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Tag: Insurgency

  • 2023: We’ll End Insurgency In Six Months – Shettima

    2023: We’ll End Insurgency In Six Months – Shettima

    Vice-Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Kashim Shettima, has said if elected in 2023, the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu-led government will end insurgency within six months and one year.

    He said this during a townhall meeting between Tinubu and the business community in Lagos.

    “Within six months and one year, my leader (Tinubu) will mobilise the leadership to end this madness,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said if elected in 2023, his administration will enlist more people in the armed forces, security services and the police as part of measures to tackle insecurity.

    He said his administration will continue the fight against insecurity by redefining the country’s counterinsurgency doctrine and practice

    “We shall enlist more people in the armed forces, security services and the police. Our forces will be given better tactical communications, mobility as well as improved aerial and ground surveillance capacity.

    “Through these and other measures, we shall better identify, monitor, track, and defeat these evil groups where they are. They shall have no respite until they surrender or are utterly defeated,” he added.

    In 2021, Tinubu’s speech calling for the recruitment of 50 million youths into the armed forces during his 69th birthday colloquial generated controversy.

    However his spokesperson, Tunde Rahman, said it was an “accidental verbal mistake,” disclosing that the former Lagos state governor meant 50,000 youths recruitment into the security architecture of the country.

  • Insurgency, Kidnapping and Other Crimes in the North East To End Soon

    Insurgency, Kidnapping and Other Crimes in the North East To End Soon

    …Theatre Commander

    From Dauda R Pam-Maiduguri.

    The Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) Maj-Gen. Christopher Musa has said that insurgency, kidnappings and other related crimes in the north east may come to an end this year.

    Over 50,800 Boko Haram repentant terrorists and their families, he said, have surrendered to the Nigerian Army in Borno and Yobe states.

    The Theatre Commander disclosed this, Friday, in a parley with journalists in Maiduguri, while reeling out strategies to end the war that claimed many lifes and property in the region.

    Also reeled out were pictorial evidence of a professional military fight against terrorism, with the neutralization of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram terrorists this year.

    “Our approach of professionalism to end this war is yielding results”, adding that the narratives are fast changing to the excitements of security agencies to end the 13-year war in the six affected states of the north east..

    According to him, the morale of officers and soldiers have been raised to meet the deadline of war in Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe and Yobe states.

    Major Gen. Christopher Musa argued that the Army and its Air and Maritime Components alongside other security agencies charged with the responsibility of prosecuting the war in the Northeast; will continue to synergize and warned the troops not to relent; until all the nooks and crannies of the theatre of war are cleared of terrorists and kidnappers.

    On the profiling of the repentant terrorists’, he said that their profiling is being carried and none of them is being released into their communities.

    “We identify the fighters whenever they surrender and separate them before presenting them to the different camps”,
    assuring that none of the combatants will be released until the Federal Government takes the final decision on their respective status

    On the death of Abubakar Shekau, the Boko Haram leader, led to serious infight and struggles for new leadership of terrorism and further disclosed that the ISWAP group, with the aid of foreign mercenaries, wanted to coerce the Shekau’s people to join them contrary to their ideology, aims and objectives which led to infighting that spread into the forest and the Lake Chad region.

    The Theatre Command Intelligence Coordinator, Col. Obinna Azuikpe, also said that there were 81 attacks of Boko Haram and ISWAP in the first quarter of this year.

    “Our troops and other security forces were able to confront the insurgents in the hideouts of forest and Lake Chad region,” he said.

    Col. Azuikpe added that troops under Operation Desert Sanity conducted 9,163 patrols, 5,553 ambushes and 1,006 clearance operations. He said a total of 126 Boko Haram and ISWAP were neutralised in recent operations. the TC said the welfare of troops will continue to receive due attention. He said the Army is implementing new measures on troops rotation.

    “What we’re seeing with regards to the success stories; if we continue the way we’re doing now, God willing, this year, we will put this (war) to an end”.

  • Insurgency: Northeast Will Witness A Change In The Coming Months – Buhari

    Insurgency: Northeast Will Witness A Change In The Coming Months – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday assured Nigerians that in the coming months, citizens particularly in the Northeast will begin to witness a change from the protracted insurgency to peace and development in their respective communities.

    Buhari stated this in line with the promise he made in 2015, to restore peace to the Northeast and return it to a path of development and growth. According to him, his government remains committed to the promise.

    He disclosed this during the inauguration of a Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Returns, and Resettlement of Displaced Persons in the Northeast during the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House.

    The committee is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that peace and normalcy return to the embattled region through engagement with community stakeholders, among other strategies.

    President Buhari, who underlined that there is no room for failure, noted that the high-level coordination team will adopt guiding principles of accountability, delineation of duty, and community-driven methods to address the protracted crisis.

    Members of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East include Ministers of Finance, Budget & National Planning; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; Interior as well as Foreign Affairs and Defence.

    Others are the National Security Adviser, Inspector- General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff, Director General, State Security, Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Director-General, North-East Development Commission, Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency and Chief of Defence Intelligence.

  • Insurgency, Banditry Forcing Children Out Of School – Presidency

    Insurgency, Banditry Forcing Children Out Of School – Presidency

    The Presidency has lamented the impact of insurgency and banditry on school attendance in the country.

    Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari said this on Tuesday at the fourth International Conference on Safe Schools Declaration in Abuja. Gambari, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the event, blamed increased insurgency and banditry for the rise in the number of out-of-school children.

    “The incessant attacks on the country’s education system in the form of kidnapping, abduction of pupils; students through the increased activities of insurgents and general insecurity in our schools have been chief among contributing factors responsible for the growing number of out-of-school children.

    “These perpetrators of evil, having turned their attention to innocent children in boarding schools or institutions outside city limits, adopt young learners in large numbers,” Gambari said.

    He pointed out that fear of abduction and a traumatic experience from school children, who have been victims of kidnapping, has forced many children of school age to stay out of educational institutions, thereby increasing the problem of out-of-school children.

    The Chief of Staff, however, assured Nigerians that the government is mindful of the fact that, to record adequate achievements in the education sector, the system would require a total overhaul and changes to improve the education sector.

    Meanwhile, 12 million children are reported to have been affected by the rise in insecurity in the country

    The first mass school abduction in the country was in the northeast region in 2014, when Boko Haram members picked 276 girls from Chibok, triggering a global campaign called #BringBackOurGirls.

    Since then, attacks on schools “have grown in number and spread across the northern part of the country,” President Buhari’s Chief of Staff said during the conference.

    “There are more than 12 million children currently traumatized and afraid of going to school”. Girls were particularly affected, he added.

    Gambari said further that “even when the abducted students are released, the trauma of the incidences remain long in their minds.”

  • Int’l Peace Day: Culture Promotion, Panacea To Insurgency, Banditry In Nigeria – ActionAid

    Int’l Peace Day: Culture Promotion, Panacea To Insurgency, Banditry In Nigeria – ActionAid

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Actionaid Nigeria Resilience Programme Coordinator, Anicetus Atakpu on Wednesday in Lokoja described promotion of Culture as a panacea to insurgency, armed robbery, kidnapping and banditry ravaging the country.

    Atakpu who made the call on Wednesday in Lokoja at a cultural peace fiesta in commemoration of the 2021 global peace day, called on the Government to device a new structural approach to promote Nigeria culture in a bid to put an end to criminality.

    He lamented that Nigeria Culture has been relegated to the background, stressing the need to promote harmonious cohabitation through culture if the country must overcome the growing spate of insecurity bedevelling the nation today.

    He said ”Tribalism has played a very strong role in promoting violence extremism and building conflicts in Nigeria. The most recent is the farmers, herders conflict, that has led to so many deaths which we are out to finding the solution to the problem.”

    Culture according to him is a good way of building harmony, and peaceful coexistence adding, “We have been having this peaceful fiesta for the past three years, and we have come to restructure it. Rather than just gather youths to play, dance, we need to pass a message with it.”

    ”This year we have launch the cultural peace fiesta demonstrating our cultural diversity and making our youths and our teaming population understand that we have diversity in culture, and our looks but we are still one. We are passing a message that will make people appreciate the oneness in us despite our cultural diversity.”

    “ If the government could come up with a new model towards promoting our culture, the issue of Kidnapping, insurgency, armed robbery will be a thing is the past”.

    In her speech, Actionaid Nigeria country Director, Ene Obi who was represented by the organization Director, Social Mobilization Mr
    Adewale Adeduntan traced the neglect of Nigeria culture to the importation of foreign culture in the society.

    According to her, ”Am not in any way antagonizing foreign culture in our system, but I am bold to say that some of this culture brought to our country is drilled with hypocrasy, hatred, violence and many more that does not reflect Nigeria Culture. Our culture preaches peace, and peace we must maintain if we want to move forward”

    Earlier in her opening remarks, the Executive Director, Participation Initiative for Behavioral Change in Development, (PIBCID), Halima Oiza Sadiq admitted that cultural diversity has a great role to play in promoting peace and harmonious coexistence looking at the ethnic diversity of Kogi State.

    “As such, the 2021 peace fiesta (Cultural Fiesta) is an occasion for us as peace ambassadors from diverse ethnic groups, to reflect on how aspects of this culture including music, dance, attire, craft and cultural expression can be exploited to enrich the lives of the people of Kogi and our country as a whole.

    The cultural peace fiesta to mark the 2021 International peace day with the theme ” Promoting harmonious cohabitation through culture” was organised by Actionaid Nigeria, in collaboration with the Participation Initiative for Behavioral Change in Development, (PIBCID), and funding from Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, (GCERF).

  • Arewa group hails success recorded by military against insurgency

    Arewa group hails success recorded by military against insurgency

    A pressure group, Arewa Youth Federation, has said it is fascinated by the sustained success being recorded by the security agencies in the war against terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality across the country.

    The group in a statement signed by its President, Muhammad Matazu noted with pride the renewed onslaught against Boko Haram/ ISWAP and banditry in the North West leading to the mass surrender of thousands of Insurgents occasioned by the superior fire power of the Nigerian security agencies.

    “We have observed with profound satisfaction the renewed determination of the security agencies which has culminated to taking war to the enclaves or forests of the insurgents with tremendous result. It has decimated the insurgents and led to their mass surrender”.

    According to the group, the latest achievement is occasioned by the synergy of the various security agencies and departments.

    “We wish to commend the Department of State Security Services, Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi, the Defence Intelligent Agency, Maj-Gen S.A. Adebayo, for the intelligence they have continued to provide for those at the battle front.

    “Above all, we are proud of the patriotism and professionalism of the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. General Lucky Irabor, the Chiefs of Army and Air Force. Clearly, their approach to the execution of the war has given fresh impetus even to the morale of the personnel.

    “We therefore appeal to the Armed forces to sustain the onslaught on all criminals until all forms of threats to the security of the country are decisively eliminated and further admonished the Armed forces to show no mercy.

    “We have followed the various successes and clearance operations thus far. We urge the military to interrogate the bandits with the aim to unveil their sponsors, logistics suppliers, collaborators and every information that will lead to the defeat of these terrorists. There is no doubt in our minds that the defence intelligence is alive to its responsibility of providing intelligence to the field soldiers leading to the several successful attacks on the criminals in their hideouts”.

    Muhammad Matazu stated that the troops have demonstrated capacity, commitment and competence to defend the territorial integrity of the nation. He noted that the recent successes are a bold and intimidating response to naysayers and propagandist whose stock in trade has been to encourage terrorists’ activities by propagating messages that the government and the security forces were not doing enough.

    The group commended the joint military operations, let by the chief of Army staff Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya and particularly the air component led by the chief of Air staff, Air Marshal, Isiaka Oladayo Amao for a job well done.

    “We want to specially commend the chief of Air staff Air Marshal, Isiaka Oladayo Amao for coordinating the air component properly. The air component of operation HADIN KAI has smoked the insurgents out of their hiding places”

    The Arewa group appealed to Nigerians to unite against all forces working against the unity, progress stability and development of the country to enable it reach its potentials in the comity of nations. It stated that the development of any nation does not take place in an environment replete with instability.

    The group prayed God to grant the armed forces total victory as they traverse the forests and hinterlands in a determination to restore peace to the country.

  • Arewa group hails success recorded by military against Insurgency

    Arewa group hails success recorded by military against Insurgency

    A pressure group, Arewa Youth Federation, has said it is fascinated by the sustained success being recorded by the security agencies in the war against terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality across the country.

    The group in a statement signed by its President, Muhammad Matazu noted with pride the renewed onslaught against Boko Haram/ ISWAP and banditry in the North West leading to the mass surrender of thousands of Insurgents occasioned by the superior fire power of the Nigerian security agencies.

    “We have observed with profound satisfaction the renewed determination of the security agencies which has culminated to taking war to the enclaves or forests of the insurgents has yielded tremendous result. It has decimated the insurgents and led to their mass surrender.

    The president of the group tasked the Armed forces to sustain the onslaught on all criminals until all forms of threats to the security of the country are decisively eliminated and further admonished the Armed forces to show no mercy.

    “We have followed the various success and clearance operations. We urge the military to interrogate the bandits with the aim to unveil their sponsors, logistics suppliers, collaborators and every information that will lead to the defeat of these terrorists. There is no doubt in our minds that the defence intelligence is alive to its responsibility of providing intelligence to the field soldiers leading to the several successful attacks on the criminals in their hideouts”.

    Muhammad Matazu stated that the troops have demonstrated capacity, commitment and competence to defend the territorial integrity of the nation. He noted that the recent successes are a bold and intimidating response to naysayers and propagandist whose stock in trade has been to encourage terrorists’ activities by propagating messages that the government and the security forces were not doing enough.

    The group commended the joint military operations, let by the chief of Army staff Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya and particularly the air component led by the chief of Air staff, Air Marshal, Isiaka Oladayo Amao.

    “We want to specially commend the chief of Air staff Air Marshal, Isiaka Oladayo Amao for coordinating the air component properly. The air component of operation HADIN KAI has smoked the insurgents out of their hiding places”

    The Arewa group appealed to Nigerians to unite against all forces working against the unity, progress stability and development of the country to enable it reach its potentials in the comity of nations. It stated that the development of any nation does not take place in an environment replete with instability.

    The group prayed to God to grant the armed forces total victory as they traverse the forests and hinterlands in a determination to restore peace to the country.

  • Gov. Ishaku charged new appointed COAS Faruk Yahaya to redoubtable effort in combating insurgency

    Gov. Ishaku charged new appointed COAS Faruk Yahaya to redoubtable effort in combating insurgency

    By Danzumi Ishaku, Jalingo.

    The Taraba state Governor, Arch. Darius Dickson Ishaku has charged the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff Major General Faruk Yahaya to his good iniciatives and redoubled his effort at combating insurgency in the Country, stating that it would be a shame if Nigerian Army cannot end insurgency in the Northeast when they have done same in other countries.

    The Taraba state Governor who was Speaking during an interactive session with Journalists in Jalingo, to commemorate his six year anniversary in the state.

    Governor Ishaku condemned in strong team the recent killings of innocent citizens in Taraba particularly Bali and Takum Local Government Area of the state. He said the crisis between the TIVs and Fulanis started from Benue State which escalated to Taraba leading to the death of 18 persons.

    According to Governor Ishaku, it was not easy for him to bring back peace in the trouble spots in the state urging Tarabans to always maintain peace for the overall development of the state and the nation.

    He called on Nigerians to shun rumour mongering which is hitherto responsible for the escalation of crisis, saying he distanced himself on the creation of regional police and reechoed his stance for the creation of State and Local Government Police.

    Speaking on the defection of some PDP Governors to the All Progressive Congress, APC, Governor Ishaku said he remain undeterred since it is their personal opinion maintaining that the onus lies on Nigerians to contribute their quota to the development of the country than cross carpeting.

    Ishaku applauded the leadership style of NUJ Chairman Taraba State Council David Nya for his forsight maturity he has exhibited in handling issues of the Union.

    The Governor pledged to fulfill his promise of renovating the NUJ Center when funds are available since it is captured in this year’s budget.

  • Gov Zulum Pencils Poverty and Illiteracy as Responsible Factors for Insurgency in Nigeria

    Gov Zulum Pencils Poverty and Illiteracy as Responsible Factors for Insurgency in Nigeria

    From DAUDA R PAM-MAIDUGURI

    Poverty and illiteracy has been identified as one of the major  factors responsible for insurgency in the country.

    Borno Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum stated this during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nasarawa state government and Flour Mills Nigeria in Abuja, with the view to establish a sugar company in Toto local government of Nassarawa state.

    Governor Zulum also used the occasion to advise his Nassarawa state counterpart, Abdullah Sule, to insist that majority of workers of the company must be indigenes of the state.

    According to him, the establishment of the company would create jobs and stimulate the economy that would support the state and the nation.

    Zulum was empatic as he  identified poverty, illiteracy, high inequality and environmental degradation as some of the root causes of insurgency.

    “I am, therefore advising governor Sule to establish strong institutional arrangements that would ensure the sustainability of the agreement.

    “Many at times in Nigeria, programmes do not last long due to poor institutional arrangements for implementation.

    “It is my sincere prayer that the Flour Mills Nigeria will take into consideration the plight of the indigenes of Nasarawa state, first in terms of local content development and recruitment,” Zulum stated.

    He explained that considering the plight of the indigenes of the state was key to guaranteeing security and smooth operations of the company in Nasarawa.

    And further advised, that under no circumstances should the governor allow the FMN to recruit people contrary to the terms of agreement, noting that, the company’s failure to partner with the indigenes could trigger the kind of security challenges occurring in other parts of the country, as he did not want such an ugly situation to be witnessed in Nasarawa state.

    Borno state, he hinted, would also partner with the Flour Mills of Nigeria, soon on an investment opportunity for the overall development of his, borno, state.

  • Insurgency: We Are Committed To Destroying Boko Haram Terrorists – Attahiru

    Insurgency: We Are Committed To Destroying Boko Haram Terrorists – Attahiru

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru has reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Army in crushing Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast.

    Briefing journalists in Borno State on Thursday, the Army chief said his mission to the 7 Division, Maimalari Cantonment/ Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri was to visit the injured soldiers.

    While noting that the troops remain committed to tackling other security challenges such as banditry and kidnapping among other crimes bedevilling some parts of the country, Attahiru said there is no way troops would always claim victory over their enemies, as sometimes the opposite is the direction.

    “We are committed to the focus of the entire operations which is total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.

    “Troops are committed to ending the war and other security challenges such as banditry and kidnapping among other crimes bedevilling some parts of the country.”

    The COAS also conveyed the goodwill messages from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to him, President Buhari is committed to providing them with the needed resources they would require to execute the fight against insurgency and other violent groups across Nigeria.

    On his part, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major-General Farouq Yahaya, lauded the regular visit by the COAS which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.

    “We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.

    The Army chief’s visit to the troubled region comes four days after an officer and six others died in a counterinsurgency operation in Mainok, Borno State.

    Spokesman of the Army, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, had on Monday explained that the security personnel were attacked by insurgents mounted on an unconfirmed number of gun trucks, and foot soldiers with the possible intent of establishing a phantom caliphate in Mainok town.

    Five other soldiers who sustained various degrees of injuries have been evacuated to the military medical facility for treatment.

    During a duel between the troops and the insurgents, the soldiers were said to have lured a number of the terrorists into a killing zone within their camp.

    Thereafter, the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole scrambled Alpha jets and helicopter gunboats which took turns to decimate the trapped terrorists, leading to the killing of scores of Boko Haram terrorists.