The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Maiduguri

  • Boko Haram: Senator challenges military to stop propaganda

    Boko Haram: Senator challenges military to stop propaganda

    Senator representing Borno Central at the National Assembly Baba kaka Bashir Garbai has called on the military to desist from  propaganda tool of deceiving people over the success and otherwise of their operations against the Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.

    Sen. Garbai who took the center stage of national discourse yesterday after his assertion that the insurgents are still holding the state to the juggler has again on Monday disclosed that  the propaganda tactic of the military is completely misleading the public over their success   against the Boko Haram operations in the state and other parts of the region, while calling on the military authorities to stop the propaganda tool and face reality.

    The embattled senator had yesterday expressed his concerns over renewed attacks on communities of  Dalori, Alomari, Mmube Mairi, Malari and other surrounding villages near Maiduguri by insurgents in the couple of days ago said something must be done urgently to save the people from the clutches of the insurgents.

    The Senator who has visited the villages to sympathize and console with the fleeing villagers at Dalori, Alomari and Malari yesterday has appealed to the victims to take what happened to them as an act of God.

    His words: “I came here with other representatives from the National and State Houses of Assembly to sympathize and condole these villagers that were attacked and sacked by Boko Haram insurgents.

    “Just yesterday, another adjourning villages of Alomari, Malari and Mmube Mairi were attacked, leaving scores dead and injured before setting their houses ablaze. So who are we deceiving?

    “As you can see, my people have lost everything, including their livestock, grains and
    other food items in the presence of our military and other security operatives at the theatre of the war, yet the military claimed that they have defeated/degraded boko haram which is not true”. He lamented.

    He further stated  that contrary to  the claims of the Nigerian Army reclaim several captured Borno communities; three councils of Mobbar,Abadam and Kala/Balge are still under the control of Boko Haram.
    “The facts on ground indicated that the military has to rise to the challenges of these insurgents that are still occupying some of our communities in 21 Local Government Areas of Borno state.
    “The only council areas in this state that are liberated by the military; and safe for our people to live and carry on their various socio-economic activities without fear of any attacks, are Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Bayo and Kwaya/Kusar.

    “It  is not yet ‘urhuru’ for both the Federal Government and themilitary on degrading Boko Haram terrorists’ activities in Borno state.
    “The levels of devastation to both lives and property in these two villages, is beyond one’s imaginations for any intervention and assistance from the State and Federal Governments.

    “Already, all the villagers have fled to Maiduguri for safety; and you are saying that
    the military have liberated all Borno communities, and asking Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to relocate back to their communities is very unfair.

    “Their communities are still unsafe, and asking IDPs to relocate is simply making them vulnerable to further attacks”. Garbai explained.

    He insisted that  “apart from Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Kwaya Kusar and Bayo that are free from the occupation of insurgents, Mobbar, Abadam and Kala Balge are fully under Boko Haram control, while the remaining 21 Local Government Areas of the state are partially liberated”.

    Senator Garbai was on the visit in  company of some House of Representative members including Hon. Kadiri Rahis representing Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) went to  destroyed palace of the District Head of Dalori, Alhaji Lawan Dalorima where he  prayed Allah to grant Aljantul Firdaus to those who lost their lives during the attacks and wished the injured ones quick recovery.

    He made a personal  donated  of 1000 sets of wrappers,  Shedda (men clothing) and the sum of N2 million to alleviate their immediate hardship, while other lawmakers donated food items and cash to the victims.

    He assured the feeing residents and other victims of insurgency that the Bill on the establishment of North East Development Commission (NEDC) has already passed the 1st reading at the floors of the National Assembly, and very soon it will scale 2nd and 3rd reading to become a law for its implementation towards rebuilding the entire region that was hitherto destroyed by insurgents in the last six years.

     

  • Boko Haram kills 85 in Maiduguri attack

    Boko Haram kills 85 in Maiduguri attack

    Not fewer than 85 people have been confirmed dead in the Saturday night attack that took place at Dalori village outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

    The Commissioner for Health in Borno State Dr. Haruna Mshelia briefed the Deputy Governor and the GOC at the Specialist Hospital Maiduguri that 65 bodies were deposited at the Specialist Hospital, 10 others at the University Teaching Hospital while another 10 have been buried at Dalori village.

    Eyewitness disclosed that they saw more than 20 copses burnt beyond recognition.

    There are unofficial sources that inform that the death tool in the attack is over one hundred.

    A rescue worker with one of the humanitarian agencies who is not authorized to speak with the press disclosed more than one hundred people were killed during the attack.

    A Civilian JT, who identified himself as Hassan Aliyu in Maiduguri also informed The Nation on phone that the death toll in the attack is more than one hundred even as at last night when the attack happened.

    “Even as at last night, the people that died were more than one hundred. I am sure many may have died today. Anybody that tells you that the figure is less than one hundred is just not saying the truth,” Hassan Aliyu informed.

    Modu Ajari, who escaped the attack, told our correspondent on phone in Maiduguri, that the insurgents came and were shooting sporadically and people started running from all direction.

    He disclosed that what caused the high casualty was a suicide bomber who detonated.

    The Boko Haram terrorists were said to have arrived the village in a convoy of Golf Volkswagen vehicles and motorcycles laden with explosives and petro-bombs and attacked the village killing the hapless villagers , before torching the village and fled towards Alau Dam by 6pm Saturday.

    Dalori is farming and herding community, and 12 kilometres east of Maiduguri, the state capital.

    Modu Anfoni , a villager, also said that the insurgents burst into the community through Yale village in a convoy of vehicles and motorcycles in the evening to sneak into Maiduguri without passing through the military posts on Maiduguri-Bama road.

    Confirming the reprisal attack in Maiduguri, the Media Coordinator of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Mustpaha Anka in a statement said: “The insurgents came in Golf cars, motorcycles and started opening fire and burning houses. Their motives were to cause rancor and penetrate crowd with suicide bombers.

    “While people were running for their dear lives to Gomari Kerkeri village, three female suicide bombers attempted to make their way into the crowd, but were intercepted and subsequently got blown up.”

    He said during the 45-minute military “fierce repulsion” lives were also lost, while some people sustained various degrees of injuries, while fleeing the attacked village in the evening of Saturday.

    Anka also disclosed that : “The insurgents also attempted to penetrate Dalori IDP camp, but it was resisted by the troops; which resulted into detonation of IEDs by the suicide bombers.

    The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen. Umaru Hassan condole the District Head of Dalori, Alhaji Lawal Bashir and his people over the attacks.

    He assured the people that the Theatre Command was committed to bringing an end to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno state the Northeast sub-region of the country.

    While commending the villagers for their resilience, he urged them to be strong and fully committed in the fight against insurgency and terrorism.

    “I also commend the humanitarian assistance of the National and State Emergency Management Agencies (NEMA, SEMA), Nigerian Red Cross and other Stakeholders for their tireless humanitarian efforts of ‘rescuing and resettling’ displaced people in camps,” said Hassan in Maiduguri.

    NEMA officials have also informed that they have screened some of the people that fled from the attacks before allowing them entry into the Dalori IDP camp.

  • AFTERMATH OF BOKO HARAM’S DEFEAT: El Kanemi hopeful Maiduguri now to host games

    AFTERMATH OF BOKO HARAM’S DEFEAT: El Kanemi hopeful Maiduguri now to host games

    El Kanemi Warriors are hopeful they will host their opening game of the new Nigeria league season against Wikki Tourists at their home ground of Maiduguri, which has been suspended for several seasons because of the activities of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

    Maiduguri, in the northeast of Nigeria, is one of the battle grounds of the Boko Haram and as a result the league has long suspended the staging of league matches there.

    El Kanemi have therefore had to play their home games in Kano and most recently Katsina. However, club spokesman, Prince Anthony Obaseki said the security situation in Maiduguri is now fully under control and they are waiting on the League Management Company (LMC) to send inspectors to have an on-the-spot look at the stadium.

    “We are just waiting for the LMC to come and inspect our stadium. Maiduguri is now very safe and we do not expect to play our home games away from there in the new season,” said Obaseki.

    He further said hosting their home games outside Maiduguri has cost them  financially.

    “We spend thrice what we are supposed to spend when we play our home games in either Kano or Katsina,” he disclosed.

  • Military kills 90 insurgents in Borno

    Military kills 90 insurgents in Borno

    The troops of the Operation Lafiaya Dole said they  intercepted three suspected suicide bombers attempting to enter Maiduguri the Borno state capital Friday along Maiduguri/Mafa checkpoint.

    The  Deputy Theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole Major General Lucky Irabor  told newsmen at the operation media centre in Maiduguri the troops at the checkpoint sight two female suicide bombers and a male suicide bomber trying to infiltrate Maiduguri along Maiduguri-Mafa road, where one of the female suicide bomber detonated her own killing herself and one other female bomber, while the male suicide bomber was gunned down by the troops of the Nigerian Army while trying to run into their midst.

    He also informed that  63 Boko Haram terrorists  were killed from Monday 18th January 2016 to  Friday 22nd 2016 at  various places within the theater of operation, adding that many AK47 riffles, ammunition, Anti Aircraft Gun, RPG, GMPG, explosives, vehicles, motorcycles among others were recovered from the operations.

    “Our troops conducted a fighting patrol at Afe, Kudiye, Souma, Dikwa Mijigeta, Mida villages of Borno state. During the operation our troops come in contact with Boko Haram terrorist at  Kudiye and Mijigete where 370 hostages were rescued and brought to IDP camp in Dikwa and 3 rifles and 41 motorcycles were destroyed,” he said.

    Maj. Gen. Irabor also stated that troops have cleared some Boko Haram hideouts in Wala, Tirkopytir and Durubajuwe in Gwoza local government area, where they recovered GMPG, locally made Dane gun and a grinding machine were recovered.

    He maintained that troops also came in contact with Boko Haram terrorist in Huyum in Askira/uba local government area, adding that  “the terrorists sighting troops abandoned their families behind which including  five women and 12 children and are currently undergoing interrogation.

    According to him, the Nigerian Air force provides closed air support and surveillance to the ground troops in all the encounters with the terrorists.

    He commended the efforts of the troops and renewed call for the troops and the public to be more vigilant and security conscious at all times, especially at checkpoints, worship centre, markets, motor parks and schools.

    He also called on the general public to continue to provide useful information to security agencies of any suspicious person within their environment so as to help ride the state and the region of all criminal elements.

  • Breaking News: Twin blasts in Maiduguri

    A twin-blast has been reported in Maiduguri, Borno State capital on Monday morning,

    The blasts were said to have occurred at the Polo area of Maiduguri with one of them in a Mosque.

    An hospital source at the General hospital told our correspondent that many dead bodies were brought in early in the morning, along with injured persons.

    More details later.

  • 55 killed, 100 injured as Boko Haram hits Maiduguri, Yola mosques

    55 killed, 100 injured as Boko Haram hits Maiduguri, Yola mosques

    Terror sect, BokoHaram, yesterday  let loose  its suicide bombers  on worshippers  in Maiduguri and Yola, leaving at least 55 people dead  in both attacks.

    Twenty-eight  worshippers were feared killed during the  Fajr (early morning prayer)  in a mosque at  Jiddari Polo area of  the Borno State capital. Time was 5 am.

    Umar Sani, a civilian vigilante assisting the military in the counter-insurgency, and local resident Musa Sheriff both told AFP there were two blasts at the mosque.

    “I was involved in the evacuation. We counted 28 dead bodies apart from the two bombers, who were identifiable by the mutilation of their bodies,” said Sani.

    “Over 20 other people were injured.”

    Abdulkadir Ibrahim, spokesman  for  the National Relief Agency, put the death toll at six.He said 17 others were injured.

    Hospital sources put the death toll at 19.

    A  member of the local vigilance group  who took part in the evacuation of the dead said  there appeared to be only one suicide bomber though “we all heard two explosions.”

    Sani and Sheriff said two other people were arrested and handed over to the military for questioning after they were seen apparently celebrating following the blasts.

    The two men were “standing from afar, hugging each other like a celebration, chanting “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest)”, said Sani.

    “To them it was a mission accomplished,” added Sheriff.

    Nine hours later , another  suicide bomber detonated  an Improvised Explosive Device (IED at  the Jambutu Hajj camp mosque in Yola soon after the Imam finished his sermon.

    State Police Commissioner  Gabriel Adaji said eight worshippers were killed.

    Other sources put the death toll  at 27.

    One volunteer at the scene, who helped in the rescue effort but asked not to be identified, said: “This mosque is newly  built and this was the first Jumat in it.

    “While worshippers had risen for the prayers to start after the sermon by the imam, there was a huge blast in the premises.”

    NEMA’s coordinator in the Adamawa state capital, Sa’ad Bello said  116 people were being treated for injuries at two hospitals in the city.

    Most of the injured were in a stable condition, with injuries ranging from fractures and burns to cuts from the blast, he added.

    Yola has been seen as a relatively safe haven from the Boko Haram insurgency, which has ravaged the northeast for the last six years.

    But fears were heightened after an explosive device went off at a camp for displaced people to the south of the city last month, killing seven people and injuring 20 more.

    Boko Haram’s suicide bombers  also attacked worshippers at mosques in Maiduguri  last week.

    Overall,Maiduguri has been hit six times this month alone by Boko Haram insurgents.

    Its fighters also attacked targets in Abuja and Kogi State recently.

    This week, the  police warned that the group was now building bombs within electronic devices like tablets, phones, and laptops, then leaving them for unsuspecting Nigerians to pick up.

    The police  issued the warning after the arraignment on Thursday of five suspects connected with a double bombing in Nigeria’s capital that killed 18 people on Oct. 2.

    The defendants were charged with conspiracy and acts of terrorism  at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The case  was adjourned until a further hearing on November 17.

  • Army denies attack on Maiduguri

    •Urges calm

    The military in Maiduguri yesterday denied that the town was attacked.

    Residents reported explosions in some parts of the town. The situation caused panic.

    But spokesman for the 7 Division, Maiduguri Col. Tukur Gusau told our correspondent on the phone that the Army was testing its equipment. He urged residents to remain calm.

    Said he: “There is no attack in any part of Maiduguri as I speak with you today (Sunday). The sound the people are hearing is from our men. It is a routine check of our equipment and hardware. We are testing our equipment as part of measures to ensure that they are in good condition so as to be ready for any eventuality.

    “We appeal to Maiduguri residents not to panic. They should remain calm. The town is not under attack. The military is fully in control.

    “We advise residents to report suspicious movements of persons.”

  • Maiduguri’s explosion routine test, says military

    The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri yesterday said the early morning explosion in the out skirt of Maiduguri emanated from routine testing of military equipment.

    Spokesman of the Division, Col Tukur Gusau, urged residents not to panic.

    “It is a routine test firing of our weapons to ensure that they are in a state of readiness,” he said.

  • Army denies attack on Maiduguri, calls for calm

    The military authorities in Maiduguri have denied that Maiduguri the Bornu State capital  was under attack on Sunday.

    Residents of Maiduguri had reported heavy sound of explosions from some parts of the town on Sunday with the situation causing serious panic in the metropolis which has recently come under suicide attacks by some suspected members of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    But the Spokesman of the 7 Division Nigerian Army Maiduguri Col. Tukur Gusau told our correspondent on phone in Maiduguri that the army was just test-running their equipment and called on the people not to panic.

    “There is no attack in any part of Maiduguri as I speak with you today (Sunday). The sound the people are hearing is from our men. It is a routine check of our equipment and hardware.  We are testing our equipment as part of measures to ensure that they are in good shape so as to be alert and ready for any eventuality.

    “We are however appealing to residents of Maiduguri not to panic but to remain calm. Maiduguri is not under attack. The military is fully in control.

    “We are calling on the good people to always report any suspicious moment of persons around your neighborhood so as to separate the good people from these terrorists,” Col. Gusau said.

     

  • Movement restricted in Borno, Yobe

    Movement restricted in Borno, Yobe

    The 7 Division, Maiduguri has restricted movement across Borno State during the Sallah festival.

    The restriction was contained in a statement by the Deputy Director, Army Relations, 7 Division, Maiduguri, Colonel Tukur Ismail Gusau yesterday.

     The statement reads: “The public in Borno State is informed that a restriction on vehicular movements will be observed during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations throughout the state.

    “All movements using vehicles, bicycles and animals in Maiduguri will be restricted as from Wednesday 5:00pm (1700hrs)  September 23.

    “Similarly, all vehicular movements into and out of Maiduguri town will also be restricted within the period till further notice.

    The statement added that the decision was a measure to ensure that the people enjoyed a hitch-free Sallah celebration.

    Many markets within Maiduguri were filled with residents making last minute shopping.

    The police in Yobe State have banned movement in and across the state.

    A statement by the command’s spokesman, Toyin Gbadegesin, said: “There shall be restriction on vehicular movement on Sallah eve within the state with a total ban on the use of tricycles from 6pm on September 23 to 2pm on September 24.

    “There shall be no vehicular movements except of essential service providers i.e security, medical, emergency. No means of conveyance whatsoever shall be allowed 500 meters to the prayer grounds.

    “No handbags, luggage, or containers shall be allowed 500 meters to the prayer grounds.

    “Women are advised to keep their dressing simple and moderate for ease of security checks.

    “Worshippers are advised to arrive the prayer grounds early enough to avoid rushing in at the eleventh hour without being checked.”

    The statement also added that the following routes which include Damaturu-Potiskum- Maiduguri road stretch; Damaturu-Gasshua road stretch; Damaturu-Gujba road stretch; Gashua-Damaturu road stretch and Nguru-Emir’s Palace roundabout road shall not be available to vehicular traffic until after 2pm today.