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Tag: boko haram

  • SERAP to LAWAN: Drop bill seeking foreign education for repentant Boko Haram members now

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to the Senate President Dr Ahmad Lawan, urging him to use his leadership position to “ensure that the bill that would allow ‘repentant Boko Haram terrorists’ opportunities to access public funds to enjoy foreign education is immediately dropped.

    SERAP also asked the Senate President to sponsor bills that would ensure access to justice and reparation for the victims of Boko Haram terrorist group.

    According to SERAP, “the bill, which has passed the first reading at the Senate would give opportunities to ‘repentant terrorists’ to receive foreign education including by accessing funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and subventions from the government.”

    In the letter dated 28 February 2020 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “This bill erodes justice and makes a mockery of the suffering of victims, and the unspeakable human tragedy, humanitarian crisis and appalling atrocities committed by the Boko Haram terrorist group.”

    SERAP said: “By calling Boko Haram members ‘ex-agitators’, the bill mocks the victims of appalling atrocities committed by the terrorist group, and is a blatant affront to victims’ dignity. ‘Repentant Boko Haram terrorists’ are not ‘ex-agitators’; they are terrorists under Nigerian and international laws.”

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    According to SERAP: “Boko Haram members should not be allowed to enjoy foreign education while over 13 million Nigerian children of school age are roaming our streets. Alleged perpetrators of gross violations should not get the benefits at the expense of these and other deserving children. Rather than allowing perpetrators to access public funds to enjoy foreign education, the Senate should be promoting reparation for victims, to prevent future criminality and ensure the best interest of justice.”

    SERAP also said: “Should the Senate go-ahead to pass the bill, and should the bill be supported by the House of Representatives and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Registered Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions nationally and internationally to challenge the legality of any such law and ensure that it is never implemented.”

    The letter read, in part: “Prioritising the education of Boko Haram members over the rights of Nigerian children to quality education is discriminatory, as it violates Nigerian constitutional provisions, international and regional human rights obligations, and will undermine national development.”

    “This bill serves neither justice nor the public interest. The bill also does not represent value for money for Nigerian taxpayers, especially coming from an institution whose individual member reportedly takes home about N182 million yearly, translating to N15.1 million monthly or N45.3 million quarterly.”

    “Internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in many parts of the country are in shambles, with people lacking access to basic necessities like food, clothing and children of victims lacking access to basic education.”

    “Without justice, the seeds of future criminality and militant terrorism will grow. This bill, if passed, would only lead to more terrorism and suffering.”

    “The Senate should focus on passing bills that would ensure access of victims to effective remedies including adequate reparation, and effective prosecution of ‘repentant Boko Haram members’ rather than rewarding them with opportunities to study abroad.”

    “Prioritising alleged perpetrators’ rights at the expense of the victims’ rights, interests and needs is discriminatory, illegal and unconstitutional, as it amounts to ‘re-victimization’. While the alleged ‘repentant Boko Haram terrorists have the right to an impartial and fair trial, they have absolutely no right to enjoy foreign education.”

    “Pursuing accountability of perpetrators would also show that Nigerian authorities will take action against those who commit gross human rights violations against their own people.”

    “In proposing bills to respond to the atrocities committed by the Boko Haram terrorist group, the Senate should ensure strict adherence to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations and commitments, including the 1985 United Nations Declaration of the Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, which provides for the basic standards for victims treatment.”

    “The Boko Haram terrorist group has committed numerous human rights atrocities against the Nigerian people. By prioritising prosecution of alleged perpetrators, the Nigerian authorities will be sending a powerful message to the victims and the international community that atrocities committed by the terrorist group will not be ignored.”

    “According to our information, the proposed bill aims to establish a “National Agency for the Education, Rehabilitation, De-radicalisation and Integration of Repentant Insurgents in Nigeria.” The agency will get its funding from the Universal Basic Education Commission, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and annual subventions from the government.”

    “Section 5(m) of the bill gives ‘repentant terrorists’ the opportunity of receiving foreign education, by among others accessing the services of offshore and Nigerian institutions in the pursuit of the educational needs of ex-agitators.” Under the bill, one per cent of TETFund and UBEC fund will be used in funding the agency for rehabilitating the terrorists. The agency will also be funded by 0.5 per cent of the federal allocation of the six North-East states.”

    “The bill, sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Geideam, representing Yobe East, has passed the first reading in the Senate. Among the likely beneficiaries under the bill will be 25 Boko Haram members and their wives, who recently arrived in Maiduguri, the Borno State, after they reportedly surrendered to troops in Niger Republic.”

    SERAP therefore urged Dr Lawal to urgently initiate four separate bills to ensure:

    1. adequate reparations for victims of Boko Haram atrocities;

    2. the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those much in need;

    3. access to free, inclusive and quality education to Nigerian children from socially and economically disadvantaged sectors of the population. Any such bill should remove school fees and charges to ensure all students can access school equally, and target financial support for girls at risk of dropping out through girls’ education strategies;

    4. accelerate effective prosecution of alleged repentant Boko Haram members and other members

  • Buhari not committed to securing my daughter’s release – Leah Sharibu’s Mother

    Mother of Leah Sharibu, the only Dapchi school-girl remaining in Boko Haram captivity, Mrs. Rebecca Sharibu, has doubted the commitment of the federal government, especially President Muhammadu Buhari to securing her release from Boko Haram terrorists.

    Mrs. Sharibu, who spoke in an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in London, said she has serious doubts Buhari was serious about securing the release of her daughter.

    She however said she was in London to seek the assistance of the the British Government to free Leah from the terrorists’ captivity.

    She is due to meet British Prime Minister on Leah’s predicaments.

    According to Mrs. Sharibu in the interview monitored by our correspondent in Kaduna on Thursday, President Buhari did not contact their family until seven months after the abduction.

    She also lamented after the President contacted her and sent three Ministers, assuring her that Leah was going to be released soon, there has been nothing else from the President.

    She however said it was against that background she decided to visit London to lay her complaints and seek the British government’s help.

    According to her : “I have come to Britain to lay my complaints, I need their help. They should help me, I will like my daughter to be freed from captivity.

    “My daughter was abducted among others by Boko Haram terrorists, it was seven months later that President Muhammadu Buhari called me.

    ” Since their abduction in February, it was seven months later that he called me.

    “When he called me, he told me that my daughter would return, that she would not stay long.

    “Two weeks later, he sent three ministers to our house and they corroborated what Mr. President had told me. The ministers reiterated that Leah would be returned to me, shortly.

    “The Ministers said they were in my house to reassure me that my daughter would soon return. But since that day, I never heard anything again from the government.

    “My major worry now is for the government to do whatever possible and free my daughter from captivity.

    “Because, I am seriously disturbed, but there is nothing I can do. If the government is doing nothing, what can I an ordinary citizen do?”

    Mrs. Sharibu however commended a non-governmental organisation, Leah Foundation established in honour of her daughter, saying it had been of great assistance to the Leah family.

    She also disclosed the Foundation assisted the family towards making her trip to London a reality.

    According to her: “Leah Foundation is helping us by sponsoring some girls, even my trip to London, they assisted. Recently, we were assisted by them.”

    Leah Sharibu was among 110 school-girls, abducted from their school premises in Dapchi village of Yobe State in February 2018.

    While others have since been released, Leah is being held back in captivity by Boko Haram terrorists, allegedly for her refusal to denounce her Christian faith.

  • Dealing with Almajiri, Boko Haram from the basis, By Carl Umegboro

    Dealing with Almajiri, Boko Haram from the basis, By Carl Umegboro

    By Carl Umegboro

    QUITE distinct from commonly held belief as beggars, Almajiri was derived from Arabic word, “Al-Muhajirun” meaning emigrants. It typically refers to a person whodevotedly leaves home to other place or to an instructor in the quest for Islamic knowledge. Thus, Almajiri is characteristically, a Qur’anic literacy and system of Islamic education dominantly practiced among Muslims in northern Nigeria.

    Historically, Almajiri system started in a town named Kanem-Borno, which a majority of its rulers widely engaged in Qur’anic literacy. More than 700 years later, the Sokoto Caliphate was founded by a revolution based on the teachings of the Qur’an. However, Sokoto and Borno caliphates started running the Almajiri system together.

    Then, Almajiri schools were funded by the community, parents, zakah (alms-giving treated in Islam as tax), sadaqah (voluntary offerings) and sometimes through thefarm output of the learners. Incidentally, after the British invasion of the northern region in the year 1904, most of the survived Emirs were overthrown, hence lost controls of their territories resulting to the loss of fundamental control of the Almajiri.

    Following this development, the British formally introduced western education and also, overruled state funding of Almajiri schools. With no support from the community, Emirs and government, the Almajiri system collapsed. Consequently, the instructors and learnershaving no financial support, resorted to alms begging and menial jobs for survival.

    On account that the Almajiri system restricted its scope to Islamic knowledge, most of the Almajiris at the end of the day were left with the option to continue with menial jobs or begging for those that didn’t learn farming due to no qualifications for white-collar jobs in the society.Consequently, it lacked resources and basic amenities.

    Eventually, as the drive for Almajiris to accept western education deepened, it was, unfortunately misconstruedimmoral. In Hausa language, ‘western or non-Islamic education’ is termed ‘Boko’. Hence, the advocated ‘western education’ was declared ‘Haram’. “Haram” in Arabic term is ‘forbidden’ or ‘proscribed’. In Islamic law, Haram is used to refer to any act that is forbidden by Allah. Acts that are “Haram” are usually prohibited in the Qur’an as incompatible to Muslims’ way of life.

    Thus, by the combination of Boko (western education) and Haram (forbidden), the term ‘Boko Haram’ was birthed meaning ‘forbidden western education’. Logically, the Almajiris were hoodwinked to see western education as evil and disrespect to Allah, instead of integrating it to Islamic education. With the mindset, they grew to become hostile, not knowing they were robbed of a thriving futurethat western education enveloped.

    For instance, the bombs and other lethal weapons beingused to resist non-Islamic system were produced through the “forbidden western education”. Ditto on the aeroplanes for traveling to Mecca for hajj, and automobiles. And many others. Obviously, northern elites are principally culpable for their atrocities in the society.

    The leaders didn’t carry the subjects along but kept them in the dark for unknown reasons. In fact, Gwandu Local Government Area in Kebbi in particular used to be a no-go area for western education. Meanwhile, their elites enrolled their biological children into western education, even some in foreign schools. Thus, as the deprived population lacked skills and qualifications for conventional jobs as full-fledged, resorting to crimes for survival became the available option. Over the years, these elites’ children with western education recycleamongst themselves for juicy positions in the system.

    At present, the oversights and negligence of the past are gradually getting remedied by concerted efforts of the stakeholders through UNICEF Educate-A-Child (EAC) Programme. Rather than adopting similar approach as inprecolonial era which attempted to utterly abolish Almajiri education, the template is integrating Almajiri towestern education.

    By means of the Integrated Qur’anic Schools (IQS),unlike then, literacy, numeracy and science alongside Islamic education are taught. The Almajiris after remedial classes for nine months move to primary four. Hence, Almajiri scholars are no longer restricted to Islamic knowledge but also measure in western education.

    As a partnership, UNICEF contributes by grants to IQS centres for projects based on need-assessments with Centre-Based Management Committee (CBMC), whilst itutilizes Cash Transfer Programme by paying N8000 per child enrolled in primary schools under the control of theSchool-Based Management Committee (SMBC).

    For example, in Dallatu Hisbul Raheem; an Almajiri school in Kaoje town, Bagudu LGA which is amongst the IQS centres for the EAC programme, the initiative is awake. And the unique upshot is that the Almajiri instructors too enroll for western education like theirpupils. They teach in Almajiri session and submit themselves as adult-learners during western education session.

    Remarkably, a 13-year old Fulani-Almajiri scholar of the IQS, Balikisu Usman during interaction expressed her aspiration to become a career lady after education. Same is the position of a 12-year old Rabbi Abdullahi, also a Fulani who nurses ambition to become a lecturer after graduating from an institution of higher learning. Many others similarly, respectively pointed to one thriving career or the other including becoming lawyers, doctors, pilots, etc.

    It suggests the mindsets are receptively, graduallyliberated. This has been the pattern in the Christendom for centuries. Christian missionary schools are integrated with western education, hence skilled to flow with scheme of things in the polity. In Catholic Church that is most conservative amongst Christian denominations, many of their clerics are lawyers, lecturers, doctors and even soldiers. In other words, they sensitively merged their curriculum with western education.

    Thus, as the template gathers momentum, a radical boost is germane. According to UNICEF-EAC State Project Coordinator, Isah Usman, the successes were propelled bysensitization and mentoring of schools, centres and communities by EAC consultants and state partners, and significantly, support of the four Emirs in the state. The traditional rulers’ input is vital. Absolutely, anymeaningful exploits in the north demands a robust alliance with the traditional institution due to premium influence on the communities. By these templates, the future is economically, robustly secured.

    Umegboro is a public affairs analyst and Associate, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom)undertook a fieldtrip to Kebbi, North-west, Nigeria from 29th – 31st January, 2020. 08023184542 – SMS only.

  • Boko Haram, ISWAP no more working together – Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has said that the Nigerian Military has succeeded in breaking the union between the two foremost terror groups operating in the country, Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP).

    He charged the troops to maintain the tempo, adding that with the crack in the “unholy union” between the two groups, their days of bloodletting are numbered.

    According to the COAS, who spoke while declaring open the 2nd Edition of Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary Career Planning and Management Seminar in Abuja, the military is making giant strides in ending the insurgency.

    He said, “I am glad to note that we are making giant strides against Islamic State in West Africa Province ISWAP, in our bid to unhinge the unholy union between them and the remnant of Boko Haram terrorist.

    “We are certainly on cause and focused. It is therefore imperative that we maintain the momentum while motivating our officers and men through our efficient and balance career planning process. Again let me draw your attention to my strategic goal for the year 2020 which is to sustain professionalism of the Army and responsiveness in the discharge of its constitutional roles.

    “To this end, all activities and operational directive must align with this goal. I am charging the formation commanders to push the boundary of success by ensuring that our effort in Operation Lafiya Dole and other operations are sustained and consolidated. Similarly, our striving in research and development in collaboration with Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria DICON, must be sustained to maintain the existing equipment and continually strive to produce military hardware and platforms.”

    He continued that as part of effort to consolidate the gains already recorded in the counter terrorism operations in North East, the Nigerian Army will not tolerate laissez-faire attitude from Commanders and troops involved in the terror war.

    Buratai also tasked officers and soldiers in theatre of operation to be law abiding and maintain the highest professional standard in all operation and routine activities within and outside Nigerian Army.

    He said that the seminar was designed to avail Army Officers with contemporary approaches to military human resource management, noting that the seminar will expose participants to human resource management “in a world that is increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous”.

    He further directed all the Commanders to develop the capacity of their officers and soldiers in critical thinking “aimed at ensuring that personnel under their command are upwardly mobile in their ability to understand context and easily proffer credible and workable solutions to problems”.

    Earlier in his address of welcome, the Army Secretary, Major General Gabriel Ochigbano, said that the Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary has consistently been entrusted with the responsibility of planning the careers of Nigerian Army officers.

    He noted that the Department among others criteria, relies critically on annual reports written on officers and courses reports as well as other occurrences along the career path of each officer to effectively achieve the aforesaid objective.

  • Insecurity: Buhari’s Minister orders staff to fast against Boko Haram today

    Insecurity: Buhari’s Minister orders staff to fast against Boko Haram today

    The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, has directed the staff of her ministry to embark on solidarity fast with the government and people of Borno state.

    The fast, which is slated for today, is aimed at ending the activities of Boko Haram members in Borno and other parts of the North East.

    The directive is contained in a statement by the Assistant Director Information of the Ministry, Rhoda Iliya.

    It reads: “The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, the Permanent Secretary, Directors and staff of the Ministry have resolved to fast and embark on special supplications to the Almighty on Monday, February 24, 2020, in solidarity with the government and people of Borno state.

    “In a notice issued to staff of the Ministry, the Minister urged all staff of the Ministry to voluntarily fast on Monday and pray for a quick end to the carnage caused in Borno State and other parts of the North East by the Boko Haram terror group.”

    Iliya noted that directive was accepted enthusiastically by the staff of the Ministry.

    Recall that the Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum, had in a recent broadcast urged the people of Borno state to fast on Monday and and offer special supplications to God for an end to the destructive insurgency by Boko Haram in the North East.

  • Adamawa attack: Boko Haram terrorists operating in frustration – Buhari

    Adamawa attack: Boko Haram terrorists operating in frustration – Buhari

    Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has condemned Boko Haram’s attack on Garkida in Adamawa State, saying the terrorists are frustrated which was why they attacked soft targets.

    He also extended his sympathy to families of victims.

    In a statement by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Sunday, the President said that no part of Nigeria would be abandoned to their fate.

    He said: “These attacks on soft targets by the terrorists are obvious signs of frustration because my administration has significantly weakened Boko Haram’s military capability to invade and hold Nigerian territory unchallenged.

    “Our gallant forces deserve our appreciation for repelling the attackers but they must go beyond this point. They have our full support to go after the terrorists and have them pay a huge price.

    ”I want to assure the country that terrorists will continue to face the combined power of our military until they give up their mistaken ways.

    “These occasional and episodic attacks on poor civilians by the terrorists are mere propaganda efforts to portray them as strong in order to fool the public into believing that they haven’t been militarily weekend by our gallant troops.”

    President Buhari said since the inception of his administration, Boko Haram’s ability to invade and occupy Nigerian territories, let alone be able to hoist their flags had been frustrated.

    Buhari assured that in the coming weeks, Nigerians would witness an aggressive campaign to rout Boko Haram once and for all.

    “Security will continue to be well funded despite the competing needs of social services.

    ”I appeal to Nigerians to continue to support our troops in their gallant efforts to protect the citizens and secure the country,” he added.

  • Atiku reacts to Boko Haram’s attack in Adamawa

    Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has reacted to Boko Haram’s attack in Garkida, Adamawa State in which many people were reportedly killed.

    Atku condemned the brutal attack and commiserated with the people of Garkida.

    “The attack by Boko Haram against lives and properties of innocent Nigerians is unbecoming.

    “My prayers are with the people of Garkida in my home state of Adamawa over the cowardly attack that happened over the weekend. May God give the affected families the fortitude to bear the loss,” he said.

    Boko Haram terrorists had on Friday killed many people in Garkida, a town in Gombi local government area of Adamawa state, according to residents.

    The insurgents broke into the town around 7pm on Friday, shooting sporadically. Soldiers who were said to have engaged them in a gun battle later pulled back for reinforcement.

  • Boko Haram insurgents invade Adamawa communities, several killed, injured

    Many residents have been reportedly killed by Boko Haram insurgents who at about 7:00pm on Friday invaded Garkida town in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

    Many houses have also been reported burnt.

    Personnel of the Nigerian Army who were said to have engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle pulled back for reinforcement.

    This was what gave the terrorists opportunity, according to sources, to move into the town with full force and set many houses on fire.

    Many persons, according to reports, are feared killed by the invaders who announced their entry into the town by shooting indiscriminately.

    Garkida, a town in Gombi Local Government of Adamawa State is located on the Gombi-Biu -Damaturu Federal Road, very close to Sambisa Forest.

  • I’m confident we’ll end Boko Haram soon – Buratai

    Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, says he is confident that troops in the north-east will end Boko Haram insurgency soon.

    In a statement issued by Sagir Musa, army spokesman, on Friday, Buratai also reminded the troops that they have done it before, and that “they will do it again without any foreign troops around”.

    According to the statement, Buratai said this in letter to congratulate the theatre commander, sector commanders, super camps commanders, commanding officers, as well as the officers and soldiers serving in Operation Lafiya Dole for their gallantry.

    In the letter, the army chief hailed the troops and their commanders for the display of courage and patriotism that led to the decimation of the leadership and ranks of Boko Haram insurgents and their affiliate ISWAP in various parts of the theatre.

    He asked them to continue to dominate the theatre and maintain high standards of professionalism.

    He also asked them never to allow the insurgents any breathing space or freedom of action anywhere as they continue to discharge their legitimate duties.

    Buratai said he has foreseen that with the renewed zeal, it is just matter of days to end the menace of Boko Haram insurgents.

    He said his confidence in total victory has further been rekindled by the determination of the troops on the ground.

    “I am more confident now than ever before with your current robust posture that you will end the BHT/ISWAP menace in no distance time,” he said.

  • JUST IN: Panic as Boko Haram strikes again in Yobe

    Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have reportedly attacked motorists near Lantaiwa, a community located 70 kilometers north from Damaturu the Yobe state capital and 30 kilometers to Dapchi where 110 schoolgirls were abducted in 2018.

    The Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Sector 2 Operation Lafiya Dole, Lieutenant Chinonso Oteh told Channels Television that operatives of the army had been mobilized to the area, however, information on whether passengers have been abducted or not is still sketchy.

    Recall that the terrorists had last Sunday succeeded in destroying two telecommunication masts in Babbangida the headquarters of Tarmuwa Local Government Council of the State in order to stop the locals from sharing information with the security personnel.

    More details later…