TheNewsGuru

Tag: North-East

  • NAF intensifies air operations in North East, neutralises scores of Boko Haram

    NAF intensifies air operations in North East, neutralises scores of Boko Haram

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified its air operations in Northeastern Nigeria and in the process, neutralized scores of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) in Tunbun Rago, a settlement at the northern fringes of BORNO State bordering Lake Chad.

    During a routine Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission on 20 December 2017, a NAF ISR platform sighted BHT activities at TUMBUN RAGO, occupied by Albarnawi faction. Accordingly, fighter aircraft and helicopters were detailed for air interdiction over the location on 21 December 2017.

    The fighter aircraft took turns to unleash their armament on the location. Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) of the attacks revealed that the targeted BHT structures were destroyed, causing fire within the location and neutralizing scores of insurgents in the process.

    Thereafter, the recently acquired helicopter gunships carried out mop-up attacks on a few fleeing insurgents. Furthermore, the following day, on 22 December 2017, the NAF neutralized a large gathering of BHTs Southeast of BOGUMERI, also in BORNO State, after a convoy of BHTs on motorcycles had been trailed to the location.

    The intensification of air operations by the NAF is aimed at further reducing the will of the BHTs to continue their nefarious activities while also creating the needed advantage for own surface forces to effectively operate

  • UN allocates $13.4m to support 1 million people with life-saving aid in North-East Nigeria

    UN allocates $13.4m to support 1 million people with life-saving aid in North-East Nigeria

    The United Nations, through the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund, has allocated $13.4 million to help thousands of children, women and men in need of urgent humanitarian assistance in crisis-hit north-east Nigeria.

    The humanitarian emergency in the northeastern Nigeria is one of the most severe in the world today, with 8.5 million people in need of life-saving aid in 2017 in the worst-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

    The Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF) allocation will help address this devastating situation by financing 24 projects in the sectors of protection, nutrition, water and sanitation, health, education, shelter and non-food items, rapid response and early recovery, targeting a total of 950,000 people.

    In line with commitments made at the World Humanitarian Summit, five local responders are being supported through direct funding in this allocation. By empowering national partners, a more integrated and localized response will be possible, and their capacity will also be strengthened.

    “Humanitarian needs in north-east Nigeria are still vast,” said Mr Edward Kallon, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria. “The United Nations and our partners, in support of the Government of Nigeria, are committed to assisting those in need, especially in pivotal areas such as protection and health.”

    In particular, the funds will be used to expand and improve sexual and reproductive health services for nearly 130,000 women and adolescent girls in areas of Borno, the epicentre of the crisis, and boost mental health services for vulnerable children, women and men. Gender-based violence will also be addressed by providing more accessible medical care. In light of the recent cholera outbreak and to mitigate the risk of faecal contamination and poor hygiene, funds have also been allocated to improve the availability of safe water and sanitation for 125,000 people.

    The NHF is one of 18 country-based pooled funds and was launched during the Oslo Humanitarian Conference on Nigeria and the Lake Chad Region in February 2017. Managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on behalf of the Humanitarian Coordinator, it plays a vital role in ensuring an effective, coordinated, prioritized and principled humanitarian response in Nigeria.

    To date the NHF has received $41 million in contributions and pledges, thanks to the generous support of Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, the Republic of Korea, Canada, Spain, Luxembourg, the Arab Gulf Program for Development, Malta, Azerbaijan and Sri Lanka.

  • Yuletide: Terrorists may bomb Abuja, other parts of Nigeria where crowds gather – UK, US warn

    British and the United States governments have warned their citizens of terrorist groups’ threat to carry out bomb attacks in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, during the Yuletide.

    In its latest foreign travel advice to British nationals, the country’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office stated that it would raise the terrorism threat alert in Nigeria during the festive periods.

    Around 117,000 British citizens visit Nigeria each year, according to the FCO.

    The US government warned its citizens not to travel to Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa and Yobe till the end of the year.

    “The risk of terrorist attack increases around religious festivals; so (the threat alert) will be elevated in the run-up to and throughout the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Terrorist groups have threatened to conduct bombings and attacks in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) area during this period.

    “You (British nationals) should avoid places where crowds gather, including religious gatherings and places of worship, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, transport hubs and camps for displaced people,” the United Kingdom said in a statement posted on the FCO website.

    Last week, the United States Embassy in Nigeria issued a similar warning titled, ‘Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Holiday Security Reminder’.

    “The US Mission urges all US citizens to exercise caution in and around shopping centres, malls, markets, hotels, places of worship, restaurants, bars, and other places where crowds gather in and around the Federal Capital Territory, from now through the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season. Terrorist groups have threatened to conduct bombings and attacks in this area during this period.

    “The US Mission remains concerned about potential attacks in the states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa and Yobe. Travellers are urged to avoid those states through the end of the year.

    “Review your personal security plans, remain aware of your surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news stations for updates. Be vigilant and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security,” the US Embassy warned.

  • Chad withdraws troops fighting Boko Haram in North East

    Chad has withdrawn hundreds of troops from neighbouring Niger, where they were helping local forces fight Boko Haram Islamist militants, humanitarian sources and officials said.

    The pull-out over the past two weeks could weaken a region-wide struggle against the militants who have killed tens of thousands of people, forced many more to flee and triggered a humanitarian crisis.

    There was no immediate explanation or comment from defense officials in Chad.

    The move came a month after the vast central African country complained about an unexpected U.S. travel ban imposed on its nationals.

    Chad warned at the time the order could affect its security commitments, which include its involvement in the U.S.-backed fight against Boko Haram.

    Residents said the withdrawal had already had an impact on Niger’s Diffa region, which has seen a string of attacks by Boko Haram militants crossing over from their base in neighbouring Nigeria.

    Ibrahim Arimi from the border village of Bosso said banditry has increased since the Chadian troops started leaving and he had been temporarily moved to another village for safety.

    Diffa parliamentarian Lamido Moumouni said residents had started complaining.

    “They have come to rely on the forces so there is a perception that security will be lacking,” he said by telephone.

    At its peak in 2016 after an attack in Bosso, Chad had 2,000 troops in Niger to help counter Boko Haram although security sources said this has fallen since.

    Boko Haram has attacked Chad, Niger and Cameroon from its base in northeast Nigeria.

    Its eight-year bid to carve out an Islamist caliphate has driven millions from their homes, no fewer than 200,000 of them are now based in Diffa, with little prospect of returning home.

    Thousands of them are camped alongside an unfinished highway in the middle of a barren savannah with few resources.

    Chad’s soldiers also occupy front-line positions in a peacekeeping force in northern Mali.

    Analysts say falling oil revenues after the price crash in 2014 has also sapped Chad’s appetite for expensive regional security commitments.

     

    Reuters/NAN

  • ISIS didn’t ambush, kill 30 soldiers in North East – Nigerian Army

    The Nigerian Army on Tuesday dismissed as “falsehood” the reported killing of 30 troops by Islamic State (ISIS) in the North East.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Army is reacting to rumours that ISIS ambushed and killed 30 Nigerian troops on Friday in the North East.

    The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said in a statement in Maiduguri that contrary to the report, there were no such attacks on troops of operation Lafiya Dole by ISIS or any other adversary within or outside the theatre of operation.

    He described the report as another set of media propaganda and attempt by the Boko Haram terrorists to remain relevant at all cost.

    He said the report was unsubstantiated and lacked credibility.

    Nwachukwu said: “The graphic images used to support the article were closely studied and lacked nexus to any recent operational engagements of Operation Lafiya Dole.

    “It is very pertinent to state that the photographs culled were not a reflection of recent operational encounters of Operation Lafiya Dole.”

    The army spokesman said there was neither encounter between the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole with ISIS terrorists nor had they suffered such fictitious attack as claimed.

    He dismissed the said article and graphic images as “bundle of unprofessionally packaged falsehood, designed to misinform and create fear in the people and build an aura of false potency around the terrorists.”

    He stressed that the troops had sustained devastating attacks on the Boko Haram insurgents in precursor operations in the theatre of operation.

    “Apart from neutralising their hideouts on the fringes of the Nigerian-Nigerien border through coordinated air and artillery bombardments, troops recently killed two fleeing Boko Haram terrorists in an ambush at Futchinam village in Geidam local government area of Yobe.

    “The troops also killed three insurgents in another ambush in Lingir village where they recovered five AK-47 rifles, five magazines and 11 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition.

    “Troops have dominated the theatre of operation and have denied Boko Haram terrorists freedom of action,” Nwachukwu added.

     

  • Boko Haram: Over 3m children need emergency education support in North East – UNICEF

    Boko Haram: Over 3m children need emergency education support in North East – UNICEF

    The United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) on Friday says an estimated three million children need emergency education support occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.

    UNICEF’s Deputy Director, Justin Forsyth, told newsmen in Maiduguri that urgent interventions were necessary to address the situation.

    Forsyth said that over 57 percent of basic and post basic schools in Borno were closed down due to the crisis caused by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    He disclosed that 1,400 schools were destroyed; 2,295 teachers killed, while 19 000 teachers were displaced by the insurgency in the region.

    “An estimated three million children are in need of emergency education support at the start of the new academic year.

    “Children in the North East are living through so much horror; in addition to malnutrition, violence and outbreak of cholera.

    “The attacks on schools is in danger of creating a lost generation of children threatening their future and countries.

    “To date, nearly one million children have been displaced by the crisis and 450,000 of them under the age of five are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year,” he said.

    Forsyth explained that UNICEF in collaboration with government and partners were working to rehabilitate schools, classrooms and training of teachers to build a stronger education system.

    The UNICEF official disclosed that the organisation in concert with development partners had so far enrolled 750,000 children in schools, established 350 temporary learning centres and distributed 94,000 packs of instructional materials to the displaced children in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

    “However, some children living in displaced camps in Borno state are actually benefiting from education for the first time in their lives.

    “At Muna Garage Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Maiduguri, an estimated 90 percent of children were enrolled in schools for the first time,” he said.

    Forsyth noted that the prompt interventions by the government and humanitarian organisation had assisted to mitigate malnutrition and famine in the war-ravaged region.

    The director stressed the need for a more comprehensive approach and greater commitments to address education, malnutrition and health needs of children affected by the insurgency in the region.

    Forsyth also commended the Federal and Borno Governments over their commitment to reinvigorate the education sector and address the humanitarian crisis in the state.

    He said that he would report to the organisation’s headquarters on the situation to enable it scale up activities in the region, adding that UNICEF is committed to the protection of children fundamental rights.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Forsyth is in Borno for a three-day working visit, to appraise the UNICEF humanitarian interventions in the region.

    The UNICEF chief visited IDP camps in Banki and Maiduguri where he interacted with families and children displaced by the insurgency.

    UNICEF operates in 190 countries to promote the rights and well-being of children, safeguard and guaranty their rights to education and health as well as protection from violence and abuse.

  • Overall situation in North-east Nigeria remains extremely worrying – UN top official

    The Executive Director, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) David Beasley yesterday described the overall situation in northeast Nigeria as extremely worrying while urging government bodies and humanitarian workers to not to relent on their push to save lives in the face of a complex and challenging emergency.

    Beasley who made the remarks in a statement forwarded to TheNewsGuru.com via email by WFP’s Communications Associate, Adedeji Ademigbuji, said insecurity, poor roads and a backup at Lagos port are thwarting WFP’s current ability to reach more remote areas and deliver imported specialized nutritional supplements to some of the children who need it

    The statement partly reads, “We are seeing the power of humanitarian assistance,” said Beasley, following a trip to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State that is hardest hit by the Boko Haram-driven crisis.

    “It has changed the lives of malnourished children whose mothers once worried about whether they would survive,” he said. “It is giving hope to many displaced and hungry people, and to others who are now returning home. Together, we are making a difference, but we must build on these fragile successes.”

    Beasley’s two-day visit to Nigeria — his first since being appointed to head WFP in March — included meetings with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Borno State Deputy Governor Usman Durkwa.

    He also spoke with community leaders and young mothers at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in Maiduguri, a city that shelters hundreds of thousands fleeing hunger and conflict.

    Across Northeast Nigeria this year, WFP through its partners has been delivering monthly food and nutritional assistance to more than a million extremely vulnerable people. Thanks to generous donor contributions, our steady support helps to stabilize lives.

    But the overall situation remains extremely worrying. The June-September lean season has worsened malnutrition in many places.

    Insecurity, poor roads and a backup at Lagos port are thwarting WFP’s current ability to reach more remote areas and deliver imported specialized nutritional supplements to some of the children who need it.

    Beasley warned of the broader impact of the crisis that goes beyond Nigeria and spreads across the four-nation Lake Chad Basin region that also includes Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

    “This is a major crisis that needs a security, humanitarian and development component — these are key to resolving it in the short and long term,” he said. “The international community cannot afford to ignore this problem, or it risks getting much worse.”

    Beasley also noted the Nigerian government’s significant hunger-fighting commitments, which include a recent donation of 5,000 mt of rice to WFP’s operations. Authorities have launched a separate relief initiative aimed to distribute 30,000 mt of rice to hungry people in six Nigerian states.

    For its part, WFP has purchased nearly $95 million worth of locally grown food for its operations, and injected an overall US$212 million into the Nigerian economy if cash transfers, transport, local salaries and other expenditures are taken into account.

  • Boko Haram: Osinbajo reaffirms commitment to transparent aid distribution in North East

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has assured that the Federal Government remained determined to deliver humanitarian aid to victims of insurgency in the North East through a transparent and effective process.

    He gave the assurance when he received a situation report on the distribution of humanitarian aids to the victims of insurgency from the implementation team of the Special Relief Intervention programme.

    A statement by the Acting President’s Spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, on Saturday noted that the team had been involved in the distribution of the aid since June June 8, when the programme was inaugurated in Maiduguri, Borno.

    Osinbajo hailed the new delivery system for humanitarian aid in the region as “a unique operation that promises to deliver on a well laid out plan”.

    The Acting President noted that there was considerable progress in the implementation of the Special Relief Intervention, having captured no fewer than 12,691 households in Borno since the exercise began.

    He gave the assurance that the process would remain transparent and the objectives fully actualised.

    The Acting President added that besides the emergency food distribution, “government will deliver on a holistic plan that includes empowerment’’.

    According to him, empowerment is an important feature of the relief intervention.

    The Acting President said the humanitarian aid was huge in relation to available resources.

    Osinbajo solicited the support of the National Assembly, especially from members representing the region, to enable government to realise its objective of maintaining an effective humanitarian service delivery.

    According to him, “we must support this team because a lot of attention is focused on us, especially from the international community.”

    “We need to be responsible and do this efficiently, and monitor performance on a regular basis.

    “It is a good opportunity to prove that we can handle these efforts very well,’’ Osinbajo added.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the humanitarian programme is to deliver food to persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.

    The initiative, which was part of a broad plan to address food shortage in the camps and other settlements of displaced persons, was also to curb alleged diversion of food meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    According to the update presented by the implementation team, the issue of diversion of relief materials has been removed.

    About 1,000 trucks are being used to deliver the assorted grains to beneficiaries.

    Also 656 armed police personnel are involved in the movement of the grains from various reserves across the country to designated NEMA warehouses in the North-East for distribution to beneficiaries.

    Another 1,376 military personnel were deployed to escort the grains to some IDPs in the hinterlands across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

    The acting president received the brief from the team overseeing the Special Relief Intervention at the Presidential Villa in the company of National Assembly members from the North East.

    Some of the lawmakers called for the integration of empowerment and provision of agricultural inputs as part of aid provided to the IDPs.

     

     

    NAN

     

  • Intensify efforts to flush out Boko Haram remnants in North-East, Gaidam charges FG

    Intensify efforts to flush out Boko Haram remnants in North-East, Gaidam charges FG

    Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has appealed to the Federal Government to intensify the mop-up operation against Boko Haram remnants in the North-East to save lives and property.

    Gaidam made the appeal in Damaturu on Thursday while declaring open a two-day National Sensitisation Workshop on the Implementation of the National Counter Terrorism Strategy organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    “I wish to make a passionate appeal to the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser to intensify the mopping up of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East in conjunction with the vigilance groups,’’ he said.

    The governor said the State Government had spent N11.5 billion between 2011 and 2015 in the fight against insurgency.

    He said the state Government had also spent about N10 billion as Ration Cash Allowances (RCA) for security operatives and vigilance groups.

    “Our administration also procured for the security agencies and vigilance groups over 200 vehicles at about N1.5 billion,’’ he said.

    Gaidam commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his unrelenting fight against insurgency and other forms of crime in Nigeria.

    He described the workshop as most timely, saying,“it will avail us with the opportunity to work together collectively toward eliminating the menace of men of the underworld and other miscreants’’.

    The governor urged the Police Command in the state to organise an orientation programme for vigilance groups on rudiments of arrest and handling of suspected criminals.

    The National Security Adviser, retired Maj. Gen. Babagana Munguno, in a message, said that a five pillar programme had been designed to check terrorism.

    This, he said, included discouraging people from becoming or supporting terrorism and, to strengthen protection capacity against attacks.

    Munguno, who was represented by Alhassan Hussaini, a director in the office of the NSA, said the programme also sought to identify early warnings, mitigate the impact of terrorists’ attacks and framework for governmental efforts.

    He emphasised the need to share information among relevant government organs as terrorists continued to be dynamic in tactics and ever evolving means to carry out devastating attacks.

     

     

    NAN

  • Over 8.5million people in North-East require urgent humanitarian assistance – UN

    Over 8.5million people in North-East require urgent humanitarian assistance – UN

    Sequel to the ravaging effects of the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist group in the North-East, the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday said an estimated 8.5 million people in that region are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance while over 5 million remain food insecure.

    It however commended the Federal Government for the recent launch of its Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), saying it will go a long way to lift Nigeria out of its present economic depression status.

    The UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Edward Kallon, made the commendation in Abuja at the launch of UNDP’s 2016 Human Development Report (HDR).

    Kallon also expressed optimism that “Nigeria has what it takes to surmount its challenges” and pledged the support of the world body in this regard.

    He said that Nigeria with its several medium-term policies and programmes was capable of keeping its economy on a positive development trajectory.

    He said that this was because the ERGP focused on restoring growth, investing in people and building a globally competitive economy.

    The UNDP boss also expressed satisfaction on the feat recorded by Nigeria in the Human Development Index (HDI) where it recorded 13.1 per cent increase between 2005 and 2015.

    The country representative, however, called for tougher policies to sustain gains made in human development index.

    He decried that issues such as insecurity and the drop in prices of export commodities which were major earners in sub-Saharan Africa was fast eroding on this gains

    He noted that Nigeria was being faced with two major problems of economic recession and humanitarian crisis.

    “We are all aware of the humanitarian crisis in the North-East of the country and the looming famine in that region.

    “Although efforts by humanitarian development actors, under the leadership of the Government have yielded significant results.

    “Many challenges remain as an estimated 8.5 million people in that region are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance; over 5 million remain food insecure.

    “And, some 50,000 children are at IPC level five of food insecurity. The need for action, especially for the children, couldn’t be more urgent,” he said.

    He advised the government to utilise the opportunity provided by the national launch of this report to address the twin problems of economic recession and humanitarian crisis facing the country.

    Kallon advised that the nation should utilise the opportunity provided by the report to promote policy dialogue at both national and sub-national levels.

    Besides, he called on Nigeria to urgently find lasting solution to these challenges in order to bring about enduring development in the country.

    “The report shows that between 2005 and 2015, Nigeria’s HDI increased from 0.466 to 0.527 or 13.1 per cent increase.

    “This is encouraging, but given the humanitarian challenges already alluded to, and the economic recession witnessed in 2016, there is an urgent need to design policies and programmes to ensure that the upward trend in human development is not reversed,” he said.