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Tag: boko haram

  • Intensify efforts to flush out Boko Haram remnants in North-East, Gaidam charges FG

    Intensify efforts to flush out Boko Haram remnants in North-East, Gaidam charges FG

    Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has appealed to the Federal Government to intensify the mop-up operation against Boko Haram remnants in the North-East to save lives and property.

    Gaidam made the appeal in Damaturu on Thursday while declaring open a two-day National Sensitisation Workshop on the Implementation of the National Counter Terrorism Strategy organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    “I wish to make a passionate appeal to the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser to intensify the mopping up of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East in conjunction with the vigilance groups,’’ he said.

    The governor said the State Government had spent N11.5 billion between 2011 and 2015 in the fight against insurgency.

    He said the state Government had also spent about N10 billion as Ration Cash Allowances (RCA) for security operatives and vigilance groups.

    “Our administration also procured for the security agencies and vigilance groups over 200 vehicles at about N1.5 billion,’’ he said.

    Gaidam commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his unrelenting fight against insurgency and other forms of crime in Nigeria.

    He described the workshop as most timely, saying,“it will avail us with the opportunity to work together collectively toward eliminating the menace of men of the underworld and other miscreants’’.

    The governor urged the Police Command in the state to organise an orientation programme for vigilance groups on rudiments of arrest and handling of suspected criminals.

    The National Security Adviser, retired Maj. Gen. Babagana Munguno, in a message, said that a five pillar programme had been designed to check terrorism.

    This, he said, included discouraging people from becoming or supporting terrorism and, to strengthen protection capacity against attacks.

    Munguno, who was represented by Alhassan Hussaini, a director in the office of the NSA, said the programme also sought to identify early warnings, mitigate the impact of terrorists’ attacks and framework for governmental efforts.

    He emphasised the need to share information among relevant government organs as terrorists continued to be dynamic in tactics and ever evolving means to carry out devastating attacks.

     

     

    NAN

  • Babangida gives Buhari tips on how to defeat Boko Haram

    Babangida gives Buhari tips on how to defeat Boko Haram

    Former military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (retd), has told the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to also use psychological and unconventional methods in fighting the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.

    Babangida gave this advice during an exclusive interview with Ladi Akeredolu-Ale on Channels Television.

    IBB pointed out that it would be a mistake to use regular war tactics against the insurgents.

    “What we tend to forget is that the insurgents have also got tacticians or people who think for them, and once they do that, then you have a problem.

    “You have to find a way of countering that information they dish out,” he said.

    Babangida added that government should embark on sensitisation campaigns in a bid to “dish out a lot of not so good information about the other people (terrorists) so that the populace will have confidence that no matter what happens, the military is there to protect them.”

  • Gov Yahaya Bello names road after Col. Abu Ali, Boko Haram war hero

    Gov Yahaya Bello names road after Col. Abu Ali, Boko Haram war hero

    The Kogi State Government on Friday named the 50-km Shintaku-Gboloko-Dekina Road in Bassa Local Government Area of the state after the fallen Book Haram war hero, Lt.-Col. Mohammed Abu Ali.

    Governor Yahaya Bello, who announced this in Bassa, said the honour was part of efforts to immortalise Ali, who was killed in Maiduguri, Borno, on Nov. 4, 2016 by insurgents.

    The late officer was a son to the Ettu of Bassa-Nge Kingdom, retired Brig-Gen. Abu Ali.

    Bello was in the council area to flag off the rehabilitation of three roads when he announced the naming of the road after the late soldier.

    “My late brother, Lt.-Col Abu Ali, paid the ultimate price for the protection of his fellow Nigerians and I am dedicating this road in his memory.

    “When I came here on a condolence visit to his family, I promised to construct this road and I am grateful to God that I am performing the flag-off today to the glory of God,” he said.

    He assured the people of his administration’s commitment to provide infrastructure in the area.

    Bello warned criminals to keep off, saying the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on them.

    “The state has become a no-go area for criminals.

    “By now, criminals must know that there is a new `sheriff’ in town. I will not condone any form of criminality. Those still hiding will be flushed out; poverty is not an excuse for criminality,” the governor said

    The Administrator of the local government area, Mr Zakari Alumka, commended the governor for his intervention during a recent communal clash.

    Alumka also thanked the governor for the construction and rehabilitation of Mohammed Abu Ali road and two other roads in the area.

    In his speech, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Paul Maiwada, who is from the area, expressed the gratitude of Bassa people to the governor for the honour done their late son, Ali. ( NAN)

  • Troops kill 57 Boko Haram terrorists in Borno

    Troops of operation Lafiya Dole and the Multi-National Joint Task Force have killed at least 57 Boko Haram terrorists in Northern Borno State.

    Commander, air component of Operation Lafiya Dole, Air Commodore Charles Ohwo, confirmed the incident, while briefing journalists in Yola, Adamawa State.

    He said the insurgents were regrouping under trees when an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance platform of the air component caught them.

    He said the MNJTF troops later opened fire on them.

    He said, “In Arege village of northern Borno, on Monday, an ISR operation was carried out. We discovered that a lot of fleeing Boko Haram insurgents hid under trees and the adverse weather prevented us from taking them out in an air strike. So, we communicated with the MNJTF troops around the location.

    “In the fire fight which ensued, at least 57 Boko Haram members were killed by the MNJTF forces. Several arms and ammunition were also recovered from the insurgents.

    “In Tagoshe and Gwoza hills, there were also indications that the Boko Haram terrorists had hideouts and we mobilised the ISR platform to the place. We thereafter conducted air interdiction and blew up the terrorists. We have and will continue to monitor all these areas.”

  • Army frees 593 Boko Haram detainees

    The Nigerian military on Monday set free 593 boko haram detainees after they had been cleared of any association with the deadly sect.

    The head of the military operations in the North-East, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, handed over the detainees to the officials of the Borno State Government at a ceremony in Maiduguri.

    Irabor, represented by Brig.-Gen. Abdulrahman Kuluya, said that the detainees were released on the directive of the Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

    “The military has made several efforts in ensuring that peace return to the North-East by conducting different operations. Lots of efforts have been made to get us where we are today,” he said.

    Irabor said that some suspects were arrested in the course of the operations in the North-East.

    “The Chief of Army Staff has always made it clear at different fora that all (innocent) persons arrested in the course of the anti-insurgency war in the North-East will not stay a minute more than necessary.

    “(Innocent) detainees either arrested by the military or arrested and brought to the military by other people will not be allowed to stay more than necessary,” he said.

    Irabor pointed out that the detainees were released after being cleared by the Joint Investigation Team of the military.

    He said that they were handed to the state government for psycho-social support before their final reintegration into the society.

    Receiving the detainees, the Welfare Officer at the Bulumkutu Rehabilitation Centre, Mrs Ladi Musa, thanked the military for the gesture.

    Musa said that the state government had already provided enough facilities at the centre for the rehabilitation of the detainees.

  • Boko Haram: Army releases 593 cleared detainees

    The Nigerian military have released 593 detainees after they had been cleared of any association with the Boko Haram terrorists.

    The Theater Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, handed over the detainees to officials of the Borno Government at a ceremony in Maiduguri on Monday.

    Irabor, represented by Brig.-Gen. Abdulrahman Kuluya, said the release was based on the directives of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

    “The military have made several efforts at ensuring that peace returns to the North-East by conducting different operations.

    “Lots of efforts have been made to get us where we are today,” he said.

    Irabor said that some suspects were arrested in the course of the operations in the North-East.

    “The Chief of Army Staff has always made it clear at different fora that all persons arrested in the course of the anti- insurgency war in the North-East will not stay a minute more than necessary.

    “Persons either arrested by the military or arrested and brought to the military by another person will not be allowed to stay more than necessary,” he said.

    Irabor explained that the detainees were released after they were cleared by the Joint Investigation Team of the military.

    He said that they were handed over to the State Government for psychosocial support before final reintegration into the society.

    Receiving the detainees, Mrs Ladi Musa, the Welfare Officer at the Bulumkutu Rehabilitation Center, thanked the military for the gesture.

    Musa said the State Government had already provided enough facilities at the center for the rehabilitation of the detainees.

     

    NAN

  • 3rd Year Remembrance: B’Haram undefeated until 195 remaining Chibok girls are rescued – Ezekwesili

    3rd Year Remembrance: B’Haram undefeated until 195 remaining Chibok girls are rescued – Ezekwesili

    The Convener of the Bring Back Our Girls Group (BBOG) has said until the remaining 195 Chibok girls trapped in Boko Haram’s den are released, the war against insurgents is far from being won as claimed by the Federal Government.

    She said the government cannot claim of defeating Boko Haram until the remaining Chibok girls are brought back home, adding that agitations for their release will not end no matter the silence treatment from government.

    in her words: “There shouldn’t be any sense of complacency, on the part of any leader of a country, when you’ve got 195 of your children with terrorists.

    “This government seems to want this whole agitation of Chibok girls to end so that everybody will just move away, No.

    “There was a promise made that except the government brings back Chibok girls, it cannot say that it has defeated Boko Haram.

    ”It was the statement of our president in his inauguration address; it was the statement he revealed to us during our July visit in 2015 to him.

    “He cannot run away from it, he cannot back away from it.

    “The parents on the other hand, who lamented over the situation, however expressed hope that their children would return.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the 276 girls were kidnapped on the night of 14–15 April 2014, from the Government Secondary School in the town of Chibok in Borno State.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that so far, 81 of the girls have regained their freedom leaving 195 of them still in the terrorist’s den.

  • No local government under Boko Haram’s control in North East – Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has said that there has been tremendous progress in the war against insurgency since he assumed office in July 2015.

    Buratai maintained that at the moment, the military has captured all the hitherto strong Boko Haram holds in the North East.

    Buratai revealed this in an interview with The Nation.

    In his words: “My greatest fulfilment is with the progress that has been made in the war against Boko Haram since I resumed as the Chief of Army Staff,” he said.

    “We came at a time when truly the challenge of the insurgency was very high. It was at its peak. There is no gainsaying that some progress had been made before we came in. But the progress that was made before we came in was being overtaken by the virtual resurgence of Boko Haram terrorist group.

    “At the time we came, there were only four local governments that were not under the Boko Haram terrorist group’s control out of about 27 local governments in Borno. Same in Yobe state; two local governments were still under Boko Haram’s influence. That was the situation we met when we came in July 2015.

    “As at today, those two local governments in Yobe state have been reclaimed from Boko Haram. And in Borno, all the 23 LGAs that were under the influence and control of Boko Haram have been liberated and they’ve been effectively put under the control of the elected government. The areas that are remaining are just the peripheral, that lies along the border between Nigeria and Cameroon. And Chad and Niger borders as well. No single local government is under the control of Boko Haram. To me, this is a major achievement and source of fulfilment,” Buratai said.

    The Army also relieved how Boko Haram insurgents attacked his convoy while he was leading troops to clear the ambush in Mafa village.

    “I was with them and my convoy was ambushed by Boko Haram. Instead of withdrawing back to Maiduguri, I said, ‘No! We are in this together, I can’t go back. We must all go together to clear the ambush,” Buratai said.

    “So I advanced with them and that was how we cleared the ambush. If the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) does not turn back, who would turn and run from such an ambush? I advanced with the troops and it paid off.

    “Unfortunately, we lost two soldiers; one of them was an officer. One other soldier, a Brigadier-General, got wounded in the attack,” he added.

    He added that the troops killed 10 terrorists and captured five.

  • How Boko Haram insurgents attacked Buratai’s convoy

    How Boko Haram insurgents attacked Buratai’s convoy

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur has revealed that his convoy was once attacked by terrorist group, Boko Haram in the North East, Borno State.

    Buratai revealed this in a recent interview with The Nation

    According to Buratai, he led the troops to clear the ambush in Mafa village instead of returning to Maiduguri.

    “I was with them and my convoy was ambushed by Boko Haram. Instead of withdrawing back to Maiduguri, I said, ‘No! We are in this together, I can’t go back. We must all go together to clear the ambush,” Buratai said.

    [Read Also: Those calling for Nigeria’s disintegration should forget it – Buratai]

    “So I advanced with them and that was how we cleared the ambush. If the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) does not turn back, who would turn and run from such an ambush? I advanced with the troops and it paid off.

    “Unfortunately, we lost two soldiers; one of them was an officer. One other soldier, a Brigadier-General, got wounded in the attack,” he added.

    He added that the troops killed 10 terrorists and captured five.

    Buratai also said the terrorist group has been greatly degraded since he took over as army chief.

    He added that the insurgents are not in control of any local government as it was in the past.

    “My greatest fulfilment is with the progress that has been made in the war against Boko Haram since I resumed as the Chief of Army Staff,” he said.

    “We came at a time when truly the challenge of the insurgency was very high. It was at its peak. There is no gainsaying that some progress had been made before we came in. But the progress that was made before we came in was being overtaken by the virtual resurgence of Boko Haram terrorist group.

    “At the time we came, there were only four local governments that were not under the Boko Haram terrorist group’s control out of about 27 local governments in Borno. Same in Yobe state; two local governments were still under Boko Haram’s influence. That was the situation we met when we came in July 2015.

    “As at today, those two local governments in Yobe state have been reclaimed from Boko Haram. And in Borno, all the 23 LGAs that were under the influence and control of Boko Haram have been liberated and they’ve been effectively put under the control of the elected government. The areas that are remaining are just the peripheral, that lies along the border between Nigeria and Cameroon. And Chad and Niger borders as well. No single local government is under the control of Boko Haram. To me, this is a major achievement and source of fulfilment,” Buratai said.

  • Boko Haram: UN team arrives Nigeria to de-mine Sambisa

    A team of UN experts has arrived in Nigeria to assess the number of landmines Boko Haram terrorists have laid in the Sambisa Forest.

    Ms Agnes Marcaillou, Director, UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), told newsmen in New York that the team arrived the country on Tuesday.

    According to her, the assessment is with a view to de-mining and clearing the area of landmines.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that UNMAS collaborates with 11 other UN departments, agencies, programmes and funds to ensure effective, proactive and coordinated response to the problems of landmines and explosive remnants of war, including cluster munitions.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, had on Sunday called for deliberate efforts to remove mines from the Sambisa forest after the sack of the insurgents from the area.

    Buratai said the effort required the assistance of the UN, Non-Governmental Organisations and development partners as the country could not do it alone.

    Speaking on the UN response, Marcaillou said: “UNMAS has sent some people to Nigeria and they have arrived already today (Tuesday) to explore this matter further.

    “I would say that the standard is that we need first and foremost, the involvement of the country in looking at the threat, it’s a partnership.

    “The United Nations and UNMAS have no magic wand. We need to get an assessment of the problem together; UN brings the capacities of the UN and the government together.

    “And then the Government of Nigeria will take the lead in mobilising the international community support.

    “This is because everything that we will do together at one point or another in Nigeria will require funding to meet those needs.

    “We need the concrete engagement of the government. We need to have evidence that the Government of Nigeria has put this question as a top priority on its agenda.’’

    She, however, pledged the commitment of the UN mine service to working with the Federal Government to rid the conflict-prone areas of landmines.

    “But right now, the positive side of the story is that we have responded to the call.

    “And we have a number of people who have already arrived the country today (Tuesday) to discuss it further,” she said.

     

    NAN