Buhari's Comments On Boko Haram Has Subjected Him As A Sectional Leader – Arewa Youths

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Some concerned members of theArewa Youths Forum have called onformer Head of State Maj-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), to desist from making inciting statements in his pursuit of political relevance.

The youths also advised the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change  (CPC) in the 2011 elections to measure the mood of Nigerians beforethrowing his hat in the ring come 2015.

Buhari was also advised to prevent deluding himself into believing that what happened to those that contested elections in other climes repeatedly before winning would be his fate.

Jibril Mamman Vatsa, the spokesman of the group who made this known in a statement in Kaduna, said the recent statements by Buhari to the effect that the existing military operation against the Boko Haram sect was anti-north hadexposed him as a sectional leader.

VIDEO: Army Officer Explains How Boko Haram Members Choose Their Camps

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The Commander of Combat Team 1 that dislodged suspected members of the extremist sect, Boko Haram from their camp in Kirenowa Village, Lt. Col Danladi Hassan has explained the factors the militants considered before building their camps.Speaking to reporters after capturing a terrorist den in Kirenowa village, the Commander said the insurgents often site their camps in areas with thick vegetation so that they are shielded from military aerial scouts.

Watch The Video After The Break

Pes. Jonathan approves order proscribing Boko Haram, Ansaru members

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Below is a press statement by the president's Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Reuben Abati.

President Jonathan approves order proscribing Boko Haram and Ansaru members; supporters, collaborators now face prosecution under terrorism prevention act.

President Goodluck Jonathan has formally approved the proscription of Boko Haram and authorized the gazetting of an order declaring the group’s activities illegal and acts of terrorism.

The order which has been gazetted as the Terrorism (Prevention) (Proscription Order) Notice 2013 affects both Boko Haram (Jamaatu Ahlis-Sunna Liddaawati Wal Jihad) and another group – Jama’atu Ansarul  Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, was approved by President Jonathan pursuant  to section 2 0f the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011 (As Amended).

Another Bin Laden Saga? US places $23m reward for Boko Haram leader, Shekau, 4 others ( What is Your View )

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The US today Monday June 3rd posted up to $23 million in rewards to help track down five leaders of militant groups accused of spreading terror in west Africa. The highest reward of $7 million is offered for the Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, who last week called on Islamists in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to join the bloody fight to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.

The US State Department’s Rewards for Justice program also targeted Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), offering its first ever bounties for wanted militants in west Africa. Up to $5 million was posted for Al-Qaeda veteran Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the one-eyed Islamist behind the devastating attack on an Algerian gas plant in January in which 37 foreigners, including three Americans, were killed.

FG Stops Rich Senator Sponsoring Boko Haram's From Escaping Justice

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The Federal Government yesterday requested the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal to reject an application by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume over alleged involvement in terrorism. Ndume is seeking an order of the Appeal Court to stay his trial before a Federal High Court, pending the determination of his appeal challenging his trial for alleged sponsorship of terrorism in the country.

The appellate court consequently ordered parties to file written addresses on the issue and fixed October 2 for adoption of briefs.

The substantive appeal by Ndume challenging the ruling of the Federal High Court to the effect that he had a case to answer would be argued after determination of the application for stay.

Battle Against Boko Haram: Military Says Clampdown To Go On As 3 Soldiers Were Killed

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The military operation has left 17 people dead on the fifth day of a push in crushing the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast region of Nigeria with a death toll of 14 insurgents and three soldiers, while seven others sustained injuries.

The spokesperson for Defence Headquarters; Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, in a statement said the operation is continuing on; with patrols sent out to secure towns and villages.

He also revealed that the Special Forces have killed 14 insurgents in battles that left three soldiers dead and seven wounded.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, has convened President Goodluck Jonathan’s directive which urged members of Boko Haram  to surrender their arms and embrace the amnesty option.

Boko Haram: Surrender And Embrace Amnesty Now, Jonathan Warns

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The military, yesterday, extended the curfew in some parts of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, to 24 hours, in continuation of the emergency rule imposed on the state alongside Yobe and Adamawa States, on Tuesday, to curb Boko Haram insurgent activities.

The curfew extension came on a day President Goodluck Jonathan told the insurgents to surrender and embrace the amnesty proposed for them by the Federal Government.

Northern governors also warned against civilian casualty in the implementation of the emergency rule in the three north-eastern states.

Reports, yesterday, said residents of a community in Borno State, Marte, were fleeing air strikes by the Nigerian Airforce jets and helicopter gunships on suspected Boko Haram camps.

The spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, listed 12 neighbourhoods in Maiduguri where a 24-hour curfew was being imposed.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) also said troops arrested 65 suspected Boko Haram members trying to enter the Borno State capital after fleeing aerial bombardment elsewhere.

The DHQ insinuated that the insurgents were trying to infiltrate Maiduguri.

The imposition of the curfew in the Borno State capital was said to pave the way for the troops deployed to the state to embark on a house- to- house search, as well as face insurgents still residing within the metropolis and Jere council area.

Army condemns use of fake military camouflage by Boko Haram members

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The Nigerian Army on Friday in Abuja decried the rate at which the Boko Haram insurgents have been using fake military camouflage to attack civilians.  Maj.-Gen. Mobolaji Koleoso, the Chief of Civil Military Affairs of the Nigerian Army, said this while briefing newsmen on the security situation in the country.  He said the Army had observed with dismay the illegal possession and abuse of military camouflage by the Boko Haram insurgents.

 “This trend is indeed worrisome, hence the need to enlighten the public to be cautious and report suspicious persons using illegal camouflage, to relevant security agencies.  “A recent exchange of gun fire with the insurgents in the North Eastern part of the country which resulted in a large number of causalities on their side showed that the insurgents were dressed in fake military camouflage.

 “For the unsuspecting populace, these insurgents would have been misconstrued as soldiers of the Nigerian Army,’’ he added.

Jonathan’s Aide Wants Dialogue With Boko Haram Sustained

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The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku has called for a continuation of dialogue with members of the Boko Haram sect despite the declaration of a State of Emergency in three northern states.

Mr Kuku said this while addressing past and present leaders of the National Association of Nigerians Students.

Recently, President Jonathan said the growing insecurity in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states had compelled him to declare a state of emergence, exercising his powers as enshrined in Section 305 Subsection 1 of the Nigerian Constitution.

Borno: Troops capture Boko Haram’s camp

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Early reports of military operations in the three North-East states under emergency rule, on Thursday, indicated that Nigerian soldiers had recaptured three of the local government areas where insurgents had been in control in northern Borno.

The names of the recaptured councils could not be confirmed out of the lot in possession of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram. The areas where the insurgents were said to have been in total control before the military operation launched on Thursday were Marte, Magumeri, Mobbar, Gubio, Guzamala, Abadamin, Kukawa, Kaga, Nganzai and Monguno.

Also, the troops reportedly invaded and took over a training camp of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, known as Sambisa on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, in the early hours of Thursday.  Borno as well as Adamawa and Yobe states fell under emergency rule by presidential proclamation on Tuesday.

President Goodluck Jonathan said all efforts to bring the violence in the area under control had failed hence the need to use force to force insurgents out of the states, especially Borno where the President said insurgents had taken control of the northern part.

Jonathan Meets Boko Haram Amnesty Panel

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President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo
 with members of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue
and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday, met with members of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North.

President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo with members of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North
The Chairman of the committee, Karibu Turaki, said his team decided to call the meeting to ask President Jonathan the government’s position after speaking with different stakeholders and Boko Haram members.

“We feel that having interacted with most of the security agencies, we have come to the critical stage where we also need to hear what the government’s side is. That was what we came to discuss with Mr President,” he said.

Prison Break: Boko Haram Kills 55, Frees 105 In Borno

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uspected members of the radical Islamist sect Boko Haram raided the northeastern town of Bama on Tuesday, leaving 55 people dead, the military said.

Boko Haram gunmen killed 22 police officers, 14 prison officials, two soldiers and four civilians, while 13 of the group’s own members died the spokesman for the military Joint Task Force (JTF), Sagir Musa said.

Gunmen freed 105 prison members during the raid, which began at around 5am and lasted almost five hours, Mr Musa said.

Abuja Prison Rejects Boko Haram Bomber Because He's Too Dangerous

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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday issued an order relocating Mr. Kabiru Sokoto, the suspected operation arrow-head of the dreaded Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, from Kuje prisons to the custody of the State Security Service, SSS.

The order to relocate the suspected bomber of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State, on Christmas day, followed a request by the lead counsel to the Federal Government, Mrs. Chioma Onuegbu, in the matter yesterday.

The prosecution relied on a letter emanating from the Office of the Comptroller General of Prisons stating that there was a major work ongoing at the prison formation, which was stressing the facility.

Satellite images show 2,275 burnt houses in Baga, Boko Haram destroyed mobile telephone towers – HRW

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An international rights crusader, Human Rights Watch, on Wednesday described as hogwash, military’s claim that the fires that razed thousands of buildings in Baga, Borno State were caused by rocket-propelled grenades  fired by members of the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram.

HRW,  in a statement on its website, said satellite images showed that soldiers may have  set the fires that razed  down  “2,275 buildings  and left 125 others”  in the town  severely damaged.

Calling on the Federal Government to impartially probe the incident,   it said that the military was covering up something  going by the fact that it had vehemently refused to allow journalists access into the troubled community.

There had been reports that 187 persons were killed and about 2,000 houses torched during the April 16, 2013 clash.

VIDEO: Boko Haram Militants Showing Off Weapons “Captured” From An Army Barack Raid

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Islamist militants of the dreaded Boko Haram sect display weapons they purportedly captured from the Monguno Barack after they carried out a raid. The militants spoke in Hausa language.
Watch video After the break

Youths Urge FG To Forget Amnesty For Boko Haram

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Barely 24 hours after President Goodluck inaugurated a 25-man committee to work towards disarming members of the Boko Haram sect and granting them amnesty, thousands of unemployed youths have asked the Federal Government to jettison the idea or risk their wrath.

The youths, who converged in Abuja, yesterday, described the attempt by the government to dialogue and settle violent groups in the country as a step in the wrong direction capable of truncating the fragile peace in the country.Although the angry youths drawn from the 774 local government areas of the country, did not say what the form of their action would be, their leader who gave his name as Okey Felix Nwachukwu, warned that they would take steps to compel the government to address their plight.

Pres. Jonathan sets up committees on Boko Haram & other security challenges

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See the State House press release below

Following the consideration yesterday by the National Security Council of the report of the technical committee it set up to review fresh modalities for addressing security challenges in the North, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the constitution of a Presidential Committee to constructively engage key members of Boko Haram and define a comprehensive and workable framework for resolving the crisis of insecurity in the country.

The Committee’s terms of reference will include developing a framework for the granting of amnesty; setting up of a framework  through which disarmament could take place within a 60-day time frame; the development of a comprehensive victims’ support programme, and the development of mechanisms to address the underlying causes of insurgencies that will help to prevent future occurrences.

“Boko Haram Will Stop Killing, If Jonathan Doesn’t Run For Presidency In 2015″

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The President of Ondo State Unification of Cherubim and Seraphim, Primate Ademisokun Turton has stated that the incessant killings by the outlawed Islamic sect,Boko Haram will come to an end as soon as President Goodluck Jonathan discloses his 2015 political ambition.

The cleric said this in Akure, Ondo state capital at the inauguration of the Unification of the Churches in the state that the insecurity situation in Nigeria will come to an end the moment President Goodluck Jonathan makes it public that he is not re-contesting in 2015.

 According to him, “amnesty or no amnesty, the activities of the sect will continue until our President speaks out on his political ambition come 2015.”

Amnesty: Boko Haram Gives FG Conditions

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A leader of the Boko Haram sect, Muhammad Marwan, has said that if the Federal Government would not blackmail or deceive them as was done in the past, they will be  ready to avail themselves for dialogue as was initiated by the Northern Elders Forum.

 Marwan spoke  in an interview with the Hausa Service of the Voice of America (VOA) monitored in Kaduna on Tuesday, adding that  he was speaking on behalf of members of Jamatul Ahlus Sunnati lil Daawati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, on the call by Northern Elders Forum for amnesty for the sect members.

Boko Haram Members Behind The Mask

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The Governor of Borno State had had several meetings with Boko Haram members. I am not sure how he contacted them or made the arrangement. What am I saying here?

If the governor makes contact with them he should know some of them. Let's assume he doesn't know because they all wore mask as they appeared for these several meetings.

Now that we are talking about 'amnesty', will Boko Haram members pull off the mask? It is going to be interesting.