Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno has identified poverty and unemployment as major causes of Boko Haram insurgency in the state.
Zulum stated this during the inauguration of a micro credit facility and cash disbursement to petty traders, perishable sellers and retailers at Custom Market, Maiduguri, on Saturday.
He said that poverty and unemployment were the main causes of the insurgency and security challenges facing the state.
“There is nexus between security and economy; you could not have security without economic improvement.
“I promised to address the nagging problem of unemployment among youths and women; I will also work for the improvement of social and economic condition of the people to achieve security, peace and stability in the state,” he said.
The governor said that his administration had initiated viable programmes to provide job opportunities, reduce poverty and enhance wealth creation in the society.
He also said that the State Government had targeted over 10, 000 traders to participate in the micro credit loan scheme before the end of the year.
He said that some 1, 307 traders and retailers were selected to participate under the first phase of the programme in the Custom market.
Zulum said each of the beneficiaries would receive N30, 000 loan under the programme to enable him or her to finance their businesses, adding that government had adopted proactive measures to ensure continuity and sustainability of the programme.
He said that the state government had also provided a 50 per cent waver on the facility to enable the beneficiaries to repay the loan.
He urged the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the money and engage in productive activities.
Some of the beneficiaries, Mrs Lami Mohammed and Ali Yanage, lauded the gesture, saying that it would go a long way in boosting their socio-economic well being.
Tag: Borno
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Poverty, unemployment causes of Boko Haram insurgency in Borno – Gov Zulum
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ISWAP claims responsibility for kidnap of six aid workers in Borno
Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) on Thursday claimed responsibility for kidnap of six aid workers in Borno State, Nigeria.
International aid agency Action Against Hunger said that a staff member and five others kidnapped in Nigeria last week had appeared in a video released on Wednesday evening and that they were “apparently in a good condition of health”.
The deadly terror group also known as Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), which split from Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram in 2016, claimed responsibility for the kidnap in a tweet published by the SITE monitoring group.
The group has carried out a number of attacks in the northeast over the last few months, including on military bases. It killed a kidnapped aid worker nine months ago.
Action Against Hunger said in a statement that the people were abducted last week near the town of Damasak in northeast Nigeria, where the insurgents were active.
“Action Against Hunger strongly requests that our staff member and her companions are released,” said the agency.
The video was published by The Cable, a Nigerian news organization, and showed a woman sitting on the floor who identifies herself as “Grace”. Five men sit around her, some with their heads bowed. Behind them is a sheet with the logo of the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR.
“We were caught by this army called the Calipha,” she said, before asking that the Nigerian government and Action Against Hunger secure their release. “We don’t know where we are.”
Separately, the Nigerian presidency said in a statement that the government was negotiating for the release of the kidnapped aid workers.
Garba Shehu, SSA Media to President Buhari confirmed that contacts are being made with the abductors, ” in the hope that the captors will see reason to not visit hardship or even harm on these innocent individuals”.
“These discussions have been ongoing even before this time and what this latest incident has done is to bring urgency to the efforts that the secret service is making.
“Beside these aid workers, there are some others about whom this engagement is about-Leah Sharibu, a religious leader and all the others.” -
Army hands over 151 repentant Boko Haram insurgents to Borno Govt
The Army on Monday handed over 151 repentant Boko Haram insurgents to Borno Government for rehabilitation and re-integration into the society. Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Shafa, the Coordinator, Operation Safe Corridor, made the disclosure during the handing over of the repentant insurgents at the Bulunkutu Rehabilitation Center, Maiduguri.
Shafa disclosed the 151 male repentant insurgents comprised 132 adult and 19 minors, who completed 52 weeks of de-radicalisation process at its centre in Gombe.
He said that the clients were exposed to formal literacy classes, skills acquisition and Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK) as well as drug and psycho-therapists during their training.
Shafa explained that the Operation Safe Corridor was designed to encourage Boko Haram insurgents to surrender, provide de-radicalization and rehabilitation programme, to enable them rejoin the society.
“The clients confessed their past misdeeds; denounced membership of Boko Haram group, asked for forgiveness and took oath of allegiance to Nigeria. I believe they are now good citizens to rejoin the society,” he said.
Shafa lauded the state government over its support and efforts to assist the repentant insurgents to reintegrate into the society.
Deputy Governor Umar Kadafur commended the Federal Government over implementation of Operation Safe Corridor to rehabilitate and reintegrate repentant insurgents into the society.
Kadafur said the state government had adopted effective measures to accept the insurgents willing to voluntarily surrender and to create an enabling environment for them to rejoin the society.
He said the state government had also directed community leaders to sensitize their people on the need to accept the rehabilitated insurgents, and warned against infringement on their rights.
The deputy governor added the state government would support rehabilitated insurgents to set up their business, to enable them to engage in productive activities and contribute to the development of the society.
Tela Dandija and Kyari Buguma, some of the repentant insurgents, thanked the Federal Government for the amnesty granted to them and called on the insurgents still in the bush to surrender.
They also called for support to enable them to set up their businesses in their respective communities. -
JUST IN: Boko Haram kills Colonel, five soldiers in Borno
An Army colonel, a captain and his four escorts, as well as driver, have been killed by rampaging Boko Haram insurgents between Mainok and Jakana along Damaturu/Maiduguri highway.
Sources revealed the Colonel and his convoy ran into some fleeing insurgents after a heavy gunfire exchange with soldiers at Jakana in an attack that lasted for hours.
A military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, denied insinuations that it was an ambush.
He said: “The Colonel with his escort was just unlucky to run into the insurgents on his way from Maiduguri to Damaturu without knowledge of the ongoing attack on the highway”.
The source also confirmed that the Colonel is from 29 Task Force Brigade of Sector II of Operation Lafiya Dole.
The source also informed the insurgents were dealt a heavy blow as one of their gun trucks was burnt and several of them killed.
Another source informed that two civilians were killed in the Jakana attack from stray bullets.
He revealed that the insurgents did not attack civilian population.
Meanwhile travelers have continued to experience hardship along Maiduguri/Damaturu highway as soldiers mostly closed the use of the high way at any time they want.
Spokesman of the Nigeria Army Sector II, Lt. Njoka Irabor said: “The information available to me is still sketchy. I honestly don’t have any details now but I will get back to you as soon as possible”. -
Supreme Court upholds Zulum's election as Borno governor
…upholds Kyari’s election as Borno North Senator
The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by Alhaji Idris Mamman Gatumba, challenging the election of Professor Babagana Umara Zulum as Governor of Borno State.
The apex court also dismissed an appeal filed by Hajja Fati Monguno challenging the election of Senator Abubakar Kyari representing Borno North.
In a unanimous judgment, five justices of the Supreme Court, led by Hon justice John Iyang Okoro, dismissed both appeals for lack of merit.
The appellants, Idris and Kaakenna, had separately challenged the September/October, 2018 APC primaries in Borno State and approached the apex court after losing at both the Court of Appeal in Jos and the Federal High Court in Maiduguri.
At the Supreme Court, counsel to the appellants I K Bawa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, prayed the court to invoke its powers and set aside the concurrent judgments of the lower Courts to remove Governor Zulum and Senator Kyari from office as well as declare Idris and Kaakenna validly elected as Governor and Senator.
In his counter argument, counsel to the two respondents, Yusuf Ali, SAN, represented in court by K K Eleja, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria , argued the appeals were statute barred hence lacking in merit.
He argued that the appeals be summarily dismissed.
Consequently, the five Judges of the Supreme Court agreed with the argument of the respondents’ counsel and dismissed the two appeals in their favor. -
Borno emir returns home 5 years after displacement by Boko Haram
The Emir of Gwoza in Borno State, Mohammed Shehu-Timta, has returned home following relative peace and security five years after displacement from the kingdom by Boko Haram insurgents.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that mammoth crowd gathered at Pulka and major streets in Gwoza metropolis on Monday to give the first-class traditional ruler a rousing welcome.
Mr Shehu-Timta who was accompanied by the Deputy Governor of the state, Usman Kadafur, Ali Ndume, the senator for Borno South, members of the state House of Assembly and village heads, among others, was received in a colourful celebration showcased with a martial display of Gwoza culture at the emir’s palace.
Addressing the people, Governor Babagana Umara said the return of the monarch signified the return of civic authority in the local institution.
Represented by Mr Kadafur, the governor said his administration accord high respect and commitment to the traditional institution, describing it as a “symbol and pride of every society’’.
“I felicitate with the Emir and people of Gwoza over the official relocation and return of our Emir back to his palace after years in Maiduguri.
“This administration will not afford to toy with the people of Gwoza and the traditional institution.
“I therefore call on you to support the Emir and security agencies to end insurgency in order to move the emirate forward.
“The government is not unaware of the numerous challenges related to the relocation of the Emir. We are going to accelerate the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Gwoza General Hospital, water sources and other public utility buildings, among others,” he said.
According to him, the government will fast track construction of the mega schools to enable the students resume classes.
Speaking earlier, Mr Shehu-Timta said he voluntarily returned home to build confidence and encouraged his subjects to also return home and go back to their normal livelihood.
He recalled when the insurgents sacked the town in 2014, killings dozens of people, declaring the town as their spiritual caliphate.
He said: “Dozens of my people ran for their lives and became Internally Displaced Persons in Maiduguri, Adamawa, Abuja and Lagos, while some fled to Cameroon.
“Today’s is my happiest day in life as I officially returned back to my domain after been displaced by insurgents.
“I therefore call all people of Gwoza to come back home, so that we will rebuild our communities.” -
Borno: NAF destroys insurgents’ hideouts in Gobara, Bakassi
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed terrorists’ hideouts and killed some fighters at Gobara and Bakassi in Borno.
Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, added that the operation was conducted on Friday in separate air raids.
According to Daramola, the settlements were two of the targets selected for attack in the intensive air interdiction operations launched by the ATF on Wednesday.
He explained that the attack on Gobara, a settlement in the Sambisa Forest area, was carried out by two Alpha Jets after Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions had identified a segment of the settlement being used by Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) fighters to store their logistics and other equipment.
“The jets scored accurate hits in the target area, leading to the destruction of some of the structures and equipment as well as the killing of several terrorists.
” In a similar vein, another active camp belonging to Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements located at Bakassi on the fringes of Lake Chad in Northern Borno, was successfully attacked and several terrorists killed in air strikes carried out later in the day.
” Overhead the target area, the NAF ISR platform observed significant presence of ISWAP fighters who were attempting to flee the location, upon hearing the sound of the aircraft.
” The attack platforms were vectored to the area of concentration of the terrorists, unleashing their munitions on the target and causing significant damage to the camp and neutralising many terrorists,” he said.
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We will spend our last kobo to eliminate Boko Haram – Gov. Zulum
Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno on Monday assured that the state government would spend its last kobo to support the military and strengthen Civilian JTF and hunters, to eliminate terrorism.
Zulum gave the promise when he received the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, who visited him in Maiduguri.
He vowed that the state government would rise to the challenge of defending the people by supporting the military in terms of intelligence and logistics.
“The chief of army staff, count on me.
“Believe me, the government of Borno state will spend its last Kobo in ensuring that our civilian JTF and hunters are strengthened.
“We cannot afford a situation whereby two persons (terrorists) come with motorcycle or vehicle, ransacking town and killing hundreds of people,’’ he said.
The governor maintained that security was everybody’s business and not only a military affair.
He commended the military, particularly the army for their efforts so far in dealing with terrorists, noting that it was “very difficult to deal with an enemy you do not see.’’
“People do not understand; it very difficult.
“Considering the land mass of Borno state, about 76, 000 kms; it is not easy.’’
He pleaded that military operation should be followed with a stabilisation mechanism, saying “once an area has been liberated, there is the need for the government and military to work out modalities for reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement’’.
He added that this should be done with the support of the military and paramilitary organisations
“Without this, an area liberated can be taken over by insurgents.’’
The governor also pointed out that to achieve success in the fight against terrorism, the root causes of Boko Haram must be addressed.
He listed some of them as unemployment, endemic poverty, high illiteracy, poor socio-economic infrastructure and climate change.
“Right now, over 80 per cent of our population (Borno), including the youth and able bodied men, are unemployed.
“The situation is catastrophic, and unless we address the root causes of these problems, I think we cannot make any meaningful progress,’’ he said.
Zulum said that the mainstay of the state’s economy was agriculture but regretted that over 90 per cent of the population did not have access to farmland due insurgency.
“The area under cultivation in the last 10 years is less than that of the last two years.
“We are getting some significant improvement. This year, 2019, we are also getting more significant improvement.
“One area that the people of Borno wish to collaborate with the military and the police is to have access to their farmland,’’ he said.
Earlier, Buratai had congratulated the governor on his election and assured that the military was working out solution to insecurity in the state and the North-East.
Buratai also said that the military was moving into the stabilization phase in the region and pleaded for more support.
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Boko Haram now govern Borno communities, collect taxes – Arch Bishop
As Catholic priests from the 36 states of the Federation and the Abuja meet in Kaduna, the host, Archbishop of Kaduna Diocese, Most. Rev. Mathew Man-oso Ndagoso has said that, Boko Haram insurgents presently govern communities in Borno State.
He said the insurgents were taking advantage of government’s absence, as they take taxes and provide services to the said communities.
The Archbishop who spoke during a church service preceeding the Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association at the Our Lady’s Parish lamented the disturbing insecurity in the country.
According to him, the disturbing state of security was due to lack of the presence of government and good governance in certain parts of the country; particularly the North-east where he claimed the dreaded Boko Haram was still holding sway.
He argued that good governance and security were interwoven such that in the absence of one, the other suffers.
“Insecurity starts from where there is absence of government. The absence of government in certain parts of the country has brought us to where we are today. Our problem has always been the management of resources of the land.
“Something is happening right now whether the government knows or not, it is that, the splinter group of the Boko Haram, is providing services to the communities in Borno.
“They are collecting taxes because of the absence of government. This is dangerous,” he stressed.
The Archbishop however advised that, Nigerian leaders should stop whatever they are doing and frontally confront the security challenges.
Addressing the priests, Ndagoso urged them to frankly discuss the security challenges bedeviling the country.
The AGM which is expected to wind up on Thursday is themed; ‘The Imperative of Good Governance for a secure and Prosperous Nation.’
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Borno bomb blasts: Buhari mourns victims
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday commiserated with families of victims of bomb blasts at a viewing centre in Mandarari, Konduga Local Government Area of Borno on Sunday.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja, the President condoled with the government and people of the state over attacks by suicide bombers.
President Buhari decried the heinous acts, stressing that perpetrators of evil acts have judgment awaiting them, not only from man, via the long arms of the law, but also from God Almighty.
He urged security agents to sustain surveillance in all theatres of security challenges in the country, taking into consideration the unconventional methods deployed by terrorists to harm innocent and unsuspecting victims.
The President commended the efforts of emergency response workers and humanitarian organisations.
He prayed that God would grant the souls of the departed eternal rest and comfort their families.
Triple suicide bombings by Boko Haram killed 30 people in Konduga.
“The death toll from the attack has so far increased to 30.
“We have over 40 people injured,” Usman Kachalla, head of operations at the State Emergency Management Agency, said on Monday.