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Tag: boko haram

  • Photos: Troops rescue 998 from Boko Haram’s den, destroy bomb factory

    Photos: Troops rescue 998 from Boko Haram’s den, destroy bomb factory

    Troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade of the Nigerian Army on Friday rescued 998 people from Boko Haram captivity, during a fighting patrol in some villages in Borno.

    According to a statement by the army, the “patrol team had a fierce encounter with the terrorists at Ndufu which they decisively dealt with before proceeding to clear Muktu and Muzuri, as well as nearby communities within the area.”

    The statement added that about nine terrorists were killed and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) making factory was destroyed.

    “Following confirmed information about the presence of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in some villages around Ngala, troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade Nigerian Army, today, Friday 19th May 2017, along with some Civilian JTF embarked on Fighting Patrol to the area.

    “The patrol team had a fierce encounter with the terrorists at Ndufu which they decisively dealt with before proceeding to clear Muktu and Muzuri, as well as nearby communities within the area.

    “Although some of the terrorists fled to various direction on sighting the troops, the patrol team was able to neutralize 9 terrorists, destroyed their Improvised Explosive Device (IED) making factory and rescued 998 persons. Those rescued were 125 at Ndufu, 802 at Muktu and 71 persons at Muzuri. Interestingly, despite the heat of the battle, the troops also vaccinated all children under the age of 5 with Polio vaccinations.

    “In addition, the troops recovered 1 AK-47 Rifle with registration number 565231515, an AK-47 Rifle Magazine, 2 Boko Haram terrorist flags, 4 Motorcycles, 2 Solar Panels, 2 already prepared IEDs, Detonating cords and other explosive making components.

    “It is gratifying to note that 3 Battalion has maintained its status as one of the best fighting unit in the theatre as they did not sustain any casualty or injury during the operation,” the statement reads.

  • Boko Haram insurgents relocating from Sambisa to Taraba forest, says Gov Ishaku

    Boko Haram insurgents relocating from Sambisa to Taraba forest, says Gov Ishaku

    Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku on Thursday said fleeing Boko Haram members have relocated from Sambisa forest in Borno state to Suntai Daaji forest in the state.

    Ishaku made this known when the general officer commanding (GOC) of 82 army division, Enugu, Major Gen. Adamu Abubakar, paid him a courtesy visit in Jalingo, capital of his state.

    He said deployment of special forces to the state was necessary to root out “the regrouping Boko Haram insurgents and other terrorists in the state”.

    “The massive influx of people into Taraba for some time now has been the major cause of insecurity,” Ishaku said.

    “But when I was warning of the repercussions, I was accused of being against visitors, but today all of us are victims of their criminal activities.

    “The terrorists are today committing all sorts of criminal activities, including rape, kidnapping and killings.

    “People can’t travel freely on Bali-Suntai-Takum road among several other routes any longer in the state.”

    Ishaku also proffered ranching as the best solution to the clashes between farmers and grazers as well as cattle rustling in the state.

    “The population of Nigeria at independence and now is not the same and we must think and look inward to solve these problems associated with open grazing,” he said.

  • More chibok girls will regain freedom -FG assures

    More chibok girls will regain freedom -FG assures

    The Federal Government on Monday assured Nigerians that everything was being done to ensure that other Chibok School girls abducted by the Boko Haram terrorists regain their freedom.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, disclosed this in his address to the UN Security Council’s open debate on “Women and peace and security: Sexual violence in conflict” in New York.

    Enikanolaiye explained that after their freedom, the Federal Government would also ensure that the girls were freed from the ideological grips of the terrorist group.

    “We seize this opportunity to assure you that following the recent release of 82 of the abducted Chibok school girls,

    government has intensified its efforts at securing the release of the abducted girls and the remaining ones, including freeing them from the ideological grips of Boko Haram terrorists.

    “Having regained their freedom, it is equally important that they regain

    their self-esteem and be assisted to return to their families and back to their schools.

    “Furthermore, emergency teams of psycho-social counsellors and health professionals have been dispatched

    to the north east to assist with the profiling of victims for appropriate therapies,” he said.

    According to him, Nigeria has carefully and favourably considered joining the existing 108 countries to sign up to the Paris Principle and Commitment on the protection of children in armed conflicts.

    The Permanent Secretary pointed out Nigeria’s active participation at the international Ministerial Conference marking the 101h Anniversary of the Paris process held in February.

    “It is our conviction that this step will help to strengthen Nigeria’s commitment to global frameworks in further preventing the recruitment and use of girl-children as child or female bombers by Boko Haram.’’

    According to him, Nigeria recommit to ensuring that women and girls enjoy full rights and that those who have perpetrated sexual violence are dealt with in accordance with our national laws and international obligations.

    “In addition, the Government of Nigeria has put in motion legal remedies for victims of Boko Haram terrorism in the form of rape and other sexual violence against children, abduction of children and other grave violations.

    “Other remedies of legal and social nature taken so far by the Federal Government include diligent prosecution of 203 detained Boko Haram terrorists in competent courts of law.

    “As well as the reintegration, reorientation and rehabilitation programmes designed to meet the peculiarities of each victim of sexual violence.”

    To achieve an enduring result in the search for workable solutions to the challenges of sexual violence in conflict, he said priority must be accorded to addressing the enabling environment and underlying root-causes of conflicts.

    This he noted includes, poverty, hunger, human rights abuses, injustice, unemployment, corruption, lack of inclusiveness and impunity.

    The envoy also stressed that perpetrators must be held accountable, but the capacity of State to do so with the prevalence of weak structures and

    institutions needs to be addressed.

    “Mr President, this open debate bears great relevance to the terrorist activities of Boko Haram in the North East region of Nigeria, which have led to huge displacement of about two million people and conflict related violence against women and girls that have been widely condemned.

    “Nigeria has always acted concertedly to ensure accountability for sexual violence, we have also collaborated with the UN and other international partners to improve service delivery and enhance protection measures both in communities and areas where women and girls seek refuge.

    These efforts by the Government of Nigeria are in the context of the great strides made by our military in degrading Boko Haram,” he said.

    In spite of the daunting challenges, Nigeria has always been in the vanguard of promoting the involvement of women in conflict resolution, as well as in the promotion of peace and security.

    He pointed out that just last week, Nigeria launched the revised National Action Plan for the Implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and Related Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security.

    “We have also taken measures to enhance the security of women and girls in the camps for the Internally Displaced Persons to reduce their vulnerability and promote their safe return to their homes and reintegration into the society.

    “As part of efforts to counter violent extremism, Nigeria is taking steps to de-radicalise convicted terrorists through the development of a range of expert psychologies and counsellors.’’

    According to him, this is to pioneer rehabilitation efforts as well as utilising Islamic scholars to counter extremist narratives by training them on aspects of dialogues and religious counselling.

    “We are also working assiduously with the affected communities to design economic revitalisation programmes targeted at people most affected by

    terrorism and violent extremism,” Enikanolaiye said.

  • Troops kill four B’Haram food vendors

    Troops of the Nigerian Army have smashed a food supply ring which usually smuggled food to Boko Haram insurgents.

    Four of the terrorists were killed during the encounter which occurred at Julari village in Borno State.

    The troops of 145 and 158 Task Force Battalions ambushed the insurgents who were smuggling large quantities of fish, along Kareto-Damasak road by Julari village on Saturday.

    The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations and Spokesman, 8 Division, Col. Timothy Antigha, said the terrorists funded their criminal activities through the smuggling, adding that one soldier was killed during the operation.

    He said, “During the operation, troops neutralised four Boko Haram terrorists.

    “Similarly, we recovered one AK-47 rifle, one Toyota Hilux pickup, three motorcycles, 35 bags of dry fish, one bag of bush meat, three bags of sugar and 60 litres of engine oil.

    “Unfortunately, we lost a soldier during the operation.”

  • Boko Haram sent me on suicide mission for refusing marriage proposals – 14-yr-old victim reveals

    Boko Haram sent me on suicide mission for refusing marriage proposals – 14-yr-old victim reveals

    A 14 year old female suspected suicide bomber says Boko Haram leaders choose her to detonate an Improvised Explosive Device in Maiduguri because she refused to get married to their members in Sambisa Forest.

    The suspect is among three suspects arrested by the military when they allegedly came for a suicide mission at a military facility in Jakana in Maiduguri.

    The suspect told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Maiduguri on Sunday that she was sent on the mission to detonate the device because she refused marriage proposals from three Boko Haram terrorists.

    The suspect said she was abducted with her father, Usman, by Boko Haram insurgents in Gwoza, Borno, in 2013.

    She said she and her father were running to Mandara mounting for safety when they were abducted.

    The suspect said she and her father wanted to travel to Madagali in Adamawa where he normally sold cows before Boko Haram insurgents attacked Gwoza.

    “I have spent three years in the hands of Boko Haram. Three different Boko Haram (terrorists) had proposed to marry me and I refused. Two among them were commanders (amir).

    ” When I refused for the third time, one of the commanders became furious and threatened to kill me and my father. I told him I would rather die than marry a Boko Haram (terrorist).

    “So, after one week, they said since I have refused to get married, I should be taken to Maiduguri for a suicide mission. So, three of them held my hands and they injected me.

    ” Then, I never knew what was happening again.

    ‘’I was taken to a herbalist, who, after I regained consciousness, told me that I had been with him for 30 days.

    “He told me he was preparing me for a mission. So he gave me some water to drink. I don’t know what it tasted like but I drank it. So, he said they would come and pick me today.

    ” At about 7p.m. three Boko Haram (members) came with a male and a female. They were also recruited for the mission like me.

     

    “We spent one and a half days on the road to Maiduguri. It was when we got to Maiduguri that they strapped the bombs on our bodies. At that moment I knew that I was going to die, so I started crying.

    ” I was watching when the first bomber, a female, detonated her explosive close to a military checkpoint which killed no one but herself. The second, a male, was killed by the military before he could detonate his.

    “At that time something told me to remove my own IED and surrender which I did. I was surrounded by soldiers and policemen and I fainted.

    ” When I woke, I discovered that one of the policemen at the checkpoint was a brother of my mother’s. I think that was the reason I survived,’’ the suspect said.

    Meanwhile, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, said the suspects were being de-radicalised at the military detention facility.

    “We have quite a number of them here in our facility. We have been profiling them and making them feel comfortable.

    “So far, from their testimonies, they usually tell us that they were brainwashed by some sort of charms to commit suicide,” Irabor said.

  • Boko Haram video: Terrorist out to seek relevance, should be ignored – Army

    Boko Haram video: Terrorist out to seek relevance, should be ignored – Army

    The Nigerian Army has said two video clips, released by one of the Boko Haram commanders who were swapped for the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, were mere propaganda and should be disregarded.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Boko Haram members had released two videos late on Friday, showing the swapped commander, who threatened to attack the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    In the first clip, the terrorist, among other things, made boastful and spurious allegations, while the second clip was about alleged indoctrination of some of the abducted Chibok school girls in captivity.

    But the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen Sani Usman, said the videos should be disregarded, as the army had put measures in place to prevent insurgent attacks.

    Sani said, “The attention of Nigerian Army has been drawn to two video clips released by one of the released Boko Haram terrorists in exchange for the abducted Chibok school girls.

    “We wish to state that the terrorist has lost touch with current realities. It was aimed at seeking relevance and attention.

    “As you are all aware, he was a direct beneficiary of the process that led to the release of 82 of the abducted girls and does not have a say or capacity to do anything. Therefore his threats should be ignored.

    “We would like to assure the public that the Nigerian Army is totally committed to the Federal Government’s determined efforts of rescuing all abducted persons and peace in the country.

    “We will not relent our determined efforts of clearing the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists as manifested through the ongoing clearance operations.”

    “The Nigerian Air Force is unrelenting in its bombardment while other Security Agencies are equally doing their best.”

     

     

  • Boko Haram: FG bars Chibok girls from sharing experiences with parents, relatives

    Boko Haram: FG bars Chibok girls from sharing experiences with parents, relatives

    A relative of one of the rescued Chibok girls, Peter Joseph, says the Federal Government has barred the girls from telling their parents or relatives about their experiences in Boko Haram captivity.

    Joseph said this during a programme on Al Jazeera titled, “The Stream.”

    He said his niece was one of the 21 schoolgirls rescued in October 2016 while his sister is still in Boko Haram captivity.

    Joseph said over six months since their rescue, the schoolgirls had not been united with their families.

    He said in December last year, the girls were allowed to return to Chibok but were kept in a government facility where their parents visited them. He said the girls were not allowed to go to their parents’ homes.

    Joseph said, “I think there is something that the Federal Government does not want us to know and that is why they are keeping them away. Even when they [the schoolgirls] travelled to Chibok, they were not allowed to go to their houses.

    “They were kept in government facilities in Chibok and anyone who visited them was made to sign a register, state the village where they came from, whom they wanted to see and then a time limit was given, after which you were asked to leave and there were certain things that you were not allowed to ask the girls.

    “You can’t ask them about their experiences in Sambisa Forest. I mean, we don’t get it. Even now that 82 girls have been rescued, what has the government done about them? Up till today, the families have not met the girls.”

    Joseph berated the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, for saying that the girls were free to leave the government facilities anytime they wanted.

    He said, “The Women Affairs minister is not saying the truth about this. What does she mean by the girls can leave at anytime when they don’t even allow family members or people that are concerned about them to come close to them?

    “I wish she was here so that I would be able to ask her some questions personally because this thing has been bothering us the members of the family. The fact still remains that the Nigerian government needs to be open to the family members; the government needs to be open to everyone that is concerned.

    “We don’t get it. I mean, are you trying to hide something? Is there something they don’t want us to hear from the girls? What are they hiding from us?

    Joseph said it seemed the girls had been transferred from Boko Haram captivity to government captivity.

    He said, “Nobody is allowed to see them. So, it’s like another imprisonment, but this one has to do with the government.”

    However, a top government official told newsmen in confidence that the girls were being kept away from their families and friends for security reasons.

    The source said the girls were being prevented to speak because investigations were ongoing.

    He said, “We are preventing the girls from saying too much because we don’t want them to say anything about their location that could tip-off the terrorists. We are still negotiating the release of 113 girls and any sensitive information that is released could jeopardise negotiations or investigations.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that no fewer than 276 schoolgirls were abducted over three years ago, while 82 were released after negotiations involving the Swiss Government, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Federal Government on one side and the terror sect on the other.

  • Tension as Boko Haram commander swapped with Chibok girls threatens to bomb Abuja

    One of the Boko Haram commanders, who were swapped with the recently released 82 Chibok girls, has threatened to bomb Abuja in new a video obtained by international journalist, Ahmad Salkida.

    Salkida, who has close links with the insurgent group, said the video released by the Abubakar Shekau faction, featured one Shuaibu Moni, a Boko Haram commander who was one of those allegedly swapped for the girls.

    He disclosed that Moni issued threats to the Nigerian government and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to a report by The Nation, Salkida also claimed that the commander stated that it was not true that only five insurgents were released in exchange for the Chibok girls. He then warned of imminent bombing in Abuja.

    Moni added that there’s been no dialogue with government and that there won’t be.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that no fewer than 276 schoolgirls were abducted over three years ago, while 82 were released after negotiations involving the Swiss Government, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Federal Government on one side and the terror sect on the other.

    However, the Federal Government had on Thursday said it had no apologies or regrets whatsoever for swapping the recently released (82) Chibok girls for the suspected Boko Haram members in its (FG’s) custody.

     

  • We have no apologies for swapping Boko Haram members with Chibok girls – FG

    We have no apologies for swapping Boko Haram members with Chibok girls – FG

    …Says

    We’ll do it again to ensure the freedom of remaining girls

    FG will grant parents access to see their daughters

    Some of the girls need to undergo medical surgery

    The Federal Government, on Thursday, said it had no apologies or regrets whatsoever for swapping the recently released (82) Chibok girls for suspected Boko Haram members in its (FG’s) custody.

    The government also explained that some of the girls will have to undergo medical surgery for various ailments.

    The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Jummai Alhassan, who said this at a press conference in Abuja, stated that the girls were undergoing treatment that would take a few weeks to complete.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that no fewer than 276 schoolgirls were abducted over three years ago, while 82 were released after negotiations involving the Swiss Government, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Federal Government on one side and the terror sect on the other.

    Twenty-one of the girls were released in October 2016, but had yet to be reunited with their parents.

    The minister said results of the medical tests so far conducted on the 82 Chibok girls, who were kidnapped from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014, had shown that some of the youngsters needed to be operated upon.

    She stated that the medical screening, being carried out on the girls, would be completed between two and three weeks.

    “The 82 Chibok girls are currently undergoing medical screening in Abuja. Some of them need surgery; this should be completed in two to three weeks,” she said.

    Alhassan stated that before the arrival of the 82 girls, the Federal Government had been taking care of the 21 previously released girls and four babies.

    She added that the 21 girls came back in bad shape and spent almost two months under medical care and were handed over to her on December 22, 2016.

    The women affairs minister explained that the parents of the 21 girls were reunited with their daughters within one week of their return in October 2016.

    “Upon return, all the 21 Chibok girls said they wanted to go back to school, but that they didn’t want to go to school in Chibok,” she said.

    According to her, the girls travelled to Chibok for Christmas in December 2016 as soon as they emerged from medical care and spent two weeks there.

    She said although they were scheduled to travel to Chibok again for Easter, security situation at that time was not conducive enough, so their parents were invited to Abuja.

    Alhassan disclosed that it was the choice of the Chibok girls and their parents to stay under the care of the Federal Government in Abuja. Alhassan stated that the girls were scared of going back to Chibok.

    At the press conference, the minister refuted reports that it had denied the parents of the 82 rescued girls access to their daughters, adding that the girls were not stopped from communicating with their parents.

    According to her, those spreading such reports are not the actual parents of the girls but rather representatives of Chibok community, who feel they must have access to the girls.

    The minister added, “We had a meeting with the parents of the 21 girls and the girls themselves and they all asked the Federal Government to send them to school and take care of them. Most of them are scared of returning to Chibok because of their experiences.

    “But to show you that parents have access to their daughters, some parents just left the facility where the girls were kept three weeks ago after visiting the girls. One of the girls, who is married, is at present in Chibok, visiting the town with her husband and his family”.

    On the 82 recently released girls, the minister said their photographs had been sent to families in Chibok for identification.

    She stated, “The people complaining that they are not allowed to see the 21 Chibok girls are not their biological parents or guardians.

    “Reports that we are preventing parents from seeing them are absolutely not true. The parents visit from time to time.

    “We are very careful who we grant access to the girls. We will only grant access to their parents, not community members.”

    The minister restated that the government would ensure the release of the no fewer than 113 of the schoolgirls still with the terrorists through negotiations or exchanging the girls with detained Boko Haram members.

    She stated, “Negotiations are ongoing to exchange the remaining girls with Boko Haram detainees, we can’t afford to keep them any longer.

    “We have no apologies or regrets whatsoever for exchanging Boko Haram detainees for our daughters. We’ll do it again if needed.”

     

  • Some abducted Chibok girls in Boko Haram’s den refused ‘freedom’ – Negotiator

    Some abducted Chibok girls in Boko Haram’s den refused ‘freedom’ – Negotiator

    …as presidency orders spiritual, psychological and physical rehabilitation of released girls

    One of the negotiators that facilitated the release of the 82 Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram militants from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014, on Monday said some of the girls voluntarily refused to be freed from the terrorist den.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that 82 of the girls were safely returned to the Nigerian Government on Saturday following the exchange of some suspected Boko Haram members imprisoned by the government.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that after their abduction in 2014, a number of the girls escaped after which Boko Haram freed 21 last October, after negotiations with the Red Cross.

    However, about 113 of the girls are said to still be in Boko Haram’s captivity. The Federal Government has assured the general public that negotiations for their release is in progress.

    A legal practitioner and mediator, Zannah Mustapha, said some of the abducted girls refused to join the train to freedom, fuelling fears that they had been radicalised by the jihadists, and might be afraid, ashamed or even too powerful to return to their old lives.

    “Some girls refused to return. I have never talked to one of the girls about their reasons,” said 57-year-old Mustapha, who acted as an intermediary in the latest negotiations between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram, while speaking with Reuters.

    “As a mediator, it is not part of my mandate to force them (to return home).”

    A Nigerian psychologist, Fatima Akilu, in chat with The Punch believed that the girls might preferred to identify with their captors instead of embracing freedom.

    “They develop Stockholm syndrome, identify with captors and want to remain,” said Akilu, who has run deradicalisation programmes for Boko Haram militants and women abducted by them.

    “Some are afraid of what to expect, the unknown. We don’t know how much influence their husbands have in coercing them not to go back,” added Akilu, head of the Neem Foundation, a non-profit group aimed at countering extremism in Nigeria.

    Mustapha explained that future talks between the government and the sect would extend beyond the release of the remaining Chibok girls in captivity and focus on negotiating peace in the conflict-hit North-East.

    His role as a mediator dates back to 2007, when he founded the Future Prowess Primary School in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State.

    When conflict broke out in 2009, the school remained open and was said to have even enrolled those children born to Boko Haram fighters.

    He added, “We are not just talking; we are still actively working towards peace.

    “Even though we have got (some of) the girls back, I don’t feel we have made much progress. After the (release of) the 21 girls, how many hundreds have been killed by suicide bombings?”

    “While Boko Haram may indeed hold out in releasing all of the hostages to maintain some form of leverage, the reality is that the girls have limited value to the sect outside of public relations capital and are likely placing a strain on resources.”