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Tag: boko haram

  • Mala-Buni salutes operatives in Geidam for repelling attack

    Mala-Buni salutes operatives in Geidam for repelling attack

    Gov. Mai Mala-Buni of Yobe has commended the Nigerian Army and other security operatives in Geidam for the ”uncommon bravery” in confronting and repelling an attempt to attack the town on Wednesday by Boko Haram.

    Buni made the commendation on Thursday in a statement signed by Maman Mohammed the Director-General Press and Media Affairs.

    The governor saluted the Commanding Officer for mobilising his men to confront the ”enemy outside the town”.

    “It is heart warming that although the enemy withdrew, the soldiers gallantly pursued them and cleared an ambush mounted on their way.

    “The government and people of Yobe appreciate this act of bravery to secure the general area and allow the people of Geidam to continue celebrating the Sallah festivities peacefully” the governor said.

    He explained that such proactive measures will check the wanton attacks on innocent communities.

    “You have done us proud, the government and people of the state will continue to support you” Gov. Mala-Buni said.

    He called on the people to always volunteer useful and timely information to the security operatives to enhance proactive measures against such attacks.

    “You are advised to volunteer timely information on suspicious movements around your communities to the security and other relevant authorities to enhance timely response” he said.

  • Zulum denies sharing governorship mandate with BH/ISWAP terrorists in Borno

    Zulum denies sharing governorship mandate with BH/ISWAP terrorists in Borno

    Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum on Monday debunked claims that terror groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), are in control of parts of the state.

    Professor Zulum spoke to State House Correspondents after a meeting he held with President Muhammadu Buhari on plans to repatriate Nigerians taking refuge in neighbouring countries, among whom are about 200,000 Borno citizens.

    The governor also described recent report that terror groups had appointed a governor over some sections of Borno State as unauthenticated, which he said he had not dignified with an investigation, adding that he is fully in charge of the state.

    On the presence of insurgency in Borno State, Zulum said the phenomenon is not totally vanquished but noted that there is no part or region of the state that can be said to be under the control of terrorists.

    According to him, his administration, in collaboration with the military and other security arms, are still working on ending the menace, but noted that insurgency of the dimension being fought in Nigeria is not easily put out overnight.

    Zulum said: “What I’m saying is that the insurgency is not yet over. That’s the most important thing, but as of now, you cannot point out a particular local government in Borno State that is completely under the control of the insurgents.

    “The fact remains that, I hope you know me very well, I’m saying the right thing, as at now, there is no region or portion of Borno State that you can term as being under insurgents, but the insurgency is not over yet, we are battling with them but their influence has been reduced. We’re looking forward to seeing how we can completely degrade them.

    “You know, such dimensions of insurgency will take a longer period before somebody will say that insurgents are completely eliminated. But I think the federal government is doing well; the military, the para-military, the civilian JTF and the community have done well,” he said.

    On reports of an appointed terrorist governor for parts of the state by Boko Haram and ISWAP, the governor said the claim remains unauthenticated, adding that his administration is not investigating the issue.

    Recall that there was a report which claimed that the insurgents had appointed one Abba Kaka as the governor by an interim council.

    “We are yet to validate the authenticity of this report that ISWAP appointed governor in Borno State. So, as the governor of the state, I think it’s not right for me to speak on something that I don’t have full knowledge of,” he said.

    Governor Zulum said he would not investigate the claim, blaming the report on social media.

    He added: “Not investigating. This report is not authenticated. You have just seen somebody written something in one of the…I think it’s on Facebook or something like that. You’re a journalist and I think we have to prove reports beyond reasonable doubts, before commenting on such reports.

    “As far as I’m concerned, I’m the Governor of Borno State and I don’t have any information that we have another government in the Nigerian state. Yes. And I’m very much in charge.”

    The governor informed that he was at the Presidential Villa to seek the President’s assistance to repatriate the over 200,000 Borno citizens who fled from the insurgency to Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic.

    He stressed the need to bring them back as, according to him, the security situation in the state has improved.

    He said: “Now that we have started witnessing the gradual return of peace to Borno State, these people that are taking refuge in our neighbouring countries are willing to return home.

    “Therefore, Borno State government picked a date of November 27, 2021, for the commencement of the repatriation process, especially to local government areas of Abadam and Guzamala.

    “So, I came to brief Mr President, to solicit his support, with the view to ensuring hitch-free repatriation exercise.”

    The governor, however, declined to place a figure on what it might take to implement the repatriation, saying: “I can’t quantify, but I think the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs with its agencies; NEMA, the Refugee Commission and indeed the Northeast Development Commission, lastly the Borno State government, have the capacity to shoulder the responsibility of the repatriation exercise.”

    On the fate of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) still in camps in the state, Governor Zulum said the government is also working on returning them to their communities.

    “On the issue of internally displaced persons, yes the IDP camps are not palatable, that is why the government of Borno State and the Federal Government are exploiting the potential of resettling them to their own communities or relocating them to areas that are safe,” he stated.

  • JUST IN: Nigeria receives first batch of A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft

    JUST IN: Nigeria receives first batch of A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft

    The first batch of A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft ordered by Nigeria from the U.S. has landed in the country.

    There has been no official statement yet. But Defence News Nigeria which covers military activities and hardware tweeted the news.

    It is believed that the American manufacturers may have fulfilled their promise to make six of the 12 aircraft ordered available this month.

    In May, the Embraer Defence Security Incorporated (EDSI), manufacturers of the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, told a committee of the National Assembly led by Senator Michael Nnachi about the progress on the planes.

    While briefing the NASS team, Col. Authur Ford, of the U.S. Air Force Fighters and Advance Aircraft Directorate, stated that 10 out of the 12 aircraft were ready for delivery to NAF.

    While the remaining two were undergoing modification and integration to NAF specific operational configuration.

    Ford added that six of the aircraft were scheduled to arrive the country in July while the remaining six would be delivered before the end of October.

    The team was assured that the aircraft, expected to play critical roles in the fight against insurgency and criminality, would be delivered as planned.

    In March, the Buhari presidency also confirmed the July arrival date for six of the 12 A-29 Super Tucanos.

    The presidency added that 14 pilots were on training at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia.

    “Six of the twelve Super Tucanos are on track to arrive in mid-July 2021. With the remaining six shortly after that”, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman said.

    In November 2018, SNC was awarded a $329 million Foreign Military Sales contract from the US government to build 12 A-29s for the Nigerian Air Force.

    The armed turboprops are intended for use against Boko Haram and ISIS militants.

    Nigeria paid for the 12 Super Tucano and other weapons in April 2018, at a cost of $462million. The entire cost may rise to $593 million.

    The contract to build them was announced by U.S. Defence Department on 28 November and is worth $329m for the aircraft, although the total not-to-exceed amount is approved at $344.7m.

    It will include Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) systems for six of the aircraft for six of the aircraft.

    It also included Paveway II guided bombs, laser-guided rockets, 12.7 mm ammunition, unguided bombs and infrared sensors.

    In addition to the 12 aircraft, the contract provides for ground training equipment, mission planning systems, mission debrief systems, spares, ground support equipment and support services.

  • Boko Haram/ISWAP appoint governor for parts of Borno

    Boko Haram/ISWAP appoint governor for parts of Borno

    Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province(ISWAP) have appointed a governor for parts of Borno, denting official claim that the terrorists are not in control of any Nigerian territory.

    The terrorists, who have accepted the leadership of Abu Musa Al Barnawi, son of Mohammed Yusuf, Boko Haram founder appointed the governor under a new leadership restructuring by an Interim Council.

    The group appointed a separate leader for ISWAP.

    The governor, according to a report by PR Nigeria, was identified as Abba-Kaka.

    He is the governor of Tumbumma, with jurisdiction over Marte, Abadam, Kukawa, Magumeri and other areas of the Lake Chad region.

    Abba-Kaka will work with Abubakar Dan-Buduma as the Operation Commander, Timbuktu Triangle.

    Abba-Kaka’s government has the structure of a normal government as it will impose taxes on fishing activities and farming.

    It also has its own judiciary.

    Baba Isa who was appointed to oversee Taxation and Revenue on Fishing activities was posted to Kangar in Abadam to relieve Abu Abdallah.

    Ibn Umar is now Chief Prosecutor, Abu Umama becomes Amir of Tudun Wulgo, while Muhammed Maina is the Commander of Sabon Tumbu, among others.

    PRNigeria further gathered that the Interim Council introduced Mobile Courts and some policies to harmonise all insurgents activities and groups under the leadership of the ISIS.

    It has also established two Caliphates at Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest to to sustain its war against countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    According to the report, the Interim Council has lifted the ban imposed on fishing and farming activities in the Lake Chad area, three years after chasing people out of Marte, Abadam, Kukawa and Guzamala, over alleged spying for Nigerian troops.

    It nevertheless, imposed new taxes and levies in the areas controlled by ISWAP-Boko Haram, to regulate trades and agricultural activities.

    Henceforth, members of the terrorist sect will be collecting N5,000 monthly from traders and farmers, while the fishermen will pay N2,000 per bag of fish among other levies.

    Several fishermen, farmers and merchants have returned to the Lake-Chad area to engage in socio-economic activities, under the arrangement of the new ISWAP-Boko Haram Leadership, PRNigeria reported.

  • Alleged preferential treatments: Why Nnamdi Kanu’s case is different from Boko Haram, bandits, others – El-Rufai

    Alleged preferential treatments: Why Nnamdi Kanu’s case is different from Boko Haram, bandits, others – El-Rufai

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Friday said there was no basis for the comparison between violent terror groups in the north and the re-arrested leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

    The governor in obvious response to the allegation of preferential treatment on the part of the federal government for the armed northern groups as against the embattled IPOB leader said it was a case of ‘comparing apples to oranges’.

    El-Rufai, speaking in an interview on Pidgin Service of the BBC, said Kanu’s case is different from that of Northern bandits because the IPOB leader “challenges the sovereignty and the authority of a state and incites violence; he refers to his own country as a zoo,” in contrast to the bandits who “are just collections of independent criminals. It is a business for them. It is not a case of Nigeria must break up.”

    His words: “I was very happy (when Nnamdi Kanu was arrested) because first, he jumped bail, jeopardising his sureties.

    “Secondly, a person that challenges the sovereignty and the authority of a state and incites violence; he refers to his own country as a zoo.

    “This should be a message to all these separatists challenging the authority of the Nigerian state to be very careful.

    “No! No! No! No! People are comparing apples to oranges.

    “Nnamdi Kanu is the leader of IPOB, a proscribed organisation. He is identifiable, costably in constant communication and everyone knows where he is.

    “Let’s take Boko Haram for instance. Shekau was in hiding and for the past 10 years and the military had been waging a war to get him.

    “It is not like Shekau was in Saudi Arabia, sitting in one place, tweeting about the break-up of Nigeria or asking Boko Haram to go and kill Helen and Nasir el-Rufai.

    “Nnamdi Kanu is in one place while Shekau is waging guerrilla warfare. The insurgency is still going on and the Federal Government is not giving up.

    “Regarding bandits, they are not centralised under one leadership. Who is the head of the bandits? Who is the equivalent of Nmandi Kanu with banditry?

    “Bandits are just collections of independent criminals. It is a business for them. It is not a case of Nigeria must break up.

    “I want to challenge anyone to tell me the central leader of bandits in the same position as Kanu.”

  • Over 320,000 children killed in Boko Haram war – UN

    Over 320,000 children killed in Boko Haram war – UN

    The Boko Haram insurgency has caused the deaths of some 324,000 children under five, mostly from disease and hunger, the UN warned Thursday.

    Previous data showed that Boko Haram militants, who launched an insurgency in 2009 that has since spread to neighbouring countries, have killed more than 40,000 people and displaced over two million from their homes.

    But in a new report titled “Assessing the impact of conflict on development in northeast Nigeria”, the UN Development Programme said “the full human cost of war is much greater.”

    “We estimate that more than 90 percent of conflict-attributable deaths through 2020, about 324,000, are of children younger than five,” it said.

    Of nearly 350,000 deaths, it estimated 314,000 to have resulted from indirect causes.

    Insecurity has led to declines in agricultural production and trade, reducing access to food and threatening the many households that depend on agriculture for their livelihood, it said.

    Thousands of displaced people lack access to food, health facilities, shelter and clean water, with children more vulnerable, the report added.

    “With another decade of conflict, that could grow to more than 1.1 million,” it said.

    Nigeria’s Boko Haram group split into two in 2016 with its rival Islamic State-allied faction ISWAP becoming the dominant threat.

    Despite ongoing military operations, the groups have continued to launch attacks, spreading violence to parts of neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

    In the Lake Chad region, the UN said “over 3.2 million individuals are displaced, with 5.3 million food-insecure people at crisis and emergency levels.”

    The situation is worse in Nigeria’s northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, it said.

    “In northeast Nigeria alone, 13.1 million people live in areas affected by conflict, out of whom 8.7 million are in need of immediate assistance,” it said.

  • Army begs Boko Haram members to repent, embrace amnesty

    Army begs Boko Haram members to repent, embrace amnesty

    The Nigerian Army has urged remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists to surrender and embrace peace.

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. A.A. Eyitayo, made the call at a feast organised for journalists by the army on Sunday in Maiduguri.

    Eyitayo, who is also the Commander Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai, said the recent military onslaught against the insurgents dealt decisive blow on the terrorists, leaving their remnants in disarray.

    He noted that nobody including the military was happy over the bloodshed, hence, the need for the remnants of the insurgents to leverage on the amnesty and repent their nefarious ways.

    This, he said, would avail the insurgents opportunity to enjoy rehabilitation and acquire skills to enable them to live a useful live in the society.

    The GOC lauded the contributions of the media in the counter insurgency campaign and urged it to enlighten the insurgents to see the light and repent from their wasteful ventures.

    “We are not here for bloodletting, nobody is happy that people are dying.

    “Some of them (insurgents) are listening to the media so it is good for us to appeal to them through the media to shun violence, turn up to seek forgiveness and reconciliation,” Eyitayo said.

    According to him, the feast with journalists was to show appreciation of the media reportage of military operations in the state.

    “For the past three months since I assumed duty in Maiduguri in this capacity, there has never been any bad report.

    “This is to appreciate the media for positive reportage,” he said.

    In his remark, Mobammed Ibrahim, Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Borno State Council, commended the GOC for carrying the media along and assured him of more support and cooperation.

    Mohammed also lauded the military and other security agencies involved in the fight against insurgency for their sacrifices and urged them not to relent, adding that the people of the northeast region were solidly behind them.

  • Boko Haram luring new recruits, spies with N5,000 – Governor Zulum

    Boko Haram luring new recruits, spies with N5,000 – Governor Zulum

    Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, yesterday said Boko Haram fighters lure recruits with as low as N5,000.

    The governor also reveals how his government sustained the fight against insurgents in the state in the last two years.

    He made the revelations in his statewide broadcast to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day (June 12, 2021) and his second anniversary in office, stating that “of all Nigeria’s 36 states, none is faced with the level of Borno’s security and by extension, social and economic challenges.

    According to him: “From day one, we were faced with an acute humanitarian crisis, particularly in northern and some parts of the central senatorial zones. As such, we made it a policy that as governor, I assume the role of chief humanitarian officer for different reasons. “On one hand, it was our duty to deliver help to our fellow citizens that were either internally displaced or taking refuge in neighbouring countries.

    “On the other hand, there was the risk that insurgents could, after making IDPs socially and economically vulnerable, also explore that vulnerability by offering food and cash incentives to recruit fighters who could even serve as their spies in communities. From records, we have experienced instances when insurgents offered as low as between 5,000 and 10,000 Naira to recruit some spies and smugglers of weapons. We therefore needed to take steps ahead by making sure we regularly visit IDPs in all parts of Borno, including remote locations, to efficiently and sufficiently deliver food, cash support, and clothing. We needed to ensure that our good citizens had the support they needed, and they were not exposed to potential attractions for the incentives of insurgents.”

    “Borno has thousands of volunteers who are being paid monthly allowances, provided with kits and vehicles to complement the military in the fight against Boko Haram,” he said, adding that his government “continually supports IDPs and vulnerable citizens with cash to strengthen their resilience to Boko Haram manipulations.”

    He said: “It has been two years since we took the oath of office, following the overwhelming mandate you, the good people of Borno State, entrusted to us during the 2019 democratic transition.

    In these two years, we have together, witnessed continued turbulence even though in the midst of shared hope, shared optimism, shared faith, shared resilience and communal determination to ceaselessly devote ourselves to freeing our Borno from 12 years of vicious insurgency.

    “As part of that commitment, we, from our first day in office, made security our number one priority. My first activity as Governor of Borno State was to interface with the head of the military involved in the fight against insurgents.

    In our first week in office, we interfaced with thousands of our volunteers from the civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes, and we increased their monthly allowances, in addition to allocating to them more patrol vehicles and other logistics needed to enhance their operational roles of complementing armed forces in fighting Boko Haram.

    In our combined approach, we took aggressive steps of recruiting thousands of hunters from different parts of northern Nigeria, mobilised and deployed them to accelerate our support for the military.

    We made it a policy that in all our 27 local government areas, volunteers were strengthened with additional recruitment, surveillance vehicles and other gadgets.

    The governor told his people that the steps he has taken so far, including encouraging and monitoring of doctors, traditional rulers and civil servants to ensure they remain in the rural communities, have yielded positive results. “Our approach has steadily yielded dividends as we can see from gradual pick up of increased commitment in hospitals, schools, other government institutions and in our local government areas,” he said.

  • Photo: FG inaugurates remodeled Chibok School seven years after Boko Haram invasion, mass kidnap of students

    Photo: FG inaugurates remodeled Chibok School seven years after Boko Haram invasion, mass kidnap of students

    Minister of Women Affairs Mrs Pauline Tallen on Monday inaugurated the rehabilitated Government Secondary School, Chibok where over 200 school girls were abducted in 2014 by Boko Haram.

    The minister, who was in Chibok for the event on the invitation of Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.

    More than 200 girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram from the school on April 14, 2014. While parts of the school buildings were blown off by windstorm other were destroyed by the insurgents.

    The remodeled school is equipped with classrooms and desks, a computer room, laboratory, among other facilities. A security team is being put in place for the safety of the students.

    Zulum offered support to parents of the schoolgirls affected by the 2014 abduction.

    Aside from unveiling of the GSS in Chibok, Zulum inaugurated 200 low cost houses newly built for the permanent resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) residing in temporary camps.

    The governor also inaugurated a newly built government lodge to encourage routine visits to Chibok in order to increase direct access of residents to authorities.

    He commended the Federal Government for the resettlement programme of Borno State.

  • Scores killed as troops resist B’Haram attack in Borno

    Scores killed as troops resist B’Haram attack in Borno

    Scores of Boko Haram fighters have been destroyed by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, while trying to attack Rann, the headquarters of Kala Balge Council Area of Borno State, the Nigerian Army has said.

    According to a statement by the Director Army Public Relations Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, the terrorists were repelled by the troops while trying to penetrate the entrance to the city.

    The statement read, “Barely hours into the tenure of the Chief of Army Staff Gen Faruk Yahaya, Boko Haram Terrorists attempted an audacious attack on troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Rann the Headquarters of Kala Balge LGA of Borno State. The terrorists came in their numbers mounted on gun trucks and attempted to infiltrate the main entrance to the town.

    “The highly spirited troops were right on hand to counter the move and inflicted humiliating defeat on the terrorists who abandoned their evil mission and took to their heels.

    “The troops chased the retreating terrorist and ensured there was no further threat to the town and its residents. Troops successfully destroyed one of the gun trucks and recovered multiple weapons including one anti aircraft gun, two machine guns and eight AK-47 rifles neutralising ten terrorists in the process.”