TheNewsGuru

Tag: boko haram

  • Boko Haram terrorists abduct travellers along Damaturu-Maiduguri road

    Boko Haram terrorists abduct travellers along Damaturu-Maiduguri road

    Boko Haram terrorists have reportedly abducted some travellers along the Damaturu-Maiduguri Road on Wednesday.

    The attack occurred at about 9 am, two hours after the road was opened to commuters.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG gathered that the roads are usually shut between 4 pm to 7 am due to security concerns.

    The military reopens the road every morning after a patrol team from Damaturu combs the highway all the way to Maiduguri.

    But the insurgents were said to have mounted a roadblock around Mainok town, roughly 55 kilometers away from Maiduguri.

    According to sources who spoke with Channels Television, upon arrival, the terrorists opened fire on the vehicles.

    While some drivers escaped, an unlucky passenger bus drove into the criminals who had mounted a checkpoint.

    When contacted, the spokesman of the Borno State Police Command, Edet Okon, neither confirmed nor debunked the abduction.

    He told the television station to contact the Theatre Command of the military’s counterterrorism operation in the northeast.

    Today’s incident is coming a week after reports emerged that Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau had been seriously wounded after trying to kill himself to avoid capture during clashes with rival Islamic State-allied jihadists in the north of the country.

    Shekau’s Boko Haram faction and fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had been battling in northeastern Borno state, where ISWAP has become the dominant force in Nigeria’s more than decade-long jihadist insurgency.

    Nigeria’s military has been battling an Islamist insurgency in the northeast since 2009, a conflict that has killed more than 40,000 and displaced around two million more.

    In May 2019, dozens of insurgents attempted to infiltrate the city under the cover of darkness, leading to a night-long battle with heavy guns and explosives.

    The conflict in the region has killed at least 36,000 people and displaced more than two million from their homes, according to the UN.

  • Rep fires aide for describing Shekau as ‘true hero’

    Rep fires aide for describing Shekau as ‘true hero’

    A member of the House of Representatives, Abdulkadir Rahis, representing Maiduguri federal Constituency has sacked his aide Bukar Tanda for describing Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau as a true hero.

    Tanda was reacting to the report of Shekau blowing himself up when he said the leader of Boko Haram “lived a life of hero and died a true hero”.

    A Facebook post shared by the lawmaker’s aide, read: “I admire and appreciate his courage to terminate his life. He lived a life of a hero and died a true hero. He did it in such a way that not even traces of his corpse will be found”.

    Recall Shekau reportedly blew himself up recently to avoid being captured by fighters of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), a breakaway faction of Boko Haram.

    Meanwhile, Tanda has now been sacked by his principal who said his “actions, utterances and opinion of recent are at variance with his interest, constituency and the APC”.

    The letter Rahis personally signed, reads: “I wish to formally write and notify you of the termination of your appointment as my legislative aide, forthwith.

    “Your actions, utterances and opinions of recent are at variance with my interest, that of my constituency and our great party, the APC.

    “The letter also serves as a disclaimer to any action or position you took or wish to take, on any matter that may have the remotest connection with me as a person or my office”.

    Meanwhile, Tanda has tendered an apology in which he stressed he is not terrorists apologist.

    The apology reads below

    My Dear Friends and Associates please note that as a conscious and enlightened citizen of Nigeria, it should be noted that in view of the trending allegations my most urgent concern and priority shouldn’t be joining issues with anyone who is entitled to his opinion but to ensure the proof of my innocence particularly from all the relevant Government authorities.

    However, for the sole purpose of record and posterity, I wish to categorically state that I have never in my entire life shared anything in common with any criminal person or group under whatever pretext and I hold no sympathy nor affection to any of such characters. To this effect, for anyone to perceived and believe that I will have sympathy or affection for terrorists is highly unfortunate and most regrettable.

    Indeed, I have a very rich practical experience of the extent of destruction and atrocities committed by the BHT and related terrorists group against innocent souls. Since 2011 to date, I was directly engaged through several Local and International Projects and Program with the ultimate goal of direct countering of the narratives and ideologies of the terrorists and extremists. I have excellent records of accomplishments in the direct fight against the extremists narratives. I have traveled across almost all the States of North East to sensitize communities against the ideologies of terrorist organization.

    From 2011 through to 2015, my name has been in the Assassination list of the BHT, but all the tracking effort of BHT to execute could not come to reality. While I was lucky to survive many others could not including many of my closest friends and relatives. BHT remained the worst creatures ever lived in the history of mankind. This is general view I hold against the BHT and I drew this conviction from the words of our Noble Prophet Muhammad SAW when he was describing to his companions the likes and characteristics of BHT.

    Thus, in view of the above practical experience, it is my conviction that no one will ever believe that I will hold any iota of sympathy or affection to the course of BHT and related terrorists. I’m also very confident that Non among the Social Media Drumbeaters will be ready and willing to avail himself to give a convincing testimonies before any Court of Law that I have sympathy and affection for terrorists.

    Therefore, I wish to use this platform to appeal and call on all subject to be considerate in their conduct in this matter. This matter have been exceedingly politicized and ideally it shouldn’t. Despite our contrary Political Interest, I expect that there is a limit to what we can Politicized. I personally viewed this to be too extreme. Our rule of Political engagement should not reach this too far. Anything that questions or capable of jeopardizing integrity and reputation should not easily used as an Political instrument.

    In conclusion, I wish to greatly appreciate the very timely proactiveness and concern of the appropriate Security Service for inviting me and interrogating me in a highly professional and ethical manner. My engagement with the Security Service team remain one of the best moment in this overflouted allegations against my personal integrity and reputation. I am very delighted that I was respectfully invited and interrogated.

    All should note that I deliberately avoided to speak to the message that brought about this unfortunate division amongst ourselves and I will never discuss the content of the message. My decision on not to speak on the message is basically on the ground that ” Action can only be satisfactorily judged and or measured by Intention”. My intension was not geared toward sympathy or affection to Shekau. In the Post, I only tried to be metaphorical and philosophical in my expression just as the Author of the Post did i.e. Ahmed Lawan Dalorima

    Despite the all that happened, I hold no grudge against anyone who have speak against or for. I took personal and unilateral responsibility for all that happened and accused nobody for any wrongdoing. I have learnt a lifetime lesson and have now have clear idea of the companies to relate with. In this matter, I have acquired rare privilege of recognition which itself is a great honour.

    To Honourable Abdulkadir Rahis, I cannot find the right words to express my appreciation for the opportunity to serve as your Aide and more importantly for the spirit of brotherhood you shared with me although our memorable years of togetherness. Your decision to terminate my appointment is well accepted and in good faith and I found nothing wrong in your decision. I wish you all the best in your endeavors.

    Mighty Thanks to all for the calls, messages and sincere show of brotherhood spirit.

  • REVEALED: Gory photos of slain Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau

    REVEALED: Gory photos of slain Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau

    Photos detailing the bloody end of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau’s has finally emerged online- the photos were reportedly taken by Shekau’s attackers after he was subdued in Sambisa.

    Shekau, according to reports citing intelligence sources was killed after his fighters clashed with members of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), which broke away from his group in 2016.

    He has been the figurehead of the organisation that has since 2009 killed more than 30,000 people, forced about two million people to flee their homes and spawned one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

    See photos:

  • Abubakar Shekau: Untold story of how ISWAP recruited over 300 Libya-trained women, teenagers to ‘bring down’ Boko Haram’s strongman

    Abubakar Shekau: Untold story of how ISWAP recruited over 300 Libya-trained women, teenagers to ‘bring down’ Boko Haram’s strongman

    More information have emerged on how Boko Haram strongman, Abubakar Shekau was attacked and killed by 300 fighters loyal to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

    According to reports, the fighters trained in Libya and other countries joined their colleagues in a long battle that led to the final fall of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau on Wednesday.

    According to a report by Daily Trust, a fierce battle that lasted several days between the two factions led to the death of dozens of vicious commanders and hundreds of foot soldiers from both sides, with multiple sources saying Shekau has killed himself or fatally injured himself to the extent that he might not survive.

    It was gathered that most of the fighters that fought for the defeat of Shekau on Wednesday were aged between 12 and 30.

    “They are actually children of some ISWAP members killed over time,” a security source said.

    According to him, “Others are youths sourced during raids on multiple islands around the Lake Chad. The ISWAP carefully selected the youths. It was therefore much easier for recruitment as some of the youths willingly joined the group and others were forcefully conscripted.

    “Some of them were born during the wartime and others were very young when their parents joined the group around 2002. After their parents died because of illness or confrontation with Nigerian troops, the children naturally took over and when the group split into two in 2016, those that moved on their own or forcefully taken to the shores of Lake Chad under the umbrella of ISWAP had an upper hand in terms of training because they were taken to Libya for training in guerrilla warfare and other purposes.

    “Others were sent to Syria and Somalia… They were taken to many countries abroad for training. However, those that came back especially between March and April this year took an active part in confronting Shekau in the last few days. They launched a serious offensive alongside other top commanders and fighters already on ground and they succeeded in taking over,” he said.

    Another credible source said some of the 300 youths were trained as “medical doctors, paramedics, engineers, IT specialists, bomb specialists and mechanics.”

    He added that among them were women “who serve as nurses or cooks while others have gun-handling skills, meaning they can partake in combat operations.”

    He said after their return from abroad, they were camped at a village called Shuwaram in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

    Read more here

  • U.S. sends message to ISWAP over $7m bounty for killing Shekau

    U.S. sends message to ISWAP over $7m bounty for killing Shekau

    The United States of America (USA) has said it will not pay the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) a promised $7 million bounty for killing Abubakar Shekau.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the United States Department Rewards for Justice Program made this known via Twitter on Friday.

    “News reports today indicate that Boko Haram terrorist Abubakar Shekau blew himself up in a confrontation with ISIS affiliates.

    “Hey, ISIS guys. To clarify: no – you are not eligible for the reward for information on his identity or location. That’s not how the program works,” the US Department Rewards for Justice Program tweeted.

    TNG reports Shekau is the leader of Jama’atu Ahl as-Sunnah il-Da’awati wal-Jihad, more commonly known as Boko Haram.

    Boko Haram, which means “Western education is forbidden,” is a Nigeria-based terrorist organization that seeks to overthrow the current Nigerian government and replace it with a regime based on Islamic law.

    The group has existed in various forms since the late 1990s. There are reported communications, training, and weapons links between Boko Haram, al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), al-Shabaab, and al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which may strengthen Boko Haram’s capacity to conduct terrorist attacks.

    Shekau was previously the group’s second-in-command. In July 2010, Shekau publicly claimed leadership of Boko Haram and threatened to attack Western interests in Nigeria.

    Later that month, Shekau issued a second statement expressing solidarity with al-Qaida and threatening the United States. Under Shekau’s leadership, Boko Haram’s operational capabilities grew.

    The group set off its first vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED) in June 2011, and has increasingly utilized IEDs in attacks against soft targets.

    Boko Haram’s August 26, 2011 vehicle-bomb attack on the United Nations headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria marked the group’s first lethal operation against Western interests. At least 23 people were killed, and 80 more were injured, in the attack. A purported Boko Haram spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack and promised future targeting of U.S. and Nigerian government interests.

    On May 1, 2012, less than one week after the group bombed a Nigerian newspaper building in Abuja, Boko Haram issued a video statement threatening more attacks on local and international news outlets, including the Voice of America and Sahara Reporters, a New York-based media service.

    Under Shekau’s leadership Boko Haram has continually targeted young children. On April 14, 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped close to 300 girls from their school in northern Nigeria. In a video message released three weeks later, Shekau claimed responsibility for the kidnappings, calling the girls slaves and threatening to sell them in the market.

    On June 21, 2012, the U.S. Department of State designated Shekau a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224, and placed a $7 million bounty on him.

    However, an intelligence report emerged on Thursday that the Boko Haram leader reportedly died following alleged invasion of the terror group’s stronghold in the Sambisa forest area by a column of ISWAP fighters.

    ISWAP, which had broken away from the Shekau-led Boko Haram faction in 2016 after pledging allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS), raided the group’s hideout using multiple gun trucks.

    Shekau’s enclave was tracked down by ISWAP using its forces based in the Timbuktu Triangle. His fighters were killed in the process, followed by a long gunfire exchange between the invading group and Shekau’s bodyguards, according to intelligence reports.

    It was gathered that after his bodyguards were subdued, Shekau surrendered and engaged in an hours-long meeting with the ISWAP fighters.

    During the parley, he was asked to voluntarily relinquish power and order his fighters in other areas to declare bai’a (allegiance) to ISWAP’s authority. They had expected Shekau to issue a statement.

    Sources within the insurgency, however, said that Shekau who secretly had a suicide vest on eventually blew himself up alongside everyone present during the negotiations.

    The identities of the people within ISWAP’s leadership who lost their lives to the explosion remain unclear.

    TNG reports Shekau had been the leader of Boko Haram since 2009 following the death of the group’s founder, Mohammed Yusuf. He had been rumoured to have been killed at least four times between July 2009 and August 2015.

    In August 2016, the Nigerian Air Force claimed he had been “fatally wounded” by military bombardments, but the terror group released a video only a month later showing he was alive and in good health.

    The Defence Headquarters could not confirm the killing of Shekau, Nigeria’s most wanted terrorist as at the time of filing this report.

    Acting Director Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, said the military cannot confirm the development yet.

    The DHQ had while defending repeated claims of killing of Shekau by troops, explained that ‘Shekau’ is a mere title bestowed on the leader of the group and not a name of an individual.

    Meanwhile, Nigerian military has placed all Borno State Commands of the Nigerian Army and Air Force on alert, over possible movement of dislodged insurgents.

  • Boko Haram leader, Shekau blows self up as ISWAP fighters capture Sambisa forest — Report

    Boko Haram leader, Shekau blows self up as ISWAP fighters capture Sambisa forest — Report

    Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has died, intelligence sources have indicated. TNG, however, has not independently verified his death.

    Nevertheless, according to the sources, the incident occurred on yesterday evening following alleged invasion of the terror group’s stronghold in the Sambisa forest area by a column of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters.

    ISWAP, which had broken away from the Shekau-led Boko Haram faction in 2016 after pledging allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS), raided the group’s hideout using multiple gun trucks.

    Shekau’s enclave was tracked down by ISWAP using its forces based in the Timbuktu Triangle. His fighters were killed in the process, followed by a long gunfire exchange between the invading group and Shekau’s bodyguards.

    HumAngle gathered that after his bodyguards were subdued, Shekau surrendered and engaged in an hours-long meeting with the ISWAP fighters.

    During the parley, he was asked to voluntarily relinquish power and order his fighters in other areas to declare bai’a (allegiance) to ISWAP’s authority. They had expected Shekau to issue a statement.

    Sources within the insurgency, however, said that Shekau who secretly had a suicide vest on eventually blew himself up alongside everyone present during the negotiations.

    The identities of the people within ISWAP’s leadership who lost their lives to the explosion remain unclear at this time.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Shekau had been the leader of Boko Haram since 2009 following the death of the group’s founder, Mohammed Yusuf. He had been rumoured to have been killed at least four times between July 2009 and August 2015.

    In August 2016, the Nigerian Air Force claimed he had been “fatally wounded” by military bombardments, but the terror group released a video only a month later showing he was alive and in good health.

    The Defence Headquarters could not confirm the killing of Shekau, Nigeria’s most wanted terrorist as at the time of filing this report.

    Acting Director Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, said the military cannot confirm the development yet.

    The DHQ had while defending repeated claims of killing of Shekau by troops, explained that ‘Shekau’ is a mere title bestowed on the leader of the group and not a name of an individual.

    Meanwhile, Nigerian military has placed all Borno State Commands of the Nigerian Army and Air Force on alert, over possible movement of dislodged insurgents.

     

  • Leah Sharibu’s mother sends message to government as daughter clocks 18 in Boko Haram captivity

    Leah Sharibu’s mother sends message to government as daughter clocks 18 in Boko Haram captivity

    Mrs Rebecca Sharibu, the mother of one of the 110 schoolgirls kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorists from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College (GGSTC) in Dapchi, Yobe State has prayed for the safe return of her daughter.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Leah was just 15 years when she was taken hostage by Boko Haram insurgents in Yobe State alongside other girls in February 2018.

    While others have regained their freedom, she is still in Boko Haram’s captivity for refusing to renounce her Christian faith.

    Friday marks her 18th birthday and her mum, Rebecca is renewing calls on the Federal Government to release Leah, three years after.

    “What I have to say to the government is that I want the President to fulfil his promise about the return of Leah, especially those praying for Leah. I pray that God should strengthen them.

    “The fact that the whole world is praying for the return of Leah is why I am hopeful that one day as God pleases, Leah will return.”

    President Muhammadu Buhari had on February 19, 2020, promised that his administration would secure would ensure the release of all persons currently in the captivity of Boko Haram and other terror groups across the country and beyond.

    The President stated this in a message he personally signed as part of activities marking the second anniversary of the abduction of 110 students of Government Girls’ Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State.

  • Troops kill nine Boko Haram terrorist, repel fresh attacks on Maiduguri

    Troops kill nine Boko Haram terrorist, repel fresh attacks on Maiduguri

    Nine of the Boko Haram fighters who attempted to carry out terror attack at the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on Tuesday were killed by troops of Operation HADIN KAI (formerly Lafiya Dole).

    According to a statement by the Director Army Public Relations Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, troops recovered one Buffalo Gun Truck, three motorcycles, three Browning Machine Guns, a Rocket Propelled Gun and four AK 47 rifles from the insurgents.

    The statement added further that, “troops of Operation HADIN KAI on Tuesday, 11 May, 2021, foiled attempts by Boko Haram terrorists to attack an outskirt of Maiduguri, Borno State.

    “The terrorists who tried to advance from Aldawari axis attempted to attack soft targets along Jiddari Polo, were countered by combined gallant troops in conjunction with the Nigerian Police, Youth Vigilante and hunters leading to terrorists’ withdrawal in disarray.”

    It continued that, “following a hot pursuit by troops, heavy casualty was inflicted on the terrorists as nine of them were neutralized while many escaped with gunshot wounds. One Buffalo Gun Truck, three motorcycles, three Browning Machine Guns, a Rocket Propelled Gun and four AK 47 rifles were recovered from the terrorists. Other items recovered include one Improvised Explosive Device, sixteen 12V batteries among other items.

    “The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru has commended the gallantry of troops and urged them to keep up the tempo of the operation.

    “Members of the public are requested to remain calm and are assured of security during the festive period and beyond.”

  • 13 suspected Boko Haram terrorists nabbed in Kano – Army

    13 suspected Boko Haram terrorists nabbed in Kano – Army

    The Nigerian Army says troops of 3 Brigade Kano have arrested 13 suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Saturday.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Yerima said the suspected terrorists were arrested around Filin Lazio in Hotoro area of Kano, following a successful operation.

    He said that the ongoing operation was predicated on the need to apprehend criminals who might want to hibernate in any part of Kano State.

    “The general public especially residents of Filin Lazio Hotoro, are enjoined to go about their lawful businesses as security forces are on top of the situation.

    “The Nigerian Army wishes to use this medium to appeal to the peace loving people of Kano state to maintain high level of vigilance and continue to report suspected movement of strange individuals or groups in their environment to the relevant security agencies for prompt action,” he said.

  • Army arrests 13 suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Kano

    Army arrests 13 suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Kano

    The Nigerian Army says troops of 3 Brigade Kano have arrested 13 suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Saturday.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Yerima said the suspected terrorists were arrested around Filin Lazio in Hotoro area of Kano, following a successful operation.

    He said that the ongoing operation was predicated on the need to apprehend criminals who might want to hibernate in any part of Kano State.

    “The general public especially residents of Filin Lazio Hotoro, are enjoined to go about their lawful businesses as security forces are on top of the situation.

    “The Nigerian Army wishes to use this medium to appeal to the peace loving people of Kano state to maintain high level of vigilance and continue to report suspected movement of strange individuals or groups in their environment to the relevant security agencies for prompt action,” he said.