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Tag: Maiduguri

  • The fear of Maiduguri

    As you read this column, I am rounding off my five-day visit to Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, for a training programme.

    Deciding to go on this trip was not easy for obvious reasons considering the high level of insurgency associated with the state, no thanks to the Boko Haram group that has almost taken over the state but for our gallant military men that have largely restored peace in most parts despite the casualties they have recorded.

    Two days ahead of my trip, there were reported attacks by the insurgents who seem determined for a showdown with the soldiers in a local government area and I did my best not to be discouraged from flying into what is considered a ‘danger’ zone. I secretly wished the programme was for another state capital, but Maiduguri was the choice of the organisers and I had a major role to play.

    Some people I mentioned the trip to couldn’t hide their worry about my decision and if they had their way, they would have advised against it. My wife did her best to mask her concern but she must have opted for praying for journey mercies.

    If Maiduguri is not really safe as many believe, I’m sure the programme organisers would not have risked endangering the lives of participants and facilitators, some of whom, including myself, are not resident in the state.

    Despite all the indications that Maiduguri is largely safe to visit, I flew in the Aziman Airline from Lagos through Abuja, trying to be brave about the journey.

    The Maiduguri International Airport was anything but international, with the temporary shed for arriving and departing passengers. But it was assuring that insurgents who once attacked the location are nowhere in sight.

    The taxi driver who took me to the Command Guest House where the programme was held assured me that there was no cause to be worried during my stay and driving through the town confirmed his claim as residents seemed to move around like in any other city.

    “Most of the scary reports about Maiduguri are written by journalists who have not been here. Some of the attacks happen far away from the capital and the military men are doing their best to control the situation,” he said.

    As I later confirmed, I was not the only one who thought twice about the trip for safety reasons. Apart from journalists resident in the state and a few others from neighbouring states who are used to the situation, many came trusting God for divine protection and stayed within the confines of the guest house until it was time to head back to the airport. Some, I learnt, declined to attend the programme because of the choice of Maiduguri as venue.

    The first time I heard the noise of a plane taking off over our guest house, I froze for fear of an air raid, but quickly got over it when I noticed that others around were not bothered. I’m glad I made the trip and got over the fear of travelling to Maiduguri.

    The combined armed forces deserve commendation for the relative peace and security in Maiduguri, Borno as a whole and other states affected by the insurgency.

    Local media houses and journalists have also sacrificed a lot to keep reporting situation in the state.

    The labour and sacrifice of dead and living military, police men and women and journalists will not be in vain.

  • ActionAid trains journalists on reporting corruption

    Not fewer than forty journalists are currently undergoing three day training on corruption and investigative data reporting in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

    The training is being organized by ActionAid Nigeria with support from UKAid has journalists drawn from Borno State which is one of the implementing states including other states in the northeast like Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe States.

    Making his presentation, one of the lead facilitators of the training, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, a Media Career Trainer in his paper title, Research as a Basis for Good Reporting tasked journalists to, “overcome the challenges that are associated with the weak institutions in the system by beginning to report the weakness itself”.

    Mr. Lekan emphasized that “journalists must be armed with the right information and data by using the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) to produce a good investigative report”.

    He added, “You must have the relevant information to be able to come out with a good investigative story by engaging in a very thorough research of what you want to investigate and write about. Those facts must be undisputed and factual. That suggest that such facts must be verified and cross check because you must ask relevant questions concerning the objective of the person giving you an information.

    Read Also: NUJ presidential aspirant vows to pay journalists’ salaries

    Drawing from experience, Mr. Lekan challenged journalists to avoid self-censorship and engage in strong networking by sharing their stories that could amount to their organizational conflict of interests.

    “You can share a story with your colleague that you feel you newspaper cannot use or publish,” Mr. Lekan advised.

    Welcoming participants at the training, the Project Manager of Strengthening Citizens Resistance Against Prevalence of Corruption (SCRAP-C), Mr. Newton Otsemaye  emphasized on  the UN Convention Against Corruption which espouses the ills of corruption especially how it affect the poor and the vulnerable people in the society.

    Quoting from the former UN Secretary General, Late Kofi Annan, “Corruption”, he says, “affects the poor disproportionately”.

    Mr. Otsemaye regretted how our society celebrate and glorify people who have looted public funds, adding that, “the people need to be sensitized on the dangers of corruption and the journalists must be in the driver’s seat for the people to understand.

  • Army kills 14 terrorists, rescue 21 hostages

    The Nigerian Army said it had nutrialised 14 Boko Haram insurgents and rescued 21 hostages in Pulka village in Gwoza Local Government area of Borno.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the insurgents had on Tuesday, ambushed military escort at Amdaga area in Pulka and burnt one passenger vehicle as well as abducted some travelers.

    Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, who disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri on Friday said the terrorists were alleged to have haboured the insurgents that ambushed the civilian vehicle.

    “The troops have nutrialised 14 Boko Haram and rescued 21 civilians, comprising six women and 11 children.

    Read Also; Army  kills Boko Haram insurgents in Borno

    “Troops of 192 Battalion of 26 Task Force Brigade of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force, neutralised the insurgents on Thursday.

    “The troops engaged and subdued the terrorists, following a superior fire power of troops in the village.

    “Four men injured during the attack are being attended to at the military hospital,” he said.

  • Borno APC opts for indirect primaries

    The ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Borno State has opted for the indirect primary elections to field candidates for the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

    This decision was taken Tuesday at a stakeholders meeting held at the State Secretariat, Maiduguri by the pro Gov. Kashima Shettima State Executive of the party.

    Tuesday’s decision of the party according to analysts is a deep political punch against former governor Ali Modu Sheriff who has just returned to the party.

    The Nation gathered that Sheriff’s supporters are vehemently opposed to the indirect primaries as they are hoping to create an impact should the state chapter of the party opt for the direct primary option.

    In his address at the meeting, the APC state Chairman, Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori announced that the state has opted for the indirect primaries, explaining that even though the National Executive Council of the ruling party has approved and adopted direct primaries in electing presidential candidate, there was a window left for every state to decide whether they go for direct or indirect primaries.

    Dalori noted that Borno APC see the indirect primaries, as the best option to ensure fairness and peaceful coexistence among people and electorates across the state.

    “Borno APC would not allow a situation where some individual (s) in Borno who were based in Abuja and claimed to be working for President Muhammad Buhari, would come into our fold and dictate politics for us.

    ” We have unanimously adopted the indirect primaries in Borno, and nobody should come to tell us that we are for direct primaries,” Dalori said.

    Speaking on behalf of the Governor, his Deputy, Mamman Durkwa thanked all the stakeholders for aytending the meeting which he said was timely.

    His words “I want to thank you on behalf of our Governor and Chairman Northern Governors’ Forum, Hon. Kashim Shettima who is unavoidably absent.

    “We want to say that all the decisions unanimously taken for endorsement of indirect Primaries is a good omen to our Democracy.

    ” We assure all and sundry that the present administration will join teaming supporters of APC to ensure unprecedented victory in free and fair elections come 2019.”

    Those who attended the meeting include all the three Senators Representing Borno North, Central and Southern Senatorial District, Abubakar Kyari, Alhaji Baba Kaka Garbai and Mohammed Ndume.

    Read Also: Kano APC adopts direct primaries

    Also in attendance were several House of representative members at the national assembly, Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Kadiri Rahis, Aliyu Betara, Asabe Vilita Bashir as well as House of Assembly members.

    Others were Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Usman Mamman Durkwa who stood in for the governor who was on an official visit to Germany.

    Senator Abubakar Kyari, Mohammed Tahir Monguno and Speaker, Abdulkareem Lawal who spoke on behalf of their colleagues said after due consultations, they have all endorsed and agreed to go for indirect primaries at all elective positions on the platform of the ruling APC in the state.

    Senator Kyari tendered an apology on behalf of Senator Mohammed Abba Aji who was unavoidably absent.

    According to Kyari, Abba Aji who is also one of the governorship aspirants have agreed to sign the endorsement document for the indirect primaries.

    Before concluding the meeting, the State secretary of the party, Alhaji Bello Ayuba called on the members to raise a motion for adoption of the endorsement document.

    Senator Ndume therefore moved a motion for adoption of the indirect primaries, and was seconded by Hon. Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir, representing Damboa/Chibok/Gwoza federal constituency.

     

  • Troops kill Three Boko Haram terrorists in Borno

    The Nigerian Army says its troops have killed three Boko Haram insurgents while on fighting patrol in Kukawa in Baga Local Government Area in Borno on Sunday.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, disclosed this in a statement released in Maiduguri on Monday.
    Chukwu said the terrorists were intercepted by troops of 82 Division Task Force Brigade Deployed in the area.

    He said that the troops, while on fighting patrol at Kukawa general area got information on the terrorists’ activities in Kalamari village, 30 Kilometres to Kukawa town.

    He said the insurgents who were on a looting and extortion spree in the village were intercepted by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.

    Read Also: Buhari to troops : Get ruthless with bandits, kidnappers

    “During the encounter following a superior fire power of the troops, three members of the Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised,”he said.

    The director listed items recovered from the terrorist to include, three AK 47 rifles; two magazines and four rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
    “Meanwhile, the gallant troops have continued with aggressive fighting patrol, as efforts are ongoing by the troops to track down other fleeing members of the Boko Haram Terrorists from any hideouts.

    “Members of the general public are advised to report any suspicious movements or activities in their general area to the law enforcement agents for prompt action,” he said.

  • Borno police warns tricycle operators against lawlessness

    …promises stiffer measures against offenders

     

    The police command in Borno State has cautioned tricycle operators otherwise known as Kake NAPEP in Maiduguri metropolis over some wholesome behaviour that could cause breach of peace in the state.

    In a statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Office, DSP Edet Okon on behalf of the State Commissioner Damian Chukwu regretted the “continued criminal conducts” of the operators in the state capital which according to him is capable of leading to break down of law and order.

    The statement however warned that the police will not sit down and abdicate her primary duty of maintaining law and order as well as protection of lives and property being perpetrated by some unguided members of the group within Maiduguri metropolis.

    The statement advised any aggrieved person to seek redress through constituted authorities instead of taking laws into their hands.

    The Statement read in full:

    “The Commissioner of Police Borno State, CP Damian Chukwu is disillusioned at the continued criminal and other unbecoming conduct capable of causing breach of public peace in Maiduguri Metropolis and its environs. Perpetrators of these acts of lawlessness are mostly Keke Napep/Tricycle operators.

    “It would be recalled that following the protest embarked upon by different groups of Tricycle riders on Monday, 30th July, 2018, the Commissioner of Police swung into action; disbanded the State Central Motor Traffic Department (Central MTD) and ordered investigations into allegations of extortion leveled against security personnel.

    “Despite the above gratifying measures by the command, lawless conduct of the tri-cyclists which include brazen disobedience of traffic laws, mob actions, rioting and other acts capable of causing breach of peace has continued unabated.

    “The command also observes the flagrant disobedience of state laws and the rising acts of criminality such as robbery, diversion of passengers from their normal destinations for untoward purposes, acid attacks, molestation of unsuspecting passengers etc.

    “In view of the above, the Commissioner of Police hereby warns that the Command will not fold its arms and watch criminals in whatever name or guise unleash mayhem on law abiding people of the State. Also, in line with the series of meetings with the leadership of various groups of the Keke Operators, the Commissioner further warns that henceforth, Keke riders/operators found violating the laws or caught fomenting trouble will be dealt with in line with provisions of extant laws.

    “The command once again reiterates its continued commitment to the safety of lives and properties and the maintenance of public order and urges all aggrieved persons not to take the laws into their hands but to always resort to lawful ways of addressing or pressing forth their grievances”.

  • Calm returns to Maiduguri Airport after protest by soldiers

    The Nigerian Army said calm has been restored at Maiduguri Airport seized for two hours on Sunday by riotous troops, that it described as ‘unscrupulous”.

    In a statement today, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, Deputy Director Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole Theatre Command said the protest by the few unscrupulous troops happened while the command was conducting a redeployment of soldiers at the Maiduguri Airport, following a directive to review troops’ deployment in Maiduguri metropolis, to reinvigorate the security architecture of the city.

    “The redeployment became expedient after a recent assessment of the security situation by the Theatre Command. Regrettably however, a few of the troops who had misunderstood the development and erroneously assumed it was going to negatively affect their rotation from the theatre of operation became agitated and reacted by firing into the air.

    “Calm has however been restored, as the Theatre Commander, Major General Abba Dikko has promptly taken charge of the situation after addressing and admonishing the troops~”, Nwachukwu said.

    “The Theatre Command undoubtedly considers this ugly incident quite regrettable and appropriate measures are being taken to forestall a recurrence”, he added.

    Our Reporter reports that the aggrieved soldiers claimed they had overstayed and were resisting redeployment to Marte, one of the towns liberated by the military several years ago from the control of Boko Haram terrorists.

    The protesters are part of the special force deployed to provide air defence and enhance security at the airport.

    The troops barricaded some section of the airport and fired shots in the air, causing pandemonium, as hundreds of pilgrims waiting to be airlifted to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, scampered for safety..

    One of the protesting soldiers who spoke under condition of anonymity, said the planned deployment was against the directives by the Army Headquarters.

    “The army special forces deployed to the airport were not trained to engage in ground battle rather trained to provide air defence.

    “Our task is to provide air defence. Alas, special forces trained to fight ground battle are stationed in Maiduguri and we are deployed to go and die in Marte”.

    Another soldier lamented that the troops have overstayed in the Northeast fighting Boko Haram, despite the rotation order by the military authorities.

    He said many of them have spent over three years in the battle field.

    “Some troops of Operation Lafiya Dole were deployed and worked for over three years in the theatre and not rotated as against the directives by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

    “The command is directed to redeploy soldiers back to their bases after spending stipulated time in the theatre of operation.

    “We have spent over three years in the northeast and we should be transferred out of the northeast and not within”.

  • Protesting troops are unscrupulous – Army

    … calm back at Maiduguri Airport

    The Nigerian Army said calm has been restored at Maiduguri Airport seized for two hours on Sunday by riotous troops, that it described as ‘unscrupulous”.

    In a statement today, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, Deputy Director Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole Theatre Command said the protest by the few unscrupulous troops happened while the command was conducting a redeployment of soldiers at the Maiduguri Airport, following a directive to review troops’ deployment in Maiduguri metropolis, to reinvigorate the security architecture of the city.

    “The redeployment became expedient after a recent assessment of the security situation by the Theatre Command. Regrettably however, a few of the troops who had misunderstood the development and erroneously assumed it was going to negatively affect their rotation from the theatre of operation became agitated and reacted by firing into the air.

    “Calm has however been restored, as the Theatre Commander, Major General Abba Dikko has promptly taken charge of the situation after addressing and admonishing the troops~”, Nwachukwu said.

    “The Theatre Command undoubtedly considers this ugly incident quite regrettable and appropriate measures are being taken to forestall a recurrence”, he added.

    NAN reports that the aggrieved soldiers claimed they had overstayed and were resisting redeployment to Marte, one of the towns liberated by the military several years ago from the control of Boko Haram terrorists.

    The protesters are part of the special force deployed to provide air defence and enhance security at the airport.

    The troops barricaded some section of the airport and fired shots in the air, causing pandemonium, as hundreds of pilgrims waiting to be airlifted to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, scampered for safety..

    One of the protesting soldiers who spoke under condition of anonymity, said the planned deployment was against the directives by the Army Headquarters.

    “The army special forces deployed to the airport were not trained to engage in ground battle rather trained to provide air defence.

    “Our task is to provide air defence. Alas, special forces trained to fight ground battle are stationed in Maiduguri and we are deployed to go and die in Marte”.

    Another soldier lamented that the troops have overstayed in the Northeast fighting Boko Haram, despite the rotation order by the military authorities.

    He said many of them have spent over three years in the battle field.

    “Some troops of Operation Lafiya Dole were deployed and worked for over three years in the theatre and not rotated as against the directives by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

    “The command is directed to redeploy soldiers back to their bases after spending stipulated time in the theatre of operation.

    “We have spent over three years in the northeast and we should be transferred out of the northeast and not within”. (NAN)

  • My Journey to UNIMAID

    It was a big relief for me when the University of Maiduguri ( UNIMAID) admission came, after two years of admission seeking. I remembered vividly when my mom broke the news to me; she was visibly elated at the opportunity but was scared of how I would cope in the school, due to the incessant attacks on the school by the insurgents. For me, it was a privilege, and I would not want to miss this opportunity.

    So I prepared myself and after three tiring days, I and other obviously overwhelmed passengers, entered into Maiduguri from Lagos; a journey which should have initially been a two days journey, but was delayed by our vehicle getting spoilt on the way and also a robbery operation, which we narrowly escaped.

    Owing to the fact that the university had been having problem with the North-East insurgency, we were thoroughly searched before we gained entrance into the school. On entering the university, I discovered that everything seemed calm and far from the way people thought it would be. My registration went without any problems, while I settled into the allocated hostel.

    Settling in wasn’t really difficult but getting used to the environment certainly was, I arrived on October which was a hot season, so by day time it’s very hot, and very uncomfortable, now thinking maybe the night would bring in some shade from the sun but instead it gets really cold in the evening.

    I was also in for a culture shock; being from delta state but raised in Lagos, I had an almost non-existent knowledge of the northern way of life.

    There I found out that people really lived in harmony with one another, you could feel a connection between them, you would notice that from the way they eat; you would see men eating from the same plate, this got me fascinated because in other places, even where I come from, meals are served separately, even in the hostel when you do find two to three northerners in a room you would notice that they join their foodstuffs and eat together.

    And also in the way they dressed, the northerners are known for the wearing of their native attire. These comes in variance with my southern values, where many have forgotten their culture, their way of life and have adopted the modern way of life, something Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti condemned in one of his songs, “…wearing suit inside heat”. You might think that it’s only the old people who wear native attire but even the young ones do too.

    Even in their laws and societal governance, there are societal rules, one has to adhere to, such as, one having to dress appropriately, ladies not allowed to sit in the front of a tricycle popularly known as keke marua, this one is especially true and funny because there was a time I was boarding a tricycle so the tricycle was filled up at the back leaving an empty sit in front, a girl walked up to me and greeted me I replied back, then we started staring at each other for some few seconds, before a passenger beside me told me I had to sit in front, well I wouldn’t say it was my fault because I wasn’t used to it.

    Many of the reasons I wanted to go to the university of Maiduguri was for the fact that it is one of the best universities in Nigeria, and the school fees is quite affordable with the school having different varieties of courses which you could choose and study.

    Though there has been problem about insurgents, the school has a very good security system, even with a heavy military presence within and around the school and as a result, the rate of cultism in the University of Maiduguri is really low, as there has not been any cultist activity or any report of cultism activities in the school.

    The school has also enjoyed many strike free session, despite the insurgency, the school has carried out its activities without disruptions, which makes it easier for students to graduate as that when due.

    Also the issue of promiscuity and indecency has been low because the school has a zero tolerance for misconducts and a strict policy which compels students to dress and behave in the right and appropriate manner.

    During my stay at the University of Maiduguri, my first and second year was relatively peaceful, however, I can remember one particular night, around 10:00 pm, after everyone were done with their lectures and we had settled in our hostels, there was a huge blast which shook the hostel, everyone became scared, some of us thought it was the military testing their weapons not until we heard the second blast which was closer and more louder than the first, that was when we realized it was the insurgents. Fearing that the sect had attacked the school, people ran for safety, creating pandemonium. The security unit had to come out and calm students down saying they had everything under control, that night we slept with fear, because everyone was scared.

    It was later discovered that two suicide bombers had attacked, with the first suicide bomber detonated herself before entering inside the school but the other succeeded in detonating the bomb at a mosque in the school, the school from that day changed afterwards the next day new security measures were taken, soldiers flooded everywhere, anyone entering the school are searched thoroughly, passage ways were closed, but the insurgence didn’t stop at that day as there were later bombings in the school.

    Students where now living in fear, hoping and praying that they would not be killed, some students even wanted to quit school and go back home, but with new security measures undertaken and security personals fighting back the insurgents in the area, the school has now been as peace full as before.

  • Five Boko Haram fighters die in failed Borno attack

    Five insurgents were killed in a failed bid to infiltrate a community in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Sunday.

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed on Monday that the incident took place at Kaleri community in Maiduguri.

    Eyewitnesses said that five powerful explosions rocked the city between 7: 30 p.m. and 8: 00 p.m., putting residents on edge.

    The Northeast Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Bashir Garrga, who confirmed the development, said three residents were also injured during the incident.

    Garga said the failed attack involved two females and three males, who detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) strapped to their bodies.

    The Head of Emergency Response, Borno State Emergency Management Agency, Malam Bello Danbatta, confirmed the incident, saying the two male bombers detonated their explosives behind a security cordon in the Kaleri area.

    He said the suicide bombers were apparently targeting  residents of the community.

    “One of the female bombers targeted a home, where a man and his wife were sleeping outside and detonated her explosive, injuring them.

    “The other female bomber knocked on a house and as the owner was opening, she quickly detonated her IED.

    “The third bomber only destroyed a building, killing only himself.

    “Nobody was killed except the bombers. They were trying to sneak into the neighborhood to cause havoc but their plans failed.

    “Their dead bodies were evacuated to the state’s specialist hospital by the team. The injured were taken to the hospital by their love ones,” Danbatta said.

    Boko Haram insurgents have been terrorizing Nigerian’s expansive northeast since 2009 in an insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions.

    The jihadists, however, appeared to have been decimated by federal troops but the insurgents have resorted to hitting soft targets intermittently.