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Tag: boko haram

  • Boko Haram attacks Michika town in Adamawa

    Boko Haram attacks Michika town in Adamawa

    Boko Haram insurgents have reportedly attacked a town, Michika in Adamawa state.

    The terrorists were said to have hit the town in the evening of Thursday, January 2, 2019.

    According to a Military source located in the community the attack reportedly started around 6pm.

    The source who spoke to newsmen under condition of anonymity said, the insurgents invaded the town in the evening.

    His words “Michika is under attack right now. Our men are on their way to repel.”

    Also confirming the development, a north-east resident told the said sister was trapped as a result of the attack.

    However, Nigeria Army has not yet confirmed the attack.

    Recall that an affiliate of the ISIS in Nigeria, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) released a video to announce that it had just murdered 11 Christians on Christmas day.

    The terrorists said their christian captives were killed in retaliation for the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Syria in October.

  • Boko Haram, ISWAP attacked Northeast 27 times in 14 days – Military

    Boko Haram, ISWAP attacked Northeast 27 times in 14 days – Military

    Troops repelled 27 attacks from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Northeast within two weeks, the military said on Monday.

    The feat, according to the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Ibok Ekwe-Ibas, who briefed reporters after a Security Council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, was achieved by the military in collaboration with regional partners.

    The naval chief, who was speaking on the activities of terrorist groups within and outside the borders, said the military had made a lot of progress.

    He noted that many attempted attacks had been foiled even as many of their leading commanders had been neutralised.

    According to him, the President directed security chiefs to ensure peaceful and stable socio-economic environment across the country.

    He said the meeting appraised the nation’s security situations in 2019 with emphasis on ongoing internal and regional operations.

    Rear Admiral Ekwe-Ibas said the President specifically directed that the council and the members of armed forces ensure a peaceful society in 2020.

    The Naval boss said: “To that effect, we are more than determined to continue from where we stopped in 2019 and to ensure that we sustain our various operations to ensure a secured Nigeria for all of us.

    “On the activities of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), I will also like you to look at it from a broader African perspective. We have in recent past have attacks in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and other countries in West Africa. While it is painful to lose people and from within, I think the military is doing all within its power to ensure that we overcome the menace and the threats posed by ISWAP.

    According to him, the army has been doing its best to end the reign of terrorists groups operating in the northern part of the country, especially the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), noting that recent onslaught against them proved that troops have an upper hand.

    He said: “You will also recall that just two weeks back we have had over 27 attacks from Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast alone. Our gallant troops out there were able to repel these attacks and even took out some of their commanders.

    “So, it is a thing of concern but the armed forces of Nigeria are doing all in their powers to ensure that together with other regional partners, that the menace of ISWAP is contained.”

    He informed that the Nigerian Armed Forces will begin the gradual withdrawal of troops from some of their security operations across the country from the first quarter of next year.

    The CNS explained that the withdrawal will follow proper assessment of the success rates of operations.

    Explaining the reason for the decision to end the operations in some parts of the country soon, the naval chief said the Council observed that the forces had done their best to stabilise the security situation in the affected areas.

    He noted that it was agreed that the natural step for security agencies to take is to restore civil security arms to the satisfactorily cleared areas under military operations.

    The CNS said: “We had a security council meeting with Mr. President where we appraised the year 2019 generally with emphasis on ongoing operations both within as well as the regional operations ongoing.

    “With respect to operations within the country, it was generally agreed and noted that the security agencies have done their very best in ensuring that the deliverables are made clear.

    “You will recall that the various operations in the country in the northeast, northwest, north central, the southeast as well as the southwest where all members of the armed forces are taking part as well as the intelligence agencies have ensured that we all enjoyed a better holiday period that has just been observed.

    “We also recalled that in those areas where the military have been able to achieve desired objectives, from the first quarter of next year, the civil authority will be preparing to take back those responsibilities as the military draws back its forces from those areas to enable it force its attention on other emerging threats and areas of concern.”

    When asked to elaborate on the mode to be employed in the planned withdrawal of troops and the areas to be affected, the Naval chief said the withdrawal would follow an assessment of operations in different parts, adding that it is only when success levels had been certified as good enough to be handed to civil authorities that troops would be taken out of an area.

    He said: “Let me make it very clear that an assessment of what the military will do will be based on the situation on ground. It is not expected that the military will withdraw when it is apparent that there are still some threats in such locations.

    “I’m sure we are also aware that the nation is procuring equipment for the military. It is expected that before the second quarter of next year, most of these equipment should be in place. It therefore means that all our hands are put on ground, looking at the technology backed surveillance that will enable the military react more efficiently and effectively.

    “With that it is also believed that the Nigerian police will take the lead in containing security in such areas that must have been assessed to be in the right place to sustain. I don’t believe that a responsibility military will want to withdraw when it is apparent that there is still risk that cannot be overcome by the police.”

    He further said that the armed forces were concerned with the prolonged nature of the fight against terrorism within the country, adding that they were doing everything to see to the end of all operations so that the nation could focus more on development issues, saying “it is our wish to have the insurgency and terrorism issues resolved once and for all to enable us focus on matters of development,” the Rear Admiral said.

    At the Council meeting were: Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique; Chief of Defense Intelligence (CDI), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Mohammed Usman; Director-General of Department for State Service (DSS) Yusuf Magaji Bichi; National Security Adviser (NSA) Babagana Monguno; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha and the Nigerian Army Chief of Policy and Plans; Lt. Gen. Lasisi Adeosun, who represented Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.

  • Troops subdue Boko Haram in Adamawa, lower flags

    Troops subdue Boko Haram in Adamawa, lower flags

    Troops attached to Operation LAFIYA DOLE have lowered Boko Haram flags hoisted in some communities in Madagali Council Area of Adamawa State after overrunning the insurgents.

    The terrorists were subdued by the superior fire power of the troop.

    The Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, who gave a graphic account of the operation in a in a statement, noted that it was a clearance operation launched against the insurgents by the troops.

    According to the statement, “the relentless clearance and other offensive operations being conducted by the troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE against remnants of the Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists under the ambit of a special operation nicknamed Operation RUFE KOFA is gaining traction by the day.

    “In a laudable demonstration of bold action in combat, on 24th December 2019, troops of 192 Bn, Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE conducted clearance operations from Madagali through Waga Lawan, Jaje to Fadama all in Madagali LGA of Adamawa State. During the operation, the troops had a meeting engagement with elements of the Boko Haram criminals and a fire fight ensued.

    “The Boko Haram insurgents were decisively dealt with, forcing them to hurriedly flee the location in disarray. Troops destroyed all of the criminals’ structures, farmland, harvested grains stored in underground bunkers and one Lister grinding machine. In another encounter at Fadama Village, the criminals’ flag hoisted on a tree was captured and immediately lowered after the troops had effectively subdued the criminal insurgents with superior fire power forcing them to flee in disarray. Items recovered from the criminals include 2 bicycles, copies of Quran and several other personal effects. Interestingly, no causality was recorded by the gallant troops.”

    The statement added that, “similarly, the troops of 151 Bn, Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE handed a humiliating defeat to a bunch of Boko Haram criminal insurgents in the early hours of 25th December 2019 while on clearance operation conducted deep into the Sambisa Forest. During the encounter, one Boko Haram suicide bomber tried to force himself into the troops’ firm base, but the gallant troops aborted this heinous intent by promptly neutralising him and his cohorts with effective fire in the general area. The Improvised Explosive Device strapped to his body got detonated in the process and his body parts were found scattered across the field. Items recovered in the aftermath of the encounter include 81 mm mortar muzzle cover, 2 rounds of Anti-Aircraft ammunition, one AK 47 magazine and one passport photo”.

  • Plateau-born aid worker Jennifer Samuel abducted by Boko Haram

    Miss Jennifer Ukambong Samuel, an aid worker from Bokkos LGA of Plateau state has been abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno.

    Jennifer, an orphan was abducted along with several others, including Hannatu Sebastin Ishaya, in an ambush along Monguno-Maiduguri road on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019.

    “This happened on the day she was marking the 1st remembrance of her father’s demise”, said Solomon Maren, a member of the House of Representatives from Mangu/Bokkos constituency.

    Maren condemned the kidnap of Jennifer, working with Alliance for International Medical Action.

    “This came as a brutal shock to us, and as a representative of the peaceful people of this constituency, my heart bleeds”, Maren said in a statement.

    “This is particularly so as reports say another indigene of Bokkos was three weeks ago kidnapped by the same insurgents in the North-East.

    “I am pained that for the third time in three months, four of my innocent constituents have been abducted by Boko Haram in Borno.

    “These are harmless citizens who by reason of their professional callings have found themselves working in the troubled region, providing humanitarian help to victims of insurgency.

    “Mr Lawrence Duna Dacighir and Godfrey Ali Shikagham, both carpenters from Mangu Local Government Area, working with an international NGO were publicly executed in a widely circulated video in October 2019,” he said.

    Maren stated that the entire Mangu-Bokkos constituency had yet to recover from the experience and now they were confronted with the abduction of Miss Jennifer Ukambong.

    According to the lawmaker, these abductions among many instances show the level of security challenges being experienced in the country.

    “As legislators, we will continue to enact laws and carry out all necessary functions with regards to national security.

    “I, in particular, will not hesitate to throw up meaningful debates that will guarantee the safety and general well-being of Nigerians and my constituents in particular, wherever they are.

    “This includes the prompt and safe rescue of Jennifer and her fellow abductees,” he said

    Maren called on security agencies in charge of security in Borno to do their best to rescue Ukambong and other abductees.

  • Sad! Boko Haram spoils Christmas in Borno, seven killed, others severely injured

    Boko Haram jihadists have killed seven people on Christmas Eve in a raid on a Christian village near the town of Chibok in Borno state.

    According to reports dozens of fighters driving trucks and motorcycles stormed into Kwarangulum late Tuesday, shooting fleeing residents and burning homes after looting food supplies.

    Boko Haram and its IS-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction have recently stepped up attacks on military and civilian targets.

    “They killed seven people and abducted a teenage girl in the attack,” local vigilante David Bitrus said.

    “They took away food stuff and burnt many houses before leaving,” he said, adding that a church was also burnt.

    The jihadists were believed to have attacked from Boko Haram’s nearby Sambisa forest enclave, said Chibok community leader Ayuba Alamson who confirmed the toll.

    In April, Boko Haram raided Kwarangulum, 16 kilometres (10 miles) from Chibok, stealing food and burning the entire village.

    Residents had managed to flee before the arrival of the jihadists following a tip-off from people who saw the gunmen heading toward the village.

    Chibok is the scene of the mass kidnap of 276 schoolgirls in 2014 by Boko Haram which sparked global outrage and drew international attention to the group’s notoriety.

    Fifty-seven of the girls escaped shortly after the kidnap. Another 107 have been either rescued or released after negotiations while 112 remain in captivity.

    Troops have been stationed in Chibok since the kidnap but deadly Boko Haram raids continue in the area.

    The decade-long conflict has killed 36,000 people and displaced around two million from their homes in the northeast, according to the United Nations.

    The violence has spread to nearby Niger, Chad and Cameroon, prompting a regional military coalition to fight the jihadist groups.

  • Why we are yet to rescue Leah Sharibu, others still in Boko Haram’s captivity – Defence Headquarters

    Why we are yet to rescue Leah Sharibu, others still in Boko Haram’s captivity – Defence Headquarters

    …insists Boko Haram no longer operating in Nigeria

    The Boko Haram insurgents no longer operate on the Nigerian soil, according to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ).

    Its spokesman Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu said the insurgents had been pushed to the Tombus Islands on the fringes of Lake Chad.

    “Boko Haram is not occupying any part of this country,” he said in reference to a claim attributed to Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum that Boko Haram was occupying two local government areas in the state.

    Gen. Nwachukwu said: “I want to make it clear that Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP) have been defeated and pushed into what we call the Tombus Islands.

    “These are the islands between Nigeria and neighboring countries of Niger and Chad, where they have their enclave and from where they come out and carry out attacks on soft targets. Boko Haram is not holding any inch of the country.”

    On the activities of the joint operations coordinated by the DHQ, he said there were five of them.

    They are Operation Safe Haven, Operation Hadarin Daji, Operation Thunder Strike, Operation Whirl Stroke and Operation Delta Safe.

    The DHQ spokesman said activities by the operations had increased across the country in the last three months, resulting in what he called tremendous achievements.

    Gen. Nwachukwu said Leah Sharibu had not been rescued because troops were cautious not to put her and other captives in greater danger.

    Sharibu is one of the 109 schoolgirls abducted on February 19, 2018 by insurgents at the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, in Yobe State.

    Others were freed but Sharibu was held back by the insurgents for allegedly refusing to denounce her Christian faith and convert to Islam.

    Christian leaders in the North under the aegis of the Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) on Sunday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to secure her freedom as Christmas gift

    But Gen. Nwachukwu assured that the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole were working tirelessly to ensure that Sharibu and other persons still in Boko Haram captivity were rescued alive.

    He said: “Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have been treading cautiously because these people are all in the hands of terrorists and any reckless move may result in their annihilation by the terrorists just to ward off the troops. It is a very complex and risky operation but the troops are working day and night to ensure that they are rescued.”

    Under Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Nwachukwu disclosed that the troops averted 64 attempted infractions on Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) pipelines.

    He added that the troops also arrested 27 suspected militants/pirates, recovered nine AK47 riffles with 755 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

    According to him, OPDS also embarked on rigorous anti-kidnapping operations, resulting in the rescue of over 43 victims and arrest of four kidnaapping

    He said that troops under Operation Hadarin Daji in Zamfara State and its environ arrested 389 suspected bandits, 48 suspected kidnappers and rescued 1,048 kidnap victims within the period under review.

    Gen. Nwachukwu said the troops also recovered 5,567 rustled cattle, 2,499 sheep, 973 goats, 15 camels and 14 donkeys.

    Other items recovered from the bandits, he said, were 58 AK-47 rifles, five G3 riffles, five FN riffles, seven pump action guns and 95 locally-made guns.

    Others are three rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 12,803 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 100 rounds of cartridges and 128 magazines.

    He explained that Operation Whirl Stroke was initiated to address the herders/farmers and communal clashes in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba.

    The spokesman added that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke conducted over 32 offensive operations against armed herdsmen, militia gangs and suspected kidnapping camps in the last three months.

    He explained that the troops destroyed 82 kidnappers’ makeshift camps, arrested over 266 bandits, one illegal arm manufacturer and three gunrunning kingpins and recovered 217 assorted assault weapons and 4,201 rounds of ammunition.

    According to him, efforts of Operation Whirl Stroke also paved the way for 266,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to return to their ancestral homes.

  • ‘Go after Boko Haram, IMN that are guilty of extremism’ – Group tells US

    The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism has faulted the recent report by the United States, which placed Nigeria under a special watch list of countries.

    A statement by US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, explained that Nigeria was placed on the list for engaging in or tolerating “severe violations of religious freedom.”

    However, the Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism in Nigeria, while reacting, urged the United States of America to go after members of Boko Haram and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, that are guilty of extremism in the country.

    According to the group, such assertion is insensitive and an affront to the efforts of the relevant authorities in Nigeria towards protecting the rights and privileges of the various religious groups and associations in the country.

    Gabriel Onoja, the National Coordinator of the group, in a statement called on the United States to desist from making unsubstantiated statements that are highly misleading to the international community.

    The statement reads in full.
    As you all may be aware, CATE, as an organization over the years, has continually engaged the relevant stakeholders in Nigeria in ways to ensure that the menace of terrorism and violent extremism are curtailed and within the ambits of the law.

    The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism also over the years has seen to the protection of the rights and privileges of religious groups in Nigeria by continually engaging in advocacy visits, seminars and conferences that promote the unity of purpose and respect for the sanctity of religious beliefs that fosters unity and religious tolerance in Nigeria.

    The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism is therefore alarmed by the statement credited to the US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, wherein he stated that “Religious freedom conditions in Nigeria trended negatively in 2018. The Nigerian government at the national and state levels continued to tolerate violence and discrimination based on religion or belief, and suppressed the freedom to manifest religion or belief.”

    The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism views such statements as quite insensitive and an affront to the efforts of the relevant authorities in Nigeria towards protecting the rights and privileges of the various religious groups and associations in the country.

    It is also a sad commentary that the United States of America has so decided to either by omission or commission feigns ignorance on the undeniable freedom of practice and association of religious groups in Nigeria.

    The citation of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) is most despicable in the sense that an organization whose activities has resulted in violence in an attempt to impose its beliefs on others should not be used as an example of a worthy religious organization.

    As it is common knowledge, the IMN, over the years in Nigeria through their activities, has brought sorrow and blood to innocent Nigerians in Zaria and other parts of Northern Nigeria. This much was also evident in the attempt on the life of the Chief of Army Staff in Nigeria by the IMN.

    The CATE wishes to state that it would have been grossly irresponsible of the relevant authorities in Nigeria should such violent actions be allowed to thrive, which has resulted in untold hardship on innocent Nigerians going about their regular businesses.
    It is expected that they should have designated the IMN as a terrorist organization due to its violent tendencies and not accuse the Nigerian government. This is rational and ought to be the case in the interest of objectivity.

    This is also on the heels that Nigeria has been under the siege of terrorist groups masquerading under various religious nomenclatures to cause havoc in the polity.

    A good example is the Boko Haram terrorist group that has been engaged in a violent campaign since 2009 in North-East Nigeria that has seen to the death and displacement of over 2 million Nigerians.

    In the same report, it indeed confirmed that “Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-West Africa continued to perpetrate attacks against civilians and the military throughout the years.”

    At this point, the Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism wishes to state that the culprits are the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, and the Boko Haram Terrorist groups are indeed responsible for religious intolerance and extremism in Nigeria.

    The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism wishes to highlight that the efforts of the relevant authorities in Nigeria towards addressing the menace of religious intolerance and extremism are quite commendable.

    This much has been evident in the continuous engagement of relevant stakeholders by the Nigerian government. Consequently, the placement of Nigeria on the Watch List as one of the seven countries with religious intolerance and extremism is highly misleading and not credible.

    The United States of Nigeria must do well to call a spade and spade and desist from making unsubstantiated statements that are highly misleading to the international community.

  • Just in: Three killed, two kidnapped as Boko Haram attack aid workers in Borno

    Three people were feared killed on Sunday when suspected members of the Boko Haram attacked aid workers in Borno State.

    According to reports, two others were also reportedly kidnapped by the insurgents.

    The insurgents carried out the attack along the Maiduguri-Monguno road.

    Credible sources within the UN system in Maiduguri, Borno State, revealed to journalists details of the attack.

    A usually reliable UN source said the two of the abductees were female.

    “I can confirm to you that the sad incident happened today along Monguno road but one cannot be certain about the actual figure yet,” said the source who craved anonymity.

    It was also gathered the attacked humanitarian workers are employees of an international NGO called Alima.

    Alima is the first INGO to set foot on the reclaimed town of Monguno in June 2016 when it commenced humanitarian aid operations in Borno State. It is still providing services in Monguno to date.

    Details soon…

  • Boko Haram strikes again, kills 14 civilians, injures five others

    Boko Haram strikes again, kills 14 civilians, injures five others

    Boko Haram militants killed 14 Chadian civilians and wounded five others in an overnight attack on a fishermens’ camp in the northeastern part of Lake Chad, a local official said.

    The latest attack struck a camp of fishermen near the village of Kaiga on Lake Chad, which has been plagued by the militants since 2009.

    “The assailants arrived in the night and attacked the fishermen,” official Dimoya Souapebe said. Thirteen people are missing in addition to the 14 killed, he said.

    In March, Boko Haram militants killed at least 23 Chadian soldiers in an overnight raid, one of the deadliest such attacks inside Chad by the insurgents.

    Chadian soldiers are part of a U.S.-trained West African task force deployed to counter Boko Haram. The violence over the past decade has killed more than 30,000 people and forced about 2 million to leave their homes.

    Boko Haram has been fighting for a decade to carve out an Islamist caliphate in northeast Nigeria and has carried out regular raids over loosely guarded borders into neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

  • Boko Haram terrorists kill 19 Fulani herdsmen

    Boko Haram jihadists gunned down 19 cattle herders Saturday in Nigeria, civilian militia sources and residents confirmed on Sunday.

    Ethnic Fulani herders, besieged by a spate of armed attacks targeting their cattle, pursued Boko Haram, sparking a fierce gunfight outside Fuhe village, near Ngala close to the border with Cameroon.

    “The insurgents killed 19 of the herdsmen in the fight,” anti-jihadist militia leader Umar Kachalla told AFP.

    Bodies of the slain herders were brought to the police by militiamen, Kachalla said.

    The herders had earlier repelled an attack by Boko Haram fighters who invaded the village to steal livestock, killing one of the militants, Mada said.

    The herders then decided to pursue the jihadists and fight them “once and for all”, Mada said but were overwhelmed.

    “The herdsmen were subdued by the better-armed Boko Haram gunmen,” he said.

    Jihadists then returned to Fuhe village and burnt homes and food supplies while herds fled, according to Ngala resident Abubakar Yusuf, who saw the dead bodies at the police station.

    Boko Haram has increasingly targeted farmers, herders and loggers, accusing them of spying and passing information to the military and the local militia fighting them.

    They have also been raiding herding communities, seizing cattle — a valuable commodity in the region — to fund their operations.

    Boko Haram and rival Islamic State West Africa Province are known to operate in areas around Ngala and the neighbouring town of Gamboru.

    ISWAP has focused on targeting military installations and troops since 2018 while Boko Haram faction is notorious for indiscriminate attacks on civilians.

    However, ISWAP has been blamed for a recent increase in attacks on civilians.

    In August 2014 Boko Haram seized Ngala and Gamboru, a trading hub, but Nigerian troops retook both towns in September 2015 with the help of the Chadian military.

    Despite the recapture of the area, jihadist fighters continue to launch sporadic attacks, ambushing troops and vehicles, as well as attacking and abducting farmers.

    In November last year, Boko Haram abducted around 50 loggers at Bulakesa village outside Gamboru.

    The decade-long conflict has killed 35,000 people and displaced around two million from their homes.

    The violence has spread to neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, prompting the formation of a regional military coalition to fight the jihadists