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Tag: boko haram

  • Boko Haram: We’ve degraded insurgents to the barest minimum – Buhari

    …says opposition party aware of his achievements

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said the deadly Boko Haram sect has been completely degraded to the barest minimum.

    The president noted that peace and normalcy was gradually returning to the once trouble North-East where the insurgents held sway before he assumed power in 2015.

    Buhari noted that even the opposition party was awared of his administration’s giant strides in defeating the insurgents.

    According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President spoke during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khakan Abbasi of Pakistan, on the margins of the ninth D-8 summit in Istanbul, Turkey.

    In his words: “We have moved them out from their strongholds in the North East, we have denied them space and even their attacks on soft targets are becoming less often.

    “Even the opposition (party) recognises that there is a considerable improvement of security in the North-East.”

    The President said the Nigeria-Pakistan Joint Commission would be revamped as a veritable platform to strengthen economic and trade relations between both countries.

    Buhari, who expressed satisfaction at the level of defence and military cooperation between both countries, however, agreed with the Prime Minister that there was still room to do more.

    He regretted that same could not be said on the economic and trade fronts, which he said had fallen far short of what could be achieved by both countries.

    “Nigeria-Pakistan cooperation is very historical. Military training has been very consistent and I am impressed with the efficiency of officers trained in Pakistan.

    “But the performance of our countries in relation to trade and industrial cooperation had been very disappointing,” Buhari said.

    In his remarks, Abbasi said both countries had similar prospects and challenges, including large population, key regional players in economy and security; the fight against terrorism, improving governance and the domestic economy.

    He said Pakistan would continue to share experiences with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism towards developing effective strategies and results.

    Meanwhile, Buhari has urged African leaders to speak “with one voice” independent of foreign influence.

    He said this was necessary to achieve economic integration, development, peace, and security on the continent.

    Buhari, according to a statement on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, stated this at a bilateral meeting with President Alpha Conde of Guinea on Friday night in Istanbul, Turkey.

    He said, “African leaders should learn from history. They should effectively tackle conflicts, violent extremism, and proliferation of small arms and light weapons.”

    The statement added that the two Presidents, who met on the margins of the ninth D8 Summit in Istanbul, exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

    Buhari assured his Guinean counterpart, who is also the current chairman of the African Union, that Nigeria would continue to strengthen its engagement with all AU member states to address the current security challenges in restive areas such as South Sudan and Libya, and the political crisis in Togo.

  • Boko Haram: NAF neutralises gathering of insurgents, sets structures on fire

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said on Saturday that it has neutralised and set ablaze the insurgent’s structures in Urga area near Konduga.

    The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanua, made this known in Abuja.

    Adesanya explained that component of Operation “LAFIYA DOLE” conducted an attack on a location in Urga area close to Konduga.

    “Previous intelligence reports, gathered through Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions by NAF ISR platforms, had indicated the presence of a large number of insurgents in Durwawa settlement in the outskirt of Urga.

    “Accordingly, one Alpha Jet aircraft was detailed to carry out air interdiction on the target and overhead the location, the aircraft acquired and attacked the target twice with bombs.

    “Subsequently, Battle Damage Assessment revealed that the aerial attack set off a fire, causing damage to the insurgent’s structures within the settlement and neutralizing most of the insurgents while a few of them fled the location,” he said.

    The director explained further that the aerial attack by NAF was in furtherance of efforts at ensuring the complete decimation of the insurgents by not allowing them to continue their terrorist attacks on innocent Nigerians.

     

     

    NAN

     

  • ‘I was baffled about claims of ISIS’ support for Boko Haram’ – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said news of the support of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS, for the dreaded Boko Haram sect baffled him.

    He, however, said he was happy that his administration had been able to prove that it can contain the insurgents.

    According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President at a joint press conference he held with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey after their talks in Ankara.

    “We were very surprised and disturbed by the claim made by Boko Haram on what they have been getting from ISIS.

    “We know we will be able to contain them and we have proven that we can do it.

    “We are very pleased that Turkey is in a position to assist us and has been strengthening our educational and health institutions,” Buhari reportedly said at the press conference.

    According to the statement, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation between the security agencies of both countries to counter terrorism.

    Buhari said he was ‘‘very pleased’’ that the defence ministers of both countries held extensive discussions on developing new strategies for counter-terrorism.

    He said, “We are very pleased with the progress of the meeting so far and we are going to wait for the details of meetings between the two countries.

    “We will as a result of the meeting between the ministers and officials of both countries strengthen rapidly whatever their recommendations are.”

    Commenting on the degradation of Boko Haram in Nigeria, the President said the improved security situation in the North East was an eloquent testimony to the efforts of his administration in combating terrorism since he came into office in May 2015

    Buhari said the two leaders also discussed the prospects of increasing their bilateral trade, which has exceeded $779m in the first eight months of 2017.

    “There are a lot of potentialities in terms of investments and a lot is being done in the educational and health sectors in Nigeria.

    “These will be strengthened and I assure you that Nigeria is prepared to accept Turkish business people to come and explore more of Nigeria’s potentialities,” the Nigerian leader said.

    In his remarks, Erdogan said Nigeria had great potentials and remains “a global actor in terms of economy, demographics and its peacekeeping records.”

    He indicated that Turkey was interested in investing in Nigeria’s electricity, refineries and gas sectors, adding that increasing the flights between Turkey and Nigeria would further improve commercial and people-to-people relationships.

    On the fight against terrorism, the Turkish leader said, “There is no difference between Boko Haram, Fethullah Terrorist Organisation or Daesh , which have all killed, inflicted pain and hardship on innocent people.

    “All of these organisations are hordes of murderers that feed on the innocent people, and in the fight against terrorism, we will stand with our Nigerian friends, and we are ready to share our experience and provide all kinds of support.

    “We also expect the same cooperation from Nigeria in fighting against Fethullah that murdered 250 Turkish citizens last year.”

  • Over 400 Boko Haram fighters surrender in Cameroon

    Some Boko Haram fighters of Cameroon nationality numbering over 400 at the weekend surrendered themselves to local vigilante group in Mozogo town on Nigeria’s border in Northern Cameroon.

    Head of the vigilante group, Ousmane Kouila, who was in Maiduguri yesterday told reporters that they were out on a patrol in the border area when they met the fleeing Boko Haram fighters along with their families.

    According to Kouila, the former Boko Haram fighters confessed that they were taken hostage by Boko Haram fighters during attacks on their villages and taken to Nigeria, where they were forced to join the jihadist group.

    He said: “Among the people we handed over to the Cameroonian authorities today are 70 men, 86 women and 244 children.

    “They confessed that after spending two years with Boko Haram, they decided to flee their families and hand over themselves. They said they had fought for Boko Haram and chose to lay down their arms on their own will.”

  • Terrorism: Court jails 45 Boko Haram members, frees 468

    A Federal High Court sitting in Kainji, Niger State, has sentenced 45 Boko Haram members to between 3 and 31 years in jail, and also freed 468 suspects.

    The jailed men were among the 575 Boko Haram suspects arraigned under the first phase of the mass trial of the suspects.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the Kainji court also struck out 34 cases while 28 suspects were remanded for trial in Abuja and Minna.

    The Court ordered that the 468 discharged persons should undergo deradicalization and rehabilitation programmes before they are handed over to their respective state governments.

    The trial commenced with the formal remand by the Court of 1,669 suspects for a period of 90 days, with the Court ordering that they be arraigned within the specified period or released unconditionally.

    The Court adjourned the trial of other suspects to January 2018

     

    NAN

  • Chad withdraws troops fighting Boko Haram in North East

    Chad has withdrawn hundreds of troops from neighbouring Niger, where they were helping local forces fight Boko Haram Islamist militants, humanitarian sources and officials said.

    The pull-out over the past two weeks could weaken a region-wide struggle against the militants who have killed tens of thousands of people, forced many more to flee and triggered a humanitarian crisis.

    There was no immediate explanation or comment from defense officials in Chad.

    The move came a month after the vast central African country complained about an unexpected U.S. travel ban imposed on its nationals.

    Chad warned at the time the order could affect its security commitments, which include its involvement in the U.S.-backed fight against Boko Haram.

    Residents said the withdrawal had already had an impact on Niger’s Diffa region, which has seen a string of attacks by Boko Haram militants crossing over from their base in neighbouring Nigeria.

    Ibrahim Arimi from the border village of Bosso said banditry has increased since the Chadian troops started leaving and he had been temporarily moved to another village for safety.

    Diffa parliamentarian Lamido Moumouni said residents had started complaining.

    “They have come to rely on the forces so there is a perception that security will be lacking,” he said by telephone.

    At its peak in 2016 after an attack in Bosso, Chad had 2,000 troops in Niger to help counter Boko Haram although security sources said this has fallen since.

    Boko Haram has attacked Chad, Niger and Cameroon from its base in northeast Nigeria.

    Its eight-year bid to carve out an Islamist caliphate has driven millions from their homes, no fewer than 200,000 of them are now based in Diffa, with little prospect of returning home.

    Thousands of them are camped alongside an unfinished highway in the middle of a barren savannah with few resources.

    Chad’s soldiers also occupy front-line positions in a peacekeeping force in northern Mali.

    Analysts say falling oil revenues after the price crash in 2014 has also sapped Chad’s appetite for expensive regional security commitments.

     

    Reuters/NAN

  • Army ambush, kill two Boko Haram members – Official

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday said its troops had killed two Boko Haram insurgents at Mayanti village of Bama Local Government Council of Borno State.

    Kingsley Samuel, the Deputy Director, Army Public Rations, 7 Division, said in Maiguri the troops had ambushed a group of insurgents while trying to cross into the Sambisa Forest.

    He explained that the troops neutralised two insurgents while many others escaped with gunshot wounds, adding that some food items were also recovered from the insurgents.

    “The Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE resolve to rout out the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists.

    “MST yielded yet another result with the troops successfully ambushed unsuspecting terrorists at about 10: 45 p.m. on Friday, 6th October 2017.

    “The insurgents were attempting to cross into Sambisa Forest from Mayanti village in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

    “The troops sprung the ambush on the terrorists and neutralised two of them, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds. The troops also recovered two bags of maize from the ambush site.

    “The MST has been a potent deadly mobile lethal force engaging and neutralising the insurgents in several staging areas.”

     

  • Boko Haram: Abubakar hails military, says ‘they have done well securing North-east from insurgents’

    The Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, on Friday said the military had successfully stabilised and secured the North-east from Boko Haram insurgents.

    Mr. Abubakar, an Air Marshal, said this in Port Harcourt at a skills acquisition and vocational training graduation ceremony for 150 youth .

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the training was organised by the Nigerian Air Force Officers’ Wives Association, NAFOWA.

    He attributed the success to recent air and ground bombardments of Boko Haram stronghold as well as combined efforts of other members of the Armed Forces.

    “We are not aware of any national security issue (in the North-east). What I am aware of is that we have done substantially well in stabilising and securing the North-east.

    “Looking at Maiduguri itself, you will never believe that there was any security challenge there. This is so because there is no security challenge.

    “What we are just doing is to mop up what is still remaining (insurgents). We are doing substantially well and making substantial progress.

    “We had the Operation Ruwan Wuta – a ten-day bombardment day-and-night operation that substantially reduced suicide bombings and eliminated organised attacks (by insurgents),” he said.

    The chief of air staff said the military had recorded several successes in the North-east and in other regions of the country since the current administration took office in 2015.

    He commended NAFOWA for its support to the less privileged, particularly the assistance provided to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country.

    The President of NAFOWA and wife of the Chief of Air Staff, Hafsat Abubakar, said the association was particularly concerned with the welfare of women, widows and youth in IDPs camps .

    Mrs. Abubakar said that 150 women and youth received various skills and vocational training that lasted for over ten weeks.

    “The beneficiaries were trained in fashion designing, catering and confectioneries production, hairdressing and barbing, computer appreciation, cinematography, event decoration, leather shoes, make up and makeover.

    “Others include; photography and videography, DSTV installation, interior decoration and soft furnishing, aluminium doors and windows fabrication, boots and bags fabrication and detergents and disinfectants production.

    “Our hope is that when you actually empower a woman, you have empowered the whole family because women are the bedrock of the family while youths are the future,” she said.

    She said the association had so far trained and empowered over 800 women and youth across the country with vocational skills that would enable them to create wealth.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the beneficiaries received sewing machines, electric ovens, hair dryers, laptop computers and make-up kits, among other starter packs.

    Victor Aniete who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, said they would use the training and working tools to fend for their families and create employment for others.

    NAN

     

  • Army releases 760 Boko Haram suspects to Borno State Govt

    The Nigeria Army on Friday said it has transferred 760 suspected Boko Haram members to Borno State Government for reintegration into the society.

    The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri.

    Nwachikwu said the suspects were handed over to the government at the Bulunkutu State Rehabilitation Centre, Maiduguri.

    He disclosed that the suspects were arrested during the ongoing crackdown on the insurgents in the North East by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.

    He said the suspects were cleared after interrogations and investigations by the Joint Intelligence Centre (JIC) of the Theatre Command.

    He added that the suspects were handed over to the state government by the Coordinator of the JIC, Brig.-Gen. Abdulrahman Kuliya.

    “The JIC has cleared 760 suspects. The crackdown on Boko Haram terrorists is yielding positive results, culminating in significant reduction in terrorists’ activities in the North East,” the statement quoted Kuliya as saying at the forum.

    He urged members of the public to provide useful information to security agents on suspicious activities in their communities.

     

  • Boko Haram’s menace over in Nigeria – Army

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai, said on Wednesday that the military is now on the verge of completely routing out Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal elements across the country, insisting that their operations have been contained.

    He, however, said it is important for the media to support the military in its ongoing campaigns to secure the nation.

    According to Buratai, the misunderstanding and misconception by various human rights organisations and journalists about the ongoing military operations in the country will be a thing of the past once the narratives about military operations take a positive dimension.

    The army chief made the remarks while declaring open a two-day Media Workshop and Second/Third Quarters Directorate of Army Public Relations Study Period 2017 with the theme: “Enhancing Human Rights during Internal Security Operations Through Effective Information Management.”

    Buratai, who was represented by the Commander of Army Garrison Headquarters, Major Gen. John Malu said: “I am particularly delighted that this study period is coming at this time that the nation and the military are at a very critical phase of various security challenges affecting our nation.

    “It is critical since the military is on the verge of completely routing out Boko Haram terrorists and other criminals from the nation’s territory. This comes with a very important role for the media and the DAPR tasked within the information management of the Nigerian Army.

    “It is pertinent to state that the Nigerian Army in conjunction with other security agencies had reached a very important stage in the war against terrorists, having contained their operations to desperate, albeit murderous, suicide attacks and attacks on soft targets with a few futile attempts to portray themselves as a coherent force.

    “We will continue to engage and degrade them up until they are completely no more. We are determined to achieve this within a shortest possible time.

    “At this point, let me call on citizens of our nation, particularly human rights activist and media practitioners to partner with the Nigerian Army and the DAPR in the collective effort to bring to an end the menace of various security challenges affecting the nation.

    “The reportage and editorial dimensions taken by journalists will in no small measure aid the efforts of the military. While carrying out your role as the fourth estate of the realm, I implore you to do your part in the collective effort to stamp out evil from our nation.”