The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger

  • Niger repels Boko Haram insurgents on Lake Chad

    Boko Haram terrorists attacked an island on Niger Republic’s side of Lake Chad late at the weekend sparking a gun duel with soldiers.

    Residents of N’Guigmi spoke of “heavy weapons and machine gun fire” during the battle which started at about 8pm local time.

    The insurgents had first attempted to seize the island earlier this month.

    The vast maze of tiny islands and swamp land in the Lake Chad area serves as a hideout for the insurgents group. Last week, Boko Haram members aboard motorised canoes attacked a lakeside fishing village in Chad in the first known lethal attack on the country.

    Niger, along with neighbours Chad and Cameroon, has been seeking to hem in the guerrillas within their heartland in northeastern Nigeria ahead of a major ground and air offensive planned for month end.

    The Nigerian Army has already stepped up its military campaign, deploying warplanes to bomb Boko Haram camps including Sambisa Forest in Borno State.

  • Niger Assembly orders out two members

    Two members of the Niger State House Assembly, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) were yesterday ordered out of the chamber by the Speaker, Adamu Usman.

    Their seats were declared vacant during a rowdy session.

    The affected members are Bashir Abdullahi Isa Lokogoma of Wushishi Constituency and Nazeer Abdullahi representing Rijau Constituency.

    Declaring their seats vacant, the Speaker said the Assembly’s action followed the adoption of a letter dated February 17, by the state chapter of the PDP, confirming that the two lawmakers  have defected to the APC.

    Efforts by the affected legislators to speak were turned down before the Speaker directed the Sergeant of Arm to walk them out of the chamber.

  • Niger borrows N5b to finance rigging, says APC

    Niger borrows N5b to finance rigging, says APC

    Niger State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state of taking N5 billion loan to finance the rigging of the March and April general elections.

    APC State Publicity Secretary Jonathan Vatsa, who addressed reporters yesterday in Minna, the state capital, said N3 billion was borrowed by the Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs while the state government secured N2 billion.

    But the government said the allegation was false.

    The Aliyu administration said the allegations were “lies from the pit of hell”.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Israel Ebije, challenged the opposition to back its claims with documents.

    The opposition wondered why a government that was rounding off would borrow money, if not to use the facility to buy security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials to rig the election in its favour.

    Vatsa alleged that the government recently summoned a meeting with the INEC state electoral officers for an alleged  deal to assist the ruling party in the general elections.

    He said: “At the end of the meeting, each of the officers was given N100,000 with a promise of N3 million to be released when the election commenced.”

  • Boko Haram suicide bomber hits Niger

    Boko Haram attacked Niger Republic town Diffa yesterday, killing five people in a suicide bombing, after the army repelled an attack by the sect.

    It was the second attack by Boko Haram in three days on Niger’s southern border region, where some 2,500 Chadian troops have gathered ahead of a planned military offensive by regional powers against the sect.

    Niger’s parliament is due to vote today on a proposal to send its troops into Nigeria to help fight Boko Haram.

    Residents in Diffa said fighting was heard between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. (0600 to 1000 GMT) in the southern outskirts of the town.

    “There was fighting between security forces and elements of Boko Haram who tried to enter the town,” said a military source. “Fighting is taking place around the bridge at Doutchi. There are many dead.”

    Local residents said a young boy carrying explosives blew himself up in Diffa’s market. Local radio Anefi, however, said the bomb was thrown by a young man on a motor-bike who escaped.

    “We have carried five bodies out of the market,” said a member of the local emergency services. “There are around 15 wounded, some of them in a serious condition.”

    Chadian forces already crossed into Nigeria last week to the south of Lake Chad to attack Boko Haram in the town of Gamboru, bordering Cameroon.

    On Saturday, the governments of Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin agreed to establish an 8,700 strong regional force.

    Chad has deployed some 2,500 soldiers to neighbouring Cameroon and Niger as part of this effort.

    Boko Haram has seized territory in northeastern Nigeria as part of a five-year insurgency to carve out an Islamist state. Around 10,000 people were killed last year.

    Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the weekend postponed elections until March 28 due to “security concerns” over Boko Haram’s insurgency.

  • FA ELECTION: Niger reads the riot act

    FA ELECTION: Niger reads the riot act

    Aspirants vying for positions in the forthcoming Niger State Football Association (FA) election have been told to be ready to submit themselves for thorough screening and be ready to play by the rules or back out.

    Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Yunusa Kontagora, who dished out the warning, opined that the state has been known to organise peaceful elections in the past and will not allow that impressive record to be tarnished.

    “We don’t believe in half measures and we have always been known to do things right. So, those vying for positions must be ready for the screening and also must be ready to play by the rules, there are no two ways about it,” he warned.

    February 10 has been set aside for screening of aspirants at the Niger State Ministry of Sports Secretariat.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) only recently warned that the Glass House will not tolerate interference in the FA elections in the states. The Secretary-General of the NFF, Musa Amadu, maintained that the soccer-ruling body in the country is insisting on non-interference  so that elected state boards will not be influenced by a third party.

    “We want them to take decisions with regards to their elections without any third party interference or influence, so that at the end of the day the board that is elected to run the affairs of the state FA for the next four years is not influenced by any person outside of football,” he said

  • Senate: Tribunal declares APC winner of Niger by-election

    The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Minna on Friday upturned the result of the Niger East Senatorial by-election conducted in August 30, 2014 and concluded on September 6, 2014 in favour of Barr. David Umaru of the All Progressives Congress.

    The Chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Ibrahim Bako, who gave the verdict in a judgment that lasted for almost four hours in Minna, declared the APC candidate winner having returned 79,779 votes as against Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who had 68,525 votes.

    Umaru of APC had on September 26, 2014 petitioned the tribunal, challenging the declaration of Nuhu by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the by-election.

    Delivering judgment, Bako ordered as follows: “that an order is hereby granted, nullifying the results of 100 or so polling units out of the polling units that were affected by the non-compliances to the Electoral Act.

    “That an order is granted nullifying the return of the 1st Respondent (Nuhu) on the ground that he did not win the majority of the lawful votes cast at the election held on August 30, 2014 and concluded on September 6, 2014 at the Niger East Senatorial district.

    “That an order declaring the 1st Petitioner as the winner of the election held on August 30 but concluded on September 6, 2014, having won the majority of the lawful votes at the election and he is hereby granted.

    “That an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to the 1st Petitioner forthwith as the duly elected Senator of Niger East Senatorial district, Niger State.”

    The tribunal ordered for the deduction of the scores of votes recorded illegally from the final scores of the parties.

    The electoral body had declared on September 7, 2014 that Nuhu of PDP polled 92,050 votes while Umaru had 87,425 votes after the deduction of the unlawful votes, but at the end of the deduction the respondent had 68,525 and the 1st petitioner polled 79,779 votes to be declared winner.

    Reacting after the judgment, the lead counsel to the winner, Barr. Chris Osuagwu, commended the verdict and gave the victory to the rule of law and to the tenacity of his client who had faith in the judiciary.

    “We give glory to God for this judgment. Today’s judgment has shown that no matter how long evil thrives, judgment must surely prevail.

    The tribunal has given judgment and it shows that there is hope for the masses,” Osuagwu stated.

    But the counsel to the respondent, Barr. Musa Sulaiman, said that his client will respect the decision of the tribunal.

    Congratulating the judiciary for keeping the hope of the common man alive, the Publicity Secretary of APC in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, told journalists at the court premises that, “today’s victory has given hope to the masses.

    “The judgment has shown that the common man can have his right defended and protected by the judiciary.”

     

     

  • CAN U-17: Protest rocks host Niger

    The 16th edition of the African Under 17 championship to be hosted by Niger Republic seems to be in jeopardy as the host nation burns as a religious conflict is currently brewing in the landlocked West African country due to the Charlie Hebdo Newspaper publication of Prophet Mohammed.

    At least nine people have been killed and 10 churches destroyed as fresh protests occurred in the country yesterday.

    Protests began outside Niamey’s Grand Mosque on Friday and later spread to other parts of the country.

    The tournament was originally scheduled to be held from May 2 to 16. However, the date of the opening match was pushed forward to February 15, with the tournament scheduled to conclude on March 1.

    Eight African teams are scheduled to grace the tournament, with the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria amongst the countries that qualified for the tournament. Others include, defending Champion Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Guinea, Zambia, South Africa, Mali and the host Niger Republic.

    The Stade Général Seyni Kountché and the Stade Municipal, both in Niamey are expected to be the venues of the tournament.

    Two weeks ago, Islamist gunmen killed 12 people at Charlie Hebdo’s offices.The cover of the magazine’s latest edition, published after the attack, featured a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad weeping while holding a sign saying “I am Charlie”.

    Seven million copies of the edition are being printed in view of extraordinary demand, distributors announced on Saturday. The magazine’s print run before the attack was 60,000.

  • Boko Haram: UNHCR worried over return of refugees from Niger

    Boko Haram: UNHCR worried over return of refugees from Niger

    The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has expressed concern about the return of hundreds of Nigerian refugees from Niger.

    Speaking at the press briefing by the UN Information Service in Geneva on Friday, UNHCR  spokesman, Mr William Spindler said the refugees returned on January 14 in a joint operation organized by the Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima and the authorities in Niger.

    According to information received by UNHCR, the refugees were transported in nine buses to Maiduguri, the state capital while another eleven buses were currently parked in the town of Gagamari in Niger’s Diffa region, waiting to take more refugees back to Nigeria.

    Given the volatile security situation in Borno state and the recent attacks by Boko Haram insurgents, UNHCR said it was concerned about the nature of the returns and had asked the authorities to stop the operation until there were proper safeguards and a legal framework between Nigeria, Niger and UNHCR.

    Spindler said UNHCR was trying to ascertain the nature of the returns, and did not know whether they were voluntary or not.

    According to Spindler refugees fleeing the brutal conflict in north-east Nigeria continued to arrive in Niger and Chad telling harrowing tales of killings and destruction.

    UNHCR teams said that refugees told them about the extreme violence they suffered or witnessed during the attacks on the town of Baga on January 3 and 7.

    “A woman, who ran away from Baga with her five children and her husband, said she saw insurgents run over women and children with their cars, shoot at people and use knives to cut their throats in the street.

    “She estimated that hundreds had been killed in Baga.  The terrified family managed to escape at night before reaching Maiduguri, from where they took a bus to Niger.”

    In all, some 13,000 Nigerian refugees had arrived in western Chad since the attacks on Baga earlier this month.  UNHCR and the governmental commission Nationale d’Accueil, et de Réinsertion des Réfugiés et des Rapatriés (CNARR) had registered over 6,000 refugees so far.

    “Dozens of refugees continued to arrive every day, many by canoe over Lake Chad to areas such as Ngouboua and Bagasola, some 450 kilometres north-west of the Chadian capital N’djamena.  Including the latest influx, some 16,000 Nigerian refugees have arrived in Chad since May 2013.  UNHCR was concerned that refugees from Baga and the surrounding area were choosing to flee over the lake into Chad as that may indicate that the overland route into Niger was blocked by insurgents.

    UNHCR teams in Chad reported that they had identified 104 unaccompanied children, who had been separated from their families while fleeing the attacks in Baga.  They had been placed in foster families while waiting to be reunited with their own, said Mr. Spindler.

    Meanwhile UNHCR had started the relocation of some 2,000 refugees who were stranded on the Lake Chad’s islands of Koulfoua and Kangalam, to the newly opened site of Dar Es Salam, near Bagasola.  The site, which currently hosted some 1,600 refugees was located 70 kilometres from the border with Nigeria and would be able to accommodate up to 15,000 people.

    The attacks on Baga had also pushed some 572 people to flee to Niger’s Diffa region, with some of them having first crossed through Chad before reaching Niger, said Mr. Spindler.

    Since the state of emergency was declared in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in May 2013, an estimated 153,000 people had fled to the neighbouring countries.  To date, UNHCR had registered over 37,000 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon, some 16,000 people had arrived in Chad, and the authorities in Niger estimated that more than 100,000 people, both Nigerian refugees and Niger nationals, had arrived from the war-torn north-east of Nigeria.  Already this year, the violence had led to an exodus of 19,000 people.
    Corinne Momal-Vanian, Director, United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing, which was also attended by Spokespersons for the Human Rights Council, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the World Food Programme.

  • Don’t run away from Niger, Aliyu tells non-indigenes

    Don’t run away from Niger, Aliyu tells non-indigenes

    Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu yesterday called for a halt in the exodus of non-indigenes from the state.

    The governor apparently feared that non-indigenes would run away from the state in the aftermath of next month’s general elections.

    He assured of tight security for lives and property of Nigerians in the state before, during and after the polls.

    Aliyu spoke in Minna, the state capital, at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Livingstone Parish, during its 25th anniversary thanksgiving.

    He said: “I appeal to you (non-indigenes) not to run away from Minna and other parts of the state because of the coming elections.”

    Aliyu said the February general elections must be peaceful.

    The governor urged politicians to accept the results, whichever way they go, adding that the protection of life and property was paramount to his administration.

    He advised the people not to kill one another for the political interest of anybody.

    He said: “Anyone killing self for partisan politics is like committing suicide, which both religions abhor.”

    Aliyu called for religious tolerance among the people.

    The governor said as a good Muslim would believe in Jesus Christ, adding  that Muslims and Christians prayed to the same God.

    He said: “Hallelluyah in Christianity is the same as Ya Allahu (Oh You God) in Islam. We must respect and protect each one of us.

    “I am appealing to you that the election period, for the first time, is becoming more intense than all the times that we have had elections in this country. We must, therefore, be very careful.

    “We must not allow the young ones to drag us into problems that we may not be able to get out from. We must not allow our desires and whips and caprices to cause problems. You must not kill yourself for anybody.”

  • Gaidam visits Yobe refugees in Niger

    Gaidam visits Yobe refugees in Niger

    It was a bold step across the international border, but it was one worth taking.  members of the Boko Haram sect have since unleashed such terror on the Northeast, killing so many, injuring many more, but also displacing a large chunk of survivors. Many of such displaced people fled to Cameroon, some to Niger Republic, among other places.

    The trip of Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam to Niger to comfort the refugees there helped to dull the pain of displacement and horror of the insurgency.

    The governor also visited his hometown Gaidam, headquarters of Gaidam Local Government Area,  which was attacked by the Islamists, bringing succour to the residents.

    He has set up a committee to provide immediate relief and support for the people, whose town is following the attack more than a week ago.

    The governor inspected the damage to public and private property caused by the attackers.

    The Nation reports that the Gaidam Market, one of the largest in the northeast, and a local government secretariat, were completely burnt down by suspected Boko Haram attackers. The Divisional Police Office, military camp as well as several houses, shops and vehicles belonging to residents were also burnt down.

    Speaking on the ruins of the burnt down Gaidam Market, Governor Gaidam sent his condolences to the families of those killed in the attack, describing the attack as “heinous, evil and barbaric”.

    As part of measures to ameliorate the suffering of the displaced population, Gaidam directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide foodstuff for the people of the town within three to four days. He also ordered that a committee comprising SEMA officials, two State Assembly members and two commissioners from the Gaidam area, chairman of the Gaidam Market Association and other elders be formed immediately to assess the level of damage with a view to providing a report which the government will use to assist victims.

    He said: “SEMA should bring in officials immediately and, along with members of the committee I just formed, they should come and start work immediately. They should compile a comprehensive report on losses incurred so that the State Government can provide support to those affected”. Gaidam said.

    The governor also directed the Gaidam local government chairman to address immediately the complaint of lack of water in the town that some residents have made to him and also directed the State’s health commissioner to deploy drugs and additional health workers to the town to attend to injured victims.

    Governor Gaidam visited Maine Soroa in Niger Republic where more than 4,000 Gaidam, Kanamma and Yunusari residents had fled to and was conducted round by the Prefect (Governor) of Diffa region, Alhaji Yakuba Usman who said over 4000 people were offered shelter in the area with 1,385 camped and fed by Niger Government while 3000 refugees live with friends and relatives in Maine Soroa town.

    Governor Gaidam while addressing the victims described what happened as “unfortunate and a test from God Almighty,” urging them to take heart and pray to God for the return of peace in Yobe and the country in general. He promised the refugees that the State Government will extend support to them even as he urges them to return home.

    “I have been assured by military authorities that they are deploying additional soldiers and all the needed military hardware to Gaidam area within the next few days. In fact some of the soldiers have already started arriving. By the Grace of God and with your prayers, we will not see a recurrence of the abominable thing we had seen in Gaidam. I urge you to return to your homes. We will remain with you and support you,” Gaidam told them.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam had earlier in his visit inspected the Military base of the area, the Divisional police station, the Local Government Secretariat and the Geidam market as well as damage to public and private property burnt by the insurgents assures them of every support.

    Some of the displaced persons expressed regrets that security forces during the evasion of the town run away as the insurgents continue to  rain terror on them unabated and call for timely government’s intervention to enable them return to their homes.