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Tag: Maiduguri

  • PHOTOS: Buhari arrives Maiduguri for COAS conference

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday declared open the 2018 Chief Of Army Staff (COAS) Conference in Maiduguri, Borno State.

    The conference was originally scheduled to hold in Edo State, but was moved to Maiduguri.

    COAS Conference

    Photo credit:@HQNigerianArmy

  • Tight security in Maiduguri as Buhari visits

    Security has been beefed up in Maiduguri and environs as President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to visit the town to declare open the Fourth Quarter Chief of Army Staff Conference.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that this is first time the president will be gracing the quarterly chief of army staff conference since he assumed office.

    The quarterly conference is used to review army’s activities, including operations and exercises with a view to improve on them.

    Read Also: Buhari cancels private visit to Daura

    The president is also expected to use occasion to address troops on the frontline in the North East and assured the people of the region of his administration determination to prosecute the counter insurgency to logical conclusion.

    The president expected visit is being interpreted as meal booster for officers and soldiers in the aftermath of killing of a number of soldiers at Metele in Northern Borno, by the Boko Haram terrorists group.

  • Tight security in Maiduguri as COAS conference kicks off

    Borno CP appeals to resident to cheer Mr. President from far

    We will divert traffic

    Maiduguri metropolis and its environs have been placed under heavy security ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow.

    President Muhammadu Buhari is billed  to declared the 2018 Chief of Army Staff Conference open in Maiduguri tomorrow.

    The conference which was earlier  scheduled to hold in Edo State was shifted to Maiduguri, Borno State with the president expected to open the conference on 28 Wednesday, November, 2018 at the Command Guest House Maimalari Barracks.

    In a bid to ensure a successful visit of the president to Borno State which is the epicenter of Boko Haram insurgency, security measures have been put in place for adequate security to avoid any embarrassing attack by the Boko Haram insurgents.

    The heavy presence of security in the metropolis is a clear indication of the measure put in place by the security forces.

    Borno State Police Commissioner Damaian Chukwu in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Maiduguri informed that his men have put everything in place to ensure that the president visit to Maiduguridoes not witness any ugly incident.

    The CP disclosed that traffic will be diverted from the major route in the metropolis that the president motorcade will move through.

    Read Also: Ayade, COAS launch Operation Crocodile Smile III

    CP Chukwu also appeal to residents and lovers of the president not to come close to his motorcade in attempt to cheering him but that they should do that in a distance.

    His words: ”When Mr. President is said to be coming, it’s our responsibility to ensure that adequate security is provided. It is true he is coming for a military event but the military have promptly alerted us to enlighten the public that we have a very serious role to play. That role has to do with ensuring free flow of traffic before and during the visit of Mr. President and the route that he will follow.

    “I am reliably informed that the president will be landing at the air force base airstrip close to the general airport and move to the Shehu’s palace on a courtesy call and interact with international institutions and later move to Baga road to Maimalari Barrack where he would attend the Chief of Army Staff Conference and from there return to the airforce base and take off to Abuja.

    “We know that the president is a politician and people must come out to cheer him but we are appealing that people should do that from afar and should not come close to the his motorcade for security reasons. We are going to deploy personal on the long stretch of the rout and there will be diversion of traffic but the road will not be closed.

    “I have directed one of my DPOs to meet with the Baga market people to suspend normal activities at the area at least within three hours of the president’s visit. As you know, the Baga market area is very rowdy and we don’t have to take chances around that area so we are appealing to the traders to please cooperate with us to ensure a hitch free visit of Mr. President to Borno State.

    “We are not focusing on the road alone but across the metropolis and its environs. My man are going to begin an aggressive patrol on through the night to fish out any suspicious elements that will intend to frustrate the visit, CP Chukwu informed.

  • Boko Haram kills 13 in fresh Borno attack

    Boko Haram insurgents have killed 13 people and sacked two villages overnight in the restive town of Konduga in Borno.

    Brigadier-General Bulama Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, confirmed the attack on Thursday in Maiduguri.

    Biu said, however, that troops had risen to the occasion and had repelled the invaders, who had repeatedly attacked communities in the Konduga Local Government Area over the years.

    He disclosed that he had visited the attacked communities, Bularin and Kofa, including camps in the communities, housing thousands of displaced people.

    “I was there. We recovered one dead body and saw burnt houses. Troops have been following up on the attackers,” said Biu.

    Alfred Audu, a member of a militia, known as Civilian Joint Task Force, who claimed he was on duty at the time of the attack, said the insurgents engaged troops in a bid to force their way into the communities.

    Audu said the insurgents were pushed back when fighter planes were deployed to confront the invaders.

    Read Also: Boko Haram: Army receives large cargo of arms

    Another eye-witness, who gave his name simply as Alhaji Modu, said that hundreds of the insurgents on trucks with mounted guns and motorcycles, attacked the communities at about 7:45 p.m.

    Modu said the insurgents launched rocket attacks and forced their way into the IDP camps and also attacked homes with ferocious fire.

    He said that nine people were killed at Bularin IDP Camp and three others in the Kofa IDP Camp.

    “An Islamic cleric together with his wife and three children were burnt to death when the insurgents sacked their home at Bularin IDP Camp.

    “They burnt down the village market, shops, houses, animals and vehicles. Many people died in the attack while others are still missing.

    “Bularin village was razed and several tents in the camp destroyed. Many people were displaced in the attack,” Modu said.

    Boko Haram, which also operates in Cameroon, Chad and Niger has persistently attacked communities in northern Nigeria, especially the country’s vast northeast.

    The Federal Government has however, said that the insurgents have been decimated, although the group has been packing deadly punches over the years.

    Boko Haram launched its deadly campaign in 2009, vowing to enthrone a strict Islamic code in Africa’s most populous nation.

  • Photos: Ooni welcomes new wife to palace

    Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has welcomed his new Olori into his palace in Ife, Osun state.

    Read Also: Ooni picks new queen, a Prophetess

     

  • Army seeks collaboration with security agencies to tackle insurgency

     The Nigerian Army has called for closer collaboration with security agencies in Borno, to facilitate successful implementation of the counter-insurgency campaign.

    Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement issued on Saturday in Maiduguri, quoted Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, as making the call at a meeting with heads of security agencies in the state.

    According to the statement Biu called for synergy and cooperation towards evolving new strategies in the ongoing fight against insurgency and other sundry crimes.

    Biu stressed the need for routine interaction between stakeholders with a view to strengthen cooperation, intelligent and information sharing among them.

    Read Also:Missing General: Army clarifies rumour on military operations

    While commending the agencies for discharging their duties effectively, Biu called for proactive measures to review strategies to meet the security challenges occasioned by the political transition period.

    Biu reminded the agencies of the need to be proactive so as not to allow breach of peace and checkmate unholy political gatherings.

    The meeting was attended by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Damian Chukwu, Comptroller of Customs, AB Abdullahi, and the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ibrahim Abdullahi.

    Others were Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ijafaru Bukar, and Comptroller, Nigerian Immigration Service, Abdulfattah Adamu, among others.

  • Borno: Drama as governorship aspirant enters race for senate

    … other aspirant kick

     

    One of the aspirants for the Borno north senatorial seat, Hajia Fati Alkali Shettima has kicked against the inclusion of Sen. Abu Kyari who contested in the gubernatorial primary election three days ago.

    Hajia Fati who is also the state APC Women Leader said she was shocked to see the picture of senator Abu Kyari on the ballot papers for the senatorial primary election.

    The State APC Women Leader alleged that the current Senator from the zone didn’t go through screening hence , he is not eligible to contest for Senatorial seats.

    “I was shocked and surprised when I saw him. when they called all the Senatorial aspirants with House Representatives aspirants into state APC Chairman’s office and addressed us.

    “I am demanding that we must all be given equal treatment, if someone that contested Governorship election three days ago without being part of Senatorial screening is now contesting for the Senate, then something is fundamentally wrong and this must not be allowed.”Hajja Fati Kakenna demanded.

    Read Also: Obahiagbon, Iyoha, Agbonnayima, win APC ticket

    Our correspondent gathered that the other two aspirants have decided to withdraw their ambition and threw their support for Sen. Kyari, who happened to be the incumbent senator representing Borno North.

    Hajja Fati Kakenna vowed that no amount of intimidation would make her step down for anyone aspirants.

    The Nation checks revealed that there was shortage of election materials as delegates were patiently waiting at state hotel Maiduguri the venue of Borno northern senatorial election for the arrival of the materials.

  • Army assures farmers of security

    The Nigerian Army has pledged to guarantee the safety of farmers in Borno, to enhance the production of paddy rice and other food crops.

    Brig. Gen. Texas Chukwu, Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement issued on Thursday in Maiduguri, quoted Brig. Gen. Bulama Biu, the Acting General Commanding Officer (GOC), 7 Division, Maiduguri as making the pledge when members of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) paid him a courtesy visit in Maiduguri.

    The statement quoted Biu as saying that the army would provide security to farmers to enable them cultivate their farmlands and ensure their safety to encourage agricultural activities.

    Biu noted that rice farmers were critical partners in ensuring food security for sustainable social and economic development in the country.

    He tasked farmers to be law-abiding and ensure that they followed due-process in the discharge of their business.

    In his remarks, Alhaji Bulama Mohammed, the chairman of the association, lauded the military over the successes recorded in the counter-insurgency campaign in the northeast.

    Mohammad sought the support of the military to ease movement of the produce to the market.

  • Military court martial: Two soldiers bag 10 yrs for abduction

    The on-going military court martial of soldiers of operation Lafiya Dole over violations of human right in the Theatre has sent two soldiers to ten years imprisonment.

    The President of the General Court Martial (GCM) 7 Division Nigeria of Army Brig. Gen. Olusegun Adesina while delivering judgement on Wednesday said the action of the soldiers was unlawful and against the ethics of the armed forces.

    The two soldiers were charged for abduction and forceful collection of money from innocent victims amounting to the sum of 1 million naria.

    Brig.Gen Adesina said the accuse were standing trial ” for 3 count charges include abduction of Alhaji Hassan on the 19th November, 2017 at his residents in Ruwan Shanfi area of Maiduguri to unknown location, forceful demand and reception of the sum of 1 million Naira after he was threatened as BHTs sponsor”.

    The soldiers confessed committing the offence.

    The soldiers further narrated that they “evaded the victim’s (Alhaji Hassan) house with a Honda 98 model and dragged the victim out and forcefully took him to Railway Area of Maiduguri, where he was threatened and tagged as Boko Haram sponsor and subsequently demanded N3m.

    “However, the victim begged and agreed to pay a million naira and then, he took the accused soldiers to his shop at Banban line district where he gave them N1m naira as promised”.

    In his judgment, Brig. Gen. Adesina said; ” having considered all pleadings by defense counsel, on 1st count charge, you Sergeant Aliyu Hassan and Corporal Nasiru Bello are hereby sentenced to 5 years in prison for abduction.

    Read Also: Wife of Malaysian’s former PM arrested by anti-graft agency

    “On count 2 charges that your rank from Sergeant has reduced to Corporal and also your rank from Corporal to private for illegal behavior on uniform; third count charge for extortion of 1 million naira from victims, you are are hereby sentenced to 5 years in prison respectively and service of term shall runs concurrently.” Brig. Gen. Olusegun Adesina read.

    The affected soldiers are Sgt Aliyu Hassan and Corporal Nasiru Bello.

    The Nation checks revealed that the General Court Martial in Maiduguri has imprisoned a number of soldiers for different offences for more than one year now.

  • CSOs applaud Borno APC‎’s primaries for credibility

    … Says election standard compare to Presidential primaries in Abuja

    Coalition of Civil Society organizations have commended Borno State Government for a highly organized, credible and  peaceful primaries in the country.

    The Coalition which is headed by Omooba Kenneth Aigbegbele, President, Coalition  of Civil Societies and Media Executives for Good Governance in Nigeria who is also the executive  Secretary, Citizens Watch Nigeria (CWN), said in a statement made available to journalists in Maiduguri explained that  “because of the interest generated by the number of governorship aspirants in Borno’s APC which was as high as 21”, he added, “coalition of civil societies decided to quietly enter Maiduguri to monitor all processes in the conduct of the primaries from accreditation of delegates, transportation of delegates to the venue, voting and the conduct of electoral officials sent from the APC headquarters in Abuja”.

    “Borno State recorded the highest number of governorship aspirants in the APC and because of that we expected a chaos situation which was why we came into Maiduguri silently for very serious monitoring of all processes.

    “We monitored every step from accreditation of delegates at the state hotel on Sunday to access of all aspirants to meet with delegates, the conduct of electoral officials and the voting.

    ” We saw a complete neutrality of electoral officials, voting, collation and sorting of votes were done transparently before agents of all aspirants; we saw all aspirants going round to meet delegates, we also saw that aspirants had agents, ballot papers were sealed on arrival and procedures were well read it and followed.

    “In summary, the standard of what we saw during the APC governorship primaries was one that can compare to well organized presidential primaries of a ruling party in Abuja. All delegates had tents seated orderly and were invited in orderly manner, voting was done through secret balloting to guarantee freedom of choice and all aspirants were given time to address  delegates and every one from the podium.

    “We saw ten aspirants announcing they were stepping down for the eventual winner and we saw five aspirants took part freely without any iintimidation. We commend the conduct of Borno APC governorship primaries and recommend their standard to all political parties whether now or in future” Aigbegbele said.

    Our correspondent reports that the election was won by Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, mni, a former commissioner of reconstruction, rehabilitation and Resettlement who scored 4,‎432 votes and he was trailed by Idris Mamman Durkwa who scored 115 votes.

    All four other contestants who took part in the election including a party chieftain, Alhaji Gambo Lawan, accepted the outcome and congratulated the winner with a promise to work for the party’s victory in the 2019 general election.