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Tag: Killings

  • Address killings within 48 hrs, Reps tell Buhari

    Address killings within 48 hrs, Reps tell Buhari

    Disturbed by the resurgence of killings by alleged herdsmen and bandits across the country, the House of Representatives has mandated President Muhamnadu Buhari to address the House and the nation within 48 hours.

    This followed a motion under matters of public importance by Rep Mark Gbillah (PDP-Benue) at Thursday plenary presided over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara in Abuja.

    Moving the motion, Gbillah, who represents Gwer-East/Gwer-West Federal Constituency, said the House was concerned by I creasing attacks by ”killer herdsmen and alleged bandits in communities in Benue, Kaduna, Zamfara and other states from Jan. till date.”

    He noted that this had resulted in the loss of hundreds of innocent lives and the displacement of thousands of Nigerians who had fled their homes and means of livelihood for fear of losing their lives.

    ”The House is alarmed at the brazen nature of the attacks by the herdsmen and alleged bandits who attack these communities with impunity brazenly clad in military fatigues and audibly communicating with each other in Fulani as reported by eyewitness accounts from the recent attacks in Kaduna.

    ”Obviously emboldened by the inability of the Nigerian armed forces to curb their activities, these killers have gradually progressed from attacking remote villages at night to sacking whole towns in brood daylight displacing residents and occupying affected communities,” he said.

    According to him, the House is disappointed at the reactive responses of the Nigerian armed forces to these attacks under this administration and their inability to proactively attack the publicly known locations of these herdsmen or establish a permanent base at restive locations in line with globally recognised rules of engagement.

    The lawmaker also expressed worry over the inability of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to fulfil its statutory mandate of providing relief materials and rehabilitation to hopeless displaced persons and their affected communities.

    He stressed that the House could no longer condone the continuous killing of innocent Nigerians with impunity despite the plethora of motions and resolutions passed on the floor of the House and the Senate.

    ”We have no other option than to directly engage the President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces who has primary responsibility for the security and welfare of every Nigerian citizens,” Gbillah stated.

    When the motion was put on a voice vote by the Speaker, Dogara, the whole members unanimously supported it.

    The lawmakers, however, resolved that President Buhari should ”address the House and the nation within 48 hours on: his inability and the inability of his administration since inception to declare the killer herdsmen as terrorists to enable commensurate action against them by the armed forced.

    ”The inability of the armed forces under his watch to stop the recurring death of scores of innocent Nigerians annually from systematic attacks by killer herdsmen and alleged bandits and the gradual occupation of affected communities by these herdsmen despite countless assurances and statements by him promising to stop the attacks.

    ”His selective and ineffective responses to the killing of Nigerians by herdsmen especially when they occur in certain parts of the country like Benue.

    ”The immediate measures he intends to employ as the C-In-C to provide the armed forces, including the police with the required resources (equipment, welfare, etc) to confront and dislodge the killer herdsmen from their hideouts.

    ”The measures he intends to employ to establish permanent presence in immediate proximity to affected communities and provide a timeline within which these attacks will be curtailed so Nigerians can return to their ancestral homes and means of livelihood, among others.”

    The House resolved that if the president failed to respond to aforementioned requests within 48 hours, he and his administration would be seen as incapable of permanently curtailing the incessant killing of innocent Nigerians by killer herdsmen and the occupation of their land.

    It added that the government would be termed to have failed in its primary constitutional responsibility of ensuring the security and welfare of the citizens of Nigeria.

    The House, therefore, constituted an ad hoc committee to interface with the Presidency and engaged the Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, service Chiefs, among others, in a public hearing to determine permanent solutions to the menace.

  • Buhari reacts to latest killings in Kaduna, resurgence of cultism in Rivers

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned recent violence in Kaduna state, which led to the death of 20 members of Adara community.

    A statement by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Tuesday, noted that the unfortunate deaths were result of latest incident between the Adara and Fulani peoples in the state.

    “The two communities have a long history of mistrust between themselves,” he noted.

    Buhari, therefore, appealed for peace and decried on-going culture of ‘an eye for an eye’ that has fuelled a number of attacks and reprisal attacks, with the two communities at different times, suffering casualties in Kajuru and Kachia Local Governments Areas (LGAs) of the state.

    He also appealed to residents of the state and other Nigerians to refrain from comments in the traditional and social media, especially by people who have little knowledge of the history of the longstanding conflict.

    According to him, such comments can fuel further conflict in the area and between the two groups.

    Buhari enjoined traditional and religious leaders to be cautious with their comments on the conflict, insisting that whatever words they share publicly should not be inflammatory but be inspired by an interest in peace.

    While condoling with those who lost loved ones in the attacks, the president said: “The entire nation grieves with you. The Nigerian army and police are already in the area to ensure that peace and security are restored.”

    In response to reports of the resurgence of cultism leading to loss of lives in Rivers, Buhari condemned the cultist killings and ordered for increased community and law enforcement action against its escalation.

    He also called on law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts to end the menace.

    The President urged quick and effective intervention by community and civic leaders in support of law enforcement efforts, in all such areas bedeviled by cultist attacks and inter-communal violence.

  • 10 confirmed dead in fresh attack on Kaduna village

    Mr Charles Danladi, the Chairman, Sanga Local Government Council, Kaduna State, has confirmed the death of 10 in an attack on Nandu village in the area.

    The chairman in Kafanchan on Saturday that the attack occurred on Friday and 11 houses were burnt.

    Danladi, however, said that normalcy had since returned to the affected village, as the local council intensifies efforts at dousing tension to prevent reprisal.

    He said youths of the area had been summoned and counselled against embarking on any acts capable of escalating the ugly situation.

    A resident of the affected village, who pleaded anonymity said that the attack was suspected to have been launched by Fulani herders in retaliation for an attack on them by locals before the general election.

    He said, at least 11 cows and 28 sheep were killed during that attack.

    Efforts to get police reaction was unsuccessful as the Spokesman of Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Yakubu Sabo as at the time of filing this report.

  • Elections: Asari Dokubu warns Yorubas, vows to ‘revenge’ alleged killings of Igbos in Lagos [Video]

    A former Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo has released a new video threatened reprisals over the alleged killing of “Biafra” people in Lagos

    Recall that they were some level of violence in Lagos during the presidential and national assembly elections last Saturday where the Igbo dominated areas were largely disenfranchised by some thugs.

    While speaking about the development, Dokubu in a video blamed politicians for the incidents.

    He also berated the killings in Rivers State during the electoral exercise on Saturday.

    “We will revenge the killings” he warned the Yorubas.

    See the video…

  • ‘Any politician responsible for killings will face wrath of God’

    The Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr Paul Eneche says any politician responsible for the death of any Nigerian in a bid to win elections shall face the wrath of God.

    Enenche made the pronouncement during Sunday Service at the church’s auditorium in Abuja.

    The pastor, who was angry with the reports of killings in some parts of the country during Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, said that bloodshed should not be part of elections.

    According to him, whoever is responsible for the shedding of the blood of an innocent Nigerian shall not escape bloodshed

    “It is not by force to lead people because leadership ends when no one is following you and if people don’t like you, let them be.

    “Any of you that sponsors killing in the name of delivering your constituency shall not escape being killed by others.

    “Jehovah shall deal with all of you who are responsible for the killing that took place all over the country during the elections,” he said.

    Enenche warned youths against allowing themselves to be used as political thugs for the selfish gains of their sponsors

    He also cautioned security agencies and electoral officers against subverting the will of the people.

    According to him, the will of God shall prevail in the country throughout the elections.

  • Miyetti Allah speaks on recent killings in Kaduna

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has called on all affected Fulanis to remain calm and resist all forms of provocation to consider reprisal attacks over the killings in Kajuru local government of Kaduna State last week.

    Also, Kaduna State PDP gubernatorial candidate, Isa Mohammed Ashiru, called on relevant security agencies to prosecute criminals who carried out the killings.

    MACBAN and Ashiru, in their separate reactions on Monday, commended Governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai for being proactive in ensuring the situation was brought under control and prevent any form of reprisal attack in the troubled area.

    The Assistant Women Leader MACBAN, Hajiya Khadijah Ardido, told reporters it was unfortunate and most painful that people were killed with reckless abandon, including women and children.

    She lamented the killings were being denied by people who have no human feelings.

    “As I speak to you now, some of the injured victims are still in the hospital. It is painful that Fulanis are being killed not only in Kaduna state but in several other parts of the country and little or nothing is being done about it.

    “The government must rise to this challenge and stop all forms of unwarranted killings, there must be respect for human lives,” she stressed.

    She went on: “Our people have always been very patient and tolerant and I am still encouraging them to remain patient, disciplined and tolerant in the face of any provocation.

    “As a mother, I am calling on my people not to revolt. Those killing should know that they are doing the wrong thing, particularly killing innocent women and children.

    “The government should ensure that proper investigation is carried out and whoever is found guilty should be made to face the full wrath of the law, at least to serve as deterrent to others now and in the future.

    “Justice must be done to the affected in the killings and the step taken by Governor Nasir el-Rufai towards bringing to justice all those who have hands in the killing is a commendable one”

    Ashiru said the incident was not only an unwanted addition to the list of the past similar ones but clear indication that insecurity still remains a huge challenge in some parts of Kaduna State.

    According to him: “It is with an absolute shock that I received the news broken by the Kaduna State Governor, of the murder of many people in some settlements in Kajuru Local Government Area of our dear Kaduna State.

    “The fact that the loss of human lives has been confirmed makes the whole issue terribly shocking. The act clearly smacks of callousness and a descent into barbarism.

    “I, therefore, wish to express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, people of Kajuru Local Government Area as well as the Government and the entire people of Kaduna State over this unfortunate incident.

    “It is my fervent prayer that almighty who God created those souls will expose the perpetrators of the heinous act.”

    He added: “Let me quickly remind my dear good people of Kaduna State of the need to embrace peace and eschew violence so that the diversity with which Almighty God has endowed us can be harnessed for the good of all of us.

    “Our State is big, bountiful and rich enough to accommodate all of us; all we need to do is to continuously remind ourselves of the fact that resort to violence has never benefitted us as a people. In fact, such an act which results in the loss of human lives diminishes us as a people.

    “We should therefore endeavour to come together, regardless of political, religious or ethnic differences, to let the world know that we are committed to ridding our state of violence and at the same time willing to live as the true brothers and sisters that we have always been.

    “While I once again condole with the bereaved families, I also wish to re-assure everyone again that my bid to clinch the governorship of Kaduna State is driven by both an immense concern for our people and a total determination to rescue the State from misrule.“

  • El-Rufai lied over recent killings in Kaduna – CAN, SOKAPU, others

    Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of Kaduna State has come under attack over the recent killings in Kajuru Local Government Area.

    The Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU), the indigenous community of the troubled area, Adara Development Association and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) ,in their separate reactions, called El-Rufai a liar.

    The Kaduna State’s chapter of CAN, SOKAPU and Adara people also accused the governor of trying to instigate a crisis in the area.

    But, El-Rufai, who visited the scenes of the killings, warned against politicising the tragedy. The governor said those minimising the casualty figures are bigots.

    SOKAPU called on the Inspector General of Police and Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the killings, insisting tht El-Rufai’s claim that 66 persons were killed was false.

    The union said it was in the character of Governor El-Rufai to promote violence through spreading hate speech for the advancement of his waning political survival.

    In a statement by the body’s spokesman, Yakubu Kuzamani, he said “SOKAPU is shocked at the deliberate falsehood by El-Rufai who found it convenient not to inform the world of an earlier attack that claimed the lives of 11 Adara natives.

    “SOKAPU is convinced that el-Rufai is on an irrevocable journey of inflaming ethnic conflagration that has always been in line with his deliberate chronicle of profiling Southern Kaduna people as favourably disposed to violence.

    “We are startled that it was the governor and not the police that announced the alleged killings in Kajuru. Let Nigerians and the world know that should there be any breakdown of law and order in Kaduna State, Governor El-Rufai should be held responsible.

    The statement reads further: “SOKAPU has reached out to the various community leaders in Kajuru, including officials of the Adara Nation, to ascertain what actually happened. On Sunday, February 10, 2019, the Adara natives residing in Ungwar Barde in Kufana District of Kajuru Local Government Area came under attack by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.

    “The attack lasted from 10pm of Sunday to 4am of Monday February 11, 2019. By the time the merchants of death and destruction were through with their mission, no fewer than 11 lives, including a pregnant woman, were lost. Scores of victims of the attack on Ungwar Barde sustained injuries, with some of them presently receiving treatment at some health facilities in the state capital.

    “We have been informed that the attackers, seven of them, were arrested by a team of policemen. Sadly, not a statement was issued by El-Rufai over that gruesome attack on Ungwan Barde.”

    State CAN chairman Rev. John Joseph Hayab said the government should be held responsible in case of any crisis in the state.

    “The incidence of raising false alarm by the Kaduna State Government should make Nigerians realise that some of our leaders are also guilty of hate speech themselves and that makes them major actors in the game that have denied us peace and have claimed the lives of our love ones.

    “We call on the general public to treat with disregard the press statement from the office of the Kaduna State Governor and to note that should Kaduna State experience any breach of security before, during and after the general elections we shall hold the Kaduna State Government responsible.”

    “We call on our media to grow above the temptations that water down our trust in them, the media houses must not allow themselves to be bought over but be objective and honest in their reportage,” the CAN chairman said.

    The indigenous community of the troubled area, Adara Development Association (ADA), said it was faced with deliberate lies allegedly being manufactured by El-Rufai.

    Adara people, in their statement titled: “Adara incident: the Facts Behind the Deliberate Lies”, said the governor was trying to instigate a crisis in their area.

    The statement signed by ADA National Assistant Secretary, Luke Godwin Waziri sauid: “In view of the unfortunate incidents that we are faced with in Adara land and the deliberate lies being manufactured against us as a people by the governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El- Rufai , we deem it necessary to state the facts and correct the official and deliberate lies.

    “It has also become necessary to highlight the high handedness and mischievous manner that the governor of Kaduna State has been deploying against us as a people. Not satisfied with a deliberate attempt to balkanise our traditional institution and culture, the governor is currently trying to instigate a crisis in our area.

    “On Friday, 15th of February, 2019, on the eve of what would have been our national elections, we watched with shock the governor granting an interview that 66 people were allegedly killed in Kajuru, Kaduna State. The governor went ahead to list the number of villages that were attacked but deliberately excluded Ungwan Barde where our people were killed. He also gave the gender statistics of those allegedly killed and the tribe of the victims but again mischievously left out the 11 Adara people who were killed.

    “He insinuated that the incident happened on the eve of the election. But the truth is that the incident took place between Sunday, 10th February, to Tuesday, 12th February 2019 in Ungwar Barde in Kufana District, where 11 innocent Adara people were earlier killed without any provocation.

    “The district head of Kufana wrote an official report to the police about the incident. The member representing Kajuru in the Kaduna State House of Assembly also informed the government about the incident. Even the chairman of the local government, Cafra Caino, was also aware of the incident. But, to our greatest surprise, the chairman did not take steps to set the records straight when lies were being spread against the people he leads.

    “After the incidents, the communities that were affected even came together and started the process of reconciliation amongst themselves. Through all these, nothing was heard from the government, nothing was said by the government and nothing was done. None of the affected communities was even visited by him.

    “We were shell shocked when on Friday the governor issued a statement about killings days after the dust had settled and the people themselves were working to understand the incident in order to find measures to address it.

    “To further complicate matters, media houses kept reporting it as ‘Breaking News’. It is really incredulous that the eve of the election was the most appropriate time the governor found to disclose the attacks, give the ‘specific number’ of those allegedly killed, the ethnic group they belong and the names of the villages affected. There could never have been a clearer attempt by the governor to instigate crisis than this malicious, insensitive and incendiary strategy.

    “The governor did not stop there. He went up on different TV houses and newspapers on the issue as one heralding news – still giving a one-sided version and intermittently spicing it with the word ‘reprisal’ at a time when he ought to have been putting finishing touches to his candidacy for elections that would have held in hours. It is not hard to see what such theatrics was intended to achieve.

    “This completely lends credence to everyone’s belief that the governor is seriously working toward instigating a crisis in our land and Kaduna State for his own deadly benefit. But we in Adara land have resolutely decided that no amount of blatant provocation would make us to lose our calm. Our peaceful disposition is legendary and we will continue with that.

    “Faced with mounting pressure to prove his allegations of ‘66 killed’, the governor hurriedly visited some few places but ensured that the District head of Kufana, Mr Dauda Titus and the National President of the Adara Development Association, Mr Dio Maisamari, were quickly arrested and locked up for the duration that he visited. The reasons are just too obvious! The District Head was released only when the governor had concluded his visit while Mr Dio is still being held by the Police.

    “We invite the world’s attention to the serious and indiscriminate arrest of our people and chiefs. Many of them have been arrested for just no reason and without due process. We call for their immediate release and demand that Governor Nasir El-Rufai desists from making life difficult for our people with his arbitrary, divisive and incendiary use of power.

    “We want to place on record before the whole world that El- Rufai is working assiduously to instigate a crisis in Kaduna for his own political gain, and that should crisis break out, local and international observers should know who to hold responsible.”

    El-Rufai was accompanied to the scene of the attack by Major-General Faruk Yahaya, GOC 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Air Cmdr. I. Sani of the Nigerian Air Force, Police Commissioner Ahmad Abdurrahman and State Director of DSS, A.I. Koya. The chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area, Cafra Caino, also joined the governor on the visit. The governor condemned the killings.

    According to his spokesman Samuel Aruwan, El-Rufai noted that there had been concerted and coordinated efforts by “bigoted busy bodies” to deny or minimise the casualty figures.

    Quoting the governor, Aruwan said: “Only irresponsible and insensitive people can recklessly dismiss the deaths of members of a community with whom they have no contact. Private individuals and unelected actors cannot be allowed to reduce weighty matters of state security to the province of their limited networks, inexperienced lenses and narrow agendas.”

    ”Governor El-Rufai during the visit warned the community against reprisals and to shun violence.

    “Also, the Commissioner of Police confirmed that some arrests had been made in connection with the incident and that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed. ”

    “Also, Gen. Yahaya briefed the governor on the recovery of 66 corpses by soldiers in the Maro and Iri axis of Kajuru Local Government Area. The general conducted the governor around the scenes of the crime which were littered with the wreckage of burnt buildings and dead animals.” Aruwan said.

  • Killings: El-Rufai begs Fulani communities in Kaduna against reprisal attacks

    Governor Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Saturday pleaded with the Fulani community to shun the temptation of engaging in reprisal attacks following the killing of 66 of their population in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

    The governor, at a meeting with stakeholders in Kajuru, wondered why killing had become incessant in Iri axis, including Kuturo, Unguwar Barde, Maro gida among other areas in the local government.

    “I know it’s the Fulanis that are most affected in this crisis as over a hundred people have been killed, but as Muslims, we have been advised to forgive, to be patient as God avenges every evil,” he said.

    “You must not take the law into your hands by killing anybody as you are likely to harm innocent people. Allow the security to do their work please.”

    The governor alleged that some elders in the communities were responsible for the killings having provided weapons to the youths who carried out the attacks.

    ” I am always disheartened each time I visit Kajuru and sincerely am tired of this situation, because the elders know those involved in the killings and have refused to fish them out.

    “Maybe when government and the security agencies withdraw support from your communities, you will know our worth and do the needful.

    “I have also asked the Council Chairman not to bail any leader who will be arrested in connection with the menace. Nobody is above the law, hence, culprits must be prosecuted, if guilty”, El-Rufa’i stressed.

    The governor warned youths to stop the unnecessary killings in the area, and declared that anyone of them caught would also face the death penalty.

    El-Rufa’i said the recurring killings in the local government has stunted its growth, noting that” no community develops without peace; all developmental projects are meant for the youths as they are beneficiaries in the long run.”

    He condoled with families whose relatives were killed during the attack and promised to render help to victims whose houses were burnt.

    Earlier, the Council Chairman, Mr. Cafra Caino, said miscreants in the communities have refused to allow peace to reign, adding that all peace loving people must work to expose the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

    “We have given bikes to village heads to help us manage the security issues. We must not allow them divide us along religious and ethnic sentiments. We therefore urge all leaders to pinpoint the culprits”.

    Also speaking, the Chief Imam of Adara kingdom, Nuhu Sha’aban who is also a Fulani leader said majority of those killed were women and children less than one year old.

    “We the Fulani have lived in this forest for over 41 years but the youths keep ambushing and killing us. Some of us were slaughtered and others burnt and thrown into ditches”, Sha’aban said.

    The Imam asked the Commissioner of Police to transfer most of the policemen in the area, whom he claimed were mostly indigenes of the communities who have been at their duty posts for over 10 years.

    He however appreciated the new Divisional Police Officer recently deployed to the area and the military authorities for their efforts at ensuring security in the area.

  • Kaduna: Buhari condemns killings, orders security agencies to apprehend perpetrators

    President Muhammadu Buhari says he is “pained beyond words” by the news of the new wave of killings on election eve in Kaduna State, according to a statement by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.

    President Buhari, who reacted to the reported killings in Kajuru local government area, Kaduna State, described the incident as an “act of cowardice”.

    He assured that security forces would investigate and apprehend all those involved.

    “The perpetrators of this mayhem will not go unpunished,’’ he said.

    The president said this action will not distract the nation from the elections starting on Saturday, assuring that his government is determined to foil the designs of those who are bent on disrupting the exercise.

    The Kaduna state government had on Friday evening, in a statement, confirmed that 66 persons were killed by unidentified gunmen in Kajuru local government of the state.

    The government condemned the killing of 66 persons in Kajuru LGA and has warned all communities against instigating attacks or reprisals.

    A government statement said that security agencies have been deployed to the area, while arrests have been made.

    “Security agencies today reported the recovery of 66 bodies that were killed in attacks by criminal elements on various dispersed hamlets in the Maro Gida and Iri axis of Kajuru LGA. The settlements affected include Ruga Bahago, Ruga Daku, Ruga Ori, Ruga Haruna, Ruga Yukka Abubakar, Ruga Duni Kadiri, Ruga Shewuka and Ruga Shuaibu Yau.

    “Among the victims were 22 children and 12 women. Four wounded persons rescued by the security agencies are now receiving medical attention.

    “Government condemns the attacks and commiserates with the families of the victims. Security agencies have been deployed to the area and arrests have been made. Government urges community, traditional and religious leaders in the area to encourage residents to avoid any reprisal attacks and to leave the matter in the hands of the security and law enforcement agencies. The killings are being investigated and residents are assured that indicted persons will be prosecuted.

    “Residents of Kaduna State are enjoined to uphold peace and harmony, shun violence and allow the elections to be held in an atmosphere of calm. Any suspicious activity should be reported to the security agencies in person or through the following lines: 09034000060 and 08170189999.”

  • Killings: FG insists Boko Haram ‘successfully defeated’, says Nigeria now facing global insurgency

    Killings: FG insists Boko Haram ‘successfully defeated’, says Nigeria now facing global insurgency

    The Nigerian government is insisting that its military has “successfully defeated” Boko Haram insurgents, but says the country is now facing a fresh crisis, which it called a “global insurgency.”

    The government stated this when it launched a national campaign to rally the support of the citizens behind the troops, especially those fighting the insurgency in the northeast.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, announced the launch of the campaign on Thursday in Abuja.

    Mohammed said Nigerian troops have “successfully cleared the remnant of the home-grown insurgency called Boko Haram and are now being confronted by a fresh crisis, a global insurgency.

    “A faction of Boko Haram has aligned with the global terror group, ISIS, to form ISWAP, the Islamic State’s West African Province. In other words, ISIS now has a strong foothold in West Africa – with Nigeria at the forefront of the battle against them.

    “With ISIS largely dislodged from Iraq and Syria, there is undoubtedly a flush of fresh fighters and weapons to ISWAP. Therefore, our military is fighting a global insurgency, without the kind of global coalition, including the United States, that battled ISIS in Syria and Iraq,” he said.

    There has been a resurgence in attacks on Nigerian soldiers by the insurgents since last year. The latest attack occurred only a few weeks ago.

    The minister said the videos and pictures being circulated on social media purporting massive military casualties were “doctored by those who do not understand the fresh threat facing the country nor appreciate the sacrifice of the military and their aim is to wage a campaign of disinformation against the military.”

    He said, “those involved in the act are few, and do not represent the majority of Nigerians who appreciate the patriotism and the sacrifice of the gallant military troops.”

    Mohammed said it is high time all Nigerians “joined in and support the global war against insurgency, as it is a usual practice that when a country is faced with this kind of challenge, people will sink their differences and work together.”

    He said the new campaign is a follow-up to the “hugely-successful National Campaign against Insecurity which we launched on February 16, 2016, with the punchline ‘If You See Something, Say Something’.”

    Mohanmmed said the government believes that “the military who are risking all and making a huge sacrifice to keep the citizens safe do not deserve defamation, or any action that can smear their morale rather, they deserve support and prayers of all Nigerians.”

    He said the government was introducing the campaign to encourage and mobilise “Nigerians, irrespective of their political, religious or ethnic leanings, to show support for our military.”

    He said the campaign will be multi-faceted. “It will include the production and airing of special jingles on radio and television, social media intervention and advocacy.

    “The jingles are ready and also the materials for newspaper and social media, the jingles will start airing on radio and television this week.”

    Mohammed appealed to the media to seek clarification before reporting casualty figures as they will play the lead role in the campaign. He urged them not to reveal national security as well as military plans since such acts can put the troops in harm’s way.

    The minister refused to answer questions not related to the launch of the campaign.

    John Agim, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, said the military will sometimes keep information from media so as to avoid giving information away that would favour the insurgents and also to avoid unnecessary fright among citizens.

    He cited an incident around 2015 and 2016 when the pictures of about 18 Boko Haram members were published and they all escaped to Lagos.

    He said the military did not bother to announce that they were being arrested one after the other because the arrests would not have been possible if the information had been published.

    The event was witnessed by top military officials, including the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Ibikunle Daramola; the outgoing Director of Army Public Relations, Sani Usman; and the Director of Information of the Nigerian Navy, Suleman Dahun.