TheNewsGuru

Tag: Borno

  • Army corporal shoots, injures captain in Borno

    Peter Omobuwa, a corporal in the Nigerian Army on Sunday opened fire at an Army Captain, I.F Ibiama at Banki Junction, Borno State.

    A special situation report issued from the Headquarters of 21 Brigade, which coordinates Operation Lafiya Dole, to the Headquarters of 7 Division and exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, indicated that the incident occurred at about 9.12pm.

    According to the report, Corporal Omobuwa is attached to the 151 Battalion of the Nigerian Army.

    It added that the injured officer was moved to the Brigade Medical Centre where he was stabilized, while the corporal was arrested and is in the custody of the Military Police.

  • 10 arrested for burning Nasarawa IDPs houses

    The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested 10 people for allegedly setting ablaze the houses deserted by the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nasarawa/Benue border towns.

    DSP Idirisu Kennedy, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Nasarawa, stated this on Saturday while addressing newsmen at the command headquarters in Lafia.

    According to him, surprisingly some of the suspects arrested in connection with the offence turned out to be of the same tribal extraction with their victims.

    He said on Feb. 11 one Nicholas Alua and three others, who are all Tiv people, were arrested for burning three houses of their Tiv brothers at Farin Ruwa 1 of Obi Local Government Area (LGA).

    He added on Ijakeni Uhon of Gidan Nguinyi a Tiv man was arrested for setting fire on 25 houses belonging to some Tiv people at Gidan Wakili.

    He said that Danis Utsa of Kadarko and three others were also arrested on Jan. 1 for setting ablaze the house of Edward Alima of the same address.

    He, however, said that two Fulani people from Obi LGA namely Bagu Anaruwa and Rabo Anaruwa both of Obi LGA were arrested for burning 15 houses belonging to some Tiv people in Kuduku 11 village of Keana LGA.

    The PPRO explained that the arrest was made possible due to the aggressive patrols of the affected areas.

    He said that the suspects would be charge to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

    He, therefore, assured the public that the police would do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of isolated attacks in boarder communities to justice.

  • 22 dead, 28 injured as multiple bomb blasts hit Borno

    No fewer than 22 persons were killed and 28 others injured in a multiple suicide bombing at a market in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno.

    The incident occurred on Friday at about 9:00 PM, when three suicide bombers detonated explosives at the “Kasuwar Kifi” in the outskirts of Konduga town.

    A witness, Idrissa Bana, said the three suicide bombers simultaneously detonated the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on their bodies in the crowded market.

    Bana said that the explosives killed 22 persons and 28 others sustained injuries, adding that those injured were evacuated to a hospital in Maiduguri.

    “There were a lot of people doing last minute shopping when the suicide bombers hit the market,” he said.

    A competent security source confirmed the incident, adding that at the moment the identity of the suicide bombers and exact number of causalities could not be ascertain for now.

  • Boko Haram: Shekau on the run, now disguises as woman, Army warns Borno residents

    The Nigerian Army says credible information indicates that factional leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, now dresses as a woman in an effort to escape from the Theatre of Operation.

    Army Spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, who confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday, said Shekau could no longer bear the heat and had abandoned his followers.

    “He is running for his dear life. He is desperately trying to escape the theatre, disguised as a woman and dressed in Hijab.

    “We reliably gathered that to avoid detection, Abubakar Shekau alternates between blue and black coloured hijabs. He was last seen in a black hijab.

    “We, therefore, call on all those remaining Boko Haram terrorists to know that they are following a coward moving about in hijab and disguising as a woman.

    “We also request all the remaining Boko Haram members to come out from hiding and lay down their arms and be treated humanely,’’ Usman said.

    He said concerted efforts were ongoing to track and apprehend the fugitive terrorist leader.

    The army spokesman, therefore, appealed to members of the public, especially the residents of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States to be more vigilant and security conscious.

    He also asked them to be on the lookout for Shekau and other terrorists who might disguise as women to escape.

  • Boko Haram released one female police officer, not 10 – Borno CP

    Mr Damian Chukwu, the Police Commissioner in Borno on Monday confirmed that only one of 10 women rescued from Boko Haram was a police officer and non were wives of police personnel.

    Chukwu made the clarification while addressing newsmen during the monthly police officers meeting on Monday in Maiduguri.

    He described reports indicating that 10 police women were among the 13 persons released by Boko Haram insurgents as “misleading”.

    “That information is false, I have to react to it. It will be recalled that on 20th June, 2017, a burial party of one our women sergeants attached to the SIB who died in the course of duty was being taken home to Lassa in Askira-Uba Local Government Area for burial.

    “And due to security encumbrance on Maiduguri-Damboa Highway, they were under military and police escort, on getting to a town about 30 kilometres from Maiduguri; they were ambushed by the Boko Haram and some women who took advantage of the empty space in the truck.

    “So the women were trapped; we do not know their number but a few of them who were able to jump down, scampered for safety, escaped. Those of them who could not make it were taken away with the truck by the Boko Haram.

    “Among them, since that time, we recorded only one woman inspector attached to the CIB, who happened to be a very close friend of the deceased sergeant, the rest of them are not police women and they are not wives of police personnel.”

    He further disclosed that one policeman was killed while the driver of the truck and a brother of the deceased were shot and sustained injuries in the attack, a situation which de-mobilised the vehicle.

    It will be recalled that the Federal Government had on Saturday announced release of 13 persons by the Boko Haram insurgents, sequel to negotiations brokered by the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).

    The freed persons are three male workers of University of Maiduguri and 10 women, abducted on separate raids coordinated by the insurgents between June and July, 2017, in Borno State.

  • Boko Haram: Borno State Govt bans vehicular movement on three highways

    The Borno State government has banned vehicular movement on three major roads in the state due to the ongoing military clearance operation against the Boko Haram insurgents.

    Commissioner of Home Affairs, Information and Culture Affairs Dr Bukar Bulama made the announcement yesterday in a statement in Maiduguri.

    Bulama added that the government had prohibited vehicular movement on the roads to be observed between January 30 and February 4.

    He listed the affected roads to include Konduga – Bama – Banki; Bama – Gwoza and Maiduguri – Damboa – Gwoza.

    Bulama said the action was based on the advice of the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole.

    He noted that the measures was imperative to prevent fleeing Boko Haram insurgents escaping military offensive in the Sambisa Forest from infiltrating the communities.

    “This is to inform the general public that, beginning from 30th January and 4th February, 2018, civilian vehicular movement on Konduga – Bama – Banki, Bama – Gwoza and Maiduguri (from Moloi axis) – Damboa – Gwoza road is hereby prohibited.

    “This action is taken in the interest of security of life and property of citizen of the state, based on advice of the Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole”.

    Bulama added that the government regretted inconveniences the temporary restriction might cause the people.

    He reiterated the commitment of the government to the protection of lives and property as well as restoration of peace to the state.

    The commissioner called on the people to be vigilante and report suspicious movements or persons in their communities to security agencies.

    “The usual understanding, support, cooperation, prayers and strict compliance to the order by all and sundry is highly solicited,” he said.

     

  • Army releases 244 ‘rehabilitated’ Boko Haram suspects to Borno Govt

    The Nigerian Army on Monday released over 244 ‘rehabilitated’ Boko Haram suspects to the Borno State Government.

    The handing over of the suspects was in commemoration of the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

    The suspects comprise 56 women, 118 adult male, 19 underaged persons and 51 children.

    Presenting the suspects at the Military Cemetery in Maiduguri, venue of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Rogers Nicholas, a major-general, said the release of the repentant Boko Haram members was approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, a Lieutenant-General.

    He said the suspects had been properly screened and confirmed to have sincerely repented of allegiance to the group.

    The Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, commended the military for its ongoing de-radicalisation efforts in the war against the almost nine-year-old Boko Haram insurgency.

    Mr. Shettima took time to speak with some of the insurgents who assured him of their readiness to be absorbed into the society and promised to be law-abiding citizens.

    The high point of the Remembrance Day event was the laying of wreaths by the governor and top military officers.

  • Boko Haram: Borno extends curfew in Maiduguri for seven days

    The Borno Government on Friday announced the extension of curfew in Maiduguri for another seven days from 8:00 p.m. to 6: 00 a.m.

    The government on Monday rescheduled the curfew hitherto observed between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. to run between Jan. 2 and 6.

    A statement by Dr Muhammad Bulama, the Commissioner for Information, said the curfew was extended to Jan. 12.

    Bulama said that the curfew was based on “strong” advice of the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole.

    “The state government hereby announces the extension of the rescheduled curfew time earlier announced 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. every day by another one week.

    “In other words, the prevailing curfew regime is to now last until Friday, 12th January, 2018.”

    Bulama explained that the action was to avail the Armed Forces sufficient time to complete the on going special operation against Boko Haram terrorists and consolidate on the success so far recorded.

    He noted that the state government deeply regretted the inconveniences and difficulties caused to the people by the action.

    Bulama stressed that the decision was taken to safeguard the collective security and overall well being of the people.

    “Government therefore urges all indigenes and residents of Borno State to see this temporary measure as part of necessary sacrifices we all have to make in the interest of peace, stability, development and progress of not only our dear state, but Nigeria as a whole.

    “The understanding, support and cooperation of the general public is highly solicited in the observance of the curfew,” he said.

     

    NAN

  • Suicide bomber kills 11 in Borno mosque attack

    A suicide bomber killed 11 people on Wednesday in an attack on a mosque in northeast Nigeria, the epicentre of the conflict with Islamist insurgency Boko Haram, two military officials, a resident and an aid worker said.

    The bomber hit the mosque in the town of Gamboru in Borno state, near Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, during dawn prayers, said Ali Mustapha, an aid worker, and Lawan Abba, a resident.

    The attack bears the hallmarks of Boko Haram, a jihadist group which frequently uses suicide bombers, often women and girls, to attack crowded public spaces such as mosques and markets

  • Christmas day attack: Normalcy returns to Moloi area of Maiduguri

    Normalcy has been restored to the Moloi area of Maiduguri, after the Boko Haram insurgents attacked the area on Christmas day.

    TheNewsGuru reports hundreds of villagers, who fled the area in the wake of the attack, had returned to their homes.

    Moloi is about five kilometres away from Maiduguri, located on Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu High way.

    The residents are mostly engaged in crop and livestock production.

    A group of insurgents, moving on gun trucks, attacked a military post there, resulting to serious gun battle on Monday evening.

    Hundreds of residents in the area and adjourning villagers scampered for safety and fled into Maiduguri metropolis.

    Mrs Yaana Idris, a mother of three, said she was terrified by the insurgents who detonated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and shot sporadically in the area.

    Idris said that she fled with her children into Maiduguri to protect them from the insurgents attack.

    “My children were playing outside when I had the explosion, followed by serious gunshots and then people shouting Boko Haram, Boko Haram.

    “My home is few metres away from the main road. I hurriedly gathered my kids and moved towards the town.

    “There was chaos and people were running towards Maiduguri from all directions,” she said.

    Idris said that she spent the night with her relatives in Maiduguri, adding that her husband asked her to return home as normalcy returned.

    Amin Modu, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), added that most of the people who fled the area had returned home.

    Modu said that people were terrified and fled the area for safety.

    He noted that the soldiers had fought gallantly to repel the attack and destroyed motorcycles used by the insurgents.

    “The insurgents escaped after their failed attempt to attack the military post; a truck and insurgents’ motorcycles were vandalised in the attack.

    “One person in the village was killed by stray bullet,” Modu alleged.

    However, the military command said that its troops repelled the attack.

    Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, said that no live was lost among the troops and normalcy had been restored.

    Nicholas disclosed that the troops, with air support, were pursuing the fleeing insurgents.