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Tag: boko haram

  • APC chairmanship: Modu Sheriff’s aspiration ‘ill not be hampered by alleged B/Haram sponsorship – Ojougboh

    APC chairmanship: Modu Sheriff’s aspiration ‘ill not be hampered by alleged B/Haram sponsorship – Ojougboh

    Dr Cairo Ojougboh, Deputy Director-General, Ali-Modu Sheriff Campaign Organisation, says Sheriff’s aspiration to be APC national chairman will not be hampered by speculations of alleged dealings with the Boko Haram sect.

    Sheriff, a two term former governor of Borno and a former lawmaker, is a frontline APC national chairmanship aspirant.

    Ojougboh gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

    He said the allegations were baseless and could not be substantiated.

    He said this was especially so because, relevant security agencies had investigated Sheriff on the allegation and found him not guilty.

    “The DSS, Defense Intelligence Agency and other security outfits in the country have investigated Sheriff and found him innocent.

    “As a stickler for truth, if I am not convinced of Sheriff’s standing on this issue, I will not come close to him, let alone work with him.

    “I want to assure Nigerians and all APC members within and outside the country that Sheriff has nothing to do with the Boko Haram sect as is being alleged,” he said.

    He wondered how anyone in his right frame of mind would accuse Sheriff of sponsoring Boko Haram, especially after he had been investigated and exonerated by security agencies.

    Ojougboh, however, noted that the Boko Haram sect was already in existence in Borno before Sheriff became the state governor, adding that as governor, he promoted a law banning the sect in the state.

    He said as governor, Sheriff in collaboration with security agencies, extradited Boko Haram members from Niger and Chad from Borno.

    “This was why he was targeted and many of his close friends and associates were killed.

    “Sheriff is one Nigerian that had been a victim of the activities of Boko Haram, because five members of his immediate family were killed by the sect.

    “He narrowly escaped death because the bomb planted to kill him, exploded before he got to the point,” Ojougboh said.

    Ojougboh, however, added that majority of APC governors were with Sheriff and were supporting his aspiration to become the party’s next national chairman at its national convention, slated for Feb. 26.

    He noted that if the governors and other critical stakeholders of the APC believed that Sheriff was involved in the operations of the Boko Haram, they would not have anything to do with him.

    Ojougboh further noted that the allegation that Sheriff was sponsoring Boko Haram had been on for long, even before the 10 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors invited him over to be the party’s national chairman.

    “If Sheriff was a Boko Haram sponsor as being, the 10 PDP governors and the party’s critical stakeholders will not have anything to do with him.

    “And that is one aspect of his political life that has stood out very strong for him.

    “That an opposition party can call a man, saying we have looked at you, your capacity and ability, you have what we want, come and lead us speaks volumes.

    “I wonder how many Nigerian politicians had received such invitation, “Ojougboh said.

    He described the lingering allegation that Sheriff was a sponsor of Boko Haram as a none issue which should be disregarded by the general public and APC members.

    According to Ojougboh, the allegation is being peddled by Sheriff’s political opponents and enemies, whom he defeated in elections in the past.

    “In politics, people can speculate about anything and say things they knew nothing about.

    “For a man who has been governor for two terms and in the Senate, he expectedly has a lot of enemies whom he defeated in electoral contests in the state.

    “As it is in Nigeria and in politics across the world, whenever one defeats his political opponents in an election,the person becomes your enemy.

    “Such persons cook up all kinds of stories to bring their political opponents down, with the pull him down syndrome,” Ojougboh said.

  • Boko Haram attack: No policeman was abducted at police training school – Borno police command

    Boko Haram attack: No policeman was abducted at police training school – Borno police command

    The police command in Borno, has denied reports that some policemen were abducted by the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) at the Mobile Police Training School in limankara, Gwoza Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

    Mr Audu Umar, the state Commissioner of Police disclosed this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Maiduguri.

    Umar said that the report claiming that unspecified number of policemen were abducted at the school was fake news.

    Some reports had indicated that ISWAP fighters abducted an unspecified number of policemen after an attack at the school at about 8:22 a.m.,on Thursday.

    But Umar said that no policeman was abducted during the incident, saying that all the 13 policemen at the school were safe and in good conditions as they successfully thwarted the terrorists’ attack.

    He explained that the command did not lose personnel or weapon during the attack.

    The police commissioner urged the media to always strive hard to authenticate its report before feeding the public.

  • SGF reacts to alleged hometown attack

    SGF reacts to alleged hometown attack

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has dismissed the purported report that his hometown, Garha, and other sorrounding villages were attacked by Boko Haram and Bandits.

    Mustapha made the reaction in an interview with newsmen shortly after Hong Secondary School Old Boys Association meeting held in Hong, the headquarters of Hong local government area (LGA) on Wednesday.

    Mustapha, who expressed dismay over the report, said that there was nothing similar to that.

    “There was nothing like that (attack on my hometown). It is just some people’s mischievous imagination.

    “I was in my hometown attending weddings when my attention was drawn to a report by some mischievous persons.

    “There was consistent marriage ceremony in my village even before and after Christmas.

    “I didn’t only go to my village, I went to several neighbouring villages where people were getting married and rejoicing,” Mustapha said.

    He said that the report was out to portray government in bad light.

    “Why associating the report with the village of SGF?

    “If there’s general insecurity, there’s general insecurity and SGF village will not spared from the insecurity,” he said.

    He said government is doing what it can to ensure that insurgency, banditry and other insecurity challenges are curtailed and brought to order.

    On the old boys meeting, he expressed happiness for meeting with his classmates of the 1970 set.

    He said that the association has made a modest attempt to transform the school by renovating many structures, and providing water supply in the school.

  • Boko Haram, ISWAP terrorists planning to establish camps in Taraba – Gov Ishaku

    Boko Haram, ISWAP terrorists planning to establish camps in Taraba – Gov Ishaku

    Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, has raised an alarm over plots by Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) to establish terrorist camps in his state.

    He threatened to dethrone any traditional ruler caught aiding or harbouring criminals and asked them not to allow non-indigenes with negative mindsets to settle in their domains.

    Governor Ishaku stated this on Thursday while signing the N149 billion 2022 budget of the state into law at the Executive Chamber of the Government House in Jalingo.

    “My delay of coming to sign the 2022 budget and address you is because of security challenges,” he said. “Boko Haram and ISWAP are trying to set up camps in this state and that is why we had an emergency meeting for over an hour before my coming.

    “It is very sad that the traditional rulers are bent on encouraging this insecurity. Let me warn that I will not, and I repeat, I will not tolerate it and will not waste time to remove any traditional ruler that misbehaves.

    “I am kind and soft, but can sometimes be decisive, being quiet and gentle does not make me a mere footstalk to be rubbished.”

    “I must add with emphasis that security is of great concern to all of us; being the quietest state in the North East has its implications.

    “I want to also talk to the traditional rulers, while we have warned them severally not to allow non-indigenes to settle in the state, their persistent refusal to abide by this warning is giving a lot of cause for concern to me,” the governor added.

    He insisted that the security of lives and property would be upheld firmly by his administration and no stone would be left unturned in doing so.

    According to Governor Ishaku, it is better to punish erring leaders than ignore such an action to lose the lives of thousands of people.

    He assured the people that the budget would make Taraba one of the top economies in not only the North East but in the country, adding that all sectors of the state would be reformed before the end of his tenure in 2023.

  • Nigeria’s 14.5m out-of-school kids, potential ISWAP, Boko Haram, Unknown gunmen steady recruits – University don

    Nigeria’s 14.5m out-of-school kids, potential ISWAP, Boko Haram, Unknown gunmen steady recruits – University don

    From Chuks Collins, Awka

    A university don, Prof Stanley Udedi has alerted the authorities that the daily burgeoning Nigeria’s out-of-school children which is presently standing at 14.5million are potentially handy recruits for the Boko Haram, ISWAP and the so-called Unknown Gunmen.

    Udedi who spoke as one of the guest lecturers at the Awards Ceremony, National Convention and launching of the N75million Youth Empowerment Scheme of the Mass Movement for Good Governance (MMG) in Awka, Anambra State, further disclosed that the school period the recruits lost would now be converted into the period of their arms training in the wild.

    C9nsidering their background, Prof Udedi who is from the Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University noted that no lecturers, professors or civil servants could be seen in these infamous groups as members. That their members were those who are unemployed, the jobless and street kids who have no money to feed family. “They can’t even get married, so because of that they were easily harvested by these groups and were even told they would go to heaven and that they would do this and that at the end of the day.”

    The don therefore asked those in leadership positions in the country, “People in leadership, what is your role. That they are responsible for all that is happening. Then, on the side of the people, because they have been so impoverished they take anything from government. When Governors pay salary they clap for him, as if that was with their personal inheritance. This is allocation and money that you collected from the state for executing budgeted and specified services/purposes.”

    Corruption, he lamented has greatly eroded and undermined good governance in Nigeria over the years. “It has affected quality and quantity of infrastructure and even emasculated the citizens of their rights and voice.

    “Little wonder we have moved from the rank of being the sixth(6th) happiest people in the world to the 155th position because of massive erosion of quality of life of citizens over the years.

    “It’s widely acknowledged that over the past five years that corruption has dealt heavy blow on virtually every Nigerian, including the perpetrators. The issue of insecurity was caused by corruption.

    “My paper is directed to the duty bearers and those in leadership positions. On the issue of non-accountability of our office holders, Prof … blamed it on the NGOs. I said it that the MMG has a lot of role to play, to ensure that all budget are tracked to get the executors on their toes. Budget tracking is their duty as they were trained specially by even the UNICEF to monitor and track budgets. To ensure the provisions were carried out as stated. I once followed one NGO on protest against the water bill that was coming to the State Assembly. We told them No on that. It now necessitated the Assembly into setting up a Committee that worked on the law and after discovered that the people said they don’t need the water law. So why are we pushing for a water law when the people have said they don’t need it. You as Government never gave the people water. Every citizen gave himself and households water one way or another through borehole or other means, so why are you now interested in putting a low around someone ‘s heritage. This is water you didn’t provide, built, dredge or maintained. So why making a law on it. We saw it as a way of bringing back the RUGA law through the back door.

    “Now am invited to the University of Maiduguri as part of the accreditation inspection team, but I sincerely declined because what would I go to do there? WAm afraid for my life. They ugly trend of insecurity is affecting all citizens one way or another”, he pointed out.

    Another guest lecturer, Prof Nkechi Ikediugwu who is the Dean Faculty of Education of Nnamdi Azikiwe University blamed Godfatherism, Corruption, Greed and avariciousness as well as get-rich quick syndrome as key factors affecting good governance in the country.

    She insisted that the trend must change. That youths should be encouraged into leadership early and be made to adopt positive precept as a way of life.

    The National chairman of MMG, Hon Peter Eriobu said the movement was geared towards youth involvement in government and to help eliminate poverty from the citizenry.

    That it’s reason they were partnering citizens and corporate organizations to assist, “…as we insist on holding leaders accountable”.

  • JUST IN: Army confirms Maiduguri explosion, fingers Boko Haram, ISWAP terrorists

    JUST IN: Army confirms Maiduguri explosion, fingers Boko Haram, ISWAP terrorists

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday said there was no need to panic after explosions rocked some communities in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

    In a statement signed by spokesperson Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, the army described the attack as a “security breach by suspected Boko Haram (BH) and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists who made futile attempt to maintain potency early this morning, 4 December 2021, with explosions in the outskirt of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.”

    The explosions reportedly hit Gomari community and 1,000 Housing Estate in Maiduguri but no deaths were reported.

    “This unfortunate incident has caused some level of damage and apprehension in residential areas. Although, no life was lost, sadly a minor sustained injury,” the army said.

    “Ground troops in conjunction with the Air Component of OPHK responded swiftly and dominated the area with ground and air interdictions that successfully neutralized the threats and infiltration attempt by the terrorists.

    “The general public are urged not to panic as troops are on ground and aggressively dominating the city to effectively take out any perceived threat.

    “The good people of Maiduguri are equally enjoined to go about their normal socio economic activities and provide actionable information on the movement of these criminal elements.”

    Saturday’s attack comes a day after seven soldiers were reportedly killed by ISWAP jihadists near a base at Rann, close to the Cameroonian border.

    In February, at least 17 people were killed and 43 others injured when ISWAP fighters fired multiple rockets on Maiduguri.

    The terrorists have also blown up electricity towers on several occasions, plunging the city into darkness for months.

    On February 23, 2019, a soldier was killed and 20 others wounded when Boko Haram launched 13 rocket attacks on Maiduguri hours before voting began in Nigeria’s presidential election.

    Over 40,000 people have been killed since the Boko Haram insurgency began 12 years ago and more than two million are displaced from their homes.

  • Heavy casualty as troops pound Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Yobe

    Heavy casualty as troops pound Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Yobe

    The Nigerian Army says the troops of of Sector 2 Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have again inflicted heavy casualty on Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in a fierce battle at Buni Yadi in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a a statement on Wednesday, said the feat was achieved on Tuesday.

    Nwachukwu said the terrorists, who frantically attempted to gain access into Buni Yadi, met stiff resistance from troops of 27 Task Force Brigade and Nigerian Army Special Forces School, supported by the Nigerian Air Component.

    He added that personnel of the Nigerian Police also supported the troops who gallantly fought and overwhelmed the terrorists with superior firepower.

    According to him, the ferocious battle forced the criminals to withdraw in different directions having suffered heavy losses.

    “Several gun trucks with their occupants were taken out by the troops. Preliminary battle damage assessment revealed the precision with which Air and Land troops engaged the terrorists destroying their gun trucks.

    “Exploitation is still ongoing by troops to take out fleeing remnants of the terrorists,” he said.

    Nwachukwu said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, had commended the troops for the operational exploit.

    “He also charged them to sustain the current operational tempo to deny the criminals freedom of action,” he said.

  • Brigadier General, four other soldiers killed during shootout with Boko Haram buried

    Brigadier General, four other soldiers killed during shootout with Boko Haram buried

    The burial service of Brigadier-General Zirkushu Dzarma and four other soldiers who died fighting against Boko Haram terrorists was held on Friday at the Saint Stephen’s Protestant Church in Yola, Adamawa State.

    The names of the other late soldiers are: Major Luka Barde, Lance Corporal Simon Solomon, Pte. Chagumeji Victor and Pte. Danyaro Umar.

    Dignitaries at the funeral included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Deputy-Governor of Adamawa State, Crowther Seth, and heads of security agencies in the state.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya, was also expected at the ceremony but was yet to arrive as of the time of this reporting.

    The soldiers are to be buried at the military cemetery of 23 brigade of the Nigerian Army in Yola.

    The soldiers were killed on November 13 during a fierce encounter with terrorists in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

    Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum described the soldiers as fallen heroes for what he called “their supreme sacrifices to the Nigerian Nation”.

    He added that “the people of Borno will remain forever grateful to them and all fallen heroes, and will remain fully supported of gallant troops currently operating in front lines”.

    President Muhammadu Buhari also expressed sadness over the deaths.

    Nigeria’s North-East has been rocked by an insurgency that has lasted for more than a decade.

    The conflict has led to thousand of death and the displacement of millions.

  • Obasanjo raises alarm: Nigeria’s 14m out-of-school children are potential Boko Haram recruits

    Obasanjo raises alarm: Nigeria’s 14m out-of-school children are potential Boko Haram recruits

    Nigeria’s 14 million out-of-school children are potential Boko Haram recruits, former President Olusegun Obasanjo said yesterday.

    He spoke during the presidential youth mentorship retreat at the Youth Development Centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    Obasanjo said: “A situation today where we have 14 million children that are not in school, does anybody need to be an oracle to tell that 10 years or 15 years from now, those will be where you will recruit pure Boko Haram?

    “So, if you deal with Boko Haram by stick today, in few years the situation will be worst because we are talking about security, it will be worst.

    “So, if we are talking of insecurity, where should we begin? If we are talking of poverty where should we begin? It is education.

    ”Somebody said if everybody is educated who will be a servant and I said if everybody is educated then we will get a better servant than you should have gotten from those that are not educated.”

  • ISWAP, Boko Haram terrorists planning to establish permanent camps in our state, Niger Government raises alarm

    ISWAP, Boko Haram terrorists planning to establish permanent camps in our state, Niger Government raises alarm

    Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram terrorists are planning to establish a camp in Niger State, authorities have said.

    The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Matane, raised the alarm on Tuesday while briefing reporters in Minna, the state capital.

    He decried the escalated rate of attacks by bandits on innocent residents in recent weeks, saying they were now collaborating with insurgents to worsen the security situation in the state.

    Matane lamented that the insurgents – who have carried out attacks that have killed hundreds of thousands of people in the North East over the years – were suspected to be present already in two local government areas of the state.

    He was worried that the state was in such a situation despite the effort of the government to protect its citizens, including spending a sum of N5 billion to combat the security challenges in Niger.

    Intelligence reports, according to the SSG, reveal that bandits have begun to align with insurgents to indoctrinate residents in some communities of Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) to imbibe strict Islamic ideology and ban women from going to schools.

    He listed some of the communities visited by the insurgents to include Koki, Madaka, Kurebe, Kusare, and Chukuba, where residents were assured of protection but asked to embark on civil disobedience and reject western education.

    “These people (Boko Haram) often go to communities to communicate with them (residents) and assure them that they will not harm them, and join them during Friday congregational prayer to preach to them on the need to forsake western education and embark on civil disobedience,” Matane told reporters in his office at the Government House in Minna.

    “These are some of the attributes of Boko Haram that are perpetrated in the North East and the Sambisa Forest axis.”

    He added that ISWAP fighters were also making an attempt to establish a permanent camp at Babana Forest around the Kaiji National Park in Borgu LGA.

    The insurgents, the SSG explained, tried to contact the state government through a video in which they claimed not to be criminals, but messengers sent by God to establish an Islamic caliphate in the area.

    He stated that the insurgents, said to be spotted in communities bordering Nigeria and Benin Republic, have started going around to indoctrinate the people.

    “ISWAP is trying to establish a camp at National Park at Babana in Borgu Local government Area of Niger State,” Matane said.

    “They also made a video claiming that they are not kidnappers, but engaging in religious activities. They have assured us that they are ‘God sent’ to establish an Islamic caliphate. Despite their rapprochement, we are not negotiating with them.”

    According to him, Munya, Rafi, Shiroro, Mashegu, and Mariga LGAs are the epic centre of kidnappings and banditry while parts of Lapai LGA have begun to experience such security challenges.