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Tag: Borno

  • BREAKING: Many worshippers feared killed as suicide bomber attacks Borno mosque

    BREAKING: Many worshippers feared killed as suicide bomber attacks Borno mosque

    Many were reportedly feared killed on Tuesday after a suicide bomber attacked worshippers praying at a mosque in Dalori, Borno State.

    The horrendous attack happened after a suspected male suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) during a congregational morning Prayer at a mosque in Dalori quarter opposite the University of Maiduguri.

    Recall that a similar attack occurred recently at JS mosque near the staff quarters, killing a Director of veterinary medicine, Prof. Aliyu Mani, and many others.

    Details soon…

  • IDP camp bombing: Presidency foots medical bills of victims

    The Presidential Committee on the North East on Sunday announced its decision to settle the medical bill of victims of the recent Air Force accidental bombing in Borno.

    Alhaji Tijjani Tumsa the Executive Vice Chairman of the committee who disclosed this when be visited the victims on admission at the Specialists’ Hospital, Maiduguri, pledged N20 million to the hospital to cover the medical expenses.

    Tumsa said that the committee would also give N10,000 to each of the victims on admission to take care of their personal needs.

    “We have come here to commiserate with the victims and their families and see what we can do to help them.

    “On behalf of our chairman, Rtd Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, we are pledging complete payment of their medical bills.

    ” We are going to pay N20 million to the Specialist Hospital to cover the cost of their treatment.

    “This is to ensure that none of the victims pays for any treatment or medication,” he said.

    He also said that the committee would give N1 million to the caregivers to further boost their moral.

    “We are also providing N1 million to the caregivers to encourage them and to facilitate their humanitarian activities,” Tumsa said.

    He commended the International Committee for the Red Cross and other bodies for their concern to the victims.

    “I want to thank the International Committee for the Red Cross and other humanitarian bodies for particularly showing interest towards assisting the victims.

    “We are persistent in our belief that victims should not be allowed to suffer,” Tumsa said.

  • Several dead as Nigerian jet mistakenly drops bomb on IDP camp

    Several Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were reportedly killed after a military plane mistakenly dropped a bomb inside the Rann IDP camp in Borno State.

    The Rann IDP camp in Kala-balge Local Government Area caters for thousands of persons displaced by Boko Haram.

    “At least hundred people were injured and needed to be evacuated to hospitals.

    At least two people are feared dead from the incident and the injured included officials of the Doctors without Borders, MSF.” Witness told Premium Times

    The military spokesperson, Rabe Abubakar, a brigadier general, confirmed the incident but explained that it was an error that the military deeply regretted.

    He explained that soldiers got information of movement of Boko Haram members and deployed ground troops and air cover to tackle the terrorists.

    The Theatre Commander of Nigerian forces in Borno, Lucky Irabor, a major general, also confirmed the attack at a press conference.

    “This morning today, we received reports about gathering of Boko Haram terrorists somewhere in Kala Balge Local Government area of Borno State. We got a coordinate and I directed that the air should go to address the problem.

    “Unfortunately the strike was conducted but it turned out that the locals somewhere in Rann were affected.

    “We are yet to get the details of the casualties. But we have some civilians that have been killed, others are wounded and we also have two of our soldiers that were also wounded. Among some that are wounded are local staffs of the Medicine Sans Frontiers as well as ICRC,” he said.

  • Nigeria Air Force strikes Boko Haram new hideout in Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force yesterday said fighter jets struck Boko Haram new hideout about one nautical mile south of Tumbum Rego in northern Borno.

    A statement from Air Force spokesman, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa said NAF fighter jets and helicopter gunship assaulted the location in a coordinated day and night operation following Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).

    He noted that the intelligence report showed that Boko Haram insurgents who attacked own Surface Forces at Kangarwa on the night of 12 January 2017 had withdrawn to the said location.

    He recalled that the NAF of recent has intensified aerial patrol over the entire operation in the Northeast, as well as offensive mission around the Green Belt region near Niger and Chad Republics.

    Famuyiwa said the renewed effort is aimed at denying the remnants of the insurgents the opportunity to regroup and launch attack on own surface forces or people within the host communities.

  • Army repels Boko Haram attack in Borno, kills 10, loses 3 soldiers

    The Nigerian Army on Friday repelled a planned a attack by the Boko Haram insurgents in Kangarwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, killing ten of the insurgents while also losing three of its soldiers who had engaged the terrorist in a gun duel.

    The Army spokesperson, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman said the terrorists were killed on Friday.

    Usman disclosed that the operation was carried out with the assistance of the Nigerian Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance planes.

    He said, “The futile attack, launched by the terrorists group from the shores of the Lake Chad in the evening, lasted till midnight.

    “The resilient troops repelled the incursion and in the process killed 10 insurgents and wounded several others.”

    The spokesman said one Pulemyot Kalashnkova Machine, PKM, gun with 67 rounds of ammunition, one AK-47 Riffle with 18 rounds of ammunition, two AK-Rifle top covers and three Dane guns with one cartridge were recovered from the terrorists.

    “Others include, one rocket propelled grenade tube with three bombs, one rocket propelled grenade charger and smoke grenade, one hand held (HH) Motorola radio and antenna, one copy of Holy Qur’an and Boko Haram terrorists’ flag.

    ”Unfortunately, three soldiers died in the course of the encounter, while 27 others sustained injuries.

    ”The bodies of the gallant soldiers and those injured have since been evacuated.

    “He said the troops have continued to trail those terrorists that escaped with gunshot wounds and intensified vigilance and high level of alertness in the area,” he added.

  • Released 21 Chibok girls back in Borno for Christmas

    Released 21 Chibok girls back in Borno for Christmas

    The 21 rescued Chibok schoolgirls are to enjoy Christmas and New Year festivities with their parents, Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President has disclosed.

    Shehu, who stated this on his Facebook page, said already the Department of State Security (DSS) had taken the liberated girls to their respective families.

    He also dismissed social media reports that more Chibok schoolgirls had been rescued from their captors saying that the girls sighted in Yola were the ones rescued in October.

    Shehu, however, revealed that negotiation was ongoing by the DSS to secure the release of the remaining girls and other Nigerians held captive by the Boko Haram insurgents.

    According to him, DSS is full of optimism that the department will succeed.

    He said: “to my friends spreading the news of a further release of Chibok Girls, we are not there yet.

    “The negotiations are ongoing and the Department of State Service, DSS is full of optimism that it will be successful.

    “Today, the DSS took the 21 Chibok girls already rescued to Yola, Adamawa State, on their way home to celebrate the Christmas with their families.

    “No new girls have been released but by God’s grace, they will be; Happy Christmas, everyone.’’

    NAN recalls about 276 schoolgirls were abducted when members of Boko Haram terrorists stormed their boarding school in Chibok town in Borno in 2014.

    No fewer than 50 had escaped in the initial days after the abduction, while another one, Amina Ali, was found roaming around the Sambisa forest with a baby and a man who claimed to be her husband.

    The Federal Government in October successfully secured the release of the 21 Chibok schoolgirls after months of negotiation with their captors.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had pledged to ensure the release of the remaining girls in captivity.

  • Crude oil discovered in Borno, says FG

    Crude oil discovered in Borno, says FG

    The Federal Government, yesterday, disclosed that crude oil has been discovered in Borno State.

    The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Jamila Shua’ra, made the disclosure during the agreement signing ceremony for joint venture, JV, cash call exit and presentation of the petroleum sector score card in Abuja.

    However,Shua’ra who attributed the discovery of oil in Borno and Lagos states to the doggedness of the present administration did not state the particular area in Borno State where oil was discovered and if the discovery was in commercial quantity.

    In the scorecard presented to stakeholders, the ministry also noted that the introduction of Price Modulation Mechanism and Appropriate Pricing Framework had helped the Federal Government to save N1.4 trillion that would have been expended on subsidy payment between May and November.

    Also, the ministry announced that the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, would in 2017 conduct bid rounds for open blocks and conclude the previously aborted marginal fields bid round to enhance the entry of new players, stimulate competition and generate revenue for the government.

    Shua’ra listed other achievements of the ministry.

    “Today, as a team, we have recorded commendable achievements in our sector: the introduction of the PMS Price Modulation Matrix; the availability of PMS in all outlets; eradication of payment on fuel subsidies; located foreign direct investment to finance midstream oil and gas infrastructure; adopted exit strategies on Joint Venture Cash Call; robust engagement of host communities to reduce agitations; creation of more stable industrial relations,” she said.

    Collaborating her statement, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated that the deregulation of the downstream sector, which led to the elimination of petroleum subsidy, saved the government a burden of N15.4 billion monthly.

    The vice president, who was represented the attorney-general and minister of justice, Alhaji Abubakar Malami, stated that the oil and gas sector remain very critical to the stability and growth of the nation’s economy as it accounts for about 90 per cent of the country’s earnings, in addition to contributing substantially to the inflow of foreign exchange and growth of foreign reserves.

    Prof. Osinbajo further disclosed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had recently approved new measures and strategies aimed at eliminating the burden of Joint Venture Cash Call arrears and easing future payments in the up-stream sector, stressing that the strategies are fully supported by the National Economic Council (NEC).

     

  • We have rescued 801 persons in Borno from Boko Haram terrorists – Nigerian Army

    The Nigerian Army said on Wednesday that it had rescued additional 801 persons held hostage by the Boko Haram terrorists in its ongoing anti-terrorism operations.

    Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole in the North-East made the announcement while briefing newsmen in Maiduguri.

    He said that the persons were rescued between Nov. 23 and date.

    “A total of 801 persons were rescued from the terrorists’ camps from Nov. 23 to date,” he said.

    Irabor said that the military had also arrested a number of terrorists fleeing their Sambisa forest hideout due to the ongoing operation.

    “Likewise, on Dec. 4 at about 1345hrs, our troops in conjunction with local vigilante intercepted five men, 29 women and children heading towards Goniri from Kafa.

    “The men were screened by the local vigilante and two of them were confirmed to be terrorists.

    “They have since been taken into custody and are undergoing interrogation,’’ he said, adding that the military also apprehended suspected cattle rustlers during its operations.

    “On Nov. 28, four persons and a teenager were arrested by our troops deployed at Bulabulim Ngarnam with 4 cows.

    “The arrested persons have been handed over to the Nigeria Police,” he said.

    Irabor said that the military also recovered arms from suspected kidnappers in Bauchi state.

    “On Dec. 2, our troops while on patrol at the general area of Gamji and Kafin Lemu villages in Ningi LGA of Bauchi state encountered some suspected kidnappers who engaged them in gun battle.

    “They were killed in the gun battle that ensued.

    “The troops recovered several arms and ammunition which include five Dane guns, a locally made pistol, some cartridges and charms,” he said.

  • Over 512 IDPs infected with HIV/AIDS in Borno – Agency

    Over 512 IDPs infected with HIV/AIDS in Borno – Agency

     

    The Executive Secretary, Borno State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Barkindo Saidu, has revealed that 512 new cases of HIV infection have been recorded in Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.


    Barkindo made the revelation on Sunday, in Maiduguri while briefing journalists on the activities of the agency in the state.


    According to him, the cases were recorded after voluntary screening in some IDP camps across 17 camps, where he said that, two out of the 513 persons infected with the HIV/AIDS virus were children.


    In his words: “We are currently conducting voluntary screening on HIV/AIDS in IDPs’ camps across the state to determine the status of the people, especially those rescued from the Boko Haram terrorists.


    As at last week, we have recorded 512 positive cases, among which two are children,” Saidu said.


    Officials had earlier said no fewer than 5,000 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in 27 camps in the state were currently living with the virus.


    However, the Executive Secretary said that the state had witnessed rising cases of the disease due largely to the Boko Haram terrorism.


    Currently, 2.4 per cent of the population of the state is living with HIVand AIDS, which translates to 108,000 persons, going by the record of the National Population Commission.


    “But only a tiny portion of these people can access treatment because most anti retroviral centres have closed,” Mr. Saidu said.


    He explained that only 32 out of the 90 anti retroviral centres were still operational in the state.


    “Before the Boko Haram terrorism, we had 90 treatment centres across the state, but only 32 are still functional today.


    “The rest have been closed down due to the Boko Haram terrorism,” Saidu said.


    He called on the Federal Government and donor agencies to intervene in the HIV and AIDS control in the state.