Terrorism: UN Security Council To Multinational Joint Task Force - Prevent Boko Haram From Regrouping

---Calls on International Mommunity to Provide Urgent Humanitarian Assistance for the People Affected by the Crisis

The UN Security Council has tasked the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to prevent the destructive Boko Haram insurgents, recently dislodged from its safe haven in Sambisa Forest, from regrouping.

The task force was set up by Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and the Republic of Benin to tackle Boko Haram insurgents. The Security Council, in a Presidential Statement, reiterated that terrorism should be combated in all forms to prevent its spread.

“The Council urged the Multinational Joint Task Force participating countries to further enhance regional military cooperation and coordination. The Force should deny safe haven to Boko Haram, and facilitate the restoration of civilian security and the rule of law in areas liberated from the militant group.”

Armed Forces Remembrance Day: We Appreciate Contributions of Armed Forces to Nation Building, Says Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has commended officers and men of the nation's armed forces for their tremendous contributions to the survival and development of the country. Speaking today (Friday) at the National Mosque, Abuja, where he represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the Jummah service held to commemorate the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Saraki said the nation and her leaders will continue to appreciate the military and provide for the welfare of its members.

"Apart from the fact that the military symbolises the unity, strength, relevance and sovereignty of Nigeria, the men of the armed forces have helped to keep the country safe and help to ensure that our various diversities are sources of strength rather than division.

1,000 DAYS AFTER: PRESIDENT BUHARI RECOMMITS TO RETURN OF CHIBOK SCHOOLGIRLS

As the country, nay, the world, today commemorates the 1,000th day of the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, President Muhammadu Buhari has recommitted the Federal Government to securing the release of the youngsters kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents.

"We are grateful to God that on this landmark day, we are not completely in the depths of despair, but buoyed with hope that our daughters will yet rejoin their families and loved ones. Three of them have been recovered by our diligent military, while the freedom of 21 others was secured through engagement with their captors. We are hopeful that many more will still return as soon as practicable," President Buhari said.

OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE PRESS CONFERENCE: How Camp Zairo in Sambisa Forest was captureed by the Nigerian Troops, We have Won a War says the Army

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The Nigerian Troops overpowered the Boko Haram insurgents and destroyed their logistics in the dreaded sambisa forest in Borno state says the commander of the Opration Lafiya Dole Theatre Centre in Maiduguri!

It was a combined opreations of both the ground and air troops of Nigerian Soldiers and Airforce.

The Teathre Commander, Maj. Gen Iraebor authritatevely confirmed that theNigerian Troops have won the war against against the Boko Haram.

According to him: " We have won the war only that we need to win the peace to the region"

Many items and weapons of the Islamist Terrorists including the one Holy Quran was recovered from Camp Zairo  which is regarded as the last stronghood of the Boko Baram in Borno state.

Nigeria Army arrests 40 foreigners after Sambisa Forest’s fall

More than 40 foreigners have been arrested in the last one week, following the fall of the dreaded Sambisa Forest, The Nation reports.

The profiling of the foreigners has started to determine whether or not they were working in cahoot with Boko Haram insurgents, who are fleeing their former stronghold.

The military has blocked all known entry and exit points to Sambisa Forest to hem in the remnants of the insurgents.

According to a military source, the identities of the foreigners and their missions in Sambisa Forest will not be revealed untill after a thorough screening has been completed.

Intelligence officers are profiling the foreigners, who are suspected to be providing “back-up” for Boko Haram.

OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE: How Fleeing Boko Haram member arrested in Lagos

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One of the fleeing Boko Haram insurgents recently dislodged in Sambisa forest in Borno State was arrested on Saturday in Ikorodu area of Lagos State. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai disclosed the arrest on Sunday at the re-opening of two major roads in the state that were closed since 2013 at the height of the activities of the insurgents.
The roads are Maiduguri-Gubio-Damasak and Maiduguri-Monguno-Baga.

Buratai charged troops in the North East to pursue the fleeing Boko Haram terrorists and intercept them.

“You must maintain the momentum of the operation. We must pursue the terrorists wherever they are. We must not allow them to regroup,” the army chief said.

Fayose to FG: Defeat hunger, not recycled story of defeating Boko Haram

..........says hunger does not speak the language of political propaganda!

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has said that what Nigerians are now desirous of hearing from the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government is the defeat of hunger and untold hardship ravaging the country and not recycled stories of defeat of Boko Haram insurgents, which is allegedly aimed at diverting the attention of Nigerians from the fact that there is ravaging hunger at this time of the year.

The governor said it has become predictable that whenever Nigerians cry of the pains and sufferings they are going through, the federal government will come with stories like; “20 Chibok girls found,” “$1 billion found in Mr A, B or C bedroom,” “Boko Haram technically defeated,” “We have captured Sambisa forest,” etc just to divert attention.

2 killed as female suicide bombers attack Maiduguri cattle market

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Two female suicide bombers on Monday caused heavy explosion outside the gate of Maiduguri cattle market leading to the death of one of them. The second was lynched and eventually died, witnesses and an official said.

The deafening explosion thundered across Maiduguri causing panic among residents. The blast was heard at about 8.40 a.m. when two young girls, in their teens, tried to invade the usually crowded cattle market.

President Buhari Confirms ‘Capture’ Of Sambisa Forest, Urges Troops To Locate, Free Chibok Girls

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed the fall of Sambisa Forest, the last enclave of Boko Haram insurgents in north east, Nigeria.

Buhari said in a statement Saturday morning, “I was told by the Chief of Army Staff that the Camp fell at about 1:35pm on Friday, December 22, and that the terrorists are on the run, and no longer have a place to hide. I urge you to maintain the tempo by pursuing them and bringing them to justice.”

The president expressed delight at final crushing of the terrorists. “I am delighted at, and most proud of the gallant troops of the Nigerian Army, on receipt of the long-awaited and most gratifying news of the final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa Forest.”

Rescued Boko Haram Victims: 61 Infants Hospitalized And 478 Malnourished Kids For Special Care

Sixty one critically malnourished infants have been hospitalized on the orders of Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima after he relocated 478 children and 219 adults, all of them malnurished due to two years captivity in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents before they were rescued by the Nigerian Military. 

The victims were moved from Bama to a special care unit in Maiduguri on Monday. Dozens of buses brought conveyed them to a newly opened special care unit in Maiduguri.

The 61 infants now hospitalized at Umaru Shehu Specialist Hospital, owned by the State Government in Maiduguri, are undergoing medical care arising from extreme deprivation of food. They were ‎part of the 478 children moved from Bama alongside 219 adults also malnurished. The adults consist of 196 women, some of whom gave birth to part of the 478 children. The rest of the adults are 23 men, looking thin.

UPDATE: BOKO HARAM ATTACK ON 113 BATTALION, HEAVY CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDE

"Please recall that Boko Haram terrorists attacked our troops location at Kareto, northern Borno State this morning (M0nday). The troops successfully repelled the attack and killed quite a number of the terrorists. The situation has since been brought under control and reinforcement sent."

"So far our troops had 2 officers and 22 soldiers wounded in action. All of them have been evacuated to Military Hospital Maiduguri where they are receiving treatment."


"Thank you for your kind prayers, support, cooperation and understanding."

The above was the statement by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, Acting Director Army Public Relations confirming that the level of casualties on the Nigerian troops 113 Batallion at Kareto, northern Borno State

War Against Terror: UK Stands With Nigeria To Defeat Boko Haram, Says UK International Development Minister

The United Kingdom (UK) says it is supporting Nigeria in the ongoing war against the Boko Haram insurgents.  UK Minister for International Development, Nick Hurd, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that UK had a very long cordial relationship with Nigeria.

 “The very long partnership between UK and Nigeria matters a great deal to us; even my Prime Minister has made it very clear that we stand shoulder to shoulder with Nigeria in the battle against Boko Haram.

“We understand how many thousands and millions of peoples’ lives have been devastated by the atrocities in the North East.

Why Buhari’s government lacks credible intelligence to rescue abducted Chibok girls – BBOG Campaigner

President Muhammadu Buhari has retraited his commitment to the rescue of the Chibok Schooll Girls abducted by the Boko Haram Terrorist.  But the Co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls, BBOG, group, Aisha Yesufu, has accused the Federal Government of lacking credible intelligence in its effort to rescue the abducted girls.

While the Nigeria's Senate has summon the the service chiefs, House of Rep. want the Presidency to issue an ultimatum and deadline for the rescue of the kidnapped girls.

Nigerian Senate Summons Service Chiefs As Reps Demand Rescue Date Of Chibok Girls

The two legislative chambers of Nigerian government on Thursday have admmited that the Federal Government must do more to secure the release of the Chibok girls abducted by the Boko Haram Islamic militants in Chibok two years ago.

The upper legislative chamber i.e Nigeria's Senate on Thursday summoned the National Security Adviser and all the service chiefs to brief it at a closed session on their efforts so far to recover the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

Nigeria's  House of Representatives also on Thursday asked the Presidency to set a target for security agencies to rescue the 219 Chibok schoolgirls held in captivity by Boko Haram insurgents.

Chibok Girls Anniversary: I Share From Your Pain, Torment, Frustration And Anxiety - Buhari Tells Parents of Kidnapped Girls

President Muhammadu Buhari has today assured parents and relations of the kidnapped Chibok school girls that he frequently reflects on the ordeal of the captives in the hands of Boko Haram terrorists and shares the pain of their continued absence from home.
Nigeria's President affirmed that as a parent and leader of the country, he understands the torment, frustration and anxiety of the parents and will not spare any effort to ensure the safe return of the girls.

Yesterday, Presidency Organised A Roundtable Discussion programme tagged "Together We Can Do More" in honour of  Chibok Girls, Vulnerable People in Insurgency & other victims of internal conflicts in Nigeria at Enugu Hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja

16 Soldiers Killed as Boko Haram Attack Military Post in Borno

Suspected Boko Haram sect members on Tuesday night attacked a military post at Bulabulin Ngaura in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State and killed 16 soldiers. One of the soldiers that narrowly escaped the attack, who confirmed this to journalists in Maiduguri, said, “We were totally subdued by the insurgents.”

He said, “Some of my colleagues were abducted and many others escaped with bullet wounds. Dozens of Boko Haram insurgents stormed our checkpoint at Bulabulin on Tuesday night. “The terrorists came in a convoy of over 30 vehicles, mounted with Anti Aircraft guns (AA).”

Boko Haram gunmen in military uniforms raids five villages in Adamawa , kills 10

The suspected Islamist Boko Haram terrorists have killed 10 people in raids on five villages in Nigeria’s northeast Adamawa state, a local official said on Friday.

According to the source; “We have confirmed that 10 people were killed in the attacks on the five villages by Boko Haram insurgents yesterday (Thursday). Many people sustained injuries while trying to escape,” said Maina Ularamu, Madagali local government council chairman.

Scores of gunmen dressed in military uniform stormed the villages of Imirsa, Shuwari, Yaza, Humabza and Anguwar Shuwa, burning homes and looting food supplies, he told AFP. “The attackers invaded these villages and destroyed everything in them after carting away food stuffs belonging to the villagers,” Ularamu said.

Breaking: There is an ongoing battle between members of the Armed forces and Boko Haram in Maiduguri

The yet to be confirmed report says there is an ongoing battle between members of the armed forces and Boko Haram in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

Details later....
Updates:
Reports reaching our correspondent in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital indicate that, there was an attack leading to a battle between the Nigerian forces and the Boko Haram insurgents who had vowed to over run Borno state.

Adamu Chiwar, a resident of Maiduguri, who is from Lassa in Askira/Uba local government area told our Correspondent that, the massage he received from his relations at home urged him to pray for their safety as the Islamic militants, Boko Haram has launched an attack on the people of Lassa and security forces are fighting hard to repel them.

A Military In Tatters And The Senseless Onslaught Against The Media, By Dele Agekameh

It is most apt today for this column to open with the timeless saying “Those who the gods want to destroy, they first make mad”. Otherwise, how would someone describe the unpalatable development that has been going on since the early hours of last Friday across the country? Last Friday, the Nigerian press came under a coordinated assault by security agents who had laid ambush for the daily newspapers on the highways and distribution centres. The assault bears all the trappings of the dark days of military dictatorship as soldiers claiming “orders from above”, intercepted, seized and, in some cases, destroyed newspapers on sight.

According to reports, soldiers who laid ambush at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, confiscated copies of the The PUNCH, The Nation, Daily Trust and Leadership, while , in some cases, wrappers and cover pages of The PUNCH were damaged. In various statements issued after the early morning rampage, Leadership reported that soldiers intercepted and destroyed copies of the day’s publication at the Kaduna toll gate. The Nation too saw its vans ambushed in Abuja, Benin-Warri Road, Port Harcourt, Kaduna-Kano Road and Nasarawa-Jos Road. In Benin, Edo State, soldiers stormed the Nigerian Union of Journalists Press Centre to disrupt activities as they stopped vehicles, hunting for some national dailies. And this is still an ongoing thing.

Borno Villagers In Anxiety As Corpses Litters Its Villages

Vanguard reports indicates that Borno State has been under incessant fire from insurgents and this has raised the fear of its residents as corpses have littered some villages. The affected communities Leaders have already raised the alarm about possible epidemic because the people have not been able to bury the corpses as the presence of the insurgents in the villages are still imminent.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting of stakeholders of affected areas in the Gwoza Local Government Area, held in Maiduguri, the district head of one of the wards under siege, Lawan John, who was compelled to relocate to Maiduguri, said that 109 people had so far been buried since the attacks started.

“Corpses still littered our villages because we didn’t have access to the villages as the insurgents were still hanging around,” John said.