Boko Haram fighters raze down military base in Maiduguri

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Staff Reporter

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Boko Haram jihadists have torched a military base in northeast Nigeria, a day after the group killed seven people in a separate raid, residents said.

Jihadists believed to be loyal to a Boko Haram faction that is recognised by the Islamic State group on Thursday attacked the base in Wajirko village, 150 kilometres (90 miles) from Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, forcing the soldiers to flee.

“The gunmen arrived in pickups and engaged soldiers in the base just outside the village in a heavy shootout,” Wajirko resident Bukar Maduye told AFP.

The assailants were believed to be loyal to the faction headed by Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, the son of Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf.

Barnawi was appointed last year by the Islamic State group to replace leader Abubakar Shekau.

But Barnawi’s right-hand man Mamman Nur, the alleged mastermind of a 2011 bombing of a UN building in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, is believed by many to be the real leader.

A vigilante assisting the military in its fight against Boko Haram confirmed the incident, adding that the soldiers had moved to a military base 40 kilometres away (25 miles).

“There were no reports of casualties from either side but the (military) base was completely burnt by the Boko Haram terrorists and the soldiers fled,” Mustapha Karimbe said.

In a separate attack on Wednesday scores of Boko Haram fighters rode on motorcycles into Abbati, a farming community outside Maiduguri, where they killed seven men and stole 360 livestock.

“They slaughtered the two men they had forced to lead them to the community and shot dead the five owners of the cattle herds who had confronted them with bows and arrows,” said vigilante Babakura Kolo.

Barnawi and Mamman Nur have previously promised residents in areas under their control they would not be harmed as long as they did not cooperate with Nigerian troops fighting Boko Haram.

But in recent weeks the Islamist fighters have intensified raids in areas near Lake Chad, stealing food from residents.

They have also killed several civilians they accused of cooperating with the military.

Source: The Guardian

250 IDPs in Borno state sit for WAEC examinations

Posted on April 6, 2017 by Staff Reporter

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250 internally displaced persons are taking part in this year’s West African Examination Council (WAEC) senior secondary school certificate examination.

The SSCE candidates are made up of 94 female and 156 male students.

The students wrote practicals on Wednesday at three WAEC centres, Government College, Government Girls College and ?Mustapha Umar Elkanemi Arabic Teachers College – all in Maiduguri.

Ahmed Satomi, chairman, Borno state emergency management agency, said that the 250 IDP were those who passed a special mock exam conducted for about 1000 IDPs who were in final year at secondary schools before they were displaced.

The IDPs were first evaluated and enrolled into four senior secondary schools to prepare them for the examination.

The schools are Government Secondary School, Jajeri, Govt Girls Second school, Yerwa, Govt College, Maiduguri and Government Girls College Maiduguri.

“Governor Kashim Shettima released funds to the Borno State Emergency Management Agency which we used to paying the WAEC fees of all the students,” he said.

“As you know, in Borno, the State ?Government pays for WAEC but parents pay a counterpart of N6,500 as show of commitment. So, what SEMA paid was the counterpart since the Government already paid for all WAEC students across Borno State.

“Mock exam was organized for over 1,000 IDP’S but out of them, 250 did well and were believed to be emotionally and academically set for this year’s WAEC.

“The Governor also asked us to secure JAMB forms for all of them which is being done, we hope that all of them will do well to become eligible for University admission by end of the year.”

He further said that the governor had authorised the purchase of JAMB forms for the 250 students while some of the 1000 IDPs who showed potential in the mock exams are likely to sit for exams to gain entry into tertiary institutions.

Source: The Cable

Shettima donates N14 million to suicide bomb victims

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, on Thursday gave out various cash compensation, amounting to N14 million, to those who lost their valuables during the last week’s suicide bombing in Maiduguri, the state capital.

The compensation was given to the owners of the four vehicles, mostly petroleum tankers, that got burnt after two teenage female suicide bombers detonated their devices outside the NNPC depot.

The governor also announced a N200 million loan facility for the members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to help the members boost their businesses that were negatively affected by the insurgency.

Mr. Shettima made these commitments when he visited the scene of the blast that occurred last while he was out of the country on official function.

He implored the victims to bear the pains caused by the incident as God destined it so.

The governor however advised the petroleum marketers on the need to get an alternative and secured parking space for their trucks and fuel tankers.

Mr. Shettima directed the State Ministry of Land and Survey to carry out a comprehensive survey of the proposed IPMAN Zonal Area Office and Central Garage located near NNPC Mega Station Damboa Road Maiduguri and to forward the survey plan to his office for further necessary action.

The state Chairman of IPMAN, Maiduguri Depot, Mohammed Kuluwu, informed the governor that three petroleum product tankers and one private Volkswagen golf were damaged the suicide bombers attacked.

No other lives, apart from that of the suicide bombers, were lost in the blasts.

Source: Premium Times

NBA Offers Free Lega Services To 1000 IDPs In Borno

Posted on March 2, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Borno State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said it has offered free legal services and counselling to 1,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The State NBA Chairman, Babakura Kaka, stated this on Wednesday at the 2017 Legal Year celebration, during a court session at the Borno State High Court in Maiduguri.

Mr Kaka said that so far the NBA has treated and won 300 cases bordering on IDPs free of charge in courts.

He explained that the project, Legal Protection for IDPs, was designed to provide justice for all and ensure the people get the required justice.

“We are partnering with UNHCR to carry out humanitarian assistance to the IDPs by providing free legal services,” said the chairman.

Source: Channels TV

Borno adopts new measures to flush out Boko Haram residues.

Posted on February 20, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Borno Government has approved the introduction of new security measures to curtail the increasing attacks by remnants of Boko Haram insurgents in the state.

Malam Isa Gusau, the Special Adviser to Gov. Kashim Shettima on Communication and Strategy stated this in a statement in Maiduguri on Sunday.

According to him, the measures include the setting up of new guard locations in strategic areas to prevent the insurgents from carrying out attacks.

It also stated that the measures were adopted after an emergency security council meeting in Maiduguri.

“Following resurgence of attacks by suspected remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents in some parts of the state, Shettima held an emergency security meeting with heads of the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Police and the Department of State Security.

“The meeting is part of the initiatives to take proactive measures to tackle recent upsurge in insurgents attacks.

“At the end of the meeting, new guard locations were established in some routes across the state to curtail the movement of remnants of Boko Haram fighters.

“Deployment of security personnel to various locations were increased with additional number of local vigilantes (the Civilian JTF).

“The governor gave approval for the release of additional patrol vehicles to security agencies for increased surveillance.

“He also approved logistics to compliment efforts of the Federal Government in strengthening armed forces, while measures were adopted to strengthen the Civilian JTF and hunters.”

Source: Guardian

Officer injured as Boko Haram shoots air force jet in Borno

Posted on February 17, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Boko Haram insurgents attacked a helicopter belong to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Borno state on Wednesday.

According to Ayodele Famuyiwa, spokesman of the force, the helicopter the incident happened at Gwoza.

Famuyiwa said the aircraft was conveying personnel on medical outreach programme from Maiduguri to Gwoza, when it came under attack.

He said the insurgents shot the Mi-17 helicopter, but that there was no casualty except for an airman that sustained bullet wound.

“Nevertheless, the pilot was able to fly the helicopter safely to and from its destination to enable the outreach programme continue uninterrupted,” Famuyiwa said.

“Following the attack, the NAF immediately scrambled a fighter aircraft and helicopter gunship to the location between Bama and Gwoza to neutralise the threat.

“Intelligent report by ground troops confirmed scores of BHTs were killed, signifying that the air attack on the threat location was successful.”

He said the force had been conducting medical outreach in the north-east as part of its humanitarian support to internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Abuja, Bayelsa, Borno, pay highest prices for diesel in January.

Posted on February 15, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has said that Abuja, Bayelsa, Delta and Cross Rivers recorded the highest average price of N240.52 for diesel in January 2017.

A report released Wednesday by the NBS said the average price paid by consumers for automotive gas oil, known as diesel, increased to N240.52 in January 2017 from N196.20 in December 2016.

The increase, the bureau said, represents 22.56 per cent on the basis of year-on-year and 50.06 per cent on month-on-month basis.

Further analysis revealed that states with the highest average price of diesel were Abuja and Bayelsa where consumers paid N270, followed by Delta (N256.77) and Cross River (N256.36).

Meanwhile, states with the lowest average price of diesel were Enugu (N230.78), Adamawa (N230.50) and Lagos, Oyo, Taraba were consumers bought the product at N230 in the period under review.

The NBS also said on Wednesday that average price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as petrol increased by 35.7 per cent year-on-year in January.

This is contained in “Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch for January” released by NBS in Abuja.

The report stated that Petrol increased by 35.7 per cent year-on-year and 1.35 per cent month-on-month to N148.7 in January 2017, from N146.7 in December 2016.

It noted that states with the highest average price of petrol were Borno, which sold the product for N164.09, Oyo; N161.00 and Ebonyi N156.47.

“States with the lowest average price of petrol were Kogi, which sold at N144.67, Ekiti and Imo, N144.64; and Abuja which sold at N144.20?

The states with lowest average price sold the product below the recommended price of N145.

Fuel prices are collected across all the 774 local governments across all states and the FCT from more than 10,000 respondents and locations.

The report reflected prices households actually bought fuel together with the prices reportedly sold by the fuel suppliers.

The average of all these prices is then reported for each state and the average for the country is the average for the state.

3.6 million people in north-east Nigeria are food insecure, says UN agency.

Posted on February 15, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations says about 3.6 million people in the north-east region of Nigeria are food insecure.

The north-east, particularly Borno state, has been ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, Dominic Burgeon, FOA director of emergency, said the issue of food security in the north-east is of major concern.

He said it was important that skills and tools were provided for people of the region to get back to their normal lives.

Burgeon noted that the FOA had empowered about 2,000 women and youth among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Maiduguri.

The FOA director said the agency’s objective was to target about 1.9 million farmers across the state who lost their means of livelihood to the insurgency.

“The food security issue in the North-East and particularly Borno is of particular concern to us. No fewer than 3.6 million people are currently food insecure. Therefore, the mission of the FOA is to help the IDPs to kick-start their lives,” Burgeon said.

“We know that Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for them and some of them have not been able to farm for about three to four years, while some have lost all their agricultural assets to the strangulating insurgency.

“That is why it is key to provide them with the skills and tools to enable them to get back to their normal life. We are also looking at livestock and aperculture production knowing fully that it would be of nutritional value for them.”

On his part, Salisu Ngulde, the Borno state monitoring and evaluation officer for International fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), said the IDPs would be supported with 10 assorted seeds and 25 kilogramme of fertiliser.

“We are currently supporting them with 10 assorted seeds and 25 kilogramme of fertiliser in addition,” he said.

“They were divided into five sub-groups and each of them was given hand wash boreholes and water pumps.”

Rebuilding Borno: 192 Families To Get New Homes In Kaga

Posted on February 14, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Succour has come the way of returning Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Kaga Local Government of Borno State, as about 192 families will soon take ownership of the newly reconstructed houses in the area.

The reconstruction project in Kaga is a pilot of the rebuilding project in affected communities within Borno, and the state government has set March 6 as the official date for allocation.

The development is part of the process of rebuilding Nigeria’s Northeast, after some states including Borno suffered unquantifiable loss as the ruthless Boko Haram unleashed terror on the states.

To achieve the humanitarian gesture, the Borno State Government got a seamless collaboration of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japanese Government.

Kaga is the first beneficiary community owing to the return of calm and the absence of security threat to the civilian population in the area.

The project covers the reconstruction of municipal buildings, schools and most importantly homes of the affected population.

Officials say the rebuilding has paved way for villagers to have even better homes than they had before the crisis.

According to the Chairman of Kaga Local Government, Lawan Wasaram, the beneficiaries are elated by the project, as they haven’t had such luxury in a long time.

“They are happy; a villager who has not slept under a concrete building before and now he has sheets and concrete building, of course they are happy.

“Even when the rains come they are no longer worried. Their lives have changed from living in a village to a city,” Mr Wasaram said.

The Regional Coordinator of UNDP, Joerg Kuehnel, also expressed happiness that the international organisation, being one of the development partners of the Rebuilding Borno Project, has been looking forward to the success of the project.

“We are here today (Monday) to supervise one of the programmes we have been implementing with the government of Borno State.

“We have been supporting and working with them for months, to help with the reconstruction efforts and for us, it’s very important that we work through the communities so that it’s really the people that do it themselves.

“Today what’s important for us is to see how the project progresses and I have to say that I am very impressed with what I saw,” the UNDP official said.

The project has not helped only the homeless population, as a large percentage of the building workforce comprises of the IDPs.

One of the IDPs, Bukar Isa, became displaced when his hometown, Bama, was invaded by the Boko Haram militants.

Along with others displaced from other parts of the state, he has decided to make a living from the rebuilding programme.

“My daily pay as a mason is 3,000 naira (while) others get 1,500 naira and above.

“Since I came to Maiduguri, I have never lived in a camp. I rented a house in town and put my family there.

“I pray other idle youths out there would be encouraged to work and fend for themselves,” he said.

A representative of the Borno State government, Mr Babagana Umara, who is in charge of the reconstruction project, said the big plan is to empower the returnees.

Mr Umara believes the project would hopefully reduce the burden of housing and feeding the IDPs after the home allocation ceremonies.

Boko Haram created 54,000 widows, destroyed 541 Borno schools – Shettima

Posted on February 14, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, said on Monday that at least 54,000 women had become widows due to the activities of the Boko Haram sect between 2011 and February 2017.

He added that the terrorists destroyed 5,335 classrooms in 541 schools.

Shettima said this while delivering a speech at the 2017 Murtala Muhammed Memorial Lecture, an annual event held in commemoration of the third Nigerian head of state who was assassinated on February 13, 1976.

While delivering the keynote address titled, ‘Managing the Boko Haram Crisis in Borno State: Experiences and Lessons for a Multi-party, Multi-ethnic and Multi-religious Nigeria,’ the governor opined that the cure for religious extremism remains quality education.

He said, “In Borno, there are currently 54,000 widows,” adding that the political class needs to step up its humanitarian efforts.

The governor added, “Virtually all our schools are being rebuilt in Borno. As I said earlier, a total number of 5,335 classrooms in 503 primary schools and 38 high schools and two tertiary institutions were destroyed in the state.”

Shettima urged the western world to assist Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and the rehabilitation of victims, adding that the Syrian refugee crisis will be nothing compared to Nigeria’s if the nation’s crisis is not well handled.

He added, “Believe me, unless we wear our thinking caps as leaders, the future is very bleak. We either take advantage of the demography and its dividends or reap demographic disaster. As I said in Washington, Syria has a population of less than 30 million people. I think it is in the interest of the Western world to see that Nigeria works. Just two million Syrians knocking on the door of Europe and the Europeans have become agitated. What do you say of about 30 million English-speaking Africans knocking on the door of Europe?

“And in Nigeria, South is the Atlantic Ocean; up North is the Sahara desert. We can eat up the food reserves in Niger, Mauritania and all the countries in the Sahel within a week. The other side is Togo which is not bigger than Ogun State.”

Also speaking, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo urged political and religious leaders not to encourage violence but peace.

Osinbajo noted that great leaders like the late Nelson Mandela of South Africa; Martin Luther King junior in the United States are remembered for promoting peace even in the face of persecution.

Acknowledging the guests for their solidarity to one of Nigeria’s heroes past, the Chief Executive Officer of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation and daughter of the late head of state, Aisha Oyebode, praised the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for its achievements in the fight against terrorism.

She added, “For those that knew my father intimately while he was alive, you would agree that beyond the mien of the no-nonsense general, he was generous and kind-hearted. He was more at home in the company of the masses, and understood the pains and suffering of the downtrodden, and used all the power and resources he had to fight for the weak and the oppressed within and outside Nigeria. General Murtala Muhammed truly had empathy, which is why 41 years on, his sacrifice and legacy as a man of the people, is still very worthy of commemoration.”

“We, at the MMF, believe that our theme for this year – Humanitarian Crisis and Response in a Plural State: What Role for Leadership? – is a fitting tribute to General Muhammed’s legacy.”

Borno IDPs Begin Mass Production Of Household Products.

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Gwoza local government area of Borno state, have begun large scale production and packaging of various household products.

The products include solid and liquid soap, detergents, pomade, hand bags courtesy of a loan allocated to them by the Borno Renaissance Micro Finance Bank, set up by Governor Kashim Shettima to promote entrepreneurship in the state.

In 2016, Governor Shettima had after examining their proposal, directed the Micro Finance Bank to release the sum of N5m to a group of 91 male and female citizens displaced from Gwoza LGA, who were living within some camps in Maiduguri.

The group had registered with the state as Gwoza Soap Makers Association, a cooperative desiring to go into mass production of household items.

In fulfillment of their pledge, after days of hard work, representatives of the IDPs marched to the Government House, Maiduguri, with samples of household products produced and packaged by them.

They named all their products, ‘G.Z. Hijira’. The ‘G.Z’ represents Gwoza, their town, while Hijira refers to a ‘temporary relocation’ which in their case, represents their Internal displacement.

The IDPs told Governor Shettima that they want their locally produced items to capture the memory of their displacement and relocation to Maiduguri as a result of attacks on their communities in Gwoza by Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.

“For a start, we have used part of the funds and produced 118 cartons of solid laundry soap; 86 cartons of small size pomades, 96 cartons of large size of pomade; 200 jerrycans of large and small packs of liquid soap; 1,972 kitchen sized packs of liquid soap, disinfectants and 127 numbers of women and unisex hand bags.

“We will be going into bigger scale production but we came to show you what we have started doing since you created this opportunity for us by encouraging us and getting us the money” leader of the IDPs, Musa Ali Gwoza, told Shettima.

Impressed by what he saw, the governor ?immediately said that after their products are certified by control agencies, they would become major features in public hospitals, schools and other Government establishments so as to increase their capacity and the economy of the state and to encourage other IDPs and residents to become productive.

“You have just made my day. This is the kind of progress I love to see. You are all internally displaced persons but rather than fold your arms and wait for aide, you chose to be productive using your talents.

“I encouraged you because you deserve it. I don’t know if you have gotten products certificates but I can see you are already packaging. By the grace of God, after agencies like NAFDAC and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), certify your products, we will arrange for a public presentation of your products.

“I will lead the launching and the Borno State Government will make you primary suppliers of soap, detergents and disinfectants in most of our hospitals, schools and other Government establishment including this Government House so that you create jobs for others that will market and sell your products.

“I will take some of your products like these detergents and test for sanitation purpose in my office. We will try to get you some machinery that will make you produce faster and in higher numbers. I believe you are using crude methods now.

“You deserve encouragement. I want to mainly make you serve as role models to other citizens whether displaced or not,” Shettima said.

Army arrests two prominent Borno politicians over alleged links to Boko Haram

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Two prominent politicians in Borno state and a traditional ruler have been arrested by the army over suspected links to Boko Haram insurgents.

The names of the politicians are being withheld but TheCable understands that they are close associates of an APC governor.

The traditional ruler is the first son of another prominent ruler in the state.

The army previously arrested a council chairman over suspected links to the militants.

The latest arrests were confirmed by Lucky Irabor, a major general and theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, the counterinsurgency team of the army.

Irabor did not give further details.

“It is true we have arrested some people. They may be known faces. We started picking them one by one. We’re taking them now and we are still investigating them so I can’t give you any detail,” he said.

The politicians were arrested early this week by detectives and troops from Operation Lafiya Dole.

One of them, who is also an Islamic spritualist, fled the state but was arrested along Maiduguri-Jos road, sources told TheCable.

The second politician was said to be a thug (called ECOMOG) and an aide to some politicians in the state.

A military source told TheCable that more arrests will be made in the “coming days” and the information will be officially made public.

Source: The Cable

Boko Haram kills police officer in Borno

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Suspected members of the Boko Haram sect ambushed a police convoy along Kubwa highway in Damboa local government area of Borno state, on Tuesday, killing a police officer.

A source confirmed the attack to TheCable, saying it happened around 2:15pm.

Four officers, who were said to have sustained injuries in the incident, are receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri teaching hospital.

The attack comes three days after insurgents ambushed troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, escorting commercial vehicles from Maiduguri to Damboa.

Two soldiers and eight civilians lost their lives in the tragic incident, while vehicles were reportedly hijacked and driven into Sambisa forest.

Boko Haram renewed its attacks on security operatives after camp Zairo, its stronghold in Sambisa forest, was taken over by troops.

Many had said capturing of the camp signified the end of insurgency.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information, had said Zairo is to Boko Haram what Aso Rock means to Nigeria, emphasisng its importance in defeating members of the sect.

“Camp Zairo might occupy probably one kilometre out of 60,000 kilometres expanse of Sambisa, but it is so crucial to us in this war,” he had said.

“It is like imagining that there is a war and the Villa is captured. That is the essence of camp zairo.

“It is not the extent of physical expanse but that we struck at the very heart of insurgency and it does not mean the end of the campaign in Sambisa forest.”

Boko Haram attack Borno village, abduct 7 women, kill 3 residents – Police

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members on Monday abducted about seven women and killed three other persons when they attacked a village in the southern part of Borno State, witnesses and the police have said.

The incident took place in Ndagu Village of Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

Ndagu village is located near Alagarno, a place that was once known as spiritual headquarters of Boko Haram and was said to have been recently liberated by troops of the Nigeria military.

A leader of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, in Borno state, Abbas Gava, informed PREMIUM TIMES that he received a report from one of his colleagues in Askira-Uba Local Government Area that Ndagu in Lassa district came under massive attack by Boko Haram.

Mr. Gava said he was briefed by the Commander of VGN in Askira-Uba, Hamidu Wampana, that many of the residents fled into the jungle when the gunmen set the whole village on fire.

“At about 5.40 p.m. on Monday, Boko Haram group entered Ndagu Village near Lassa, and killed four persons, burnt houses and took away car,” he said.

“We learnt that soldiers of the 115 Battalion and our vigilante operatives have gone on the trail of the terrorists”.

A resident of the attacked village, Ibrahim Askira, said villages and communities in that area have recently been constantly attacked by Boko Haram insurgents who would in most cases loot their food stores.

He said after the attack on Monday, many women were found missing and may have been abducted by the gunmen.

“As I speak with you now, many people who fled to the bush have not returned”, said Mr. Askira.

“We are not sure what has happened to the missing villagers but the gunmen also took away many women, whose number we cannot ascertain yet.

“The people in our village are completely traumatised due to this attack, we cannot be sure of our safety the next night.

“I call on the security agents to be more proactive in dealing with these Boko Haram boys. If the security leave us like this, they will finish us”, he said.

Askira is one of the Borno communities bordering the notorious Alagarno, the erstwhile spiritual headquarters of Boko Haram. It is also not far away from Sambisa forest.

The Borno State Police Commissioner confirmed the attack.

“From the information we have, the attack took place three days ago”, said the CP. And the intelligence gathered was that 7 women were abducted and three persons were also killed. Most of the villagers fled but their houses were completely razed down by fire which the attackers use to set them abkaze”.

He said he has dispatched a team from the commands Criminal Investigation Department to go and ascertain the details of what actually happened.

Source: Premium Times

Borno government, UNICEF open school for 4000 displaced kids

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Borno State government has in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) established a temporary learning centre for over 4000 displaced children from Mafa and Jere local government areas of the state.

The school is expected to host the multitude of children that were forced by Boko Haram insurgency to abandon their classes in the past six years.

Mafa local government area is about 45km away from Maiduguri. It is one of the most attacked areas in Borno State.

Most of the children, aged between three and 15, were either forced out of schools or have not had the opportunity to be enrolled.

PREMIUM TIMES visited the newly opened IDP camp schools located in Muna Custom area, at the outskirts of Maiduguri, where the apparently enthusiastic children were seen reciting the English letters and alphabets.

Most of the children who were rescued from remote villages never had any contact with agencies like schools and hospitals.

Lawan Sale, the education secretary of Mafa Local government and one of the local education secretaries in charge of managing the schools, said giving the kids a space to learn comes as a huge relief.

“The partnership with UNICEF to develop and educate our displaced children will go a long way in shaping and securing the future of troubled state,” he said.

“We have no excuse other than providing qualitative teachers to teach the thousands of children in the new camp schools, because 95 percent of the children in this school particularly come from Mafa local government which is just 45km away from Maiduguri, Borno state.”

Chester Shaba, an Education Specialist for UNICEF at the Maiduguri field office, said the idea about UNICEF collaborating with the state government to provide temporary learning space for the kids was like an afterthought.

“Initially we did not consider it necessary because the children are in the camp on temporary bases,” he said.

“But now that we see that they will be here for a long time, they need to be provided with all their rights; and one of their basic rights is the right to education.

“We anticipate registering over 4000 children; right now, in just two days, we have reached a target of over 2000 children.”

He said while UNICEF takes charge of opening the schools, the state government, through the State Universal Education Board (SUBEB), shoulders the task deploying qualified teachers to assist military educators that initiated the learning center in the first place.

Mr. Chester said the need to build more classrooms becomes imperative as the kids have already overcrowded the ten makeshift classrooms.

Jam-packed in the improvised classes and seated on plastic mats that were spread on dusty floors, most of the children, without shoes on their legs, saw themselves as future doctor and teachers.

“I want to be a teacher like her,” Fanna Alhaji said, pointing at her female tutor.

Asked why she wanted to become a teacher, the 10-year-old girl said she just wanted to be like the female teacher, Aishatu Abubakar, who was loaned from the Borno state UBE.

Another child, Yarka Bachilla, a boy, said he had never been to a western or Quranic school before Boko Haram sent him and his family fleeing their razed community, Zengede, in Mafa local government. But he wants to be a doctor.

According to the International Organization on Migration (IOM) data, at least 2.1 million persons, mostly women and children, in northeast Nigeria have been displaced by the six years of Boko Haram’s insurgency.

A UNICEF record indicate that of 1.4 million children have been displaced by Boko Haram insurgency, which has denied them access to education for years.

Boko Haram: 75 NSCDC Personnel Killed In Borno In 2016 – Officials

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Borno Command of the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps says 75 personnel of the command were killed while 15 were declared missing in action in the year 2016.

The Commandant of the Corps, Ibrahim Abdullahi, told journalists in a news conference that the officers were killed in separate attacks in Gwoza and Gamboru Ngala in the Boko Haram insurgency.

“We have alerted our sister agencies on the issues while the NSCDC national headquarters have assisted the families of the bereaved.” he said.

Abdullah noted that about 19 area offices belonging to the NSCDC across the state were completely destroyed by Boko Haram.

His words: “We will deploy additional 500 personnel in liberated LGA’s. We have already deployed 100 to Dikwa; we are preparing 30 for Monguno, while 20 of our men were drafted for Nganzai local government area.”

“Some of them are already in Chibok and Askira Uba local government areas.” Abdullahi stated.

Abdullahi said those deployed include the Anti-riot Squad, Bomb Detection and Disposal Unit as well as Intelligence and Detective Unit of the command.

Source: Channels TV

President Buhari regrets accidental bombing of civilians in Borno

Posted on January 18, 2017 by Staff Reporter

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the accidental bombing of humanitarian workers and civilians in Borno state as “a regrettable operational mistake”.

He expressed regret at the tragedy, saying the federal government would lend a hand to the Borno state government in attending to it.

Lucky Irabor, theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, had disclosed the incident to journalists in Borno state on Monday.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has received with deep sadness and regret, the accidental bombing of a civilian community in Rann, Borno State, by the Nigerian air force, engaged in the final phase of mopping up insurgents in the north-east,” Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, said in a statement issued on Monday.

“President Buhari condoles with families of the dead, wishes the wounded divine succour, leading to full recovery, and sympathises with the Borno state government.

“The president pledges federal help for the state government in attending to ‘this regrettable operational mistake’, and pleads for calm, even as he prays God to grant repose to the souls of the dead.”

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), one of the humanitarian non-governmental organisations whose workers were killed in the accident, condemned the “large-scale attack” and implored the military to immediately facilitate the evacuation and treatment of survivors.

“This large-scale attack on vulnerable people who have already fled from extreme violence is shocking and unacceptable,” Jean-Clément Cabrol, its director of operations, said.

Nigerian Army Release 257 Cleared Boko Haram Terrorists In Borno

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Theatre Commander of the Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Lucky Irabor, has released 257 screened and cleared suspected Boko Haram terrorists to the Borno state government.

The handing over exercise, took place during the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration held at the Ramat square Maiduguri, Borno State.

This was revealed in a statement signed by the Deputy Director Army Public Relations (7 Division), Colonel Mustapha Anka, the force.

Meanwhile, the State Governor, Alhaji Shettima Kashim, in his remarks, called on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of tolerance and understanding while pursuing their daily endeavors.

According to him, this would help in averting misunderstandings, which he said could accumulate to full blown war and destruction of lives and properties.

Shettima, who was represented by the Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Usman Durkwa, said the Federal Government is mindful of dangers associated with military service; especially in the case of those who had to pay the supreme prize or suffer permanent disabilities in the course of defending the sovereignty of the nation.

“We as government are mindful of your sacrifices to the nation and we will continue to assist the Legion in any way we can.”

He also used the occasion to commend the effort of security agencies in the current security challenges facing the northeast region of the country, while assuring them of the government’s support.

Furthermore, he urged Nigerians to always support the veterans, departed heroes as well as their families.

President Muhammadu Buhari, also commended troops serving within Nigeria and across Africa, for their sacrifice for the country and the continent.

The highlight of the event was the laying of wreath in commemoration of the fallen heroes by Mr Durkwa, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the Shehu of Borno, military and para-military commanders, as well as the Chairman Nigerian Legion, Borno state chapter.

The guests also visited the Military Cemetery at Maimalari Cantonment, where prayer, was offered for the repose of the fallen Heroes.

They then proceeded to the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital for a sympathy visit to wounded soldiers.

The ceremony, is the first since the emergence of insurgency in the State.

BREAKING: Borno State Government bans prostitution, sale of alcohol.

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Staff Reporter

As part of its efforts to curtail criminality and social vices, the the Borno government has announced the ban on the sale of alcohol and prostitution in the state.

The Commissioner of Justice, Alhaji Kakashehu Lawan, made the announcement while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Maiduguri.

He said that mobile courts would be set up to try violators of the new law.

“The sale of alcohol is hereby banned throughout the state with effect from Jan. 20.

“All brothels and other spots where prostitution, immoral activities, sale and consumption of illicit drugs take place are hereby banned with immediate effect,” he said.

The commissioner however explained that military and paramilitary formations across the state are exempted from the ban.

“Military and paramilitary formations (Mammy Markets are exempted as provided by the liquor business (prohibition) law 2000.

“Those engaged in the activities above particularly in Galadima, Gamboru, Moduganari, Wulari, Hot Bite, Baga Road, Mairi, London Ciki, Artellery and along Giwa Barracks are hereby warned to take note,” he said.

Lawan called on owners of unregistered chemists and patent medicine stores to register their outfits or be made to face the wrath of the law.

“All unregistered chemists and patent medicine stores are hereby warned to properly get registered with in two weeks from today or be forced to close down.

“Government will not tolerate a situation where unregistered or unlicensed persons engage in such business that directly touches on the health of the citizenry,’’ he said.

Boko Haram: UN fires back at Borno governor over allegations on misuse of funds

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Edward Kallon, the UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator to Nigeria, has refuted Borno Gov. Kashim Shettima’s allegations of under-performance and misuse of funds against UN agencies in the North-East.

Mr. Kallon said during a courtesy visit to the Executive Director of Victims Support Fund (VSF), Sunday Ochoche, on Wednesday in Abuja, that UN agencies had scaled up their presence and assistance in the area.

According to him, UN agencies have currently reached over 2 million people with humanitarian assistance as against barely 100,000 people as at October 2016.

“The challenges are enormous but there has been a lot of progress on humanitarian response since October 2016 when I assumed duty as the UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP resident Representative to Nigeria.

“Before I came, the international community was barely reaching 100,000; however, in December, humanitarian assistance was reaching over 1 million families,” he said.

“Presently, humanitarian assistance is reaching about two million people in the North-East; there has been a huge progress so far.

“The UN system is an accountable system and if we receive a request from the Governor of Borno on what we are bringing in and what is being spent we would give that information.

“Such information is not hidden.’’

Mr. Shettima had on Tuesday attacked UN organisations and over 100 nongovernmental in the north-east, accusing them of misusing funds meant for people displaced by Boko Haram crisis.

He singled out UNICEF for rebuke, but also praised eight organisations for their efforts.

On allegations of misuse of funds, the UNDP representative described it as unfair as the operations in the North-East were being executed at a cost which must be met.

He explained that respective UN agencies had the moral obligation of ensuring the security and safety of its staff in the country.

The UNDP Chief therefore advised the Federal Government and relevant authorities at all levels no to politicise the role and response of the UN and international communities in the North-East.

Mr. Kallon advised government agencies to ensure the accountability of government funds being contributed to the efforts in the North-East.

According to him, his principal goal is to ensure coordination among stakeholders in the field through effective synergy.

He applauded VSF for its role in the reconstruction efforts in the North-East towards rebuilding public and personal structures as well as rebuilding lives and livelihoods.

Mr. Kallon said the UN had launched a humanitarian response plan, where it is requesting a million dollars to provide humanitarian assistance to over 5.6 million people affected by the conflict in North-East.

Responding, Mr. Ochoche thanked the UNDP chief for his efforts so far since he assumed duty.

He said the challenges in the North-East were beyond one agency or government to manage, adding that partnership and collaboration were inevitable moving forward.

Mr. Ochoche said the fund was focusing on addressing the crises around health, social services, education and economic empowerment of women.

According to him, VSF has been supporting the safe return of IDPs and rehabilitating those trapped in Boko Haram enclaves back to their communities.

Mr. Ochehe urged Kallon to collaborate with the state government as Shettima’s allegations could be due to a mild miscommunication.

Shettima asks UNICEF to leave Borno, accuses it of exploiting IDPs

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Kashim Shettima, Borno state governor, has accused UNICEF and some aids group in north-east of spending money meant for the victims of Boko Haram insurgency.

Telling the aid agencies “exploiting” the crisis to leave the region, Shettima told journalists in Maiduguri, the state’s capital, that only eight of 126 registered agencies in the state had “truly assisted” internally displaced persons (IDPs).

He listed the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Danish Refugee Council among the few organisations that were doing a good job.

UNICEF recently launched a campaign to raise N1 billion for those facing starvation in the region.

According to the organisation, over five million people in the crisis-torn region are starving, while 100,000 children are at risk of dying.

But President Muhammadu Buhari accused the UNICEF of exaggerating the crisis in the state in order to more funds.

Army recover corpses of 15 soldiers, officer declared missing in action in Borno

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army said it had recovered corpses of “one officer and 15 soldiers’’ earlier declared “Missing in Action” during an operation to dislodge the Boko Haram insurgents from Gashigar Area in Borno on Oct. 16, 2016.

The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.- Gen. Lucky Irabor, disclosed this at a weekly review of Operation Rescue Final at Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, on Wednesday.

“The corpses were recovered along Kamadugou River line area in Maiduguri.

“Among the recovered corpses was that of Lt.-Col. K Yusuf, the former Commanding Officer (CO) of 223 Tank Battalion.

“They have since been buried in Maimalari Cantonment Cemetery with full military honours,’’ Irabor said.

Boko Haram: Governor Shettima lambasts UNICEF, 126 other ‘nonperforming’ NGOs

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno has advised all “nonperforming” United Nations agencies, including UNICEF, and 126 other nongovernmental organisations to leave the state for alleged failure to justify the funds they claim to be expending on persons displaced by Boko Haram insurgency.

Short of calling the groups thieves, the governor said most of the NGOs were using funds released to them for servicing only their overheads and personnel costs.

He accused them of enriching selves in the name of providing service to victims of Boko Haram in his state.

Mr. Shettima said of the 126 NGOs that have mobilised to the state, only about eight were actually providing humanitarian services to the displaced persons.

He specifically singled out UN agencies for bashing when he said they were in the habit of using large portion of the money meant for providing for IDPs to fund their logistic needs.

The governor said he would no longer tolerate the presence of NGOs that were in the habit of “using the name of Borno to make money and enrich themselves”.

The governor said the UN system would announce millions of dollars as intervention for victims of Boko Haram, but more than half of what was released would end up being used for recurrent spending of the humanitarian agencies.

Mr. Shettima said he was fed-up hearing the UN’s rhetoric and had decided to take tackle his problems on his own.

“We have the list of all NGOs operating in this state; apart from the officially functioning NGOs,” he said.

“Some of the United Nations agencies are doing their best in their own way of doing things; but to me I am not satisfied.

“The huge chunk of what they are budgeting for Borno goes to service their overheads. I, as a governor don’t ride in bullet proof cars; but they spend more than $50, 000 buying bullet proof cars for themselves.

“They will construct five toilets in Gwoza and fly in helicopters more than seven times to inspect the toilets.

“We are in the post-conflict phase of insurgency era where we are concentrating on recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation. But the foreign NGOs have near fixation on the IDP camps.

He however singled out some few NGOs for commendation.

“The World Food Programme is doing a very good job,” he said.

“The ICRC is doing a very good job. We also appreciate the efforts of the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Danish Refugee council. The International Organisation for Migration is doing a good job. The UNHCR is also doing a good job.

“Apart from these eight NGOs, the rest of them are merely existing. I have a list of 126 NGOs in Borno state.

“But we hardly know what the UN agencies are doing. We only see them in some white flashy bullet proof jeeps; apart from that, we hardly see their visible impacts. But particularly the UNICEF, considering the huge quantum of funds at their disposal, they are not really trying.

“We have become a cash cow; and people are smiling their ways to the banks from the agony of our people. This is unacceptable. People that are really ready to work are very much welcome here. But people that are here on to use us to make money, may as well leave. We don’t need them, since they are only he to use us to make money.”

New Factional Shi’ite Group Uncovered in Borno

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Borno State has discovered a new factional sect of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shi’ite, in Borno, the state capital.

Commandant Ibrahim Abdullahi stated this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday.

Abdullahi said men of the command discovered the group in Kwaya Kusar local government through intelligence gathering and surveillance, adding that the group was different from the El-Zakzaky-led group.

“As part of our statutory responsibility in monitoring the activities of religious bodies in the country, we have discovered this strange group.

“When we invited the leader (names withheld), he claimed to be non-violent and that they are against the teachings of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

“But we must detest and distance ourselves from all acts of violence and illegal groups in all its manifestations under whatever guise.

“We agree that it is their fundamental right to practice their own religion, but we are not unmindful about factors that gave rise to the calamitous catastrophe which engulfed us in the recent past.”

Abdullahi added that investigations would be sustained and shared with other security agencies to forestall any breach of peace in the country.

JUST IN: Another “Big Supporter” Of Boko Haram Arrested In Borno

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Few days after the council chairman of chairman of Mafa Local Government Area, Alhaji Shettima Lawan was arrested for allegedly hiding a top member of the Boko Haram group in his home in Maiduguri, the army has confirmed the arrest of another council chairman in the state.

The Nigerian Army while confirming the arrest of Lawan on Thursday said the the Vice chairman of Kaga local government also in the state has also been arrested.

The two council officials are said to have alleged links with Boko Haram insurgents.

Maj.- Gen. Lucky Irabor, The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, made the confirmation during a news conference at the headquarters of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Maiduguri.

“All I can say is that the Chairman is a big supporter of Boko Haram.

“We heard that he harboured Boko Haram members along with his father. That he kept the Boko Haram members because the father begged him to do so.

“The Chairman was in the habit of accommodating people that had fled from the bush.

 “At some point he was valuable to us being with the Civilian JTF to fight Boko Haram. But that does not mean we cannot investigate him for a crime especially one like this.

“We have also arrested the Vice Chairman of Kaga Local Government and he is undergoing interrogation,” Irabor said.

Borno LG chairman Shettima is a ‘big supporter’ of Boko Haram – Army

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the arrest of Shettima Lawan, chairman of Mafa local government area of Borno state, describing him as a big supporter of Boko Haram.

Lucky Irabor, theatre commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, said this at a news conference in Maiduguri, on Wednesday.

He accused Lawan and his father of providing moral support for the sect.

“All I can say is that the chairman is a big supporter of Boko Haram,” he said.

“We heard that he harboured Boko Haram members along with his father. He kept the Boko Haram members because the father begged him to do so.

“The chairman was in the habit of accommodating people that had fled from the bush.

“At some point, he has been valuable to us being with the Civilian JTF to fight Boko Haram; but that does not mean we cannot investigate him for a crime like this.”

Irabor also disclosed that the vice-chairman of another local government area had been arrested

“We have also arrested the vice-chairman of Kaga Local government and he is undergoing interrogation.”

PDP Is Evil, Should And Should Be Proscribed – Kashim Shettima

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should be proscribed, saying “the party is evil.”

Shettima, who led his counterparts from Bauchi and Kano states, Mohammed Abubakar and Abdullahi Ganduje on a solidarity visit to the newly elected Tor Tiv in Makurdi, Benue State, yesterday, made the remark at Senator George Akume’s house.

Though Shettima did not elaborate on why the PDP should be proscribed, he said that if Buhari had not won the 2015 presidential election, Nigeria would have gone into extinction.

He attributed Nigeria’s woes to “PDPs 16 years of bad governance.”

While addressing a cross section of Benue people at the Government House in Makurdi, Shettima emphasised oneness among northern Nigerians in order to foster peace.

The NGF chairman further dispelled insinuation that the forum’s visit to Benue was targeted at political calculation ahead of 2019, adding that they owed nobody apology for coming to rejoice with the Tiv nation.

According to him, the NGF was in the state for the third time on solidarity visit premised on a happy note, though the previous ones were for condolences.

Responding, Governor Samuel Ortom applauded Shettima for his passionate support for Benue, especially standing with the state in its hours of trial when herdsmen unleashed terror in parts of the state.

Military Detains Borno Government Official For ‘Hiding’ Boko Haram Militant

Posted on January 3, 2017 by Staff Reporter

A serving local government chairman in Borno State, Shettima Mafa, was last week arrested and detained by the military for allegedly keeping a suspected Boko Haram militant in his Maiduguri home.

News of his arrest, which began as a rumours, suddenly generated an uproar in the state when it began to trend in the social media.

The Borno State government confirmed the incident on Sunday, describing it as a “worrisome twist” in the war against Boko Haram insurgency.

At the weekend, the news got to the media that a council chairman, whose local government was one of the strongholds of Boko Haram, was picked by the military for allegedly keeping a suspected insurgent in his house.

He was said to have been picked from his home to the military barracks. He has not been released since then.

The authorities at the 7 Division Nigeria Army, Maiduguri and those in the Theater Command of Operation Lafiya Dole, have not issued any statement to this effect.

Apparently embarrassed by the trending news about one of its most “trusted” council chairmen, the Borno government released a statement on the matter.

The statement, released by the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said the government doubted the complicity of the council chairman in the activities of Boko Haram.

The commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Usman Zanna, said the arrested council chairman had been in the forefront of assisting security operatives in the fight against Boko Haram. As such, he should not be the one being linked with the insurgents.

The Commissioner said he had to speak because his ministry supervises the chairmen of the 27 local government areas in Borno ?State.

Mr. Zanna said, his Ministry “neither questions the judgment and authority of the military nor exonerates the chairman of any wrongdoing in order not to preempt the outcome of ongoing investigation”.

“?If not because of media reports on this matter, the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs which oversees the affairs of the 27 local government areas in Borno State, would have preferred not to make public comment over a matter that is still being investigated by our competent and patriotic military establishment involved in the fight against Boko Haram.

“It has become necessary that this statement is issued in order to put some records straight. First of all, contrary to media reports, the caretaker chairman in question was not arrested. He actually reported himself to the military command in Maiduguri after he got information that he was needed by the military.

“Secondly, contrary to reports by the media that he was arrested at the 1,000 housing estate along Maiduguri-Damaturu road, there was never any issue at all at 1,000 estate. The Chairman lives at 505 housing estate, which is located on an entirely different route, along Dikwa and Mafa which is the way to the Chairman’s office in Mafa.

“The Chairman actually reported himself to the military last week and was detained pending the outcome of ongoing investigations being conducted by the military.

“While we do not intend to question the intelligence gathering, judgment and authority of the military, to us at the Ministry for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, the whole development is a worrisome twist.

“It is a twist because, for years, the caretaker chairman has been known for his courage in joining hunters to go into front lines to battle Boko Haram fighters. His commitment in the fight against insurgents is known to different Army Commanders that served in Mafa local government area in the last two years. The likes of Major Manga can bear testimony to this. It is mainly due to his passion for the fight against insurgency that he has been successively reappointed as caretaker Chairman of Mafa for renewable term of six months as provided by laws of Borno State.

“The Chairman is also known to champion the course of citizens fleeing from communities after attacks by insurgents. From information available to the military, the Chairman recently got involved in assisting some citizens trapped in a village within his local government area and he is believed to have Internally Displaced Persons living in his residence at 505 estate like most adults in Maiduguri, Jere and parts of Konduga do have fleeing relatives and friends living with them.

“There is an information that a certain suspected member of the Boko Haram might have joined some of the citizens he helped last week but whether he knew the identity of the suspect and deliberately hid him and for whatever purpose is what we look forward to being determined by the military.

“This investigation is particularly important to us because it affects the safety and integrity of the Ministry. As we acknowledge, it would amount to sitting on a keg of gun powder if anyone dealing with the Ministry, involves in harbouring any criminal, especially insurgents that have killed our parents, wives, sons and daughters in addition to sending our families out of their communities to now live with us in pains.

“We assure citizens of the 27 local government areas; other concerned Nigerians and the International community that we are usually very thorough in identifying those appointed either as local government chairmen, ward councillors, traditional rulers, vigilantes and members of the Civilian JTF deployed to the 27 local government areas of Borno State. As can be confirmed by security agencies, we do not engage any youth as vigilante or in the Civilian JTF unless he or she is verified by the Department of State Security in addition to fingerprints and photographs of everyone captured into a database.

“We anxiously look forward to the outcome of the investigation while we shall abide by publicly known position of Governor Kashim Shettima that anyone found having any connection with insurgents is an enemy of Borno State and it’s people,” Mr. Zanna, said.

NSCDC warns against increased hypnosis, rape of teenage girls in Borno.

Posted on January 1, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Borno Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, on Sunday said some youth in Maiduguri now hypnotise teenage girls with drugs and charms in order to rape them.

The Commandant of the corps, Ibrahim Abdullahi, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Maiduguri.

Mr. Abdullahi said the command recorded three cases of rape in one week between December 20 and December 30, 2016.

“The ugly trend was reported by parents of the victims (names withheld), from Gomari Coasting, London Ciki and Jidari Polo in Maiduguri.

“The victims who are teenagers aged between 13 and 14 years old, confessed that some youths had canal knowledge of them using drugs and charms during which none of them could recall what happened.

“The command also conducted a medical examination on the girls which revealed that there was a serious penetration while the others were confirmed to be pregnant.

“The three girls recalled that they were abducted in a tricycle before they were taken to separate location where they were raped.

“We, therefore, call on parents to ensure proper upbringing of their children and wards, and monitor their movements.

“No arrest has been made so far, but the command will work tirelessly to bring the culprits to book,” the commandant said.

We Are Working Hard To Rescue Other Chibok Girls, Shettima Says.

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Hopes of the parents of the yet to be rescued Chibok girls have been raised, as the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, reassures them that the government is doing everything possible to ensure the return of their daughters.

Over 200 girls were abducted by members of Boko Haram Islamic sect on April 14, 2014.

Since their abduction, less than 70 of them have been rescued, with the last set, 21 of them, spending the Christmas season in their hometown, Chibok.

The girls on Monday spent time with Governor Shettima in Chibok town, where they were taken from their school’s dormitory over two years ago.

Their freedom is an outcome of negotiations with the insurgents brokered by International mediators.

The 21 girls have been in custody of the Federal Government in Abuja and their visit to Chibok saw huge presence of armed soldiers and officials of the Department of State Security who remained their strict guards throughout their stay.

Nothing Is Too Much

The girls appeared excited meeting Governor Shettima again after they had met him in Abuja days after their freedom from Boko Haram’s captivity.

Governor Shettima told the girls that with their cheerful mood, the next concern had to be their future.

“As you know, 56 of your colleagues who escaped abduction are currently in two international schools where they have been since 2014.

“We are taking care of all their educational needs from school fees to other basics.

“Left to me, I would want the 21 of you to join them in those two schools so that you can all feel at home and move on.

“However, the Federal Government has a plan which we will jointly discuss and come up with a decision that is acceptable to you our daughters.

“President Muhammadu Buhari loves you so much and he is deeply concerned about our daughters that are yet to be freed. He is working on that and we are all working” Shettima said.

Consoling parents whose daughters are yet to be rescued, Governor Shettima said all hands are on deck to ensure the return of all the girls.

“Nothing is too much for these girls and their parents.

“They have suffered too much and deserve our support” the Governor said.

The happy girls presented a gift of a medium size photo frame with a bold ‘THANK YOU’ printed on it to the Governor. ?

The frame has pictures the Governor took with the girls when he visited them in Abuja months back. The frame also has individual pictures of each of the 21 girls.

Glory Dama, one of the 21 girls, presented the photo frame on behalf of her colleagues. She said they deeply appreciate the show of love by Governor Shettima and his wife, Nana Shettima.

Shettima: This is the best #Christmas I’ve witnessed

Posted on December 27, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno state, has described the Christmas of 2016 as the best he has witnessed since his assumption of office over five years ago.

Speaking at the reopening of some major highways in the state, Shettima said 2016 signalled “Nigeria’s year of victory and Borno year of hope and liberation’’.

The highways are Maiduguri-Gubio-Damasak and the Maiduguri-Monguno-Baga roads.

“I want start by declaring that since I became the governor of Borno state in over five years, this is the best Christmas season that I have ever witnessed,” he said.

“This is the best December we ever witnessed and the year 2016 is my best year so far as governor of Borno state. 2016, for me is Nigeria’s year of victory and Borno year of hope and resurrection.

“It is in 2016 that we began to have access to major roads like Gwoza, Bama, Dikwa,Monguno and Damasak, following their liberation by our gallant armed forces.

“It is in the year 2016 that major highways began to be reopened, it is in the year 2016 that we accelerated our major reconstruction of liberated cities.”

He also said not only were some of the Chibok abducted school girls recovered in the year, the country established its supremacy over the Sambisa forest, a stronghold of Boko Haram.

“It is in the year 2016 that we recovered some of our daughters abducted at Government Secondary School, Chibok in 2014,” he said.

“And fellow Nigerians, it is in the year 2016 that the Federal Republic of Nigeria established its supremacy over the Sambisa headquarters of the Boko Haram (terrorists).

“For the government and people of Borno that there is no better Christmas and New Year gift that is more precious than the conquering of Sambisa forest by our gallant armed forces.”

Borno Earmarks N13 Billion To Rebuild Liberated Communities

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Borno State has allocated N13, 020, 133.985.00 to the newly established Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (MRRR) for massive reconstruction and rehabilitation of destroyed towns and villages, including critical infrastructures in liberated communities.

Governor Kashim Shettima disclosed this yesterday in Maiduguri, after presenting next year’s N183.84 billion budget to the House of Assembly. He said the MRRR has become the focal ministry for the post Boko Haram insurgency reconstruction efforts of his government towards returning the 1.6 million IDPs on or before May 29, 2017.

Shettima said: “We invested huge sums of money towards the completion of all on-going projects and rehabilitation of public structures and in the process provided employment for over 2, 000 youths.

“This was done through extensive collaboration with international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in the state.‘’Government had specifically undertaken the reconstruction of 41 public infrastructures at Dikwa, Mainok and Mainta Kururi, Model Villages.

“We have also provided temporary shelter in collaboration with humanitarian organisations in Bama, Mafa, Damboa, Gwoza and Konduga among others,” said Shettima.

On ongoing reconstruction projects, he said: “Reconstruction efforts are on-going in eight council areas of Bama, Gwoza, Askira Uba, Chibok, Mafa, Damboa, Hawul.

He said commercial activities have begun to pick-up even in communities hitherto over-run by the insurgents.To overcome the challenges of feeding returnee IDPsgovernment will distribute rice and other food items in 27 council areas of the state by January next year.

http://guardian.ng/news/borno-earmarks-n13-billion-to-rebuild-liberated-communities/

No time for rest until Boko Haram is defeated – Brig-Gen. Victor Ezugwu

Posted on December 17, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 7 Division of the Nigerian Army,Brig-Gen. Victor Ezugwu, has said there would be “no enjoyment for soldiers” in the Theatre Command until Boko Haram is defeated and peace restored to the Northeast region of the country.

Ezugwu gave the charges yesterday while decorating four promoted Colonels and three Brigadier Generals at the Officers’ Mess of Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.

The GOC also denied that troops protested yesterday in Bama, as reported by online media, saying he returned in a helicopter yesterday morning from the 212 Armoured Brigade in Bama.

He said if there were any protests by the troops, he would be the first person or the military commanding officer on ground (Bama) from Maiduguri to meet the protesting soldiers.

He stated that the spread of such rumours in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram insurgency are the makings of sympathizers of the terrorists, who do not want the war to end.

Ezugwu said the officers’ promotions by the Nigerian Army was a reward of excellence and their performances in the Theatre Command in fighting insurgency to the finish.

“This is a big day for you, and you should ensure that the remnants of insurgents in the Sambisa Forest and Northern Borno State are cleared, so as to restore peace in the affected region,” he told the affected troops.

He said that to achieve this, the soldiers in the frontlines and Sambisa Forest should double their efforts in clearing the remnants of all Boko Haram insurgents, adding: “Clear all the remnants of these insurgents before you commence enjoying your promotions in the Nigerian Armed Forces.”

Dignitaries, including heads and representatives of the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Customs Services (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Nigerian Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), state Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (MRRR) and decorated military
officers donated N2.86 million at the occasion.

JUST IN: Gunshots, confusion in Borno as soldiers fighting Boko Haram go on rampage

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Staff Reporter

There is a complete breakdown of order and discipline at the 21 Brigade of the Nigerian Army with soldiers deployed to rout Boko Haram from the dreaded Sambisa Forest in Borno State turning against their officers and firing gunshots in all directions.

People familiar with the matter said the troops complained of mistreatment and then began to shoot indiscriminately, threatening to kill any officer who stands on their way.

“The brigade is based in Bama but is currently deployed at Bula Bello in Sambisa for Operation Rescue Final,” a military insider told PREMIUM TIMES.

“But suddenly soldiers started mutinying at 6AM today, firing in all directions and threatening to pull out of the operation.

“As some of them fire gunshots, some started preparing vehicles to move out of location. They also warned officers to steer clear or they would be shot dead.

“They are saying their commanders have been treating them badly and telling them lies. As I speak to you, the firing is still going on, and there is confusion everywhere.”

The commander of the Brigade, Col AG Laka, could not immediately be reached to comment for this story.

The Nigerian Army is yet to issue a statement on the incident.

Contacted, the spokesperson for the Army, Sani Usman, a brigadier general, declined comment on the development.

There have been repeated cases of mutiny by Nigerian soldiers since the war against Boko Haram began, and the Army has tried over 100 soldiers for the offence.

The worst case occurred in May 2014 when troops of 7 Division, angered by the death of 12 of their colleagues in a Boko Haram ambush, opened fire on the vehicle of their General Officer Commanding (GOC), Major General Ahmadu Mohammed.

The soldiers were later arrested, tried and jailed.

FG Confirms Discovery Of Crude Oil In Borno

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The federal government yesterday confirmed the discovery of crude oil in Borno State, North East Nigeria, thus raising the hope of the region joining the league of oil producing areas in the not-too-distant time.

The disclosure was made by the permanent secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Jamila Shua’ra, when she presented her welcome address at the presentation of the 2016 petroleum sector scorecard held at the auditorium of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PDF) in Abuja yesterday.

She brandished the discovery of crude oil in Borno State as one of the achievements of the ministry during the year, saying, “Our doggedness culminated in the discovery of oil in new frontiers – Lagos and Borno.”

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).

He noted that the measures will boost additional investments and raise daily production levels to about 2.8 million barrels per day (mbpd) in the long-run.

On his part, the minister of state for petroleum resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, revealed that one of the fallouts of the removal of petroleum subsidy was the decline of the nation’s daily consumption of the premium motor spirit (PMS), from the 50 million litre per day (mlpd) previously to the current figure 28mlpd.

Credit:

http://leadership.ng/news/cover-stories/564094/fg-confirms-discovery-of-crude-oil-in-borno

Borno government want IDPs’ food items thieves jailed

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima has said those who were arrested for the diversion of bags of rice meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) will be prosecuted.

Shettima was quoted in a statement issued by his spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau.

Shettima in the statement ordered the commissioner of police to expedite action on the prosecution of the suspects.

Some IDPs had arrested an official of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency over theft of food items in Bakassi camp on Tuesday.

There had also been reports of the police arresting official who were involved in diversion of relief materials.

The statement read: “Governor Shettima approved funds for the food stuff at the IDPs camp and he is deeply pained by this development. The Governor regards any attempt to divert food meant for IDPs as a crime against humanity which must not go unpunished. The Governor has promptly asked the Commissioner of Police in Borno State to expedite action that should ensure the prosecution of anyone arrested whether officials or anybody at all, in order to secure conviction by the court.

“The Governor has told the Commissioner of Police not to entertain any plea from any quarter at all. The Governor would like the court sentence, if secured at the court, to serve as warning to whoever might be engaged in shortchanging citizens who live in trauma having lost their loved ones, means of livelihood and their homes as a result of violent attacks by insurgents.

“The Governor assures internally displaced persons that his administration will continue to take measures that would enhance their welfare. As part of these measures, the Bakassi IDP camp where the incident was said to have occurred, has between 3 to 4 Divisional Police Officers of the respective local government areas living at the camp. The idea of having D.P.Os and policemen living at IDP camps was part of measures introduced by Governor Shettima since 2014 in order to maximize security of lives and property as well as the protection of human rights across all IDPs camps and other parts of Borno State.”

Borno IDPs get ECOWAS $1.4m gift

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Economic Community of West African States has made a donation of $1.4m to the internally displaced persons in Borno State.

Also, the National Emergency Management Agency has given out building materials for the construction of houses destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents in the troubled state.

The West African regional economic body handed over the donation in two separate cheques of $1m and $0.4m to the Borno State Government with instructions that the funds should be used to procure relief materials for the IDPs.

Presenting the cheques on Sunday to the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, the ECOWAS President, H.E. Marcel de Souza, said they were in Borno to share the feelings and concerns of the IDPs and refugees in Nigeria and pledged to do everything possible to support them.

The Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Sani Sidi, who brought the ECOWAS boss to the Borno State Governor, also handed over foods and building materials, including 2600 bundles of roofing sheet, 2500 pieces of ceiling boards, 350 bags of 3 inches nails and 350 packets of zinc nails to assist the government in the ongoing effort of reconstructing houses in Bama, Hawul and Gamboru-Ngala communities destroyed by insurgency.

The other things presented by NEMA were 3,600 bags of rice, 1,400 bags of beans and 1,000 bags of millet.

Receiving the items, the Borno State Governor appreciated NEMA for the continued support to the IDPs and ECOWAS for the donations and assured them that the items would get to the beneficiaries.

Borno govt to employ 5,000 teachers – Commissioner

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Borno Government on Tuesday said it would employ 5,000 teachers to improve the quality of education in the state.

The Commissioner for Education in the state, Inuwa Kubau, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

Mr. Kubau said the effort would boost quality of education and resuscitate the lost glory of the education sector in the state

He said the teachers would be employed to teach Mathematics, Physics, history, English, Hausa, Arabic language.

“Newly introduced subjects such as civic education, computer studies and trade also need specialized teachers.

“Gov.Kashim Shettima has accorded priority to the education sector since the beginning of this administration.

“While the sector has suffered great setback following attack on schools by Boko Haram insurgency across the state, the government has remained resilient and determined to revolutionise it.

“In line with this determination, the government has introduced free feedings to boost enrollment of students.

“The government has also introduced 120 shuttle buses to be transporting pupils to school. Already, 20 buses are operating in Maiduguri metropolis and Jere Local Government Area.

“The remaining 100 buses will be deployed to other 25 local government areas as soon as normalcy returned in the state,” Mr. Kubau said.

The Commissioner urged parents to senf their children to school, and appealed to humanitarian agencies to sensitise parents on the need to send their children to school.

“We also urge them to assist our teachers, especially those in difficult areas,” he said.

Nigerian troops, Boko Haram in fierce battle in Borno, many killed, several injured

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A yet unknown number of Boko Haram fighters were reported killed on Sunday after Nigerian troops returned fire in response to an attack on its location by armed terrorists in the Kangarwa area of Borno State.

People familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES the terrorists attacked troops of the 119 Task Force Battalion at about 4 P.M. on Sunday, shooting sporadically.

Nigerian soldiers responded promptly, killing an unknown number of Boko Haram fighters, and wounding several others.

One of our sources said at least 13 bodies of terrorists were counted after calm was restored. He said several other members of the sect escaped with “serious gunshot wounds”.

“We are sure most of those who fled with wounds will die eventually,” the source said.

One soldier however died during the battle while three others were wounded.

Military insiders said the attack was so intense that the army had to call for air support.

“The Nigerian Air Force responded promptly by dispatching two aircraft in support of ground forces,” one source said.

As the air force rained bullets from the air, the insurgents fled in different directions abandoning some weapons, insiders said.

Two Hilux vans belonging to the sect were destroyed while several weapons, including artillery guns, Ak-47 rifles machine guns and pump action guns were recovered.

The attack came five days after troops of 25 Task Force Brigade advancing to clear Boko Haram terrorists around the Sambisa Forest ran into two Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) at Matube.

An official said one IED was successfully detonated while the other exploded and killed a soldier.

The remains of the soldier was evacuated to the headquarters of the brigade in Damboa, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

Borno Records 512 New HIV Cases in IDPs’ Camps

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Executive Secretary, Borno Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Malam Barkindo Saidu, says 512 new cases of HIV infections have been recorded in Internally Displaced Persons camps in the state.

He spoke on Sunday in Maiduguri while briefing journalists.

Saidu said that the cases were recorded after voluntary screening in some IDPs’ camps in the state.

He pointed out that two out of the 512 persons were children.

“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.

He said that the state had witnessed rising cases of the virus due largely to the Boko Haram terrorism.

“Currently, 2.4 per cent of the population of the state are living with HIV and 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 antiretroviral centres have closed,” Saidu said.

He explained that only 32 out of the 90 antiretroviral 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.

NAN

Borno records 512 new HIV cases in IDP camps

Posted on December 4, 2016 by Staff Reporter

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The Executive Secretary, Borno Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, BOSACA, Barkindo Saidu, says 512 new cases of HIV infections have been recorded in Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps in the state.

He spoke on Sunday in Maiduguri while briefing journalists.

Mr. Saidu said that the cases were recorded after voluntary screening in some IDP camps in the state.

He pointed out that two out of the 512 persons were children.

“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,” Mr. Saidu said.

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

Mr. Saidu 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 are 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,” Mr. Saidu said.

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

5,000 IDPs living with HIV/AIDS in Borno – official

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Staff Reporter

No fewer than 5,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 27 camps in Borno are currently living with HIV/AIDS.

Mr. Hassan Mustapha, the Coordinator on HIV/AIDS in Borno, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri on Thursday.

He said that most of the patients were women who were rescued from captivity in Boko Haram camps.

The coordinator, however, said that some of those affected were not effectively accessing antiretroviral therapy because of stigmatization.

He lamented that many of them had died of the scourge because they were not properly counselled and sensitized on the need to enroll under the HIV/AIDS control programme.

“We have more than 1,000 patients in Bama camp and 3,000 in Gwoza camp while over 1,000 others are taking refuge in the host communities.

“We have heard of many supporting NGOs in Borno but none of them has approached us to offer assistance to the IDPs living with the virus.

“The IDPs living with such ailment are constantly challenged; they do not go out to access drugs.

“Most of them are shy while some are afraid to be identified by others as carriers.

“They sometimes complain to us that they are not allowed to go out of the camp to access drugs in other centers.

“The honest truth is that government is not paying priority attention to the plight of such persons,” said Mustapha.

Borno IDP camps will be closed by May 2017 – Shettima

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Governor of Borno Kashim Shettima, says all Internally Displaced Person camps in the state would be closed down by May 29, 2017.

Shettima said this on Friday in Maiduguri while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria.

He said the government was working hard to rebuild towns destroyed by the Boko Haram terrorists to ensure speedy return of the displaced persons to their homes.

“We have reconstructed Bama by 25 per cent; my target is to reach 50 per cent by the end of this year and 75 per cent by first quarter of 2017.

“I want to close down all IDP camps latest May 29, 2017, because the IDP camps are becoming a huge problem on their own.

“If we allow the entrenchment of these IDP camps, they are pregnant with loads of challenges of early child marriage, prostitution, drug abuse, gangsterism.

“And we will be confronted with huge social challenges of an entitlement complex of people feeling that they are entitled to be catered for.

“So in as much as we observe the Kampala Convention, we will not compel anybody to return to their communities.

“But we know our people better than any other person, and it is not for somebody sitting in Abuja, Paris, London, US and any other places to dictate to us on how we should live our lives.

“Our people, in spite of their poverty, still have some pride left in them, a lot of them will rather go back to their communities and eat guinea corn and millet than to eat your rice and chicken in the IDP camps.

“This is why we want to restore the dignity of our people by rebuilding their homes, rebuilding their schools, engaging them in gender empowerment initiatives so as to enable them return back to their homes, ” Shettima said.

Army hands over 316 rustled cows to Borno government.

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday handed over 316 cows suspected to have been rustled by the Boko Haram terrorists to the Borno Government for upkeep.

Col. Mustapha Anka, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Department, handed over the cows to Alhaji Kakashehu Lawan, the Commissioner for Justice at a ceremony in Maiduguri.

Anka explained that the cows were arrested as part of investigation into alleged large scale rustling by the Boko Haram terrorists.

He said that the hand over followed a directive from the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 division of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu.

He added that Ezugwu was concerned about the condition of the cows and asked that they should be handed over to government for proper upkeep.

He said “on behalf of the 7 division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, I hereby hand over the cows to you for proper upkeep.

“The 316 cows were arrested in collaboration with some individuals in the society as part of an ongoing investigation into large scale rustling by suspected Boko Haram terrorists, ” Anka said.

He lamented that the army had challenges taking care of the cows, a development he said necessitated the need to hand the cows over to the state government for care.

“We observed that the cows were getting sick and dying due to lack of proper care, since the suspected rustlers have been taken to Abuja for investigation.

“It is based on this premise that the GOC directed that the cows be handed over to the state government for upkeep, pending the conclusion of the case.”

Receiving the cows, Lawan thanked the army for the gesture.

He said that the state government was already in possession of 150 cows, suspected to have been rustled by the terrorists.

He said “I think that today’s ceremony can be traced to a resolution of the State Security Council meeting last month which approved the taking over of 150 cows earlier arrested from suspected Boko Haram terrorists collaborators.

“The cows were kept by the 195 Battalion of the Nigerian Army before the council directed their handover to the state for proper care.”

He promised that the state government would take proper care of the cows, pending the completion of the case.

Boko Haram Terrorists’ Days Are Numbered, Army Says.

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Staff Reporter

At a press briefing in Maiduguri held on Wednesday, Major General Leo Irabor lauded the Nigerian Army for the progress it has made in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

“The troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have continued with the ongoing operations to clear the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists,” Mr. Irabor told reporters. “Since our last interaction, our troops have conducted many operations with immense successes.”

In his address to the press, Mr. Irabor summarized the past two months of the counterterrorist operation.

From 28 October to 1 November 2016, the military killed 37 Boko Haram terrorists during clearance operations in Golgore, Doksa, Ajigin, and the surrounding areas. Seven troops sustained injuries.

In Mallam Fatori, alongside the Nigeria-Niger border, troops killed 14 terrorists in a two-hour gun battle on 4 November. Unfortunately, 7 soldiers died while 3 others were wounded.

On 6 November in Kangarwa, 13 insurgents were killed. One Nigerian troop was killed in the battle, while 4 others were injured.

The major general also announced that in total, troops have rescued 5,235 people from Boko Haram insurgents.

On 5 November, soldiers dispatched to Chukungudu in the Lake Chad region rescued 85 captives and killed 5 terrorists. Troops observed that several Boko Haram fighters fled into Lake Chad.

On 19 November, troops in Ngoshe and Gara rescued 63 Boko Haram hostages, 40 of whom were women.

While Mr. Irabor said recent suicide bombings in Maiduguri were “sad and unfortunate,” he said the attacks demonstrated Boko Haram’s weakness, as only 2 CJTF personnel were killed in the attacks.

“The incidents are only indicative of a weakened and defeated Boko Haram. Their ignoble failure is destined to fail totally,” he said.

Mr. Irabor concluded the conference by calling upon civilians to remain “alert and security conscious.” He commemorated those who lost their lives to the terrorists, but assured Nigerians that Boko Haram’s “miserable days are numbered.”

Suicide Bomb Attack Kills 2 At Motorpark In Maiduguri

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Staff Reporter

An electronic message sent to newsmen by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police Victor Isuku, said the attack occurred at Muna Garage.

“About 2106hrs of 23/11/2016, an explosion occurred at Muna Garage along Gamboru-Ngala Road, Maiduguri. Two persons including the suicide bomber died on the spot,” the message stated.

It added that a Mercedes-Benz car with registration number AX 571 ABJ, which was parked by the roadside, was damaged by the impact of the explosion.

Omojuwa.Com learnt that, on Wednesday, a loud explosion was heard around Muna Garage area, which has become the epicentre of bombing.

The area has recorded a series of bomb blasts in the last month.

UN To Deliver Food, Nutrition Supports To Borno, Yobe

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The United Nations said its agencies, the World Food Programme and UNICEF are increasing food and nutrition services to urgently reach 1.8 million people in Borno and Yobe States.

Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, said at a press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday that food insecurity had reached an extreme level in northeast.

“in Nigeria, our colleagues from the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF are rolling out a rapid response mechanism to deliver food, health and nutrition services in difficult-to-reach areas in Borno and Yobe States,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the UN official as saying at the briefing.

“The two states are worst affected by hunger and malnutrition in northeastern Nigeria.

“This is part of WFP’s larger response plan – to gradually scale up to reach 1.8 million people with urgent food and nutrition support throughout 2017.”

According to him, food insecurity has reached an extreme level in parts of northeastern Nigeria, where 4.6 million people are going hungry.

“Without urgent support, hunger will only deepen.

“Since August, the number of people needing urgent food assistance has increased from about 1 million to 1.8 million in Borno and Yobe States,” he said.

Haq also said the Security Council was meeting on the cooperation between the UN and regional organisations, including the African Union.

“The Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union, Haile Menkerios, told the Council that the conflicts we face in Africa today have grown in scale and complexity,” he added.

Credit:

UN to deliver food, nutrition supports to Borno, Yobe

Many feared killed, several injured as Nigerian soldiers, Boko Haram battle in Borno

Posted on November 20, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A yet unknown number of Boko Haram fighters were reported killed and several others injured in northern Borno on Saturday as Nigerian soldiers engaged the terrorists in intense gunfight.

The battle, sources said, began after Boko Haram fighters attacked troops of the 119 Task Force Battalion stationed in Kangarwa.

The Nigerian troops gallantly fought back, killing an unknown number of the attackers and injuring several others.

Nine soldiers were however injured in battle, our sources said.

On Saturday, a patrol team from Baga which went to evacuate the injured soldiers was also ambushed.

Members of the team repelled the attack and cleared the ambush, those familiar with the matter said.

It is the sixth time the battalion would be so attacked in recent times, military insiders told PREMIUM TIMES.

The army is yet to issue an official statement on the attack.

Shiites Abandon Borno Protest After Police Threat

Posted on November 19, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A planned protest by Shiites in Borno State was shelved following a threat by the police.

Due to the relatively low popularity of the Shiite IMN in Borno State, the news of their proposed procession came as a surprise to most of the residents in Maiduguri, the state capital.

The Borno State police command later warned the Shiite group to “drop the idea of the planned procession.”

The police commissioner, Damian Chukwu, also said that embarking on the procession was illegal because the Borno State government had issued a statement banning all kinds of procession in the state.

Officials of the Borno State government, who preferred to be anonymous in this report, said they were not aware of the ban on religious processions in the Boko Haram troubled state.

The police chief warned the Shiites to adopt “lawful means of championing their cause”, and not through road processions.

“We just got information that the Shiite group is trying to embark on public procession in Maiduguri and the state government had already issued a statement banning that procession,” he said.

“I want to say that we are in support of the ban because the law banning public procession without permission is still in force.

“We know the group will always want to carry on with the procession without even trying to seek permission. We hereby advise them to please shelve the procession in the interest of peace,” he added.

Mr. Chukwu warned that the police would do everything within its constitutional powers to maintain peace in the state.

On Friday, the atmosphere was somewhat tense as police deployed its officers to all the strategic locations within Maiduguri. Anti-riot vehicles and armoured personnel carriers were moved to locations where it was suspected that the planned Shiite procession would take place.

Heavy security presence was seen at the MaiSaje Mosque, where the police intelligence indicated the IMN might kick start their protest. The same situation was noticed at the Fodiya Centre, near a spot called Yan Nono in Bulumkutu along the Kano-Maiduguri highway.

After the Jumat prayers at the MaiSaje Friday mosque, some group of young men waited to see if the protest by the Shia group would take place.

One of them, who sought anonymity for security reasons, said “we just want to see if truly they would begin the procession; we would have dispersed them by tagging them as Boko Haram members”.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/215739-shiites-abandon-borno-protest-police-threat.html

Days after the Kaduna clash, Police plot to tackle Shiites in Borno.

Posted on November 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The police in Borno State are mobilizing for a planned rally by Shiites, sources have told reporters.

A source said the police received a special intelligence report that the protest would kick-start shortly after the Friday Jumat prayer.

The protest is expected to start at two main mosques – the Mai Saje Mosque, a popular Friday mosque, centrally located in the heart of Maiduguri, and Fodiya Centre, near a spot called Yan Nono in Bulumkutu along the Kano-Maiduguri highway.

“The aim of the protest is to show their anger over the detention of their national leader and the recent clash with the police in Kano,” a police intelligence report reviewed by reporters showed.

It is not clear if the police plan to forcefully stop the protest as was done to similar Shiite marches in Abuja and Kano, but the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Damian Chukwu, according to a source, directed several units including the police mobile force and the counter terrorist unit to deploy their men to various Friday mosques within Maiduguri and other liberated communities across the state for “decisive actions to any untoward development”.

PREMIUM TIMES further learnt that the police is not taking any chance in ensuring that the proposed Shia protest does not escalate the already tense situation in the state. Mr. Chukwu had to cancel the weekly briefing with his officers as the police prepared for the Shiite protest.

Officials at the police headquarters have reported that canisters of tear gas were released at about 10.30 a.m. on Friday to be possibly used against the protesters.

Unlike several states in the northern Nigeria, Shia processions have been very rare in Borno.

The Shiites are demanding the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who has been held without trial since last December after over 300 of his followers were killed by soldiers. The army accused the Shiites of blocking a major road and plotting to kill the army chief, Tukur Buratai, an allegation the Shiites denied.

Another rally by the Shiites on Monday in Kano led to the death of at least 9 people including a police official as the police tried to stop the protesters.

Local and international rights groups and foreign countries have called on the Nigerian government to exercise caution in dealing with the Shiites.

The U.S. government on Friday issued a statement calling for “greater communication between Shia citizens and government authorities.”

UBEB recruits 5,000 teachers for five liberated Borno LGs.

Posted on November 16, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Universal Basic Education Board said it recruited about 5,000 teachers in Borno State to provide education to children in five local government areas liberated from Boko Haram insurgents.

Dalhatu Suleiman, the Deputy Director of Education, Crises Response Project of SUBEB, made this known during the launch of the 2016 state enrolment Drive Back to School in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

Suleiman said that teachers were deployed to provide basic education to 15,000 children across 301 learning centres in five local government areas of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Jere, Konduga and Benishaik, Dikwa.

Suleiman said that the programme was aimed at ensuring that all children, especially the girl-child, have access to free and compulsory basic quality education.

Suleiman said: “This programme was supported by the USAID Basic Education Programme in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Board, with a view to providing greater access and ensuring quality education among Nigerians.

“Within a period of nine months, children who don’t know how to read and write were able to do so. They can now read and write.

“We have visiting lecturers from UNIMAID, state polytechnic and college of education, who are translating our curriculum from English language to Kanuri to enable the pupils to learn faster.

“Our approach to education in Borno is therefore known as providing education in emergency.”

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of SUBEB in Borno State, Alhaji Shettima Kullima, said the campaign would go a long way in revolutionising the education sector in the state.

Kullima said that Governor Shettima had accorded topmost priority to education in spite of the strangulating insurgency.

Kullima said: “Contracts for the construction of nine model schools have been awarded; works are in a tremendous progress.

“The school feeding programmes would also commence very soon.

“Directives have been issued for the release of teachers’ pending promotion to enable to them perform their duties diligently.”

Shettima resumes construction of abandoned roads, drainages in Borno

Posted on November 16, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, has said that with relative peace and the degrading of remnants of Boko Haram sect by the military, his administration has resumed work for the construction of abandoned roads and drainage networks in Biu local government area and other communities in southern senatorial district of the state.

Shettima added that the ongoing projects for rehabilitation of township roads in Biu and the construction of 40 kilometre Miringa- Gunda road and bridges that was abandoned due to insecurity will be completed before the end of first quarter of next year.

The governor stated this when he paid courtesy visit to the Emir of Biu, Alhaji Mai Umar Mustapha Aliyu, at his palace in Biu.

Shettima represented by the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Hon. Adamu Lawan said: “The weeklong official engagement in the area, is to inspect the commencement of ongoing roads and drainage projects to ensure that quality work is not compromised.

“We are in your domain to spend at least a week to inspect projects being executed by the Borno State government through Borno Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA).

“As you are aware that this government had embarked on massive projects in your area, but due to activities of Boko Haram, the roads and drainages as well as other meaningful projects were at a point abandoned. Now that peace have returned, we have no option than to see to their completion.

“We have visited the newly acquired Quarry Plant near Kwaya Kusar Local Government Area, and the decision by government to acquire this plant became necessary, as it will reduce cost of construction of roads to at least 50 per cent. We have been to 40km Miringa- Gunda and other road projects that were abandoned to activities of insurgency, and very soon we will mobilize our people back to sites for speedy completion”.

Commanding Officer, 8 Soldiers Fatally Wounded In Ambush

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have suffered another setback in the ongoing quest to rout the Boko Haram terrorists from the North Eastern part of the country with the reported fatal injury or death of the Commanding Officer of 114 Task Force Battalion, Lt-Col. B U Umar, and eight other soldiers.

It was said that the casualty figures in the latest Boko Haram ambush could be well over eight officers and soldiers, including Umar

Sources, who could not ascertain yet whether the affected personnel were killed or survived the attacks, said that the unfortunate incidence occurred on Tuesday morning in Borno State.

“Yes. It is true as you might have heard. The unfortunate incidence happened between Bita and Piridang in Borno State but it’s not certain that they died as the CO and eight soldiers were fatally wounded with hope that they will survive the attack,” one of the sources said.

However, another source stated that the Commanding Officer who was heading towards Southern Borno with mine-resistant vehicles survived an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack only to come under heavy fire from the terrorists after stepping down to inspect the earlier explosion.

“I don’t think he made it but it’s safer to say he was fatally wounded and there were several casualties but the terrorists suffered more and all I can say is that we’re not deterred.

When contacted, the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, could not respond to several text messages and calls to either confirm or debunk the story.

Credit: thisdaylive

AfDB approves $1m to reduce malnutrition in Borno.

Posted on November 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The African Development Bank Board has approved $1 million to support the fight against malnutrition in Borno State.

The bank announced this in a statement by the Senior Communications Officer, Nigeria Country Office, Fatimah Alkali, in Abuja.

It said that the grant was approved by the executive directors of the bank as emergency assistance to support the fight against malnutrition in the state.

The statement said AfDB’s intervention would strengthen the ongoing effort by the government and partners such as UNICEF, WFP and OCHA to support the northeastern region of the country.

Alkali said: “The Bank will focus on Borno State where the situation is dire, to rationalise funds and be more efficient.

“This will contribute to reducing malnutrition rate among the most vulnerable population mainly children under five years and women of childbearing age.

“If these children are left untreated, it is envisaged that an estimated 59,320 would die.

“This intervention will augment efforts at attaining the target to reach 80 per cent of the estimated SAM cases in the region by 2017.

“Nigeria is currently in economic recession which has stretched the government’s capacity to address vulnerability; over 2.5 million children under five years are severely malnourished across the country and are nine times more likely to die than their counterparts.”

The intervention is aligned with one of the operational priorities of the bank’s 10-year strategy from 2013 to 2022.

The operational priorities of the bank are governance and accountability, which are reiterated in two of the High-5s: Feed Africa and improve the quality of life for the people of Africa.

In June, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, declared a nutrition emergency in Borno State.

The West and Central Africa Regional Food Security and Nutrition Working Group had called on the international community to respond to prevent the situation from deteriorating.

Stop your children from school, risk prosecution – Borno State

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Borno State Government on Monday said it would prosecute parents who fail to enroll their children and wards in schools.

“Any parent either out of ignorance or willingly refuses to send his child to school will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” the Borno State Attorney General/Commissioner of Justice, Alhaji Kaka-Shehu Lawan, said.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria in Maiduguri that government was already offering parents several incentives to encourage them to send their children to school.

The commissioner noted that it was lamentable that some parents still refused to send their children to school in spite of the incentives.

Lawan said, “The government has directed the Borno State Basic Education Board to mobilise all children of school age to be enrolled in schools.

“It has also invested heavily in constructing new schools and renovating those vandalised by the Boko Haram terrorists in the course of the insurgency, so as to provide a conducive atmosphere for learning.”

Lawan added that government had introduced the free school bus service and other incentives to attract children back to schools.

Boko Haram has dragged Borno 50 years back – Shettima

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Governor Kashim Shettima has said Borno State has been dragged 50 years back because of attacks on lives and property by the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The governor disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while presenting a request to the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the recognition of Borno State University.

He revealed that a total of 5,335 classrooms and other academic buildings were destroyed by insurgents in 512 primary schools, 38 secondary schools and two tertiary institutions in the state.

According to him: “Borno State has been taken 50 years backward, no thanks to the vicious Boko Haram terrorists we inherited in 2011. As we all know, hate for education is the fundamental principle of the group. This explains why they focused their attacks on educational institutions.

The NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, said the commission was working assiduously to ensure the smooth take-off of the new university.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has said more cooperation from the citizens would help the military to end terrorism in the country.

Buratai also described the death of Lt. Col. Mohammed Abu-Ali, the Commanding Officer of the 272 Tank Battalion as a great loss to the nation.

He stated this during an interview with journalists at a seminar on “Assessing the threats of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.”

According to him: “The death of Lt. Col. Mohammed Abu-Ali is a challenge to all of us to understand that the fight against insurgency is a collective effort by all Nigerians and indeed globally to ensure that terrorism is defeated.”

Senate dissatisfied with water, health facilities in Borno, Adamawa IDPs camps.

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties, Abdulazeez Nyako, said on Sunday that the lawmakers would view seriously the inadequacy of water and health facilities at the Internally Displaced Persons camps located in Borno and Adamawa States.

In an interview with News Agency of Nigeria in Yola, Nyako said that despite the fund budgeted and allocated specifically for the provision of water and health facilities in the camps, the places were still hit by acute water scarcity and lack of enough health facilities.

He said: “The committee had already visited some major camps in Maiduguri and Yola, where we discovered they are suffering from lack of enough potable water and inadequacy of health facilities.

“We in the National Assembly, the Senate and House of Representatives, budgeted money for water supply and provision of health facilities for various camps in Borno and Adamawa.

“So far, we have not seen the effect.

“We will invite the Ministers of Water Resources and Health to explain what have they done with the fund provided for water supply and provision of health facilities in the camps.”

Nyako said that in the 2016 budget, the Senate allocated N1 billion each for water supply and provision of health facilities in the IDPs camps.

Similarly, another member of the committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya, told NAN that they were not satisfied with the water supply situation and the health facilities in several camps visited in Borno and Adamawa States.

Gaya, representing Kano South Senatorial District, said that the Ministries, Departments and Agencies responsible for the projects would be summoned to appear before the committee.

He said that the MDAs had abandoned their responsibilities, leaving the National Emergency Management Agency to undertake the responsibilities not meant for her.

He therefore praised NEMA for effective humanitarian services and assured that National Assembly would continue to support the agency.

Police express doubt over authenticity of report on abuse of female IDPs

Posted on November 3, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Borno State Police Command has expressed shock over allegations of sexual abuse of girls and women by officials guarding Internally Displaced Persons camps in the state.

In its latest report, the Human Rights Watch, an NGO, alleged that officials guarding IDPs camps in Borno State sexually abuse young girls and women.

Reacting to the report while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Damian Chukwu, expressed reservation over the authenticity of the report.

Chukwu said: “We have not received any complain or report from any IDP camp on the issue, so the whole thing is strange to me.

“Since I assumed office few months ago, I have constantly been monitoring situations in the camps; I have never received such report.”

Chukwu stated that the police would investigate the issue to find the truth.

He further said: “We are going to investigate the matter; we are going to get to the root of the matter to ensure justice.

“We are also going to introduce new measures that are only known to us to prevent future re-occurrence of such things if it is true.”

Meanwhile, the Borno State Government had indicated its plans to collaborate with security agencies to investigate the issue.

Governor Kashim Shettima made the announcement when he received members of the National Universities Commission who paid him a courtesy visit in Maiduguri.

Malam Isa Gusau, Special Adviser to Shettima on Communication stated this in a statement issued to newsmen on Wednesday in Maiduguri.

Gusau said that Shettima intended to write letters to heads of security agencies in the country to post undercover agents to investigate the authenticity of the allegation.

FG hands over 79 trucks of grains to Borno for IDPs.

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima, yesterday received a federal government delegation led by the Minister of state for Works, Power and Housing, Hon Mustapha Baba Shehuri, who is in the state to handover grains to the state government for onward distribution to IDPs and also inspect road construction projects in the state and beyond.

Speaking on his mission to the state, Shehuri recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had asked the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to release 300 trucks of grains for the people and that Borno was allocated 113 trucks around April this year and a committee was set up, chaired by him, to deliver the grains.

“But on coming here about 2 months back, we discovered that about 60 trucks were diverted by the contractor who was to convey these trucks to Borno State. We reported that, and I think the case is now before the EFCC as it is under investigation. I also learnt that 23 trucks have so far been recovered and I think there are also some funds recovered which are in the hands of the EFCC,” the minister stated.

The minister further stated that the delegation will also inspect some federal roads during the visit.

Gov. Shettima had while receiving the delegation commended the efforts of the federal government in the state and called for inclusion of some roads in the state in the 2017 budget.

“We are going to hand over the grains to Borno Flour Mills to fortify it with vitamin A and add value to it, so that it can be edible and for us to distribute it to our people because distributing it raw is not the ideal thing to do now due to the fact that our people are poor and so many of them cannot process it.

“We are also negotiating with Kebbi State government to procure 200 trucks of rice for distribution to our people,” Shettima added.

On the roads, the governor said, “it is gratifying to note that under the current dispensation, some roads that have been abandoned for ages are going to receive the much desired attention. Especially, vitally important link roads like the Biu-Gombe road, the Maiduguri-Gamboru which is an international road through which goods reach as far as Central African Republic.

“Intervention along that road in next year’s budget is timely, politically expedient and would bring about a real change in the lives of our people and economic activities of this sub-region. I also call on the Minster to extend it to Bama-Gwoza road because it was in terrible shape when last I went to Gwoza. Maiduguri-Monguno-Kukawa road and the Damasak-Gashigar-Malum Fatori roads should also be capture in the 2017 budget.

“I believe Nigeria goes beyond Lagos-Ibadan expressway: there are other parts of this country that acutely needs development, that deserve to be developed as well because politics is a game of numbers, it is a game of loyalty and any constituency that appreciates and identifies with the government, that constituency needs to be taken into cognisance as government spreads developmental initiative across the length and breadth of this country.”

Suicide Attacks: NSCDC Trains 50 Civilians On Intelligence Gathering, Surveillance In Borno

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Borno Command, on Monday said it had started training 50 civilians on surveillance and intelligence gathering to curtail terrorism in the state.

Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, NSCDC commander in the state, stated this during the graduation of participants of the training organised by the Crime Prevention Campaign of Nigeria (CPCN) in Maiduguri.
Abdullahi said that the participants were trained to provide surveillance at motor parks, shopping malls, market places, drinking spots, gambling centres and ghetto areas in the state capital.
He said that the training was part of measures to avert occurrences of suicide bomb attacks on the town by the Boko Haram insurgents.
“The training is timely, especially with the re-emergence of suicide bombers in their desperate attempt to cause havoc and instill fear in the minds of the people of the state.
“It is no longer news that terrorism and the strangulating insurgency have done a great harm in the country, especially the North Eastern region.
“All hands must be on deck to see that these bad elements do not resurface again,” said Abdullahi.
Also speaking, Brig.-Gen. Jubril Muhammad, the Garrison Commander of 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, commended the NSCDC for the initiative.
According to him, the initiative will go a long way in curtailing terrorist activities.
Muhammad, therefore, charged the participants to always verify their information before passing it across to the relevant security agencies for necessary actions.

Credit: dailytrust

Borno IDPs Returning Home hit by Landmine Explosion

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A truck conveying internally displaced persons, IDPs, ran into a landmine planted on a highway causing an explosion which injured some of the passengers, officials said.

The displaced persons were being conveyed from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, back to Gamboru-Ngala, a border community about 145km away. The community is one of those liberated from Boko Haram.

The incident occurred barely an hour after the military authority in Maiduguri, officially okayed the movement of over 200 cars and trucks conveying the returnee IDPs and food items to the liberated border community.

The Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Bello Moduganari, confirmed the incident to newsmen in his office.
“We just received the sad news that one of the vehicles that we had cleared to move to Gamboru-Ngala ran into a landmine at Ngom Village, some 20km away from Maiduguri.

“There is no report of death in the incident so far, but we have arranged to take the victims to the hospital here in Maiduguri.

“We learnt the landmine was planted in the centre of the road and an unsuspecting Land Cruiser jeep ran over it”, he said.

Reporters who were at the venue where the soldiers commenced the escort of the very long convoy of trucks, pickup vans and passenger buses conveying foodstuff and persons.

The Secretary of the NURTW in Borno, Amodu Musa, branch had earlier informed reporters that they could not convey the passengers because of the bad nature of the road especially during the rainy season.

“Initially we had ignorantly blamed the soldiers for not trying to help us; but when we went there on our own we met 18 of our trucks stuck in the clay mud blocking the entire routes”, said Mr. Musa.

“We had to employ the service of a mega crane and towing vans to pull them out; then we also hired tippers to sand fill the route before we could make it to Gamboru some two weeks ago.

“And when we got to Gamboru we discovered that there were people but no food; a cube of Maggi was being sold for N20. A can of malt was sold at N350 and N300. That was why we pleaded with the military to assist us by allowing the trucks conveying food items to go first before the passenger vehicles”.

The theatre commander of the operation ‘Lafiya Dole’, Lucky Irabor, had also informed journalists that the movement of persons and trucks through the routes leading to Gamboru was one of the most difficult tasks because of the dangers on the route.

Mr. Irabor, a major general, dispelled the claims made by the returnee IDPs that soldiers took bribes from truck owners before providing them escorts.

Borno To Discharge Over 2000 Treated Malnourished Children

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Over two thousand children treated for severe acute malnutrition are set to be discharged from the Borno State Nursery village where they were admitted, the State Chairman of Emergency Management Agency, Engr. Satomi Ahmed has said.

The Borno SEMA boss who spoke exclusively to our correspondent in Maiduguri disclosed that most of the children that were admitted in the centre with severe malnutrition problems have been stabilized and their parents are earner to return home which is why the authorities are considering to discharge them soonest.

“There are about 2,011 children that were admitted at the Borno State Nursery Village which was established to take care of cases of malnutrition crisis that broke up in the State. Today, there is a drastic recovery in the conditions of the children. Most of them have been stabilized and are fully recovered and we don’t intend to keep them any longer at the facility because their parents are Esther to go back to Bama, their community. We will discharge them very soon,” Engr. Satomi disclosed.

Borno to discharge over 2000 treated malnourished children

Borno Government To Rebuild Churches Destroyed By Boko Haram

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno has promised to rebuild churches and other structures destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents in Lassa as he visited liberated communities in the southern senatorial zone of the state.

“We will rebuild churches, private and public buildings destroyed by the insurgents,” Mr. Shettima said when he accessed the level of damage in Lassa in Askira-Uba Local Government Area on Wednesday.

He expressed shock at the magnitude of destruction, saying that the government would commence the rehabilitation in a short while.

“We are going to rebuild churches and others structures destroyed in Lassa and other communities around.

“We are saddened by the large scale destruction in Lassa which is a predominantly Christian community,” Mr. Shettima said.

He added: “We are doing this because we have a duty as a government to ensure fairness, equity and justice in all our endeavors,” he said.

“We believe that the Christian community has rights to be served like its Muslims counterpart, since we have rebuilt Mosques destroyed in other places, we must rebuild churches too.”

Mr. Shettima said the churches would be rebuilt before Christmas ahead of this year’s Yuletide.

No amount of intimidation will stop our reconstruction efforts — Shettima

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno on Monday said he was going ahead with the planned rebuilding of damaged buildings in spite of recent attacks by Boko Haram insurgents in some parts of the state.

Shettima stated this while interacting with newsmen in Bama, headquarters of Bama Local Government Area of the state.

He was reacting to the recent attacks by insurgents at the border villages of Logumani and Dara/Jamal, where an army officer and two soldiers were killed.

The governor, who relocated his office to Bama since last Wednesday to launch the reconstructions and renovation of over 2,500 destroyed houses, shops and public buildings in Bama in 2014, said “the Boko Haram insurgents are merchants of fear.

“They are also vendors of fear. They want to instill fear in us.

“I think we should be stubbornly enough to follow our convictions against the wanton destruction of lives and property not only in this state, but the entire affected sub-region of the country.

“We have the courage to realise our dreams of an enduring peace in the state and the North East.

“The Borno State Government and its entire citizens must put hands together to rebuild Borno brick by brick, as the rebuilding and rehabilitation processes of Bama has commenced last Wednesday.

“Any life that does not involve taking risk is not a life worth living. At the end of the day what story are you going to tell your grandchildren,” he asked.

Shettima added that the relocation of the Borno governor’s office to Bama since last Wednesday was an indication
that the Boko Haram insurgents have already been defeated physically and psychologically.

“So, let us maintain the tempo of visiting some of the affected towns and communities; lets visit those places and ensure that they are safe before the displaced persons return to their ancestral homes,” the governor added.

Female IDPs Turn To Prostitution To Survive – Borno Civil Society Organisations

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno State, has raised the alarm over the increasing rate of prostitution by female internally displaced persons in the state.

The Chairman of the CSOs, Ahmed Shehu, said that displaced women and teenagers were engaging in prostitution in order to raise money to feed their families.

Shehu spoke at the presentation of the situational assessment of internally displaced persons in the North-East by a non-governmental organisation, NOI Polls, on Tuesday in Abuja.

He noted that 60 per cent of female IDPs had suffered rape and other forms of sexual harassment, adding that many homes in Maiduguri and environs were now headed by teenagers whose parents had either been killed, missing or in Boko Haram captivity.

The activist stated that the development could worsen the high incidences of sexually-transmitted diseases in the state.

Shehu said, “Many females were raped and killed while collecting firewood, particularly as they travelled farther from their communities. Many teenagers are heading their families now because their parents had been killed or captured by Boko Haram. The sad part of it is that many female internally displaced persons have gone into prostitution so that they can feed themselves.”

A Borno-based journalist, Mohammed Alfa, said the Federal Government should invite the anti-graft agencies to Borno State, “if they were serious about fighting corruption.” He noted that foods meant for the IDPs were being diverted and sold by state government officials.

Alfa alleged that some people had threatened his life for publishing a report on the nefarious activities going in the camps, stressing that he was not frightened by the threat.

The NOI, in its assessment, noted the cases of sexual abuse and rise in social vices in the camps and called on the government to address it.

It also affirmed incidences of corruption and sharp practices with respect to the distribution of relief materials donated to the IDPs.

“Majority of IDPs (93 per cent) attested that they don’t get most of the relief materials such as food, clothes, medicines and so on, allocated to them by the government and donor agencies,” the report stated.

Boko Haram Ambushes Military Escort, Kills Five Civilians In Borno

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Boko Haram terrorists Monday afternoon ambushed a military escort in Borno State, killing five civilians and injuring three soldiers in the attack.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, said suspected elements of the remnants of the terrorists who were foraging for food, ambushed troops of Operation Lafi Dole escorting commercial vehicles from Damboa to Maiduguri at Sanda general area of the state.

“Unfortunately, five civilians lost their lives in the attack and another died on the way to the hospital. Three soldiers also sustained injuries,” Usman stated.
He said the wounded have been evacuated to Maiduguri.

Consequently, he said another robust patrol team has been dispatched to reinforce the troops, clear the general area and pursue the terrorists.

Usman stressed that the unfortunate incident has brought to the fore the need for more vigilance and cooperation among all.

He said: “We would like to assure the public that we would not allow this isolated incident to thwart the peace and security commuters enjoy along the route and all other opened routes in the North-east.

“Troops are on the heels of the attackers and would not relent till they are apprehended or killed. Additional security measures have also been placed to avert reoccurrence.

“In addition, the Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole, wishes to clarify that alleged suspected Boko Haram terrorists attack at Chibok is not correct,” Usman said.

Boko Haram Attack Leaves Eight Dead In Borno

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Staff Reporter

At least eight people were killed outside a church in a suspected Boko Haram attack carried out by gunmen on bicycles in northeast Nigeria, local residents said on Monday.

The attack happened shortly after morning service on Sunday in Kwamjilari village, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) east of the town of Chibok, in Borno state.

“Some of the worshippers remained around the church and the gunmen opened fire and eight men died,” said Luka Damina, from nearby Kautikeri village, where locals fled.

“Unknown to the residents, the gunmen had stationed some of their comrades on the road leading out
of the village and they shot anyone who tried to flee.

“Many people ran into the bush with gunshot wounds. But so far we can only confirm eight deaths.”

The attackers set fire to homes and fields of maize that were almost ready for harvest, according to a local chief in Kautikeri, who also said eight people were killed.

The chief said soldiers were later deployed to Kwamjilari from Chibok — the scene of a notorious kidnapping in 2014 when more than 200 schoolgirls were seized.

Konduga, Self-acclaimed Boko Haram Spokesman Rearrested In Borno

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Self-acclaimed spokesman of Boko Haram Islamist sect, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga, who was sentenced to three years imprisonment on criminal acts and freed last week, has been rearrested at the Maiduguri residence of Sen Ali Ndume, sources said.
Konduga (a.ka Al-Zawahiri) had alleged Sen Ndume who is the Senate Leader, provided contacts of certain personalities in the country to him, which gave him access to issue several threats of Boko Haram attacks to such people.
A source close to the family of the senator said Konduga was identified as same person that alleged Ndume provided him with telephone numbers of some politicians with which he issued threats of Boko Haram attacks. Ndume was charged to court for disclosing information to terrorism suspect under Nigeria’s Terrorism Prevention Act.”
“He has been coming to the house since Sunday before Sallah. He asked for the senator but he was told the man is in Saudi Arabia,” the source said. He was however, arrested by the people around on the third visit on Wednesday, the source claimed.
Saturday Sun could not ascertain the purpose of Kinduga’s repeated visits to the senator’s house as at press time. Some residents around the area said he had come to apologise to the family for linking Ndume to Boko Haram activities three years ago. Others also said he may have come to request for financial assistance even after his role in the Ndume case.
Konduga was arraigned before Abuja High Court with Sen Ndume in 2014. He alleged the senator sponsored him to undertake Boko Haram activities. Ndume had pleaded not guilty to charges of passing classified information to an unauthorised person and of criminal intimidation.
Sen Ndume could not be reached on his mobile phone as at press time.
Confirming the incident on phone yesterday, an aide to Ndume who pleaded not to be named, said the Boko Haram suspect was arrested in the Senate Leader’s house, but added that, ‘boys’ who were around invited the police to arrest him.
The aide said the senator was in Saudi Arabia for his annual Hajj and could therefore, not be reached for further comments.

http://sunnewsonline.com/konduga-self-acclaimed-boko-haram-spokesman-rearrested-in-borno/

Troops neutralizes female suicide bomber in Borno (VIEWER DISCRETION)

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army has said it has killed a female suicide bomber who was carrying an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Kara Cattle market axis, Dikwa Local Government Area, Borno State.

In a statement on Monday by Army Spokesperson, Col. Sani Usman, the incident which happened on Sunday led to minor injuries on two soldiers and a Civilian JTF member.

Usman said the troops had suspected the suicide bomber and insisted that she stopped but she refused to.

According to Usman, one of the soldiers shot at her and the IED exploded just as she fell to the ground.

The statement also revealed that some of the Boko Haram remnants now pose as mad men in order to gain access to some locations especially in Maiduguri.

It urged Nigerians to be vigilant and security conscious especially during the Eid festivities.

The statement read, “On Sunday 11th September 2016, evening, a suspected female suicide bomber was seen approaching troops check point located at Kara Cattle market axis, Dikwa, towards Antul and Mukdala, Dikwa Local Government Area, Borno State.

“She was challenged from afar by the vigilant duty sentry, she refused to stop claiming to be coming from Monguno to see her parents in Dikwa.

“Troops sensing the direction of approach was suspicious and abnormal, fired a shot at her and the sentry gallant sentry was proven right as she was carrying a Person Borne Improvised Explosive Device (PBIED) which exploded with a loud bang, killing her instantly and causing minor injury on 2 soldiers and a Civilian JTF assisting them.

“The injured soldiers and the civilian have been treated and have continued with their duties.

“This incident has shown that there are a few of the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists that are determined to carry out criminal acts to create panic and insecurity in some areas.

“In a related development, there is also very reliable information that remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists now disguise or pretend to be mad men or women in order to gain access to some locations especially in Maiduguri.

“Consequently, all should be very wary of any seemingly mentally unstable or mad men or women found wandering and report same.

“Therefore, it is imperative for all to be more security conscious and vigilant especially during the Eid festivities and public holidays.

“The public are further enjoined to report any suspicious persons or movement to the security agencies.”

Sardauna Foundation Donates N20m To Borno IDPs

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Late Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation, popularly known as the Sarduana Foundation, has donated N20 million to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno State through Governor Kashim Shettima yesterday in Maiduguri.

Presenting the donation at the Government House Council Chambers to Governor Shettima, the chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT ) of the foundation, who is also the former Niger State Governor and former chairman, Northern State Governors Forum, Engr Babangida Aliyu, said the foundation found it very vital to make its contribution in the form of financial support to the IDPs by joining other individuals and organisations both at home and abroad, in supporting the traumatised and displaced people.

He also commended the federal and state governments as well as individuals and organisations that have supported the state government in its efforts towards managing and controlling the IDPs and resettlement camps.

“The task is not a simple one and government alone cannot provide all the needs of the IDPs as well as reconstruction of the communities destroyed.

“I urge individuals and organisations to support the IDPs and state government to overcome the predicament. I commend Aliko Dangote Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their support to the IDPs and Borno State Government,” Aliyu said.

Responding, Governor Kashim Shettima thanked the Sarduana Foundation leaders for their visit as well as their donation.

He assured them that the donation would be judiciously used for the purpose it is meant for while recalling the virtues of late Sir Ahmadu Bello who left behind a legacy worthy of emulation by the northern leaders.

http://leadership.ng/news/548264/sardauna-foundation-donates-n20m-to-borno-idps

Borno Insists Sheriff Played Role In Boko Haram Crisis

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Borno state Attoney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Kaka Shehu yesterday gave forty points on how a former governor of the state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, aided and abetted the Boko Haram insurgency.
Barrister Shehu had last week at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State said authorities should scrutinize the role played by Sheriff in the crisis, while he was governor.

But Sheriff, in statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, asked for immediate retraction and apology from Barr. Kaka Shehu, saying there was never a commission of enquiry, instituted by the Borno State government or the federal government, which found Sheriff culpable, neither has there ever been a security report that indicted him.
However, Shehu yesterday insisted that Sheriff remained a suspect in the matter because after winning the gubernatorial election in 2013, he established a ministry of religious affairs and appointed Buji Foi as commissioner.
Foi was the student and strong financier of the then leader of the Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf.
The commissioner wondered how Yusuf, who was captured alive by soldiers, was later killed in police custody, after he had met with Sheriff, saying “the move was probably meant to conceal information that might be revealed by the late Boko Haram leader.”

Credit: dailytrust

Borno Trains 1,000 IDPs On Self Defence Against Rape

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said on Friday it had commenced the training of about 1, 000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) on self defence against rape and other acts of violence.

The Chairman of the agency, Mr Satomi Ahmed, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

Ahmed said that the training was to equip the IDPs who would soon be transported back to their various communities, to defend themselves in case of any attack.

“After the training, the beneficiaries would serve as ambassadors of the fight against domestic violence and sexual abuse in their various communities.”

He explained that the training is being conducted in collaboration with Action Against Hunger, International Rescue Commission and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The chairman added that the training also focussed on safe motherhood, reproductive health, sexual violence among others.

“At the end of the training, the women would be equipped with the relevant skills on how they can protect themselves against any accidental circumstances.

“The training will give the women the opportunity to assist other women on complications that may arise especially during child birth.

” This sensitisation is also designed to further build confidence in them to enable them return back to their homes without any fear,” Ahmed said.

Credit: NAN

Boko Haram : NEMA Re-unites 200 Children With Parents In Borno

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday said it had reunited more than 200 children with their parents affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Sa’ad Bello, the Head of Operations, Adamawa and Taraba office of the agency, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola.

Mr. Bello said the successful re-unification was conducted with the collaboration of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) under Restoring Family Link Programme.

He said the children, mostly of between the ages of five and 12, were from Bama and Baga in Borno.

“Meanwhile, we still have about 165 unaccompanied children in four designated camps in Adamawa,” he said.

The official said some families from Bama visited some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Yola where they identified their children.

He said after intensive investigation by appropriate authorities concerned, the children were handed over to their parents.

He said that the agency with the support of ICRC, was working hard, through appropriate channels, to identify the parents of the remaining unaccompanied children.

NAN reports that family reunification during armed conflicts is a right under international law.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/208492-boko-haram-nema-re-unites-200-children-parents-borno.html

FG Confirms 2 Fresh Polio Cases In Borno

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Minister of Health, Prof.Isaac Adewole, yesterday, confirmed an outbreak of wild polio virus, WPV, in Borno State. This is coming after Nigeria celebrated two years without a case of polio.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has directed the deployment of a national emergency response team, comprising government and partners to Borno State for immediate and robust polio vaccination campaign targeting vulnerable children to prevent the spread of the virus.

According to the minister, the outbreak affected two children from Gwoza and Jere Local Government areas of the state. He attributed the discovery and confirmation of the outbreak to the country’s strengthened surveillance due to improved accessibility made possible by the recent military action in liberating more communities in the North-Eastern part of the country.

The Minister said: “The detection of children paralyzed by polio shows that surveillance has increased with more access but it is a reminder that the country needs to remain vigilant and immunize all eligible children with oral polio vaccine until polio is completely eradicated worldwide.

“Our overriding priority right now is to rapidly boost immunity in the affected areas to ensure that no more children are affected by this terrible disease,” he added.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/fg-confirms-2-fresh-polio-cases-borno/

US Declares Borno, Adamawa, Rivers, Imo, 16 Other States Unsafe

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The United States government, in its latest travel advisory to its citizens living in Nigeria, has listed 20 of Nigeria’s 36 states as unsafe and advised them to stay away from them.
Among the 20, it cited Borno, Adamawa and Yobe as complete no-go areas as “the ability of the US Mission to provide assistance to US citizens” in those states remains severely limited.

The travel warning published on Wednesday on the website of the U.S. Department of State, replaced an earlier one of last February, reported Afrique News yesterday.

In addition to the three frontline states, the State Department also “recommends against all but essential travel to the following states due to the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks: Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

“The Department of State also warns against travel in the Gulf of Guinea, because of the threat of piracy,” the advisory published online added.
It said based on safety and security risk assessments, the embassy maintains restrictions for travel by US officials to the states listed above.

Officials must also apply for advance clearance by the US mission for any travel to those states.
The statement also urged vigilance around government security facilities; churches, mosques, other places of worship; locations where large crowds may gather such as hotels, clubs, bars, restaurants, markets, shopping malls; and other areas frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

It added: “Security measures in Nigeria remain heightened due to threats posed by extremist groups, and U.S. citizens may encounter police and military checkpoints, additional security, and possible road blocks throughout the country.

“Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been displaced as a result of violence in the north.”
The U.S. State Department noted that kidnappings remained a security concern throughout Nigeria, as criminal elements across the country orchestrated kidnappings for ransom; Islamic extremists, operating predominantly in the North, also have been known to conduct kidnappings.

It said: “Separatist groups have staged demonstrations in Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, and Rivers States, some of which have turned violent.
“Militant groups have destroyed oil production infrastructure in Bayelsa and Delta states.

“U.S. citizens are advised to avoid the areas of these states where these incidents have occurred.
“Attacks by pirates off the coast of Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea have increased substantially in recent years.

“Armed gangs have boarded both commercial and private vessels to rob travellers.
“The Nigerian Navy has limited capacity to respond to criminal acts at sea.”

Credit: thisday

Borno Malnutrition Crisis, A National Problem- Saraki

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, has said the malnutrition crisis presently encountered in Borno State should be seen as a Nigerian problem which deserves the ante notion of everyone.

He promised that the issue would be addressed on the floor of the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly soonest.

Saraki made this declaration on Monday while in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital to pay a condolence visit to the people of the state over the death of the Alhaji Shettima Monguno.

Monguno was the first republic minister and first African head of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

He also took time out to visit the centre for the treatment of people suffering severe malnutrition.

The Senate President decried that Borno State has been left to carry too much of the burden of the Boko Haram insurgency and it has become pertinent for others to help.

He said: “I am happy I am here with the leader of the Senate, before we break we will definitely discuss it (the Borno malnutrition crisis) on the floor and see what we can do.”

“The federal government and all agencies need to step up to the game.

“I think it is not good for a country like ours, we are a rich country, it is just an issue of organizing ourselves and getting the fund to support the state government. The state has been carrying too much of the load on their own.”

He said that the state government should not be left alone to carry the heavy burden but should be assisted by the federal government, private sector and wealthy individuals all over the country.

Saraki said: “We all need to put in our effort and see how we can address the (malnutrition) situation because it is the women and children that have suffered most from this. We must do our best to play a role and support the state in doing that.”

Credit: Punch

Six Killed In Suicide Attack At Mosque In Borno

Posted on July 8, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Six people were killed on Friday when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a mosque in Damboa, northeast Nigeria, the army said, in the latest violence to hit the restive region.

Nigerian Army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman said the attack happened at about 5:15 am (0415 GMT) in the town of Damboa, some 90 kilometres (56 miles) southwest of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri.

He blamed the attack on “two Boko Haram terrorists”.

“The first suicide bomber targeted Damboa Central Mosque but due to stringent security measures he could not gain entry. Obviously frustrated, he exploded and died near the central mosque,” he added.

“However, the second bomber veered off and gained entry into another smaller mosque and detonated the bomb, killing himself and six other worshippers and injuring one other person.

“The wounded have been evacuated to a hospital while efforts are on to clear the rubble. Troops and other security agencies have been mobilised to the area.”

The attack is the latest against a mosque in northeast Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad region, as part of a campaign of violence by the Islamist group against civilian “soft” targets.

On June 27, two would-be suicide bombers were killed in Maiduguri, as they tried to target an overnight Ramadan vigil at a mosque on the Damboa Road.

Credit: Guardian

Borno Emirs Return Home Two Years After Fleeing Boko Haram Insurgency

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Two out of the five Borno emirs forced to flee their domain by Boko Haram terrorists, have returned to their palaces.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the emirs fled to Maiduguri two years ago when the insurgents took control of their domain in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of the state. The insurgents took control of the area in August 2015 and announced establishment of Caliphate rule, forcing residents including the emirs to flee. The insurgents were however mauled down by the military who took total control of the area and restored normalcy.

The two emirs, Alhaji Muhammadu Askirama of Askira, and Alhaji Ismaila Mamza of Uba, returned to their respective palaces on Tuesday in company of Borno Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mamman Durkuwa.

Speaking at a short ceremony at their palaces, the emirs commended the Nigerian military for their gallantry in routing the Boko Haram terrorists. They expressed optimism that terrorism would end soon in the country, going by the successes being recorded by the military. Also speaking,

Also speaking, Durkuwa assured the emirs that the government would undertake projects to restore life back to the area. The deputy governor urged residents to be law abiding and report any sign of security threat to relevant agencies.

Three other emirs yet to return to their domain include the Emir of Bama, Alhaji Kyari El-Kanemi, Emir of Dikwa, Muhammad Ibn Masta, and Chief of Gwoza Alhaji Muhammad Timta. The three are still residing in Maiduguri, the state capital.

(NAN)

Over 3000 IDPs Stranded In Recaptured Borno Communities

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Staff Reporter

More than 3000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are said to be stranded without food, water and shelter after the Nigerian Army recaptured Rann and other surrounding communities of Borno state from Boko Haram terrorists recently.

Troops of newly-inducted 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade, in conjunction with Army Headquarters Strike Group (AHQ SG) and the Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF), carried out a clearance operation of Rann, the headquarters of Kala Balge, a border community with Cameroun Republic and about 200 km drive from Maiduguri, the state capital.

The gallant troops cleared the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists hibernating in Kala Balge general area. The triumphant troops apart from killing 22 terrorists cleared pockets of the terrorists in Wumbi, Tunish, Tilem and Malawaji. Others are Makaudari, Daima, Buduli, Sadigumo, Jiwe, Sidigeri and Kala villages.

But sources said Correspondent that after the clearance operations that over 3000 people mostly women and children, who survived the onslaught were now taking refuge at Kala Balge without means of having food or water, as there were no presence of officials from National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) or Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to render humanitarian services following inaccessibility.

Confirming the development, Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Hon. Usman Zannah in an interview expressed concern on the plights of the stranded victims and promised that Government is taking immediate measures to address the myriads of problems being faced by the trapped innocent civilians in Kala Balge.

“We just received a message that more than 3000 people mostly women and children are stranded after the liberation of Kala Balge and other surrounding villages, we have started mobilizing security operatives, SEMA officials and members of the civilian JTF to deliver relief materials to them as soon as possible.”

Credit: vanguardngr

How Army Averted Suicide Bombings In Borno, Gunned Down Suspected Female Bombers

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army on Friday announced that its troops shot dead two suspected female suicide bombers in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, averting what could have been another tragedy in the troubled city.

The spokesperson for the Army, Sani Usman, said in a statement that the attackers were halted by troops and men of the Civilian JTF as they made their way into the city before dawn.

Mr. Usman, a colonel, said, “The ever alert and vigilant troops of 7 Division Garrison based in Maiduguri, in conjunction with Civilian JTF averted yet another suicide attack on the innocent citizens in Borno State today.

“The troops intercepted two female suicide bombers at about 1.20am this morning, almost 100 metres south of Umurari village, outskirts of Maiduguri.

“However, one of the suicide bombers on sighting own troops detonated her explosive device, killing herself instantly, while the second bomber in an attempt to escape was gunned down by one of the Garrison snipers.

“The combined team of Nigeria Police and Nigerian Army’s Explosive Ordinance Device team safely detonated the unexploded Improvised Explosive Devices strapped on the gunned down suicide bomber.

“It is important to state that there was no casualty beyond the two suicide bombers. Presently, the troops and the Civilian JTF deployed in the village are now combing the general area to forestall further breach of security.

“The situation in the area is calm and law abiding citizens are going about their normal activities without fear.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

Troops Kill Five Terrorists, Rescue 180 Hostages In Borno

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Troops of 7 Division Garrison and 112 Battalion of Nigerian Army have on Wednesday killed five Boko Haram terrorists; with the rescue of 180 hostages held in five communities during a six-hour clearance military operations in Borno state.

The cleared communities include Menari, Bulamari, Baale, Maafa, Zangebe and Kaltaram of Mafa Local Government Area of the state.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman in the statement issued Thursday in Maiduguri, said that the successful clearance of Boko Haram remnants in Mafa, was assisted by some Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the Mafa-Dikwa axis.

Usman in the statement also said that during the six-hour clearance operations, five terrorists were gunned down, before the cattle of the rescued hostages were retrieved in Giltimari and Baale villages.

The statement reads in part: “During troops operations yesterday, five terrorists were killed. They also rescued 180 persons and their cattle held hostages by the terrorists in Giltimari and Baale communities of Mafa.”

He said the rescued captives, are undergoing military screening, before they are moved to undisclosed resettlement camp in the state.

Credit: Guardian

Suicide Attack Kills 22 In Borno mosque

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A suicide bomber attack killed 22 persons and injured 11 others at mosque in Borno State this morning.

A member of the youth vigilance group told our correspondent that the suicide bomber attacked a mosque in Molai-Umarari village, behind the Molai Hospital, on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the state capital.

According to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the incident occurred at about 5am during the Muslim early morning prayers.

He said members of the youth vigilance group subsequently trooped to the area to offer assistance to the injured and get the dead to the mortuary.

“Presently I am at the scene of the attack, we have our men here with soldiers and emergency workers who are working to bring back normalcy and get both the dead and injured to the hospital,” he said.

Molai is about 10 kilometres from Maiduguri on the Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu Road.

Troops Kill Wanted Boko Haram Terrorist In Borno

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The troops of the Nigerian Army have killed one of the 100 most wanted Boko Haram terrorists in the North East.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Friday that that the Boko Haram commander was killed in an ambush by the troops of the 7 Multinational Joint Task Force Brigade, Baga, and 118 Task Force Battalion, along Daban Masara.

Usman said that Masara was used by the Boko Haram insurgents to convey logistics for their operation.

He said that the Boko Haram leader, listed as number 95 in the first list of the most wanted 100 terrorists released by the Nigerian Army, sustained injuries which led to his death later.

Usman added that other members of the group escaped with gunshot wounds.

The Acting Army Spokesman said the troops also recovered arms and ammunition and some jerrycans containing fuel and motor cycles from the insurgents.

“Troops of 7 Multinational Joint Task Force Brigade Quick Response Group stationed in Baga and 118 Task Force Battalion, sprang an ambush along Daban Masara axis used by Boko Haram terrorists to convey logistics.

“At the encounter, one of the suspected wanted Boko Haram terrorists’ leaders who is serial number 95 on the first Nigerian Army wanted list of 100 Boko Haram terrorists leaders, was fatally wounded in the exchange of fire,”the statement read.

Credit: Punch

Jubilation In Borno As Nigerian Troops Reclaim Gudumbari

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Displaced people celebrated in Borno state as troops of the Nigerian military under the Armed Forces Special Force (AFSF) cleared all traces of Boko Haram occupation from Gudumbari, the headquarters of Guzamala local government area of the state.

Spokesman of the Nigeria Army, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman confirmed the development via a press statement.

“In continuation of the clearance of the remnants of recalcitrant members of Boko Haram terrorists in the various nooks and corners of the north east, the Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) carried out successful clearance of Boko Haram terrorists hiding in Gudumbali general area,” Usman, who is acting director, army public relations said.

Gudumbari is one of the remote local government areas in northern Borno state that was sacked and occupied by Boko Haram fighters.

It was once reclaimed in the past, but the insurgents crept back and reoccupied the area after the troops had moved on.

But with the Tuesday take over of Gudumbari after a victorious operation by the troops, the news elicited jubilation.

Aisami Goni, an IDP from Guzamala said, “we give glory to God for the good news we are hearing about soldiers’ victory over Boko Haram.’’

Credit: Leadership

Military Announces Plans To Close Markets In Borno, Yobe Aiding Insurgents

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army has announced plans to close designated markets in Yobe and Borno where traders have been found to be aiding Boko Haram terrorists with logistic supplies.

The acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, made the disclosure at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said the plan was part of measures adopted to contain attempts by some unscrupulous elements to sabotage recent gains recorded by the military in the war against insurgency in the northeast.

Usman said any breach of the order of the closure of the markets would be punished and appealed to residents of the affected areas to support new measures, aimed at ending the insurgency permanently.

“It has come to the knowledge of the Nigerian Army that as concerted efforts are being made to finally clear all remnants of Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast, some unscrupulous elements have been thwarting the efforts for pecuniary gains.

“They engage in all manner of illegal commercial activities, such as trading and smuggling, especially during late hours, all aimed at sustaining terrorism and insurgency.

“Consequently, the Nigerian military and, indeed, the Nigerian Army are highly concerned with these unpatriotic acts .

“The Army is, therefore, taking drastic steps to curtail this illicit trading with terrorists, from now on, some markets identified engaging in this illegal trade with adversary in Borno and Yobe will be closed,’’ he said.

Credit: dailytrust

Boko Haram Not Occupying Any Local Govt In Borno – Gov Shettima

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, yesterday dismissed media report credited to Senator Kaka Bashir Garbai that three local government areas of Abadam, Mobbar and Kala Balge, were fully under the control of Boko Haram insurgents, insisting that none of the councils in the state was being occupied by the insurgents.

Shettima said the military and other security operatives on the platform of ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’, had been doing their best in the last six months as the terrorists’ capacity had been whittled down leaving only pockets of them remaining in the Sambisa Forest.

Recall that the Senator representing Borno Central, Garbai, who visited Dalori, Alomari and other villages surrounding Maiduguri attacked by insurgents who killed over 100 residents, had informed newsmen that: “The military are not doing their best to end the war against terrorists, as only Maiduguri, Bayo and Kwaya Kusar council areas were safe and free of insurgents, while 21 of the council areas are partially controlled by terrorists with other three fully still under boko haram caliphate.”

But Governor Shettima, who just returned from a trip to Saudi Arabia where he led some other northern governors for a meeting with officials of Islamic Development Bank and Saudi authorities on rebuilding the north, particularly north east, said, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, all the 27 local government areas had been liberated by the military.

He said: “As Chief Security Officer of Borno State, I am telling you authoritatively that our military deserves commendation, because all my local government areas have been liberated. Only few insurgents that remain in the Sambisa Forest desperate to launch some pockets of attacks are what we are now witnessing as a result of the bombardment that is going on in their hideouts. “Maybe, the statement Senator Garbai gave to the media was done out of his emotions when he visited the affected areas or he was misquoted. I have been trying to get contact with the Senator on this unfortunate statement.”

The governor later drove straight to Dalori and other surrounding villages that were destroyed by insurgents last week where he condoled with the victims and prayed for quick recovery of the injured.

The governor told the people of the affected communities that government had already liaised with the military to provide them with adequate security and urged them not to flee as his administration would spend N100 million to rebuild their destroyed houses.

He immediately set up a committee headed by his deputy, Usman Durkwa to ensure that all the houses destroyed by the insurgents were rebuilt promptly. Governor Shettima also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his determination towards ending the deadly activities of Boko Haram and other terror act in the country.

Credit : Vanguard

Nigerian Army To Court-Martial Officers, Soldiers Over Recent Borno Attacks

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army has set up a court-martial to try cases of misconduct, indiscipline, among other misconducts that led to recent deadly attacks on Dalori and other Borno communities.

A statement by the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman, said the Nigerian Army had already begun investigations into the matter, noting that those found wanting “will be dealt with”.

“The recent unfortunate attacks by Boko Haram terrorists on communities close to Maiduguri, despite our successes calls for concern.

“To this end the Nigerian Army has already commenced investigation into the attacks. All those found wanting will be dealt with in accordance with the Armed Forces Act.

“A standing Special Court Martial in the North East has already been established by the Nigerian Army. All cases of indiscipline and related acts of misconduct including human rights abuse in the operations will be tried by the this Special Court Martial.”

The statement added, “In recent days there were speculations in the media, especially the online media, to the effect that Operation LAFIYA DOLE has been taken over by the Defence Headquarters and that soldiers are not happy about it. This is not quite unfortunate and figment of imaginations of the respective media which was aimed at distracting the military, create rancour and disaffection among the components fighting Boko Haram terrorists…”

Credit: PremiumTimes

EFCC Seals Borno House Of Assembly Over Allegations Of Corruption

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Report coming out of Borno has it that the Borno State House of Assembly has been invaded by operatives of the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Residents of Shehuri ward where the House of Assembly is located told reporters that legislators abandoned the floor of the house when security operatives allegedly to be men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC came to arrest some of the members.

According to them, some of the legislators escaped on foot while others were quick to sneak out before the security operative sealed off the Assembly over alleged corruption.

There was no legislator to speak to as at press time, even as rumour has it that the EFCC has succeeded in arresting some politicians in the state.

However, situation around the Borno Assembly is said to be tensed .

Details shortly…

Source – Daily Post

Boko Haram: Displaced Person Beheaded In Borno IDP Camp

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A 23-year-old displaced person was this morning found beheaded in an Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camp in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

Millions of people rendred homeless as a result of Boko Haram’s insurgency have been taking refuge in IDP camps pending the time their homes will be safe and habitable enough for them to go back.

Credit: DailyTrust

Gov. Shettima Meets Civilian JTF, ?Announces Welfare Package For Members In Borno

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Following recent attacks by Boko Haram insurgents in some parts of Borno State, Governor Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday, held a meeting with the youth volunteers involved in counter insurgency operations popularly known as “Civilian JTF” during which he appreciated their gallant efforts and unveiled welfare packages for them.

The meeting held at the Multipurpose hall of the Government House in Maiduguri.

The governor held closed door discussions with leaders of the volunteer group focusing on enhancing community policing.

At an open session with majority of the volunteers, Governor Shettima paid glowing tributes to them for sacrificing their lives towards complimenting the efforts of armed forces to fight for the restoration of peace in the state.

He said no amount of welfare package can equal the sacrifices being made by the volunteers especially given the fact that some of them had laid their lives for Borno State.

The governor said despite its meager resource, the Borno state Government would expend whatever it takes to ensure that the volunteers were properly paid, equipped and highly motivated.

He announced a bonus of N20 million naira to the volunteers while directing that any backlog of ?allowances be paid immediately.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Army Nabs 7 Bomb Experts In Kaduna, Repel Boko Haram Attack In Borno

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Soldiers of the Nigerian Army yesterday arrested seven Boko Haram bomb specialists in Kaduna, while plotting to attack the state with several improvised explosive devices (IEDs), Army officials said.

The officials said given the number of the bombs recovered from the arrested bombers, Kaduna State should count itself lucky that a major catastrophe that might have affected lives of innocent persons have been averted.

Spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said the suspects were nabbed after a long period of investigation and intelligence sharing.

He said, “Another catastrophe was averted in Kaduna State and other contiguous areas when troops of the Nigerian Army arrested 7 suspected Boko Haram terrorists with bomb and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) specialists.

“The terrorists were arrested in Kaduna after painstaking surveillance and proactive intelligence operations over a period of time.

“From all indications, the suspects were in Kaduna to conduct suicide bombings, kill and maim innocent citizens in the state and other surrounding areas during the festive period. Recall that recently in Maiduguri, some of them were arrested while trying to detonate IEDs carried in food containers in public places.”

Troops Repel Attack in Borno

Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, last night came under attack by Boko Haram gunmen who were repelled by soldiers of the Nigerian Army, even as two female suicide bombers succeeded in detonating their explosives and killing many in another part of the city.

The attack, which many described as a desperate show of relevance by the insurgents, was coming days after the Nigerian government declared the insurgents defeated.

Sources in Maiduguri informed LEADERSHIP that the attackers attempted to invade the city through a village called Aladuwari, about 2km South of Maiduguri, but were effectively repelled by soldiers of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army.

But it seemed the Aladuwari attack was to create some kind of detour by the insurgents to enable two female suicide bombers invade the city from another flank.

The two female suicide bombers invaded the city and detonated their explosives at a crowded mini-commercial area.

Muhammed Abubakar, a vigilante operative who lives in Suleimanti area of Maiduguri, said the bombers detonated their explosives near FOMWAN Primary School located between Suleimanti and Jiddari Polo.

He said, “There were two explosions, one coming immediately after the other. Those who saw them said there were two women who began to scream as the bombs were about to go off”.

Spokesman of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Abbas Gava, had earlier informed LEADERSHIP that the gunmen were making an attempt to invade Maiduguri but were intercepted at Aladuwari village where they exchanged fire with soldiers.

Another female suicide bomber kill family of 15 in Maiduguri

In a related development, three wives of a Village Head and their 10 children were yesterday feared killed as a female suicide bomber attacked their residence in Maiduguri, witnesses said.

The woman, who took advantaged of the chaotic situation when soldiers were busy engaging Boko Haram fighters in a shoot-out during a repelled attack on the city, pretended as if Boko Haram was chasing her and ran into the compound of a village head, Bulama Isa.

A resident who witnessed the event , Ahmed Baba, said, “She ran into Bulama Isa’s compound, shouting ‘Boko Haram, Boko Haram.

“When the families of Isa came out of their rooms to meet the woman in the centre of their compound, the woman simply detonated the bomb hidden under her garment, killing the village head’s three wives and 10 children”.

Bulama Isa, who did not arrive at his residence at the time of the attack, managed to survive another suicide attack at the entrance of his home.

Sources said another female suicide bomber, who was lurking in the dark as the grief struck head of the family walked into his compound, jumped out and detonated herself. But the village head was lucky again. He was able to escape with minor injury, but the blast succeeded in killing a woman with her baby.

Child Suicide Bombing Kills Six In Borno

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A child suicide bomber detonated his explosives, killing himself, two other bombers and six people in Nigeria’s northeast, in the latest bloodshed blamed on Boko Haram Islamist group, the army said on Monday.

The attack in Beninsheikh in Borno state happened around 8.30 pm on Sunday when three suspected suicide bombers aged between 10 and 15 years, were stopped for security screening by civilian vigilantes in the area, Colonel Sani Usman said in a statement.

He said one of the bombers, who was strapped with explosives, detonated the bomb, causing the “death of nine people while 24 others sustained various degrees of injuries.” Usman said the three suicide bombers were among the dead. “The security and emergency management agents have mobilised to the scene. The bodies have been evacuated and all those injured are receiving medical attention,” he said.

Suicide bombings — many by young boys and girls — have fast become Boko Haram’s preferred method of inflicting civilian casualties since it control of captured territory to a renewed military offensive by the military in recent months. Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has given his military commanders until the end of the month to end the six-year violence.

Credit: Sun

Army Kills Notorious Boko Haram Chieftain, Members In Borno

Posted on December 20, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army on Sunday said its troops in Borno killed a notorious member of the extremist Boko Haram sect as well as two other members known for terrorising remote community in the North-east state.

The spokesperson for the army, Sani Usman, a colonel, said the suspected terrorists were killed by personnel on ‘fighting patrol’.

?The statement said, ”As part of their determined efforts to rid the society of all known Boko Haram terrorists enclaves and hideouts, troops of 25 Task Force Brigade based on tip off conducted a fighting patrol along Damboa-Njaba-Bale road in Borno State.

”The troops encountered and killed three suspected Boko Haram terrorists that had been terrorizing the communities around Sabon Gari and Damboa.

”Among those killed was the Boko Haram terrorists Ameer (Leader) in Bulayaga. The Ameer was notorious in terrorizing Bale, Wass and Mufurundi villages.

”The troops recovered an AK-47 rifle with its magazine, 43 rounds of 7.62mm Special Ammunition, 1 Grinding Machine and 5 Dane Guns. Other items recovered include 7 Motorcycles,21 bags of grains and 2 Boko Haram terrorists flags hoisted.

”In a related development today, troops of 7 Division Garrison on patrol at Mainari village in Mafa Local Government Area had an encounter with Boko Haram terrorists. The encounter led to the killing of 9 terrorists and recovery of weapons which includes 4 AK-47 and 1 Pump Action Gun.

”The patrol teams have continued to dominate the respective areas.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

14 Killed, Decapitated In Boko Haram Raid In Borno

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Fourteen people were killed, some of them decapitated, in a Boko Haram raid on a village in northeast Nigeria, a resident and a civilian vigilante assisting the military said on Friday.

The attack happened at about 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Thursday in the village of Kamuya in Borno State, near where Nigeria‘s most senior army officer Tukur Yusuf Buratai has a home.

The Islamist gunmen arrived on foot and by bicycle, witnesses said.

Hit-and-run attacks were once a trademark of the Islamic State group affiliate but have decreased in recent months in the face of a sustained Nigerian army counter-attack.

The latest raid again underlined the threat posed by the rebels, particularly in hard-to-reach rural areas, despite military claims they are a spent force and in disarray.

It also took the number of civilian casualties since President Muhammadu Buhari took office on May 29 to more than 1,500, according to an AFP tally.

Since 2009, at least 17,000 have been killed.

Ibrahim Babagana, who lives in Kamuya, said he and other locals fled the attack to the town of Biu, some 30 kilometres (18.5 miles) away, as Boko Haram fighters set fire to the village.

He initially gave a death toll of nine but later told AFP: “This morning (Friday), some of us went back to the village.

“We found 14 dead bodies. Some of them were decapitated and their heads placed on their torso.

“Seven others were shot dead. They have all been buried. The entire village has been razed.”

Mustapha Karimbe, a member of a civilian militia involved in fighting Boko Haram, gave a similar account and said half-a-dozen people were injured.

“The six injured victims are receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Biu,” he added.

Kamuya is the hometown of Buratai’s mother and was previously attacked in a similar raid in July. Nearby Buratai village, 10 kilometres away, was also hit.

Residents of Kamuya had returned to cultivate their farms after the July attacks.

Nigeria‘s government said this week it expects many of the 2.1 million people displaced by the six years of conflict to begin returning home from next year and reconstruction work had started.

But the latest attack — and a similar one in Bam-Buratai on November 28 that left at least four dead — will add to fears about returnees’ safety.

Last weekend, Boko Haram fighters torched almost an entire village near the Borno town of Chibok, from where more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped in April last year.

Babagana said: “We believe these (latest) attacks are connected with the chief of army staff who has put pressure on Boko Haram since he took over.”

Credit: AFP

Over 400 Schools In Borno Reopen After 18 Months – UN

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Hundreds of schools in northeast Nigeria have reopened for the first time in a year and a half, though many teachers and pupils are reluctant to return because of persistent violence in the region, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

Almost 450 schools have reopened in Borno state since October, more than 18 months after education was halted in the wake of an attack by Boko Haram militants on a boarding school in neighbouring Yobe state in which they killed 59 students.

Some schools in Adamawa and Borno states are doubling the number of classes to provide education for people uprooted by the conflict as well as for local children, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Displaced teachers across the region have volunteered to teach, and many children who fled violence in remote rural areas have gone to school for the first time, the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said.

“Prioritising education is absolutely essential if we are to avoid losing the next generation to more poverty, hopelessness and the risk of radicalisation,” said Toby Lanzer, U.N. humanitarian coordinator for the Sahel.

Borno is the birthplace of the six-year insurgency waged by Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which kidnapped 276 girls from a secondary school in the village of Chibok in April 2014.

A regional offensive by Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon earlier this year drove Boko Haram from much of the territory it held in northern Nigeria, but the militants have since struck back with a renewed wave of deadly raids and suicide bombings.

More than 1,200 schools have been attacked in northeast Nigeria and hundreds of teachers and pupils have been killed by bomb blasts, raising fears among communities about the safety of resuming education, according to UNICEF.

“Many parents are reluctant to send their children – especially girls – to school… even some teachers are afraid of going to work due to the targeted attacks, threats of attacks or general insecurity,” said Eva Ahlen from UNICEF in Nigeria.

The United Nations is working with the Nigerian government to make schools safer, train teachers and offer basic education to those staying in camps and with host families, where nine in 10 of Nigeria’s 2.2 million internally displaced people are living.

Even before the conflict in the northeast, Nigeria had the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, more than 10 million, according to OCHA.

Credit : Yahoo News

Boko Haram Abducts More Girls In Borno

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Staff Reporter

An unspecified number of girls have reportedly been abducted by Boko Haram members after an attAack in Bam Village which is about 7 kilometres away from Buratai village, the hometown of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai in Borno state.

A resident of Bam village, Ali Bam told The Nigerian Tribune that the sect members arrived their village in the early hours of yesterday November 29th, shooting and setting the place on fire. Four people were killed while an unspecified number of girls were abducted.

Boko Haram Kills 7 People Including A Soldier In Fresh Borno Attacks

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Staff Reporter

In two separate Boko Haram attacks, seven people including a soldier, were killed in both Bam and Gajigana villages of Biu and Magumeri Local Government Areas of Borno State, while an unspecified number of teenage girls were abducted in Bam Village. Several more people were injured in Gajigana village after insurgents set ablaze shops and houses without confrontation.

A resident of the area who fled to Miringa town for safety, Mallam Ali Bam, said that the insurgents went to the village at about 3:30 am on the weekend and set the whole village ablaze.

He said:

“Boko Haram terrorists after separating a lot of teenage girls from married women in
Bam, set ablaze the whole village and fled with the girls unchallenged, as the attack lasted for some hours before they fled. I called on General Buratai to do something as we have been telling the soldiers that the Boko Haram were so close to the village, but they only went to Mangari village which is few kilometers away from Buratai and shot into the air and left. The soldiers don’t want to confront the terrorists, Buratai should better do something before they start attacking and sacking villages, as they were doing before.”

Then they attacked and burnt down Gajiganna village killing three persons including a soldier before stealing lots of foodstuff.
An eyewitness said that the insurgents who came at 8:30pm on Friday started shooting sporadically into the air to scare people, but they ended up killing one man, one woman and a soldier.
He said:

“I believe it was a revenge mission, because recently, we arrested over 17 Boko Haram insurgents in the community and handed them over to the military. I am calling on the Federal government and the military authorities to do something about the pockets of insurgents in the bushes and villagers before they regroup and start attacking big towns and villages,”.

He said that the attack on Gajigana could have been avoided if soldiers acted on the information that they were given rather when the insurgents came the soldiers took to their heels without fighting them.

Source: Vanguard

8 Die In Borno Suicide Bomb Attack- Police

Posted on November 22, 2015 by Staff Reporter

At least eight people have been confirmed dead in a suicide bomb attack that took place in Mafia, a town in Borno State.

Borno state police commissioner, Mr. Aderemi Opadokun, has confirmed the blast in a text message to our correspondent.

He stated: “Yes, at about 1040 hrs of Sunday, 22/11/15, a suspected female suicide bomber while approaching Mafa checkpoint on foot at Galimari Village detonated an IED strapped to her body in the midst of a crowd trying to enter Maiduguri.

“The explosion killed eight persons including the bomber, eight others were injured.”

“Scene of the incident was visited, the victims and corpses conveyed to hospital and investigation in progress and the area is now safe.”

Credit: ThisDay

Nigerian Air Force Bombs Mass Gathering Of Boko Haram Terrorists

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, on Thursday said the air component operation of “Operation Lafiya Dole” hit a “mass gathering” of Boko Haram terrorists at Wulge area of Borno State.

The air component commander of the theatre operation, “Operation Lafiya Dole”, Isiaka Amao, said this while briefing journalists in Maiduguri on today.

“The air component struck a mass gathering of Boko Haram terrorists and their leaders at Wulge.

“Report received after the strike was that it was a huge success as many terrorists were killed,” Mr. Amao said.

Nigeria Army Arrest Another Boko Haram Kingpin In Borno

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army on Monday said it had arrested another suspected Boko Haram terrorist kingpin, Mr John Trankil, at Kasuwar Shanu area of Maiduguri.

Col. Tukur Gusau, the Media Coordinator, Operation Lafiya Dole, said this in a statement in Maiduguri.

“Troops of 7 Division Garrison Nigerian Army in Operation Lafiya Dole, made a remarkable progress by arresting a Boko Haram Terrorist kingpin, Mr John Trankil, at Kasuwar Shanu in Maiduguri metropolis.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect said that nine of them sneaked into Maiduguri armed with AK 47 assault rifle each and a Toyota Hilux vehicle laden with 20 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) meant to be detonated at some selected targets in the city,” he said.

“The Theater Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Yusha’u Abubakar, commended the efforts of the troops and renewed call for the troops and the public to be more vigilant and security conscious.

Gusau said that troops of the 21 Brigade of the army had also discovered and IED making factory along Bama-Gonin Kurmi within the outskirts of Bama town in Borno.

“In a related development, troops of 21 Brigade Nigerian Army, while on offensive operations on Boko Haram terrorists location, with the support from the Nigerian Air Force, discovered and destroyed the terrorists IEDs and Rocket making factory along Bama-Gonin Kurmi within the outskirts of Bama town, Borno.

“The items recovered include gas cylinders, welding machine, pipes and poles, locally made rocket shells and large quantity of assorted chemicals.

“Others are; unprimed IEDs and various technical and laboratory equipment suspected to be stolen from school laboratories around Bama before they were dislodged from the area,” he said.

(NAN)

Troops Clear Nine Boko Haram Strongholds In Borno

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Troops of 115 Task Force Battallion under 28 Task Force Brigade have, in a major boost, cleared nine more Boko Haram terrorists strongholds around Lassa axis of Borno State.

A statement by a military spokesman, Colonel Tukur Gusau, said the troops cleared Lassa, Muthavo, Dagu Kumabza, Isge, Unworo Zangore, Kilekasa And Pumpum while on clearance operations between November 3 and 5.

During the offensive, four Boko Haram terrorists met their waterloo in the hands of gallant troops of the Nigerian Army.

Some of the terrorists fled, abandoning their weapons. The military spokesman said they left seven den guns.

Credit: ChannelsTV

Customs Considers Reopening Borno Border Posts To Fight Arms Influx

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, said the organisation would consider reopening the customs posts at Gamboru Ngala and Banki border posts in Borno State to fight arms influx and curtail insurgency.

Mr. Ali said this during his visit to defence formations, including the Defence Intelligence Agency and Nigerian Air Force and Nigeria Police on Thursday in Abuja.

The comptroller-general said for customs to achieve its target, it needed the support of the military, police and intelligence agencies.

Mr. Ali, a retired colonel, said smuggling of small arms and ammunition had to be prevented in view of the current insurgency in the country.

He said the essence of the visit was to further strengthen synergy between the police, intelligent agencies, service chiefs and customs, to have a safer country and a viable economy.

Mr. Ali said customs would consider reopening the border posts due to the request by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.

Credit: PremiumTimes

APC Wins Borno Central Senatorial Bye-election

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Alhaji Babakaka Garbai, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate winner of the bye-election for Borno Central Senatorial district.

The election was conducted on Saturday.

INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Fannami, who announced the results in Maiduguri, said that Garbai scored 120, 639 votes against 32,347 votes scored by Alhaji Kaka Bolori of the PDP who came second.

The returning officer added that Alhaji Bukar Muhammed of APGA had 324 votes, while Mallam Babakura Modu of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) had 660 votes.

He said that the total number of registered voters was 908, 114, while the total number of accredited voters was 174, 329.

“The total number of votes cast was 159, 998, the number of valid votes was 155, 443 while the total number of rejected votes was 4, 555,” Fannami said.

In his reaction, Garbai described his victory as an “act of God”.

“The people have spoken; the victory is a clear testimony of the fact that the people have confidence in my ability to deliver,” he said.

“It is also an indication that the people have confidence in the government of Borno, because the government has been working for them.

“So any candidate presented by the APC in the state will always have the peoples support.

“By God grace we are going to work for the people.

“I intend to pursue an agenda to rehabilitate my people who are badly affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

“Borno Central is the major population area in the state.

“Aside from Maiduguri, all the other population centres in the zone have been displaced by Boko Haram and my major task is to work towards rehabilitating them.”

Army Chief Visits Newly Deployed Troops In Borno

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Yusuf Buratai, on Monday visited the newly deployed troops of the 29 Task force Brigade at Benisheik and Gamdu towns of Kaga Local Government Areas of Borno State in north-east Nigeria.

While addressing the two brigades, the Chief of Army Staff told the troops, who are “better armed and trained”, to defeat the Boko Haram, describing the insurgents as ‘ill equipped’.

The Army Chief said the Nigerian Army had no excuse not to defeat the Boko Haram terrorists and assured the soldiers that they would get every necessary support from the government.

He stressed that their deployment to the area was strategic to the success of the operation against the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists.

“With the morale of the troops I have seen so far, you are good to go. I want to congratulate all of you for being part of this operation because Nigerians are watching and waiting for you to finish up these criminals called Boko Haram.

“Your deployment here is strategic to the success of this operation and you have to be alert and focused at all times,” Buratai cautioned.

The Army Chief assured the troops that all their logistics problems were being addressed and urged them to be loyal and obedient to their superior authorities without which no meaningful progress would be achieved.

Credit: ChannelsTV

No Borno LG Under Boko Haram Control– Buratai

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Contrary to the position of Borno State governor, Dr Kashim Shettima, that two local governments in the state are under the control of terrorists, the chief of army staff (COAS), Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, has declared that no Nigerian territory is still in the hands of Boko Haram.

Reports gathered that Shettima made the claim while receiving the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawan, who led a six-man committee inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari to pay condolence visits to Borno and Adamawa states following the suicide attacks at mosques in the two states on Friday.

Governor Shettima had said: “They (Boko Haram) are presently controlling two local governments in Borno State – Abadam and Mobbar – and partially in Marte.”

However, Buratai said, “It is not true. No Boko Haram is holding any territory. Have you heard them (Boko Haram) making any claims of late? We are more determined and we have more professional soldiers on the ground. We have been trained and equipped and ready to face the challenge posed by them.”

Credit: Leadership

Troops Kill 30 Boko Haram Insurgents, Foil Suicide Attack In Borno

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Over 30 members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect were killed in a gun duel with Nigerian troops assisted by local vigilantes yesterday morning.

Nigerian troops with the assistance of local vigilantes had laid an ambush for the insurgents between the border villages of Kirchinga/Imirsa which came under Boko Haram attacks in recent times leading to the death of innocent residents.

A local vigilante operative who participated in the campaign told our reporter that following intelligence report about the movement of the Boko Haram insurgents, an ambush was laid which resulted in the killing of many Boko Haram members.

“Following information about the movements of the Boko Haram we got, we decided to lay an ambush in the early hours of Sunday. Our efforts yielded results as we succeeded in killing over 30 of the insurgents after a fierce gun duel.

“We confiscated many weapons from the invading terrorists, including AK 47 assault rifles, bows and arrows and other dangerous weapons,” the source said.

The onslaught against the insurgents followed increased attacks on parts of Madagali local government leading to the death of three soldiers and the abduction of one senior military officer alongside his operational vehicle.

Read More: leadership

Suspected Boko Haram Attack In Borno Kills 9

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Gunmen believed to be Boko Haram fighters Sunday killed at least nine people in Borno State in a trademark raid that also left 10 people injured, the police have said.

“Today (Sunday) at about 2a.m. suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Mailari village, (in) Konduga Local Government Area,” said Borno State police spokesman, Aderemi Opadukun.

“Nine persons were reported killed while 10 were injured. The injured victims are now being treated at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital,” he told reporters.

No further details were immediately available about the attack, which came after nearly 140 people were killed in a series of bombings in the Borno State capital Maiduguri and Monguno penutimate Sunday.

Read More: thisdaylive

20 Feared Dead In Fresh Borno Village Attack

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Staff Reporter

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No fewer than 20 people were killed, while several others were injured as members of Boko Haram terrorists’ sect, Saturday night, invaded Malari and other communities in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

However, Borno State Police Commissioner, Mr. Opadokun Aderemi, said in a text message to Vanguard that only nine people were killed, while 10 others were seriously injured.

Malari village is South-East of, and about 35 kilometres drive from Maiduguri, the state capital, and had suffered series of deadly attacks in the recent past.
A resident of the area, Mustapha Abubakar, who fled to Maiduguri, said the insurgents, who came on motorcycles and Toyota Hilux vehicles on Saturday night, shot at anybody they came across.

He said: “We fled into the bush and after they left, we returned to pick some of our belongings. I counted 20 corpses; some were slaughtered, while others had gunshot wounds. The corpses were all over the streets of the village.

“Government has to do something, otherwise they will continue to kill innocent citizens. Every surrounding village, which are not far from Maiduguri, had been taken over by the insurgents, as most of them are residing around the area.”

Confirming the attack, the Police Commissioner, Mr. Opadokun Aderemi, said: “Today, September 27, at about 2a.m., suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Malari village, Konduga Local Government Area.

“Nine persons were reported killed, while 10 were injured. The village is not far from Alau Dam that supplies water to Maiduguri and its environs.

“The injured are being treated at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospi-tal. Security is already beefed up to forestall a recurrence, as investigation progresses.”

Nigerian Troops Capture Town In Borno

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Nigerian troops says they have captured the economic and strategic town of Banki town in Borno State.

A statement issued by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, said the soldiers also destroyed seven Boko Haram camps and successfully diffused seven Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

According to Colonel Usman, several Boko Haram terrorists were killed, and others captured alive between Banki junction and Ngorosoye.

Banki is a said to be a town where major economic and trading activities between Nigeria, Cameroon and Central African countries take place.

Read More: channelstv

Nigerian Military Frees 128 Detainees In Borno

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday released 128 detainees after certifying that they had no link with the Boko Haram terrorists group in Borno.

The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, handed over the detainees to Governor Kashim Shettima at a ceremony in Maiduguri.

He said the detainees included 109 men, seven women, 11 boys and one unattached teenager. He said they were arrested at different parts of the state by the military in its anti-terrorism campaign.

Mr. Buratai said after thorough screening by a team of military intelligence officers, the police and the Department of State Security Service, the suspects were found to be clean and were released.

“The task of Operation Lafiya Dole can be seen in three terms – to defeat the insurgents, to facilitate humanitarian activities and observe human right and restore the administrative functions in the liberated area.

“We are here to formally hand over those arrested in the process of our operations; we are pleased to hand over the 128 suspects that have been cleared by the joint intelligent core, which comprised the Army, the police and DSS,” he said.

Read More: premiumtimesng

Boko Haram Kills 5 In Borno, 30 In Cameroon

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Borno State and neighbouring Cameroon have continued to be under heavy attacks from suspected members of the Boko Haram, killing at least five persons in the former and, 30 in the latter.

On Wednesday, members of the sect stormed a Borno village called Mainari but were repelled by security forces. That was, however, not until at least five people had been killed.

A military source said gunshots rang out in the village on Wednesday evening, adding that troops engaged in firefights with the insurgents lasting about an hour.

Five villagers were killed by militants and six were injured while fleeing the attack in Mainari, 20 km southeast of Maiduguri, according to two armed civilian volunteers who helped the military repel the attackers.

Read More: dailytimes

Boko Haram Kill 56 People In Fresh Attack On Villagers In Borno State

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Islamic extremist group Boko Haram killed 56 villagers in a remote area, the governor of Borno State of the region said, as the government warned that the extremists are trying to extend their violent campaign.

Gov. Kashim Shettima confirmed the attack in Baanu village during a meeting with the parents of the 219 girls abducted from a school in the region by the extremists last year. Thursday marked 500 days of captivity of the girls from a school in Chibok.

“I want us all to understand that the Boko Haram crisis is a calamity that has befallen us, as the insurgents do not discriminate whether somebody is Christian or Muslim, neither do they have any tribal sympathy or affiliations. Just yesterday they killed 56 people in Baanu village of Nganzai local government, as I am speaking to you their corpses are still littered on the street of the village because virtually everyone in the village had to run for their lives”.

He did not provide further details of the attack.

Fleeing residents of Baanu village said they were attacked by Boko Haram on Friday night.

“We returned back to the village in the morning after spending the night in the bush, we saw corpses in the streets of the village,” said farmer Mustapha Alibe.

Borno to re-open public schools

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Borno State Government is set to reopen public schools in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

As part of effort to open these schools, which are now accommodating Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from all parts of the state, the state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has constituted a 13-man committee to work out modalities for their reopening.

Primary and secondary schools in the state have been shut for over a year now with students due to series of attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents which left 22 of the 27 local governments in the state captured.

Though Maiduguri, the state capital was never captured by the insurgents, many primary and secondary schools in the capital have become homes to thousands of IDPs and making it difficult for classes to hold in the city.

There has been agitations for the reopening of the schools for sometimes now, with the state government always having to promise to get students back to schools without any concrete action.

But with the constitution of a committee to work out the modalities for the reopening of the schools, the schools are expected to be opened for classes in Maiduguri at the beginning of next academic session when the students might have lost two academic sessions.

The state government in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa at the weekend said the committee has been given three weeks within which to submit its report to the government, after which an action would be taken on the reopening of the schools.

The terms of reference of the committee include: identifying the total number of public schools and advise government on how best these schools could be effectively used for academic activities.

The committee is expected to take into consideration those schools currently accommodating IDPs as well as evaluate how best the Internally Displaced students/pupils at the camps and those staying with relatives in the host communities could appropriately be sent to the existing public schools in the state capital.

The committee is also expected to make recommendations on how the State Universal Basic Education Board should post relevant teaching staff to secondary and primary schools in view of the existing conditions.

The committee is equally tasked with the responsibility of liaising with security agencies on provision of adequate security to the IDPs and the schools when reopened and to recommend measures that it may find necessary for the effective and smooth achievement of the set objectives.

The committee will be chaired by Alhaji Gambo Gubio and has as members other notable personalities in the state, including Dr. Bulama Mali Gubio, Alhaji Haruna Idrisa Timta, Alhaji Musa Inuwa Kubo, Alhaji Abubakar Musa, Alhaji Lawan Shettima Benisheikh, Mohammed Kauji, among others.

Source : Daily Post

Vigilante Kills 17 Boko Haram Militants In Borno, Mostly Teenagers

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Seventeen members of the Boko Haram terrorist group were killed on Wednesday evening by youth vigilance group in Lahou village, Borno state.

Speaking from the attacked village, near Ngulde in Askira-Uba local government area, about 70 Kilometres to Biu, the biggest town in the southern part of Borno state, the leader of the youth vigilance group in the area, Apagu Bitrus said the terrorists attacked Lahou at about 4pm on Wednesday but met their Waterloo “as our men were able to overpower them.”

Apagu bustling with enthusiasm said, “We slew 17 militants on Wednesday evening as they invaded Lahou village and equally seized two vehicles from them.”

?He revealed that the attackers were all between the ages of 12 and 17 years.

Credit: thisdaylive

Boko Haram Abducts Travellers, Kills 4 In Borno

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Staff Reporter

At least six civilians have been reportedly abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents in an ambush attack that left four others dead and three injured, officials of the civilian-JTF, have said.

Boko Haram terrorists had yesterday, laid ambush on travellers on a quiet highway at the outskirts of Nwajurko village in Damboa local government area of Borno State .

Witnesses said the sect opened fire on commercial vehicles conveying travellers who unknowingly drove into their ambush.

‘’According to one of the victims who escaped, the Boko Haram terrorists initially ambushed a Volkswagen Golf passenger car conveying five persons travelling from Damboa to Biu town, a travel distance of about 100kilometer. One person was shot dead and three persons escaped with bullet injuries, while two who were unable to escape were taken away by the insurgents,”said Malam Ali Biu.

Read More: leadership

Four Boko Haram Militants Apprehended In Konduga During Governors Visit

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Staff Reporter

At least four Boko Haram militants have been apprehended by members of the Civilian JTF in Borno village three days after the insurgents raided some nearby villages.

The terrorists were apprehended in Malari village at Konduga Local Government area of Borno state.

The arrested Boko Haram members were presented to the state governor, Kashim Shettima while on a solidarity visit to the area. Gov. Shettima was in Malari village today to sympathize with villagers after Boko Haram attack on Monday killed 9 persons and displaced hundreds of civilians, however,the governor was surprised when suddenly some youths came down from a golf car and
brought out 4 young men whose hands had been tied.

A civilian JTF leader, Nuhu Kumshise, later told SaharaReporters that one of them has been a notorious terrorists who wreaked havoc on the villagers surrounding Konduga.

”We arrested them today after his father handed over them to us, then they led us into the bush where the two remaining guys hid themselves. ”, Kumshise said.

However, one the suspect confessed that he is members of the deadly group and he further mention the name of his leader.

Another civilian JTF Bakura ? Yusuf said, ”long time before now we have been told that one of the arrestees that he is the leader who used to lead attacks on us.”

During his short visit, Gov. Shettima appealed to hundreds of displaced persons that camped? in Malari Primary school that buses will come to convey them to Konduga and foodstuffs as well as other materials will be provided immediately by the state government.

It was gathered that 9 persons were killed and hundreds of people were rendered homeless on Monday when Boko Haram stormed five villages including Shettimari, Kammiri, Kakurami, Kalari Auwlari, Burari and Malari in Konduga local government area of the troubled northeastern state?.

Borno Elders Demand Apology From Jonathan Over Killing Of State Residents By Boko Haram

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Borno Elders Forum have demanded an apology from former President Jonathan over the death of Borno state residents during the various Boko Haram attacks under his administration.

The Elders in a statement signed by their chairman Amb. Usman Gaji Galtimari released today August 4th, said the recent remarks by immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh showed that the Nigerian military were not adequately equipped by the Jonathan Administration in the fight against Boko Haram.

The elders say they were baffled that their state governor, Kashim Shettima was rebuked by the former president when he also reported that the Nigerian troops sent to Borno state were not adequately equipped

“What particularly baffles the Borno Elders’ Forum was that at some point in 2014, the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, had said it publicly after assessing the true situation as the man on ground that troops deployed in the fight against insurgents seriously lacked and required better military equipment and that those at battle fronts were poorly motivated. Several voices were raised in support of the Governor’s position. The Governor’s comments were completely rebuffed by the then President of Nigeria who went as far as threatening to withdraw soldiers from Borno as he spoke on live television interview relayed by the Nigerian Television Authority, at a Presidential Media Chat. Not only did the President rebuke the Governor and by extension, the people of Borno State, his aides followed suite and roundly condemned the Governor,” the statement said.

The elders made the following demands:

– A National Judicial Commission of Enquiry under an incorruptible judge from preferably the Southern Nigeria be set up to ask the immediate past President questions on why his administration refused to provide the military with the required functional and superior equipment whereas our sons and daughters were exposed to mass murder, severe injuries and grave destructions of our communities
– If the former government is found wanting it should be charged for genocide against the people of Borno State or at least criminal negligence at the International Criminal Court of Justice.
– The retired CDS retired should also be asked why he kept silent when the military under his command was not provided with the right equipment. He had the option of speaking or resigning as he ought to have done in order to draw attention of the world and by that he would have saved lives of Borno people.
– A list of citizens of Borno State killed from the time the issue of military capacity became in question, is compiled and relations of those killed are fully compensated for the death of their loved ones as a result of criminal negligence.
– A list of soldiers sent on missions without being properly equipped and exposed to death at different battle fronts in Borno State, is also compiled and that they are specifically celebrated with their survivors fully compensated since their bread winners died not just in combat but out of negligence of those in authority.
– An unreserved apology is tendered by the immediate past President and his service chiefs to the people of Borno State, especially those lost relations and also to Governor Kashim Shettima for all the humiliation he was made to suffer for telling the truth about capacity of the military at that time.

‘Boko Haram Still In Control Of Sambisa, 5 LGs’ – Yobe And Borno Governors Say..

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Governors Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State and Ibrahim Shettima of Borno say Boko Haram militants are still in control of Sambisa forest, as well as five local government areas in both states. The governors said this during the National Economic Council meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday July 23rd. The governors called for increased military actions in their states.

Police Recover Unexploded Bombs in Damaturu

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Mr Marcus Danladi, told reporters that six more unexploded bombs were discovered in the vehicle, after a thorough search by men of the Explosive Ordinance Department of the command.

Mr Danladi explained that in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State in Nigeria’s north-east region, four pieces of 81 mm Calibre capable of travelling 1,000 metres radius and two other improvised ones were retrieved and effectively diffused at the scene.

He stressed further that a woman in the Jeep was carrying with her, a bag containing six unexplored Mortar Bomb, which she was still holding at the scene of the blast.

According to the police boss, “the woman that was crying for help at the scene of the blast was aiming to trigger the Mortar Bomb capable of travelling 500 metres radius to claim more lives, but her mission was fruitless as she was ignored by the officers and men on ground having known her mission”.

Mr Danladi added that the woman later died at the scene as a result of the injuries sustained in the blast, confirming that the Mortar Bomb in her custody were recovered and successfully diffused.

He also said that men of the command on patrol at Bara in Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe State recently engaged the Boko Haram militants and liberated an evaded Village Market from possible attack.

Items recovered in the operation included a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), Tow AK 47 rifles with 2 AK 47 loaded magazine, 60 rounds of ammunition, an Improvised Explosive Device and 500 units of GPMG life ammunition.

Source – Channelstv.com

Borno Residents Caution FG Against Dialogue With Boko Haram

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Some residents of Borno on Monday cautioned the Federal Government against rushing into dialogue with the Boko Haram insurgents as a way of ending their violent campaign. Those who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri on Monday advised government to concentrate on military action against the insurgents.

Shieikh Musa Usman, a Maiduguri based Islamic scholar, advised government to equip the military with the necessary weapons to face the insurgents rather than considering dialogue option.

“We heard in the media that government was considering a dialogue option with the insurgents following the recent spate of attacks in the North east. Why should government dialogue with individuals who are only interested in killing and maiming innocent people? Is government saying that it cannot continue with the current anti insurgency war or what? Why must we be talking about dialogue when our neighbours are already dislodging the insurgents from their countries?” Usman said.

Usman urged government to copy from the recent actions of the Chadian and Nigerien Governments in dislodging the insurgents from their countries.

Malam Goni Yahuza, another scholar said that negotiating with the insurgents was a sign of weakness.

“I do not support the idea of dialogue with Boko Haram because there is nothing to dialogue about. In the first place, I do not think that the group has something to talk about apart from violence. I believe that the Nigerian military has all its takes to crush the insurgents, what they need is proper motivation for the task. Government must strive hard to ensure that it puts an end to the insurgency in a short while”, Yahuza said.

Alhaji Mohammed Mala, a businessman, commended the gallant efforts of the Nigeria military in fighting insurgents and urged them to do more.

(NAN)