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Tag: Borno

  • Borno promotes 3,000 teachers

    The Borno State Government on Sunday said it had promoted 3,000 teachers in an effort to improve teachers’ welfare and transform its education sector.

    Alhaji Kaka-Ali Abba, the Education Secretary, Maiduguri Municipal Council, said this in an interview in Maiduguri on Sunday.

    Abba said that the state government approved the promotion of teaching and non-teaching staff who had not benefitted from the exercise in the past eight years.

    According to him, the newly promoted teachers from 27 local government areas are currently awaiting payment of annual increment and promotion arrears.

    Abba said that the state government prioritised the education sector through school rehabilitation projects, provision of furniture and instructional materials as well as teacher development programmes.

    He said the Nigeria Union of Teachers ( NUT ) was working with the state government to ensure full implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage for teachers in eight local government areas.

    NAN

  • EFCC says reabsorbed ex-pension team boss, Maina still on wanted list

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says a former Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, is still on its wanted list for his alleged role in pensions biometric scam in the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to the tune of N2bn.

    This is despite reports that Maina had returned to Nigeria and had been reabsorbed into the civil service and promoted.

    When contacted, the spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed this in that Maina is still on the commission’s wanted person’s list.

    It was learnt that Maina had written a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation accusing the EFCC of a witch-hunt.

    Maina, who was in 2010 directed by President Goodluck Jonathan to look into the corruption in the pension system, was himself later accused, in 2012, of conniving with others to perpetrate a pension fraud to the tune of N100bn.

    He was subsequently invited by the Senate but refused to honour all invitations. Instead, he sued the Senate and the police and went underground. The Civil Service Commission dismissed him for absconding from duty.

    The suspect was arraigned in absentia by the EFCC alongside a former Head of Service, Steven Oronsanye, before he was later declared wanted by the commission in 2015.

  • Army releases 760 Boko Haram suspects to Borno State Govt

    The Nigeria Army on Friday said it has transferred 760 suspected Boko Haram members to Borno State Government for reintegration into the society.

    The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri.

    Nwachikwu said the suspects were handed over to the government at the Bulunkutu State Rehabilitation Centre, Maiduguri.

    He disclosed that the suspects were arrested during the ongoing crackdown on the insurgents in the North East by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.

    He said the suspects were cleared after interrogations and investigations by the Joint Intelligence Centre (JIC) of the Theatre Command.

    He added that the suspects were handed over to the state government by the Coordinator of the JIC, Brig.-Gen. Abdulrahman Kuliya.

    “The JIC has cleared 760 suspects. The crackdown on Boko Haram terrorists is yielding positive results, culminating in significant reduction in terrorists’ activities in the North East,” the statement quoted Kuliya as saying at the forum.

    He urged members of the public to provide useful information to security agents on suspicious activities in their communities.

     

  • Boko Haram: USAID trains 7,169 teachers in Borno

    Boko Haram: USAID trains 7,169 teachers in Borno

    The U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) says it has trained 7, 169 teachers in Borno to mitigate the shortages of teachers caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

    Malam Isa Gusau, the Special Adviser to Gov. Kashim Shettima on Communication and Media Strategy, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Maiduguri.

    Gusau said that the figure was disclosed when the Director of the USAID’s Education Crisis Response Project (ECR), Mr Ayo Oladini, paid a courtesy visit to the governor in Maiduguri.

    He said that the training was provided sequel to the advocacy by Shettima to encourage support toward rebuilding and rehabilitation of the education sector ravaged by the insurgency.

    Gusau said that the exercise was designed to expose teachers on post crisis and pupils’ centred methodologies, adding that the participants were drawn from Biu, Jere, Kaga, Konduga and Maiduguri local government areas.

    “USAID has completed training of 7, 169 teachers in the state under its Education Crisis Response Project in five local government councils of the state.

    “The project has so far enrolled 15, 197 displaced children in 304 temporary schools, to enhance access to basic education in conflict and crisis environment‎.

    “USAID also engaged 30 local education authority officials as mentor teachers, while 130 facilitators were deployed to 304 learning centres, to enhance management, monitoring and evaluation services.

    “ECR is a three year project funded by USAID. The project is being implemented in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and Yobe States.

    “ Currently, providing basic literacy programme to 47, 722 children and youths in 731 learning centres in the North East,” Oladini was quoted as saying in the statement.

    Gusau said that the Borno State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) was collaborating with ECR to expand the scope of participation in the teacher training exercise.

    Shettima also commended the USAID over the gesture and reiterated government’s commitment to training and recruitment of additional teachers in the state.

    The state government had reconstructed and rehabilitated thousands of classroom blocks and schools vandalised in communities liberated from Boko Haram insurgents.

    The government also embarked on construction of 22 model mega school designed with a 2, 000 students-capacity each, to expand the scope of school enrolment.

    Statistics from the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) showed that 1, 400 schools were destroyed; 2, 295 teachers killed, while 19, 000 teachers were displaced by the insurgency in the North-East.

    The UN agency added that an estimated 3 million children were in need of emergency education support at the start of the new academic year in the region.

  • Troops kill 2 Boko Haram food suppliers in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Friday said two Boko Haram food and logistics suppliers were ambushed and killed at Malamti village in Guzamala Local Government Council of Borno.

    Col. Timothy Antigha, Deputy Director, Army Publication Relations, 8 Division, made the disclosure in a statement issued to newsmen in Maiduguri.

    He said the troops recovered ammunitions, food items, consumables and animals from the insurgents.

    He said troops of the 242 Battalion of 8 Task Force Division had intensified campaign to deny the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the Lake Chad Basin freedom of action and access to logistics within its area of responsibility.

    “At about 3.00 a.m. on Thursday, troops responding to a distress call, intercepted terrorists mounted on 14 horses in Malamti village, Guzamala Local Government Area of Bornu State.

    “The troops killed two terrorists; recovered two AK-47 riffles, three magazines, 26 rounds of 7.26 mm ammunition and one hand grenade from the insurgents.

    “Other items include 18 mobile phones, three mini solar panels, soaps, detergents, bundles of assorted clothes and 8 horses.

    “Unfortunately, two soldiers who sustained injuries during the engagement are currently receiving medical attention,” he said.

  • Boko Haram not in control of any local government in Borno – Army

    The Nigerian Army has refuted claims that seven local governments in Borno State are still under the control of the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram.

    The Deputy Director, Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, while reacting to a report in The Guardian Newspapers that seven local governments in Borno State were under control of Boko Haram sect said the report does not reflect the true situation of things in the state.

    He noted that the military had defeated the sect and it no longer controls any territory whatsoever in the state.

    Nwachukwu stated this in a statement he issued on Friday to highlight the achivements of the army against the terrorist group.

    The statement reads in full: “The attention of the Headquarters Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole has been drawn to a publication in The Guardian newspaper of 21 September 2017 where one Buba Galadima in an interview claimed that ‘Seven Local Governments of Borno State were still under control of Boko Haram terrorists’; even though he failed to furnish members of the public with the names of those Local Government Areas. Obviously, this sweeping statement is not only an attempt to propagate falsehood but a futile effort to disinform members of the public on the true security situation in the north east from a perspective of one who is evidently detached from the realities of the counter terrorism cum counter insurgency operations in the north east.

    It is very crucial to set the record straight by making it crystal clear that contrary to his opinions, the Boko Haram Terrorists group does not hold or control any Local Government Area in Borno state or in the north east as claimed in the interview. These Local Government Areas have been liberated by troops of operation Lafiya Dole and the troops have continued to ensure security in these areas after routing out the insurgents. As a matter of fact, locals have been encouraged to return to their communities to resume their vocations and normal life.

    It may perhaps be needful to refresh memories by recalling that prior to the inauguration of Operations Lafiya Dole, the entire north east was infested with Boko Haram Terrorists, who became emboldened to the extent of declaring a caliphate with headquarters in Gwoza town. All that became history as the gallant troops of Operation Lafiya Dole came into the theatre, gradually but steadily decimating the insurgents and liberating held territories in a series of well-planned and coordinated joint ground and air operations.

    One of such major operations was the Operation RESCUE FINALE, which routed the insurgents out of its tactical headquarters in Camp Zeiro in Sambisa forest and out of its so called spiritual headquarters in Alargarno. Ever since, Operation Lafiya Dole has continued to relentlessly conduct several other operations such as Operation DEEP PUNCH, CHIKIN GUDU Operation and Operation RAWAN KADA alongside the Multinational Joint Task Force. These and many other operations have culminated in the degradation and incapacitation of the insurgent group.

    Apparently, this is the reason, the terrorist group is striving to remain relevant by resorting to callously use women and children to carry out suicide bomb attacks on soft and vulnerable targets.

    Currently, Operation Lafiya Dole in its resoluteness, is carrying out precursor operations that will lead to a final assault to decisively and finally put an end to the insurgency in the north east.

    Talking about logistical supplies, Operation Lafiya Dole regularly provides logistical support and replenishment to own troops deployed in all locations and Forward Operational Bases through the normal channels, using our main supply routes.

    Morealso, Theatre and formation Commanders routinely conduct working visits to troops in their formations and units within the theatre of operation. Hence, the question of troops been inaccessible as portrayed in the said article, is an irredeemable fallacy. Perhaps it is necessary to note that considering the vastness of the north east, Operation Lafiya Dole, aside holding tactical defensive positions to block the insurgents from access to logistics, has also gone ahead to insert Mobile Strike Teams in the theatre of operations to effectively patrol localities as well as seek out and neutralize the insurgents from their hideouts. Suffice to mention that in the month of August alone, a total of 82 Boko Haram insurgents have been killed in combat and 630 remote settlements were cleared by own troops.

    Our troops are tirelessly on the trail of the fleeing insurgents as devastating coordinated aerial and artillery bombardments are being unleashed on the terrorist group. Our troops are therefore not waiting only to repel BHT attacks as erroneously painted in the article, but are rather tactically deployed to deny the adversary freedom of action and access to logistics. Needless to add, that a group of insurgents on the run cannot hold or control any territory. Boko Haram lacks the capability to hold any territory in the north east, hence its mindless attack on innocent and vulnerable civilians with suicide bombings, most of which were made unsuccessful by our vigilant troops.

    While not attempting to dismiss the fact that as the fleeing faceless insurgents rummage for logistical replenishment, they occasionally mix up with unsuspecting locals and thereafter attack them. This definitely cannot be described as holding territory, rather, it only simply underscores the need for other relevant agencies to do more to ensure progressive reintegration of the locals into their various communities.

    Without sounding immodest, it is worthy to note that the counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations of Operation Lafiya Dole in the north east, has been commended within Nigeria and in the international community, resulting in several high level official visits to the north east by national and international bodies.

    While assuring that our focus in Operation Lafiya Dole remains clear and will not be derailed, the general public is urged not be misguided by the insinuations and disinformation contained in the said article as they are devoid of the true and realistic impressions of the security situation in the north east”.

  • NECO withholds results of Borno students, explains why

    The National Examination Commission, NECO, recently released the results of the examinations conducted in June/July but withheld that of candidates from Borno State.

    The NECO State Officer, Ahmad Ma’aji, confirmed that the agency withheld the results for candidates in the state.

    Ma’aji explained that the action was necessitated by the inability of Borno State Ministry of Education to complete payment of its candidates’ examination fees.

    “The ministry only paid part of the total cost of the examination fees. Candidates could access their results as soon as the ministry made payment of the outstanding balance.

    “The examination fees are N11, 350 per candidate,” he said.

    Mr. Ma’aji disclosed that over 29,000 candidates of both public and private schools sat for the examination in the state, adding that the council had released results of some candidates whose payment were complete.

    Most of those released are believed to be for students of private schools, although the official did not disclose specific details of those released.

    Meanwhile, students of public secondary schools in Borno have expressed concern over the withholding of examination results by NECO and the West African Examination Council, WAEC.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the two agencies withheld results for the June/July 2017 examinations due to the inability of the state government to settle outstanding fees.

    The state government had pledged to contribute 75 percent of the total cost while the candidates were to pay the remaining 25 percent.

    A cross-section of the candidates, who spoke to NAN, on Friday in Maiduguri, described the situation as “worrisome.’’

    Jidda Mustafa, a student of Government College Maiduguri, said that he could not apply for entry into any institution of the higher learning due to non-release of the results by NECO.

    Jidda lamented that the trend might affect his chances of securing admission this academic year.

    “Most of the candidates could not apply for admissions due to non-release of examination results by WAEC and NECO.

    “It is disheartening to see that while private school students are pursuing their admission into universities and other institutions of higher learning, students of public schools are helpless,” he said.

    Fati Abubakar, also a student of Government Girls College Maiduguri, who corroborated the opinion, called on the government to pay the examination fees to enable them to further their education.

    Shettima Umar, the Vice Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, in the state, decried the withholding of SSCE and NECO examination results in the state.

    Mr. Umar said that the ugly trend was inimical to sustainable development in the sector and called on the government to settle the fees to facilitate release of the examination result on time.

    “Urgent measures are necessary to save the situation and assist the students to apply for admission into institutions of learning,” he said.

    In his reaction, Hassan Aminami, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, said that the ministry had paid 50 percent of its counterpart contribution of the examination fees.

    Mr. Aminami explained that the ministry was expected to pay 25 percent of the amount while the Ministry for Local Government and candidates were to contribute 25 percent each, respectively.

    He added that the ministry and candidates had so far paid 75 percent of the total cost while the remaining 25 percent would be settled by the ministry for local government.

    “We are concerned about the situation and we intimated the ministry for local government over the impending issue.

    “They are working on it and payment of the remaining 25 percent will be made soon so that students can access their result,” Mr. Aminami said.

  • 12 killed, several others injured as suicide bombers attack Borno

    Suspected suicide bombers killed at least 12 people and injured 26 others on Monday in a village, near Konduga in Borno State.

    The blasts occurred in the Konduga area, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, both of which have been repeatedly targeted by the jihadist group.

    Recall that on August 16, at least 28 people were killed and more than 80 injured when three female suicide bombers detonated their explosives outside a camp for displaced persons in Konduga.

    A rescue worker said the first blast on Monday happened at 11:10 am (1010 GMT) in the village of Mashalari. “(It) killed 15 people and left 43 others injured,” he told AFP.

    “It happened during aid distribution by an NGO, when people had gathered to receive donations,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

    “Twelve minutes later, another bomber struck, but luckily only she died.”

    The rescue worker said both bombers were women but did not specify which NGO was distributing aid.

    Northeast Nigeria is in the grip of a humanitarian crisis caused by the Islamist Boko Haram insurgency, which has left at least 20,000 people dead and displaced more than 2.6 million since 2009.

    The violence has devastated farming, leading to chronic food shortages and leaving hundreds of thousands of people on the brink of starvation and dependent on aid agencies for help.

    Babakura Kolo, from the Civilian Joint Task Force, a militia assisting the military with security against Boko Haram, confirmed the rescue worker’s account.

    “We have dispatched out team to the scene,” he said.

    Nigeria’s military and government maintains that Boko Haram is a spent force as a result of a sustained counter-insurgency campaign over the last two years.

    But continued attacks, particularly in hard-to-reach rural areas of Borno, suggest claims of outright victory are premature.

    This month, jihadists fired a rocket-propelled grenade into a camp for the internally displaced near the border with Cameroon, killing seven.

    Amnesty International says Boko Haram attacks since April have killed nearly 400 people in Nigeria and Cameroon — double the figure of the previous five months.

    The UN children’s fund said last month that 83 children had been used as suicide bombers this year, four times as many as in all of 2016.

  • 7 dead, 200 admitted as Cholera outbreak hits Borno

    About seven people have been declared dead and 200 others admitted in Maiduguri, Borno State capital from Cholera related diseases.

    This was revealed by Dr. Anna Cillers, Medical Coordinator of Medicine San Frontières (MSF) while giving the update of the situation to journalists in Maiduguri. She noted that over 50 patients were received at MSF’s Cholera Treatment Unit at Dala.

    In her words: “the total number of patients admitted from the start of the outbreak till now is over 200 with 100 discharges and 7 deaths”.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that MSF on Wednesday reported many scale up measures as part of efforts to prevent further deaths and the spread of cholera in the state.

    Cillers said the MSF is working in collaboration with the Borno State Ministry of Health (MoH) and other organisations that are responding to the outbreak in the city.

    The medical director further disclosed that MSF has established a 40 bed Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU) in Dala, which as at then admitted 70 patients.

    She noted that the organisation had also set up an Oral Rehydration Point (ORP) in Muna camp and has a team of 14 Community Health Workers (CHW) who are helping to find new cases and trace community members who may have come into contact with affected patients.

    In her words: “MSF has rapidly been responding to the cholera outbreak in Maiduguri. We set up a Cholera Treatment Unit in Dala earlier this year in anticipation of a potential outbreak. Since last weekend, we have witnessed a steady increase in the number of patients at our treatment centre and at the rehydration point in Muna camp,” said Anne-Cecile Niard, MSF Project Coordinator.

    She added, “We are in the process of expanding the capacity of our treatment centre in Dala to 50 beds and are exploring the possibility of opening another treatment centre close to the most affected areas. We are worried that the number of beds that are currently planned will not be enough to cope at the peak of the outbreak.

    “With early diagnosis and treatment, people have a very good chance of survival; already 37 patients have been discharged from our treatment centre in Dala,” she explained.

     

  • Jubilation as Borno celebrates most peaceful Sallah in 7 years

    The Deputy Governor of Borno, Alhaji Usman Durkwa, on Friday described the 2017 Eid-el-Kabir festival as the most peaceful celebration recorded in the state in the last seven years.

    Durkwa told newsmen in Maiduguri that the festivities were generally peaceful in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that thousands of Muslims faithful observed prayers in various locations in Maiduguri and other major towns in the state.

    According to him, this Sallah celebration is the most peaceful and successful witnessed in the state in the past seven years.

    “This signifies that peace is taking its course in the state.

    “All emirs that were hitherto displaced by the Boko Haram insurgents observed and celebrated the festival in their respective domains.

    “All the emirs celebrated the Eid with their people in their localities,” he said.

    Durkwa said that all the caretaker chairmen in the 27 local government areas of the state were also directed to celebrate with the displaced persons in their camps.

    The deputy governor lauded the security agencies over the successes recorded in the counter-insurgency campaign.

    Durkwa also commended the people for their support, prayers and resilience, in spite the difficulties they were exposed to due to the insurgents activities.

    NAN reports that the emirs had earlier relocated to Maiduguri after the Boko Haram insurgents sacked them from their palaces.

    They include Emirs of Gwoza, Dikwa, Bama, Askira and Uba.

    Only Emir of Bama has yet to return to his palace, sequel to the massive reconstruction and rehabilitation projects currently going on at the town.

     

     

    NAN