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Tag: Kashim Shettima

  • Linking military to Boko Haram unfair, says Shettima

    Linking military to Boko Haram unfair, says Shettima

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has described the allegation that the Armed Forces were supporting Boko Haram as unfair.

    He described the comment made by a soldier as most ‘unhealthy and unhelpful’ in counter insurgency operations.

    In a statement by his spokesman, Isa Gusau, in Maiduguri, the governor said: “Of all theories being alleged in connection with Boko Haram, the most dangerous as far as I’m concerned is to raise such grievous suspicion around our security forces.

    “When citizens have such suspicion and believe in it, I’m afraid, Boko Haram will light fireworks to celebrate a grand victory of setting citizens against security agencies.

    “Since last week, I have listened and read these media reports with the hope that the issue will not get out of hand but it appears the matter is growing and I find it very disturbing.

    “I do not want to bother about the credibility or otherwise of the soldier in question.

    “I’m sure the security forces take this allegation seriously and they are investigating it as they should.

    “I am not holding brief for the Armed Forces but as a governor, whose area is unfortunately the worst hit, I would rather encourage confidence building between citizens and the Armed Forces so that intelligence sharing can rise continually and we don’t lose focus in counter insurgency.

    “Unless it becomes unquestionably evident, we must work as individuals, groups and institutions to promote public trust in our Armed Forces so as to encourage cordiality between citizens and security agencies.

    “We must recognise that at the moment, the security agencies are all we’ve got, we should preserve their integrity by at least giving them the benefit of doubt.

    “Insurgents will do everything to cause confusion, to manipulate us so that we don’t trust each other as citizens and as establishments, let’s not fall into their trap, lose focus and become their mass victims.

    “The military has in the past arrested, made public and court-marshaled soldiers found to be collaborating with insurgents.

    “Such patriotic efforts by the military establishments should be intensified by all security agencies.

    “I must acknowledge and appreciate the important roles played by the media in the fight against insurgency.

    “The media should kindly and very importantly, too, help in fighting any suspicion that can grow between citizens and the Armed Forces.”

     

  • Boko Haram: North’s governors meet U.S. officials in Washington

    Boko Haram: North’s governors meet U.S. officials in Washington

    •Sect kills two

    •Troops kill 8 in Yobe

    Governors of some states in the North are in Washington to meet with top United States officials to seek the solution to Boko Haram insurgency.

    It could not be ascertained how many of them were already in the United States but Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima and Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda who arrived on Sunday took the opportunity of their early arrival to meet with the world’s richest man, Bill Gates, to get support for their states on polio eradication.

    They were at the headquarters of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation yesterday for the meeting.

    They are expected to meet with White House officials, President Barack Obama, Congresssional leaders, the National Intelligence Council and the European Union (EU) developmental agencies, among others.

    In spite of the search for the solution to the Boko Haram insurgency, there is no let to the sect’s brutality. Suspected members of the sect invaded Pela Birni village in Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State, killing two residents before setting ablaze two churches and many residential houses.

    Pela Birni is one of the populated and remote village under Kwajjafa District in southern Borno with Christian domination, and about few kilometres drive to Garkida town in Adamawa State.

    Witnesses said the gunmen who came to the village on Sunday night bore sophisticated weapons.

    Mallam Musa Anjili Pela Birni said he narrowly escaped being killed by the attackers. The house in which he was sleeping was set ablaze.

    “The gunmen invaded our village at about 10 pm on Sunday, They started shouting Allahu Akbar (God is great). They ordered residents of houses to vacate then before setting the houses on fire.”

    Another resident, who did not want his name in print, told our correspondent that most of the houses near the Church of Brethern were set ablaze. Two people died. Many others were injured.

    The gunmen used AK47 rifles, petrol bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

    Troops operating in the Northeast ambushed a group of terrorists on a mission to penetrate and attack Goniri Community in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe state.

    In a statement  yesterday in Abuja,  Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information, said: “Troops are still in pursuit of the fleeing terrorist elements after the encounter which resulted in some casualties on both parties.

    “Rockets and machine guns were freely used by the terrorists who eventually lost over eight of their fighters with several others wounded.

    “ Arms were also captured from the terrorists while others fled.

    “ The troops, however, lost a soldier while an officer was seriously wounded in the encounter, ‘’ he said.

    Goniri is not far from Buni-Yadi where the terrorists killed pupils.

    He said troops, operating around Gamboru Ngala and Dikwa Local Government Area towards the borders of Chad and Cameroun, were busy throughout the weekend.

    He said the weapons recovered in one of the locations include four anti-aircraft guns, five machine guns and over 500 rounds of ammunitions.

  • Gates foundation partners Borno

    Gates foundation partners Borno

    The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has granted an appeal by Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima to support the state and the Northeast in primary healthcare and agriculture.

    Shettima and his Bauchi State counterpart, Isa Yuguda, were at the Foundation’s headquarters in Washington D.C, United States for a meeting, which was chaired by the Foundation’s President on Global Development, Dr Chris Elias.

    Shettima appealed for Borno’s inclusion in the foundation’s Nitrogen fixation project, which is aimed at supporting high yield in farming activities through a technology that improves soil fertility.

    Elias promised that the foundation will step up support to Borno State. Elias lauded Shettima’s leadership qualities, which resulted in the progresses recorded by his Government on primary healthcare.

  • Jonathan’s comments on Borno wrong, says APC

    Jonathan’s comments on Borno wrong, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned President Goodluck Jonathan’s statement on Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima during his media chat on Monday night.

    It described it as unwarranted and petty.

    In a statement in Abuja yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said President Jonathan was wrong to have threatened, no matter how subtly, to withdraw from Borno, the troops battling Boko Haram insurgents.

    APC urged him to apologise to Borno indigenes and to Nigerians for the presidential indiscretion.

    It said the threat, which was in response to a statement credited to the governor that the soldiers need to be better equipped and motivated, showed that President Jonathan did not have a good grasp of what was expected of him as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

    “Mr. President, your most important duty as President is to ensure the welfare and security of Nigerians, irrespective of the criticisms you may face or whether or not they voted for you. Therefore, you are not doing anyone a favour by performing that duty. It is the role you swore an oath to perform.

    “Even if you feel that the Governor should not have made that statement, it is incumbent on you, as the President and the father of the nation, to take the higher road, instead of choosing a public forum to air your grievances. Wittingly or unwittingly, Mr. President, you have played into the hands of the insurgents, who must by now be gloating at the discordant tunes in government over the battle against them,” APC said.

    Using the President’s exact words to the Governor during his media chat, the party said: “A (President) should be mindful of what they say. Yes there are issues, but no matter how frustrated you are you don’t make this kind of statement.”

    It said based on the anger exhibited by President Jonathan while commenting on Governor Shettima’s statement, the party was justified in its call on the President not to go ahead with his reported plan to remove the Governor and replace him with a military administrator.

    “President Jonathan should know that a leader cannot afford to be taking decisions on the basis of a perceived slight or criticism, because such decisions are most likely to be wrong and counter-productive. He should also use his enormous powers as President for the benefit of the people, not to their disadvantage.

    “By his threat to pull out the troops from Borno for one month, he has further victimised the good people of the state, who have been at the receiving end of the senseless attacks by Boko Haram. A retraction of his threat and an apology to the people will be a good starting point for Mr. President to make amends,” APC said.

     

  • Gunmen shoot at Borno governor’s convoy, hit commissioner’s vehicle

    Suspected insurgents of the Boko Haram sect have fired gun shots at the convoy of Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima hitting the official vehicle of the
    state Commissioner of Higher Education, Alhaji Bello Ayuba who escaped being killed.

    The shots targeted at the convoy destroyed the engine compartment of the commissioner’s vehicle thereby paralyzing its movement and breaking the
    the convoy returning from Bama without hurting any of the occupants in the vehicle
    On Sunday evening.

    According to an eyewitness, Ibrahim Yakubu who spoke with newsmen, the
    gunmen targeted the convoy hitting the commissioner’s vehicle, after Governor Kashim Shettima’s barely passed the location of the attempted assassination along
    Maiduguri-Bama road while returning from a condolence visit to the people of Bama and Malari over last Wednesday’s attacks and killings.

    “The suspected gunmen narrowly missed the commissioner and his driver,
    by firing several gunshots into the engine compartment, before convoy
    soldiers engaged the fleeing suspects into the Sambisa Forests,
    30 minutes after the attempted assassination on the Borno official,
    while returning from Bama yesterday to condole and sympathize with the
    people.

    “The gunmen capitalized on the fact that the Governor’s convoy was
    returning to Maiduguri and started firing at the commissioner’s official
    vehicle without hitting the commissioner or his driver yesterday,” Yakubu said.

    Spokesman of 7th Division of Nigerian Army, Col. Mohammed Dole and Borno
    State Police Commissioner, Tanko Lawal confirmed the attack.

    The Governor was however not perturbed about the attempt as he stopped by
    Malaria, a small settlement along the 78km Barma-Maiduguri road where he had also condoned with the people of the area over a fresh attack on their community
    by insurgents believed to be the Boko haram.

    Old and fatigued women who had lost their thatched homes burnt down at about midnight Saturday were seen trekking out of the village towards Maiduguri about
    twenty kilometers away for fear of being attacked.

    Fresh smoke was seen coming out of the some of the raised down homes of the people who told the Governor through their spokesman that two people died in the midnight raid on their peace by the insurgents.

    The Governor assured them that he will do all he can to rebuild their community adding that they should not allow the insurgents to dampen their spirits.

  • Shettima gives N300m to Bama victims

    Shettima gives N300m to Bama victims

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has visited Bama to assess the carnage in the town, which claimed 100 lives.

    He also released N300 million for the rebuilding of the destroyed town.

    Shettima said the Bama attack did not only reflect the lunacy of Boko Haram, but an “assault on the pride and integrity of our people.”

    The governor’s visit came at the time residents of Malari in Konduga local government were burying two farmers killed on Saturday by Boko Haram gunmen.

    Shettima, who spent five hours in Bama inspecting the destruction, said the people needed prompt assistance.

    He instructed an eight-man committee set up by him to rebuild destroyed houses, schools and other public buildings.

    The committee led by Jidda Shuwa, a retired permanent secretary, was directed by the governor to “boycott all bureaucratic bottlenecks to ensure speedy rebuilding of the town.”

    “We want you all to apply a direct approach in rebuilding the destroyed schools and people’s homes; no money or contract should be given to an individual. But first concentrate on the schools so that our children can go back to school; while doing that ensure all the schools now have a kitchen so that the pupils and students can have at least a meal a day,” he said.

    The Shehu of Bama, who conducted the governor round the town, pleaded for his fleeing subjects to return home as government was putting all strategies in place to prevent a recurrence.

    The monarch threatened to force open all the homes of rich residents, who had fled to Maiduguri and Abuja in order to allow residents who had lost their homes occupy them.

    He said doing so would serve as a punishment for their unpatriotic desertion of their towns in times of difficulties only to return in time of politics.

     

     

  • APC warns against plot to remove Shettima

    APC warns against plot to remove Shettima

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned the Federal Government against plotting to remove the elected governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima and appoint a military administrator, under the guise of intensifying fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

    In a statement in Ibadan yesterday by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the Presidency should realise that there was a limit to impunity, and that if anyone should be removed over the protracted insurgency in the state and in the Northeast, it was President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “What is happening in the Northeast in general and Borno State in particular is failure of leadership at the highest level of government, especially because the imposition of a state of emergency in the three worst-hit states has given the President emergency powers to deal with the protracted crisis.

    “As the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Jonathan is in control of the instruments of coercion, which he can and has been deploying at will. If, therefore, some seemingly implacable dead-enders have continued to kill, maim and destroy in any part of the country, no one but the President should be held liable. Everyone knows a governor does not deploy troops.

    “Also, it is trite to say that the raison d’etre of any government is the protection of lives and property. This means that the moment any government fails in that key responsibility, it can no longer justify its reason for existence,” it said.

    APC said Shettima and Borno indigenes were the victims in the senseless war waged by Boko Haram, and that what they deserved were succour and support, not victimisation by a federal government, which seemed to have run out of ideas on how to subdue the sect.

    The party said no one should lend any credence to the denial, by the Presidency, of the evil plot to remove Shettima, “because this Presidency’s words have never been worth the paper on which they are written.”

    “Several times in the past, this Presidency issued a straight-faced denial, only to go ahead and do exactly what it said it wouldn’t. Against such lack of credibility and integrity, we do not believe the Presidency’s denial,” it said.

    APC said it was becoming clear that the Presidency might be using the state of emergency in the Northeast to fight its political battle and get rid of those it perceived as a stumbling block to its interest in 2015.

    The party said if that was not the case, the Presidency would not be flying a satanic kite of plotting to remove the governor when it was clear that “this governor has done everything possible to support the Federal Government and the brave men and women fighting the sect, in addition to providing succour to Borno people, who have been traumatised by the activities of the misguided terrorists.”

    It said: “The state of emergency has run its initial course and has even been renewed, yet the insurgency continues. This means the Federal Government must think out of the box to evolve new strategies to tackle the insurgency. One of such is to heighten intelligence gathering, which will make it possible for our security forces to preempt attacks. Another is to win the hearts and minds of the local population so they can do more to help fish out the insurgents.

    “We are sad to note, however, that the Federal Government seems to have its own agenda, which may include allowing the insurgency to fester so that elections will not hold in the area next year. If anyone thinks this is outlandish, such a person underestimates the desperation of this Presidency going into the 2015 elections.”

     

  • Let’s battle Boko Haram now, says Gowon

    Let’s battle Boko Haram now, says Gowon

    The Boko Haram insurgency took the centre stage in the polity yesterday.

    It dominated discussions at the inauguration of the new leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna.

    The inauguration of the Ibrahim Coomasie-led ACF leadership attracted the North’s political leaders, including Vice President Namadi Sambo.

    Also there were former Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, governors and others.

    Former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon called for serious action against the insurgency.

    In Abuja, the House of Representatives passed a resolution that the Army Headquarters should move to Maiduguri, the beleagued capital of Borno State – the epicentre of the Boko Haram activities.

    The Presidency slammed Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima for declaring on Monday that the Army lacks the capacity to combat the sect’s members.

    Gen. Gowon expressed concern about the growing hype of ethnic nationalism and ethno-religious activism.

    Gowon spoke as Vice President Sambo said the nation would need about 2.9 trillion dollars to address its infrastructural needs within the next 30 years.

    The former Head of State said there was the need for all Nigerians “to come together and unleash their synergy against the security challenges and other national malaise, be it Boko Haram, ethno-religious crisis, kidnapping, militant activism, armed robbery or piracy or any other such act that disrupt the peace and harmony and threatens the economic and social development of the country.

    “We believe the situation is not beyond redemption and so, should not be allowed to set a national agenda of reconsideration of our unity and nationhood.

    “Freedom brought about by democracy… is expected to thrive on a tripod of: foundation of liberty, justice and common decency. That is why it is said that democracy is rather a contest of ideas and reasons and not contest for survival where politicians take it out violently among themselves in the name of democracy. Only Liberty, justice and common decency are true elements of democracy,” he said.

    Gen. Gowon urged politicians not to resort to violence in the name of freedom that comes with democracy. You will agree with me in saying that although Nigeria may be going through hard times, political, economic and social, we have a resilience to tackle it successfully.

    “The different times should spur national grandeur, bring about good leadership and the best in every one of us, instead of the current hype in ethnic nationalism and religious bigotry that seek to promote cleavages that is self destructive. It is very important to note that no nation thrive on the victory of factions, but through ultimate reconciliation”.

    He frowned at the emergence of different elders’ groups in the north, noting that the ACF was built on the promise of an unwavering commitment to the pursuit of peaceful coexistence in the north and in the context of one united Nigeria.

    He said “I am compelled to mention this because the ACF emerged through the coming together of northern elders for the expressed purpose of promoting peaceful coexistence in the north as precondition for socio-economic development of the north and that of Nigeria.

    “We do not share in the reason being advanced in favour of proliferation of elders groups that ACF is not politically active. It is important to note that while ACF may not be politically partisan for obvious reasons, many of the forum’s members belong to different political parties.

    Sambo said the nation needs an average infrastructure spending of 25 billion dollars between 2014 and 2018 as against the current spending of 9-10 billion dollars.

    The leadership of the ACF is made up of the following:

    Board of Trustees

    Chairman-Adamu Fika, Deputy Chairman- AVM Muhktar Mohammed (rtd), Vice Chairman-Prof. Para Mallum

    National Working Committee:

    Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie-Chairman, Musa Liman Kwande-Deputy Chairman, Senator Abubaklar Girei-Vice Chairman, Col. John Paul Uba-Secretary General, Barrister Halima Alfa- National Legal Adviser, Abubakar Husaini Moriki-National Treasurer, Muhammed Ibrahim Biu-National Publicity Secretary, Ahmad Bawa-National Financial Secretary, Baba Sule Bissala National Auditor, Abubakar Gambo Umar-Deputy Secretary General, Hajia Fatima Kwaku-Deputy National Legal Adviser, Murtala Usman Aliyu- Deputy National Treasurer, Hajia Amina Ladan Baki- Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Hajia Laraba Dattijo Deputy National Financial Secretary, Mohammed Hassan Fawu-National Deputy Auditor, Mohammed Tanko Soba- Assistant Secretary General, Bashir Albasu-Assistant National Legal Adviser, Sale Gacha Bade-Assistant National Treasurer, Adebayo Abubakar-Assistant National Publicity Secretary, Ado Datti Assistant National Financial Secretary and Navy Capt Hamidu Usman Jefeji.

     

  • Presidency faults Borno Governor Shettima on Boko Haram

    Presidency faults Borno Governor Shettima on Boko Haram

    •Says Boko Haram not better armed than military

    The Presidency yesterday faulted Monday’s comments by Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima that the Boko Haram insurgents are better armed that the military.

    The Presidency also dismissed the Governor’s position that the country is at war, saying what the country is experiencing is a guerrilla warfare from the insurgents.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyen Okupe, reporters in Abuja that it’s wrong for anyone to say that the military cannot defeat the Boko Haram insurgents.

    Governor Shetiima spoke against the backdrop of the incessant killing of innocent and unarmed villagers by the sect members in various settlements in Borno State. No fewer than 200 have been killed within the last few days.

    Okupe said: “We are certainly not involved in conventional warfare but are rather engaged in guerrilla warfare with all its unpredictability.

    “However, it is heartwarming that our military, which has participated in numerous international peace keeping operations where they helped to quell insurgencies, has acquired the sophistication and necessary capacity to adapt to the ever changing modus operandi of the insurgents.

    “It is therefore wrong for anyone, Nigerian or foreigner, to assert that our armed forces cannot defeat the Boko Haram insurgents or to insinuate that the insurgents are better armed.

    “We believe strongly that the statement made by the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima that the insurgents are better armed than our military is based purely on a civilian perception of the situation at hand.

    “It is clear that Governor Shettima does not have the expertise to categorize or classify the effectiveness of any weapon.

    “We state categorically that the Nigerian military is one of the best equipped in Africa and that in 2014, the Federal Government made budgetary provision in excess of N1 trillion for the military and other security agencies, an amount, which is about 22 percent of our entire national budget for this year.

    “This definitely belies the suggestion in certain quarters that the Federal Government is not doing the needful in prosecuting this war”

    The President’s publicist also disagreed with the opinion in certain quarters that the morale of the military is low and that there is lack of motivation for members of the Armed Forces.

     

     

    According to him, the Nigerian Armed Forces are spurred by patriotic sense of duty, national pride and strict adherence to professional ethics.

    On the other hand, Okupe said the insurgents are motivated by ideological fanaticism.

    “But the Nigerian military and security agencies have taken up this challenge and like every facet of this struggle will put an end to these incursions in the shortest possible time.

    “Therefore, the morale of troops engaged in this war is high and ought not to be dampened by unsavory and certainly untrue comments of low motivation.

    “We enjoin all our national leaders and stakeholders across political and religious divides to close ranks with government and our valiant troops defending our territorial integrity and support the Federal Government to route out the scourging menace of insurgency rather than speaking at cross purposes.

    “We want to reassure Nigerians and members of the international community that though it is in the character of insurgents to create maximum fear, their sporadic attacks on soft targets is being contained and will be halted.

    “We state authoritatively without any fear or equivocation whatsoever, that Nigeria is already winning the war against terror and the activities of the insurgents will be terminated within the shortest possible time”, Okupe said.

     

  • Presidency faults Shettima on Boko Haram

    Presidency faults Shettima on Boko Haram

    … .Says, sect not better armed than military

    The Presidency has faulted comments by Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, who said the Boko Haram insurgents are better armed that the Nigerian military.

    Similarly, the Presidency also dismissed the governor’s position that the country is at war, saying what the country is experiencing is a guerrilla warfare from the insurgents.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyen Okupe, who addressed journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, said it was wrong for anyone to say that the Nigerian military cannot defeat the Boko Haram insurgents.

    Governor Shetiima spoke against the backdrop of the incessant killing of innocent and unarmed villagers by the sect members in various settlements in Borno State.

    Okupe said, “We are certainly not involved in conventional warfare but are rather engaged in guerrilla warfare with all its unpredictability.

    “However, it is heartwarming that our military, which has participated in numerous international peace keeping operations where they helped to quell insurgencies, had acquired the sophistication and necessary capacity to adapt to the ever changing modus operandi of the insurgents.

    “It is therefore wrong for anyone, Nigerian or foreigner, to assert that our armed forces cannot defeat the Boko Haram insurgents or to insinuate that the insurgents are better armed.

    “We believe strongly that the statement made by the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, that the insurgents are better armed than our military is based purely on a civilian perception of the situation at hand.

    “It is clear that Governor Shettima does not have the expertise to categorize or classify the effectiveness of any weapon.

    “We state categorically that the Nigerian military is one of the best equipped in Africa and that in 2014, the Federal Government made budgetary provision in excess of N1 trillion for the military and other security agencies, an amount, which is about 22 percent of our entire national budget for this year.

    “This definitely belies the suggestion in certain quarters that the Federal Government is not doing the needful in prosecuting this war.”

    The President’s publicist also disagreed with the opinion in certain quarters that the morale of the military is low and that there is lack of motivation for members of the Armed Forces.

    According to him, the Nigerian Armed Forces are spurred by patriotic sense of duty, national pride and strict adherence to professional ethics.

    On the other hand, Okupe said the insurgents are motivated by ideological fanaticism.