Suspected members of Boko Haram sect have kidnapped a groom and his best man as they were returning from his wedding in Borno State.
According to the Nation, the groom is an employee of the UN World Food Programme, and the best man a colleague from the International Committee of the Red Cross. They were reportedly abducted by the Islamic State West Africa Province on Wednesday, at a checkpoint near Jakana village.
They had gone to the wedding in neighboring Adamawa State and were stopped at an illegal checkpoint at about 12.30 pm.
The UN in an internal memo released on Wednesday, informed its staff about the abduction of a “UN national staff embarking on a private trip… by NSAG (non-state armed group)”.
ISWAP said on Friday that it seized “two Christians working for the Red Cross organisation”. The group said the incident occurred at a checkpoint between the village of Mainok and Maiduguri.
Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi A Sule, has advised BOSG to search for anew viable options to tackle the menace of the decade long bokoharam INSURGENCY as current strategy employed is not helping matters.
Engr. Abdullahi Sule,stated this on Saturday when he led a high powered delegation to commiserate with his BORNO state counterpart,Governor BABAGANA UMARA ZULUM at the GOVERNMENT house over the gruesome massacre of rice farmers at Zabarmari in Jere council area of the state.
The governor was accompanied on the visit by former Governor of Nasarawa State, Sen. Umar Tanko Almakura, the emir of Lafiya, Justice Sidi Bage Mohammed (Rtd), the emir of Keffi, Dr. Shehu Chindo Mohammed II and Senator John Danboye .
He used the opportunity to call on all leaders, including Mr President,Muhammadu Buhari,to start thinking differently as the many options already taken, did not resolve the bokoharam problems, there is nothing wrong with looking at other options so that we can solve our problems once and for all.
The Governor expressed the concern of the entire people of Nasarawa state over the lingering security challenges in Borno and prayed for peace to reign in the state and the repose of the souls of the departed citizens as he equally used the occasion to condemn the dastardly attacks on innocent farmers earning their legitimate means of livelihood.
“Today we have come, first and foremost to commiserate with you my dear brother, the Governor of Borno State and indeed the entire people of Borno State for what you are going through.”
“Like the MC said, as we stay in Nasarawa, constantly our concerns are in what happens in Borno State. We go to bed, we wake up, we keep thinking about what is happening actually in Borno State. And it is indeed very saddening at this era that people will engage in this kind of barbaric act to eliminate the lives of other people in whatever disguise. Nobody has the right to do that.”
“We have come to remind you Professor, God the Almighty said, he will not over burden us with what we cannot handle. We strongly believe that the God Almighty that has brought you to this position at this time with your members of delegation and the entire elders that you have along with you, with our dear father, the Shehu of Borno, the God Almighty will support you, because you mean well for the people of Borno.”
“There is absolutely no doubt that peace and progress will not come to a place where there is no peace, we pray first and foremost to the Almighty Allah, who has challenged us, because God Almighty in Surah albaqara has clearly said he will challenge us with all kinds of rift. When we pray it’s he alone that will take it away from us. Ya Allah you have tested us enough, take away this test from us.”
Responding, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum expressed appreciation to the delegation for their visit. He also thanked the entire people of Nasarawa State for their prayers and concerns over what is happening in Borno.
“We are most honored and we are most grateful to you, May Almighty Allah reward you abundantly. We acknowledge your support, we acknowledge your sympathy to the people and government of Borno State.”Zulum said.
He added, “Your Excellency, we are aware that the entire people of Nasarawa State are praying for the well-being of the people of Borno State. Your visit today will further strengthen our relationship. It has shown the degree of fraternity between the two states. Once again, I wish to sincerely appreciate your visit.”
The delegation was later led by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to the Shehu’s Palace to commiserate with the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Umar Garbai Elkanemi.
Governor of BORNO state, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, on Sunday, lamented that the dreaded Boko Haram sect still waxing stronger in some parts of the state especially along the Fringes of river Koshobe, Lake Chad Basin and Sambisa forest posing grave threats to about 6 million people in the state.
He disclosed this during the mass burial of rice farmers/fishermen that were slaughtered Saturday in Koshobe in broad daylight at Zabarmari community in which, 44 corpses have been recovered by security operatives and volunteers, while other corpses are still not recovered in the Bush of Koshobe village, with scores missing at press time.
Koshobe, located north-east, is an agrarian community under Jere Local Government Area, where most Hausas engaged in farming and fishing is about 25km drive from Maiduguri, the state capital.
According to him, though his administration has launched a security outfit called ‘Agric -Ranchers’ comprised of military, paramilitary and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force including Hunters/Vigilantes safeguard farmers, there is the need for collective responsibility especially from the parts of the Federal Government, and Governments of border countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroun Republic to team up and address the lingering Boko Haram crisis in the region.
He regretted the escalating killings perpetrated by armed insurgents in some parts of the state and assured that his administration will soon recruit additional Civilian Joint Task Force to complement efforts of the security operatives in the fight against Boko Haram. “I can admit that the dreaded Boko Haram sect are still existing strongly in many parts of our state especially in the Sambisa Forest, River Fringes of Koshobe and Lake Chad Basin posing threats to over 6 million people in the state.
“As you are aware that this administration has launched a security outfit called ‘Agric -Ranchers’ comprised of military, paramilitary and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force including Hunters/Vigilantes safeguard farmers, there is the need for collective responsibility especially from the parts of the Federal Government, and Governments of border countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroun Republic to team up address the lingering Boko Haram crisis in the region.
“You have seen this morning, we buried 44 recovered corpses according to Islamic rites, I was informed that over 70 farmers were slaughtered while harvesting their rice in Koshobe village, but as it is, more corpses are still lying there waiting for evacuation.
“I assured you that this administration will soon recruit additional Civilian Joint Task Force complement efforts of the security operatives in the fight against Boko Haram.” Governor Zulum said.
He, therefore, prayed God/Allah to grant eternal rest to the souls of the deceased and their families to bear the irreparable lost.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Rice Farmers Association in Zabarmari, Mallam Hassam Maina in an interview described the incident as a “Deadly Blow”.
He called on the Government and the security agencies to live up to their responsibility in protecting lives and property in the state.
Boko Haram terrorists have again invaded Magumeri,headquarters of the local government in Borno,razes down a fully equipped general hospital,a tractor and the only functioning telecommunications mast in the area.
The incident occurred at about 04:00PM Monday,and started gunshots sporadically at about 04:57PM which lasted for almost 2hours despite attempts by the military to dislodge them to no avail,they succeeded in infiltrating the council headquarters.
Magumeri Social Media Forum – MSF also gathered that an innocent lactating mother died as a result of sporadic gunshots between the insurgents and the military while the other one also injured.
