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Tag: Terrorists

  • JUST IN: Reps back Senate, asks Buhari to declare bandits, sponsors as terrorists

    JUST IN: Reps back Senate, asks Buhari to declare bandits, sponsors as terrorists

    Members of the House of Representatives have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits and their sponsors as terrorists.

    They made the call during Thursday’s plenary in the green chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, had raised the matter while addressing his colleagues in the lower house.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the call by the lawmakers to proscribe bandits and their sponsors comes a day after their counterparts in the Senate chamber took a similar stand.

    “The Senate on Wednesday, 29th September 2021 adopted a motion asking President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits ravaging the northern part of the country terrorists and wage a total war on them,” the lawmaker told his colleagues.

    “They also asked that the President declare all known leaders of bandits wanted and arrest them, wherever they were found for speedy prosecution. Such declaration to be done through a Proscription Order can be done pursuant to Section 2 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011 (As Amended).

    “I would like to echo the same sentiment and ask honourable colleagues to join the Senate in urging Mr President to declare bandits and their sponsors as terrorists. This will underline the determination of the government to combat the wave of criminality and murders conducted by bandits all over the country.”

    Benson explained that declaring bandits as terrorists could be done through a proscription order, to serve as a source of inspiration for security personnel to redouble their efforts towards dealing with the threat.

    For him, such declaration – when given the force of law – will renew the resolve of the security personnel in dealing with the menace of banditry, saying the mode of operations and rules of engagement would be scaled up accordingly.

    According to the lawmaker, such an order will officially bring the activities of bandits and their sponsors within the purview of the Terrorism Prevention Act while persons associated with such groups will be legally prosecuted and sentenced to penalties specified in the Act.

    “Declaration of all bandits as terrorists may also encourage other countries to do same and help create a global consensus around dealing with transnational factors that feed the domestic activities of such proscribed organisations and individuals,” he said.

    “As previously observed in this House, no [single] action can be a silver bullet to solving our insecurity in Nigeria. But a collection of many effective actions and strategies can bring safety. It is in this spirit that I speak today.

    “Insecurity in Nigeria requires an all-of-government approach. Hence, I also urge the President to implement the recommendations of the National Security Summit, which took place in June this year and was officially delivered to Mr President in July. All hands have to be on deck to be able to win this battle against insecurity in all its manifestations.”

  • Naira’s free fall: We won’t give Dollars to BDC operators; they’re promoters of terrorism – CBN

    Naira’s free fall: We won’t give Dollars to BDC operators; they’re promoters of terrorism – CBN

    Amidst the dwindling fortune of Nigeria’s Naira in the parrallel market, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele has said that some people are collecting dollars from Bureau De Change operators for the purpose of importing weapons into the country in order to harm Nigerians.

    He said this on Friday while speaking at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting held at the apex bank’s headquarters in Abuja.

    He said that the CBN decided to stop the sale of FOREX to Bureau De Change operators because they have become a source of foreign exchange for criminals to perform their nefarious activities.

    The CBN Governor said, “It truly beats my imagination that Nigerians continued with this type of practice (selling dollars to BDC) that tended to promote illegal activities who are involved in graft and corrupt practices.

    “We won’t support the corrupt tendencies of those who illegally buy dollars from our forex market, carry them in aircraft, buy arms and ammunition and bring them back into the country and conduct crimes. Whether it is Boko Haram, banditry and other nefarious activities.”

    “Why will CBN give people our forex to go and buy arms? And that is what people want us to continue to do. We cannot do that. What we are saying is that if you have any legitimate need for forex, take it to the bank and they will sell you FOREX.”

    Meanwhile, Emefiele disclosed that the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria has retained the Monetary Policy Rate at 11.5 per cent.

    It also retained the Cash Reserve Ratio and Liquidity Ratio at 27.5 per cent and 30 per cent respectively.

    Announcing the committee’s decision, Emefiele said, “The MPC made the decision to hold all parameters constant. The committee thought by unanimous vote to retain the Monetary Policy Rate at 11.5 per cent.

  • IPOB, Yoruba nation agitators not different from terrorists – Gbajabiamila

    IPOB, Yoruba nation agitators not different from terrorists – Gbajabiamila

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said the refusal of the separatist movements in the southern part of the country to accommodate dissenting opinions makes them the same as the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists.

    He stated this on Wednesday in his address to welcome members of the House back from their nine weeks recess.

    The lawmakers had proceeded on recess on July 15 after considering some major bills including the Electoral Amendment Bill and Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

    President Muhammadu Buhari has since signed the PIB into law.

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) advocates the secession of the Igbo-populated South-east zone while in the South-west zone, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, is leading agitation for a Yoruba nation.

    IPOB recently gave a sit-at-home order every Monday in the South-east. The order has been enforced partly through violence, forcing the people of the region to comply.

    On Tuesday, the group also gave a sit-at-home order in honour of its members killed on September 14, 2017, when men of the Nigerian Army invaded the home of Nnamdi Kanu, its leader.

    The order has been condemned by several people, including the state governors from the region.

    Mr Gbajabiamila said given “time and space,” the separatist movements in the south will drag Nigeria towards the path of destruction.

    According to him, the groups are posing new threats to the national security of Nigeria.

    “Thus far, we have rightly focused our national security concerns on the machinations of extremist insurgents who seek to remake our world in the image of their discredited theocracy and bandits who maraud and terrorise whole regions for profit,” the speaker said.

    “We must now add to these concerns an emerging threat that presents the same clear and present danger. In the South of Nigeria, East and West, miscreants and criminals masquerading as separationist activists have emerged to wreak havoc, take lives and commit economic sabotage against fellow Nigerians and against the state.

    “These people, in their inclination for devastating violence against fellow citizens, their appetite for the destruction of private property, their disruption of academic activities, commerce, and industry, their propensity for defiling institutions of the state, society and community, their refusal to engage in debate, or to consider the possibility of dissenting opinions and alternative viewpoints, are no different from Boko Haram and ISWAP. Given space and time, they will take our nation down the same path of destruction.”

    Mr Gbajabiamila also asked the media to desist from using the number of bills sponsored as metrics for measuring the performance of a lawmaker.

    He described the practice as “uninspired journalism,” noting that there are other mandates for lawmakers aside from bills and motions.

    Mr Gbajabiamila urged his colleagues to brace themselves for more work as the House is due to commence the implementation of the recommendations of the security summit.

    The lawmakers held a security summit in May and the report of the special committee was subsequently adopted before the House embarked on holiday in July.

  • Why Buhari is yet to proscribe bandits like Nnamdi Kanu– Presidency

    Why Buhari is yet to proscribe bandits like Nnamdi Kanu– Presidency

    The presidency has said that what the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has done to bandits is worse than declaring them terrorists.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu in an interview with BBC Pidgin on Saturday says President Muhammadu Buhari has not proscribed bandits like it did the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) because there is a subsisting shoot on sight order against armed bandits and other violent groups.

    “What the Buhari administration has done to the arms-wielding bandits is worse than being declared as terrorists. Do you know that there is a subsisting order by the President that any arms-wielding, AK-47 bandits should be shot on sight,” Mr Shehu said.

    Mr Shehu further argued that Mr Buhari regime was not giving bandits any form of preferential treatment as they are being killed in their hundreds.

    “I am saying yes, IPOB has been prescribed by law of the land. There is no shoot-on-sight order on IPOB. There is nothing to suggest that these bandits are treated preferentially,” he said.

    In recent months, bandits in coordinated attacks have killed and abducted hundreds of school children for ransom in Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Zamfara State, forcing schools to shut down in some of these states.

    In July, bandits shot down a Nigerian Airforce jet, eliciting much condemnation from citizens who described their nefarious activities as act of terrorism.

    When further asked why bandits who have done more harm compared to the proscribed IPOB were still not declared terrorists by Mr Buhari regime, Mr Shehu said “Yes, we hear that a lot of times. But I want to say I disagree with that position.

    “The Nigerian Airforce is busy bombing locations in the forest, the military is there on the ground exchanging fire and taking them out in hundreds, that is certainly not treating people lightly.

    “Well, I am not suggesting bombing IPOB or anybody. I want to say that the entire weaponry is today targeted at these bandits and terrorists,” Mr Shehu said.

    Amnesty International had in 2016 reported how the Nigerian military extrajudicially killed at least 150 peaceful pro-Biafra protesters in South-East Nigeria.

    In 2017, Mr Buhari proscribed IPOB a terrorist group for calling for self determination. The leader of the group, Nnamdi Kanu, was recently abducted in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria to face trial.

  • NBC denies ordering media houses not to report details of terrorists attacks

    NBC denies ordering media houses not to report details of terrorists attacks

    The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has debunked reports that it directed media houses to stop reporting details of terrorist attacks.

    Disclosing this in a letter signed by the Director-General of the Commission, Balarabe Ilelah, obtained by Vanguard, the commission argued that the contents of its “letter are not intended and by no means capable of being construed or interpreted as a sweeping gag on broadcast stations and journalists in the country”.

    The Commission on July 16th, cautioned media stations to desist from “giving details of either the security issues or victims of these security challenges so as not to jeopardise the efforts of the Nigerian soldiers and other security agents.”

    The letter titled, ‘Newspaper Reviews And Current Affairs Programmes: A Need For Caution’, was signed by the Director, Broadcast Monitoring, Francisca Aiyetan, on behalf of the new Director-General of the Commission, Balarabe Ilelah.

    Part of the letter reads: “Headlines of most Newspapers on a daily basis are replete with security topics. While bringing information on security to the doorsteps of Nigerians is a necessity, there is a need for caution as too many details may have an adverse implication on the efforts of our security officials who are duty-bound to deal with the insurgency.

    “The Commission, therefore, enjoins broadcasters to collaborate with the government in dealing with the security challenges by;

    “Not glamourising the nefarious activities of insurgents, terrorists, kidnappers, bandits etc

    “Advising guests and/or analysts on programmes not to polarise the citizenry with divisive rhetoric, in driving home their point.

    “Not giving details of either the security issues or victims of these security challenges so as not to jeopardise the efforts of the Nigerian soldiers and other security agents.

    The Commission also reminded the broadcast stations to be guided by provisions of Sections 5.4.1(f) and 5.4.3 of the NBC Code which states thus:

    “The broadcaster shall not transmit divisive materials that may threaten or compromise the divisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a sovereign state.

    “In reporting conflict situations, the broadcaster shall perform the role of a peace agent by adhering to the principle of responsibility, accuracy and neutrality.”

    Miffed with the commissions letter, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, on July 20 asked President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently instruct Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed and the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to withdraw within 24 hours the directive containing a sweeping gag order banning journalists and broadcast stations from reporting details of terrorist attacks and victims across the country.

    SERAP in a letter dated July 17, 2021, by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, said: “The contents of the directive by the NBC to journalists and broadcast stations are entirely inconsistent and incompatible with Nigeria’s obligations under article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

    “We would be grateful if the repressive directive is withdrawn within 24 hours of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, the SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions in the public interest.”

    The organization expressed “grave concern that the contents of the NBC directive would impermissibly restrict the rights to freedom of expression, information, and victims’ right to justice and effective remedies that are central to public debate and accountability in a democratic society.”

    Reacting to SERAP, the commission through its Director-General of the Commission, Balarabe Ilelah, opined: “Your letter date July 17, 2021 in respect of the above captioned matter refers.

    “I write to inform you that the letter from the National Broadcasting Commission dated July 7, 2021 reminding broadcast stations in the Country to be cautious of divisive materials that may threaten or compromise the indivisibility and indissolubility of the country as a sovereign state in line with the provisions of sections 5.4.1(I) and 5.4.3 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code when reviewing Newspaper Headlines did not in any way direct stations to stop reporting details of terrorist attacks and other violations across the country.

    “Furthermore, the contents of the letter are not intended and by no means capable of being construed or interpreted as a sweeping gag on broadcast stations and journalists in the country.

    “The Commission as a statutory body established by law is conscious of the Rights and Freedoms contained in the 1999 Constitution and other International instruments, treaties and covenants guaranteeing rights to certain rights and obligations and would not take any action that deliberately infringes on any of these rights.

    “The Commission is also conscious of the present security challenges in the Country and advising broadcast stations to also be conscious and exercise caution by not glamorizing the nefarious activities of insurgents, terrorists, kidnappers, bandits etc. by ensuring that their transmissions conform with extant provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code as well as professional ethics of the profession, these are consistent and not incompatible with the constitution 1999. The African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

    “Please note that nowhere in the body of the letter complained of are there any words or phrases stopping broadcasters from reporting any case or threatening fines and other punishment other than reminding them of the existing provisions of the code and urging them to perform the role of peace Agents; In the interest of National Security. These can definitely not be seen as suppressing freedom of expression by any means or endanger the job of journalists in the country.

    “The Commission even as a parastatal of the Federal Government cherishes a free press and expansion of Civic space; the Commission was not a party or in any way involved in the events that led to the suspension of twitter bY the Federal Government as its regulatory powers do not extend to Social Media Platforms. Also, the Bill for an Act to amend the National Broadcasting Commission Act, Cap N11, Laws of the Federation, 2004 has no single provision that if passed into law, may further suppress media freedom, freedom of expression and access to information and we challenge SERAP to bring out any clause inserted by NBC in the Bill for such purpose as the bill is already in the public domain.”

  • Terrorists kill 15 soldiers in ambush

    Terrorists kill 15 soldiers in ambush

    Fifteen soldiers were killed as a result of an ambush in southwestern Niger on Saturday, the country’s defence ministry said.

    It blamed the attack on “armed terrorist groups.”

    The assailants ambushed a supply mission at 1100 local time in Torodi commune after which soldiers evacuating the wounded hit an improvised explosive, the ministry said late on Sunday.

    “We regret that unfortunately 15 soldiers were killed, seven were wounded and six are missing,” it said.

    Like its neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger is a regular target for militant groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State.

    The Jihadist threat has grown stronger despite the deployment of thousands of regional, Western and U.N. troops across West Africa’s Sahel region.

    Suspected Islamic State fighters killed at least 100 civilians on Jan. 2 in raids on two villages in western Tillabery region .

    In March, at least 137 people were killed in coordinated raids in neighbouring Tahoua region.

    The two attacks were among the deadliest in recent memory.

  • Nigerian leaders heartless; we know our killers but they won’t declare them terrorists – Kukah

    Nigerian leaders heartless; we know our killers but they won’t declare them terrorists – Kukah

    Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has described Nigerian leaders as heartless for allegedly watching bandits and terrorists turn the country into a killing field.

    In his homily during the burial of Fr. Alphosus Bello at Our Lady of Apostles Catholic Church, Kaduna, yesterday, he slammed President Muhammadu Buhari administration for failing to address the country’s security challenges.

    Kukah said: “Those who govern us are allowing this killing of citizens because they have no blood in their hearts.”

    Bello was kidnapped, alongside Fr. Joseph Keke, and murdered in Katsina by bandits on May 21, 2021.

    “There is nowhere in the whole world that citizens can be slaughtered without the government showing empathy and concern. The continuous barbaric slaughter of our people in their innocence suggests that our beautiful Presidential Villa, National Assembly and government houses are not moving with civilisation.

    “How did Nigeria come to this tragic situation? We know who they are, whom they believe in and where their inspiration comes from. But the government has never declared the kidnappers a terrorist group,” he added.

    According to Kukah, there is no ambiguity about the killers. “We hear and live with stories of complicity at the highest level. Christians can only rely on the faithful word of God.”

    The cleric wondered how leaders, who swore with the Qur’an and Bible to uphold the principle of governance, would leave the country at the mercy of criminals.

    He urged them to reverse the vow to: “I have sworn that I will not protect you from foreign invaders, kidnappers and being killed. You are on your own. Your security is in your own hands. Keeping you safe is not our immediate priority. Foreign bandits or anyone can come at will, kill, loot, rape, kidnap and murder you. They can wipe out your communities, destroy your homes and your farmlands.

    “They can kidnap or murder your children at will. They can rustle your cattle. If they kidnap your children, wives or husbands, we will consider you criminals for negotiating for their release. We are preparing a law that could see you go to jail for 15 years for this heinous crime against your fatherland.”

    Kukah, therefore, urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in prayer, saying that “God will lead us out of this tragic situation.”

  • Terrorists in South-West planning attacks on Redemption Camp, mosques – Akintoye

    Terrorists in South-West planning attacks on Redemption Camp, mosques – Akintoye

    A Second Republic Senator and a celebrated Historian, Prof. Banji Akintoye, has warned governors in the South-West that the entire region has already been surrounded by terrorists.

    Akintoye, who is the leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, the umbrella body for Yoruba self-determination groups, told the governors in a letter written to them that the terrorists were ready to strike any moment from now.

    This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by his media aide, Mr Maxwell Adeleye.

    He advised the government to begin to make moves to scuttle the planned attacks by the criminals, adding that the hoodlums had perfected plans to attack important places in order to destroy the economy of the region.

    Akintoye in the statement also urged the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Bishop David Oyedepo of Winners’ Chapel; and other church and Islamic leaders to protect their churches and mosques from being attacked.

    He also called on Yoruba youths to be more watchful and prevent the influx of terrorists into the region.

    Akinyoye said, “A combination of Fulani terrorists, Boko Haram and ISIS, have occupied Niger State, which is immediately north of Yorubaland, thereby providing for themselves very easy access into Yorubaland through the Yoruba parts of Kwara and Kogi states.

    “Then recently, the US issued a statement that ISIS had infiltrated Southern Nigeria from the sea, meaning that the coast of Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states have been infiltrated.

    “Our situation has thus become desperate and requires desperate actions from our state governors. I feel obliged to devote much attention to the study of our Yoruba nation’s vicissitudes in these terrible times and from such studies, I am hereby raising an informed alarm to the governors of our states.

    “I humbly and passionately urge our governors to come together to give the needed response to the danger that threatens to engulf Yorubaland in, most probably, the next few days.

    “It is very well known that the signature action of these foreign terrorist organisations is to first destroy prominent assets of the society that they attack. That could mean that major public and private buildings in Lagos and Ibadan, particularly the hugely symbolic Cocoa House in Ibadan, would be their immediate targets.

    “Owners and custodians of significant edifices in Yorubaland are strongly advised to establish formidable security for their edifices. These include bridges, important public and private buildings, churches and such eminent church estates as the Redeemed, Winners, Deeper Life, Mountain of Fire Church camps and the unique Synagogue building of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, and even our most prestigious central mosque buildings in Lagos, Ibadan and our other cities.”

     

  • Terrorists have hoisted flag in Kaure, taken over wives of people-Niger governor

    Terrorists have hoisted flag in Kaure, taken over wives of people-Niger governor

    The Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, has stated that Boko Haram terrorists have hoisted their flag in Kaure, Shiroro Local Government Area.

    Abubakar Sani Bello made this known when he paid a visit to over 3000 Internally Displaced Persons from Shiroro and Munya local government areas who are taking refuge in Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Primary School, Minna the state capital.

    “I am confirming that there are Boko Haram elements in Niger State, around Kaure.

    “I just heard that they’ve already hoist their flag in Kaure, which means they’ve taken over the territory and this is what I have been engaging the FG with, and unfortunately it has now gotten to this stage that if care is not taken, not even Abuja is safe”, he said.

    Bemoaning the security challenges in the state, Bello expressed concern over the manner in which the wives of the locals have been taking over by Boko Haram members.

    “They’ve taken over the territory, they’ve installed their flag. I am confirming that now. They’ve taken over the wives of people by force”, he said.

    He said, “Boko Haram elements are trying to use these areas as their home just like they did in Sambisa”.

    He, however, said the government has been taking steps on the issue and will not relent on its efforts to curb the situation.

    Bello said though he has not lost hope in the Federal Government, he is not going to wait anymore, adding that time has come to see reasons for a coordinated military action to take place.

    “I have not lost hope from the federal government but I am not waiting for anyone anymore”, he added.

     

     

     

  • Pantami renounces past controversial comments on terrorists as calls for his resignation thickens

    Pantami renounces past controversial comments on terrorists as calls for his resignation thickens

    Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Ali Isa Pantami, who was under attack over his controversial comments on Al Qaeda and Taliban in the past has renounced those comments saying he now has a better understanding of the issues involved.

    This was even as he said his attacks by a section of the media was politically motivated.

    Recall, social media users and some pundits have called for Pantami’s resignation over his comments.

    However, during his daily Ramadan lecture at Al-Noor Mosque in Abuja on Saturday, the minister said he now knows better about some of the comments he made in the past.

    “For 15 years, I have moved around the country while educating people about the dangers of terrorism. I have travelled to Katsina, Gombe, Borno, Kano states and Difa in the Niger Republic to preach against terrorism.

    “I have engaged those with Boko Haram ideologies in different places. I have been writing pamphlets in Hausa, English and Arabic.

    “I have managed to bring back several young persons who have derailed from the right path.

    “Some of the comments I made some years ago that are generating controversies now were based on my understanding of religious issues at the time, and I have changed several positions taken in the past based on new evidence and maturity.

    “I was young when I made some of the comments; I was in university, some of the comments were made when I was a teenager.

    “I started preaching when I was 13, many scholars and individuals did not understand some of the international events and therefore took some positions based on their understanding, some have come to change their positions later.”

    The embattled Pantami has been facing the heat over his alleged link with terrorist groups with many Nigerians calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the minister.

    The Nigerian Twitter community also said it was risky to trust the Minister with data of Nigerians, especially with the ongoing National Identification Number and Subscriber Identity Module integration exercise und