Boko Haram’s threat : We’ll resist any attempt to harm Jonathan – Ex N-Delta militants

The threat by the violent Islamic group, Boko Haram to bring down the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in three months has drawn the flak of stakeholders in the Niger Delta region warning of grave consequences should any harm befall him. 

 Reacting to the violent Islamic Boko Haram threat on the President, Spokesman of the defunct Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF), a former militant group in the creek of delta, Capt. Mark Anthony warned Boko Haram to mind its utterances in the interest of peace. Also, the Founding Director of Ijaw Council for Human Rights (ICHR) Patterson Ogon, while reacting to the Boko Haram threat on President Jonathan said, “Boko Haram has continued as though they have the licence to kill. Threatening the life of the President is taking the matter beyond any imaginable limit. 

 In his own reaction, National Chairman of South South Element Progressives Union (SSEPU), Mr. Joseph Ambakederimo said, “We think the Boko Haram are gradually coming out behind the curtain to avail Nigerians of the real motive of the group after all.” The ex Niger delta chief described as an affront on the sensibilities of ex militants in the Niger Delta who have had over 10 years of violent confrontations with the Nigerian Army under the Joint Task Force warning that any attempt to harm the President would spell doom for the nation. 

 In a statement entitled, “Boko Haram, Mind Your Utterances, N/Delta Ex-militants warned,” the group said, “The attention of the leadership of Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) has been drawn to the ranting of Islamist militants Boko Haram leadership utterances of planning to bring President Goodluck Jonathan’s democratically elected government to an end in three months. “We viewed this statement as an affront on the sensibilities of Niger Delta ex-militants who have had several face to face gun confrontations with the Nigerian army under the Joint Task Force over ten years. 

 “We are warning the entire northern leaders to advise their children to be mindful of their actions and utterances as any attempt on President Goodluck Jonathan’s life shall spell doom for the entire nation. We will resist violently because we have said it over again and again that the Presidency for the South-South was a sympathy vote by the entire country to appease Niger Delta ex-militants and the region over federal government criminal abandonment of region’s oil and gas wealth being exploited over 50 years.”

 Any harm to Jonathan’s life would elicit grave consequences – Ijaw Group In its reaction the Ijaw Media Forum through its President, Elder Asu Beks urged the Islamic group to have a rethink, warning that any attempt to harm the President would be visited with grave consequences. Elder Beks said, “like other discerning Nigerians, the Ijaw Media Forum knew before now that the entire Boko Haram crisis was a well-organized political movement packaged by those opposed to the Jonathan administration.” 

 The Ijaw Media Forum said, “We are not surprised that this threat is coming from the Boko Haram and their political backers. What, perhaps, beats our imagination is why it took the them so long to open up and narrow down their war against their loss of political power to President Jonathan whom they have always seen as the cause of their woes. “Now that the group has come out in clear and unambiguous terms the Ijaw media Forum wishes to state as follow: • That President Jonathan, a Nigerian of Ijaw extraction, has the inalienable right to govern Nigeria; and having been elected by Nigerians to lead this country will remain President till the end of his constitutional tenure.

That any group, including Boko Harm, opposed to President Jonathan’s administration, has the option of seeking asylum anywhere else in the world until the end of his tenure. •That the Ijaw Media Forum will not fold its arms and watch any person or group intimidate an Ijaw man whom it has pleased the Almighty to pick as President of Nigeria at this point in our national history.

That henceforth, any bomb that explodes within a radius of FIVE KILOMETRES of where the President is at any given time will be matched with a more devastating bombing in any area we consider appropriate to carry out retaliation. •That any act of kidnapping which could be interpreted to be part of the fulfillment of this recent threat by Boko Haram will be met with equal measure of retaliation. That the Niger Delta youths agreed to embrace amnesty in the interest of the larger Nigerian nation does not mean that we are pushovers. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Boko Haram has drawn the battle line.” 

Northern leaders’ lukearm attitude is suspicious–Ogon Ogon in his reaction said, “While I believe the security agencies are deepening their claws into the veins of the purveyors of violence, the lukewarm response and mere talks by the northern leadership remains suspect and outright disappointing. “Those who have claimed to represent the murderous and renegade gang to negotiate on behalf of Boko Haram with the Federal Government should be placed on security watch and questioned on the current issues. Nothing will happen to Mr. President. Nonetheless, no such threat should be treated with kid glove.” 

 SSEPU said Boko haram has “been hiding under the canopy of fighting against western education. However it became curious that the medium they use to spread and propagate their message is as a result of those who have acquired western education and we have been suspect since this pronouncement. “Now that the coast is becoming clearer, it is high time the President comes out to deal decisively with the group. There should be no let in the offensive on the group wherever they may be found. The Islamic sect should be routed out and crushed for good.”

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Boko Haram: Heartless killer squad

When I told my assistant that I have only two more motivational pieces to write on this year, he asked me if I was sure. Of course, I was not, as I always say that the reason I write is because I enjoy writing, and perhaps, there is always something very urgent to talk about, one of which is the topic under discourse. 

 The first time I heard that the Boko Haram means ‘western education is a sin’, I laughed, laughed and laughed...very strange! The activities of the Boko Haram group in the Northern Nigeria are fast becoming a despicable crime prejudicial to our country’s development. We saw it first happened in Bornu State. Now, it is being rumoured that there are branches of the group in Niger, Kano, Yobe and Plateau states. 

 The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines the word ‘barbarian’ as someone who does not behave properly, and does not show proper respect for education; someone who behaves in a way that is cruel and uncivilised. This is what the sect’s members are. 

They just hide under the canopy of Islam, but let me remind you that As-Salam-Mualeikum means ‘peace be unto you’ and in my many years of research, I am yet to see where Islam supports the Boko Haram (please, I stand to be corrected on this). 

 I schooled in the North (lived in an Islamic community), and the woman next compound was ‘Mama Halima’ (A devout Muslim, a Hausa). I could not call her Mama Halima; I referred to her and regarded her as ‘my mummy’. Why? She treated me in same manner my mother would have pampered me, if I had schooled where she lived. 

 She gave me food when I ran out of food stuffs, water, when we had water scarcity, money, when school boy was broke, and cares as if she was my real mother. This is to tell you how nice Hausa muslims could be. One does not know where this sect got its blood-thirsty doctrines and barbaric tendencies from. 

 If the Boko Haram sect members are against the Western education, then, instead of killing innocent people, they should eliminate the capitalists advancious leaders (past and present), who have brought us to where we are today.

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US, UK ban citizens from travelling to the North

The United States and the United Kingdom yesterday warned their citizens not to travel to certain parts of the north saying there is a high risk of terrorist attack during the Easter holiday. The UK foreign office and the US embassy in Abuja issued the updated travel warnings yesterday, noting that a radical Islamist sect is behind the planned attacks. 

 “There is a high threat of terrorist attack during religious festivals,” the UK warning read. The US warning noted the near-daily attacks now hitting Nigeria and that there have been “continued threats, including several that mention US interests”.

 The warning also noted that personnel from the US embassy no longer travel to northern Nigeria, a rule put in place after a Boko Haram attack on the city of Kano in January killed at least 185 people. 

 “The US embassy continues to monitor closely the ongoing threats posed by Nigerian extremist and criminal groups, and their stated intentions to carry out attacks against the Nigerian government and western interests and targets in Nigeria,” the message read.

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Boko Haram plans major attack on EASTER DAY

Boko Haram followers are planning to launch another major attack in Kano during the Easter holiday, similar to their deadly strike in January, the Joint Task Force said yesterday. The force asked people to stay indoors during the period unless if they had to go out to avoid being caught up in the likely confrontation between security agencies and sect members. 

Spokesman for the JTF in Kano, Lt. Ikedichi Iweha, told journalists yesterday at the Army’s 3 Brigade headquarters that intelligence reports showed the sect was planning to launch a large-scale attack in the next days. He said Honda and Golf cars are the likely vehicles to be used in the attacks, adding that gunmen on Tuesday night snatched a Honda car, possibly for suicide bombing, but it was later recovered by security men. 

Boko Haram’s deadliest strike yet happened in Kano on January 20, when at least 186 people were killed, according to the official figures. On that day, eight security formations were attacked by suicide bombers and gunmen. Since then Kano has witnessed sporadic shootings targeting security men and formations. 

“Residents should be security conscious and be mindful of their movements because we have intelligence report that the terrorists are planning to take advantage of the oncoming Easter holiday to launch a large scale attack on Kano city just like they had done earlier this year,” Iweha said yesterday. He said people should stay at home unless they have serious activities to attend to outside. “We are trying very hard to protect the lives of Kano people from being terminated by terrorists. 

The JTF always tries to be professional in conducting its duties. Therefore people should accept our advice and stay indoors during the holiday,” Iweha added. In a statement later emailed to Daily Trust in Kano, Iweha alerted members of the public to activities of “criminal terrorists” looking for vehicles to use for suicide attacks. “It may interest you to know that snatching of the vehicle is not an end in itself but a means to an end. 

It is also in line with available intelligence to the fact that criminal terrorist elements are going about desperately looking for specific vehicles to be used for suicide missions in Kano metropolis and its environs,” he said. “Members of the public are continuously called upon to continue to remain vigilant, report suspicious cars especially Honda and Golf brands and movements of persons to the police and other security agencies. 

 “This would go a long way to frustrate the plans of the extremist elements bent on sabotaging the economy of the state as well as the peace of the community.” He gave an account of how the car was snatched on Tuesday: “Yesterday, 3 April 2012 at about 2130hrs, a JTF checkpoint was alerted by an afflicted member of the public whose car was snatched at gun point at his residence by terrorist elements as he entered his house. “The car was to be used possibly in the next few days for suicide bombing mission. 

 Based on the tip off, the JTF alerted all its units within the area to look out for a Honda accord car 2008 model with the colour and description accurately given. “The troops at all JTF check points responded with all alertness and within twenty minutes, one of our checkpoints spotted the vehicle in question. “The vehicle was flagged down for checking, but the terrorist elements on sighting men of the JTF opened fire at the check point in their desperate bid to get away. “Troops at the checkpoint responded in self-defence and to frustrate the criminal terrorist elements from getting away. During the brief but intense encounter, three of the terrorist elements were gunned down. “An immediate search conducted on the vehicle revealed that the occupants had 2 AK 47 Riffles, 1 pistol, 1 locally manufactured pistol, 47 rounds of 7.62mm special and 6 rounds of 9mm.” 

 The JTF spokesman, who displayed the stolen car, the corpses of the suspects and the weapons recovered, said that Boko Haram followers now engage in kidnapping and carjacking because they have run out of money. Our correspondent reports that security measures were being stepped up in Kano yesterday, ahead of the Easter holidays, which start tomorrow. In addition to the checkpoints around the city, armour tanks were noticed being deployed yesterday around the prisons area.

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Why Boko Haram persists

The Convener of the Northern Political Leaders Forum, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, yesterday said the Boko Haram menace has persisted because the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has failed to listen to suggestions on how to curtail it. He also said it is too early to presume that Senator Ali Ndume, who is standing trial for alleged association with the dreaded sect, had a deal with Boko Haram leaders. 

He said the travails of Ndume have made some Northern leaders to stay away from finding solutions to the Boko Haram insurgency. Ciroma, a former Minister of Finance, broke his silence on the Boko Haram insurgency in a no-holds-barred interview with Newsdiaryonline.com. He said: “Security matters and security issues are always problems which government has got to deal with. 

The Boko Haram and the spread of this insecurity, in my view, originated from how parts of this country were mismanaged. The mismanagement, I believe, has spread and the resultant insecurity has also spread. So, it is for government to find solution for dealing with this insecurity. 

“When the issues began to be serious in Borno, the elders and leaders of Borno advised the government that they should talk to these people, that they should withdraw the troops from the streets and that they should find a solution to ameliorate the complaints of the Boko Haram elements. A spokesman of the government dismissed their recommendation. “Since then, similar recommendations have been made in Kano and elsewhere and they have been equally dismissed. 

The meaning of this is that the government has stuck to its position, in spite of the advice being given from various parts by citizens who want to see peace and security. “So, the government has to learn how to listen to people because insecurity is a problem which government has to deal with. It affects people in their normal day-to-day life. So, the number one issue is for government to listen to what people are saying because their present policy so far has not succeeded. 

“Two, the Boko Haram issue has been related to poverty and other things which affect the well- being of the ordinary people. This issue of poverty has been repeated several times in official circles. Government has got to deal with that. “Three is about the state governments. They are always having ceremonies and talking about issues but they have not dealt with the problems of education, health, agriculture and other things which affect the ordinary man actively on a daily basis. 

The state governments have got to deal with this matter in a way which everybody can see that some results are being achieved. “Every time people compare, what is happening today, they compare with yesteryears. What they are saying is that yesteryears with less resources than we have now were better managed than the present. The government has got to think very hard about it and to do what is right in order to eliminate the problems which people are talking about.”

 Ciroma explained why most Northern elders have stayed away from finding solutions to the Boko Haram menace. He said with what happened to Ndume, Northern leaders decided to tread softly on the insurgency. He added: “The problem with security matter is that as an ordinary man, if you start intervening, the government people will accuse you of creating the problem. 

Look at a senator who was part of the Borno Elders who were handling the matter. Now, he is being charged to court for involvement in Boko Haram. So, that is why individuals have got to be careful what they do because government can accuse them.” Asked if Ndume had no dealing with Boko Haram, Ciroma said: “Well, he is only being charged; you cannot say that he is guilty. “And for somebody who is a member of the Senate, even if he is talking to someone, he is a member of the Senate; he must always use his contacts and information for the benefit of society. 

If you arrest him, other lesser people must be more careful.” Pressed to comment on the political situation in the country, the elder statesman said: “I have no comment to make (A little pause).The general political situation is very confusing and the parties are not well organised. The organised party is the PDP but even the PDP; generally people don’t believe it is doing well. 

“So, Nigerians, in my view, want better organised parties that are accountable for what they do and are intended to assist the country move forward.” On the deteriorating level of governance nationwide, he said: “It is for Nigerians to elect people who they think can do the job. If they elect people who can do the job, then at the next election, they should choose those people who can do it. 

You have to keep on doing it until you get it right. That is what democracy means. Concerning the allegation that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo might be goading President Goodluck Jonathan to seek another term, Ciroma simply said: “I don’t want to talk about Obasanjo.” Regarding the plot by the PDP to manipulate the opposition, he said: “The PDP is there to gain power; it has gained power. 

It is trying to retain its power. There is nothing abnormal about that. “It is for other people who do not agree with what the PDP is doing or how the PDP is doing it, to make their effort in order to succeed where they failed and PDP succeeded which is to have the chance to exercise power. We hope this will be for the interest of the ordinary people.”

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Nigerian Soldiers Arrest 33 Boko Haram Members in Kaduna

Soldiers have raided a suspected Boko Haram hideout in Barnawa Complex area of Kaduna metropolis and arrested 33 suspects, including a newspaper and suya vendors.

Daily Trust gathered that soldiers from 1 Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army conducted the operation on Sunday following a directive from Abuja but residents said none of the suspects were Boko Haram members.

The soldiers, according to witness, arrived at the area around 10pm in about nine vehicles and started arresting everyone around, including passersby.

The eyewitness, who gave his name as Malam Babangida, said "the soldiers just came to the area without any warning or reason for arresting people. They started molesting people who were doing their lawful businesses and others who came here regularly to buy suya and other foods."

He said when he and some relatives of the arrested people went to 1 Division to enquire about the arrest; they were told that the order to arrest was from the army headquarters, Abuja as they were suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect.

Another witness said that the suspects were later brought by the army in hand cuffs and taken to their houses. He said the houses were photographed and the soldiers took suspects back to their barracks.

When contacted on his mobile phone, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations in charge of 1 Division, Colonel Abubakar Edun, said he has been transferred from the division.

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FG Negotiating With Boko haram is senseless,Christians must defend selves

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has described the ongoing move by the Federal Government to dialogue with the dreaded Boko Haram Islamist group as senseless and uncalled for. This is just as he maintained his initial stand that Nigerian Christians should defend themselves against further attacks.

Oritsejafor said there was no reason whatsoever for any reasonable government led either by a Muslim or Christian to engage a group trying to impose an Islamic government on the country in talks.

Speaking at the 46th Annual Convention of the United Church of Christ in Nigeria, held in Kaduna yesterday, the number one Christian in Nigeria queried: “Who is Boko Haram? Again, is there really Boko Haram? There are about 26 different jihadist and Islamist groups. It is you the media that group them together and call them Boko Haram.”

According to him, “I don’t even know who they are but my point is this, it depends on what you are trying to negotiate or dialogue with them for. Will you discuss with somebody who is saying Nigeria must become a Muslim or an Islamic nation?”

He therefore stated categorically that, “I don’t think any sensible government, whether the president is a Muslim or a Christian, will want to sit down and discuss such thing because it is greatest instrument of disunity that this country will ever experience. How do you discuss that? So, I don’t see any basis for such discussion in the first place.”

On his earlier controversial directive that Christians should henceforth defend themselves against any attack, the CAN president maintained that defending oneself was a law of God.

“I seat back and wondered when I said to Christians, ‘defend yourself, protect yourself.’ It is part of the laws of God. If you pursue an animal to a point the animal will turn around and pursue you. If you want to go into a man’s house and you said you want to kill him, if he just says kill me, that is called suicide and if you commit suicide you will go to hell. You are supposed to protect yourself and that is what we are saying. Don’t retaliate; just protect yourself.

“Nigerians sometimes, not all of us, but many of us are hypocrites. We pretend too much. How can a man be injured and you are saying he is inciting violence and violence is being done to him and yet you are saying he is the one inciting violence. It doesn’t make sense.

“When you see Christians coming out talking tough, it is the pains. Look, let us be honest, they are the people who are suffering most in this thing. That is why you see them talking and expressing themselves because of the pains they feel. It is not because they don’t want love, one Nigeria.

“I believe we must work together. So we are willing but I believe in progressive dialogue where we sit and set bench mark, we set goals we want to achieve through our dialogue and through that we can begin to achieve something. I think it will work well for us if we do that and then all Nigerians must expose evil doers in our midst.

“My appeal to Nigerians is that, you must not harbour people who are criminals, killers in the name of religion, saying he is part of my religion. It is criminal, these are killers, murderers. These are people who have no regard for God, who go to house of worship and throw bombs. They have no regard for human life,” Oritsejafor stressed.

He, however, expressed optimism that Nigerians wiould be wise enough to begin to identify “these people, expose them, allow them to be taken out,” urging, “don’t be afraid, God will keep you but we must expose them, not as Christians or Muslims, but as Nigerians.”

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Boko Haram: 2 members die in Kano bomb factory , As JTF rescues 5 wives, 13 children

NO fewer than two members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect died in the early hours of Saturday in Kano, when a car rigged with bomb exploded killing the sect’s members while others sustained varying degrees of injury.

The incident, which occured at a bomb factory in Sabongiwa-Gandu, on the outskirt of Kano metropolis, happened when men of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) attacked the factory.

Speaking at the scene of the incident, Brigade Commander and chairman of the JTF, Brigadier-General Ilyasu Abbah, said it would have been another disaster in Kano if the sect had been able to use what they had assembled on innocent people in the state.

He stated that the JTF rescued five wives and 13 children of the sect’s members, noting that the sect’s members detonated the car bomb to prevent arrest and kill the soldiers.

He also informed that the sect had been planning to bomb the state again.

According to him, the JTF came around 12 midnight to effect the arrest of these sect members, but on getting there, they saw that there was no way for them to escape, they decided to detonate the the car bomb, purposely to kill the soldiers.

However, the bomb detonated and killed two members of the sect while others sustained injury, but ran away.

The JTF’s chairman further confirmed that in the gun battle that ensued with the sect , two soldiers sustained wounds in the encounter.

Speaking in the same vein, the Director of State Security Service( SSS), Itam Bassey, corroborated the statement of Brigadier-Gen Abbah, that the security operatives had been trailing the Boko Haram members for a long time.

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9 Boko Haram Members Killed, 2 Arrested

It was war at Tudun Wada Local Government Area, Kano, northwest Nigeria, Wednesday when the police engaged members of the Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram in a gun battle and killed nine of them.

The terrorists attacked a Divisional Police Officer’s house, police station and Unity Bank.

P.M.NEWS learnt that the dreaded Islamic militants came on three vehicles at about 2 a.m., broke into the armoury of Tudun Wada Police station bombed the station and carted away arms and ammunition.

Security forces claimed no life was lost on their side, as nine Boko Haram men were gunned down while two were arrested alive during a gun battle that lasted for five hours.

Tudun Wada is about 100 kilometers away from Kano metropolis.

The Brigade Commander of 3 Brigade (Bukavu Barracks), Brigadier-General Illyasu Abbah briefed newsmen this evening.

He said the operation was a major breakthrough for Kano Joint Security Task Force.

According to him, the Islamic militants in search of guns and money attacked a Unity Bank adjacent to the bombed police station, “but they did not succeed in breaking into the vault containing about N2 million.

“Within the hours of 2 and 7 a.m. on Wednesday, hoodlums went to Tudun Wada which is about 100 kilometers from Kano. They used explosives to blow up the police station in the area.

“They destroyed the DPO’s house, went to the police station and did the same. They also used explosives to blow up Unity Bank adjacent the police station,” the Army Chief told journalists, adding that the Islamic militants carted away rifles from the bombed police station.

“On getting the information, at about 1:30 a.m. security operatives mobilised, blocked Falgore, Jos and Kano axis because definitely, they came from Kano to operate and move back.”

The Army boss said during the gun-duel, the JTF over-powered members of the sect who came in three cars, and recovered the arms and ammunition stolen from the destroyed police station.

He stated that, “only God knows what these weapons would be used for if they had succeeded in carting them away. This hoodlums lack arms and they have been in desperate mood to get these items. That is why their best place of attack are police stations.”

Items recovered from the Boko Haram militants include, 600 rounds of 5.6 mm bullets, 176 cartridges of Pump Action gun, 147 rounds of 9mm bullets, two AK 47 rifles, three pistols, two assorted rifles, two smoke guns, 21 magazines, two dane guns, one Pump Action gun, six containers of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), 70 Canisters of Tear Gas, one Lap Top, police uniforms and helmets.

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

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Boko Haram vows to attack Southern Nigeria – Names Cities to Attack

Security Agencies today uncovered the plot by the militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram, to commence its operations at the southern part of the country.

Source tell us in Abuja on Friday that the sect had pointed at some prominent cities for possible attack. The cities among others are Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu, Onitsha and Warri.

It was gathered that the move to extend its tentacle came due to the constant attack on the sect members in most parts of the North.

Another source revealed that the reasons for for the extension of its operation to the South, was to avoid limiting its campaign to an ethnic affairs.

Another security source revealed that it’s possible that some of the Boko Haram sect members were presently in the some Southern states.

The source revealed thus, “It was not a coincidence that Sokoto, who had been on the wanted list of the police before December 25, was sighted in Lagos.

“His presence in Lagos was not for fun. This is one of the angles security agencies are working on.

“I think the group has noticed that security is not tight in the South and there have not been bombings. They are out to cash in on the laxity.”

The Senate Committee on Police had stated that Sokoto was also seen in Lagos after his escape

The committee chairman, Senator Paulinus Nwagu, while presenting the report of the probe said, “Police intelligence revealed that prior to his arrest on January 14, 2011, Kabiru Sokoto had been on the wanted list of security agencies.

“Sokoto was reported to have been noticed within the vicinity of Snake Island, Lagos, and left Lagos sometime on December 13, 2011 and disappeared from surveillance monitoring until January 11, 2012.

“He was later traced to Abaji in the Federal Capital Territory.

“Police detectives traced him from Abaji to Abuja on the same date and further traced him to Asokoro-Abuja, where he was finally apprehended at about 0240 hours (2.40 am) on January 14, 2012, at the Borno State Governor’s Lodge at Iro Dan Musa Street, Asokoro, and Abuja.”

A security source stated, “Since the heat has been turned on them, they have been moving to Lagos and other cities, where they mix with unsuspecting northerners residing in those cities.”

He said that the sect’s plot to attack the South was aimed at further creating the impression that there was instability in the country.

The source said, “You will observe that activities of the sect are ebbing due to unrelenting efforts of security agencies.

“But Boko Haram is also devising another method. This time around, it is looking at ways of attacking the South.”

On the contrary, Muslim leaders have denied such intention , stating that penetrating into states would almost mean a suicide mission.

By Ali Adoyi

MJ

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Boko Haram: Worshippers desert churches in Jos

FOLLOWING new arrangements put in place by the security operatives in Plateau State to arrest the spate of suicide bombings, most churches in Jos, the state capital on Sunday, recorded a low turnout.

At a meeting with the stakeholders, including religious leaders last week, the security operatives in the state reeled off new security arrangements, including barricading of roads leading to various places of worships within the state capital and construction of speed breakers along some routes.

As early as 6.00 a.m. on Sunday, a combined team of men of the Special Task Force and the police mounted checkpoints at every nook and cranny of the city, making vehicular movements difficult while commercial motorcycles were not allowed in some areas.

Nigerian Tribune findings revealed that because of the long queue occasioned by the checking, some worshippers, out of frustration, returned home when it was becoming difficult for them to reach their destinations, while some who had noticed the difficulties stayed back.

It was learnt that the barricade lasted till 12.00 noon after which the roads were opened up for free flow of traffic. Some people deliberately stayed indoors based on the experiences of the previous weeks within the city.

A cross section of people who spoke with Nigerian Tribune commended the security operatives for their initiatives, adding that the exercise should be intensified until the solution was found to the problem of Boko Haram.

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Boko Haram: intermediary pulls out of talks with govt

A respected cleric mediating in peace talks between the Nigerian government and the Boko Haram Islamist sect announced Saturday he was quitting the talks, accusing the government of insincerity.

Ibrahim Datti Ahmad who heads the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria {SCSN] has been a go-between in the indirect talks between Boko Haram and the government aimed at ending a two-year insurgency that has left over 1,000 people dead.

Ahmad said in a statement that he and his colleague decided to quit over an alleged leaking of details of the talks to the media.

"This development has embarrassed us very much and has created strong doubt in our mind about the sincerity of the government as the discussion is supposed to be very confidential," he said.

"In view of this unfortunate and unhelpful development we have no option but to withdraw from these early discussions," Ahmad added. "We sincerely regret that an opportunity to negotiate and terminate this cycle of violence is being missed."

A security official said Boko Haram had proposed a three-month truce if all of its detained members are released and if the government halts any further arrests. He said the government was looking at the proposal.

Ahmad's statement said he contacted the sect through a journalist "who maintained a valuable professional contact with the leadership of the sect".

Ahmad formed the SCSN as a muslim pressure group that agitated for the reintroduction of sharia law in 12 predominantly muslim states in the north when the country returned to democratic rule in 1999.

The group drew membership largely from radical muslim clerics, including Mohammed Yusuf, the slain leader of Boko Haram.

The sect had initially claimed to be fighting for the creation of an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, but its aims and structure have since become less clear, while its attacks have grown increasingly deadly and sophisticated.

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SSS: Cafe operator sent email threats in Boko Haram’s name

The State Security Service (SSS) on Thursday arraigned a 28-year-old cyber café attendant, Chinwendu Josiah, on a three-count charge of criminal intimidation, anonymous communication and extortion.

The prosecutor, Mr Cliff Osagie, told the Abuja Chief Magistrates’ Court, presided over by Mrs Oyewunmi Oyebola, that the offences were committed between June 4, 2011 and Nov. 11, 2011.

He said that the accused sent threat messages via electronic mails to the U.S. Embassy, Abuja, University of Benin, University of Lagos and some government ministries.

Osagie said the accused identified himself as Musa and claimed to be a member of the Boko Haram sect.

He said that the intention of the accused, a resident of No 7 Ada St., off Benin Technical College Road, Benin City, was to intimidate the recipients to part with their money.

The prosecutor said the offence was punishable under Sections 398 and 291 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded not guilty while Oyebola adjourned the case to March 29 to enable Osagie to contact his family and also get a lawyer of his choice to defend him.

She ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

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Explosives-laden car intercepted in Nigeria

Security operatives at a checkpoint in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State have intercepted a car loaded with explosives along the Gombe-Bauchi Road.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Hassan Mohammed, said, “we received the information but we don’t have details. We are waiting for information from the Alkaleri Divisional Police Officer.”

But the Information Officer of Alkaleri Local Government Council, Malam Mu’azu Juji, said in a telephone interview that, “security men were on operation stop and search along the Gombe-Bauchi Road in Alkaleri town when a Volkswagen car approached the post.

“A soldier was about checking the vehicle, a Golf car, with registration number AA 158 GMB from Adamawa but to his surprise, saw the booth of the car opened.

“He accosted the owners on why the booth was open but before the soldier and his colleagues could realise it, the occupants of the vehicle had opened the door of the car and run into a nearby bush.

“But due to the large number of civilians within the scene of the incident, the security men could not open fire but pursued the hoodlums and fired shots into the air and later returned to the vehicle.’’

There was panic in the area as motorists scampered for safety. A top security source in Bauchi told Daily Trust that “we have prevented them (the suspects) from going to where they intended to go.”

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Soldiers uncover Boko Haram hideouts,11 killed in Adamawa gunfight

Fleeing from the military heat in Maiduguri, Borno State, Boko Haram may have relocated to neighbouring Mubi in Adamawa State. But soldiers pursued the Islamist sect members to the town on Monday.

In an encounter, 11 people were killed. They include seven militants, a police Inspector, a soldier and two other persons.

Boko Haram was said to have attacked a military patrol vehicle injuring some soldiers. As the gunfight lasted, 11 people lay dead, while seven sect members were arrested.

Sources said the gunfight started when a Joint Task Force (JTF) team from Maiduguri, trailed Boko Haram men to their hideouts in Mubi, resulting in the arrest, while seven were killed. The suspects were taken to Maiduguri for further investigation.

There was, however, a twist to the incident as residents, who refused to believe that the bodies were those of the sect members, trooped out in protest to the palace of the Emir, Alhaji Isah Ahmadu, at about 3p.m. They demanded that the soldiers should leave the town.

The sources also said that while some soldiers from the 23 Armoured Brigade from Yola were on patrol within the Mubi town, a vehicle belonging to the team was bombed by Boko Haram, killing an army officer, a police Inspector as well as a passers-by at about 7p.m. Several persons were injured in the bomb blast.

Some of the protesting youths alleged that the Emir was in support of the presence of the military in his domain. They destroyed parts of the palace and removed the Nigerian flag hoisted in the premises, while another group of protesters frowned against the attack on the palace.

The Brigade Commander, Brig- Gen. John Nworga, confirmed that the Army uncovered the Boko Haram hideouts and arrested the suspects for further investigation.

According to Gen. Nworga, two rifles and several rounds of ammunition were recovered from the hideouts.

He also said that bombs were thrown at the military patrol vehicle by some persons suspected to be of Boko Haram in Mubi, who might have been aggrieved by the arrest of their colleagues by the soldiers.

Daily Sun learnt that following efforts by JTF in Maiduguri to arrest Boko Haram members, many of them fled to Mubi in view of its proximity to Maiduguri.

Daily Sun’s checks also revealed that following the discovery of the hideouts, some Boko Haram men had sold their houses while some had divorced their wives and had subsequently left Mubi town.

Meanwhile, the state police command, through its spokesperson, Altine Daniel, Assistant Superintendent, confirmed the incident and appealed to members of the public to be calm and abide by the curfew, saying the police were trying to bring the situation under control.

The boss of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), ASP Mohammed Ali, was killed by unknown gunmen in Yola metropolis last weekend.

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Boko Haram captures runaway member

Fed up with life as a terrorist, a Boko Haram member, Mallam Sulaiman Isah, has decided to settle down to raise a family six months ago. But he regretted the decision yesterday.

He relocated from Maiduguri, Borno State, the base of the Islamist sect to marry in Kaduna where he operated as a drycleaner in Ungwan Sanusi area of the metropolis until yesterday when in a commando style, he was captured from his residence.

As Isah was being led away, he was screaming, “yan, Boko Haram ne” meaning, They are Boko Haram members, ” even as the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said all Nigerians must join hands to stop the sect.

Also on Sunday, barely few hours after the Islamist sect attacked St Finbarr’s Catholic Church, Rayfield, Jos, which claimed seven lives and 11 others in a reprisal by irate youths, the gunmen killed three Christians at Chugwi village, also in Plateau State same day even as 11 more bodies were recovered yesterday.

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BREAKING NEWS: Suicide bomber killed, 3 others injured in Jos church attack

A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a Catholic church in the Jos, injuring three people attending Sunday mass, the emergency services said.

The man drove his car towards St Finbar’s Catholic church in the city before setting off a large explosion, killing himself and wounding three churchgoers, emergency agency spokesman YuShau Shuaib told AFP.

Details later.

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Gunmen attack police station, kill one in Maiduguri

Suspected Boko Haram militants on Friday set ablaze the Bulabulim Ngarnam Police Station in Maiduguri, killing at least one person.

Witnesses told newsmen in Maiduguri that the attackers raided the station around 6.30p.m.and went ahead to set fire on the building.

“We were rushing to beat the 7p.m. curfew when we saw a group carrying jerry-cans and other items attacking the station.

“We all took to our heels to avoid danger but on reaching home we heard explosions and later gunshots around the station,” Malam Abba Idris, a witness said.

Idris said that the residents discovered in the morning that the station had been completely razed.

Mr Samuel Tizhe, the Public Relations’ Officer of the Police Command in Borno confirmed the incident.

“It is true that the station was attacked, it is really a sad thing, the place was set ablaze in the evening but the police will not relent in its efforts to safeguard the lives and property of the citizenry,” Tizhe said.

He said one person was killed in the attack but refused to disclose the identity of the victim.

“I said one person was killed that is all, manhunt and investigations to get the attackers is in progress please,” Tizhe said.

Also an unnamed local Malam (religious teacher) was shot by a group of gunmen in Mashimary, near Ruwan Zafi about the same time.

Neighbours told newsmen that the deceased was shot while preparing for the Magrib prayers in a nearby mosque.

“The late Malam had left the town with his family some months back after receiving a letter from the Boko Haram sect that they were after him.

“He came back on Friday to attend a wedding slated for Saturday in town, they did not waste time in shooting him few minutes after his arrival,” Malam Kaka Fannami, a neigbhour said.

Tizhe, the police spokesman, said he had yet to get details of the incident.

“There are so many killings going on in town. My brother, it is not always that the police get the report.

“Some families even decide to bury the victims quietly without letting the police know,” he said.

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Boko Haram Suspects Moved To Abuja

The Five suspected Boko Haram members arrested in Sabon Gari local government of Kaduna State by the operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) have been moved to the SSS headquarters Abuja for further questioning. LEADERSHIP gathered last night.

The suspected Boko Haram members were apprehended on Wednesday following combined operatives by military officers and the operatives of the SSS in Hanwa Area of Sabon Gari local government of the state.

A top security source, who pleaded for anonymity, said “We arrested the five suspected Boko Haram based on the information gathered from our sources; we have been trailing them for week.”

The source said, “We have moved them to Abuja today, they are truly Boko Haram members, if not, why would they fire gun at the Soldiers? The operation was not just a small operation, it was a combined efforts of the security operatives.

The soldiers gave the SSS cover when it went to carry out the operation. The operation was an intelligence driven operation.”

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BREAKING NEWS: Boko Haram killed British AND Italian hostages – Jonathan

A British and an Italian hostage killed on Thursday were murdered by “their Boko Haram captors” and those responsible have been arrested, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said in a statement.

Jonathan “condemned the killing of two kidnapped foreigners — an Italian and a British citizen — in Sokoto state Thursday by their Boko Haram captors before they could be rescued by a joint security raid on the kidnappers’ hideout,” a statement from his office said.

The statement added: “The president, who particularly commended the cooperation and understanding of the British and Italian governments, assured that the perpetrators of the murderous act, who have all been arrested, would be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

The men were kidnapped by heavily armed men who stormed their apartment in the city of Birnin Kebbi, capital of Kebbi state in northwest Nigeria, near the Niger border

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