Local Damboa Borno news, Nigeria

Middle Belt group demands rescue of 112 Chibok girls

The Middle Belt Forum has accused the Federal Government of neglecting the rescue process of the remaining 112 Chibok School girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram.

A total of 219 schoolgirls were said to have been abducted by Boko Haram terrorists while writing their final Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations on April 14, 2014.

The organisation said they were rescued in two batches of 21 and 82, while four escaped individually at different times within the six years of their captivity in the terrorists’ den.

The MBF in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Isuwa Dogo, asked the government to rescue the remaining girls in captivity.

It called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the destroyed school where the girls were kidnapped from be completely rebuilt and open for prospective school-age children as the Chibok School is the only secondary school in Chibok Local Government Area.

It said, “The future can only be brightened through the education of citizens. The confusion that has trailed the academic careers of these rescued school girls should be resolved. We call on President Buhari to ensure the safe return of the remaining 112 school girls who are still under the captivity of Boko Haram.”

Dogo added, “The rescued girls, comprising 103 in number, were initially transferred to the Women Development Centre, Abuja, where they underwent Psychosocial Support and treatment for Post Stress Traumatic Disorder facilitated by the United Nations Population Fund.

“Since May 2017 when they were rescued, rehabilitated and sent to the American University of Nigeria, Yola, to prepare them to rewrite their SSCE, and proceed to various pre-degree programmes, neither the re-siting of the SSCE nor the pre-degree programme seen the light of day.

“Despite advice by the parents of the girls, the Chibok Community and the #BringBackOurGirls. advocacy group that the Office of the Vice President be charged with the responsibility of monitoring the education of the kidnapped girls, the Federal Government maintained deaf ears and transferred the matter to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.

“It is ill-fated that the Federal Government abdicated its responsibility in fulfilling its obligations to the girls as promised by President Muhammadu Buhari. More worrisome, the government has refused to allow well-meaning individuals and organizations to come to the aid of the girls. The Forum recalls that both local and international organizations attempted to bring respite and rescue the career of these girls from the dunghill of hopelessness and despair.”

Police Rescue Soldiers From Boko Haram After Attack In Borno

The Nigeria Police Counter-terrorism operatives have rescued two soldiers earlier abducted by Boko Haram fighters in Borno State.

PRNigeria gathered that the terrorists had killed some security personnel and abducted others after an attack on soldiers on a patrol.

This comes after Nigerian troops repelled an attempt by terrorists to seize an army barrack in Maiduguri on Monday.

According to a situation report sighted by PRNigeria, it disclosed that “At 14.30 Hrs of July 13, 20120, an army patrol team was attacked by Boko Haram along Auno Road and killed two soldiers and kidnapped others while carting away two of the military’s gun truck, AK 47 rifles and unspecified numbers of ammunition.

“Counter-Terrorism Unit of the Nigerian Police on pin down point (operation), at the area went after the terrorists. After a gun battle recovered one gun-truck, rifles and rescued two soldiers alive.

“All exhibits handed over to the Commissioner of Police Command."

Meanwhile, in another development, Nigerian troops have thwarted an attempt by Boko Haram terrorists to seize an army barracks in Maiduguri.

PRNigeria learnt that the terrorists had attempted to seize the 333 Artillery Barracks of the Nigerian Army but were resisted after heavy exchanges of fire that lasted for about two hours between Monday night and early Tuesday morning.

Boko Haram Terrorists Attack Maiduguri, Kill Several Residents

Boko Haram terrorists on Monday night attacked Gomari area of Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, multiple sources told SaharaReporters.

A security source disclosed that the insurgents came into the village around 11:05pm, shooting sporadically and killing several persons.

“Gomari, near Airport Road is presently under attack, they have started burning buildings and killing civilians trying to flee.”

Increased attacks by insurgents have been recorded in the area in recent times.

The terrorists have made several attempts to overrun a military base located within the area lately also.

Boko Haram Terrorists Abduct 15 Travellers On Maiduguri-Damaturu Highway

Gunmen believed to be members of Boko Haram on Monday ambushed vehicles travelling along the Maiduguri-Damaturu Highway and abducted over 15 travellers.

A source told SaharaReporters that the insurgents driving in Hilux vehicles, waylaid a Toyota Hiace Mass Transit bus around 2pm on Monday and took all passengers from the vehicle.

The source said the attackers, who were all armed and some were dressed in military uniforms, later released the bus driver.

SaharaReporters gathered that the spot where the insurgents attacked was not far from a military checkpoint.

Similarly, the terrorists on Monday attacked the 333 Artillery Barracks in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Nigerian Lawmaker Apologises To Women Over Rape Comments

Amember of Nigeria's House of Representatives, Alhaji Ahmed Jaha, from Borno State on Saturday apologised to Nigerians especially women for comments he made during plenary on Thursday blaming women for the incessant rape incidents in the country.

Jaha told journalists that he regretted his comments wherein he said that women should cultivate a habit of proper dressing to avoid unnecessary harassment from men, who are unable to control themselves.

He said, “I have made a mistake that has offended the sensibilities of fellow Nigerians and indeed fellow human beings, particularly women who are our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters.

"While I totally reaffirm my position that rapists should face death sentence, I regret the part that talks about the dressing of women.

“I deeply apologise for this position, because as some had rightly argued, my comments could imply that women who are victims share the blame of being raped. This clearly, could not have been the intention of someone who suggested death penalty for rapists."

The lawmaker also apologised to his colleagues in the House and his constituents, who might have been disappointed by his comments especially female lawmakers.

He therefore called for the domestication of Violence Against Persons and Prohibition Act and other relevant laws against gender-based violence in the country.

Gunmen attack Borno villages, kill five

Gunmen, believed to be either Boko Haram or ISWAP, on Saturday, attacked three communities in Borno State, killing five herdsmen and stealing 480 cows, a government official has said.

Sources said the insurgents, who were all armed with assault rifles, attacked three villages – Moduri, Kelewa and Ngudori in Magumeri Local Government Area around 6.30 pm on Saturday.

Magumeri is one of the local government areas that share conventional boundaries with Gubio and Monguno where ISWAP staged coordinated repeated attacks that claimed the lives of over 120 persons.

The local government is listed among the unsafe communities of Borno State by both the state government and the United Nations.

A local vigilante operative, Bunu Malam, confirmed the attack, saying “it was yet another sad day for our people in the three Magumeri villages.”

He said the attacked communities are remote isolated villages “that do not have any serious security coverage.”

The Secretary of Magumeri local government, Ali Kyari, who is in charge of the administration of the council, confirmed the attack to journalists.

He said the insurgents, who were apparently after food and livestock of residents in vulnerable communities, opened fire on residents in the three villages and killed five men who tried to beg the attackers not to take away their only means of livelihood.

“We (are) terrified with renewed Boko Haram attacks in my communities,” he said.

“Yesterday, being Saturday, some groups of terrorists descended upon Moduri village in the evening and carted away 300 cows after killing three persons.

“Later on, the insurgents went to Kelewa village and killed one person before they rustled away 80 cows, while in Ngudori village, 100 cows were also carted away after killing one person.”

The local government scribe appealed to the security agencies “to intensify efforts against renewed attacks by Boko Haram.

“These attacks are posing a danger and frightening our farmers, especially the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have the resilience and by returning to their liberated communities, in their eagerness to engage in this year’s farming to provide for their family.”

Mr Kyari said the only injured person is now receiving treatment in a hospital in Maiduguri.

The attacked villages are all located less than 20km away from Magumeri town.

Borno Governor, Zulum, Visits Faduma Kolomdi Village After Boko Haram Attack, Told 81 Died, Village Head, Six Others Abducted

Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, on Wednesday visited Faduma Kolomdi village in Gubio Local Government Area to sympathise with families of slain and wounded victims of a Boko Haram attack in the area.

Faduma Kolomdi, a nomadic village, is located 35 kilometres in the North of Gubio, the headquarters of Gubio Local Government Area.

A survivor told Zulum that 81 residents were killed during the attack on Tuesday with 13 persons injured and seven others including the village head abducted.

While sympathising with the people over the attack, Governor Zulum urged the Nigerian military to undertake a final onslaught that would put an end to the insurgents in the shore of Lake Chad.

Zulum described the attack as barbaric and unfortunate while evacuating five injured persons in his convoy for treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

He said, "Last year, about the same number of people were killed in Gajiram like it happened again.

“This is barbaric. It is very unfortunate. The only solution to end this massacre is by dislodging the insurgents in the shores of Lake Chad. Doing so will require collaborative regional efforts.”

An eyewitness told the governor that the insurgents operated for about six hours and left around 4pm on Tuesday.

He said, "The insurgents in gun trucks and armoured tanks came around 10am yesterday (Tuesday). They operated for about six hours and left around 4pm. They gathered us and said they wanted to deliver a religious sermon to us. They asked us to submit whatever arm we had. Some villagers gave up their Dane guns, bow and arrows.

“The insurgents pretended as if they were not there for any violence. Suddenly, they started shooting at will. Even children and women were not spared, many were shot at close range. Many started running.

“At the end, many persons were killed. We have been burying people from 10:00pm last night to about 6am this morning. We have buried 49 corpses here while another 32 corpses were taken away by families from the villages around us.

“The insurgents abducted seven persons including our village head. They went away with 400 cattle.”

Governor Buni-led APC caretaker committee promises true reconciliation

As part of measure to make progress on its mandate in reconciling all factions in the ruling All Progressives Congress, the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led committee has promised to embark on genuine reconciliation of all party leaders and members ahead of the planned convention.

Chairman, Caretaker/Extra-ordinary Convention Committee of the All Progressives Congress party and Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, said this during the formal inauguration of the committee at the party’s national Secretariat.

The ruling APC had been enmeshed in protracted leadership crisis which lasted for months, culminating in the dissolution of the Adams Oshiomhole led National Working Committee (NWC).

Buni, while swearing-in other members of the committee at the party Secretariat, said that the committee believed that the decision of NEC, which birthed his committee, marked the beginning of a new chapter in the party.

He urged all members to accept and abide by the President’s appeal that all parties to withdraw their cases in courts for smooth negotiations in the interest of the party.

Buni stated: “lt is time for this committee to commence the process of true reconciliation among leaders and members of the party at all levels. It is our belief that the decision by NEC to constitute this committee will mark the beginning of a new chapter in our great party.

“Change is inevitable and disagreement on issues and concepts are an integral part of human and institutional relationship. As a political party built on strong ideology and, parading men and women of enduring principle and integrity, we must prepare for real and anticipated changes and their consequences. The outcomes of changes that evolve in our party politics must be decided by us.

“As the interim managers and leaders of our party, our priority would be the recognition of the need to act appropriately and acceptably in the overall interest of the party. Our actions in the next few months would be proactive and responsive.

“From now onward, we will concentrate on medium and long term development of our strategies and internal organisation to support our public standing as well as our chances of electoral successes in all future elections. This is the time for us to focus with determination to create adaptive institutional capacity to weather the current divisions in our Party.”

The Chairman of the committee commended members of the party who have sustained their support to the party all through the period.

On his part, the immediate Deputy National Secretary of the party, Victor Giadom while officially handing over the Secretariat to the Caretake/Extra-ordinary Convention said given the quality of persons driving the committee, he is convinced that the party will be repositioned to the pride of its party members.

His words: ” I am grateful to God, President Muhammadu Buhari and leaders for rescuing our party from what would have fallen the party. Today, our party has been repositioned to greater height and I can assure you with calibre of people so selected by the NEC to pilot the leadership of this party into the National Convention.

“I feel indeed grateful and reassure that our party will remain strong and stronger and come out from the crisis which we were all in in the past few months. I’m more grateful to the members of our party and decision of NEC.

“The party is bigger than all of us. So, it is our collective responsibility as former members of NWC to work hand in hand with the committee to see to the success of the committee.

“APC is a large family, in a family, there is bound to disagreement and what is important is ability of the family to come to agreement. Today, with the formation of caretaker committee, we are close to agreement and I’m sure this committee will do the needful and our party will become stronger,” Giadom stated.

BREAKING: New APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Buni, Promises To Carry All Aggrieved Members Along

Newly appointed Caretaker Committee Chairman of All Progressives Congress and Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, has said that the committee would carry all aggrieved members of the party along.

Buni, who arrived the party secretariat in Abuja shortly after the virtual National Executive Committee meeting headed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday was accompanied by three governors to the APC secretariat.

He said, "As two time former National Secretary of this party, I know the party very well and I want to assure every APC member we will do justice because we have a government and as a team player, if we don’t manage crisis, crisis will manage you.

"Without justice there will be no peace. I promise justice for every APC members."

Yobe Residents Groan Over Sub-standard Solar Streetlights Installed By Top Government Official

Residents of Damaturu, capital of Yobe State, have expressed concern over the crumbling state of solar streetlights installed by a government official, who was given the contract for the project.

Some residents observed that solar streetlights installed in 2007 during the time of a former governor, Mamman Ali, were still functioning properly while those recently erected by the present administration through a top government official at a huge amount had started collapsing.

One resident, who craved anonymity, told SaharaReporters that the collapse of the streetlights was an indication of the shoddy execution of the contract and failure of the government to ensure that public projects were done according to global standards.

He said, “The contractors had a field day and now the whole project is gradually falling apart.

“Now, it is very risky plying roads where these streetlights have been installed. The possibility of the gigantic iron falling on individuals or cars is frightening.”