TheNewsGuru

Tag: Borno State

  • Killings: Buhari’s government has failed – Murray-Bruce

    Killings: Buhari’s government has failed – Murray-Bruce

    Senator Ben Murray-Bruce on Sunday said the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has failed.

    Senator Murray-Bruce stated this following the Saturday killing of farmers in Zamarmari area of Jere local government area of Borno State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports members of the Boko Haram sect on Saturday killed over 40 farmers in Zamarmari.

    Murray-Bruce described the killing as horific, saying the government needs to do better to protecting the lives of citizens.

    “The news from Borno State is horific. My condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones.

    “The government needs to do better. As it stands, the government has failed in its primary role to its citizens,” Murray-Bruce tweeted.

    The barbaric incident which happened on Saturday afternoon led to tension and an uneasy feeling in the town on Saturday evening when the news broke.

    Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed grief over the killings, describing the act as insane and prayed that the souls of the victims rest in peace.

    “I condemn the killing of our hardworking farmers by terrorists in Borno State. The entire country is hurt by these senseless killings. My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief. May their souls Rest In Peace.”

    Reacting in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President expressed grief over the killing of the farmers on rice fields at Zabarmari, in Jere Local Government of Borno State, describing the terrorist killings as insane.

    The statement was titled, ‘President Buhari Condemns As Insane, Boko Haram Killing Of Farmers in Borno State.’

    The statement quoted Buhari as saying, “I condemn the killing of our hardworking farmers by terrorists in Borno State. The entire country is hurt by these senseless killings. My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief. May their souls Rest In Peace.”

    The statement added that the President had given all the needed support to the armed forces “to take all necessary steps to protect the country’s population and its territory.”

    How the killings happened:

    Nasiru Usman, one farmers who escaped during the attack, went to town with the news. He said the attackers also abducted seven farmers. Usman said trouble started after some farmers apprehended a Boko Haram insurgent who approached them with request for food.

    “Unknowingly, he was accompanied by dozens of other militants who were hiding around the bush. So immediately they tied him and seized his guns, his other colleagues quickly stormed the scene, and opened fire on the farmers, while they took to their heels. At exactly 11am, the group declared a blanket killing against all the farmers harvesting their products.

    “They began by abducting seven, then went on rampage and began killing every one in sight. So far, we have recovered up to 45 bodies. Our civilian JTF, police and Military are still searching for more bodies. We won’t know how many are missing so far for now since more bodies are still being found,” he said.

    Several bullet wounds were seen on the body of the deceased farmers, according to another source who helped in recovering the bodies and immediately prepared for burial.

    Residents have insisted that the state Governor has to see the bodies of the 43 victims, all of whom had their throats slit.

    According to AFP, the victims were mostly labourers from Sokoto state in northwest Nigeria, who were contracted to harvest paddy in the rice fields.

    Zabarmari is known to be within the sphere of influence of Boko Haram parent group, however, it’s splinter Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction have previously conducted an attack in the town. The latter group is notorious for targeting farmers cultivating their farmlands.

    The violence in the region has taken a toll of over 30,000 fatalities with about two million people displaced from their homes since 2009.

  • No attack on Zulum’s convoy or security aides, media aide clarifies

    No attack on Zulum’s convoy or security aides, media aide clarifies

    A Sunday report by an online media, claiming there was another attack by Boko Haram on the convoy of Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, is false. There was neither an attack on the governor directly nor on any component of his convoy.

    Zulum’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, in a statement issued on Sunday, said Zulum traveled to Baga, spent a day supervising the distribution of food and other relief to thousands of residents and returned to Maiduguri safely with no hitch whatsoever.

    “For the record, we write to quickly clarify that contrary to a “breaking news” by an online news medium, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum was neither attacked nor was any component of his convoy attacked by anyone.

    “The governor was actually in Baga from Saturday to Sunday, during which he supervised the distribution of food and cash support to 5,000 residents and he assessed major reconstruction and resettlement efforts with no hitch whatsoever.

    “While we continually accord respect to all media organizations as supportive partners, we importantly clarify that we have no knowledge of the breaking news” in question.

    “As members of the public can testify, it is the culture and principle of Professor Zulum to say things as they are, and in this case, it is what it is- no attack whatsoever. Any media organization that wants further clarification may wish to contact the Nigerian military.

    “Meanwhile, Governor Zulum appreciates all well wishers, and he gratefully commends armed forces and civilian volunteers for the relentless efforts to fully regain lasting peace in Borno State” the statement said.

  • BREAKING: After attack on Gov Zulum, Boko Haram killers surrender in Borno

    BREAKING: After attack on Gov Zulum, Boko Haram killers surrender in Borno

    The Defence Headquarters says 13 Boko Haram terrorists alongside six women and 17 children from Kodila village have surrendered to troops of 151 Task Force Battalion at Banki Junction in Bama Local Government Area of Borno.

    The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Enenche said the terrorists surrendered due to sustained aerial bombardment and aggressive intensive clearance operation by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole in the North East.

    He said the suspects and their family members who surrendered on Saturday had been receiving medical attention at a military medical facility.

    According to him, the suspects are currently undergoing thorough profiling and investigation in line with global best practices in handling such cases.

    “The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies remain resolute, determined and committed to sustaining the tempo of the operations,” he said.

    Recall that some Jihadist fighters linked to the Islamic State group on Friday killed several security personnel in an ambush on the convoy of the Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum.

    According to reports eight policemen, three soldiers, and four members of a government-backed militia were killed in the attack on vehicles carrying the Borno State Governor near the town of Baga on the shores of Lake Chad.

    The insurgents opened fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades as the convoy was passing through a village close to the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force, a military coalition of troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

    “The governor escaped unhurt but 15 security men on the convoy were killed in a fierce battle with the terrorists”, one source said.

    Zulum was on an assessment tour of Baga in preparation for the return of thousands of residents displaced from the town by the jihadists in 2014, the sources said.

    The Governor flew on a helicopter into the garrison town of Monguno, 60 kilometres (40 miles) away, and headed to Baga in a convoy under tight security, one of the sources said.

    All three sources were talking on condition of anonyonimity.

    The IS-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group maintains most of its camps on islands in Lake Chad and the region is known as a bastion for the jihadists.

    The militant group has recently intensified attacks on military and civilian targets in the region.

    In July, Zulum’s convoy came under gun attack from ISWAP outside Baga, forcing him to cancel his trip to the town.

  • Gov. Zulum orders auction of Borno State grounded vehicles

    Gov. Zulum orders auction of Borno State grounded vehicles

    Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has ordered the auctioning of 710 grounded government vehicles recovered from ministries and parastatals.

    Zulum gave the directives on Thursday in Maiduguri while inspecting some of the recovered vehicles.

    The reports that the vehicles were recovered by the Committee on Evacuation, Repairs and Auctioning of Grounded Vehicles set up by the governor.

    Zulum, who lauded the committee for the good job, assured it of sustain support to continue in the onerous responsibility.

    The governor lamented the lack of maintenance culture in civil service, pointing out that some of the abandoned vehicles were new ones with minor faults.

    “It is more disheartening that among these vehicles are brand new ones, there are more than one hundred that were used for not more than one year.

    “Lack of maintenance culture, lack of commitment is killing our state. The statistics is very scaring, we have more than 200 tractors abandoned because of minor faults,” Zulum said.

    The governor noted that in his home local government of Mafa alone, there are about 21 abandoned tractors.

    “Let me warn, if we find out that any of such tractors have been diverted before the visit of this committee, believe me the secretary of such local government will be summarily dismissed.

    “These are the assets of the state, it can add value to the lives of our people,

    “I have given you directives to liase with the procurement unit to auction all the recovered vehicles. However, those that require minor repairs can be rehabilitated and put back to use,” Zulum said.

    Earlier, the committee chairman, Lawan Abba-Wakilbe, informed the governor that about 146 of the vehicles and equipments recovered were recovered from private automobile mechanics.

    He explained that the vehicles were abandoned for about two years over minor repairs.

  • Boko Haram Commander, family surrender in Borno

    Boko Haram Commander, family surrender in Borno

    The Defence Headquarters says a high profile Boko Haram Commander has surrendered to Nigerian troops during clearance operations in their enclaves in Borno saying that the operations took place between Sept. 17 and Sept. 23.

    The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this while giving weekly update on the operation of Armed Forces of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.

    Enenche said the unnamed commander surrendered with his four wives.

    He said the success was as a result of sustained offensive by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole through air and ground operations on terrorists’ enclaves at different locations in Borno, Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa.

    According to him, the operations also led to the arrest of one Boko Haram fighter at Kamuya in Biu Local Government Area of (LGA) of Borno, while nine other criminals were arrested in Wukari LGA of Taraba.

    “Caches of arms and ammunition as well as equipment and motorcycles were also recovered.

    “Meanwhile, troops repelled BHT/ISWAP attacks on civilians and own troops at Wajiroko in Damboa LGA of Borno on Sept. 17 and Sept. 20.

    “The troops neutralised several of the terrorists and recovered arms and ammunition,” he said.

    In the North West, Enenche disclosed that the troops of Operations Hadarin Daji and Sahel Sanity had continued to dominate the general area leading to killing of seven bandits and rescue of kidnapped victims during the week.

    He said the troops on Sept. 17, rescued eight kidnapped victims from suspected bandits at Fankama and Sabon Layi area of Faskari LGA of Katsina State.

    The coordinator explained that the troops got information that bandits dressed in military camouflage were sighted with kidnapped victims and engaged the bandits forcing them to abandon the victims.

    He also disclosed that troops of Operation Sahel Sanity while on patrol at Chabas, responded to a distress call and rescued a truck driver with 11 women and children who were on their way to Batsari Market but were kidnapped by suspected bandits along Shimfida – Gurbi Road.

    According to him, troops deployed at Dansadau arrested a suspected bandit on a motorcycle on his way to Dandalla village in Dansadau, Maru LGA of Zamfara with one Pump Action rifle and three live cartridges carefully concealed in a bag.

    “Similarly, the Air Component of Operation Thunder Strike killed several bandits at their meeting venue in air strikes executed at Kwaimbana forest area of Kaduna State.

    “Also, two gunrunners were arrested in possession of 1,620 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition in Kudaru Hill along Kaduna-Jos Road in Lere LGA of Kaduna State.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that the ammunition was to be delivered to one bandit leader, at a location in Dansadau LGA of Zamfara.

    Equally, on Sept. 18, troops of Forward Operations Base Burukusuma patrol team killed seven armed bandits at Magira village of Zamfara.

    “On Sept. 19, troops, in conjunction with vigilantes arrested two bandits in possession of N1.3 million at Baworaje village in Talata Mafara LGA of Zamfara,” he said.

    In North Central, the Coordinator disclosed the Troops of Operation Safe Haven between Sept. 17 and Sept. 20, raided suspected Sara-Suka criminals’ hideouts at Jenta Adamu, Rikkos, and Gangare Yan-Doya area of Jos North LGA of Plateau.

    He said the raids led to arrest of 14 suspects while 12 knives, 4 daggers, 4 mobile phones, two swords, assorted charms, a large quantity of substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, among other illicit drugs were recovered.

    Enenche added that troops also raided another suspected drug peddlers’ hideout within Barkin Ladi LGA where a drug dealer was arrested with a large quantity of substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa.

    According to him, all the arrested suspects and recovered exhibits have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action.

    Enenche further disclosed that the Headquarters Operation Safe Haven on Sept. 17, inaugurated the Rim Primary Healthcare Centre renovated by the Defence Headquarters in Riyom LGA of Plateau as part of it’s Civil Military Cooperation.

    He added that the DHQ medical team in conjunction with Operation Safe Haven medical team conducted a 2-day medical outreach in Ikulu Chiefdom of Zangon-Kataf LGA of Kaduna State.

  • Soldiers, Boko Haram terrorists killed as troops foil mayhem in Borno

    Soldiers, Boko Haram terrorists killed as troops foil mayhem in Borno

    The Defence Headquarters says military troops had successfully thwarted an attempt by the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists to scuttle the resettlement of Kukawa community in Borno on Tuesday.

    The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement on Thursday, said the troops eliminated eight terrorists while several others escaped with gunshot wounds during the encounter.

    Enenche said that three soldiers were killed in the attack while two others sustained various degrees of injuries, adding that the wounded were currently receiving treatment at the military medical station.

    He said that Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno had on July 29 flagged off the re-opening of Munguno-Cross Kauwa-Kukawa Road which was followed almost immediately with the resettlement of some of the displaced people from Kukawa.

    “Life was already picking up in the town.

    “The attack by the terrorists was therefore a deliberate attempt to reverse the milestone achievements recorded regarding IDPs in the areas of peace building, reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement efforts by the government.

    “The situation in Kukawa is now calm with troops in full control.“

    Enenche gave the assurance that Nigerian Armed Forces would ensure the success of its struggle to see to the rebuilding and resettlement of the displaced people.

    According to him, the futile attempt by the terrorists to thwart it only spurred the gallant troops to more decisive action.

    “The people of Kukawa are therefore advised to go about their normal lawful businesses without any hindrance.

    “They are also enjoined to always avail the troops and other security agencies with credible information about the terrorists and any suspicious persons accordingly,” he said.

  • Nobody is safe in Borno, Shehu cries out

    Nobody is safe in Borno, Shehu cries out

    The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Garbai Elkanemi has cried out, saying nobody is safe in Borno State, calling on everyone to raise their hands to seek for Allah’s intervention.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Shehu made the call when he visited the State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum at the Government House.

    The visit was on the heels of the gun attack on the Governor’s convoy in Baga on Wednesday and the Maiduguri’s attack that claimed the lives of six persons with 27 injured on Eid-el-Kabir’s eve.

    “Your Excellency, we are not happy about what happened in Baga, it is very unfortunate and a great pity.

    “If the convoy of the whole chief security officer of the state will be attacked, then wallahi, nobody is safe, because he is the number one citizen of the state.

    “If the convoy of such a highly placed person in the state will be attacked, I repeat, nobody is safe. The matter is getting worse, I urge everyone to raise our hands to seek Allah’s intervention,” Shehu said.

    Meanwhile, Governor Zulum thanked the Shehu for the visit and assured of government’s readiness to address the issues he raised.

  • Gov Zulum shocked, saddened by execution of 5 aid workers in Borno

    Gov Zulum shocked, saddened by execution of 5 aid workers in Borno

    Gov. Babagana Zulum has expressed shock and sadness over the killing in Borno of five aid workers who were killed by Boko Haram insurgents.

    Zulum, in a statement by his Special Assistant Media and Strategies to the governor,

    disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday in Maiduguri.
    said he is deeply pained by Malam Isa Gusau, described the aid workers as “heroes who were serving humanity “.

    The governor, Gusau said, was informed of the execution on Wednesday evening, while visiting the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Headquarters in Abuja to discuss introduction of civil-defence volunteer programme and the deployment of more agro rangers to secure farmers in Borno.

    “The insurgents released a video which showed five blindfolded aid workers with four of them shot at close range, while one was spared even though he was also positioned for execution.

    “The five aid workers were abducted weeks back during a humanitarian mission to support internally displaced persons (IDPs).

    “Gov. Zulum is deeply pained and extremely worried by the gruesome execution of the aid workers who lost their lives while trying to save IDPs through humanitarian activities.

    “The Governor mourns these heroes and shares the grief of their families and employers: Borno Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Action Against Hunger, Reach International, International Rescue Committee, and condoles with the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, (UNOCHA)”, the statement said.

    Gusau noted that Gov. Zulum has, in his absence, directed a Government delegation to immediately visit families of the aid workers to participate in funeral activities and to pay condolence visits to affected humanitarian partners through UNOCHA.

    The governor, he said, wants fresh ideas that would be the way out of the insurgency.

    “Gov. Zulum wants a new thinking that would hopefully stop these endless killings. We cannot continue to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result.

    “The governor believes in a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches and he is of the position that the Nigerian military has, through its operation ‘safe corridor’, demonstrated its willingness to rehabilitate and reintegrate insurgents willing to stop the killings of fellow humans.

    The Governor reiterates his call on the insurgents to stop the killings that have been on for 11 years.

    Zulum also urged all stakeholders to renew commitment to ending the insurgency by being open to new ideas and applying different measures that will hasten good results.

  • BREAKING: ISWAP executes 5 aid workers in Borno State [GRAPHIC VIDEO]

    BREAKING: ISWAP executes 5 aid workers in Borno State [GRAPHIC VIDEO]

    Insurgents, suspected to be members of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), have executed five aid workers in Borno State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the sect released the video of the execution of the five aid workers on Wednesday.

    The aid workers included a staff of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, Action Against Hunger, Rich International, International Rescue Committee and a security guard.

    The insurgents were believed to have demanded $500,000 as ransom for the release of the aid workers, who had been in their custody for about a month.

    The insurgents left a message in the video before executing the workers.

    “We are sending this as a very strong message to you unbelievers and infidels. And to those of you that are being used by these infidels to repent.

    “You are working for them but they do not have any concern about you. You worked for them to achieve their goals but they are very far from your plight.

    “They do not show you any care. Look at you now. When we kidnap you they don’t care. They show no concern. We are calling on all you unbelievers to repent and turn to Allah.

    “We will continue to abduct you people at every road that we see you if you don’t repent to work for them. It is a warning to all of you,” the translation of the voice talking in the video reads.

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian office of Amnesty International has condemned the killing of the aid workers, saying with the horrific killing, the insurgents have again demonstrated its brazen disregard for life.

    “Amnesty International condemns the killing of aid workers by Boko Haram. With yet another horrific killing of humanitarian workers, Boko Haram has again demonstrated its brazen disregard for life.

    “Aid workers are providing desperately-needed humanitarian services to people affected by the conflict in the northeast of Nigeria. Under international humanitarian law, all aid workers must be protected from attack. Killing them is a war crime,” Amnesty International stated.

  • JUST IN: Gov. Zulum suspends all staff of Ngala General Hospital

    Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has suspended all government staff of Ngala General Hospital for abandoning their job in the border Hospital to an international NGO, fhi 360.

    Ngala town liberated from insurgents in 2015 is the Headquarters of Ngala Local Government Area with an international land route into Cameroon, Chad, Sudan and Central Africa.

    A statement on Wednesday by the governor’s spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau, said the development followed a surprise visit to the hospital by the Governor where he met only the NGO staff attaining to many patients mostly Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) that besieged the facility.

    Gusau said those affected by the suspension included; doctors, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory technicians.

    “The governor was disappointed to find out that in spite of the high turn-out of patients, not one of the many government paid staff, from doctors down to clerical staff, was at the hospital as at 11am,” Gusau said.

    He explained that the governor was received at the hospital by the Field Coordinator of the fhi 360.

    “This is a General Hospital belonging to Borno State Government, unfortunately there is no single state government staff here to attend to all these patients, and we promptly pay all of them salaries.

    “These humanitarian workers from the iNGO (fhi360) are supposed to complement the state government staff but not to completely take over the hospital.

    “I am directing the Borno State Hospitals Management Board, if there is any staff on the payroll of this Hospital, to immediately suspend all the workers on government payroll.

    “I will be back at this hospital, hoping to see the opposite of what I saw today,” Gusau quoted Zulum as saying.

    While in Ngala the governor also visited three schools and ordered the rehabilitation of classrooms destroyed by insurgents.

    He also announced plans to resettle displaced persons in neighbouring communities of Logumani and Gajibo.