The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Konduga

  • FG shares bags of rice to IDPs in Cameroon, Chad, Niger

    Federal Government on Thursday disclosed that it has distributed several bags of essential food and non-food items to Nigerian Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, the distribution of the items were overseen by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    The list of food items included 12, 332 bags of parboiled rice/rice; 6, 084 bags of maize; 6,156 bags of millet; 5,180 bags of granulated sugar; 2,000 bags of salt (25kg); 800 bags of semolina; 4,016 bags of beans; 9,800 cartoons of Indomine noodles.

    Others are 1,800 cartoons of powdered milk; 800 cartoons of spaghetti; 2,000 vegetable oil (20 litres); 2,180 cartoons of Omo detergents; 600 kegs of palm oil and 400 cartoons of 3-in-1 tea.

    The non-food items supplied to the camps in the three countries from 2015 to date include medical and non-medical supplies such as antibiotics, antifungal, anti-malaria, Anthelmintic, NSAID, non-SAID Analgesics, Antitussives and Antithasmine drugs.

    Similarly, the Monthly Report Of Federal Government Actions In The North East States Affected By Boko Haram, the Senior Special Assistant on IDPs in the Vice President’s Office, Dr Mariam Masha, said that the National Humanitarian Coordination Forum (NHCF) was effectively addressing the welfare of IDPs in the areas.

    Some other items donated included “eye drops, anti-diabetic drugs, Antacid drugs, multivitamin, laboratory consumables, blankets, mattresses, mosquito nets, men’s and women’s wears.”

    The report reads: “In Minawao, Cameroon, alone, 48,400 bags and cartoons of non-food items like medium and small mattresses, pillows, mosquito nets, blankets, towels, guinea brocade, nylon mats, plastic plates, cups, spoons and buckets, Omo detergents, washing soaps, bathroom slippers, pampers as well as exercise books pencils and textbooks were distributed to IDPs.

    “Forum, partnering with critical stakeholders, establishes important intervention mechanisms to check and mitigate the incidence and negative effects of flooding on the IDPs in Borno, Yobe and Bauchi States.”

    The report also showed that the Federal Government through the initiative of the military has constructed a temporary school for IDPs in the Bama camp and deployed teachers for a population of over 3,000 children.

    The military also provided solar boreholes in Dikwa, Gamboru, Monguno, Marte, Mafe Gwoa, Buni Yadi, Bulla, Allargano and in several other communities in Borno State.

    The scale of humanitarian efforts by the military also cover road construction and reconstruction, donation of educational materials to schools as well as rehabilitation of worship centres and markets in Adamawa and Yobe States.

    The report said that the military through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has formed a working group which is to develop a policy framework and national action plan in preventing and countering violent extremism.

    Dr. Masha commended the commitment of the UN System for its various humanitarian and policy initiatives and noted that the World Bank organised a workshop towards developing a strategic plan which will assist the Federal Government to effectively articulate and implement its programmes for the North East.

    The World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Health are also to collaborate with the military and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to vaccinate children in all accessible LGAs in Borno State in support of government’s Polio Response Plan.

    The report observed that NEMA relocated a total of 23,391 IDPs from schools that were initially used as camps to new sites in Bakassi and Dalori IDP camps in Maiduguri.

    The Federal Ministry of Education provided emergency classroom supplies for learners in Borno State communities such as Konduga (675), Bama (2500), Dikwa (500), Damboa (500) and Monguno (500).

    The report also said the interventions by the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE) showed that displaced persons also received from PINE, various food items such as rice, millet, guinea corn, maize, iodized salt, vegetable oil and Indomie noodles which were distributed to the six frontline States of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

    Gombe State also received several bags of food items for the Operation Safe Corridor (OSC).

    The OSC was a programme set up by the Federal Government in its bid to war against insurgency in the North East.

    The objective of the programme was also to enhance government efforts to rehabilitate and re-integrate surrendered and repentant terrorist members in the region.

  • Troops launch battle to retake Monguno

    Troops launch battle to retake Monguno

    Following continued ground battle  and air strikes, troops killed 53 more Boko Haram insurgents on Monday in Konduga and Maiduguri parts of Borno State.

    The figure came from the battle between troops and the insurgents from Sunday night till the early hours of Monday.

    A security source, who spoke in confidence at 9pm, said: “Continuing coordinated ground and air mop up activities by military personnel in the aftermath of diversionary terrorists attacks on Maiduguri and Konduga have led to the destruction of dozens of more terrorists.

    “At least 53 more insurgents  lost their lives as troops in pursuit of the insurgents  engaged those that fled and their additional reinforcements in the outskirts of Konduga and Maiduguri in a battle Sunday night/early Monday morning.

    “Health and emergency workers are having hectic challenges in evacuating terribly mangled corpses of the terrorists for mass burial.”

    A tweet by the Defence Headquarters confirmed the fresh mileage gained by troops.

    The DHQ tweeted: “More casualties inflicted on terrorists as troops battled fleeing ones and reinforcement at outskirts of Maiduguri, Konduga.

    “Substantial amounts of heavy weapons have been captured, as more terrorists died in the fight which lasted till early Monday

    “Our forces also recorded some casualty. Meanwhile, ground troops are in charge and Airforce patrol still ongoing.”

    A military source however gave insights into why Boko Haram embarked on ore-emotive attacks on Monguno, Konduga and Maiduguri.

    He also hinted of a likely sabotage of troops by some locals in the affected parts.

    The source said: “The suicidal attempt on Maiduguri and Konduga might have been staged to divert troops’ attention from their goal of commencing the “once and for all” battle against the terrorists by members of the Multinational Joint Task Force from Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Chad planned for early this week.

    “There are fears that saboteurs among local sympathisers in one of the affected communities might have betrayed the troops, especially concerning the plans to annihilate terrorists to pave way for the success and peaceful conducts of forthcoming elections in every part of the country.”

    Coordinated ground and air mop up activities by military personnel in the aftermath of diversionary terrorists attacks on Maiduguri and Konduga in Borno led to the destruction of dozens of more terrorists.

    This information is contained in a statement issued by Defence Headquarters on Monday in Abuja.

    The statement disclosed that substantial number of heavy weapons had been captured, in addition to the number of terrorists that died in the night fighting until Monday morning.

    It added Nigerian forces also recorded some casualty “but troops and Air Force patrol are still ongoing.’’

  • Terrorism: Court hears Ndume’s appeal November 1

    Terrorism: Court hears Ndume’s appeal November 1

    The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Wednesday fixed November 1 for definite hearing of an appeal filed by a serving member of the National Assembly, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume.

    Ndume is facing terrorism related charges before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    He is accused of sponsoring the Boko Haram sect, and failing to disclose the cell phone number of a spokesman of the sect, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga, which was in his (Ndume’s) possession.

    Ndume is appealing two court rulings delivered on December 11 and 12, 2012.

    The trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole had in both rulings admitted, as evidence against Ndume, alleged call logs from a telephone firm, which indicated that the Senator had telephone conversation with Konduga.

    Justice Kolawole also admitted in evidence certain digital video discs (DVDs) containing call-data records, including findings based on investigations carried out by a Special Investigation Panel (SIP), of the State Security Service (SSS).

    SSS operatives, who investigated the case, had, before the ruling, told the trial court that there were 73 instances of communication between Ndume and Konduga.

    A Nokia E7 phone allegedly belonging to Ndume, was said to have been used in communicating with Konduga, whose phone identity the SSS gave as Nokia 2700.

    In his appeal, Ndume wants the appellate court to invalidate the admitted evidence on the ground that the trial judge erred in law when he admitted the non admissible materials.

    The Senator described the admitted materials as radically and fundamentally against him.

    Before the court chose the new hearing date, appellant’s lawyer, Rickey Tarfa (SAN) withdrew a motion he had filed seeking that his client’s trial before the Justice Kolawole be stayed pending the determination of his appeal.

    He withdrew the motion filed on February 20 this year to enable the court deal with the substantive appeal, because parties have filed their briefs in relation to the main appeal.

    The three-man panel, headed by Justice Amiru Sanusi consequently struck out the motion.

     

  • Shettima visits Konduga

    Shettima visits Konduga

  • Terrorism: Ndume asks court to ‘stay proceedings’ on trial

    Terrorism: Ndume asks court to ‘stay proceedings’ on trial

    Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume has asked a Federal High Court, Abuja, to stay proceedings in his trial pending the determination of an appeal he filed against a decision of the court.

    He is challenging the decision of the court to admit in evidence the DVD’s containing call data records as well as findings of investigations carried out by a Special Investigation Panel (SIP) of the State Security Service.

    Ndume is accused of hoarding information on planned terror attacks and providing logistics to the convicted spokesman of the Boko Haram sect, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (alias Usman AI- Zawahiri).

    He is also charged for allegedly giving telephone numbers of certain public officers to Boko Haram for the purpose of communicating terrorist messages.

    The alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under Sections 3(b), 4(1) (a) and 7(1) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011.

    Although, Thursday was slated for continuation of trial, Ndume’s counsel, A. O. Jolawo, informed the court that his client had filed an appeal against the December 11 and 14 ruling of the court.

    Prosecuting Counsel Thompson Olatigbe confirmed receipt of the notice of appeal but said the motion for stay of proceedings has not been served.

    He, therefore, urged the court to proceed with cross examination of its witness since the motion for stay was not ripe for hearing.

    Adjourning till February 19 hearing on the application however, Justice Gabriel Kolawole said he feels rather hesitant to insist that cross examination of the prosecution witness should continue.

    It would be recalled that a prosecution witness had told the court that there were 73 communications between a Nokia E7 which allegedly belongs to Ndume and Konduga, who allegedly owns the Nokia 2700 that was tendered in evidence alongside the Nokia E7.

    The witness, Aliyu Usman, a forensic examiner attached to the SSS, had told the court that in the cause of analyzing the mobile phones given to him by the chairman of the SIP, James Ene Izi, it was discovered that the duo had exchanged text messages, multi media messages and placed voice calls between October 3, 2011 and November 3, 2011.