The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Militants

  • Buhari’s aides frustrating negotiations with militants, says monarch

    Buhari’s aides frustrating negotiations with militants, says monarch

    Notable elders and traditional rulers from Bayelsa State, yesterday, told President Muhammadu Buhari that some of his aides were frustrating the proposed peace talks between his government and the militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    The elders who eulogized the President for taking a decision to lead the dialogue, however, said discordant tunes among presidential aides created doubts in the process.

    They said the Avengers became skeptical of the dialogue following signs of deceit, fraud and disharmony among the aides.

    The elders under the auspices of Bayelsa Elders for Progress, Peace and Good Governance (BEPPGG) led by their Coordinator, Chief Ayibatonye Goodnews and ýSecretary, Chief Lucky Ebifaghe, wondered why attacks on pipelines had continued despite dialogue and ceasefire.

    They alleged that the recent activities of key aides from the region including the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachichukwu and the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh, were frustrating the peace efforts of the Federal Government.

    The concerned elders, in an open letter to the President said: “President Buhari should investigate the genuineness of purported meetings held between the Presidential Amnesty Boss, Paul Boroh and Dr. Ibe Kachichukwu.

    “How can they claim to have met stakeholders and the militant attacks continues? They met some fake militants and stakeholders and wasted scarce resources of the Federal Government on jamboree.

    “The Amnesty boss, who claimed to have relocated to the creeks of the region was only sighted in Tompolo’s community with clandestine meetings without solution to the continued bombing of the Oil and Gas facilities.

    “Buhari should investigate the money expended on the jamboree without result. We insist that the Presidential Amnesty Office should be probed following the alleged failed sharing of resources to fake Avengers.

    “The lack of knowledge on key issues of the region and wrong signals sent to militants ýalong the creeks are frustrating the needed peace process. Many of the purported stakeholders have made money from the self created jamboree in the region. Genuine Niger Delta Stakeholders should be consulted for sustained peace.”

     

  • Militants urged to embrace peace

    The League of Muslim School Proprietors (LEAMSP) has called on militant groups to sheathe their swords and give the present government the chance to right the wrongs that have gone on for decades.

    LEAMSP President Taiwo Mikail Tijani said Nigerians should realize that it will take some time to begin to see positive impacts of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

    “It is on this note that we call on the Niger Delta Avengers to bury the hatchet and give peace a chance by hearkening to the call of the presidency for dialogue. It is of utmost importance that our actions do not compound the sufferings that the recklessness of some of our leaders has brought upon us.

    “Let us think and work for a greater Nigeria where the rights and privileges of every Nigerian will be protected wherever he chooses to reside.

    “A Nigeria where tribe and religion do not constitute barriers to personal social, economic and political freedoms is the country we should dream of and work towards. It is our belief that in the coming years, the people of the Niger Delta will have cause to reap bountifully from the patience and the sacrifices that they make today,” he said.

    Popularly called TMT, Tijani hailed government for recovering a large amount from the stolen cache and also for stopping the impunity in the stealing of the collective patrimony.

    He said: “We believe that the discipline that this regime is trying to engender in the social, economic and political spheres is exactly what Nigeria needs to recover from her numerous economic and political woes. We urge Nigerians in all strata of the society not to sit on the fence but to courageously register their names on the side of truth and justice by actively supporting the government in its effort to redeem the country. The ordinary Nigerian must defend and sustain the path of moral rectitude that this administration has undertaken. We are certain that our collective resolve, hardwork, faithfulness and patriotism will restore the lost image and glory of the country.”

  • Buhari to IPOB, militants: Nigeria must remain one

    Buhari to IPOB, militants: Nigeria must remain one

    President promises justice for all

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday sent a message to some restive groups – they should forget about Nigeria breaking up.

    The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA)have been attacking oil facilities. The Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Emancipation of Biafra (MASSOB) have been pushing for a Biafra State, independent of Nigeria.

    But, Buhari insists that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable.

    IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, who is also the director of the separatist and illegal Radio Biafra, is on trial for alleged treason, among other charges

    The president was emphatic yesterday that anybody seeking the break-up of the country should perish the thought.

    He spoke at the Presidential Villa in Abuja when Federal Capital Territory (FCT) residents paid him an Eid-el-Fitri homage.

    The President said the slogan in the 1970s, “Go On With One Nigeria” (GOWON), is very apt now as keeping Nigeria one is a task that must be done”.

    He urged the militants to give peace a chance.

    Noting that there is a lot of improvement on security in the Northeast, Buhari said the attention has now shifted to the Niger Delta.

    He said: “On security, we have made a lot of improvement. There is improvement in the battle against Boko Haram. We are now concentrating on the militants to know how many of them in terms of groupings, leadership and plead with them to try and give Nigeria a chance.

    “I assure them that the saying by Gen. Yakubu Gowon (a former Head of State) that ‘to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done is still relevant.  In those days, we never thought of oil, all we were concerned about was one Nigeria. So, please pass this on to the militants – that one Nigeria is not for negotiation and they had better accept it.

    “The Nigerian Constitution is clear as to what they should get and I assure them there will be justice.”

    Buhari urged those with plenty of money which does not belong to them to negotiate and return it in peace.

    “So that both they and us will be in peace; otherwise, we will continue to look for it,” the President added

    To solve some of the problems of agriculture, he said Minister of Agriculture Audu Ogbeh was working very hard with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele to ensure that 13 states start rice production..

    According to him, the programme is good and giving the country confidence while many farmers are already going back to the field.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said the past one year had been tough, adding that  the administration was busy clearing the mess it met.

    He stressed the administration’s commitment  to placing the country on a sound footing, acknowledging that things were already looking up.

    Minister of FCT Mohammed Bello, who led the delegation, prayed for God’s wisdom, good health and success for the President.

    The President was presented with Sallah greeting cards and a mirror.

    At the ceremony were Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal; Primate of the Church of Nigerian (Anglican Communion) rev. Nicholas Okoh; Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu; Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar; National Security Adviser Babagana Mongunu and Acting Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris.

    The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), FCT Chapter, Israel Akanji and Dr. Kabir Adam of the National Mosque, Abuja were also part of the delegation.

  • Traditional ruler condemns invasion of Lagos by militants

    The Oloja of Lagos and the Arole of Kosoko dynasty, Chief  Adebola Disu-Ige Kosoko has condemned the invasion of some parts of Lagos by militant from Niger Delta through the waterways, saying it was an act of irresponsibility on the part of the hoodlums to vent their anger on the peace loving people of the state.

    Kosoko said this yesterday at a press briefing in his palace at Ereko, Lagos to mark the celebration of his 80th birthday coming up in July. He noted that such  an act of criminality and vandalisation cannot  be condone in the city hence forth.

    The white cap chief charged security agencies to wake up to their responsibility and make sure that such nefarious tendencies are nip in the bud to avert the untold calamity on the resident of Lagos.

    “Apart from this there is urgent need to have Ariel surveillance in all the areas that harbor pipelines especially the creed areas which are not easily accessible. A strong joint security of both the military and police must be put in place in those areas to avoid a resort to land invasion when waterways become non feasible for use by the criminals,” he said.

    The traditional ruler hailed Lagos State government for providing modern day equipment to the security outfit to combat crime.

    Kosoko who acknowledged the contribution of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwan Akiolu in reducing crime in the state pointed out that “through his personal efforts, crime rate in the city has been reduced drastically”.

     

  • Militants shoot at Ogun dep. governor, security chiefs

    Militants shoot at Ogun dep. governor, security chiefs

    Trip aborted as soldiers return fire

    State demands Task Force

    Suspected militants that have been tormenting communities in Ogun State yesterday prevented a convoy led by Deputy Governor Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga from accessing a part of Ebute-Ibafo in Obafemi Owode local government.

    In the entourage were Bridgade Commander, 35 Artillery Army Bridgade, Alamala Barack, Abeokuta, Brigadier – General Mohammed Danqalis, the Director of the Department of State Service(DSS), Ogun state Command, Mr Kabiru Sanni, Deputy Commissioner of Police(Operations), Mr Bello Makwashi, Secretary to the State Government Taiwo Adeoluwa, Commisdioner for Information and Orientation, Dayo Adeneye, the Baale of Ebute – Ibafo, Chief Afolorunsho Balogun, the Olu of Imusin, Oba Taiwo Adebunmi Bamgbose and five other traditional rulers.

    As the team approached the creek through which the militants usually follow to escape after attacking the Ebute – Ibafo community, the militants shot at them sporadically from the creek. The soldiers and the police in the team returned fire. The trip was aborted.

    Secretary to the State Government Adeoluwa urged the Federal Government to urgently constitute a military task force like the one in the Niger Delta to tackle the militants.

    “This level of team led by the deputy governor cannot access a part of our state. It means without mincing words, the Federal Government needs to get involved in this.

    “This is clearly beyond the capacity of the police. This is something which we believe in Ogun state, a major task force, military operation task force like the one we have in Niger Delta is necessary and desirable now.

    “We  all can see, we were in Elepete, Igbo Olomu, Imagbon, Imuti, nothing compared to the violence there. You all heard the shooting, this is something that should be a source of worry to everybody and we think the Federal Government should come to our aid,” Adeoluwa said.

    Earlier during a visit to other communities under the militants’ attack, Mrs Onanuga appealed to hundreds  of fleeing indigenes and residents of the five communities to return home.

    She said measures had been put in place to protect them from further attacks and killings by suspected Niger Delta militants.

    In the last one week, five of Imusin’s 27 communities in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun state had come under grave attacks by the suspected militants, resulting in the death of over a dozen villagers and destruction of their properties.

    The affected communities visited are: Imagbon, Elepete, Igbo – Olomu, Imuti and later Ebute – Ibafo.

    Addressing the Olu of Imusin, Oba Taiwo Bamgbose, and a handful of his people at Igbo Olomu, one of the scenes of the killings of several of the villagers on June 17,  Mrs Onanuga assured that the killers would be brought to justice.

    But in a twist of fate, while the Deputy Governor was still addressing the distressed villagers to convey the government’s message of hope and sympathy, information soon came in that a member of the community, Sarafa Olayinka, had just been abducted by the militants and taken to the creek.

    Also, the Baale of Ebute – Ibafo, Chief Folorunsho Balogun, while still narrating his community’s ordeal in the hands of the militants to the  state government’s representatives earlier, said he too had received a message that his subjects – Alhaji Odugbesan and his wife, had been abducted by the militants.

    Chief Balogun said the militants invaded his community three days ago, killed people,  attacked a bakery and carted away loaves of bread.

    He also said some beautiful women were abducted from the community.

    According to him, even domestic animals – goats and chickens-were not spared during the onslaught as many of them found roaming the streets were shot and taken away by the militants.

     

  • Police parley Akwa Ibom leaders on militants’ threat

    The Akwa Ibom State Police Command yesterday met with the state’s stakeholders on how to tackle security challenges.

    This followed the threat by the Niger Delta Volunteers (NDV) that it would attack oil platforms and go after those it called “selfish” paramount rulers who connived with oil companies to “siphon” money meant for community development.

    The NDV, last week, announced its presence in the state and claimed responsibility for the attack on gas pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) supplying gas to ALSCON aty Ikot Abasi in the State.

    The state government and the police had denied the attack, calling it was a pipeline leakage.

    Speaking during the town hall meeting, Police Commissioner Murtala Mani, who chaired the forum, said the essence of the gathering was the volatility of the security environment.

    The police chief said there was need for interest groups to work with one uniform agenda in addressing security situation in the state.

    He said meaningful development would not take place under insecurity.

    According to him, the state and individuals must work together to ensure tight security that will aid the growth of businesses and expansion of the frontiers of leisure.

  • Niger Delta crisis: Don’t indulge militants, Urhobo, Isoko, Itsekiri leaders warn FG

    Niger Delta crisis: Don’t indulge militants, Urhobo, Isoko, Itsekiri leaders warn FG

    LEADERS of various ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta have urged the federal government to tread carefully in addressing the crisis in the region. They also warned against compensating criminal activities or encouraging arms struggle. Some leaders of the region who spoke to The Nation in Warri during the week, however, said there was need for the federal government to sit with the people of the region, but not in proxy, as every group deserves an opportunity to air its feelings.

    Leaders from Urhobo, Isoko, Itsekiri and Ndokwa nations, who spoke in separate conversations, told our correspondent that the federal government would be getting it wrong if it rushes into negotiation with only one ethnic group because its people had resorted to violence and destruction of critical national assets, neglecting the fate and peaceful character of other nationalities, who are equally hosts to more critical assets than those already destroyed in one area.

    The Secretary of Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT), Edward Ekpoko, said the federal government was rushing into a mistake by failing to wield the big stick against those he described as criminals destroying oil and gas facilities, rather than courting and begging them for dialogue. Ekpoko, who is also the chairman of the Warri Study Group (WSG), tasked government to deal with criminals, investigate and prosecute those who have looted resources devoted to the region to date and call a roundtable of genuine stakeholders of the region to determine the way forward. He said: “There’s proliferation of all these groups because the federal government is struggling to negotiate with criminals. Why not deal with criminals headlong? Deal with criminals and their activities for what they are.

    “Government should address the issue of the neglect of the development of the Niger Delta, but government cannot address it in isolation of the problems of those agencies of development like the NDDC, Niger Delta Ministry and the DESOPDEC, which have become windows of corruption and drain pipes. “Government must address the corruption in all those places.

    The only way to do this is to get genuine stakeholders from the communities to sit down with government and see how to go about it. “Those people must be brought to book; those who have impoverished the people over the years. Not to start negotiating with criminals; those that are vandalising pipelines.”

    Resounding the need for government to be careful not to create a bigger problem than already exists in the region, the President- General of Isoko Development Union (IDU), Chief Iduh Amaidhe, said discussing with only one ethnic group in the name of the entire Niger Delta and all because their sons decided to be enemies of the state, would only create more ‘militants’ from currently friendly areas in the region. The Isoko leader also suggested that the federal government should launch an investigation into past financial administrations of the region, giving special attention to the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Niger Delta Ministry as well as other agencies tasked with developing the region, with a view to recovering stolen funds and prosecuting looters.

    “If the federal government wants peace, they should negotiate with all the ethnic nationalities and not select a particular group to go discuss with, because that will lead to chaos. “Other problems will spark up from those other groups that will not be considered for development, employment and all that. I don’t want to support the idea of promoting crisis. “There are so many things the federal government can do. Where are those contractors who were given projects to execute in the Niger Delta before now? They should list them and go for them. Who are those who collected money? “The MD of the NDDC said in Uyo the other day that there are more than 1000 abandoned projects at the NDDC and those contracts were given to some people who have been paid.

    The question is how much were they paid? What level of jobs did they do? They should also go after those in the Niger Delta Ministry that Orubebe and others gave jobs to. “What the federal government is trying to do now will cause trouble because when you discuss with Avengers, who are criminals destroying pipelines, and other oil producers in the upland hear about it, what do you expect from them? “Our wealth is also taken by the federal government and now they (federal government) want to share it to them and our land (upland) remains underdeveloped. Other oil producers on land like the Isoko, Urhobo, Itsekiri and Ndokwa will all be angry,” the Isoko leader said.

    Also reiterating the need for an all inclusive interaction between the federal government and the Niger Delta people, Coordinator of the Delta Central Host Communities (HOSTCOM), Morris Idiovwa, said that real representatives of the people from every ethnic nationality should be sought out, adding that every area should be tasked with the security of the assets in its domain. Idiovwa said: “I will always want the federal government to use the bottom-top approach in solving this problem. Don’t politicise the process, don’t rely on political advice because that is how we got into this mess in the first place. “When you solve problems using political consideration, you have just solved the problem temporarily; but we need a permanent solution.

    “Let every region protect its assets and there should be more focus in the Niger Delta in terms of development. These core needs in the Niger Delta should be addressed. Clean up the entire region which is in a mess. “Let us get federal attention, but let it be bottom-top; it shouldn’t be from the political class downwards; it won’t work.” The President-General of Ndokwa-Neku, High Chief Opone Ossai Johnson, also called for a roundtable, which he said ought to be twofold: all leaders of the various ethnic nationalities in the region should meet first to decide on a blueprint to put forward as a common position of the region, then meet with the federal government as a common front.

    He advised that destruction of oil and gas facilities or maintaining a confrontational stance against the federal government would not solve the problems of the region, just as calls for armed offensive would only worsen the situation. “The solution is dialogue, but not dialogue with the centre alone but dialogue among the ethnic groups and stakeholders of the Niger Delta as a people.

  • Suspected militants kill two, injure others in Ogun communities

    Suspected militants kill two, injure others in Ogun communities

    Two persons were killed and scores of others wounded severely in a pre – dawn savage attack on Ogijo communities in Sagamu area of Ogun state by gunmen suspected to be members of the Niger Delta militants.

    The Nation gathered that residents of the affected communities – Igbo Olomu and Elepete, had mounted vigilante team around to ward off the invading gunmen who had in recent times, subjected them to attacks but the suspected militants broke through and rained bullets on the vigilante.

    A source told The Nation that the invaders who were returning from oil bunkering operations had taken the vigilante people for security agents and opened fire on them.

    Many of the vigilante people were caught by gale of bullets from the fleeing and suspected militants, killing two persons on the spots and injuring over 50 others.

    “They attacked our communities around 11p.m Thursday night. We were outside keeping vigil over incessant armed robbery attacks.

    “We had bonfires in some areas and the militants, having sighted the bonfires; they opened fire on anyone on sight.

    “They came out from the creek. The whole communities have already been deserted. We need the presence of the Nigerian Army, Airforce and Navy to curtail the excesses of these militants,” the source said.

    It was gathered that following the latest attack, fear – striken residents have fled their communities for safety elsewhere.

    The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the attack, said two persons were killed.

    Adejobi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), noted that the militants usually come from the creek to attack the residents and also escape through the same creek.

    He appealed for calm, assuring that the Police would get the criminals and bring them to justice as efforts also been made to reinforce security measures around the area to ensure safety of lives and properties.

  •  Militants invade Ikorodu community

     Militants invade Ikorodu community

    Tragedy again struck in the wee hours of today as unidentified militants who has been disturbing the Ajegunle, Imuti and part of Igbogbi Estate struck again.

    An unidentified man was murdered in front of his house at the Imuti area while other unconfirmed reports said other scores were killed.

    An eyewitness popularly called Iya Ibeji in the Imuti area said there was series of gunshots all through the night and also early in the morning.

    She said the unidentified man killed had just newly parked in some weeks ago which us why no one knows his name.

    “I heard series of gunshots while preparing Sari this morning. I also saw people from a nearby church through my window scampering for safety because they were doing a vigil before the chaos.”, It Ibeji added.

    Another resident who declined mentioning his name said:” I am leaving this vicinity today. I don’t want a stray bullet to kill me and I don’t want these militants to invade my privacy and slit NY throat like they have been doing”.

    Another resident, Kolawole Amodu said:”I am staying here because thus is where I own a land and house, I did not rent so do I carry my house along. I will just continue to be prayerful and hopeful”.

    When our reporter managed to come close to the areas mentioned, she observed that the houses were deserted, women strapped their babies on their backs with some some little luggages in their head.

    She also observed that Parents went to pick their Children from schools. Also, the only mode of transportation was leg as people were seen trekking in groups, while Motorcyclist and public buses have completely deserted the areas.

    Meanwhile, series of gunshots can also be heard by our reporter as well.

     

  • Militants kidnap naval officer, two others in Lagos

    Militants kidnap naval officer, two others in Lagos

    …demand N7m ransom

    Three people were last Monday kidnapped by a gang of armed robbers who claimed to be members of a Niger Delta militant group, along the Lagos/Ogun waterways. The victims, identified as a politician in Obadero Akesan area of the Lagos State, a naval officer and a lady, were among passengers that boarded a boat at Adeckson bus stop, Ojo in Lagos State, to Moshe village, on the outskirt in Ogun State.

    An eye witness, Mr. Femi John, told our reporter on Saturday, that the three people are still in the custody of the kidnappers who demanded for a ransom of N7millon. John, a  Local Council Development Area (LCDA) staff in Lagos, said residents in both Moshe and Totowu village now live in palpable fear due to the constant attacks from the gang of militants.

    “Last week Wednesday, I boarded a boat from Ishitu Ego jetty to Totowu village, a border community between Lagos and Ogun States at the close of work. All was going on well until we got to the middle of the river and these boys blocked our boat and robbed us of all we had on us. I had earlier called my wife when I was at the jetty that we were about to depart and usually it take us eight to nine minutes to get to our destination.

    “But we were trapped on the waterways for close to 30 minutes as the robbers took away our valuables. Two of my phones, a loaf of bread and a folder was taken from me. The robbers came to us and identified themselves as Niger Delta militants. They said our president refused to pay their money hence they will continue to terrorize citizens. There was a lady in the boat who was going home with N250, 000 the money was collected from her and other valuables taken from other passengers,” he said.

    He said a similar robbery incident has earlier taking place this time on a boat that was heading to Ibeshe village.

    “We learnt that the women on that boat were asked to remove their clothes by the robbers and they fondle their breasts. We were all afraid because that kind of thing has not happened before,” John added.

    Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos, DSP Dolapo Badmos proved abortive as she did not respond to telephone calls and text messages put through to her mobile phone as at press time.