The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ISIS

  • ISIS fighters as herdsmen?

    Who are the killer-herdsmen? They are gunmen trained by the late Libyan President Muammar Gadaffi, President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday. The president spoke at the Abuja House in London when Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby visited him.

    The gunmen, he said, escaped into Nigeria and other West African countries after Gadaffi’s death. Responding to Welby’s comment on the herdsmen and farmers’ clashes in some parts of the country, Buhari said: “The problem is even older than us. It has always been there, but now made worse by the influx of gunmen from the Sahel region into different parts of the West African sub-region.

    “They were trained and armed by Muammar Gadaffi of Libya. When he was killed, the gunmen escaped with their arms. We encountered some of them fighting with Boko Haram. Herdsmen that we used to know carried only sticks and maybe a cutlass to clear the way, but these ones now carry sophisticated weapons. The problem is not religious, but sociological and economic. But we are working on solutions.”

    The gunmen trained by Muammar Gadaffi joined ISIS in Syria and Iraq and they have returned to West Africa after their defeat. I must express my frustration as Nigerians continue to refer to “unknown gunmen” waging violence in North-Central Nigeria. Why should gunmen be unknown for years? They kill innocent people and destroy their means of livelihood and yet they are unknown. We have security agents mandated to ensure the safety of all citizens and within all military and paramilitary agencies, we have intelligent units and yet these killers remain unknown. Hamid Umar told me in AYOUROU in Niger Republic-Mali border during my investigation that ‘ISIS members returning from Syria and Iraq have moved from Mali to Niger to Nigeria and across West Africa.’ ISIS fighters have arrived Nigeria.

    Why are Nigeria’s cattle herders turning to jihad? Like most gunmen in so-called Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, which operates along the sand-swept borderlands where Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and others. The transition of herdsmen from vigilantes protecting their cows to jihadists capable of carrying out complex attacks is a story Africans and Western powers would do well to heed, as their pursuit of violent extremism in West Africa becomes ever more enmeshed in long-standing ethnic and clan conflicts.

    Up to 6 000 Africans who fought for the Islamic State (ISIS) jihadist group in Iraq and Syria could return home, the African Union’s top security official warned late last year, calling on countries to prepare for the threat. Smail Chergui, the AU’s commissioner for peace and security, said African nations would need to work closely with each other and share intelligence to counter returning militants. “There are reports of 6 000 African fighters among the 30, 000 foreign elements who joined this terrorist group in the Middle East,” Chergui told a meeting in Algiers, according to the Algeria Press Service news agency. “The return of these elements to Africa poses a serious threat to our national security and stability and requires specific treatment and intense co-operation between African countries,” he said.  Tens of thousands of foreign fighters joined the Sunni extremist group after it seized vast swathes of Iraq and Syria and declared a caliphate in 2014. But the group has suffered a host of losses to both its territory and military capabilities in the last year.

    Terrorism is one of the biggest crimes against humanity. Every such crime deserves to be named appropriately, and nations experiencing such owe it to their citizens to act swiftly and decisively against terrorists.

     

    • By Inwalomhe Donald,

    Benin City

     

  • Iraqi court sentences Turkish woman to death for joining ISIS

    Iraqi court sentences Turkish woman to death for joining ISIS

    An Iraqi court has sentenced a Turkish woman to death by hanging for joining Islamic State, a spokesman for the criminal court in Baghdad said in a statement on Monday.

    He said 10 other women of various nationalities were sentenced to life in prison.

    All the verdicts can be appealed, Reuters reported.

    “The court has issued 10 verdicts of life in prison against 10 women after convicting them of terrorism, and sentenced to death by hanging another terrorist who holds Turkish citizenship,” said Judge Abdul-Sattar al-Birqdar.

    Thousands of foreigners have been fighting on behalf of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

    A German woman was sentenced to death in January for belonging to the group and a Russian fighter was also sentenced to death in Iraq last year for joining the hardline group.

    Iraq declared victory in December over ISIS, which had seized control of nearly a third of the country in 2014.

    The group has been driven out of all population centres it once controlled on both sides of the Iraqi-Syrian border, but members have continued to carry out bombings and other attacks in Iraq.

  • Fighting Boko Haram and ISIS with $1b

    Why is ISIS targeting Mali, Nigeria, Chad, Niger and others? The fall of its de facto Syrian capital Raqqa signalled the death of the Islamic State (ISIS) in the Middle East. As the group flees the Middle East, the greatest lifeline for it might come from the jihadists that form the large chunk of ISIS in Africa. State governors recently approved the removal of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fight the Boko Haram insurgents and others after a national security summit organised by the National Economic Council. The Vice President said: “It was after a national security summit of the National Economic Council that governors at their forum decided to approve some money for national security.” The money is meant to fight Boko Haram, ISIS and others who are shaking up security sector in West Africa.

    Up to 6 000 Africans who fought for the Islamic State (ISIS) jihadist group in Iraq and Syria could return home, the African Union’s top security official warned calling on countries to prepare for the threat. Smail Chergui, the AU’s commissioner for peace and security, said African nations would need to work closely with each other and share intelligence to counter returning militants. “There are reports of 6 000 African fighters among the 30, 000 foreign elements who joined this terrorist group in the Middle East,” Chergui told a meeting in Algiers, according to the Algeria Press Service news agency.

    France has gone into alliance with the G5 Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad) to help them deal with security challenges. About EUR 800 million of financial assistance is planned for the 2017-22 period, half of which will be used to acquire new equipment. The focus will be on high-risk areas in countries situated in the crosshairs of terrorist attacks. France also highlighted its determination to strengthen its military co-operation with the police of Sahelian countries in order to facilitate better and more efficient Special Forces interventions in the event of a major terrorist attack. As part of Operation Barkhane, which was launched in August 2014, France aims to “help the G5 Sahel partners take ownership of the fight against armed terrorist groups (ATG) throughout the Sahel-Sahara region.” About 3,500 soldiers from the French Army are currently deployed on the ground.

    “The return of these elements to Africa poses a serious threat to our national security and stability and requires specific treatment and intense co-operation between African countries,” he said.  Tens of thousands of foreign fighters joined the Sunni extremist group after it seized vast swathes of Iraq and Syria and declared a caliphate in 2014. But the group has suffered a host of losses to both its territory and military capabilities in the last year.

    Backed by a US-led coalition, Iraqi forces gradually retook control of all territory lost to the jihadists, declaring that the country was now liberated from its control. In Syria, the group faces western-backed Syrian rebels, jihadist rivals and government forces that are supported by Russia and Iran. But the losses have sparked fears that ISIS’s remaining foreign fighters may now relocate, bringing their extremist ideology and violence with them.

    As the self-proclaimed Islamic State loses more territory in Syria and Iraq, will it lash out elsewhere, and what about al-Qaida? How are nations responding to the prospect of Islamic State recruits returning from Syria and Iraq, and how permanent are new security measures designed to protect against lone-wolf terrorism and domestic radicalization? Federal government needs more than one billion dollars to fight 6 000 African fighters among the 30 000 foreign elements who joined this terrorist group in the Middle East.

    While Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) was on the defensive militarily in Iraq and Syria, its fighters, fleeing beyond those borders, were expanding their attacks to Europe and Africa, the United Nations political affairs chief warned in the Security Council recently, urging action to combat the rise of terrorism. ISIL had enabled other such actions by providing guidance, assistance and inspiration through propaganda.  It had also reinforced its presence in West Africa and the Maghreb, and its affiliate Boko Haram was attempting to spread its influence by committing terrorist attacks beyond Nigeria with the several thousand fighters at its disposal.

    Funding and manpower remain a problem for the multinational force fighting Boko Haram in Northeast Nigeria. Nigeria, Chad, Cameroun, Niger and Mali wanted to stop the militants from crossing the long, porous borders between the five countries and kidnapping people – which was affecting tourism. Boko Haram has caused more than 10 million out of school children in Nigeria. There is rise in the internally displaced people in the five West Africa countries. ISIS have made civilians legitimate targets because they voted for the government that declared war on the group.

    Nigerians are asking themselves many questions. Key among them: Could the attacks have been avoided? Many see it as a failure of not just intelligence, but also a result of the security forces’ slow response. But the northeastern part of the country has not been adequately protected, with the region’s small Muslim population there often paying the heaviest price of killing of people in the five countries have become daily rituals.

    As Boko Haram continues to lose ground in Nigeria, its attacks inside Niger, Chad, Cameroun, Nigeria are becoming more brazen, frequent and gory. The group seems to have found in five countries the perfect ground to advance its ideology of violence and bloodshed. It has established within the country sleeper cells mainly made up of young radicalised youths, whom it’s using for such attacks. This, of course, helps it to show al-Qaeda and ISIS, to which it is affiliated and which is a key source of finances, that it still is a force to reckon with despite its losses in Nigeria.

    Our most powerful weapons against Boko Haram, ISIS, Al Qaeda and jihadists in our homeland are economic security and inclusion. It is doubtful that many of our countries can repel zealous invaders. We should fear ISIS, Boko Haram, and Al-Shabaabs of this world. However, the real nightmare is what will follow after them.

    The Islamic State group is looking to expand its global terror efforts deeper in Mali, Niger, Chad and other African countries, according to a new report. While the militants have already established a presence in both East and West Africa, it is now looking to the North amid reports it continues to be pushed from its Middle East strongholds. Nigerians should encourage the government to mobilize resources and fight ISIS, Boko Haram and others.

    • Donald writes from Benin City

     

  • ISIS threatens U.S. over Jerusalem decision

    ISIS threatens U.S. over Jerusalem decision

    Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ( ISIS )has threatened attacks on U.S. soil in retaliation for the Trump administration’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

    One of the group’s social media accounts reported on Thursday without much details on one of its accounts on the Telegram instant messaging service titled: “Wait for us” and “ISIS in Manhattan”.

    The group said that it would carry out operations and showed images of New York’s Times Square and what appeared to be an explosive bomb belt and detonator.

    “We will do more ops in your land, until the final hour and we will burn you with the flames of war which you started in Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Syria and Afghan. Just you wait.

    “The recognition of your dog ‘Trump’ (sic) Jerusalem as the capital of Israel will make us recognise explosives as the capital of your country,” it said.

    Washington triggered widespread anger and protests across the Arab world with its decision on Jerusalem.

    The disputed city is revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, and is home to Islam’s third holiest site.

    It has been at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.

    Read also: UAE urges Arabs, Muslims to unite over U.S decision on Jerusalem

    Islamic State was driven out of its Iraqi and Syrian capitals this year and squeezed into a shrinking pocket of desert straddling the border between the two countries.

    The forces fighting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria now expect a new phase of guerrilla warfare there.

    Militants including people claiming allegiance to Islamic State have carried out scores of deadly attacks in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the U.S. over the past two years.

    NAN

  • Iraq declares war with ISIS over

    Iraq has announced that its war against so-called Islamic State (ISIS) is over.

    Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told a conference in Baghdad that Iraqi troops were now in complete control of the Iraqi-Syrian border.

    The border zone contained the last few areas ISIS held, following its loss of the town of Rawa in November, the BBC reports.

    The U.S state department welcomed the end of the “vile occupation” of ISIS in Iraq and said the fight against the group would continue.

    Iraq’s announcement comes two days after the Russian military declared it had accomplished its mission of defeating ISIS in neighbouring Syria.

    The jihadist group had seized large swathes of Syria and Iraq in 2014, when it proclaimed a “caliphate” and imposed its rule over some 10 million people.

    But it suffered a series of defeats over the past two years, losing Iraq’s second city of Mosul this July and its de facto capital of Raqqa in northern Syria last month.

     

  • Nigeria, Turkey agree to strengthen security cooperation

    Nigeria, Turkey agree to strengthen security cooperation

    President Muhammadu Buhari and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed, after talks, on Thursday in Ankara to strengthen cooperation between the security agencies of both countries to counter terrorism.

    Garba Shehu, the President Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement said the President was ‘very pleased that the defence ministers of both countries held extensive discussions on developing new strategies for counter-terrorism.

    He said, ‘‘We are very pleased with the progress of the meeting so far and we are going to wait for the details of meetings between the two countries”.

    ‘‘We will as a result of the meeting between the ministers and officials of both countries strengthen rapidly whatever their recommendations are,’’ the President said.

    Commenting on the degradation of Boko Haram in Nigeria, President Buhari said the improved security situation in the North East was an eloquent testimony to the efforts of his administration in combating terrorism since he came into office in May 2015

    ‘‘We were very surprised and disturbed by the claim made by Boko Haram on what they have been getting from ISIS.

    ‘‘We know we will be able to contain them and we have proven that we can do it

    ‘‘We are very pleased that Turkey is in a position to assist us and has been strengthening our educational and health institutions,’’ President Buhari said.

    The President said the two leaders also discussed the prospects of increasing their bilateral trade, which has exceeded 779 million USD in the first eight months of 2017.

    ‘‘There are a lot of potentialities in terms of investments and a lot is being done in the educational and health sectors in Nigeria.

    ‘‘These will be strengthened and I assure you that Nigeria is prepared to accept Turkish business people to come and explore more of Nigeria’s potentialities,’’ the Nigerian leader said.

    In his remarks, Erdogan said Nigeria had great potentials and remains “a global actor in terms of economy, demographics and its peacekeeping records.”

    He indicated that Turkey was interested in investing in Nigeria’s electricity, refineries and gas sectors, adding that increasing the flights between Turkey and Nigeria would further improve commercial and people-to-people relationships.

    On the fight against terrorism, the Turkish leader said: ‘‘there is no difference between Boko Haram, Fethullah Terrorist Organisation or Daesh (ISIS), which have all killed, inflicted pain and hardship on innocent people.

    ‘‘All of these organisations are hordes of murderers that feed on the innocent people, and in the fight against terrorism, we will stand with our Nigerian friends, and we are ready to share our experience and provide all kinds of support.

    ‘‘We also expect the same cooperation from Nigeria in fighting against Fethullah that murdered 250 Turkish citizens last year,’’ he said.

  • Nigeria, Turkey to strengthen security against terrorism

    Nigeria, Turkey to strengthen security against terrorism

    President Muhammadu Buhari and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed, after talks, on Thursday in Ankara to strengthen cooperation between the security agencies of both countries to counter terrorism.

    Speaking at a joint press conference after a tete-a-tete with his host, President Buhari said he was ‘‘very pleased’’ that the defence ministers of both countries held extensive discussions on developing new strategies for counter-terrorism.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said ‘‘We are very pleased with the progress of the meeting so far and we are going to wait for the details of meetings between the two countries.

    ‘‘We will as a result of the meeting between the ministers and officials of both countries strengthen rapidly whatever their recommendations are,’’ the President said.

    Commenting on the degradation of Boko Haram in Nigeria, President Buhari said the improved security situation in the North East was an eloquent testimony to the efforts of his administration in combating terrorism since he came into office in May 2015

    He said ‘‘We were very surprised and disturbed by the claim made by Boko Haram on what they have been getting from ISIS.

    ‘‘We know we will be able to contain them and we have proven that we can do it.

    ‘‘We are very pleased that Turkey is in a position to assist us and has been strengthening our educational and health institutions,’’ President Buhari said.

    The President said the two leaders also discussed the prospects of increasing their bilateral trade, which has exceeded 779 million USD in the first eight months of 2017.

    ‘‘There are a lot of potentialities in terms of investments and a lot is being done in the educational and health sectors in Nigeria.

    ‘‘These will be strengthened and I assure you that Nigeria is prepared to accept Turkish business people to come and explore more of Nigeria’s potentialities,’’ the Nigerian leader said.

    In his remarks, Erdogan said Nigeria had great potentials and remains “a global actor in terms of economy, demographics and its peacekeeping records.”

    He indicated that Turkey was interested in investing in Nigeria’s electricity, refineries and gas sectors, adding that increasing the flights between Turkey and Nigeria would further improve commercial and people-to-people relationships.

    On the fight against terrorism, the Turkish leader said: ‘‘there is no difference between Boko Haram, Fethullah Terrorist Organisation or Daesh (ISIS), which have all killed, inflicted pain and hardship on innocent people.

    ‘‘All of these organisations are hordes of murderers that feed on the innocent people, and in the fight against terrorism, we will stand with our Nigerian friends, and we are ready to share our experience and provide all kinds of support.

    ‘‘We also expect the same cooperation from Nigeria in fighting against Fethullah that murdered 250 Turkish citizens last year,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Photo: Buhari in Turkey

  • Army denies death of 30 soldiers by ISIS

    The Army has debunked reports by an online medium that 30 soldiers were killed in an ambush by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

    A statement by the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, on behalf of the Theatre Command of operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, dismissed the publication as mere propaganda by the drowning Boko Haram insurgents.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole has been drawn to a story were Chris Tomson claimed ISIS was responsible for the ambush against the Army’s convoy, killing 30 soldiers.

    “It is pertinent to state that contrary to the report, there was no such attack or ambush on any convoy of troops of operation Lafiya Dole by ISIS, or any other adversary within or outside the theatre of operation.

    “The report is false and an attempt by Boko Haram terrorists to remain relevant and portray seeming potency. The graphic images used to support the article has been closely studied and found to lack nexus to any recent operational engagements of operation Lafiya Dole.

    “The photographs are not a reflection of recent operational encounters of Lafiya Dole. The concocted story is, therefore, unsubstantiated and lacks credibility. Troops did not, at any time, have an encounter with ISIS terrorists, neither have they suffered from such fictitious attack as claimed.

    “The public is enjoined to discountenance this mischievous publication as it lacks the least iota of truth.”

     

  • No soldier killed by ISIS, says Army

    The Army has debunked reports in an online medium that 30 soldiers were killed in an ambush by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

    A statement by the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, on behalf of the Theatre Command of operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, dismissed the publication as mere propaganda by the drowning Boko Haram insurgents.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole has been drawn to a story where Chris Tomson claimed ISIS was responsible for the ambush on an Army’s convoy, killing 30 soldiers.

    “It is pertinent to state that contrary to the report, there was no such attack or ambush on any convoy of troops of operation Lafiya Dole by ISIS, or any other adversary within or outside the theatre of operation.

    “The report is false and an attempt by Boko Haram terrorists to remain relevant and portray seeming potency.

    The graphic images used to support the article has been studied and found to lack nexus to any recent operational engagements of operation Lafiya Dole.

    “The photographs are not a reflection of recent operational encounters of Lafiya Dole. The concocted story is, therefore, unsubstantiated and lacks credibility. Troops did not, at any time, have an encounter with ISIS terrorists, neither have they suffered from such fictitious attack as claimed.

    “The public is enjoined to discountenance this mischievous publication as it lacks the least iota of truth.”

     

  • ISIS didn’t kill 30 soldiers in North East – Army

    ISIS didn’t kill 30 soldiers in North East – Army

    The Nigerian Army on Tuesday dismissed as “falsehood” the reported killing of 30 troops by Islamic State (ISIS) in the North East.

    Reports had said ISIS ambushed and killed 30 Nigerian troops on Friday in the  North East.

    The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said in a statement in Maiduguri that contrary to the report, there were no such attacks on troops of operation Lafiya Dole by ISIS or any other adversary within or outside the theatre of operation.

    He described the report as another set of media propaganda and attempt by the Boko Haram terrorists to remain relevant at all cost.

    He said the report was unsubstantiated and lacked credibility.

    Nwachukwu said: “The graphic images used to support the article were closely studied and lacked nexus to any recent operational engagements of Operation Lafiya Dole.

    “It is very pertinent to state that the photographs culled were not a reflection of recent operational encounters of Operation Lafiya Dole.”

    The army spokesman said there was neither encounter between the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole with ISIS terrorists nor had they suffered such fictitious attack as claimed.

    He dismissed the said article and graphic images as “bundle of unprofessionally packaged falsehood, designed to misinform and create fear in the people and build an aura of false potency around the terrorists.”

    He stressed that the troops had sustained devastating attacks on the Boko Haram insurgents in precursor operations in the theatre of operation.

    “Apart from neutralising their hideouts on the fringes of the Nigerian-Nigerien border through coordinated air and artillery bombardments, troops recently killed two fleeing Boko Haram terrorists in an ambush at Futchinam village in Geidam local government area of Yobe.

    “The troops also killed three insurgents in another ambush in Lingir village where they recovered five AK-47 rifles, five magazines and 11 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition.

    “Troops have dominated the theatre of operation and have denied Boko Haram terrorists freedom of action,” Nwachukwu added.

    NAN