Showing posts with label Boko Haram. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boko Haram. Show all posts

Thursday 3 January 2019

BREAKING NEWS: Air Force Helicopter Crashes During Anti-Boko Haram Operations In Borno

  • "A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Helicopter was lost in combat while providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion at Damasak in Northern Borno State. The mission was part of the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North East. The incident, occurred about 7:45 pm today, 2 January 2019."



The news of the crash was disclosed by Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Director of Public Relations and Information Headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force.

According to Daramola, the helicopter was providing air support to troops of 145 battalion at Damasak in northern Borno.

The incident occurred around 7:45pm. However, details of the incident were still sketchy at the time of filing this report.

The tweet read: "A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Helicopter was lost in combat while providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion at Damasak in Northern Borno State. The mission was part of the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North East.

"The incident, occurred about 7:45 pm today, 2 January 2019. Details of the cause of the crash are still scanty. As soon as the details of the crash are known, they will be made available to the public."
Hours earlier, Daramola had announced that the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE destroyed a building being used as meeting venue by Boko Haram insurgents near Baga, also in Borno.

“The attack was conducted on January 1, 2019, after series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions confirmed that the building was being used as an assembly point by the terrorists. Consequently, the ATF dispatched a NAF Alpha Jet aircraft to attack the building,” he had said, adding that a “direct hit was recorded on the target leading to significant damage to the structure and neutralisation of the occupants”.
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Wednesday 20 December 2017

EXCLUSIVE: Governments split over approval of $1bn to fight Boko Haram

32 govs were party to decision — Yari, NGF chair 

I wasn’t there — Fayose; 16 Ekiti LGs sue FG, govs

Treat all geo-political zones fairly, Wike tells FG

$1bn not to fight B-Haram alone — Osinbajo



Forum, Ayodele Fayose, yesterday disagreed over the recent approval of $1 billion by the National Economic Council, NEC, for the fight against insurgency. While Yari said 32 of 36 governors were in attendance when the decision was taken, Fayose said he was not part of the decision and that his state had gone to court to challenge the decision.

The two governors spoke separately to State House correspondents after an emergency meeting between the NGF and Speakers of State Houses of Assembly at the Old Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Meanwhile there was indication that as the $1 billion approval from the Excess Crude Account continues to generate controversy, the governors have involved speakers of State Assemblies to give legislative backing to the approval. Fielding questions from journalists on the objection of Fayose to the approval, Governor Yari said:

Gentlemen, this is democracy and each and every person has his own way of looking at things and you cannot stop him from agitating. “One, Nigeria Governors Forum discussed this issue at our November meeting and we agreed across party lines that this thing has been done in 2014 where $2 billion was taken in agreement with the governors at that meeting. “Governor Akpabio was the one that moved the motion.

This time we realize that there was need to purchase equipment for the military, so we felt we should not compromise the issue of security for the entire country. “We said as governors, we agreed to forfeit $1 billion, our share of Excess Crude Account which we are going to back up with state assembly resolution at a later time. “This is not the first time a decision like this is being taken, it happened during Jonathan’s era when they took $2 billion.

We all agreed at that time collectively in the same chamber to withdraw $2 billion to procure equipment for the military and also for logistics for the military because they were telling us, whether it was true or false, that our soldiers were being killed, some came on the social media, saying they were being killed like rats because they didn’t have the training and the equipment.

That was what generated discussions at the same chamber and there was no controversy, there was no opposition to the decision at that time. “Second, there was this decision also under Yar’Adua’s (Umaru Musa Yar’Adua) time when they were sourcing funds for Niger Delta Power Holdings.

They also took over N5 billion for power generation. We followed the same process to withdraw the money from the same account and our respective houses of assembly confirmed the resolution. “The $2 billion taken under Jonathan’s time was not backed up by any resolution from the state assemblies. Gentlemen, we shouldn’t play politics with the issue of national security.

“By the way, at the Governors Forum, 12 members form quorum; at the time we took this decision we had 32 members in attendance and there was no single opposition to the decision. “If anybody has his own way that he wants things to go, we had the majority and there was not even a minority opinion at that meeting.

We look at the country, Nigeria, first before any other issue, it is only when you have the country that you can have politics.” On why governors should give out $1 billion, despite not paying salaries, he said: “You see, if you are not an economist, you may not understand what you are talking about. This monies are kept there for the rainy day. And how much are those monies, it is $2 billion.

Except in 2015 when we came begging, now we are asking for what is our own. “The Federal Government was deducting the money illegally in those days; we were asking the Federal Government to give us what was our own.

Then we were appealing, they were not listening, thank God today we have a listening government that makes attempt to pay 50 per cent and now we are looking forward to the last balance of 50 per cent.

“Graciously, understanding the economies of the states, the Federal Government has agreed to pay so that the state governments can pay salaries and meet their obligations to their citizens.” I’m not in support, Fayose insists But Governor Fayose insisted that neither him nor his state gave approval for the money.

He said: “I’m not in support of $1 billion and will never be in support. In my state we have agreed to go to court to contest this. It is our legitimate right; all accruals to the federation must be shared by the three tiers of government and for me to get justice I have to go to court.”

When asked what was the consensus at the emergency meeting, he said: “The issue was not discussed at all. But for me I have taken appropriate steps because the money belongs to Ekiti people; not for any other use.” Also asked whether he was alone in this fight or the entire PDP states are with hm, Fayose said, “Excuse me; I am speaking for Ayo Fayose. With the PDP and the stakeholders, we have not met. I did not attend the meeting.

Even if I was part of the meeting, I would have made it expressly clear but I will not support it. “Every state has its own peculiarities in terms of security. Ekiti State has Hunger Pangs where hunger is catching people everywhere. A lot of people are being kidnapped daily; whatever is in that money for me we should share it, let everybody go and solve his own problem.

I have challenges and they should give me my money. It is Ekiti money.” On whether the emergency meeting would have been a good platform to raise the issue, he replied, “May I say this to you, I filed a case in court as early as 12 noon today; if it was not listed as part of the meeting, how am I going to raise the issue? I have options and I have said it expressly, I have gone to court.” On rumours that there was disagreement over the issue at this meeting he said: “No, no, no. If it was one of the issues discussed I would have said so. I am not a pretender I won’t suffer in silence.”

However a statement read after the meeting explained that the two arms met to resolve some issues concerning the ongoing constitutional amendment. $1bn not for fighting B-Haram alone — Osinbajo Meanwhile, the federal government has clarified that the $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account is not meant to fight Boko Haram alone.

While the move had generated a debate, with some querying President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for attempting to spend such a huge amount on an “already defeated” terrorist group, the government said the money was actually to fight insecurity across the country.

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who made the clarification in his keynote address at a retreat organized by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, for secretaries to state governments in Abuja, said the purpose of the approval was misconstrued by the public. He said: “Barely two months ago, NEC hosted a security summit. The summit was crucial in understanding and dimensioning the security problems of the country and the weaknesses of our security architecture.

"The summit examined issues of kidnapping, small arms trafficking, terrorist activities of Boko Haram in the North East, the problem of farmers and herdsmen clashes, cattle rustling etc. ‘’Several initiatives were approved and it was on account of the security summit that the governors at the Governors’ Forum subsequently decided that they would vote a certain sum of money, which has become somewhat controversial, the $1 billion, to assist the security architecture of the country.’’

In a veiled reference to Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, who had dissociated himself from the approval endorsed by fellow governors, Osinbajo said all the governors met across party lines to take the decision. According to him, the fund “was to assist all of the issues in the states, including policing in the states, community policing, all of the different security challenges that we have and it was after the summit that the Governors’

Forum met across party lines, again I must add, in order to approve and to accept that this is what needs to be done to shore up our security architecture.” Speaking on the theme of the retreat, “Strengthening Inter-Governmental relations for Good Governance and National Security”, Prof. Osinbajo said that without the states, there was very little that the federal government could do to touch the lives of Nigerians.

According to him, the role of Secretaries to State Governments is, therefore, central to cascading the actions of government and conclusions to relevant MDAs in the states. In his welcome remarks, Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, said the retreat was organized to “offer a platform for secretaries to come together and rub minds on how best the federal system of government which we practice, can be better positioned for growth and development.

The principle of federalism is founded on separation of powers among tiers of government, while at the same time seeking to attain a balance in powers and responsibility sharing between the tiers. ‘’This retreat is aimed at creating a forum where we can better achieve that balance that allows for full, effective and efficient function of the state structure for the good of all.

“Issues of local government autonomy, internal security, improving our territorial economic prowess through enhanced internally generated revenues, infrastructure development, engaging public private partnerships and ease of doing business, are some of the compelling thematic areas of public discourse begging for solutions, which should be addressed in the most holistic manner for an enduring posterity and for the good of our people.’’

In his goodwill message to the occasion, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Muhammad Musa Bello, said “no matter what we do at the national level, as long as it does not trickle down to the sub-national level, our efforts would have been in vain”.

Treat all zones equally — Wike Meanwhile, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State yesterday called on the Federal Government to treat all geo-political zones in Nigeria equally, with reference to the recent approval of $1 billion to tackle insurgency in the North-East.

Addressing visiting House of Representatives Committee on Local Content in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the governor restated his call for release of funds from the Excess Crude Account to tackle environmental challenges confronting the Niger Delta. He said: “There should be balance in the way the Federal Government handles issues affecting different parts of the country.

As they tackle Boko Haram with $1billion, they must remember that the environmental challenges facing the Niger Delta is the major security challenge. “If something happens or there is crisis in the Niger Delta, there will be no excess crude for anyone to draw from.” Issues of development and security, Wike stressed, should not be politicised as political parties were mere vehicles to convey politicians to desired destinations.

“This country belongs to all of us. We must work to salvage Nigeria. We shall always talk about the interest of Nigeria,” he said. He also commended the House Committee on Local Content for its role in ensuring that Shell did not leave Rivers State. Reps c’ttee leader lauds Wike Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Local Content, Emmanuel Ekon, lauded Wike for quality leadership that has revived the PDP as the main opposition party in Nigeria.

“Governor Wike by his contributions, provided an alternative for all politicians, even those in the APC,” Ekon noted. “The change of narrative by the APC controlled Federal Government on its attempt to pilfer $1bn from the Excess Crude Account has exposed the depth of corruption in the party and its government.

It is shameful, indecent and embarrassing for a ruling government to engage in denials like a common criminal caught in the act,” Kola Ologbodiyan, National Publicity Secretary, PDP. 16 Ekiti Lgs sue FG, govs over $1bn for Boko Haram Also, sixteen local government chairmen in Ekiti State yesterday dragged the Federal Government and governors of 36 states of the federation to court over the approval of $1billion from the Excess Crude Account to support the ongoing war against insurgency in the North East.

The plaintiffs, in the suit they filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, are seeking order of injunction restraining FG and the governors, their agents, servants, privies, representatives in interest, howsoever called, from giving effect to the appropriation and/ or approval of appropriation of the $1 billion or any other sum whatsoever, from the Excess Crude Account of the Federation, as contained in the decision made on December 15, 2017, unless and by means of statutory allocation by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

They also urged the court to declare that the approval of $1billion by the 36 state governors to purportedly execute the constitutional duty of the Federal Government, which has been sufficiently funded from the Federation Account, without their consent, was ultra vires, unlawful, null and void. Aside the AGF and the 36 state governors, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission was also cited as a defendant in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1264/17, which the plaintiffs filed through their lawyer, Mr. Ola Olanikpekun, SAN.

The Ekiti LG Chairmen behind the suit are; Deji Ogunsakin (Ado LGA); Bola Alonge (Ikere LGA); Lanrewaju Omolase (Ekiti South West LGA); Dapo Olagunju (Irepodun/Ifeelodun LGA); Samuel Adeniyi (Ekiti East LGA); Olumide Falade (Ise/Orun LGA); Sade Akinrinmola (Gbonyin LGA); Tayo Ogundare (Oye LGA); Chief Ayodeji Arogbodo (Ido/Osi LGA) and Taiwo Oguntuase (Emure LGA).

As well as Kolawole Omotunde (Ekiti West LGA); Bolaji Jeje (Efon LGA); Adesola Adeyanju (Ikole LGA); Ganiyu Bakare (Ilejemele LGA); Adeniyi Adebayo (Moba LGA) and Abiodun Dada (Ijero LGA).

The plaintiffs are seeking for an order declaring that in the discharge of its constitutional duty to safeguard the security and territorial integrity of Nigeria, the federal government must be funded in accordance with its Appropriation Act and by means of due accruals from the Federation account only.

The plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that they are entitled to full share of all revenue accrued and accruable to the Federation Account and the Federation Excess Crude Account or any other Account whatsoever operated by and for the Federation of Nigeria, including the sum of $1,000,000,000 (which was purportedly approved for the expenditure of the Federal Government by the 1st-37th defendants at the 83rd, National Economic Council meeting of December 15, 2017, in accordance with section 162 of the 1999 constitution and the provisions of Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account) Act. Meantime the case is yet to be assigned to any judge for hearing.


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Monday 25 September 2017

FG okays trial of I,600 alleged Boko Haram terrorists, frees 220 suspects

  • The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, said the Federal Government would on October 9, kick-start the trial of over 1,600 suspected Boko Haram terrorists currently held in various detention facilities in the country.

  • Malami, SAN, in a statement he made available to Vanguard on Sunday, disclosed that out of a total of 1,670 members of the terrorist sect that were profiled at the Kainji detention center, in Niger State, 220 of them were recommended for release/deradicalisation programme, owing to the absence of evidence to prosecute them.

He said that FG has so far concluded 13 trials involving members of the extremist sect, out of which it secured nine convictions. The AGF equally revealed that 651 Boko Haram members that were remanded on the order of the Federal High Court in Maiduguri had since been transferred from Giwa Barracks to Maiduguri Prisons.

He said that whereas 33 trials involving apprehended members of the sect are currently ongoing at various divisions of the Federal High Court, a total of 116 charges that were filed by FG are awaiting trial in Kainji. According to Malami, SAN, some of the challenges FG faced in prosecution of the alleged Boko Haram terrorists, included “Poorly investigated case files due to pressure during the peak of conflict at the theatre.

“Over reliance on confession based evidence, lack of forensic evidence, absence of cooperation between investigators and prosecutors at pre investigation stages”. As well as, “Poor logistical facilities to transport defendants from detention facility to court for trial. Scarcity of skilled/trained forensic personnel to handle investigation of complex cases. Inadequate security for counsel handling terrorism cases and converting military intelligence to admissible evidence”.

Nevertheless, the AGF said he has approved a list of prosecutors to handle the cases, adding that the Legal Aid Council had also released a list of defence counsels to stand in for the detainees/defendants. “The proposed prosecutions of over One Thousand, Six Hundred (1600) detainees held in Kainji will commence by early October, 2017 after the opening of the new legal year.

“Currently, four judges have been deputed by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to sit on the cases at Kainji and dispose of them expeditiously. “It is expected that the special prosecutions will start with the detainees in Kainji followed closely by the disposal of the cases of the detainees in Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri until the cases are exhausted.

“The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as the coordinator of terrorism matters is expected to assist the court by providing the relevant detainees access to deradicalisation programmes where necessary. “This is the report of the on-the-spot assessment of the facilities and other incidentals preparatory to the commencement of trial of the over 1600 suspected Boko Haram terrorist in detained in a military detention facility located in Wawa Barracks, Kainji, New Bussa, Niger State following successes recorded by the Nigeria Army and other security agencies in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

“A team comprising representative of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Federal High Court and the Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation were dispatched to Kainji from the 12thto 14th of September, 2017 to carry out the assessment and to discuss with relevant authorities and organisation in final preparation of the all-important national assignment”, the AGF further disclosed in the statement that was signed by his media aide, Mr. Salihu Isah.

The AGF said his investigations revealed that there were four categories of suspects at the Kainji detention facility. He gave the categorisation as: “Boko Haram suspects who were hitherto investigated by the Joint Investigation Team set up by the Defence Headquarters otherwise known as DHQ/JIT and case files transmitted to the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and after a careful review of the cases based on their individual merit, it was discovered that they have no prima facie cases that will sustain a charge against them in any court of law hence were recommended for release and handed over to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for rehabilitation and/or de-radicalisation.

“The second category is the set of suspects that the Honourable Attorney-General found prima facie cases against them and charges already filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division who are also mostly in the detention facility under reference and may be willing to plead guilty for a lesser sentences.

“The other category are the suspects whose case file are either recommended for further investigation or that have no investigation conducted on them at all hence they do not have case files that will warrant the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to form any opinion in respect of their case. “Lastly, the fourth category is the suspects whose cases were reviewed and a prima facie were found and may be willing to opt for a full trial.

“From the above categorisation, it is important to state that the number of the suspects affected by any of the aforementioned categories would only be determined when the trial has commenced”, the AGF added.

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Friday 4 August 2017

FINALLY: US approves Super Tucano attack planes for Nigeria

  • After years of foot-dragging, the US State Department has finally approved a $593 million sale to Nigeria of A-29 Super Tucano attack planes with associated parts, training, facilities and weapons.
  • The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered their certification of the foreign military sale to Congress, as required by law, on August 2, according to United Press International.


    The twelve A-29s, equipped with wing-mounted machine guns, weapons integration with advanced surveillance… precision-guided bombs, and even air-to-air missiles” are expected to be used by Nigeria to combat the Boko Haram insurgents and other extremist groups, such as the Islamic State West Africa splinter group.
    They will also serve to counter smuggling and other trafficking in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. The DSCA has determined that U.S. security interests are served by assisting Nigeria in its counter-insurgency operations and that the A-29 sale will not significantly alter the military balance of power in the region.
    The contract will require U.S. Government or private contractors to provide training and support, and will include instruction on rules of engagement and human rights to help prevent civilian casualties. The Embraer A-29 Super Tucano is a turboprop light attack plane in service with countries across the world. It is designed for counter-insurgency operations and close-air support in areas lacking significant air defenses.
     It is also widely used as a training aircraft. It is a contender in the U.S. Air Force’s OA-X light attack aircraft competition for a low-cost and easy to operate and maintain air support platform. Light planes like the Tucano can fulfil air support and surveillance needs in low-risk environments at a much lower operational cost then heavier jets like the A-10 or F-16 and require less flight and maintenance training. The attack planes will be a big boost for Nigeria’s military anti-terrorism campaign in the north east of the country.
     Past attempts to procure the plane under the Obama administration was frustrated by accusations of human rights abuses against Nigeria’s military. According to Defense Industry Daily, the Super Tucano is known as the A-29 or ALX in Brazil, but abroad, it’s the EMB 314 successor to Embraer’s widely-used EMB 312 Tucano trainer.
    The plane offers better flight performance than the EMB 312 Tucano, plus armoring and wing-mounted machine guns, weapons integration with advanced surveillance and targeting pods, precision-guided bombs, and even air-to-air missiles.
    This makes it an excellent territorial defence and close support plane for low-budget air forces, as well as a surveillance asset with armed attack capability.
    Brazil uses it this way, for instance, alongside very advanced EMB-145 airborne radar and maritime patrol jet platforms. In Africa, Ghana, Angola, Burkina Faso, Angola, Mauritania, either have the Tucano in their air forces, or they had placed orders for new supplies.
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    Monday 3 April 2017

    Wedding Guests Escape Death As Dog Stops Female Suicide Bomber From Entering Venue

    • Guests at a wedding ceremony at Belbelo community, Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, escaped death on Sunday when a female suicide bomber with an  Improvised Explosive Device ( IED) strapped to the body, was prevented from entering the venue of the ceremony by a watchdog.

    Sniffer Dog
     Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Isuku, said the aborted suicide bomb attack took place at about 7.33pm. The suicide bomber, he explained,  was prevented from entering the venue by a watchdog.  

    She detonated the IED, killing only herself and the dog.
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    Saturday 18 February 2017

    Bombs Rain On Maiduguri As Boko Haram Fighters Attempt To Overrun The City

    • Three powerful bomb explosions and heavy gunfire were heard around Maiduguri city late Thursday evening, sending many residents into panic.


    • According to Sammynews4u sources, heavily armed Boko Haram fighters around attempted to attack Maiduguri through the newly constructed Customs House where IDPs from Mafa LGA are being camped but were stopped by the gallant military officers and members of the Civilian JTF who engaged them in a serious gun battle that lasted more than an hour.

    Boko Haram Fighters

    Three powerful bomb explosions and heavy gunfire were heard around Maiduguri city late Thursday evening, sending many residents into panic.

    According to Sammynews4u sources, heavily armed Boko Haram fighters around attempted to attack Maiduguri through the newly constructed Customs House where IDPs from Mafa LGA are being camped but were stopped by the gallant military officers and members of the Civilian JTF who engaged them in a serious gun battle that lasted more than an hour.

    An unconfirmed report said scores of civilians and all Boko Haram fighters that carried out the late Thursday evening attack were killed.

    Read More »

    Monday 5 December 2016

    Again Guards Arrest Boko Haram Suspects In Zaria

     Police Area Commander in charge of Zaria headquarters, Muhammad D.‎ Shehu, confirmed the arrest, explaining that the two suspects would be‎ transferred to the police state command.
    by Daily Trust Nov 19, 2015

    The two supect arrested



    Two suspected members of Boko Haram militants disguising as members of the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’iqamitis Sunna (JIBWIS) First Aid Group ‎have been arrested and handed over to the police.

     Boko Haram militants arrested by Civilian JTF in Konduga, mid 2015 Sammynews4u

    The National Director of JIBWIS First Aid Group, Malam Mustapha Imam Sitti, disclosed this to our correspondent in Zaria saying that the arrest followed an advice that was issued to all religious groups by the military of the possibility of terrorists to use their uniforms.

    Police Area Commander in charge of Zaria headquarters, Muhammad D.‎ Shehu, confirmed the arrest, explaining that the two suspects would be‎ transferred to the police state command.

    Sitti said: “the first suspect was caught fully dressed in our uniform. Members of our First Aid Group (‘Yan Agaji) have their uniform. Following the military’s advice, we have introduced certain security measures. Through those measures, our members can identify themselves anywhere they meet. This was how we arrested the suspect and handed him over to the police. On investigation, it was discovered that the first suspect was operating under the leadership of one.

    Hassan Mahauci who resides in Maigana, Soba local government. “Of recent, the leader of our First Aid Group in Soba local government was matcheted to death. Therefore, the arrest of these suspects made us to believe that it was Boko Haram that killed him. We would continue to be vigilant and we want to advise all religious groups to do the same since Boko Haram have began to infiltrate our First Aid Groups.”
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    Wednesday 16 November 2016

    Boko Haram Has Killed Another Army In Borno State

    • Boko Haram militants today ambushed and killed a Nigerian Army Commander, Lt. Colonel Umar. Sources told Sammynews4u that Umar who is the Commanding Officer of the 114 Task Force Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Bita was ambushed along Bitta-Pridang Road in Borno state. Umar and members of his troops reportedly came out of their armored vehicle to inspect a damage done to it by an IED laid on the side of the road when Boko Haram terrorists opened fire killing the CO and wounding several troops. 

      Left Lt. Col. Umar
      Boko Haram militants today ambushed and killed a Nigerian Army Commander, Lt. Colonel Umar.

      Sources told Sammynews4u that Umar who is the Commanding Officer of the 114 Task Force Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Bita was ambushed along Bitta-Pridang Road in Borno state.

      Umar and members of his troops reportedly came out of their armored vehicle to inspect a damage done to it by an IED laid on the side of the road when Boko Haram terrorists opened fire killing the CO and wounding several troops.

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    Tuesday 1 November 2016

    Sexual Harassment: Shettima To Request Deployment Of Female Undercover Police, DSS, NAPTIP Detectives To IDP Camps

    • Governor Shettima said deployment of undercover agents will be a permanent measure in addition to the urgent need for investigation of the report by the Human Rights Watch ‎released days ago which said some female IDPs interviewed had alleged they were sexually harassed by some security officials, to the extent of getting them pregnant.




    Following recent reports about some officials sexually harassing female internally displaced persons, Governor Kashim Shettima has‎ revealed his plans to write letters requesting the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Security, the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP and the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA to deploy female and male undercover detectives to all IDP camps in Borno State to spy on culprits and bring them to book.

    Speaking at a courtesy call by a delegation from the National University Commission on tour ongoing infrastructure at the proposed Borno State University, which held at the Government  House in Maiduguri on Tuesday,  Governor Shettima said deployment of undercover agents will be a permanent measure in addition to the urgent need for investigation of the report by the Human Rights Watch ‎released days ago which said some female IDPs interviewed had alleged they were sexually harassed by some security officials, to the extent of getting them pregnant.

    ‎"Today, as Governor of Borno State, there is no issue that gives me headache like the unfortunate bye-products of IDP camps. Our citizens were violently sent out of their houses and communities, it is their fundamental rights to be provided alternative accommodation with their food and health cater for. Sadly and very sadly indeed, the IDP camps have become avenues that horrible stories of sexual slavery, prostitution rings, drug peddling and other social vices are emanating from.

    "Only yesterday (Monday) there was a report by a Human Rights group alleging incidences of sexual abuses by some Federal and State workers in some of the IDP camps. This is highly condemnable. Apart from investigating these claims and arresting culprits which is absolutely necessary, I am going to write letters to the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the DSS, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and may be the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, requesting all of them to deploy female and male undercover detectives to all our camps to permanently spy on anyone involved in sexual harassment, any form of prostitution, drugs trafficking, possible child trafficking and even the allegations of diversion of food items meant for IDP’s.

    "I would want these detectives to report their findings to their security establishments and whoever is found wanting should be picked up without notifying me so long as there is verifiable evidence to prosecute him or her. Ladies and gentlemen, I am tired of applying the element of persuasion in handling the issues of IDP’s, we need to wield the big stick. The problem with managing the IDP camp is that you are dealing with a population of two or more local government areas in one location and you cannot imprison them by restricting or stopping them from leaving the IDP camp in the day time. When a female IDP leaves the camp in the morning, you cannot be in control of where she goes and who she sees. If she leaves the camp and returns the following day, she may claim to have visited a family member and little can be done. I strongly believe there are cases of sexual harassment but some of the women may be consenting to sexual advances largely due to extreme poverty and loss of value system. We have to instill sanity into the IDP camps and I hope we will not end up having human rights activists telling us we cannot deploy undercover detectives into IDP camps due to one form of rights violation or the other. Desperate situations call for desperate measures. Sexual harassment of female IDPs is a desperate situation.

    "None of us here is beyond becoming an IDP if Allah decrees and none of us would fold arms if his or her daughter is in position to be sexually harassed, so we must act now" the Governor said.

    Shettima explained that ‎the history of Borno State has painted negative by the Boko Haram insurgency noting that the State has gotten tired of counting deaths and destructions.

    "The Borno Story that has been painted very badly by the Boko Haram. We are even tired of counting the number of deaths, number of those of injured, value of private institutions and private property destroyed and the huge number of persons internally displaced" the Governor said.

    Isa Gusau
    Special Assistant on Media to the Governor
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    Senate Rejects Buhari’s Request To Borrow $30 billion

    • The Senate has rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for authorisation to borrow about $30 billion. The president, last Tuesday, forwarded a request to the National Assembly to approve external borrowing plan of $29.960 billion to execute key infrastructural projects across the country between 2016 and 2018. He made the requests in two separate letters to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.




    The Senate has rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for authorisation to borrow about $30 billion.

    The president, last Tuesday, forwarded a request to the National Assembly to approve external borrowing plan of $29.960 billion to execute key infrastructural projects across the country between 2016 and 2018.

    He made the requests in two separate letters to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

    Mr. Buhari said the external loan, the biggest in Nigeria’s history, will fund targeted projects cuts across all sectors with special emphasis on infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, water supply, growth and employment generation.

    Other sectors, he said, included poverty reduction through social safety net programs and governance and financial management reforms, among others.

    According to him, the cost of the projects and programs of the borrowing (rolling) plan is $29.960 billion.

    This is made up of proposed projects and programs loan of $11.274 billion, special national infrastructure projects $10.686 billion, Euro bonds of $4.5 billion and Federal Government budget support of $3.5 billion.

    The Majority Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, was quoted on Monday as saying that the House would approve the loan.

    But The Senate considered the request on Tuesday and refused to give its approval.
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    Wednesday 19 October 2016

    [BREAKING NEWS] Boko Haram hits village near Chibok, burn down house

    • Boko Haram terrorists have attacked a village 10 kilometers away from Chibok community
       

    • The terrorists, residents said, launched their attack in Goptari on Tuesday, October 18, at about 8 pm
       

    • The terrorists razed houses and carted away with foodstuff and livestock belonging to residents of the community

     File photo of destruction caused by Boko Haram terrorists
    Boko Haram terrorists have attacked Goptari, a village 10 kilometers away from Chibok community in Borno state, Punch reports. The attack, residents said, occurred at 8 pm on Thursday, October 18. The residents said some group of Boko Haram terrorists invaded the community, set houses on fire after looting food supplies and livestock. “They attacked the village around 8:00 pm (1900 GMT), firing heavy guns which made people flee into the bush,” Samson Bulus from nearby Kautikeri village said.

    “The Boko Haram raiders looted homes and shops, taking along food supplies and livestock before burning the entire village,” he said. Another resident, Luka Damina said troops of the Nigerian military had engaged the attackers in a gun battle but were over powered during the operation. “The Boko Haram fighters overpowered the soldiers and seized a van with a machine gun mounted on the deck from the soldiers,” Damina said. Another resident, a local chief said, a soldier was wounded during the shootout.
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    Also, the Nigerian army spokesperson Sani Usman said 13 soldiers were wounded in the attack. Usman also said that some soldiers were missing after the attack that made troops withdraw from the gun battle between the Nigeria army and the terrorists. Meanwhile contrary to this, the chief of army staff Tukur Buarai while commissioning some offices in a Lagos Barracks said there are no Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria. Buratai said all the terrorists have been driven into the Lake Chad Basin areas by the Nigerian military. He also said that most attacks witnessed in the country were carried out by insurgents from this region.
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