FG Cries Out Over Boko Haram's Threat To Attack Nigeria With Nuclear Weapons

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FG says the production and the technological skills required to use the CBRNE weapons constitute national threat.

Boko Haram terrorists are considering nuclear and chemical weapons in attacking Nigeria. (ABC)

The Federal Government of Nigeria has raised the alarm over the plan by Boko Haram terrorists to deploy chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRNE) weapons in attacking the country in the future, Punch reports.

The government believes that the insurgent’s alliance with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria increases the possibility of the sect to use the weapons, adding that the production and the technological skills required to use the CBRNE weapons constitute national threat.

In a document, titled ‘National Security Strategy’, whose foreword was written by President Muhammadu Buhari, FG emphasised the need for a counter-strategy to address the threat.

President Muhammadu Buhari's administration had earlier announced that Boko Haram insurgency has been defeated technically. (PMNews)

According to Punch, the document, which was released during the week by the Office of the National Security Adviser, contains the plan of action by the government to combat the security and other threats facing the country.

The National Security Adviser, Maj Gen Babagana Monguno (retd) said the document is to ensure that “Nigeria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interests, well-being of the people and the country’s institutions are preserved, protected and enhanced.”

Since 2009, Boko Haram sect has been attacking Nigeria, particularly the North-Eastern part of the country and has reportedly claimed more than 22,000 lives, comprising both civilians and soldiers.

Due to the insurgency, over 2.3 million persons, including women and children, have been displaced and are now taking refuge in various Internally Displaced Persons’ camps across the country, Punch reports.

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Jonathan Is The One Who Stopped Britain From Rescuing Abducted Chibok Girls - David Cameron The Ex -Prime Minister

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Former British Prime Minister, David Cameron, has alleged that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan stopped Britain from rescuing some of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents.

Cameron disclosed that the then government of Jonathan did not give enough support to Britain during the abduction of 274 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State in 2014.

In his memoir, “In For The Record,” the former British Prime Minister said his country’s troops traced the location of some of the victims and offered to help but Jonathan refused.

He said: “Iraq wasn’t the only place we would need our military to counter this extremist menace. Boko Haram in Nigeria was linked to al-Qaeda, and believed Western education and lifestyles were a sin (the meaning behind its name). It too wanted to institute a caliphate, and like ISIS it would use whatever barbaric means it thought necessary.

“In early 2014, a group of its fighters centered the government secondary school in the village of Chibok, seizing 276 teenage girls. They were taken to camps deep in the forest. The Christians among them were forced to convert to Islam. Many were sold as slaves, entering the same endless violent nightmare the Yazidi women suffered.

“As ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign spread across the world, we embedded a team of military and intelligence experts in Nigeria, and sent spy planes and Tornadoes with thermal imaging to search for the missing girls. And, amazingly, from the skies above a forest three times the size of Wales, we managed to locate some of them.

The former Prime Minister stated that he expected Jonathan to handle the Chibok issue better.

“But Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, seemed to be asleep at the wheel. When he eventually made a statement, it was to accuse the campaigners of politicising the tragedy. And absolutely crucially, when we offered to help rescue the girls we had located, he refused.”

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Breaking: Scores Killed, Houses And Public Structures Burn Down As Boko Haram Attacks Borno

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BY Master Reporters

Scores of Boko Haram fighters, on Wednesday night, stormed two Local Government Areas, in Borno State, killing a yet to be quantified number of persons, while also setting ablaze the Council Secretariat in Magumeri, other public structures, and residential houses, in Borno State, including that of the Member, Federal House of Representatives of Gubio, Magumeri and Kaga Federal Constituency, Hon. Usman Zannah.

Speaking on Thursday morning, Hon. Zannah who represents the Constituency at the Lower Chamber said: “Two Local Government Areas of Gubio and Magumeri where I hail from, have been overrun by boko haram.

“As I speak, all good houses in Gubio and Magumeri have been set ablaze, including my House and the Council Secretariat. My people have been displaced, and there is nothing we can do, than to bring survivors into Maiduguri.

“It is unfortunate that the insurgents took advantage of troops withdrawal from the affected areas, and wrecked havoc without confrontation”, he said.

Also speaking on the incident, the Caretaker Chairman of Gubio, Hon. Zanna Modu Gubio, said that the insurgents stormed Gubio town, at about 6pm, performed their magrib prayers at about 6:30pm, and wrecked havoc on innocent civilians, while setting ablaze houses and public structures.

The Caretaker Chairman who spoke while in Maiduguri during the attack said: “It is unfortunate that a week after deadly attack which took place in Gubio, that led to the withdrawal of troops, another armed insurgents stormed Gubio town, at about 6pm, performed their magrib prayers at about 6:30pm, in Gubio Mosque, before wrecking havoc on innocent civilians, with the setting ablaze of houses and public structures.

“I am presently in Maiduguri, for the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Commissioners, and all of a sudden, I started receiving distress calls that my people are under boko haram attack.

“Although, I cannot give you the actual number of casualties for now, but from all indications and the reports I have so far, the insurgents have taken over Gubio, shooting at sight and burning structures without confrontation”, Gubio lamented.

It was gathered that both Gubio and Magumeri have no Military presence, as troops were withdrawn recently for routine operational changes, as enshrined in the Rules of Engagement.

Source: Dailytimetv

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Breaking: 5 People Feared Dead As Boko Haram Attacks Borno

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Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

Five people including three soldiers and two civilians have been feared killed during an attack on a Borno town by Boko Haram insurgents.

Residents said the insurgents came to Gubio, a serene town in northern Borno on the eve of Eid Kabir in about eight gun trucks, firing sporadically in an attack that lasted about two hours. The residents said the insurgents were pushing hard to overrun the town until a military fighter jet from the air force came to the rescue.

There was no confirmation from the military on the attack even when the state governor, Babagan Zulum, visited the town on Sallah day with the Theatre Commander, Maj Gen Benson Akinroluyo and other security heads in the state. The governor who left Maiduguri, the state capital to Gubio few hours after observing his Eid to sympathise with the people and assess the incident, assured the people government was collaborating with the military and other security agencies to improve on the security situation in the area.

Meanwhile, Gov Zulum has acceded to request of the traditional rulers in the state to convey an expanded security meeting to review the security situation in the state. He disclosed this during a Sallah visit to him by the Shehu of Borno and Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Leaders, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai El-Kanemi.

“We shall call expanded security meeting to look at the security architecture of Borno State with a view to improving the situation,” the governor promised. He also said the state government was launching an agro-rangers programme as security measures to protect farmers on their farms against attack by Boko Haram.

“We are also launching what we called agro-rangers under the Civil Defence corps and already 75 of such are in Maiduguri and I have made a personal appeal to the commander of the civil defence to add additional 150,” he explained. He said the state shall support the civil defence corps with about 300 legion, hunters and vigilante to provide security to farmers in Borno State.

He said the state government will next week launch a security response team with about 80 patrol vehicles already procured and 500 hunters and vigilante profiled to serve with the team to provide security within the radius of 30 to 40 kilometres from Maiduguri.

The Shehu of Borno had earlier in a remark, expressed concern over the security situation in the northern part of Borno. He said farmers no longer have access to their farmlands due to the security situation even as he said the results might be catastrophic on the state trying to survive a decade of violence.

“It is now farming season but our people cannot go to farm because farming activities are affected. Government needs to address this problem otherwise there might be a problem,” he warned.

Source: Sunnewsonline

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Breaking: Katsina State Bans Sale Of Boko Haram Motorcycle

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 Agaju Madugba, Katsina

The Katsina State Government has banned the sale of the Boxer brand of motorcycles popularly called ‘Boko Haram’ in all parts of the state as part of measures to curtail crime and criminality in the area.

The new state Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) for Katsina, Ali Tanimu, who dropped the hint yesterday, also said that the Katsina State Security Council had equally ordered a clampdown on unregistered operators of commercial tricycles and motorcycles.

Tanimu described the Boxer motorcycle as rugged and capable of withstanding rough terrains and bush paths, thereby making it the choice for criminals.

Tanimu spoke when he led a delegation from the FRSC on a courtesy visit to the secretariat of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Katsina.

According to him, “there is also a directive to clampdown on tricycles and motorcycle operators in Katsina because most of them are not registered and they use the opportunity to commit various crimes. “They are not captured in our data, making it difficult for us to identify or trace the offenders.

“We also have issues with tricycle operators, who use curtains and flowers to decorate their tricycles and they have tinted windscreens and these make it difficult to identify the passengers they convey.

“We have a directive from the state security council to commence enforcement on the ban of such activities with effect from the end of this month and we urge the press to assist us in this campaign.

“The media are indispensable because they disseminate information and that is why they are our partners.

“The exercise for installation of speed limiting device in vehicles is still in progress and enforcement is still on for commercial vehicles.

“The FRSC deliberately decided to start the exercise with commercial vehicles because if there is any crash, the death toll may involve a larger number of persons than in private vehicles.

“Over speeding is one of the reasons for a number of crashes leading to death.

“The association of vendors of the speed limiting device has established a manufacturing plant in Nigeria and this development has forced the price to crash and people are at liberty to visit the FRSC portal for the list of accredited vendors.”

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Breaking : Boko Haram Ambush Soldiers, Shot Dead Colonel, Captain And 4 Others

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Boko Haram fighters struck on Maiduguri-Damaturu Road near Jakana community in Borno State, on Wednesday evening, shooting dead a colonel, a captain, four soldiers and a villager.

Our correspondent gathered that the terrorists at about 6.30pm, waylaid some commercial vehicles along the road near a military checkpoint and using them as a cover to open fire on the soldiers.

A villager was killed in the gunfire while two others were injured; five soldiers said to be at the checkpoint also died while trying to repel the terrorists’ attack.

Military sources, who could not yet reveal the names of the captain and soldiers, said a colonel was reported to have been killed too, adding that the soldiers were attached to the 29 Task Force Brigade in Benisheik under the 7 Division, Maiduguri.

The corpses of the said colonel, captain and soldiers are reported to have been deposited at the morgue of the Nigerian Army medical facility in Maiduguri.

A military source said, “On Wednesday during the Boko Haram attack, there were commercial vehicles on the road. A Regimental Sergeant Major, who was travelling to Maiduguri, was intercepted during the attack, and they killed him.

 

“Actually, the fighters also attacked some soldiers who were on duty at a checkpoint, bombarded their formation and killed some of them.

“It was in Jakana. The RSM was on leave and he was just coming in a casual dress. He was not in uniform. He was returning to Maiduguri. The fighters attacked some commercial vehicles. They even burnt a Toyota Hilux.

“They didn’t know they killed officers because they were not in uniform. The General Officer Commanding (Maj Gen Abdulmalik Biu) was there (Jakana) on Thursday for about three hours.

“A hospital guard confirmed that injured villagers were brought to his medical facility and one of them died on Thursday. The fighters didn’t attack the village. They attacked our formation. But three villagers were injured in the attack and one of them died on Thursday.”

The acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sagir Musa, could not be reached for comment as his line rang out.

A text message also sent to his line had yet to be replied to as of press time.

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Breaking: Commander, Others Got Missing After Boko Haram Attacks Nigerian Military Military In Borno

 

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An army commander and six soldiers are currently missing after two bases of the Nigerian military in Borno State came under Boko Haram attack on Saturday, with one soldier feared dead.

There was also a loss of “unquantifiable” combat equipment in the wake of the terrorists’ offensive, PREMIUM TIMES has been told.

 

The terrorists attacked troops of 192 Battalion deployed to Delwa Village, along Maiduguri-Damboa Road in Konduga Local Government Area, and their colleagues attached to 242 Battalion in Marte LGA towards Lake Chad, according to army sources.

The two attacks appeared coordinated as they were unleashed about the same, 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Saturday’s incidents followed an earlier attack, on May 22, on an army base in Gubio LGA of Borno State. The Gubio attack was on the camp housing the Nigerian Army 5 Brigade and the 159 Task Force Battalion, and it left at least one soldier killed and three others injured.

But despite the attack suffered on May 22, the army chief, Tukur Buratai, insisted that Boko Haram had been defeated in a statement last Thursday – just two days before the latest attacks.

 

The terrorists, who attacked the 192 Battalion reportedly launched from Alagarno forest in Damboa LGA in four Armoured Personnel Carriers and 12-gun trucks.

Although the troops were initially dislodged, reinforcement from Maiduguri, about 30km away, helped them retake the base after the terrorists had withdrawn.

However, despite retaking the base, one yet-to-be-named soldier was killed, while six others, also not named yet, became missing.

Also, the terrorists burnt a T55 armoured tank, made away with two gun trucks, a canter truck, one armoured personnel carrier, mortal gun and unquantifiable ammunition, sources said.

“Reorganisation of the camp is currently ongoing,” said a military source with knowledge of the development.

He added that a commanding officer and many soldiers were missing in action.

The other attack suffered on Saturday left the troops of 242 battalion in Marte “completely dislodged” with no reinforcement unlike the Delwa incident, our source said.

It was said to be a much easier operation for the Boko Haram as they “had enough time to cart away arms and ammunition.”

Following the dislodgement on Saturday, 15 soldiers later appeared in Dikwa, the brigade headquarters on Sunday.

The commanding officer and many soldiers were still missing on Sunday.

Army spokesperson, Sagir Musa, did not confirm the incidents when reached on Monday.

Army authorities are usually known to downplay losses on their part during confrontations.

The North-east has been rocked by an unending insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced many over the years.

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Breaking : Scores Of Soldiers Killed As Boko Haram Attacks Borno

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Scores of soldiers were feared dead on Saturday in a predawn attack on Sabon Gari village, near Biu, in Borno State.

A resident of Biu, Gambo Muktar, told THISDAY by phone that the insurgents attacked the village about 4am on Saturday and caused havoc. Muktar said as many as 50 soldiers might have died in the surprise assault, which lasted about an hour.

 But in a quick reaction yesterday, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) denied knowledge of any attack in Konduga and Biu, in Borno State, by the terrorist group. Defence spokesman, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said he said did not receive any briefing on such attack.

But in Kaduna State on Saturday, armed bandits launched a repeat attack on Kagi village, in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, that prevented mourners and sympathisers from burying two people the criminals had killed in raids the previous day.

Muktar said the attack on Sabon Gari lasted from 4am to 5am, and the insurgents encountered little resistance from the military personnel stationed about 25 kilometres from Biu, in the South of Borno State.

Biu is considered the birthplace of Boko Haram.

“Many of the soldiers were killed while others fled,” Muktar told THISDAY.

 

He lamented that many weapons belonging to the soldiers were carted away by the terrorist group.

However, the Acting Director of Defence Information said, “I am not aware of any attack. I have not received any briefing on any attack. The right place to get your information is the Army.”

Attempts to reach the Army spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, were not successful, as his phone number was switched off.

The Army had earlier refuted a report about a terrorist attack on Konduga, Borno State, that allegedly killed 60 soldiers.

It had tweeted, “The attention of 7 Div Nigerian Army has been drawn to an online publication twitted yesterday, Thursday, 25 April 2019 on a purported massive attack on Konduga, which was solely designed to cause severe panic, utter chaos and pandemonium within the communities.

“The publication is not only false but a deliberate effort to smear and discredit the image and sacrifices of the entire operation as well as the peace in the North East region and the country at large.”

But a source within the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the attack on Sabon Gari and, however, said no casualties were recorded.

The source said, “Sabon Gari was invaded by some insurgents, the villagers and some security personnel fled from the village and no casualty is recorded for now.”

One of the deadliest massacres of Nigerian soldiers by Boko Haram occurred in Metele, Borno State, in November last year.

Scores of soldiers were killed at 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele. The exact casualty figure is still a closely-guarded secret. The commander of the battalion, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Sakaba, was also killed in the attack.

In the last four years, Boko Haram has attacked and sacked 22 military posts, killing hundreds of Nigerian soldiers. The sacked military posts were in Gajiram, Mainok, Rann, Geidam, Sasawa, Magumeri, Malam Fatori, Gashigha, Kanama, Gamboru-Ngala, Mafa, Damasak, Gudumbali, Garunda, Kunduga, Kareto, Jilli, Arge, Zari, Arege, Metele, and Buni Gari.

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War On Terrorism, We Need More International Support To Tackle This - Buratai

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Gabriel Dike 

The Chief of Army Staff, Nigeria Army, Lt. General Tukur Yusufu Buratai has identified inadequate international support as one of the major challenges faced by the Nigerian Army in its counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations. 

The Head, Public Relations Unit of Igbinedion University Okada, Mr. Obajide Ilugbo said Lt. General Buratai made the assertion while delivering the maiden lecture at the launching of the Buratai Centre for Contemporary Security Affairs at Igbinedion University Okada. 

The Chief of Army Staff also lamented the misconception by civil society organizations on the operation of the Nigerian Army. He noted that the continuous unfounded allegations against troops had remained a big distraction in the performance of the Nigerian Army’s stability task in the North East. 

Buratai further expressed concern that every concession made by the Nigerian Army had resulted in the call for more concessions by the civil society actors.   

Other challenges identified by the Chief of Army Staff included large expanse of operation environment, effect of weather and terrain, cross- border nature of the crisis, porous borders, remote nature of communities, threats by mines and improvised explosive devices, a large number of internally displaced persons and refugees among others. 

The army chief, however, assured that in spite the abounding challenges faced by the Nigerian Army and the military in general, a lot of achievement had been recorded in the counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism efforts of the Nigerian Army and the military in effort to restore normalcy and governance in the affected regions. 

He reported that effort were underway to partner the Ministry of Agriculture with a view to establishing a cattle ranch in the forest and that discussion with potential investors to establish recreation facilities in Sambisa forest was ongoing. These he said were beside the reconstruction of bridges and roads and other basic infrastructure in the area by the military. 

Buratai further highlighted the strategic plan of the Nigerian Army to overcome the challenges at hand. These he said included respect for rule of law and right of citizens, review of force structure, capacity building for personnel, increase in troop’s strength, modernization, and equipment of the Nigerian Army and improvement of troop’s welfare.       

Breaking News : 157 Boko Haram Set To Sit For WAEC In 2019

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Many of the inmates who are in jail as a result of their activities and membership of the Boko Haram terrorist sect have also embraced vocational studies while behind bars.

Loosely translated, the term Boko Haram means ‘Western Education is sin”, and sect members have often launched an attack on educational institutions, with the April 2014 kidnapping of scores of schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno state and the killing of schoolboys in Buni Yadi, Yobe state generating global outcry.

At a three-day de-radicalization programme organized by the Nigerian Prisons Service NPS with support from the European Union, Controller General of Prisons, CGP Ja’afaru Ahmed said no fewer than 157 of such inmates have sat for the West African Examination Council WAEC while some are also processing their admissions to the National Open University of Nigeria NOUN.

According to him, “Our dear country has unfortunately been plagued with various forms of security challenges; the most worrisome being the Boko Haram elements. The Federal Government in its commitment to protect the lives and properties of citizens being one of the cardinal objectives of governance has deployed numerous strategies to tame the scourge. Although the crisis is not over, it is gladdening to see steady progress, especially in deradicalizing violent extremists.

“The Nigerian Prisons Service has since assumed the onerous task of leading the de-radicalization programme. This programme is not entirely a strange approach, considering the Service’s mandate of reforming, rehabilitating and reintegrating deviants into the society. De-radicalization as an approach has turned out to be a great window of hope in the midst of devastating circumstances, ensuring that violent extreme offenders desist from their unpatriotic activities using counter-narratives to change their ideologies.

“It is important to state that the Service has recorded a significant breakthrough in changing the mindset of the extremists as about 157 of them in our custody have not only embraced formal education but many sat for the WAEC examination with impressive grades. I am happy to say that three of them are now being processed for degree programmes in the National Open University of Nigeria NOUN”, he said.

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Breaking : Kaduna On Fire As 20 People Killed In Fresh Attack

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About 20 people have been reportedly killed in a fresh attack in Kaduna state – Suspected gunmen had on Monday, April 8, attacked Anguwan Aku village, Kajuru local government area of the state –

An eyewitness said the attackers were dressed in military uniform and were armed with AK47 rifles, machetes and sticks Suspected gunmen have reportedly killed no fewer than 20 people in a fresh attack in Anguwan Aku village, Kajuru local government area of Kaduna state.

This Day reports that several others were said to have sustained injuries from gunshots after the attack which took place on the morning of Monday, April 8. Legit.ng gathered that a resident of the community said the attackers were dressed in military uniform and were armed with AK47 rifles, machetes and sticks and were communicating with each other

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Breaking News: 7 Killed As Boko Haram Attacks Borno Again

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The Nigerian Army has said four civilians and three Boko Haram insurgents died on Saturday as terrorists attempted to scuttle the postponed general elections in the Jidari Polo community, Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.

The army said the attacks occurred in the early hours when an unconfirmed number of Boko Haram terrorists used “Person-borne improvised explosive device in their highly desperate, orchestrated and collaborative resolve with their cohorts and sponsors to scuttle the 2019 general elections.”

The acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sagir Musa, on Saturday in a release, said troops of 251 Task Force Battalion in conjunction with the civilian Joint Task Force repelled the attack, mopped up and cleared the general area.

Musa added that the encounter led to the elimination of three terrorists and the recovery of two AK-47 rifles.

He said, “Unfortunately, four civilians lost their lives as a result of the terrorists’ gunfire in addition to a lethal explosion mainly targeted at a mosque at a prime time of early morning prayers.

“The carrier of the PBIED and a CJTF who strived to prevent the suicide bomber from accessing the mosque also lost their lives due to the IED explosion.

“At the moment, troops have dominated the area, cordon and search as well as exploitation, are ongoing. The situation in the area is now calm. Normal routine activities are gradually going on. The army wishes to reiterate its resolve to ending the remnants of Boko Haram criminals thereby bringing an effective and an enduring end to terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria.”

Earlier, the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Damian Chukwu, said 11 persons were killed and 15 injured in the attack.

The commissioner in a text message to some journalists in the state said his on-the-spot assessment of the attack scene showed the casualties.

He said, “At 05.40hrs, gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists and suicide bombers infiltrated Gwozari/Kushari in Polo general area, Maiduguri. They shot sporadically and detonated IEDs strapped to their bodies.’’

He said 11 persons were killed including three suicide bombers during the attack. Chukwu added that 15 others sustained injuries and had been taken to the State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri.

He said there were ongoing clearance operations by security teams in the attacked area, adding “Clearance operations are ongoing by teams of EOD, SARS, PMF, civil defence and military.”

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Boko Haram: China Signed An Agreement With Nigeria For Military Support

   

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The Federal Government and the Peoples Republic of China, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Chinese to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria to strengthen its counterinsurgency capabilities.

Minister of Defence, Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (Retd) signed the document on behalf of the Nigerian government while the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Ziyou Pingjian signed on behalf of the Chinese at a short ceremony held in Abuja, on Thursday.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer to the Minister, Colonel Tukur Gusau.

The statement read in part, “The signing of the MOU was a follow up to the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to China in September 2018 were discussions on infrastructure financing for strategic projects and gratis for the Armed Forces was held with the Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping.”

There has been a recent upsurge in the activities of Boko Haram, prompting calls for renewed strategy and accelerated equipping of the armed forces.

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Breaking News: Boko Haram Infiltrates Maiduguri , Putting Fears In People By Asking Them To Vacate Their Homes - Military

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Happening now: Boko Haram infiltrates Maiduguri suburbs, creating fears – military 

 Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

The military has said that Boko Haram insurgents have infiltrated some areas around Maiduguri, the Borno State capital instilling fear by asking people to vacate their homes.

Spokesman of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Thursday morning, said the insurgents were out to intensify their psychological war by instilling fears in the citizens.

“There is credible information and evidence that in a bid to further intensify their psychological war and instil fears in the citizens, some elements of the Boko Haram have infiltrated some villages at the fringes of Maiduguri city. They have clandestinely been going about threatening innocent residents, warning them to vacate their homes,” the military said.

Several residents have fled their homes in communities around Maiduguri, a development which could exacerbate humanitarian situation in the state.

“Several inhabitants have moved out of their ancestral homes,” the military disclosed.

It, therefore, appealed to residents especially those living within Maiduguri metropolis and its environs to report or avail the military or other security agencies with information on the presence of suspicious persons in their communities.

“Members of the public are enjoined to please cooperate and support ongoing operations to weed out the infiltrating terrorists and their sympathisers,” the military said.

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What Is Happening In Nigeria - Ben Bruce Tweeted

An apartment collapsed in a remote part of Russian and Vladmir Putin flew the way next day to personally oversee search and rescue and also visit the survivors.

Six towns in Borno have fallen to Boko Haram and not even a ministerial visit to Borno .What is happening Nigeria.

Read his tweets below:

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Breaking : Nigerian Air - Force Helicopter Fighting Boko Haram Crashes In Borno

 

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The Nigerian Airforce has announced that one of its helicopter providing air support to troops engaging terrorists in Damasak, Borno State is missing.

Ibikunle Daramola, Air Commodore Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, made this known in a series of tweet posted on the official twitter handle of the Nigerian Airforce.

NIGERIAN AIR FORCE HELICOPTER LOST IN COMBAT

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.

— Nigerian Air Force (@NigAirForce) January 2, 2019

According to Daramola, the helicopter was lost in combat while providing close air support to troops.

He said, “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. “

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Boko Haram: Security Situation Worsening In Borno State - Kashim Shettima

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The Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has admitted that the security situation in the troubled state is worsening but said he could not blame President Muhammadu Buhari for the situation because he now has unfettered access to the president unlike during the administration of former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, when he was treated as an enemy of the presidency.

Speaking at an extraordinary security meeting held on Monday night at the Multipurpose Hall of Government House, Maiduguri, the governor urged the attendees not to engage in blame games over the perceived failure of the soldiers, which he said would be unfair given the enormous sacrifices they have made in the last seven years.

He said despite the worsening situation, he would rather encourage rather than blame the military, saying the soldiers were doing their best within the circumstances they had found themselves.

There has been a resurgence of Boko Haram attacks, especially on military bases in the state in the past few months, leading to heavy casualties on the side of the Nigerian Army.
No fewer than 40 soldiers have been killed in sporadic attacks on bases in Metele and Baga.

There are conflicting claims of the insurgents holding positions in some of the local governments of the state.
But Shettima said despite these he was unwilling to apportion blames to Buhari and the military.

He explained, “Some persons have asked why I have not criticised the Buhari government or the Nigerian military over situations in Borno. My response to them is that unlike in previous years when I was treated as an enemy of the presidency, I have from 2015 to date, gained unfettered access to the president.

I see the Commander-in-Chief at the shortest request and I tell him my concerns, he listens to me with keen interest and in most cases, he takes measures. I have not had reason to be frustrated with the presidency unlike previous years.

“Let me say that even under the previous administration, I regularly supported and defended the military. When I said in February 2014, that the military was not being well equipped, it was not a comment by design, it was a spontaneous reaction, which came out of frustration and it was in defense of the soldiers being killed in front lines. I knew the problems.”
He said the most inhuman way to go is to gather and condemn those who are putting their lives on the line and giving their lives in efforts to find peace.

According to him, “We are principally here as a family, as a people all affected by the situation in Borno State, to discuss suggestions that will hopefully contribute to combined ongoing efforts towards addressing the problem.”

He underscored the urgency of the situation when he told his guests, “For seven years, we held our regular security council meetings. I from time to time consult with some of the participants here. However, I never for once convene an extraordinary meeting of this nature because, frankly speaking, I was avoiding a sort of dramatisation or being sensational about our challenges in Borno State.

“Without being insensitive to the realities of our situation, I feel deeply pained whenever Borno is being discussed on the basis of helpless weakness. I prefer to assume a position of strength; a position of normalcy and a character of being incurably optimistic.”

He said his greatest wish was and still is, not to bequeath Boko Haram challenges and IDP camps to his successor.
“We wanted to, and still want to get Borno fully back to normal days,” he said, adding, “Sometimes, I unconsciously find myself boasting that Borno is safer than Lagos. I simply feel very bad to sound pessimistic about Borno. I so much believe in optimism.”

But the influx of men, women and children into Maiduguri, as well as reports of many dying on.

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Nigerian Military To Relocate Residents Of Baga For Full - Scale War On Boko Haram

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The Nigerian military In conjunction with the Borno state government is to relocate residents of Baga town in Borno State to enable the launch of a full attack on Boko Haram insurgents in the town.

The military, on Sunday, revealed the plan was to recapture the town which is hosting the headquarters of the Multi-National Joint Task Force combating the Boko Haram insurgents.

Baga has been under attack by the sect with an attack on it last week

A statement signed by the Deputy Director Public Relations in charge of the counter-insurgency operations in the North-East, Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, assured that residents would be located to safer locations while residents of Bama, Dikwa and Monguno could remain in their habitat as there was no immediate threat to their lives.

The statement said, “Operation Lafiya Dole troops in conjunction with the Borno State Government are working towards relocating the residents of Baga to safer locations in view of the ongoing military operations in the area.”

He urged the public to desist from spreading rumours and creating fears on the heart of residents in the two communities.

“It has come to our attention that these people are plotting to instigate the inhabitants of Bama, Dikwa and Monguno communities to abandon their communities and relocate to Internally Displaced Persons camps for undisclosed reasons,” he said.

He explained that arrangements on the new development would be finalised during a meeting with Borno state government on Monday.

The National Emergency Management Agency has said the recent attack on Baga has seen 2,046 accepted into the IDPs camp in Maiduguri in the past few days.

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'We Can't Keep On Waisting Our Lives' - Soldiers Abandoned Fight Against Boko Haram , Says They Are Well Equipped

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A video footage is trending online showing some Nigerian soldiers absconding from the war against Boko haram in Baga area of Borno state.

The gallant soldiers said when Nigeria Army is ready to provide them with weapons, they will come back and fight, but for now they are not ready to fight Boko Haram and keep wasting their lives.

One of the soldiers confirmed that many of his colleagues have been killed. They said Boko Haram insurgents are equipped with better weapons

There has been intense fighting between the Boko Haram and Nigerian troops in Baga in the past few days. On Friday, the Nigerian air force announced how it deployed several aircraft to bomb gatherings of the insurgents who had attacked a military base in Baga.

On Sunday, the army, in a statement by Onyeka Nwachukwu, a colonel, accused some “unscrupulous individuals” of “trying to create panic and unnecessary humanitarian problems for undisclosed reasons.”

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Breaking News : 700 Soldiers Missing, 2000 Trapped As Boko Haram Takes Over Baga

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“Boko haram has taken over Baga town,” said the source. “More than 2,000 troops are there trapped, and 700 are missing. [Air Force] jets cannot do anything now because the soldiers are trapped in their midst”.

An estimated  700 soldiers are missing with more than 2,000 trapped following a Boko Haram attack on Thursday that culminated in the loss of Baga, a town in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, by the Nigerian Army.

A faction of the insurgents loyal to Abu Musab al-Barnawi attacked Baga, lying northeast of Kukawa, and succeeded in dislodging the soldiers and hoisting their flags.

According to an aid worker who spoke with SaharaReporters, “a large number of soldiers are still missing and many others are trapped.”

“Boko haram has taken over Baga town,” said the source. “More than 2,000 troops are there trapped, and 700 are missing. [Air Force] jets cannot do anything now because the soldiers are trapped in their midst”.

SaharaReporters could not independently verify the figures being mentioned, but a security source said it was "highly possible", considering Baga is the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) — a formation comprising units, mostly military, from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria, and boasting between 7,500 and 10,000 personnel.

A security source confirmed the attack and the disappearance of “a high number of soldiers”.

“So many soldiers, likely in their hundreds, are missing,” he said. “Even the Baga Brigade Commander is back in Maiduguri, which means he must have escaped when he saw that his team was overwhelmed.”

The source also confirmed that the insurgents set the MNJTF headquarters ablaze, and made away with military equipment.

The Army, though, continues to deny that the town has been overrun by insurgents.

In a statement released on Friday, Sani Usman, Director of Army Public Relations, said the sidurgents were the ones fleeing.

“Please recall that yesterday, Wednesday 26th December 2018 suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked the headquarters of 7 Brigade Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Baga, Borno State, at about 7.00pm,” he said in a statement.

“The troops along with their Nigerian Navy counterparts put up a very determined fight to repel the attack throughout the night, while Sector 3 Operation LAFIYA DOLE sent in reinforcement who are in hot pursuit of the terrorists. Similarly, a Search and Rescue team has been constituted.

“The Nigerian Air Force component has also been mobilised and are engaging the fleeing terrorists. Unfortunately, a naval personnel was killed in action. So far, no further details of casualties yet as efforts are ongoing to clear the terrorists hiding in Baga and environs.”

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