DSS intercepts ISIS recruiters in Nigeria

The Department of State Servies (DSS) on Tuesday announced that it recently carried out series of tactical operations, involving raids and enforcement actions against identified criminal and extremist kingpins and syndicates across the country.

A statement by the DSS said the operations have significantly degraded the key extremist groups and kidnapping gangs have been terrorizing innocent citizens in the Country, particularly in the South-West, North-West and Middle-Belt regions of the Federation.

It disclosed that, “on 17th January, 2016, one Abdussalam Enesi YUNUSA, a recruiter for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was arrested in Kano. His arrest was sequel to available intelligence which indicated his terrorist antecedents and covert drive to indoctrinate and recruit susceptible youths in the country.

“Prior to his arrest, YUNUSA had completed arrangements to embark on a journey to join an ISIS terrorist training camp in Libya, with other Nigerians whom he recruited for the ‘Islamic State’. These recruits include the trio of one Muhammed RABI’U, Yahaya Momoh JIMOH and Zainab SUNDAY (f).

“YUNUSA is a 400 level undergraduate student of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, where he was studying for a degree in Information and Media Technology. He was subsequently radicalized and became a member of an extremist cell, comprising of one IBRAHIM (fnu) and Abubakar LIGALI, whom he revealed are currently undergoing terrorist training in Libya.

“He listed one AMINU (fnu) and Ibrahim JIHADI (Nigeriene), as other ISIS agents operating in Nigeria and the West African sub-region. The cell was being funded by one Abu-sa’ad Al Sudani, a media expert with the extremist group using Western Union money transfers to fund the terrorist cell agenda.

“On 17th January, 2016, in Daura township of Daura LGA, Katsina State, another budding extremist cell affiliated to ISIS, was intercepted by the Service. One Ibrahim Mohammed DAURA, Zaharadeen SALISU and five other elements of the proscribed extremist group, Ansaru, were arrested by the Service. This group was discovered in an active stage, as its members were already co-ordinating themselves for attacks in Katsina and Kano States.

“In the same vein, on 22nd January, 2016, one Obansa SALAMI, Ejide TIJANI aka Abu Uwaise II, Mohammed RABIU aka Ubida II, Zainab MOHAMMED and Abdulqadir Salisu AHMAD were arrested in Kano by this Service, while migrating to Libya, with their immediate families including infants, in a bid to join ISIS. This group was apprehended after painstaking monitoring of its network and plans.

“On 29th January, 2016, the Service arrested Mohammed Aliyu NDAKO in Kwara State. NDAKO is a seventeen (17) year old undergraduate student of a tertiary institution in the State. He was arrested sequel to credible intelligence on his plans with one Abdulkadir Salisu AHMAD a.k.a Daddy Tall, another student in Kano State, to carry out coordinated lone-wolf attacks on selected populated targets in Nigeria preferably worship centres or recreation venues. Suspect had hitherto been communicating with foreign extremist elements, while sourcing online terrorist training and support.

“Within the window of these tactical operations, between the month of December 2015 and February 2016, the Service, busted the network of syndicated kidnap gangs spanning different regions in the country, especially Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, Nasarawa, FCT, Oyo and Osun States. Foremost in this line, was the arrest of a gang of five (5) kidnappers, Abubakar HASSAN, Usman MUSA, Usman ADAMU and Idrisa Babangida AHMADU at Ife junction, Osun State, on 3rd February, 2016.

“On 5th February, 2016, the fifth member of the gang, Saidu ISYAKU was arrested at Ojo area, Oyo State. These kidnappers, Six (6) AK 47 rifles, five (5) magazines and about one thousand rounds of ammunition were recovered. This gang has been active in the South West axis of the country and were at advanced stages of kidnapping high value targets for huge ransom, before they were intercepted.

“Another breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping was the killing of Abubakar MOHAMMED (aka BUBA), and an unidentified member of his group, on 8th February, 2016 close to Jebba Medical Centre, Jebba, Kwara State by security operatives as they tried to escape during a shootout with security operatives. MOHAMMED was a notorious kidnap kingpin known for his brutality and various acts of lawlessness. It is disheartening that this criminal and his men had terrorized, to no end, residents of the South West zone. He was also linked to the kidnap of the elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae, in Ondo State.

“In the wake of deliberate mvandalism of oil pipelines by criminal elements in the South-South region, the Service arrested one Nengi Samuel IKIBA aka Kockman Abula, a notorious pipeline vandal on 27th January, 2016, in Bayelsa State. IKIBA confessed to vandalizing several pipelines in the State, including the 24” Agoda/Brass Oil pipeline at Idema community in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State.

“The modest success of the Service in its support to the Federal Government to achieve its desired economic objectives and stability may also be noted. To this effect, the DSS have arrested a group of fraudsters who had concluded plans to hack the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) domiciled in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation in order to steal Four Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira (N4.5b) from the Treasury Single Account (TSA). The gang was led by one Sunny OKOH, a hacker who worked in collaboration with the trio of Uwem Udo EKPO, a Chief Program Analyst in the OAGF, Maxwell EKENE, a retired security operative and Dozie EGWU, based in Malaysia and who is now at large.

“The suspected fraudsters intended to use a software they had sourced and codes released to them by EKPO to hack Government accounts in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and defraud the Government of this huge sum. It is instructive to note that a credibility problem would have arisen over the TSA policy if these hackers had succeeded in their plan and thus lend credence to the critics of the policy that it ought not to have been introduced and implemented. For the avoidance of doubt, the suspects have been handed over to the EFCC for further investigations and prosecution.”

DSS added that these successes were recorded as a result of proactive and credible intelligence offered by members of the public, sister security agencies and other stakeholders.

It assured that it will continue to deploy every means necessary within its statutory mandate, and armbit of the law to ensure the security and safety of all law-abiding residents and citizens wherever they reside.

DSS appealed to Nigerians to be extra-vigilant, as well as report any suspicious persons, groups or activities to relevant security agencies, for the sustenance of relative peace in the country.

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BOKO HARAM ON THE RUN As Air Force Drone Destroys Base In Sambisa Forest

Boko Haram terrorists yesterday suffered massive losses and setbacks after an Air Force drone hit their base near Sambisa Forest. According to a statement released by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UAV) killed many insurgents and destroyed the sect's equipment.

The Statement further said: "This strike is a major setback for the Boko Haram sect and a major plus for the fight against insurgency." Mr. Famuyiwa said, the location was found during a surveillance operation which "came across a gathering of Boko Haram terrorists at Garin Moloma, about one kilometer north of the Sambisa Forest."

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) released a video of an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UAV) destroying what is believed to be a Boko Haram logistics base, according to a statement released by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa.

Nigerian Air Force Drone Destroys Boko Haram Base Outside Sambisa Forest “This strike is a major setback for the Boko Haram sect and a major plus for the fight against insurgency,” Mr. Famuyiwa wrote in a statement.

According to Mr. Famuyiwa, the location was found during a surveillance operation which “came across a gathering of Boko Haram terrorists at Garin Moloma, about one kilometer north of the Sambisa Forest.”

He also noted that the video depicts “multiple explosions and a huge fireball from the location” following the strike, which “strongly suggests that it may be either an ammunition/fuel storage or weapons/technical workshop.

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How Fresh Bomb Blast Was Averted In Maiduguri yesterday

Another bomb explosion was on Monday averted in Maiduguri when a joint team of security operatives defused Explosive Devices, IED, planted by suspected Boko Haram members, close to the office of the Borno State Pilgrims Welfare Board in Borno State capital, the State Police Command spokesperson, Victor Isuku, said on Monday.

Isuku said, "I can confirm that it was a joint police/military operation that demobilised the IEDs but thank God, no life was lost or injuries recorded." It would be recalled that no fewer than 85 people were on Saturday killed in Dalori, a village situated at the outskirts of Maiduguri.

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Boko Haram Now dress like Mad Women – Defence HQ

Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters released a statement Saturday about terror group Boko Haram’s latest tactic of infiltrating the civilian population by disguising themselves as “mad women”, with successful suicide bomb attacks having been initiated by this new means.

In a statement, signed by Acting Director, Defense Information, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, which states as follows :

 “It has come to the notice of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) that Boko Haram, in their desperation to cause colossal havoc, have now devised a new method where they dress like mad persons to gain unsuspecting access to public areas to detonate bombs.

The 2 male suicide bombers, dressed like mad women and carried out suicide bomb attack in Gombi, Adamawa State, is instructive in this direction. Five people lost their lives and several others were wounded in the heinous attack by these ungodly people.

The Defence Headquarters therefore urges our fellow good citizens across the country to be wary of mad persons approaching markets, public places or crowded areas so as to nip this ugly trend in the bud.
Nigerians are also enjoined to be security conscious at all times and should endeavour to report any suspicious person or object to security agencies for prompt action.”

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Boko Haram : Another attack in Maiduguri leaves 65 dead

At least 65 people were killed during an attack by Islamist militant group Boko Haram near Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri, a Reuters reporter said after counting bodies at a hospital morgue.

The remains of a dozen victims were burnt beyond recognition in Saturday’s attack when militants opened fire on residents, set fire to houses and targeted a crowd with suicide bombers, security and medical officials said.

A Nigerian military spokesman, Colonel Mustapha Ankas, said that Boko Haram militants attacked the community of Dalori, about 3 miles east of Maiduguri in Borno state.

It was the third attack this week suspected to have been carried out by the insurgent group – and the most deadly. Since it started losing control of territory, Boko Haram has reverted to hit-and-run attacks on villages as well as suicide bombings on places of worship or markets.

In neighboring Adamawa state, a suicide bomber believed to be a Boko Haram militant killed about 10 people on Friday and at least 12 were killed on Wednesday in an attack on the Borno state village of Chibok, from where over 200 schoolgirls were abducted in 2014.

Ankas said insurgents entered Dalori in two cars and on motorcycles and opened fire on residents and burned down houses.

Read Also:  13 dead in triple suicide attacks in Chibok town (Warning : Touching photos below)

“While people were running for their dear lives…three female suicide bombers attempted to make their way into the crowd … and subsequently got blown up,” he said without providing a casualty figure.

An official of the state emergency agency who was at the scene said there were 12 bodies burnt beyond recognition. “We can’t even pick those ones, they were seriously burnt,” the official who declined to be named said.

Read Also: Cameroonian troops invade Borno village, kill 40

Borno state capital Maiduguri was struck by several bombs at the end of December that killed at least 48 people.

The state is the heartland of the seven-year insurgency that seeks to establish an Islamist state. Over 2 million people have been displaced and thousands killed. Maiduguri has swelled to double its size over the last few years to around 4 million as it has become the refuge for most of the displaced population.

Separately, twin suicide attacks by suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least three people in two locations near Lake Chad, around 100 km (60 miles) north of the Chadian capital N’Djamena, security sources said. At least one other would-be bomber was reported to have taken flight, they added

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13 dead in triple suicide attacks in Chibok town (Warning : Touching photos below)

At least 13 people were killed on Wednesday when three suicide bombers blew themselves up in the northeast Nigerian town of Chibok, where Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls.

The blasts happened at about midday (1100 GMT) as the remote town in Borno state was packed with traders from surrounding villages for the weekly market, Chibok elder Ayuba Chibok told AFP.

"Ten died on the spot and another one died on the way to hospital," said health worker Dazzban Buba, who volunteered to treat the injured at hospital.

"A woman and a child died as they were being admitted (to hospital), so now the death toll stands at 13. Thirty others were injured, 21 critically."

The blasts bore the hallmarks of Boko Haram, which has repeatedly hit "soft" civilian targets such as markets, mosques and bus stations as well as military and civilian vigilante checkpoints.

Chibok came to prominence in April 2014 when Islamist fighters stormed a boarding school and kidnapped 276 girls, causing global outrage.

Fifty-seven girls managed to escape in the immediate aftermath but 219 are still being held and have not been seen since they appeared in a Boko Haram video in May that year.

Chibok was briefly overrun by the Islamic State group-allied rebels in November 2014 but recaptured by the military after several days.

Ayuba Chibok and Buba both said Wednesday's blasts were suicide attacks and had prompted terrified residents to lock themselves inside their homes or flee in fear of repeat attacks.

Buba said the first explosion, at a checkpoint where people coming into the town were being searched, was thought to have been carried out by a young boy.

But identifying the attacker's age was difficult, as only his legs were recovered.

The second, at the market, and a third nearby were carried out by women, he added.

Buba said he rushed to help his brother who was injured in the first blast in the Bamzir Road area of the town.

The second blast happened shortly afterwards, fitting a pattern of Boko Haram suicide attacks with multiple bombers setting off their devices almost simultaneously.

But Buba said it was still unclear whether the third bomber deliberately detonated her explosives or whether the device was triggered when troops opened fire as he fled.

The 30 injured were mostly suffering from burns and fractures, and that nine had been discharged, he added.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in Kenya on a three-day state visit, made no direct mention of the Chibok attack at a memorial service to commemorate Kenyan soldiers killed by Shebab militants.

But he told the congregation: "Terrorists should not have a place in our communities, villages, towns, cities and countries.

"We must all rise against the culture of intolerance, hatred and extremist ideologies, which drive terrorism."

Recent weeks have seen a lull in Boko Haram attacks, with only three recorded in Nigeria this month but those that have occurred underline the difficulty in protecting hard-to-reach rural areas.

The insurgents raided a village in Yobe state on Sunday, killing one man, while on January 11, another raid in the Adamawa state town of Madagali left seven dead.

Seven people were killed in a raid and suicide bomb attack in Izgeki village on January 5. Gunmen also looted food and burnt a large part of Nchiha village near Chibok earlier the same day.

On December 6, there was a similar attack in Takulashi village, also near Chibok, which again saw fighters raid food and steal more than 200 cattle.

Buhari on December 24 declared the rebels were "technically" defeated but at least 66 people were then killed in raids and suicide bombings in the days following.

According to an AFP tally, more than 1,650 people have been killed since Buhari came to power in May last year, vowing to crush the insurgency, which has left at least 17,000 dead since 2009.

On Monday, 32 people were killed when at least three suicide bombers blew themselves up at a market in Bodo village in northern Cameroon.

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Cameroonian troops invade Borno village, kill 40

At least 40 villagers in Gwadale border community in Gwoza local government area of Borno state were allegedly killed on Monday, January 25, by Cameroonian soldiers.

According to witnesses, bullets from the shootings killed many innocent people by Cameroonian troops who claimed they were chasing suspected members of the Boko Haram sect.

Leadership reports that Muhammad Abba, a former ward secretary, said that he received a chilling call from his relatives who are still trapped in the community.

Read Also: Shooting and explosions leaves Many dead in Nigeria after Boko Haram attacks Maiduguri

“I still have my family, including my eldest son, there in Gwadale. But those that called me yesterday using the Cameroonian mobile network said most of the corpses are still left unattended.

“One of my brothers who survived the shootout said the Cameroonian soldiers arrived Gwadale in early hours of Monday, and began to shoot sporadically. Most of our people who ran out of their houses in fear were killed by bullets; up till now, as they said, corpses still litter the grounds with no one attending to them, because those remaining in the village are aged men and women.

“I have not heard from my eldest son since the attack; and those that called said they had run into Ashigashiya,” he said.

Confirming the incident, Muhammed Gava, the spokesman of the vigilante group in the area, said: “Our people are being killed by Boko Haram and Cameroonian soldiers, yet our government is watching.”

This is the third time troops of the Cameroonian troops are being accused of reckless cross border activities.

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Nigerian Troops Record Another Victory In The Fight Against Boko Haram .. Graphic Photos

 

 Nigerian troops have hit the Boko Haram sect hard after five of its members were killed during a face off on Wednesday January 20th. The gallant soldiers also recovered dangerous weapons from the militants which include -1 MC-H3 tube pan hand aml 90 gun with registration number 0182, 1 36milimeter, handset, grenade, 7 pieces of 60 millimeter bodies and 3 AK47 rifles. 

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I will do my best to ensure the release of your girls ----------- Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met with parents of the abducted Chibok girls and members of the Bring back our girls movement. The meeting was held behind closed doors as journalists were ordered out of the meeting.

Initially the group were denied access to Mr president, instead they met a government team comprising the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Al-Hassan, as well as the Minister of Defense, Monsur Dan-Ali, the National Security Adviser, Mohammed Monguno, and the Chief of Defense Staff, Abayomi Olonishakin.

Alhassan, told the group that because of the short notice given by the group, it was not possible to squeeze in the meeting with BBOG on Thursday.


Buhari arrived the venue of the meeting at about 1:45pm after ending his meeting with the visiting President of Benin Republic, Boni Yayi, in his office.

Earlier, the group and the parents had refused to leave when they were told that the President would not meet with them.

Also read: Chibok parent faints at BRING BACK OUR GIRLS PROTEST TODAY

They had insisted on meeting the President one-on-one.The parents and the group were led by a former minister of education and leader of the BBOG, Oby Ezekwesili.

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Chibok parent faints at BRING BACK OUR GIRLS PROTEST TODAY

One of the parents of the abducted Chibok girls collapsed and fainted as the BRING BACK OUR GIRLS GROUP resumed their were their match in Abuja to the Presidential villa.

The 136 parents of the missing Chibok girls, led by the leader of the group Oby Ezekwesili, who was a former minister of education. 

The protest started at 8:35am and began from the Unity Fountain situated in Abuja, saw the parents chanting songs of agony to the government over its failure in releasing the girls who have been in the den of Boko Haram for 640 days now

The 136 parents all stood under the sun waiting for buses to convey them to the presidential villa, an action which led to the fainting of a parent probably due to exhaustion

A few minutes past 10am, seven bus arrived and immediately transported the angry parents to the presidential villa premises.Few security checks were made by the men at the entrance, before passage was approved and granted.

As we file this report,they are currently inside the banquet hall of the presidential villa waiting for the arrival of Mr President.This is the second protest organized by the BRING BACK OUR GIRLS GROUP during President Buhari's regime. The first was in July 2015 after his inauguration.

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Soldier did not detain Chibok parents. Some Parents are "FAKE" ----- Army Officer

Sixty-five parents of abducted Chibok girls were not detained by the Nigerian military as claimed by the BringBackOurGirls group, according to the commanding officer in the town.

Speaking first on Tuesday night and later on Wednesday morning, Hassan Chibok, who said he didn’t mind being named because he was “not afraid of anybody, maintained that the military only told the parents to obtain a pass from the Chibok local government chairman, so that soldiers could escort them out of the dangerous zone they were planning to travel through.

 “You know the situation in Chibok. For weeks now, we have been experiencing attacks around Chibok general area. And there is a report, intelligence report that Boko Haram members were planning to lay ambush for the parents when travelling to Abuja,” he said. 

“So the military here told them that if they were planning to go to anywhere, they should get authority letter from the local government council. That way, the army is aware of their movement, and will then give them adequate security to move them out of the danger zone. “So when they made the plan of moving, the army here asked them if the local government was aware of their movement? They said no. So they were told to get all the necessary arrangement before they could leave. 

“There have been series of ambushing on the roads, so moving in convoy is very dangerous here. In fact, moving in convoy here is only permitted with military escort so that there would be protection of life and property. “Now, disregarding the information of the military, they now went through another part, the road that is blocked and is not for people to follow again. We told them to go back to your local government and bring authority so that they could be escorted out of their area. 

That’s really what happened. Nobody detained anybody; nobody harassed anybody; they only asked them to go back to chibok.” Asked if the parents indeed went back to Chibok or they stayed back with the military, he said: “Yes, they are in Chibok. And, in case you don’t know, all these Chibok parents, there are a lot of things happening that you people who are not here in Borno do not know.

“There are fake parents, people claiming that their kids were among those kidnapped, which is not true. These people are only here because of their personal gains.” Asked how long it would take the parents to get the local government clearance, he said: “Before they made the move, it is just for them to just call the chairman and tell the chairman, ‘this is our plan, we are trying to move to Abuja or Maiduguri; we need a letter from you so that the military here will escort us out of the danger area’. 

“You know, now we are looking for the girls and if anything happens to the parents, it is another problem; and this is what the military is trying to avoid.” He expressed anger with those trying to discredit efforts of the military to properly secure the area, and urged the media to work more with grassroots sources rather than on people in Abuja who themselves do not have the correct information.

He confirmed, on Wednesday, that the parents were already on their way to Abuja, and were escorted past Maiduguri and past Yola, after securing the said clearance. 

Source: The Cable.

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How Boko Haram Group Beheads Woman For Allegedly Spying on them. (Warning Graphic Photos + Video)

What a wicked act from people who has lost any form of conscience.According to a footage posted online, this woman was publicly beheaded for allegedly spying on the Islamic sect. 

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Boko Haram Planning To Use Beggars For Suicide Attacks – Army

The Nigerian Army on Friday alerted Borno residents on purported plans by Boko Haram terrorists to use beggars for suicide attacks.

The Media Coordinator of the Operation Lafiya Dole in Borno State, Col. Mustapha Anka, said this in a statement in Maiduguri.

The attention of the Operation Lafiya Dole has been drawn to a terrorists’ intention to use beggars to cause mayhem in the state.

“Under the plan, concealed explosives in bundles of firewood are to be placed in crowded and strategic areas of Maiduguri and environs to cause havoc,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Anka as saying in the statement.

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FG says no plan to ban "Hijab"

Presidency has denied insinuations and rumors that the The President Muhammadu Buhari administration has banned Hijab, the Muslim women’s dressing symbol of modesty.

Giving a clarification on the pronouncement of the President on Media Chat on Wednesday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said the speculations are unfounded, and that the Buhari administration would always respect the rights of Muslims to protect their modesty and allow religious freedom as it affects everyone.

Malam Shehu, while admitting that the Hijab is being abused by terrorists to carry out suicide attacks on innocent people, which violates the teachings of Islam, said the President would not take any decision on the issue without due consultation with all the stakeholders.

“Everything will be done to balance national security requirements with the rights and obligations of citizens under their religions as protected by the constitution,” the statement said.

According to him, the increasing abuse of the Hijab by terrorists to perpetrate criminal mass murder and other atrocities is a reality, and that the government would address the security challenge in consultations with Muslim leaders with a view to finding a workable solution.

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Chibok school girls are alive and can return To their families if, says Ahmad Salkida

Top: Ahmad Salkida,Bottom:Kidnaped Chibok girls

Barely 24 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari declared that he cannot tell if the Chibok school girls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists are still alive,Ahmad Salkida, the Dubai-based Nigerian journalist, with contacts to Boko Haram said today that the 219 school girls captured 626 days ago, are still alive.

“Most of the Chibok girls, whether they are split into groups or not, are alive”, Salkida  revealed this today in an article published on his blog Salkida.com.

But revealing that some of them have refused to convert to Islam or allowed themselves to be married off, Salkida, wrote in an opinion that Buhari should use state machinery to open up access to the militants rather than say he has no clue on the kidnapped girls whose abductions sparked off the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.

According to him: “Most of the Chibok girls, whether they are split into groups or not, are alive, multiple credible sources have told me, and if a deal to release them will weaken national security and endanger the entire country, then the federal government shouldn’t make a deal.

“I am confident that Chibok girls and other captives can return to their families if the government is half as strong-willed as some of the girls in captivity that have refused to be married out or give up their faith.

“The girls would have never backed out of any process, no matter how irritating it is. They would stay on and negotiate hard until they get a deal that will earn them their freedom and stop such abductions so that no one else can ever witness their woeful plight.”

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President Buhari disappointed us-------- #BringBackOurGirls group

President Buhari has come under fire from some Nigerians, following his comments during his maiden media chat on Wednesday, December 30, 2015.

Latest among those who are not happy with Mr. President’s comments, are the members of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign.

They said they were disappointed by Buhari’s comment about the Chibok girls.

The spokesperson of the group, Tunji Olanrewaju, said “We are disappointed, because we consider it worrisome that 623 days after the abduction of the girls, we are still talking about no information or lack of intelligence about the whereabouts of the Chibok girls. 

This for us shows that the expected solution to the lingering insurgency is not near at all and what it also exposed is the inadequacy of the intelligence gathering capacity of the DSS and all the security agencies put together.”

READ ALSO: 15 Things President Buhari said during his media chat

Adding that “Some terrorists are holding people captive and you don’t have information about them or where they are being held up. It is very disappointing. There is a lot of inadequacy that this is exposing.

“Based on what the President said at his inauguration on May 29, the counter-insurgency war could not have been won without the rescue of the Chibok girls and so we stand on that.”

“The counter-insurgency war will not be over until we have a closure on the abducted 219 Chibok girls. We reject dearth of information and intelligence on their whereabouts totally. We are compelled to continue with our demand that this government must account for the girls.

They must rescue them and they must reunite every one of them with their families and parents,”Olanrewaju said.

When asked about the Chibok girls, President Buhari said there was no reliable intelligence on location and condition of the missing girls.

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We are still tracking Chibok Girls

The Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed recently stated that the Federal Government was still tracking the missing Chibok girls.

The minister revealed this on a Channels TV programme, Sunrise, through a phone interview, he said the military was carefully combing the Sambisa Forest in order to locate the missing girls.

READ ALSO: Charge Dasuki for treason, Bring Back Our Girls group tells Federal Government

“We are a bit constrained. I know that some countries have set fire around the Sambisa forest to smoke out the Boko Haram insurgents, but we are being careful because we are still looking for the Chibok girls and we do not want unnecessary collateral casualties.

“I know that many of our neighbours like Mali and Niger have employed certain procedures. Because of our major objective that we are still looking for the Chibok girls, so in some parts of Sambisa forest, we cannot adopt such drastic approaches.”

Lai Mohammed enjoined Nigerians to encourage the military and provide information to further dissipate the insurgents.

“People must own the war. They must report suspicious movements and complement efforts of the military. How many bars or football viewing centres in Lagos can you secure? No, but if you have enough information to beef up security, it would help,” he added.

“That is absolutely incorrect. It is possible for insurgents to lay ambush on the road. It doesn’t mean that they are in control of those local governments. I travelled 89 kilometres from Maiduguri to Bama.

“We are not saying we are going to route or eliminate ambush or attacks overnight; it’s never done in any insurgency. But what we are just giving the fact, less than a year ago, the entire Northeast was almost in their control, today they don’t have that kind of command.

“It’s just about one local government that they have swayed at all,” the minister said.

In spite of speculations that the Chibok girls have been married off or recruited as suicide bombers, the minster insist that they are still being held by the Boko Haram sect.

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How 14 female suicide bombers caused havoc in Maiduguri

Fourteen female suicide bombers descended on Borno State on Sunday, killing 25 people and injuring at least, 85, the Nigerian Army has said.

Yushau Abubakar, a Major-General, said during a press briefing in Mai‎duguri, Monday, that the suicide bombers blew themselves into bits as they attempted to invade the city.

“The 14 female suicide bombers, who were between the ages of 12 and 18, attempted to entered Maiduguri with the intent to cause mayhem, confusion, and panic,” said Mr. Abubakar, the Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, who represented the GOC, 7 Division, Major-General Lamidi Adeosun.

The attack, one among a recent wave of violent assaults by the Boko Haram terrorists, came days after the Nigerian government claimed it had met its December deadline of defeating the insurgents.

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Mr. Abubakar said the girls, who planned to carry out coordinated suicide missions through Asmari, Damboa checkpoint, Ali Dawari, Molai Kura, Baderi, and Jumari villages, were intercepted by soldiers on patrol.

Three of the terrorists, according to the army officer, detonated their Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) while seven others were shot dead by soldiers.

One of the bombers was arrested while three others escaped.

“I believe this development has averted what would have been a major disaster if they had gained entrance into Maiduguri,” Mr. Abubakar said.

“One of the girls went into a nearby house and requested for water to perform ablution but instead prepared herself and came to a nearby mosque, killing herself and one other person while 13 others sustained injuries.”

Mr. Abubakar said four soldiers were killed as the insurgents recently ambushed Nigerian troops in Mairaria village on the Maiduguri and Firgi road.

Fourteen insurgents, he said, also died in the ensuing gun battle.

The army general noted that the terrorists had now resorted to attacking “soft targets” and ‎laying ambush for soldiers due to their weakened strength.

Also‎ speaking to journalists on Monday, in Maiduguri, the Borno State Police Command confirmed the death of scores of people after a suspected bomb blast near a mosque in Silimanti on the outskirt of Maiduguri.
Victor Isuku, the Police Public Relations Officer, gave the confirmation while speaking with journalists in Maiduguri.

“I can confirm to you that the incident happened in the early hours of Monday,” Mr. Isuku said.

“But I cannot give you the casualty figures as aid workers are still counting.”

However, some residents claimed that at least 20 persons were killed.

Bukar Idris a resident of the area said, “I was lucky to have escaped the attack because I left the place few minutes to fetch something in my house for a friend at the gathering.

“But I lost two childhood friends Mallam Modu Bushara and Mallam Shehu Sawab,” Mr. Idris said, adding that he counted at least 20 dead bodies before the arrival of aids workers at the scene.‎

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