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Tag: boko haram

  • Jonathan believed Boko Haram was sponsored by Northerners to remove him from office – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that the war against insurgency suffered serious set back under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan because he (Jonathan) believed that the terrorist was sponsored by the North to discredit his (Jonathan’s) government.

    The former Nigerian leader who spoke in an interview with the BBC in Lagos said despite taking a risk in 2011 by visiting the Boko Haram base and reporting his findings to the then President (Jonathan), nothing serious was done to nip the menace in the bud.

    In his words: “I went out in 2011 to Maiduguri. I took great risk to find out what is really happening. Boko Haram, do they have grievances, if they have grievances, what are their grievances and I brought all that to Jonathan.

    “Jonathan didn’t believe that Boko Haram was a serious issue. He thought that it was a device by the North to prevent him from continuing as president of Nigeria which was rather unfortunate.”

    Obasanjo added, “Even when Chibok girls were abducted, it took a while for the government to believe. Now if that is the situation, you can understand why the right attention was not paid to the issue of Boko Haram when it should have been paid.”

    The former President observed that Boko Haram insurgency might not end soon, noting that it stemmed from underdevelopment, unemployment and youth frustration in the North-East.

    “Boko Haram will not be over. It started from a position of gross underdevelopment, unemployment, youth frustration in the North-East. So, we must be treating the disease not the symptom,” Obasanjo submitted.

     

  • Troops raid, massacre Boko Haram terrorists Borno

    THE Nigerian Army claimed, yesterday, that troops of Operation Lafiya Dole in the North-East, killed many Boko Haram terrorists in an ambush in the early hours of Sunday.

    Also, the Nigerian Air Force said it struck some buildings occupied by the terrorists in a bomb raid, killing many terrorists.

    The claims of the two successful operations against the terrorists were contained in separate statements released early yesterday by spokesmen of both agencies.

    The Army, in the statement by Brigadier General Sani Usman, Director, Army Public Relations, said the troops of 151 Battalion, 21 Brigade carried out the ambush against the terrorists in the early hours of Sunday, September 10.

    The successful ambush, he explained, was on suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ crossing point at Bocost, along Ngurosoye-Bama Road, Borno State. “The troops neutralised a large number of the Boko Haram terrorists, while other terrorists sustained gunshot wounds.

    “The troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, with the registration number 1029; one AK-47 magazine; 60 rounds of 7.62mm Special; three bicycles; four empty Jerry-cans, a cutlass, and N5,600 cash.”

    The Nigerian Air Force, on its part, said bombing of the terrorists buildings resulted in the death of a large number of the terrorists.

    A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Olatukunbo Adesanya, read: “On September 7, the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, conducted air interdiction on structures with two hoisted Boko Haram Terrorists, BHT, organisation’s flags at Zanardi, a known location with significant BHT presence at the northern fringes of Borno State, bordering Lake Chad.

    “Quite a number of BHTs had earlier been spotted from a NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance platform, entering the buildings apparently for meetings. “The F-7Ni and the Alpha Jet aircraft were detailed to attack the target.

    Overhead the location, the target was acquired and engaged by the two aircraft in rapid succession. “Subsequent Battle Damage Assessment revealed that the targeted structures went up in flames, killing its occupants.”

    The statement explained that the objective of Operation Ruwan Wuta by the Air Force was to further degrade the capability of the Boko Haram terrorists to prevent them from regrouping to cause havoc for surface forces.

    “The operation also aims at softening the ground for our surface forces to subsequently move in and conduct mop up operations.”

  • Boko Haram: Religious bodies stage rally at Villa, say worst days over

    Northern Christians and Muslim clerics have led a procession to the Presidential Villa to declare their support for the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration in its continous support for the war against insurgency in the country.
    The groups under the aegis of the Northern Inter Faith and Religious Organizations also urged religious institutions to intensify prayers for the successes of the troops fighting the Boko Haram sect in the North East.
    The group led by Bishop Edward Chanami also said that the worst days of the insurgency is over in the country.
    The interfaith group also called on Nigerians, irrespective of their religion to be part of the prayers session.
    Bishop Edward Chanami‎, said the country was practically placed on knife edge but through the intervention of God, the challenges were surmounted.
    Chanami said, “It is God’s doing that Nigeria has not ended up the way those with evil intentions for us had plotted.
    “This country was practically placed on knife edge and without prejudice to pending national issues we dare say the worst is over and we have every reason to be thankful to the creator.
    “When President Muhammadu Buhari was away on medical leave, members and leadership of the Northern Inter Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace prayed and fasted and God answered all our prayers.
    “You will recall that our prayer points included healing for Mr President, the recovery of the economy, success of the gallant troops fighting Boko Haram terrorists and the progress of the nation among others.
    “In appreciation to God, we today acknowledge that President Buhari is not only back but he has been healed. He is back to piloting the affairs of the country and for this we give God thanks.
    “We commend Mr President for his foresight and vision to tackle the insecurity situation which he inherited. We use this opportunity to assure Mr. President that Nigerians are strongly behind him and his government in the quest to rebuild Nigeria and unite citizens across ethnic and religious divides.
    “We are grateful to God for the progress being made by our troops in the fight against Boko Haram”.
    The group said the Nigerian troops whom they also prayed for have recorded unprecedented achievements like never before in the history of their campaign against Boko Haram terrorists and other threats to the nation. “We commend the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai and his fellow Service Chiefs for their unique and decisive leadership. We acknowledge and commend every single gallant person in Operation Lafiya Dole. They are the soldiers of God who have been anointed for greater exploits.
    The Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu who received the clerics at the Presidential villa said on daily basis, they receive communique and resolutions from groups, calling for restructuring and constitution review, he added that currently, Nigeria needs peace for its citizens to go about their businesses, and not restructuring.
    Shehu also said that Nigeria is also in need of economic revamp to put food on the tables of the citizens and not restructuring or constitution review.
    According to him “Everyday we read one communique or resolution from one group or the other asking government to review the constitution, restructure. First of all, we need peace in Nigeria, without peace there will not be Development or progress, ordinary Nigerians want peace so that they can go about their lawful activities.

  • Boko Haram: Army kill two deputies to Shekau

    Two Boko Haram commanders and deputies to Abubakar Shekau, a factional leader of the terror group, were killed in successful military operations at Alafa in Borno on Sallah day, an official has said.

    The Army spokesman, Sani Usman, said in a statement on Tuesday that the deputies that were killed in the onslaught included Afdu Kawuri and Abubakar Banishek.

    “This is in addition to Ba’Abba Ibrahim and two other Boko Haram commanders that died after sustaining injuries during their last ambush at Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno,” he added.

    He said five other key leaders of the group and close associates of Mr. Shekau were neutralised in joint bombardment in August.

    Mr. Usman described Mr. Shekau’s latest video in which he taunted the army as an act of desperation and lies by remnants of the insurgents to instill unnecessary fear in law abiding citizens.

    In the video, the group denied the killing of its five key commanders and claimed it had wonderful Sallah celebration in the Sambisa forest.

    “We wish to challenge the so-called terrorist leader to produce the five key commanders earlier killed or the video of those Ameers he claimed not dead and are still with him.

    “It is also instructive to note that Shekau is scared and rattled by the 40-day ultimatum issued by the Chief of Army Staff to Operation LAFIYA DOLE to fish him out,” Mr. Usman, a brigadier general, said.

     

     

    (NAN)

  • 223 killed in Boko Haram attacks since April – Amnesty International

    A recent data compiled by Amnesty International has pegged the number of people so far killed in different attacks by deadly terrorist group, Boko Haram in North-east Nigeria since April 2017 at 223.

    Most of the attacks occurred in Borno with many of them suicide attacks carried out by women and girls forced into the act.

    In neighbouring Cameroon, at least 158 people were also killed by the terror group within the same period.

    The attacks have continued despite the efforts by the Nigerian military and its neighbouring partners to combat the terror group whose activities have caused about 100,000 deaths since 2009.

    In a statement on Tuesday, Amnesty said its dat‎a showed an increase in Boko Haram attacks when April to early September 2017 is compared to the corresponding period in 2016.

    Read the full statement by Amnesty International below:

    A major resurgence in Boko Haram attacks and suicide bombings in Cameroon and Nigeria has left at least 381 civilians dead in the five months since the start of April 2017, with casualties more than double the previous five months, Amnesty International said on Tuesday.

    According to data collected by the organisation, a sharp rise in civilian deaths in the far north region of Cameroon and the Nigerian states of Borno and Adamawa has been driven by the armed group’s increased use of suicide bombers – often using women and girls who are forced to carry explosives into crowded areas.

    “Boko Haram is once again committing war crimes on a huge scale, exemplified by the depravity of forcing young girls to carry explosives with the sole intention of killing as many people as they possibly can,” said Alioune Tine, Amnesty International’s Director for West and Central Africa.

    “This wave of shocking Boko Haram violence, propelled by a sharp rise in suicide bombings, highlights the urgent need for protection and assistance for millions of civilians in the Lake Chad region. Governments in Nigeria, Cameroon and beyond must take swift action to protect them from this campaign of terror.”

    Northeastern Nigeria: Mass killings and abductions

    Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria have killed at least 223 civilians since April, though the real figure may be higher still as some attacks may have gone unreported. Between May and August, seven times’ more civilians were killed than in the preceding four months, while 100 civilians were killed in August alone.

    The deadliest recent attack came on July 25, when the armed group shot dead 40 people and abducted three others in an ambush on an oil exploration team in the Magumeri area of Borno state.

    Boko Haram suicide bombers have killed at least 81 people in Nigeria since April, while 67 people have been abducted – mostly women and girls – since the start of the year.

    There have been two reports of raids on villages in August, in which Boko Haram fighters rounded up and shot civilians, burned down homes and stole from people’s houses, shops and markets.

    Far North region of Cameroon: weekly suicide attacks

    In Cameroon, Boko Haram have killed at least 158 civilians since April – four times more than in the preceding five months. The recent spike in casualties has been driven by increased suicide attacks, with 30 – more than one per week – carried out since the beginning of April.

    The deadliest attack took place in Waza on July 12, when 16 civilians were killed and at least 34 injured after a young girl was forced to carry and detonate a bomb in a crowded video game centre.

    The town of Kolofata, in the Mayo-Sava district, has been especially targeted with nine attacks since April. Mora, the second largest urban centre in the Far North region, has also been hit three times.

    The displacement of Boko Haram fighters from the Sambisa Forest in Nigeria to the Mandara Mountains in Cameroon, following operations conducted by the Nigerian military, may explain some of the increase in attacks in Cameroon.

    Civilians in need of humanitarian assistance

    Across the Lake Chad region, millions of civilians are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance as a result of Boko Haram violence.

    A total of 2.3 million people have been displaced across the region. This includes 1.6 million internally displaced people and refugees in Nigeria and 303,000 in Cameroon. Another 374,000 are displaced in Chad and Niger.

    More than seven million people across the region face serious food shortages, including five million in Nigeria and 1.5 million in Cameroon. There are 515,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, more than 85 per cent of them in Nigeria.

    The recent increase in insecurity has made humanitarian operations difficult, or even impossible, in some inaccessible areas of northeast Nigeria.

    “Governments across the Lake Chad region must increase their efforts to protect the hundreds of thousands of civilians at grave risk of being targeted by Boko Haram violence, abductions and abuses,” said Alioune Tine.

    “Meanwhile, the international community should also rapidly scale up its commitment to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to the millions in the region who need it.”

    BACKGROUND


    Amnesty International has been documenting human rights abuses and serious violations of international humanitarian law that amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Boko Haram since 2010.

    Amnesty International has compiled and analysed media reports of Boko Haram attacks and casualties, which demonstrate a sharp increase in activity since April 2017 compared to previous months and comparable periods in 2016. The real numbers are likely to be higher, with some deaths unreported.

    In 2017 Boko Haram has also killed civilians during at least 10 attacks in the Diffa region of Niger.
    All parties to the conflict, including Boko Haram, are bound by the rules of international humanitarian law, which explicitly prohibits any direct attacks against civilians and civilian objects.

  • I’ll return to fight Boko Haram in Sambisa after treatment – Injured soldier vows

    An army private, Samuel Ernest, who is recuperating from an injury at the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital, Maiduguri, says he go back to the frontline to continue the fight against the terrorists.

    “After my treatment, if I am fit enough, I will go back to the bush – frontline, in order to continue the operation against the Boko Haram terrorists.

    “I am feeling better now, I can now use crochets and put my feet down,’’ Ernest told journalists at a get-together organised for wounded soldiers to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir.

    He said he was proud of the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, and the army high command that identified with the injured during the occasion.

    “I feel happy celebrating the Sallah, the chief of army staff came to the hospital to see how we are faring and how we are being taken care of,” Ernest, who sustained his injury six months ago, said.

    Similarly, another private, Titus Okon, who is also recuperating from injury on one of his laps after he was shot by the terrorists on May 21, expressed gratitude to God that he was getting better.

    “I am strong enough, I am very grateful to the chief of army staff who is here to celebrate with us,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the soldiers later took to the dancing floor to celebrate the occasion.

    This was after the representative of the chief of army staff, David Ahmadu, the Chief of Training and Operations, assured them that the army was committed to their welfare.

    At Mafa, a staff sergeant of the 112 Task Force Battalion, Saleh Jerico, expressed gratitude to God that there were fewer threats to troops now than in previous years.

    “Compared to two or three years ago, nobody could come here. We give glory to God for his intervention.

    “Peace is being restored to Borno and entire North East. Our earnest prayer is that God should sustain the peace.

    “It is great for us — the troops — to witness the 2017 Sallah celebration,” Mr. Jerico said after he took part in a lunch organised by the chief of army staff for troops.

    Also, a lance corporal, Adamu Ali, of the same battalion noted that Eid-el-Kabir celebration in Mafa in 2017 was better than 2016 in terms of security and peace.

    “In 2016, here in Mafa, we were being ambushed by the terrorists, but there is nothing as such this year, we thank God for that.

    “I wish my family happy Sallah. As they celebrate at home, we are also celebrating here in the frontline in Mafa.

    “It is not my will to stay away from them, it is the nature of the job,” Ali said and expressed readiness to continue with the ongoing clearance operation.

  • We’ll support immunization of children displaced by Boko Haram in Borno – FG

    The Federal Government on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to support immunization of children displaced by Boko Haram insurgency in Borno.

    Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Presidential Senior Technical Adviser on Disaster Risk Management, said this at the closing of a two-day workshop for disaster management personnel in Maiduguri.

    Oke-Osanyintolu, said the immunization and deworming exercise would be conducted at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and liberated communities in the state.

    The exercise was designed to protect children against diseases and enhance healthcare delivery at the grass root.

    “The measure is imperative to control morbidity and maternal mortality in the affected communities,” he said.

    He added that the Federal Government had also trained personnel of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on disaster risk management, to enhance emergency response services in the state.

    “The exercise was designed to impart relevant knowledge and skills on aid personnel, to effectively manage emergency response services.

    “It is also designed to exposed aid workers on best first aid practices through the application of modern equipment,” he said.

    According to him, the Federal Government has initiated a comprehensive intervention programme to build the capacity of emergency workers, to holistically enhance disaster response and management in the North-East region.

    The technical adviser reiterated the government to provide technical training to enhance disaster management and respond services in the region.

    Also, Alhaji Satomi Ahmad, the SEMA’s Chairman, disclosed that the state government had distributed 40 ambulances to boost emergency response services.

    Ahmad said that the agency had concluded arrangements to commence the exercise at IDP camps and liberated communities.

    “Already we have nine mobile clinics providing emergency response services and routine immunization in IDP camps and liberated communities”.

     

    NAN

  • Boko Haram commander confesses to leading operation to kidnap Chibok girls

    A member of the Boko Haram, identified as a commander in the terror group, has confessed to leading the operation to kidnap the Chibok girls in 2014.

    The ‘commander’, identified as Auwal Ismaeela, confessed to the act in an interview with PRNigeria, a news agency.

    Over 200 girls were kidnapped by the sect from their school dormitory in Chibok, Borno State in April 2014. About 100 of them still remain with the terror group after majority of the remainder were released in talks with the federal government.

    Mr. Ismaeela, who has surrendered to the Nigerian military, also told the news agency that he led other major operations and said he regretted his actions.

    Read the statement by PRNigeria on its interview with Mr. Ismaeela below.

    Ahead of the Islamic Festival of Eid-Kabir coming up by the weekend, a top Boko Haram commander who played a major role in the abduction of Chibok Girls and killing of youths in Madagali has surrendered and confessed to several acts of bloodletting on innocent people and destruction of properties across the length and breadth of the North-eastern part of the country.

    In an interview with PRNigeria at a military facility for the repentant and surrendered Boko Haram members in the North-east, the ex-terrorist leader said he regretted the atrocities he was forced to commit against humanity.

    The commander, Auwal Ismaeela, is currently cooperating with the Nigerian military with useful information on locations and hideouts of other top commanders of the deadly sect. He regretted his actions which according to him, run counter to several Islamic injunctions.

    Mr. Ismaeela encouraged other top commanders of the sect to give up and surrender to the military.

    “My self and Abu Hafsat, a Boko Haram commander, led other squads to abduct the Chibok girls.

    “We led the operations to invade Gwoza, Bama, Limankara mobile barrack, Bita, Bosso, Madagali, Chibok, Pulka, Firgi, and Mubi.

    “In Madagali which was my home town, myself, Adam Vitiri, Abu Adam and Habu Kudama, some high-ranking Boko Haram Commander led an operation in 2014 where we killed some students and youth at the Central Secondary School in Sabon Garin Madagali.

    “In one of the operations, I abducted my wife named Maryam who had two kids for me in Sambisa Forest.

    “It is unfortunate that I was brainwashed and misled not only on some abductions but in the killings of my own people that were innocent. I wholeheartedly regret my actions.

    “During a battle in Konduga where myself and other Boko Haram commanders led the operations, I lost my right leg and was almost got burnt. Even at that, I did not stop fighting for the course. Sheikh Shekau ordered that I should be given a tricycle which I continued to use for various operations before I eventually surrendered.”

    He gave several reasons for his decision to voluntarily surrender to the Nigerian troops after realising the misleading sermons, barbaric indoctrination of the sect leaders and atrocities being committed in some of the Boko Haram camps.

    He said: “I willingly surrendered to the military because I was tired of the senseless killing and fight. I realised that our people have resort to stealing and all sort of atrocity contrary to the teaching and practice of Islam.

    “Women were being raped, sometimes publicly. Children died from malnutrition and disease as the living condition became harsher. As there was no food in the camp, people died every day because of hunger.

    “I will continue to cooperate with the security agencies in providing useful information on our mode of operations and to disclose top-secret hideouts of our commanders.”

    Meanwhile, more than One hundred (100) Boko Haram members and some commanders had in the recent past surrendered to the military knowing full well that their actions had become inimical to the overall interest and well-being of the nation and the surrounding countries of Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.

  • Boko Haram attacks Cameroon village, kills 11, kidnaps eight

    Some suspected Boko Haram militants killed 11 people and kidnapped eight others in an overnight raid on a village in northern Cameroon near the Nigerian border, officials said on Friday.

    The attackers burned down around 30 houses in Gakara village, just outside the town of Kolofata, which has been a frequent target of suicide bombings by the Islamist group.

    An army colonel put the death toll at 11, while a district official said that 15 people had been killed.

    The mayor of Kolofata confirmed that an attack had taken place but said he did not know the death toll.

    Boko Haram attacks have killed more than 20,000 people and displaced 2.7 million during the group’s eight-year insurgency to carve out an Islamic caliphate in the Lake Chad region.

    “The attack happened around midnight.

    “The Boko Haram assailants arrived.

    “They set 32 houses on fire killed, pillaged, and traumatised the population,” said the district official, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak.

    “Many people fled the village for a camp near Kolofata that houses thousands displaced by Boko Haram violence,” he said.

     

     

    Reuters/NAN

  • Boko Haram militants kill 11 in Cameroon

    Suspected Boko Haram militants killed 11 people and kidnapped eight others in an overnight raid on a village in northern Cameroon near the Nigerian border, officials said on Friday.

    The attackers burned down around 30 houses in Gakara village, just outside the town of Kolofata, which has been a frequent target of suicide bombings by the Islamist group.

    An army colonel put the death toll at 11, while a district official said that 15 people had been killed.

    The mayor of Kolofata confirmed that an attack had taken place but said he did not know the death toll.

    Boko Haram attacks have killed more than 20,000 people and displaced 2.7 million during the group’s eight-year insurgency to carve out an Islamic caliphate in the Lake Chad region.

    “The attack happened around midnight.

    “The Boko Haram assailants arrived.

    “They set 32 houses on fire killed, pillaged, and traumatised the population,” said the district official, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak.

    “Many people fled the village for a camp near Kolofata that houses thousands displaced by Boko Haram violence,’’ he said.