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Tag: Attacks

  • Xenophobia: Lagos condemns reprisal attacks on Shoprite, MTN, others

    The Lagos State Government has condemned attack on Shoprite outlets in the state due to Xenophobic attack on Nigerians in South Africa.

    A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso on Tuesday said the attention of the government had been drawn to the attack on Shoprite complexes at Jakande and Sangotedo Area of Ajah by some unidentified people claiming to be acting in retaliation against the attacks on Nigerians in South Africa

    “These attacks are condemned as they are against the Nigerian spirit of accommodation and benevolence that the country in general and Lagos State in particular is noted for.

    “The Federal Government is in dialogue with South African authorities to stop this obnoxious act. We appeal to our compatriots to eschew violence and any unlawful acts.

    “The Lagos State Government wishes to reiterate its commitment to providing a conducive atmosphere where businesses are conducted without hindrances.

    “The security agencies have been directed to ensure that law and order prevail in all parts of the State, even as Lagosians are advised to go about their activities without any fear,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed also condemned the attacks on South African businesses in Nigeria.

    Mohammed said the attacks on South African businesses in Nigeria would be to the detriment of the country.

    In a statement, Mohammed described as deeply disturbing the reports that some Nigerians, angered by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, have started attacking South African companies in Nigeria.

    He said: “Targeting South African companies in Nigeria for attack is, for Nigerians, a classic case of cutting off your nose to spite your face, because the investors in such companies, especially MTN and Shoprite, are Nigerians.”

  • Bandits commanders agree to suspend attacks in Zamfara

    Bandits commanders in Birnin-Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara, on Friday agreed to suspend attacks on the people at a dialogue meeting with the state government and security officials.
    The bandits also said that the coast is now clear for all those displaced by the attacks to return home.
    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agreement was reached at the palace of the Emir of Birnin-Magaji.
    Present at the meeting were the state Commissioner of Police, bandits commanders, leaders of Fulani, Civilian Joint Task Force and local vigilantes known as “Yansakai”.
    The meeting, chaired by Police Commissioner Usman Nagogo, was also attended by Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security Matters, Abubakar Dauran and National leaders of Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).
    The bandits’ commanders at the meeting were: Ardo Nashawari, Audu Karki and Muhammad Bello, while the leaders of civilian JTF and vigilantes were Malam Garba Nasarawa-Godal and Alhaji Shuaibu Aliyu.
    Speaking on behalf of the bandits, Nashawari, said with the suspension of the attacks, farmers were now free to return to their farms and other residents free to go about their normal businessess.
    Nashawari added, “We believe with this dialogue,the Fulani can now go to markets, they can move freely without any hitch.”
    The Civilian JTF leader, Alhaji Shuaibu Aliyu, urged the government to ensure immediate disarming of the bandits.
    “On behalf of the entire members of Civilian JTF and Vigilance Group Birnin-Magaji Local Government Area, we commend the state government for this dialogue, we abide by it,” he said.
    On his part, the commissioner of police described the meeting as “fruitful” and restated the commitment of the command to rid the state of banditry, kidnapping and other crimes.
    “We are impressed with the comments of the warring factions, both of them have accepted the dialogue”, Nagogo said.
    The National President of MACBAN, Alhaji Ardo Kiruwa, described the dialogue as “succeeding”, noting that most of the markets that were hitherto closed due to insecurity, have been opened.
    “We were told that the Fulani were seen in Shinkafi market yesterday”, he added.
    Kiruwa called on the Fulani to cooperate with government and security agencies in order to maintain peace and stability in the state.
    Also, Dauran, the special adviser on security, thanked the people of the state for their support and cooperation toward ensuring that the dialogue succeeded.
    He cautioned against politicising the state government’s efforts at tackling the security challenges in the state.
    “We are aware that some people are using politics to challenge the government’s efforts in this regard”, he noted.
    The Emir of Birnin-Magaji, Alhaji Hussaini Maude-Dan’Ali, thanked the state government for initiating the dialogue and urged all parties to adhere to all the agreements reached during the dialogue.
    “We are happy with the outcome of this meeting, we are going to continue to support government towards ensuring the success of this dialogue”, the emir said.

  • Gunmen launch fresh attacks in Zamfara, kill 18

    Gunmen launch fresh attacks in Zamfara, kill 18

    Suspected gunmen have killed 18 persons in some communities in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara, the Emir of Tsafe, Alhaji Muhammad Bawa has disclosed.

    The Emir made the disclosure on Friday while receiving a House of Representatives member representing Gusau/Tsafe Federal Constituency , Alhaji Kabir Mai-Palace in Gusau.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mai-Palace was at the Emir’s palace to condole with him and entire people of the area over the attacks.

    The emir said that the attackers invaded Bamamu, Danmale and Sako communities, Thursday evening and killed 18 persons, adding that they came with over 50 motorcycles shot sporadically on the air.

    The emir thanked the lawmaker for the visit and his concern for his people.

    Earlier, Mai-Palace had described the attack as unfortunate and worrisome.

    He said: ”I had earlier visited general hospital, Tsafe to sympathise with the victims who are receiving treatment.”

    ”Security is the major area I am giving priority to, it is very disheartening the way these bandits are attacking our communities.

    “If I go back to Abuja, I am going raise these issues in the House with the aim of finding solutions to the problems.

    ”As a representative of the people, I don’t have any commitment beyond the interest of my people.

    ”l am also going to present this incident to the Governor, Muhammad Matawallen-Maradun.”

    The lawmaker, however, urged the people of the state to remain calm and continue with prayers to seek Allah’s intervention to end the problem.

    NAN reports that the lawmaker donated cash and 20 mattresses to the victims in the hospital and held close door meeting with Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Tsafe Division, Nigeria Police.

  • U.S. warns citizens of ‘impending attacks’ in Uganda, Tanzania

    The United States embassies in Uganda and Tanzania have issued warnings about “rumours of impending attacks” in areas frequented by foreigners.

    According to the embassy in Kampala, “There are rumours of impending attacks in areas frequented by expats within East Africa, including Uganda.’’

    The warning was issued on Thursday, a day after the embassy in Dar es Salaam issued a similar security alert.

    Both alerts said the embassies had “no substantiating evidence of the threat or information on the timing,” but said people should avoid crowds and stay alert.

    While Uganda and Tanzania do not suffer regular attacks like Kenya, which is often subjected to deadly attacks by Somalia based militant group al-Shabaab because they have not been immune.

    “In 2010 there were bomb attacks in Kampala at venues screening the World Cup final killing over 70 people and injuring many more. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility and threatened further attacks in the region,” Britain says on its official travel advice page.

    Britain says that “terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks,” on Tanzania, but adds that Tanzania hasn’t suffered a major terrorist incident since the bombing of the US embassy in 1998, dpa reports.

  • Xenophobic attacks: You are safe in our country, Ghanaian High Commissioner assures Nigerians

    Xenophobic attacks: You are safe in our country, Ghanaian High Commissioner assures Nigerians

    Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Rashid Bawa on Thursday urged Nigerians doing business in his home country to carry on their trade without fear of molestation from any quarter.

    Bawa gave the advice at the High Commission in Abuja during a meeting with a delegation from the Nigerian Diaspora Commission led by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the envoy’s advice is coming against the backdrop of an attack on Nigerian spare part dealers by their Ghanaian counterparts in the Suame Magazine Industrial Enclave in Kumasi.

    This follows the closure of shops operated by Nigerians after indigenous Ghanaian spare parts dealers in the area protested against the continuous operation of foreigners in the retail trade.

    About 50 shops belonging to Nigerian spare parts dealers were locked up by agitated Ghanaians, who said they would not sit down and watch while foreigners flout the laws governing retail marketing in their country.

    The envoy said that President Nana Akufo-Addo had directed security agencies to be on top of the situation and had urged Nigerians to resume their trade without any fear.

    The high commissioner, who described the attack on the Nigerian spare parts dealers as very unfortunate, said that the attacks occurred because some young Ghanaians took laws into their hands.

    He, however, said some people suspected to have been involved in the incident had been arrested.

    He further said that the matter had been brought under control and that security agencies working hard to ensure that the issue did not get worse.

    The high commissioner explained that Ghana had been having security challenges in the past six months, citing alleged kidnapping.

    “When a crime is committed between individuals, it is not between nations.

    “So this should not be allowed to create anxiety between Nigeria and Ghana,” he said.

    He appealed to the media not to destroy the relationship between both through provocative reportage of happenings.

    Speaking earlier, Dabiri-Erewa had told the high commissioner that Ghanaians were living and working in Nigeria as well.

    She, therefore, expressed the hope that the high commissioner would assure Nigerians in that country of the safety of their lives and property.

    “We need assurance on the protection of Nigerians. We have Ghanians living in Nigeria and we treat them as brothers and sisters,’’ she said.

    She told the envoy that the Nigerian government would be like to be informed of any Nigerian who committed crime in Ghane.

    “We should know who they are; we should know, who those people are that are giving the country a bad name.

    “Nigerians should not just be criminalised,’’ she said.

    She also urged the media not to sensationalize the situation.

    Dabiri-Erewa also led a delegation from the commission to another meeting with Lene Dimban, the Togolese Ambassador to Nigeria.

    In the course of the meeting, she asked for assurances of the safety of Nigerians living in Togo.

  • Easter killings: Okoh urges church to defend itself against further attacks

    The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican communion), the Most Rev Nicholas Okoh has said that the time has come for the church to defend itself from further attacks.

    Okoh’s statement was made in reaction to the recent bombing in Sri Lanka which led to the death of over three hundred worshipers.

    Okoh said, “The bomb in Sri Lanka is part of terrorism in the world, it is a coordinated effort of evil people, we pray we don’t have it again, but more importantly we should make arrangements to protect ourselves.”

    In a similar vein, Okoh condemned the killing of nine members of the boys brigade in Gombe state during an Easter procession, describing it as unfortunate.

    “It is unfortunate that such a thing should happen on Easter Day. It also shows that our country has not arrived, that people tolerate others.

    “People are marching, showing joy, showing happiness and somebody decides to crush them and kill so many for no reason.

    “We pray that we will not live like that again, and look forward to a better Nigeria; Nigeria that will be transformed, that has hope and a place for everybody,” he said.

  • Renewed attacks: FG orders $877m arms to fight Boko Haram, others

    Indications emerged over the weekend that out of the $1 billion approved by the National Assembly for the procurement of military equipment, $877 million has been released.

    There has been some controversy over the whereabouts of the money.

    Immediately after the Metele, Borno State attacks on the military last month, the controversy got bigger. Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai said the military had not received such cash from the government to boost the anti-Boko Haram and other campaigns.

    However, reliable sources confirmed that $496,374,470 was released from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) for the purchase of Super Tucano aircraft from the United States. The payment has been made.

    Besides, $380,513,958.71 was released (as first tranche) for the procurement of critical equipment for the Army, the Navy and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), a source said.

    These releases along with other deductions may have contributed to the depletion of the ECA from $3.502 billion in January to $631 million in December 2018.

    Finance Minister Mrs. Zainab Ahmed attributed the “rapid” depletion of the ECA to payments made to the military as approved by the National Assembly.

    A source in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) confirmed said $876m had since been released to the military. But the source did not give the exact date when the payout was made.

    The source also disclosed that the ECA had an opening balance of $3.502 billion in January 2018, made up of $2.451 billion as balance brought forward on the January 1, 2018 and additional inflows of $1.052 billion.

    In the course of the year, the source said that $1.761 billion was withdrawn from the ECA as refund to state governments for Paris Club deductions made in the past from the state governments accounts. Besides, $0.233 million was withdrawn and paid to state governments as grants to fund their Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) obligations.

    These deductions brought the ECA down to over $600 million balance as at the last Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in Abuja.

    Gen Buratai did not categorically say how much the military was expecting from the government but said that the government had not released funds to the military to effectively prosecute the war against insurgents across the country.

    A member of the Senate Committee on Defence said it was not aware that the fund had been released.

    He spoke of how some members of the committee made inquiries, but were not told that part of the $1 billion had been released.

    He said: “We are actually in the dark as far as the issue is concerned. It is an important issue. When the Chief of Army Staff said they had not received the money as approved by the National Assembly, some of us made enquiries.

    “May be because of the security nature of the fund, the authorities may not want details of the releases to be known. We will definitely follow up, although it may not be for public consumption because of the security implications.”

    “We may have to invite relevant authorities to brief us,” the senator, who did not want his identity disclosed, told one of our reporters.

    The House of Representatives is investigating the whereabouts of the $1 billion appropriated for the procurement of arms and equipment in the fight against Boko Haram in the Northeast and general insecurity.

    Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the release of $1 billion for the procurement of security equipment.

     

  • Rising Boko Haram attacks: Saboteurs among troops frustrating our efforts – Buratai

    The Nigerian Chief of Army Staff {COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai said the army was contending with forces that sabotage the war against insurgents, describing such forces as collaborators, informants and saboteurs.

    The Nation reports that Gen. Buratai, who was reacting to questions at the end of a parley with reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State, said the powerful people behind the Boko Haram crisis kept rebranding the crisis.

    According to him, the original Boko Haram that started insurgency in the Northeast has been decisively dealt with “but they keep changing their names like we have Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) now.

    “I want to tell you that, even if we finish with ISWAP, those people behind these things will snowball to another name and they will go on and on”.

    The army Chief said that insurgents are having a field day in their attacks due to the facts that their collaborators and informants, “who monitor everyone, including troops.”

    He disclosed that the funding of Boko Haram always come from their international connection, citing how the high influx of ammunition from Libyia in the aftermath of its unrest, aided the crisis in Nigeria.

    Lt. Gen. Buratai, who was silent on the weapons often seized by insurgents from the army during attacks, however, informed that insurgents have different ways of funding and sourcing for equipment, including cattle rustling, kidnapping and fishing in Lake Chad.

    He called on the media to join the troops in defeating every element of terrorism in the Northeast and the entire Lake Chad Region, adding: “with such collaboration, the propaganda which the terrorists devised to misinform and instill fear on the public and troops can be checkmated”.

    The COAS regretted what he described as deliberate falsehood and campaign of calumny staged against the Nigerian Army by some social media platforms which according to him, “is targeted at demoralising troops to the detriment of national security.

    The COAS warned that the army will descend heavily against such manner of campaigns with every legal apparatus, stressing that the war against the insurgents cannot be won by the army alone, but with the efforts of every citizen.

    He urged the media to engage in the education of the general public in very clear perspective by bringing into the front burner the achievements of the military against the insurgents and de-emphaising their falsehood and propaganda.

    Commenting on the army’s faceoff with Amnesty International, the army Chief noted: “The allegations of human rights abuses against the military by Amnesty International, lack of equipment and nonpayment of allowances to troops are all misleading and not the true.

    “The military authorities have established a human rights desk to promote civil/ military relationship and enhance justice system as well as reorganise various divisions.”

    He explained that interactive session with reporters was organised to chat a new phase on the military/media relations, commending the media for its effective reportage of the campaign against insurgency as well as restoration of peace in the Northeast.

    At the parley were: Head of Military Training & Operations Maj-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun; Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole Maj.-Gen. Benson Akinroluyo and Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division Brig.-Gen. Abdulmalik Bulama Biu and other senior military officers.

    Also at the parley were some representatives of United Nations (UN) agencies, Nigerian Guild of Editors and Nigerian Institute of Public Relation (NIPR) practitioners.

  • Boko Haram launches fresh attacks in Borno, kills 13

    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.

    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.

     

  • APC ward congress: Stop blood-letting, violent attacks – Omo-Agege warns politicians

    Senator representing Delta Central senatorial district in the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege on Monday condemned the attack and subsequent blood-letting that trailed Saturday’s ward congress, especially in Delta State.

    This was revealed in a statement released on his behalf by his media office.

    Recall that there were reported cases of irregularities and violent attacks in the ward congresses. One person was reportedly killed in Delta while some APC secretariat were vandalised.

    Read full statement below:

    STOP BLOOD-LETTING AND THE VIOLENT ATTACKS

    Troubled by the unprovoked, premeditated and targeted bloody violence unleashed on our people in the course of the 2018 Ward Congresses of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, this Office hereby issues this statement on behalf of Most Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, The Obarisi of Urhoboland himself:

    1.0. Senator Omo-Agege strongly and totally condemns the senseless and cold-hearted murder of Jeremiah Oghoveta, a frontline Chairmanship aspirant of the APC in Ward 10 (Jeremi III) of Ughelli South. The chilly allegation that this admirably peaceful young leader and pro-Ogboru and pro-Omo-Agege grassroots mobiliser was heartlessly murdered by his own kinsman (possibly with the aid and comfort of others) for political motives is a horrible desecration of the sacredness of human life in Urhoboland.

    2.0. On behalf of all persons of good conscience, Senator Omo-Agege extends his heartfelt condolences to the Oghoveta family for the painful murder of Jeremiah whose unwavering commitment to right causes placed him above many as a leader. The Obarisi trusts the Police authorities to carry out a thorough and speedy investigation of this murder. Justice will be done. Justice for Jeremiah, to his murderer(s) and for society at large. Whoever has a hand in this murder will face the harshest consequences prescribed under the law.

    3.0. Also, this Office is alarmed by the near-death attacks on Comrade Chuks Erhire (Director General, Senator Omo-Agege Constituency Office), Barrister Ejiro Etaghene (vocal media supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Great Ogboru and Senator Omo-Agege) and Hon. Julius Akpovoka (ardent supporter of Chief Great Ogboru and Senator Omo-Agege). They were all admitted to hospital in critical emergency states when, without any provocation whatsoever, hundreds of thugs allegedly hired by a politician and led by his lackeys went after them at Orchids Hotel, Asaba on May 6, 2018, obviously for their political tendencies. Comrade Erhire and Barrister Etaghene are still in coma or critical state in the hospital.

    4.0. Without question, these attacks are distasteful and unjustifiable. We see no positive gains for any political leader or aspiring political leader who directly or indirectly harms or kills people, including his party members and kinsmen? Such evil has no place in our society and the APC. We will never allow it. We will resist it with all our strengths under the law. Our national security apparatus will be encouraged to deal decisively with this rampaging murderous tendency. This is a firm promise.

    5.0. Finally, we must strongly advise and warn the orchestrators and executors of these violent attacks to rethink their strategies for the 2019 general elections. For the good of our people, the path of peace is the best way. They must know that blood-stained hands and dark and guilty consciences will not promote them. They must remember that people have a right to self defence too. Also, even with genuine calls for restraint and brotherly forgiveness, brotherly reprisals are sometimes difficult to curtail. May we not get there.