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Showing posts with label borno. Show all posts
Showing posts with label borno. Show all posts
Many killed as suicide bomber hits Borno bus station
A suicide bomber blew himself up at a crowded bus station in Biu, in Borno state, on Thursday, while a second bomber was shot dead before he could detonate his explosives, witnesses told AFP.
Babagana Kyari, a civilian vigilante, said “at least 18 people, including three women, died… and several others were injured” although there was no immediate corroboration of that death toll.
The attack happened after two men arrived the Tashar Gandu motor park on the edge of the town in Borno state, where one detonated his explosives among passengers and vendors, onlookers said.
The suicide bombing is the second this week, after 34 people were killed in a blast at a bus station in the city of Kano, on Tuesday. The death toll was revised upwards from the initial estimate of 10.
Another blast hours earlier, also at a bus station, killed 17 in the commercial capital of Yobe state, Potiskum, but it was not confirmed as a suicide attack.
No group has claimed responsibility for either bombing but Boko Haram has repeatedly targeted both places, as well as Biu.
On February 18, 36 people were killed when assailants in a motorised rickshaw detonated explosies at Yarmakumi village near Biu, with most of the victims child vendors and beggars.
The attacks again underscore the threat posed by Boko Haram, which experts say may resort to such tactics as they are pushed out of captured territory in the northeast by a multi-national military force.
The two men in the latest attack pretended to be traders leaving Biu after business at the main market, which takes place every Thursday and Sunday, said Kyari.
“The two men came as if they were travellers and one of them detonated his explosives in the midst of travellers and petty traders,” the vigilante added.
“But the second man was shot and killed by soldiers before he could pulled the trigger.”
Resident Ali Dauda said the scene was cordoned off by soldiers and vigilantes, while they waited the arrival of the police bomb squad to defuse the unexploded explosives on the second attacker.
“The first bomber succeeded in detonating his explosives, which caused many casualties, but the second bomber was killed and his body is still lying at the scene with the explosives on it,” he added.
Babagana Kyari, a civilian vigilante, said “at least 18 people, including three women, died… and several others were injured” although there was no immediate corroboration of that death toll.
The suicide bombing is the second this week, after 34 people were killed in a blast at a bus station in the city of Kano, on Tuesday. The death toll was revised upwards from the initial estimate of 10.
Another blast hours earlier, also at a bus station, killed 17 in the commercial capital of Yobe state, Potiskum, but it was not confirmed as a suicide attack.
No group has claimed responsibility for either bombing but Boko Haram has repeatedly targeted both places, as well as Biu.
On February 18, 36 people were killed when assailants in a motorised rickshaw detonated explosies at Yarmakumi village near Biu, with most of the victims child vendors and beggars.
The attacks again underscore the threat posed by Boko Haram, which experts say may resort to such tactics as they are pushed out of captured territory in the northeast by a multi-national military force.
The two men in the latest attack pretended to be traders leaving Biu after business at the main market, which takes place every Thursday and Sunday, said Kyari.
“The two men came as if they were travellers and one of them detonated his explosives in the midst of travellers and petty traders,” the vigilante added.
“But the second man was shot and killed by soldiers before he could pulled the trigger.”
Resident Ali Dauda said the scene was cordoned off by soldiers and vigilantes, while they waited the arrival of the police bomb squad to defuse the unexploded explosives on the second attacker.
“The first bomber succeeded in detonating his explosives, which caused many casualties, but the second bomber was killed and his body is still lying at the scene with the explosives on it,” he added.
Boko Haram misleads Army, kills 300 in fresh Borno attack
At least 300 people were confirmed dead on Monday when Boko Haram gunmen in armoured vehicles stormed Gamborou Ngala town in Borno state.
According source the security forces earlier deployed to area, moved to the Lake Chad axis when they received intelligence report that some gunmen were sighted with abducted schoolgirls moving to the area.
The insurgents targetted a local market and fired sporadic shots into the crowd before proceeding into the town to wreak more havoc.
Gamborou, which is situated along Nigeria-Cameroon border is the administrative headquatres of Ngala local government of the state, about 200km from Maiduguri, the capital city.
Senator Ahmed Zannah, who is from the area confirmed the killings, said the invaders spent 12 hours wreaking havoc on defenceless civilians.
He said several other persons were also injured in the attack, while almost all the houses and shops in the town were burnt down.
Senator zannah, who spoke in a BBC Hausa report monitored in Maiduguri yesterday said many people were wounded, while surviving victims rendered homeless as thousands of houses and shops were burnt by the rampaging gunmen.
He pointed out that the attackers were armed with dangerous weapons comprising of Armored Personnel Carries , (APC), Improvised Explosive Devices, (IEDs), petrol bombs, assault rifles and Rocket Propelled Launchers (RPGs).
“The attackers stormed the communities in the night when residents were still sleeping, setting ablaze houses, shops and residents who tried to escaped from
the fire, were shot ” Shehu said.
He added also that “ About 300 persons were confirmed dead after the incident,
with several others injured. Almost all the houses in the communities were destroyed by the hoodlums who threw Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at the
buidings.
My brother who was at the scene of the attack told me that the actual number of the dead cannot be ascertained but at least they are upto 300. In fact as we spoke he wept following the high number of the dead bodies which littered the market”, he declared.
According to him, the security forces earlier deployed to area, moved to the Lake Chad axis when they received intelligence report that some gunmen were sighted with abducted schoolgirls moving to the area.
“Initially there were many security operatives in the town to secure it from possible attacks. However upon receiving information over the movements of insurgents with kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls towards Lake Chad area,they withdraw and moved further to confront the gunmen.
It was just an hour after their withdrawal that the terrorists indaved the town, shooting everyone at sight and setting buildings on fire. So far 200 vehicles and thousands of houses, shops and an outfit of the Nigerian Customs Service, (NCS) were all burnt”, he explained.
A local government official who declined identification also confirmed the casualty figures.
“It is really a terrible situation, we had wanted to rush relief materials to the area to provide temporary succor to the victims. But we were prevailed upon by security agents to shelve our plans on security reasons”.
The official appealed to the state and Federal Governmenst to assist the area with resources towards rehabilitating the victims.
According source the security forces earlier deployed to area, moved to the Lake Chad axis when they received intelligence report that some gunmen were sighted with abducted schoolgirls moving to the area.
The insurgents targetted a local market and fired sporadic shots into the crowd before proceeding into the town to wreak more havoc.
Senator Ahmed Zannah, who is from the area confirmed the killings, said the invaders spent 12 hours wreaking havoc on defenceless civilians.
He said several other persons were also injured in the attack, while almost all the houses and shops in the town were burnt down.
Senator zannah, who spoke in a BBC Hausa report monitored in Maiduguri yesterday said many people were wounded, while surviving victims rendered homeless as thousands of houses and shops were burnt by the rampaging gunmen.
He pointed out that the attackers were armed with dangerous weapons comprising of Armored Personnel Carries , (APC), Improvised Explosive Devices, (IEDs), petrol bombs, assault rifles and Rocket Propelled Launchers (RPGs).
“The attackers stormed the communities in the night when residents were still sleeping, setting ablaze houses, shops and residents who tried to escaped from
the fire, were shot ” Shehu said.
He added also that “ About 300 persons were confirmed dead after the incident,
with several others injured. Almost all the houses in the communities were destroyed by the hoodlums who threw Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at the
buidings.
My brother who was at the scene of the attack told me that the actual number of the dead cannot be ascertained but at least they are upto 300. In fact as we spoke he wept following the high number of the dead bodies which littered the market”, he declared.
According to him, the security forces earlier deployed to area, moved to the Lake Chad axis when they received intelligence report that some gunmen were sighted with abducted schoolgirls moving to the area.
“Initially there were many security operatives in the town to secure it from possible attacks. However upon receiving information over the movements of insurgents with kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls towards Lake Chad area,they withdraw and moved further to confront the gunmen.
It was just an hour after their withdrawal that the terrorists indaved the town, shooting everyone at sight and setting buildings on fire. So far 200 vehicles and thousands of houses, shops and an outfit of the Nigerian Customs Service, (NCS) were all burnt”, he explained.
A local government official who declined identification also confirmed the casualty figures.
“It is really a terrible situation, we had wanted to rush relief materials to the area to provide temporary succor to the victims. But we were prevailed upon by security agents to shelve our plans on security reasons”.
The official appealed to the state and Federal Governmenst to assist the area with resources towards rehabilitating the victims.
Boko-Haram: 44 massacred in Borno mosque
About 44 people praying at a mosque in Konduga town, some 22 miles outside Maiduguri, Borno state, have been gunned down by suspected Islamic militants, security agents said.
A Department of State Service, DSS, agent and a member of a civilian vigilante group working with the military said, yesterday, they counted the bodies at the mosque after last Sunday morning’s attack.
Also yesterday, embattled leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau made a video appearance and claimed series of recent deadly attacks on security forces in the North-East. Shekau also insisted that he was in “good health” despite an on-going military offensive aimed at crushing the Islamist insurgent group he heads.
He also challenged US President, Barack Obama; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French leader, Francois Hollande, saying they were not his match.
“You have not killed Shekau,” he said in the video distributed through a local intermediary in a manner similar to previous Boko Haram messages.
On the massacred 44, the DSS agent spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters. But agency reports quoted one Usman Musa of the civilian group as saying that four of its vigilantes were also killed when they responded to calls for help.
Another report said12 people were killed in Ngom of Mafa Local Government Area of the state between Saturday and early Sunday morning. The armed men, suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect reportedly invaded the two council areas during the Muslim Asba prayers.
Residents who fled to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday for safety, disclosed that the gunmen killed an unspecified number of people. A source from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) said they received 26 victims of the attacks who are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
Also a member representing Konduga at the state house of assembly, Ali Bukar Dalori told newsmen at Government House, Maiduguri that he received news of attacks on members of his constituency with shock. He said although he did not know the casualty figure, he was informed that many people lost their lives and some who were injured were brought to UMTH for treatment.
“I was told that many people were killed. I will be going to the hospital to see the victims; I think the governor would be going there either today or tomorrow to see for himself. But whatever it is, many people were killed yesterday,” he said.
In the Shekau video, seated on a short stool with a Kalashnikov rested on his right shoulder, the Islamic sect’s boss said Boko Haram was “responsible” for several deadly raids over the past months.
These include attacks on the police and military in the towns of Malam Fatori and Bama, which sparked clashes that killed at least 35 people, according to the military.
The video contained what Shekau claimed was footage of Boko Haram gunmen opening fire on the military in Bama, using heavy weapons mounted on flat-bed trucks.
Shekau also referred to fighting in the towns of Baga and Gamboru Ngala near the border with Cameroon.
The Boko Haram leader has been declared a global terrorist by the United States, which in March put a $7 million (5.3 million euros) bounty on his head.
“I’m challenging Obama,” Shekau said in the video. He voiced similar challenges to French President Francois Hollande and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”They are no match for me,” he proclaimed.
A Department of State Service, DSS, agent and a member of a civilian vigilante group working with the military said, yesterday, they counted the bodies at the mosque after last Sunday morning’s attack.
Also yesterday, embattled leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau made a video appearance and claimed series of recent deadly attacks on security forces in the North-East. Shekau also insisted that he was in “good health” despite an on-going military offensive aimed at crushing the Islamist insurgent group he heads.
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| image of victim released to be affected in the Borno massacred. |
“You have not killed Shekau,” he said in the video distributed through a local intermediary in a manner similar to previous Boko Haram messages.
On the massacred 44, the DSS agent spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters. But agency reports quoted one Usman Musa of the civilian group as saying that four of its vigilantes were also killed when they responded to calls for help.
Another report said12 people were killed in Ngom of Mafa Local Government Area of the state between Saturday and early Sunday morning. The armed men, suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect reportedly invaded the two council areas during the Muslim Asba prayers.
Residents who fled to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday for safety, disclosed that the gunmen killed an unspecified number of people. A source from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) said they received 26 victims of the attacks who are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
Also a member representing Konduga at the state house of assembly, Ali Bukar Dalori told newsmen at Government House, Maiduguri that he received news of attacks on members of his constituency with shock. He said although he did not know the casualty figure, he was informed that many people lost their lives and some who were injured were brought to UMTH for treatment.
“I was told that many people were killed. I will be going to the hospital to see the victims; I think the governor would be going there either today or tomorrow to see for himself. But whatever it is, many people were killed yesterday,” he said.
In the Shekau video, seated on a short stool with a Kalashnikov rested on his right shoulder, the Islamic sect’s boss said Boko Haram was “responsible” for several deadly raids over the past months.
These include attacks on the police and military in the towns of Malam Fatori and Bama, which sparked clashes that killed at least 35 people, according to the military.
The video contained what Shekau claimed was footage of Boko Haram gunmen opening fire on the military in Bama, using heavy weapons mounted on flat-bed trucks.
Shekau also referred to fighting in the towns of Baga and Gamboru Ngala near the border with Cameroon.
The Boko Haram leader has been declared a global terrorist by the United States, which in March put a $7 million (5.3 million euros) bounty on his head.
“I’m challenging Obama,” Shekau said in the video. He voiced similar challenges to French President Francois Hollande and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”They are no match for me,” he proclaimed.
120 Boko Haram Members Arrested During Burial Of Their Commander
About 120 militant Islamists
have been arrested in Maiduguri, as they were organising the burial of
one of their commanders who died in an encounter with soldiers, an army
spokesman has said.
According to Brig Gen Olukolade, the 120 militants who were arrested were being interrogated in the custody of the Joint Task Force (JTF).
The latest arrest brought to more than 200 the number of Islamists the army says it has arrested since last week.
Defence spokesman, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, in a press statement added that the military has also recaptured five areas from the militants.
He said the Special Forces had now secured the environs of New Marte, Hausari, Krenoa, Wulgo and Chikun Ngulalo, all in Borno state, after destroying all the terrorists’ camps sited in these localities.
The statement said that the troops were already interacting with locals and citizens assuring them of their safety and freedom from the activities of insurgents.
Brigadier General Olukolade said terrorists fleeing towards Chad and Niger Republic are being contained by the Multi-National Joint Task Force in various locations at the border.
He said during the raid on terrorist camps, the troops observed a few shallow graves believed to be those of hurriedly buried members.
“Advancing troops also observed a few shallow graves believed to be those of hurriedly buried members of the terrorist groups,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters said it had observed the use of photographs purportedly taken in the areas raided by the Special Forces and wished to state that the photographs were questionable as they did not reflect any related reality of the social or geographical environment.
He said the story and pictures depicting Nigerians fleeing to Niger Republic and other countries were doubtful.
More than 2,000 Nigerians living in border villages in Borno State were reported to have fled as a result of the ongoing military operations targeted at routing the insurgents from the area.
The fleeing villagers were said to have headed to the neighbouring Niger Republic.
“Most of the residents of border villages of Borno have fled to Niger. About 2,000 people from Abadan, Malam Fatori and other villages are now refugees in Difa, Niger Republic,” a top security officer told a national dailies.
The source said that the Joint Military Task Force was on the trail of the members of the Boko Haram sect, who were dislodged from the Sambisa Game Reserve and other camps on Thursday in Borno State.
It was learnt that residents of Maiduguri and other communities far from the border, who did not want to be caught in the cross-fire have also fled to some neighbouring states, including Kano and Bauchi.
According to Brig Gen Olukolade, the 120 militants who were arrested were being interrogated in the custody of the Joint Task Force (JTF).
The latest arrest brought to more than 200 the number of Islamists the army says it has arrested since last week.
Defence spokesman, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, in a press statement added that the military has also recaptured five areas from the militants.
He said the Special Forces had now secured the environs of New Marte, Hausari, Krenoa, Wulgo and Chikun Ngulalo, all in Borno state, after destroying all the terrorists’ camps sited in these localities.
The statement said that the troops were already interacting with locals and citizens assuring them of their safety and freedom from the activities of insurgents.
Brigadier General Olukolade said terrorists fleeing towards Chad and Niger Republic are being contained by the Multi-National Joint Task Force in various locations at the border.
He said during the raid on terrorist camps, the troops observed a few shallow graves believed to be those of hurriedly buried members.
“Advancing troops also observed a few shallow graves believed to be those of hurriedly buried members of the terrorist groups,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters said it had observed the use of photographs purportedly taken in the areas raided by the Special Forces and wished to state that the photographs were questionable as they did not reflect any related reality of the social or geographical environment.
He said the story and pictures depicting Nigerians fleeing to Niger Republic and other countries were doubtful.
More than 2,000 Nigerians living in border villages in Borno State were reported to have fled as a result of the ongoing military operations targeted at routing the insurgents from the area.
The fleeing villagers were said to have headed to the neighbouring Niger Republic.
“Most of the residents of border villages of Borno have fled to Niger. About 2,000 people from Abadan, Malam Fatori and other villages are now refugees in Difa, Niger Republic,” a top security officer told a national dailies.
The source said that the Joint Military Task Force was on the trail of the members of the Boko Haram sect, who were dislodged from the Sambisa Game Reserve and other camps on Thursday in Borno State.
It was learnt that residents of Maiduguri and other communities far from the border, who did not want to be caught in the cross-fire have also fled to some neighbouring states, including Kano and Bauchi.
State of Emergency: Nigerians in Diaspora Urges FG to Continue with Amnesty Move
Nweke who spoke against the backdrop of the State of Emergency declared in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, said that the security challenges in the country would require a multi-track approach to resolve.
He said: ``A multi-track approach which includes the continuation of the amnesty talks, repressive military action and the State of Emergency must be employed’’
``The security challenges will not be addressed in a day; it did not start in one year, so the move government has made is a step in the right direction.’’
``The declaration of the State of Emergency was in line with constitutional provisions; What President Goodluck Jonathan has done is what the constitution empowers him to do.
``Jonathan is a democratically elected president whose duty is to uphold the territorial integrity of the nation.’’
He urged critics to play down on sensationalism saying: ``we should not play politics with security; we are talking about lives, and the sovereignty of Nigeria.’’
Sultan, CAN sue for peace
The Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, on Thursday appealed to Nigerians to embrace peace no matter their religions and tribes.
He noted that it was in God’s wisdom that He instituted different
tribes and religions therefore mankind and specifically Nigerians must
tolerate one another for peaceful co-existence.
He said the crisis and disaffections in the world today is not the making of God, adding that “it is product of man inhumanity to man.”
While preaching the message of peace in Abuja, through his representative, the Andoma of Doma at the National Consultative Meeting on “the role of religious leaders and traditional rulers in building a culture of peace, national unity and integration”, he cautioned the citizenry not to hurt their compatriots.
He said since the consequences of religious crisis has not yielded more than destruction, Nigerians should return to the basis that God created mankind equal but man created the colour bar that now bedevils the society.
According to him, the only quality that exalts a man is his goodness and not religion or tribe.
He said, “what makes you different before God or what makes you acceptable to God, what endears you to God, is the much of your goodness that has benefited the other person, whether he is of your religion, your colour, your tribe or not.”
The cleric and traditional ruler appealed to all religious leaders in the country to aggressively preach the sermon of peace and harmony to their congregations.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), President, Ayo Oritseyjafor, agreed with the Sultan’s message of peace, adding that “that any group that desires peace is definitely doing the right thing.”
For Nigeria to attain a desirable rebirth, the CAN president said the citizenry must do all that is possible to re-establish peace in the country.
His words: “But let me quickly say that if we must build a new Nigeria, if we must build a great Nigeria, then we must all of us do everything it takes to bring peace.”
Meanwhile, the former chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, also appealed to both political and religious leaders to stop fueling crisis in Nigeria.
“I want to appeal to our own leaders, especially politicians, you have a role to play. Please don’t be putting more fire on this already tense situation,” he said.
He described the unrest as a global phenomenon, a challenge, which he urged the leaders to tackle head on.
He said the crisis and disaffections in the world today is not the making of God, adding that “it is product of man inhumanity to man.”
While preaching the message of peace in Abuja, through his representative, the Andoma of Doma at the National Consultative Meeting on “the role of religious leaders and traditional rulers in building a culture of peace, national unity and integration”, he cautioned the citizenry not to hurt their compatriots.
He said since the consequences of religious crisis has not yielded more than destruction, Nigerians should return to the basis that God created mankind equal but man created the colour bar that now bedevils the society.
According to him, the only quality that exalts a man is his goodness and not religion or tribe.
He said, “what makes you different before God or what makes you acceptable to God, what endears you to God, is the much of your goodness that has benefited the other person, whether he is of your religion, your colour, your tribe or not.”
The cleric and traditional ruler appealed to all religious leaders in the country to aggressively preach the sermon of peace and harmony to their congregations.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), President, Ayo Oritseyjafor, agreed with the Sultan’s message of peace, adding that “that any group that desires peace is definitely doing the right thing.”
For Nigeria to attain a desirable rebirth, the CAN president said the citizenry must do all that is possible to re-establish peace in the country.
His words: “But let me quickly say that if we must build a new Nigeria, if we must build a great Nigeria, then we must all of us do everything it takes to bring peace.”
Meanwhile, the former chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, also appealed to both political and religious leaders to stop fueling crisis in Nigeria.
“I want to appeal to our own leaders, especially politicians, you have a role to play. Please don’t be putting more fire on this already tense situation,” he said.
He described the unrest as a global phenomenon, a challenge, which he urged the leaders to tackle head on.
Emergency rule reflects Nigeria’s worsening insecurity – U.S
President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States to curb the orgy of violence in the areas.
Jonathan, in his address said “Islamic militants had taken over parts of Borno and militant action in the Muslim north amounted to a declaration of war.”
State Department spokesman, Patrick Ventrell, said the United States government was deeply concerned about violence in northern Nigeria, saying its severity was such that it may spill across the borders.
“The declaration of states of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States reflects the worsening cycle of violence in northern Nigeria,” he said.
Militants suspected to be from the Boko Haram sect killed more than 40 people in attacks on a village in northern Nigeria last week.
The United Nations estimates that about 200 people were killed and more than 2,000 houses were destroyed in a recent Nigerian military raid in the north. The raids were allegedly in response to an attack by Boko Haram.
“We have made clear to the Nigerian government that its heavy-handed response to insecurity in northern Nigeria and the failure to address human rights violations will potentially affect our ability to provide security assistance going forward,” Ventrell said.
Nigeria President declares State of Emergency in 3 States over Islamic Extremist Attacks
In a terse show of force yesterday, President Goodluck
Jonathan ignored the advise of the Nigerian Governors Forum given a day before yesterday and declared a State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa
states.
This announcement was made at 7pm during a 15-minutes address to the nation that streamed live on the network services of the Nigeria Television Authority, the Voice of Nigeria and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.
“The activities of insurgents have been intolerable,” the president
said. “Some parts of Borno State have been taken over by groups. The
insurgents and terrorists prevent government from fulfilling its duties.
No matter what it takes, we will win this war against terrorism.”
It will be recalled that his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati had on Sunday denied any plans to declare a state of emergency.
This announcement was made at 7pm during a 15-minutes address to the nation that streamed live on the network services of the Nigeria Television Authority, the Voice of Nigeria and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.
It will be recalled that his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati had on Sunday denied any plans to declare a state of emergency.
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