obiano’s recent boast that he would not allow the All Progressives Congress (APC) to gain a foothold in Anambra State and the recent protests to malign the APC-led Federal Government?”
Ogene reminded Obiano that electioneering was over, adding that the governor should not covertly or overtly pitch the people of Anambra State and the Southeast against the APC administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.