Maiduguri youths march against Boko Haram
Youths in Maiduguri protesting against Boko Haram’s attacks on Borno State ...on Thursday.
Thousands of youths on Thursday thronged the streets of Maiduguri protesting
against the increasing spate of attacks on Borno State by Boko Haram.
The youths, who first assembled at the
popularly Ramat Square Ground, later moved to the palace of the Shehu of
Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Elkanemi, saying they were willing to confront
the terror group if given the go ahead.
They said they were at the palace for
Elkanemi’s blessings which, according to them, would give them success
when fighting the terror sect.
The youths comprising mainly members of
the Civilian Joint Task Force, said they had resolved to enter the
Sambisa Forest and other hideouts of terrorists to hunt them down and
bring an end to the attacks.
The Shehu commended the over 10,000 protesting youths and advised them to always abide by the law.
He also appealed to them to always follow
the directives of the military and other security agencies while
discharging their duties.
The monarch said, “I want to thank you
for this visit and the efforts you are collectively and voluntarily
putting in in order to fight Boko Haram which bent on not only
destroying our social and economic structures, but also killing innocent
people.
“ I want to also appeal to you that you
should desist from politics, religious or ethnic considerations while
discharging your duties to your fatherland.
“In anything you are doing, you must make
sure that you consult all other security agencies so that you work
hand-in-hand to end this terrorism that has been destroying us as a
nation.”
The Coordinator of the Civilian JTF,
Mallam Abba Kalli, told journalists that they were at the Shehu’s palace
to seek for his fatherly advice.
He added that they were optimistic that
with their sticks (Gora ) and local arms, they would raid all terrorist
hideouts and kill the insurgents if given permission.
Kalli also said, “The Civilian JTF is now
more motivated with the support and assurance they received from
retired military men, local hunters and other patriotic citizens who
have expressed their willingness to join the group to end the madness
being perpetrated by Boko Haram terrorists in the North- East.”
He however expressed dismay that
President Goodluck Jonathan was not supporting the Civilian JTF whose
members “were sacrificing their lives in the fight to end insurgency in
the North-East.”
Hundreds flee Maiduguri –Report
Amid the protest which created tension in
parts of Maiduguri, hundreds of civilians reportedly fled the city
out of fear that it might also be attacked by Boko Haram.
Apprehension among Maiduguri residents,
according to Reuters news agency, grew after the fierce fighting between
the military and Boko Haram in Bama.
Reuters said travellers besieged bus
stations in the city seeking transport to Damaturu in Yobe State. It
added that vehicles laden with passengers and their belongings were
seen on the Maiduguri-Damaturu road.
The agency quoted one of the residents,
Saka Lawal, as having said, “I’m leaving now because people keep saying
Boko Haram may attack Maiduguri anytime and it is possible.”
We’re troubled by ‘apparent’ capture of Bama –US
But in Abuja, the United States Assistant
Secretary of State, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, lamented that Boko Haram
was operating freely in the North-East and had shown that it also had
the capacity to strike in Kano, Abuja and elsewhere.
Thomas-Greenfield, at a meeting with
Federal Government officials on Thursday, added that Washington was
troubled by the “apparent capture of Bama” in Borno State by Boko Haram.
She said the US was preparing to launch
a “major” border security programme to help Nigeria and its neighbours
combat the increasing number and scope of attacks by the insurgents.
But she was quick to remind the Nigerian authorities that “we are past time for denial and pride.”
She said, “Since we last met in August
2013, the frequency and scope of Boko Haram’s terror attacks have grown
more acute and constitute a serious threat to this country’s overall
security.
“Boko Haram has shown that it can operate
not only in the North-East, but in Kano, in Abuja, and elsewhere. We
are very troubled by the apparent capture of Bama and the prospects for
an attack on and in Maiduguri, which would impose a tremendous toll on
the civilian population.
“This is a sober reality check for all of us. We are past time for denial and pride.’’
The outlawed Islamist sect has killed
thousands of people since 2009 and has in recent weeks overrun and held
swathes of territory in the North-East.
On Monday, the militants launched an attack on Bama, a town 78 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Although the military denied that Bama
had been overrun, the Senator representing Borno Central in the National
Assembly,Ahmed Zannah, insisted on Wednesday that the town was in
control of the insurgents.
Thomas-Greenfield, who leads Washington’s
African Affairs team, told the meeting that the upsurge in violence
“constitutes a serious threat” to Nigeria.
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau’s claim
that the captured town of Gwoza was now a part of an Islamic
caliphate “only adds to the perception that the security situation is
steadily worsening,” she added.
Noting that a convoy of Cameroonian
soldiers are deployed as part of a military reinforcement against the
sect, Thomas-Greenfield added, “All of these developments are deeply
disturbing and increasingly dangerous with each passing day.”
Before the “apparent capture of Bama”, the militants seized Gamboru-Ngala, Buni Yadi in Yobe State and Madagali in Adamawa.
Reports also had it on Thursday that the insurgents took over Bara and Gulani also in Yobe State.
Late last month, about 480 Nigerian
soldiers abandoned their posts and fled to Cameroon during a gunfight
with the militants but the Defence Headquarters described their action
as “tactical manoeuvres.”
Thomas-Greenfield said the stakes were
high after experts warned that the Federal Government risked losing
control of the North-East and the violence could spread across borders.
“The reputation of Nigeria’s military is
at stake. But more importantly, Nigeria’s and its children’s future is
in jeopardy. Failure is not an option,” she added.
The diplomat said, “Cameroon’s military
is increasingly forced to fight Boko Haram within its borders and they
flee back into Nigeria without fear. The Chibok schoolgirls and others
remain hostages, enduring horrible and tragic suffering.
“Abubakar Shekau’s bold announcement that
Boko Haram is now governing a ‘caliphate’ only adds to the perception
that the security situation is steadily worsening.’’
Senators, Reps resolve to meet Jonathan
Senators and members of the House of
Representatives resolved on Thursday to hold a meeting with Jonathan
over the escalating attacks by Boko Haram.
The decision was taken soon after the
Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Defence held a
closed-door meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex
Badeh, at the National Assembly.
The meeting with Badeh reviewed the current state of emergency in place in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on
Defence, George Sekibo, told journalists that the planned meeting with
Jonathan was to find urgent solutions to the insurgency in the
North-East.
He said that based on Badeh’s briefing , the military was in control of the security situation in the affected states.
Sekibo, a member of the All Progressives
Congress from Rivers State, dismissed as “speculation” the reports that
the insurgents took over many towns and villages in Borno State.
He said the insurgents were strong in about one or two towns and not more.
But, he added that there was still the
need for the lawmakers to meet with Jonathan to see how the Federal
Government could fast-track the prospect of peace returning to the
troubled zone.
Sekibo clarified that the meeting with
Jonathan would come up after the committees had reported to their
respective chambers on what Badeh told them.
He said, “The purpose is to follow up
on the approval of the state of emergency for third term so that they
will brief us on their achievements.
“We have heard several stories from the media, with locals and our colleagues contributing, while the military is reacting.
“We have heard stories of towns being
captured and our armed forces being withdrawn; that is why we invited
the CDS to get first hand information.
“From this meeting, it is not as
speculated. We have one or two places that the insurgents have a
stronghold, but within few days, the Nigerian Armed Forces will take
them back.
“We will report our outcome to both
chambers and we will meet with Mr. President. We believe that the armed
forces will overcome this problem in no time.”
The Chairman, House Committee on Defence,
Mr. Bashir Adamu, stated that only N300bn and not N1tn, was budgted
for the military this year.
Bashir noted that out of the money, 75 per cent was for recurrent expenditure.
He called for more funding of military
operations, adding that the meeting with Jonathan was also expected to
address the funding challenges of the armed forces.
B’Haram, Civilian JTF recruiting children by force –Report
Meanwhile, an international network of
human rights and humanitarian organisations, Watchlist on Children and
Armed Conflict, has called on the Federal Government and the United
Nations to investigate the recruitment and abuse of children in the
North-East by Boko Haram and the Civilian JTF.
According to the report by the group,
its investigation revealed the the two groups subjected boys and girls
to forced recruitment, detention, abductions, rape and other forms of
sexual violence.
In the report which was released on
Thursday, the WCAC noted that the gravity and scale of these
violations “warrant urgent action from the Nigerian Government, United
Nations, and other child protection actors.”
The 64-page report, entitled “Who Will
Care for Us?” Grave Violations against Children in Northeastern Nigeria,
detailed grave violations by some parties to the conflict since
December 2012 and provided recommendations on how to better protect
children.
One of Watchlist’s researchers, Janine
Morna, said, “While the abduction of over 200 girls in Chibok, Borno
State, has shed some light on how children are affected by the conflict
in the North-East, most abuses are still poorly documented, understood,
and addressed by key actors. Children as young as 13 are being recruited
by both sides of the conflict and have nowhere to turn.”
Though the study considered the
activities of all the actors in the ongoing conflict in the North-East,
it noted that of particular concern was the forced recruitment of
children for spying and assistance during armed attacks by Boko Haram
and the Civilian JTF.
It also noted that Nigerian security
forces who encountered child soldiers in Boko Haram’s ranks often
detained them in unofficial military detention facilities, instead of
protecting and rehabilitating them in accordance with international
standards.
“The government of Nigeria should
denounce the recruitment of children by all armed groups, take immediate
steps to release child soldiers in their custody, and develop
procedures to transfer child soldiers to civilian actors,” Morna said.
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