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Tag: boko haram

  • 601 ‘deradicalised’ Boko Haram members graduate in Gombe

    601 ‘deradicalised’ Boko Haram members graduate in Gombe

    The Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Major General Bamidele Shafa disclosed on Saturday that 601 deradicalised ex Boko Haram combatants has graduated at the DRR camp in Mallam Sidi, Gombe.

    Out of the 601 graduates of the batch 4 client which arrived in 2 chalk on 27 November and 14 December 2019 592 are Nigerians from 10 states of the federation while 14 are foreign Nationals from Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

    Out of this number, three died of health complications while one was referred for further medical treatment at the Neuro-psychiatric Hospital in Maiduguri.

    Shafa said another one was withdrawn on disciplinary ground and transferred for re-categorization and prosecution.

    “On arrival at the camp, the clients went through documentation processes to obtain vital background information after which they were subjected to comprehensive medical screening to determine their health status

    “Their DNA samples were also collected while their biometrics were captured on National Data using the National Identity Management Commission, (NIMC) facilities for future references. The background information serves as guide for the experts; Local Treatment Team (LTT) to properly place the clients for treatment therapies and vocational training. The LTT are specialised experts in various fields of deradicalisation and rehabilitation therapies drawn from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS),” he said.

  • Buhari reacts to killing of aid workers in Borno

    Buhari reacts to killing of aid workers in Borno

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the heinous murder of five staff of humanitarian agencies in Borno State.

    These workers were kidnapped by Boko Haram Terrorists a month ago.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu on Wednesday, the president sympathised with the families of the five aid workers.

    He prayed that God would comfort them for their irreplaceable loss.

    The president assured that the government would continue to do all it could to ensure that “every remaining vestige of Boko Haram is wiped out completely from North-Eastern Nigeria and that the perpetrators of this atrocity face the law.’’

    Buhari also condoled with the State Emergency Management Agency, Action Against Hunger, Rich International, and International Rescue Committee, whose staff have suffered this gruesome fate.

    He thanked them for their continued dedication and service to the victims of Boko Haram in North-Eastern Nigeria.

    He also assured them that security agencies in the state would work closely with their organisations to implement measures to ensure that no such kidnapping of staff occurs again.

  • BREAKING: Boko Haram executes five aid workers in Borno

    BREAKING: Boko Haram executes five aid workers in Borno

    Boko Haram terrorists on Wednesday released a video showing the assassination of five humanitarian workers who were recently abducted along Monguno area of Borno state.

    The insurgents had earlier demanded for about $500,000 dollars ransom before the abducted workers can be released.

    In the video released on Wednesday, the abducted humanitarian workers were all executed.

    The insurgents left a message in the video before executing the workers.

    The message reads: “We are sending this as a very strong message to you unbelievers and infidels. And to those of you that are being used by these infidels to repent.

    “You are working for them but they do not have any concern about you.

    “You worked for them to achieve their goals but they are very far from your plight. They do not show you any care. Look at you now. When we kidnap you they don’t care. They show no concern.

    “We are calling on all you unbelievers to repent and turn to Allah.

    “We will continue to abduct you people at every road that we see you if you don’t repent to work for them. It is a warning to all of you.”

  • Troops eliminate top Boko Haram/ISWAP commanders, others – DHQ

    Troops eliminate top Boko Haram/ISWAP commanders, others – DHQ

    Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have eliminated top commanders and members of Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in recent encounters in the northeast, according to Defence Headquarters.

    The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Enenche disclosed that the troops had on July 17, killed six terrorists at Kolofata, a community on Republic of Cameroon border, in an attempt to cross towards Sambisa Forest axis.

    He said that weapons and equipment recovered from the terrorists include three AK47 rifles, a Magazine with 48 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one Honda car, one motorcycle and eight bicycles.

    Other items recovered include three mobile phones with multiple SIM and memory cards as well as five copies of the Holy Qur’an, among others.

    Enenche added that the troops also intercepted a letter written in Hausa Language, addressed to Abu Fatima, one of the top Boko Haram commanders, documents and other logistics.

    “Shortly after the successful operation, the enemy communication intercept confirmed killing of a top Boko Haram Commander named Sayinna and other fighters during the encounter.

    “The other slayed terrorists were suspected to be Imam and Mansur to Abu Fatima who hibernate in Sambisa Forest,” he said.

    According to him, troops continue their onslaught on the terrorists in the northeast, killing eight prominent leaders of the sect in their futile attempt to infiltrate Army Super Camp, Damasak.

    Enenche noted that with troops’ doggedness, superior fire power and manoeuvring skills, the terrorists were devastated and the rest escaped in total disarray.

    According to him, the successes of the military, since the turn of the year 2020 is causing confusion and disharmony in the insurgents’ camps.

    “This is evident by the frequent changes in ISWAP leadership within a short period of time, and this is largely due to the several losses inflicted on them by own troops in both men, weapons and equipment,” he said.

    Enenche said that top Boko Haram terrorists/ISWAP leaders were killed during the encounter at Damasak and buried by the terrorists at Goski village in the early hours of July 3.

    He listed the commanders to include: Tumbun Dabino (Ba Issoufou), Tumbun Bororo (Amir Batam), Tumbun Jaki (Almustapha), Tumbun Bagaruwa (Modou Kollo), Dogon Tchoukou (Issah), Tumbun Rakke (Mustapha Woulama) Tumbun Dila (Boukar Kowa) and Tumbun Mita (Abou Aisha).

    Enenche stressed that series of successes so far recorded had led to several of the insurgents surrendering in their numbers.

    He revealed that the insurgents voluntarily admitted that the insurgency was driven more by quest for money, power, greed and criminality, and less of any ideology.

    The spokesman said the military high command has commended the security agencies operating in the northeast for the sustained successful operations.

    “They are further urged to remain resolute and maintain the momentum of onslaught against the enemies of our country,” he said.

  • Boko Haram kidnaps blind 75-year-old man’s daughter, niece; demands N20m ransom

    Boko Haram kidnaps blind 75-year-old man’s daughter, niece; demands N20m ransom

    Boko Haram members are demanding a ransom of N20 million from a 75 year old internally displaced blind man, Papa Jato Ndarfa before his daughter and niece will be released to him.

    The traumatized blind old man who is currently living at the CAN Centre IDPs Camp Maiduguri told journalists that he has appealed to the insurgents to have mercy on him and release his daughter and niece as he could not raise such amount of money being demanded.

    The distraught old man narrated that his daughter, Lami Jato, 25 a graduate of Sir Kashim Ibrahim College of Education Maiduguri including his niece, Renita Bitrus were both abducted by some suspected Boko Haram terrorists two weeks ago at a farm in Tungushe, Magumeri Local Government area of Borno State alongside a tractor driver.

    Tungushe is located along Maiduguri- Monguno road, just 15km, north east from Maiduguri, the state capital.

    Papa Jato informed that his children abductors made contact through his niece’s phone and requested for N20 million before his daughter, niece and the tractor driver will be released to him.

    The old man who fought with tear down his eyes lamented where and how he could raise such a huge amount of money to pay the terrorists but instead called on the insurgents to show mercy by releasing his children unconditionally.

    He disclosed that, his daughter Lami has remained the pillar of the family since 2014 when Boko Haram sacked their village and his three wives were missing up to this moment.

    He added that Lami and his niece decided to engage in the farming venture so as to raise money for the sustenance of the family at the camp and his personal care as well.

    His words: “It was two of them, my daughter, Lami Jato and my niece, Renita Bitrus who is married with two children that were abducted by the Boko Haram. It is 15 days now from the day they were abducted when they went for farming in Tungushe, along Maiduguri-Monguno road.

    “Initially they were 7 in number at the farm that were abducted. Five men, my daughter and my niece, but they later released four of the men and held one of the men, the tractor driver and my two children.

    “I am not fighting or quarrelling with the Boko Haram, they are my children. I am appealing to them to please have mercy on me and release my daughter, niece and the tractor driver.

    “I am a poor blind old IDP living in a Nylon House in a camp. There is no means of getting money to feed talk more of getting N20 million to offer. Please my children pity me and release the women who are also your sisters.

    “I am also appealing to our hardworking Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum to come to my aid and intervene. I should not be allowed to die of frustration from what I am facing now. The situation is terrible for me here,” Papa Ndarfa appealed.

    Another appeal made by the old man was for the IDPs at the CAN Centre camp to be considered by State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency ( NEM) for the distribution of food, stressing that, “it has been a long time we received food from SEMA and NEMA at this camp.”

    Papa Jato, an indigene of Gava from Gwoza Local Government while speaking on his journey to IDP camp in Maiduguri said they fled to Maiduguri when Boko Haram attacked their village in 2014 and killed over 100 villagers and burnt down several houses.

    He added that since 2014 they have been living in the CAN Centre IDPs camp.

  • Police rescue soldiers, recover arms from Boko Haram after Attack in Borno

    Police rescue soldiers, recover arms from Boko Haram after Attack in Borno

    The Nigeria Police Counter-terrorism operatives have rescued two soldiers who were earlier abducted by Boko Haram fighters in Borno State.

    It gathered that the terrorists had killed some security personnel and abducted others after an attack on soldiers on a patrol. The information is coming after Nigerian troops had also repelled an attempt by terrorists to seize an Army Barrack in Maiduguri on Monday.

    According to a ‘Situation Report’ (SITREP), it disclosed that “At 14.30 Hrs of July 13, 20120, an Army Patrol Team was attacked by Boko Haram along Auno Road and killed two soldiers and kidnapped others while carting away two of military’s gun truck, AK 47Rifles and unspecified numbers of ammunition.

    “Counter-Terrorism Unit of the Nigeria Police on pin down point (operation), at the area went after the terrorists. After a gun battle recovered one gun-truck, rifles and rescued two soldiers alive. “All exhibits handed over to the Commissioner of Police Command,” the security report concluded.

    Meanwhile, in another development, Nigerian troops have thwarted an attempt by Boko Haram terrorists to seize an Army barracks in Maiduguri.

    It was learnt that the terrorists had attempted to seize the 333 Artillery Barracks of the Nigerian Army but were resisted after heavy exchanges of fire that lasted for about two hours between late Monday’s night and early Tuesday’s morning.

  • 602 repentant Boko Haram members denounce membership

    602 repentant Boko Haram members denounce membership

    Some 602 repentant Boko Haram members, on Monday, denounced their membership of the group and swore Oath of Allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    The ex-insurgents who have completed a de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration programme, denounced their membership of the insurgent group at the Malam Sidi Camp in Kwami Local Government area of Gombe State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they denounced their membership of Boko Haram before an 11-man Quasi Judicial Panel headed by Justice Nehizena Afolabi, of the Federal High Court, Gombe.

    Speaking during the exercise, Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Shafa, the Coordinator, Operation Safe Corridor, said the appearance of the repentant insurgents before the judicial panel was a major requirement, before their reintegration into the society.

    “The panel is for the clients to appear before it to confess their pasts and denounce their membership of Boko Haram, Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) as the case maybe.

    “And swear Oath of Allegiance to be loyal, discipline and obedient citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and then make commitment.

    “The commitment is that at the end of the programme, where they commit any offence, they stand to forfeit all privileges that they have acquired today and will be liable of offence against the State.”

    Shafa reveled that since the operationalisation of the DRR programme in 2016, it had admitted 893 clients into camp while 280 including two Chadians had been transferred to their various national and state authorities.

    The Borno State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, said there was already a structure on ground in Borno to continue from where the DRR programme stopped.

    “We will provide them with psycho-social supports, continue with religious admonition in order to make them good citizens of the country.

    “We will also give them starter packs to help them practice the skills that had been acquired in the camp here,” she said.

    The commissioner said that those earlier released to the Borno Government from the camp had been assimilated into the society and were doing well.

    She disclosed that one of them makes N250, 000 from barbing on monthly basis and had employed several youths.

    In an interview with newsmen, Mr Jasper Ukachukwu, Senior Programme Officer, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) said the idea of setting up the panel was to ensure some level of accountability in the DRR programme.

    “So that even when they step out of here they will also be held accountable to any offence they may commit,” he said.

    Ukachukwu said that the programme was sending the right message to those insurgents who are still fighting for the Boko Haram group, adding that there had been success stories from the programme.

    “When you are in the group and you are tired and want to come out of the bush, you need to see what is happening to others; so the DRR programme is sending the right message,” he said.

  • Buhari reacts to Boko Haram’s ‘dastardly attack’ on UN Helicopter

    Buhari reacts to Boko Haram’s ‘dastardly attack’ on UN Helicopter

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in Abuja condemned what he called “the dastardly attack on UN aid helicopter in the Northeast on Saturday by the Boko Haram terrorists,” saying his government will revenge.

    In a reaction to the reports of the incident, Malam Garba Shehu, one of the president’s spokesmen, quoted Buhari to have said: “This latest cowardly attack on the UN humanitarian helicopter is yet another desperate rear guard action by the Boko Haram terrorists who have been under intense pressure from the Nigerian military.

    “Let me reassure the international community and Nigerians that this latest cowardly attack on a UN helicopter which claimed the lives of two people, including a five-year-old baby, would not go without severe consequences.

    “Boko Haram terrorists are clearly on the back foot and their increasing attacks on innocent civilians, including UN humanitarian workers, was part of their desperation to prove that they are strong in order to cover up their dwindling fortunes.”

    According to the president, the security of foreigners and Nigerians remain the top priority of his administration, adding “we shall leave no stone unturned until we eliminate these remorseless enemies of humanity”.

    Buhari however underscored the need for all humanitarian and other aid workers in the region to, at all times, properly coordinate movements – air or land, with the Theatre Commander and other military authorities.

  • Boko Haram terrorists attack UN helicopter, kill 5-year-old child

    Boko Haram terrorists attack UN helicopter, kill 5-year-old child

    The United Nations on Saturday said two civilians including a five-year-old child were killed and an aid helicopter damaged in a Boko Haram attack in northeast Nigeria.

    Boko Haram fighters launched the attack in the town of Damasak on Thursday.

    UN humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria Edward Kallon said both the fatalities and several others who were injured in the attack were on the ground.

    “A UN Humanitarian Air Service helicopter was hit by bullets during the attack. No aid workers were on board at the time and crew members are all safe,” Kallon said in a statement.

    A UN communication seen by AFP said the aircraft was shot as it approached Damasak and the pilots managed to fly back to regional capital Maiduguri 150 kilometres (90 miles) away.

    The memo said the UN was suspending rotational flights for one week “to engage with government partners and conduct new risk assessments”.

    Helicopters provide a vital link carrying humanitarian personnel and delivering aid to an estimated 7.8 million people in urgent need of assistance across northeast Nigeria.

    The UN has complained of an uptick in attacks targeting aid workers in the northeast region.

    The area around Damasak on the border with Niger is dominated by the Islamic State West Africa Province, which broke away from jihadist group Boko Haram in 2016.

  • Insecurity: Coalition on terrorism urges Buhari to sign executive order for prosecution of Boko Haram sponsors

    The Coalition of Civil Society Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) has implored President Muhammadu Buhari to sign an executive order into law that will allow law enforcement agents arrest and prosecute sponsors and collaborators of terrorists.

    CATE believes this is the final nail on the doomed Boko/ISWAP’s coffin, especially with the troops’ recent impressive outings.

    Like the strategy deployed in the war against corruption, the coalition noted that a swift arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators and those who aid such acts could potentially be the watershed.

    Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, Secretary-General, Comrade Musa Moses, said that the order should be firm and clear, stipulating a maximum of 60 days for the trial of suspects without bail.

    The group added that convicted persons should face a dealth penalty, same with others who carry out any campaign that helps to promote the act of terrorism.

    The Coalition of Civil Society against Terrorism and Extremism, therefore, called on President Buhari to urgently empower the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to take up such cases until justice is done.

    If this is done, CATE vowed that the troops can now concentrate on the remaining miscreants and flush them out within a very short time, thereby making a resounding and lasting success on the war against terrorism.