BUHARI- BOKO HARAM NO LONGER A THREAT

Despite the bombings still being carried out in parts of the country by members of the Boko Haram sect, President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said the sect is no longer in a position to cause serious threat to his administration’s development programmes.

While admitting that the sect’s activities had led to loss of

many lives and displacement of innocent people in the country, the President boasted that since his assumption of office in May 2015, Boko Haram has been systematically decimated.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke at a bilateral meeting he had with the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hammad Al-Thani, on Sunday.

Buhari was also said to have talked on the situation in the Middle East and commended the role Qatar is playing in resolving the present Syrian crisis, the Palestinian cause and efforts in reconstructing Gaza.

He said, “The conflicts in Yemen and Syria, with their attendant humanitarian crisis, need genuine international effort to solve.

“Nigeria as a peace-loving country identifies with the State of Qatar in all her peace efforts in the world to end terrorist activities.

“Nigeria is a victim of terrorism. It is with heavy heart that I stand before you and say activities of Boko Haram have led to loss of many lives and displacement of innocent people in our dear nation.

“We, however, take pride to inform you that since our coming to power, Boko Haram has been systematically decimated and are in no position to cause serious threat to our development programmes.

“I wish to reiterate that Nigeria rejects violence and extremism in all their ramifications, and we assure Your Highness that we are with the State of Qatar in your efforts to fight terrorism and injustice in your region and in the world at large.”

Buhari also called for a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying, “We in Nigeria, like the State of Qatar, favour a ‘Two State’ solution, with the State of Palestine living side by side with the State of Israel.

“I want to assure you that we will stand side by side with you, until our brothers and sisters in Palestine achieve their desired objectives.

“Our support for various Security Council resolutions restoring and respecting 1967 boundaries with Jerusalem as capital of Palestine is firm and unshaken.”

The President also stressed the need for member states of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-OPEC members to cooperate and find a common ground to stabilise crude oil prices.

He described the current market situation in the industry which has seen oil prices plummet by 70 per cent since mid-2014, as unacceptable.

“As members of OPEC and Gas Exporting Countries Forum, our relations in the areas of oil and gas, which our two nations heavily rely on, need to be enhanced and coordinated for the benefit of our people.

“The current market situation in the oil industry is unsustainable and totally unacceptable.

“We must cooperate both within and outside our respective organisations to find a common ground to stabilise the market, which will be beneficial to our nations,’’ the President said on the second day of his state visit to Qatar.

The President used the occasion of his address to the emir to commend the existing cordial bilateral relations between both countries and invited prospective Qatari investors to take advantage of the abundant opportunities in Nigeria and invest in the key areas of energy, agriculture, real estate development, banking and finance.

Soldiers demand allowance before Maiduguri posting

There was tension at the 55 Battalion Bonny Camp, Lagos on Thursday following the grumbling by 200 soldiers over the alleged non-payment of their three months mission allowances.

Our correspondents reliably gathered that the 200 soldiers were part of the 800 troops that just returned from Darfur, Sudan where they had gone to for a peace keeping operation.

The soldiers after their return, it was learnt, were redeployed again to the North-East to join the battle against insurgents.

The contingent is said to be led by Lt. Col. H. Dasuki, who unconfirmed sources said, is related to the immediate former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

They are expected to leave Lagos for Maiduguri on Friday (today).

But our one of our correspondents gathered that the soldiers said they would not proceed to Maiduguri except their allowances for the Sudan operation were paid.

This, they argued, would enable them to leave money behind for   their families.

The issue had not been resolved as of the time of filling the report.

A military source said such posting without payment of allowances was not acceptable to the military high command as it was contrary to a directive from the Defence headquarters.

Reacting to the subtle protest, the Public Relations Officer of the 81 Division, Lt. Col. Kingsley Samuel, said that the soldiers who returned from foreign mission in Sudan were not involved in such a protest.

He said that that there was no grumbling whatsoever in the Bonny Camp.

He said, “There is nothing like grumbling in that battalion. It is not true
SOURCE: PUNCH

President Obama orders 300 troops to Cameroon to help the fight against Boko-Haram

 

          President Obama on Wednesday, October 14, said he had ordered 300 troops to Cameroon to work with West African soldiers seeking to counter the Nigerian extremist group Boko Haram. In a letter to Congress, Obama said that the troops would provide “intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance” in the region.
White House press secretary, Josh Earnest, said that the troops would be armed for their protection but that they would not engage in combat.
President Obama said that an advance force of about 90 military personnel had begun deploying to Cameroon, which borders Nigeria, on Monday, October 12. Administration officials said that unarmed Predator drones would be sent with the troops, who will aid a multinational task force composed of soldiers from Cameroon, Chad, Benin, Niger and Nigeria.
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Photo: Boko Haram suspect arrested in Lagos

A suspected member of the Boko Haram sect identified as Abdullahi Adamu hasbeen arrested by Security operatives attached to Operation Mesa (OP Mesa)in Ijora area of Lagos State following a tip-off by residents of the community. The suspect, identified as Abdullahi Adamu, was apprehended during a raid carried out by operatives of the security outfit comprising the Army and the State Security Service (SSS).According to The Nation, the raid, which took place at the Ijora 7-Up area of Lagos, came after a tip-off on the activities of a terror network allegedly co-ordinated by Iranians. The suspects was arrested after soldiers ransacked one of the buildings in the area. Adamu was said to have concealed some devices suspected to be explosives in boxes, which were stacked in the ceiling of the house. Also recovered alongside the suspected explosives were two AK47 rifles. Commenting on the arrest, the paramount ruler of Ijora community, Oba Fatai Ojora said "We have been calling on the state government to do something about this. This is the second time we will arrest Boko Haram suspects in this community and nothing has been done on that. The one we caught now had even admitted that he is a terrorist. You know that majority of the northerners in Lagos live in Ijora, Agege and Badia.’’he said Another member of the community who spoke on condition of anonymity said “People came to me that they saw one man on the internet and that he is a member of Boko Haram, saying they know where he lives. They said they are going to his house and identify him. They arrested him and handed him to Oba of Ojora,” he said.

Nigeria army Bans Horse, Donkey Riding in Borno to curb Boko Haram

 Riding horses and donkeys in Borno
State has been outlawed by the
Nigerian military owing to the recent
dimension of Boko Haram attacks on
horseback.
The military communicated the
decision through the Shehu of Borno,
Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi,
BBC Hausa reported yesterday.
Last week, members of the insurgent
Boko Haram sect on horseback killed
over 80 people in three villages of the
state, with similar attacks also
reported in other past of the north-
east region.
 It was against this that the military,
said a resident of Borno, “issued the
ban on horse riding and the Shehu (of
Borno) gathered us all and informed us
of the decision.
“He told us that despite the fact that
the people of Borno have been known
with riding horses, that should be
stopped henceforth. If the soldiers
spotted anyone on horse back, they
cannot determine his true identity.”
Similarly, on the ban on donkeys,
which is the common means of
transportation in the rural areas, a
villager in the state also told BBC
Hausa that unless owners attached
their goods with written permission,
they would no longer engaged in
transporting goods on donkeys.
Reuters reported


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Nigeria: Military claims Boko Haram in ‘complete disarray’

  Nigeria’s military claims Boko Haram is in, quote, ‘complete disarray’. The Islamist group is being blamed for ongoing attacks – in Nigeria and beyond its borders. But a spokesman for the military says Boko Haram will be crushed before the year end. 
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Nigerian Army vows to defeat Boko Haram in 3 months

The Nigerian Army has vowed to defeat Boko
Haram sect within 3 months. This was stated in a
statement released by the acting spokesperson of
the Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman. Part
of the statement reads
"I have no iota of doubt in my mind that our
troops will wipe out the insurgents in the
shortest possible time and we are committed
to this target. You are aware that our troops
recaptured Gamboru Ngala last Tuesday and
are now consolidating, mopping up and
preparing for the next offensive against the
terrorists.
It is gratifying to note that most of the
terrorist group leadership, has been
decimated, while foot soldiers are abandoning
their masters, burying their weapons in the
forest and seeking solace. It is the
achievements from harmonized efforts that
have confirmed our stand that the insurgency
would be ended as soon as possible. We
would like to reassure @MBuhari
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria and indeed
the good people. of our great nation that we
would definitely meet up with the 3-month
deadline and do the nation proud.” the
statement said.

Nigerias Defence Headquaters denies death of 150

 The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, has debunked media reports that 150 Yobe villagers were either either shot dead or drowned while fleeing from attacks on their village by members of Boko Haram.

Instead, the DHQ claimed four members of the violent sect and a member of the civilian Joint Task Force were killed during a gun battle.

“The truth of the matter is the military got an intelligence report concerning a planned attack by Boko Haram on Kukuwa-Gari village in Yobe State. Following the tip-off, troops and civilian JTF laid ambush between Kukuwatashi and Kukuwa-Gari villages The insurgents ran into them and a gun-battle ensued in which four Boko Haram members and one civilian JTF lost their lives,” said in statement released on Wednesday.

The DHQ further stated that at the end of the encounter,two AK 47 rifles and two motorcycles used by the Boko Haram terrorists were recovered from them.

“The Armed Forces therefore implore the media to always seek clarification of stories before going to press as most of these unsubstantiated reports tend to embolden or encourage the terrorists to believe they are invincible, thus instilling perpetual fear in the minds of the citizens, especially, those in the contested areas of the North East.

The DHQ said the “military is doing all within its power to protect lives and property of Nigerians in any part of the country and thus, solicits cooperation and understanding of the media to be partners in progress in this noble task.” 

Over 150 people drowned when fleeing Boko Haram

Up to 150 people drowned in a river or were shot dead fleeing Boko Haram gunmen who raided a remote village in Nigeria’s northeastern Yobe state, locals said on Tuesday. Dozens of militants arrived on motorcycles and a car on Thursday last week and opened fire, scattering terrified residents of Kukuwa-Gari. “They opened fire instantly, which forced residents to flee. They shot a number of people. Unfortunately many residents who tried to flee plunged into the river which is full from the rain. Many drowned,” Modu Balumi, a resident of the village told AFP. “By our latest toll we have 150 people either (shot dead) or drowned in the attack. The gunmen deliberately killed a fisherman who tried to save drowning residents of the village.” Balumi said the bodies of many of the drowned were picked out by locals several kilometres away. News of the attack was slow to emerge because the militants have destroyed telecom masts around the village, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Yobe State capital Damaturu, since the insurgency began in 2009. “Boko Haram gunmen attacked our village on Thursday which led to the deaths of around 150 people. Most of the victims died in the river while trying to escape. The gunmen opened fire on the village forcing people to run to safety,” Bukar Tijjani, another villager, told AFP. “Most residents, particularly women and children, ran towards the river in confusion. They were pursued by the gunmen, who kept firing at them. In the frantic effort to escape they jumped into the river, which was full to the brim.” A local government official confirmed the attack but put the death toll much lower, at around 50.

YOBE to open public schools amidst insurgency

The Yobe State Government said it has rehabilitated over 300 classrooms and provided infrastructure in schools destroyed by insurgents across the state “to avoid gaps in the system.” The Director of Press to the State Governor, Mr. Abdullahi Bego, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Damaturu. Bego said the state government had made education and health care a priority that would receive major intervention in the next four years. “About 3,000 teachers have been recruited and posted to schools across the state to boost manpower requirement to improve the standard of education in the state. “The state government has committed enormous resources in rehabilitation and provision of instructional materials to primary and secondary schools to ensure that communities whose schools were destroyed by insurgents get back to school. “Similarly, government has provided resources to the tertiary institutions to ensure full accreditation of courses offered by the tertiary institutions and I am glad to say that 98 per cent of courses offered by the state university have been fully accredited and recognised,” he said. He said the College of Education, Gashua, had received similar support and was producing over 1,000 NCE and 100 degree graduates fully qualified for teaching in schools. “The state government had diligently absorbed 15,000 university, HND, OND and NCE graduates under the Youth Empowerment Programme, while unskilled youth were trained in various trades and settled with working tools and take-off grants after graduation for self reliance. “The Gaidam administration achieved all these, including prompt payment of salaries through financial prudence and, without seeking bank loans at a time when many states could not even pay salaries,” the director said. He also said the state government had completed the construction of a 200-bed capacity ultra modern hospital in Damaturu to serve as a referral hospital that was being provided with state-of-the-art equipment.

Nigerian Soldiers Working as Boko Haram Spies Arrested

Some Nigerian soldiers, who double as
moles for Boko Haram, giving the sect
vital information about the military’s
strategies and tactics, have been
arrested, new reports confirm.
According to AllAfrica.com, the nation’s
military has arrested those soldiers it
suspected were working as double
agents for Boko Haram.
“It was gathered that the alleged
moles among the soldiers leaked the
information on the deployment of
soldiers from Maimalari Barracks in
April this year to the terrorists,
which led to an ambush and killing
of so many soldiers of the 101
Battalion”
Military commanders are putting the
pieces together and revisiting all the
incidents in which Boko Haram
succeeded because it might have had
intelligence about secret operations.
And according to a site, who spoke to
the site;
“The situation became so bad that
there was mutual suspicion among
fellow commanders, the brigade
headquarters and even the division
headquarters. But at last, the moles
were found out to be some of the
orderlies and aides of commanders”,
the source said.
“What they do is that after operational
briefings and troops take off, these
moles immediately pass on the
information through calls”
While the Nigerian military is still
conducting investigations to flush out
more spies, the ones already caught will
be charged with criminal conspiracy
and possibly other crimes.
Too bad – No wonder the Boko Haram
thing has grown stronger or what do
you think???