Nigeria: Boko Haram 'Taking Over Northern Borno State'

Many local governments areas in northern Borno and other parts of the state are gradually coming under the control of members of the Jama'atu Ahlis Sunnah Lid Da'awati Wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram, Weekly Trust heard yesterday.

The northern part of Borno shares international borders with Cameroon, Niger and Chad republics and comprises Marte, Magumeri, Mobbar, Gubio, Guzamala, Abadam, Kukawa, Kaga, Nganzai and Monguno Local Government Areas.

Weekly Trust reports that very few attacks take place in Damboa, Chibok, Biu and Gwoza Local Government Areas in the southern part of the state while Hawul, Bayo, Kwaya Kusar, Askira/Uba and Shani have remained relatively peaceful.

Most government officials and civil servants had fled most of these areas except Damasak. Bama and some parts of Konduga Local Government Area, both in the central part of the state, are also coming under the control of the sect members who had chased away government officials and civil servants, it was learnt.

The source alleged that the JTF, which has received over 200 new patrol hilux vans, in addition to the fuelling of its vehicles and allowances for its soldiers, have largely remained more active in central parts of the state. When contacted last night, officials of the Borno State Government referred our reporter to the Joint Military task Force (JTF). However, several attempts to speak with the spokesman of the JTF Lt Col Sagir Musa were not successful as calls placed to his mobile phone failed to go through.

Weekly Trust also learnt that in Marte Local Government, the sect members control most villages and openly organize public preaching in village market in Krenuwa, the hometown of the current Secretary to the State Government Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda, who is a member of the Presidential Amnesty Committee.

It was also learnt that the sect members are acquiring so many vehicles, in military colours and mounting guns on them. Three brand new hilux vans belonging to the Chad Basin were also reportedly snatched by gunmen.

Weekly Trust gathered that members of the Agricultural Transformation team set up by the Borno State Governor has been chased out of Marte by insurgents, abandoning harvest of wheat in 5,000 hectares of irrigation land, revived and funded by the state through collaboration between the Borno State Government and the Federal Government-owned Chad Basin Development Authority. The farm has over 60,000 hectares of unused irrigation land in Marte.

from allAfrica/DailyTrust
20 April 2013

Related articles

• Boko Haram 'Taking Over Northern Borno' As Government Officials Flee-WEEKLY TRUST. (greatriversofhope.wordpress.com)

Read More

Nigeria: JTF Repels Attack On Military Barrack in Munguno

The Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) said on Sunday it repelled an attack by suspected Boko Haram terrorists on the military barrack in Munguno, Borno.
Munguno is about 200 km from Maiduguri, about two hours drive from the capital.

"Information available to JTF indicated that some suspected terrorists attempted to attack a military barrack in Munguno, headquarters of Munguno Local Government Area of Borno State on Sunday.

"The attack was repelled by the JTF troops at the outskirt of the barracks," JTF spokesman Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, stated in a statement in Maiduguri.

He said that 20 of the attackers were killed during exchange of fire with the soldiers.

"The encounter led to the death of 20 suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

"Three four-wheel drive vehicles and eight motor cycles used by the suspects were destroyed and several arms and ammunition were recovered.

"The following items were recovered, seven AK 47 rifles, 10 rocket propeller grenade, two RPG Tubes, large quantities of assorted ammunition and eight assorted magazines," he said.

Musa said that the JTF had also arrested suspected masterminds of last week's bomb blasts in Maiduguri.

"In a related development, based on intelligence reports, a special operation was conducted by the JTF which resulted in the arrest of two suspected high profile commanders of the Boko Haram sect in Maiduguri.

"Those arrested were suspected to be responsible for the Feb. 28 explosions which coincided with the Progressive Governors' meeting in Maiduguri," Musa said, adding that the two suspects were being interrogated. (NAN)

from allAfrica/Leadership
3 March 2013

Read More

Nigeria: Multiple Explosion in Maiduguri

About four Improvised Explosive Devices suspected to have been planted by terrorists in Maiduguri the Borno state capital , Thursday, exploded at different locations within the metropolis.

The explosions occurred simultaneously at Baga road, Customs, Gamboru general areas at about 3pm, while that last one in London ciki happened at about 6pm.

An unconfirmed report from a hospital source said, over six corpses including security operatives and that of civilians were brought to the mortuary of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

When contacted, State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yuguda Abdullahi said, he was aware of only one blast in Maiduguri where he personally visited the scene, but declined comment on the number of casualties.

from allAfrica/Vanguard
By Ndahi Marama, 28 February 2013

Read More

Nigeria: 17 Boko Haram Members, Soldier Die in JTF Raids

A series of raids launched by the Joint Task Force (JTF), code named Operation Restore Order (ORO) in suspected camps of the Boko Haram sect, has claimed 17 terrorists and a soldier.
The task force, which confirmed the casualty figure yesterday, said the victims died during gun battles in two special operations supported by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter gunship.

In a statement issued yesterday by the JTF spokesman, Lt-Col. Sagir Musa, he said the raids were launched to dislodge Boko Haram terrorists' camps in Sambisa Game Reserve in Bama Local Government Area and Farin-Ruwa forest in South-West/East of Demboa Local Government of Borno State on Wednesday and Thursday.

Musa said the camps were properly sighted and fortified and had training facilities; armoury, accommodation, drugs store/medical, kitchen, vehicle holding area, latrine and water points (river).

According to him, the camps were used to conduct training and carry out recent attacks, killings and bombings in Maiduguri, Musari, Konduga, Biu, Bama, and Demboa communities.

Musa said, "Efforts by JTF troops to destroy the camps led to fierce exchange of fire that resulted in the death of 17 Boko Haram terrorists with one JTF personnel killed. The camps were destroyed and are being monitored. The following items were recovered: 6 Ak 47 rifles, 2 G3 rifles, 3 pistols, 1 rocket propelled grenade bomb (RPG), 1 RPG tube, 20 RPG chargers, 2 double barrel rifles."

"Others are 2,543 assorted ammunition, 33 assorted empty magazines, 3 laptops computers,10 assorted Motorola walkie talkies, 20 telephone handsets, 40 assorted primed IED canisters, 3 bags of rice and 2 bags of beans, 2 jerry cans of palm oil, 1 bag of salt, 1 generating set, and light green uniforms (sown and unsown)."

The JTF spokesman reiterated the need for local communities to give credible and timely information to the task force/ security agencies. He urged members of the public to pass any credible information to the JTF through the hot lines, which he gave as 080-64174066, O81-54429346.

from allAfrica/Leadership
By Sadiq Abubakar, 2 February 2013

Read More

Gunmen Bomb Police Station, Banks in Northern Nigeria

ABUJA — Gunmen on motorcycles bombed a police station and as many as three banks in Kaduna State in Nigeria on Wednesday night. The attacks come two days after a man claiming to be a leader of Islamist militants known as Boko Haram announced a unilateral truce.  

On a scratchy phone line from the town of Birnin Gwari, Abdulkadir Muhammed, a secondary school teacher, described the scene. 

He said gunmen blew into town on motorcycles, firing their weapons and tossing bombs.  He said the police station was flattened and as many as three banks, which were closed at the time, were bombed and robbed.

Officially the gunmen are ‘bandits’ but Sheihu Sani, the head of the Civil Rights Congress, a human rights organization in northern Nigeria, says the attacks resemble the work of Boko Haram.

“The attack on the police stations in Birnin Gwari and the attacks on banks follows the same pattern of how the insurgents operate in the northern part of Nigeria," said Sani. "And this thing just happened yesterday.  It’s a clear indication that the so-called ceasefire that was announced in Borno State was actually a sham.”

On Monday, a purported Boko Haram commander, Sheik Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulazeez, announced that Boko Haram had declared a unilateral ceasefire to pave the way for peace talks.  Sani says it is not clear that Abdulazeez has the authority to speak for the group.

“First of all, this same Abdulazeez made a similar claim about three to four months ago of a ceasefire and after the proclamation of that ceasefire a retired military general was killed and also a church was bombed in Kaduna," said Sani. "What is very clear is that a ceasefire that is binding, effective and credible should be announced by the leader of the group.”

Boko Haram began violent operations in 2009, and it has killed an estimated 3,000 people in attacks on churches, schools, government and newspaper offices, security forces, markets and the communications infrastructure. 

Human rights groups have accused security forces of killing hundreds more in operations to subdue the militant group.  Most of the violence has been in northern Nigeria. 

Kaduna is in a region of the north that is also called the “middle belt” because it divides Nigeria’s Muslim majority north from the Christian majority south.  Sectarian violence has long plagued the middle belt, including frequent church bombings and reprisal attacks.

Last October, 20 people were gunned down in the town of Birnin Gwari as they were leaving a mosque.

from VOA NEWS
by Heather Murdock
January 31, 2013

Read More

Nigeria: Boko Haram Agrees to Ceasefire As Gunmen Kill Eight in Borno

 The Jama’atul Ahalis Sunna Lida’awati Wal Jihad Islamic sect, popularly called Boko Haram, Monday again said it had agreed to a ceasefire with the Federal Government to pave the way for dialogue.

This will be the second time in months that the group has supposedly called for an end to hostilities, which was predicated on certain conditions being met, and had handpicked a committee that was to be headed by former military head of state, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, to hold discussions with the Federal Government.

However, two persons, who claimed to be representing the major faction of the group led by Sheikh Abubakar Shekau Monday met with the press in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Based on the sect’s antecedent, this is the first time anyone associated with Boko Haram is coming publicly to claim affinity with the dreaded group. On other occasions, communication with or through the media has been conducted via teleconferencing.

But in a swift reaction to the sect’s offer, the Federal Government Monday restated its condition for dialogue, adding that it was in the process of appraising the terms given by the sect.

Coincidentally, just as the representatives were calling for a truce, there were reports that eight persons, including a deputy treasurer of a local government area in Borno State, were in the early hours of Sunday killed by gunmen.

One of the two persons, who met with the journalists Monday, introduced himself as Sheikh Abu Mohammad Abdulazeez Ibn Idris, the commander in-charge of North and Central Borno of the sect.

He said the decision on the ceasefire came after meetings were held with the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima.

In the interview with journalists in Hausa language but translated to English, Idris said: “I, Sheikh Muhammed Abdulazeez Ibn Idris, the second commander-in-charge of southern and northern Borno, after Imam Abubakar Shekau of Jamaatul Ahjlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram; for sometimes now, we the members of Jamaatul ahlil Boko Haram sunna lidawati wal jihad (otherwise known as Boko Haram) have recently had a meeting and dialogue with the government of Borno State, where we resolved that given the prevailing situation, there is the need for us to ceasefire.

Read more, the full article from THIS DAY
Muhammad Bello, Michael Olugbode  and Ibrahim Shuaibu with agency report
29 Jan 2013

Related articles

• Nigeria militant Boko Haram declares ceasefire (talking12.wordpress.com)
• Update: Why We Agreed To Ceasefire- Boko Haram Faction (homezonemedia.wordpress.com)

Read More

Boko Haram leader, 2 sub-commanders killed in northern Nigeria raid

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- A top Boko Haram leader identified as Abdulkareem Ibrahim and two sub-commanders of the sect have been killed in a raid carried out by Nigerian troops in Maiduguri, capital of northeastern Borno State, authorities of the military Joint Task Fiorce (JTF) said on Monday.

Spokesperson of the JTF in Borno State Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa confirmed the killing to reporters, saying the raid was carried out on Sunday by a combined team of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and the military in the restive Nigerian state.

He said the operation was carried out mainly to capture the sect commander who had been on the military's wanted list.

According to Musa, arms and ammunition including AK-47 rifles were also recovered during the raid and ensuing gun battle that led to death of the sect commander and the two other sub- commanders.

"Ibrahim was a notorious terrorist commander who had been responsible for the recent spates of assassinations and bomb attacks in Maiduguri. He was one of the top commanders recently declared in the bounty list released by the JTF to members of the public," the troops spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, in a similar development, the police in Borno State have repelled an attack by suspected terrorists on its facility in Gamboru/Ngala area of the metropolis.

State commissioner of police Abdullahi Yuguda told reporters that the attackers invaded the Divisional Police Station in an attempt to cause pandemonium in the area. "I can only confirm to you that policemen successfully repelled the attack," he said.

"I'm still expecting more details from the Divisional Police Officer of the station," he added.

Maiduguri, located in Nigeria's northeastern region, is a Boko Haram flashpoint, where the Nigerian government had declared and lifted some curfews due to wave of attacks.

from XINHUA
2012-12-03 15:40:43
Editor: Fang Yang

Related articles

• Nigeria: JTF - We Killed Boko Haram Commander On Wanted List (allafrica.com)

Read More