Jonathan orders total war against Boko Haram

President Goodluck Jonathan
| credits: Reuters

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the armed forces   to launch a full-scale military operation against Boko Haram and other violent organisations to put an end to their impunity   in the country.

“I am determined to protect our democracy, our national unity and our political stability by waging a total war against terrorism,” he said in his nationwide Democracy Day broadcast in Abuja on Thursday.

It was not immediately known what such an offensive could entail given that the North-East where most of the activities of terrorists take place   has been   under   emergency rule and a full-scale military operation for a year now.

But a top Defence Headquarters official toldThe PUNCH shortly after the broadcast that the Special Forces and other security operatives involved in the prosecution of the anti-terrorism campaign would have a near unlimited space to operate.

The phrase “total war”, however, was used by Chad’s President Idriss Deby following a meeting of Nigeria’s neighbours in Paris in mid-May, in which they sought a common strategy to fight the militants.

“I assure you … that these thugs will be driven away. It will not happen overnight, but we will spare no effort to achieve this goal,” Jonathan said.

UPDATE: Boko Haram kills Gwoza emir, attacks others in Borno

Suspected members of the Boko Haram Islamist sect on Thursday ambushed three traditional rulers between the Biu –Azare-Garkida Road in Borno State.

The royal fathers are the Emir of Gwoza, Idrisa Timta, and his counterparts from Askira Abdullahi Askirama, and the Emir of Uba, Ismaila Manza.

A security source said on Friday that the Gwoza Emir was killed by the attackers while the Emirs of Askira and Uba were missing as at the time of filing the reports.

The Defence Headquarters however said the Emirs of Askira and Uba were rescued by Special Forces who were deployed in Garkida.

          Raw fact about

d student kidnapped. (Let ask
ourselves dis Questions)
234 girls are missing and 234 is
Nigeria’s country code…is there
sum coincidence???
I have been pondering over this
kidnap situation and something
dont add up hence these
questions.
The students are said to be SSS3
student writing physics
examination.
QUESTIONS: 1. Why are their
names not yet published by the
school, state government and
WAEC?
2.Why are their pictures not over
the news media?
3. How come all 234 students are
in SSS3 and all came to write
physics examination when the
total number of students in the
whole school are
around 1200?
4. It was announced that the

Devastating attacks show reach of Boko Haram – CNN

 

A large part of northern and central Nigeria is now at the mercy of intensified attacks by Boko Haram, and the group seems to be embarking on a new phase of its campaign against the Nigerian state — piling further pressure on the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The last four days have seen devastating bomb attacks in Jos, in central Nigeria, as well as a suicide bombing in Kano – the largest city in the north. Two more villages in the state of Borno, Boko Haram’s stronghold in the northeast, came under attack, with at least 30 civilians killed. There have also been two bomb attacks in the federal capital, Abuja, in the last five weeks.

Direct your protest to terrorists – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday urged those who have been protesting the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, to henceforth direct their protest to the Boko Haram terrorists and not the government.

The President also urged the protesters to learn from citizens of other countries who do not blame their governments for any terrorist act.

He has however admitted publicly for the first time that his administration was currently consulting with some stakeholders with a view to exploring what he called alternative methods of resolving the present crisis.

Jonathan made the disclosure in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide, to a team of #BringBackOurGirlscampaigners, led by a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwezili.

The protesters, who had planned to take their protest to the Presidential Villa where they wanted Jonathan to address them were restricted by security agents to the Federal Secretariat within the Three Arms Zone, a few metres from the Villa gate.

Those who joined Akinjide in the delegation that represented Jonathan at the rally included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed; Minister of Information, Labaran Maku; Minister of Women Affairs, Zaynab Maina; and Minister of Environment, Lawrencia Laraba.

           Security operatives surround Presidential Villa

 

 

 

Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

Security was on Thursday morning beefed up around the Presidential Villa, Abuja, ahead of a protest rally being planned by#BringBackOurGirls campaigners seeking the rescue of the abducted pupils of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

The campaigners had threatened to take their protest to the Presidential Villa where they are expecting President Goodluck Jonathan to address them on efforts being made to secure freedom for the girls that were seized from the hostels since April 14.

The march is scheduled to start from the Unity Fountain, located close to Transcorp Hilton Hotels, Maitama, at 3pm, and proceed to the Presidential Villa through the Federal Secretariat.

But as of the time of this report, armed security men have been drafted to the two gates leading to the Villa, apparently to stop the protesters from gaining access.

At the Villa gate, approaching from the Fire Service side of Asokoro, policemen and soldiers armed with batons and others had been stationed a few metres to the spot where men of the State Security Service are always stationed

Corruption stalls Nigeria’s war against B’Haram –US

United States Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Sarah Sewall

The United States Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Sarah Sewall, has said that corruption is hindering Nigeria’s efforts at ending   insurgency in the North-East.

Sewall, who appeared before a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, alongside a Pentagon top Africa official, Amanda Dory, added that the military must overcome entrenched corruption and incompetence for it to   rescue the over 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram on April 14.

She said that despite Nigeria’s $5.8bn security budget for 2014, “corruption prevents supplies as basic as bullets and transport vehicles from reaching the front lines of the struggle against Boko Haram.”

Sewall, according to the New York Times, also told the committee that morale was low and that desertions were common among soldiers in the 7th Army Division fighting the insurgents.

She sidestepped a question from one lawmaker asking for an update on the abducted girls’ location and welfare, saying, “Given time, I am hopeful that we will make progress.”

Sewall had on May 13 clarified the level of involvement of US personnel in the rescue of the abducted girls, saying it   would not be combative.

She told select journalists   in Abuja that it was up to Nigeria to accept or reject the prisoners exchange offer made by   Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.

In her testimony, Dory said that Pentagon believed that the girls might have been dispersed into multiple smaller groups.

Blasts: Jonathan deploys Defence chief in JoS

 

Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh
| credits: http://www.nigeriancurrent.com/

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, on Thursday arrived in Jos, Plateau State, for on the spot assessment of the twin bomb blasts that left more than 100 people dead and 50 others injured on Tuesday.

The Coordinator of the National Information Centre for the ongoing war against insurgents, Mr. Mike Omeri, told journalists at a news conference in Abuja, that Badeh was directed to do so by President Goodluck Jonathan .

Omeri also warned Nigerians against circulating photographs and information capable of subverting the war against insurgency in the country.

According to him, relevant agencies will investigate the sources of the photographs of soldiers circulating in the social media who were said to have died in the war against insurgency in the country.

He said, “Following the incident in Jos, Mr. President has directed the CDS to proceed to Jos for further assessment of the situation on the ground.

“The Inspector-General of Police(Mohammed Abubakar) had earlier visited the scene of the blasts . These are all parts of the   efforts by the government in uncovering the authors of the crime, bringing comfort and succour to our people and in the long run, helping to defeat terrorism and other forms of criminality.

“The centre notes the emerging trend of misleading photographs by the media to illustrate their stories. The truth is that these photographs create wrong impressions in the minds of members of the public about the efforts of the government in checking the current security challenge in the country.

Chibok: Police halt protest march on Presidential Villa

   

Protesters during a protest on the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, in Abuja … on Thursday
| credits: Olatunji Obasa

The plan by a civil coalition group to march on the Presidential Villa, Abuja in protest over the abduction of the over 200 female students of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, was halted by the police on Thursday.

The police blocked the National Assembly junction with personnel and trucks and prevented the protesters from accessing the road that leads to the Presidential Villa.

The police operation was led by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba and FCT Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu.

The coalition group under the name, “#Bringbackourgirls” had earlier written to the Presidency about its intention to take their daily protest to Aso Villa, but got no response from the authorities.

The group, led by a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, led the protesters wearing red T-shirts, from the Unity Fountain along Shehu Shagari Way to the Federal Secretariat, where their march to the villa was cut short by the police.

The crowd of protesters caused a traffic jam along the ever busy way and policemen had to divert vehicles to other roads as the demonstrators took over the entire Shehu Shagari Way.

Chanting solidarity songs intermittently, the group massed at the junction to the National Assembly where they were addressed by the FCT Minister of State,Olajumoke Akinjide, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan.

                B’Haram kills 29 in Borno

Boko Haram members

Nigerians have fled into Cameroon as Boko Haram attacked another Borno village, killing 29 persons.

It will be recalled that about two weeks ago the outlawed sect attacked Gamboru Ngala, a border town with Cameroon, killing about 300 persons and destroying million of Naira worth of property.

It was gathered that some suspected members of the Boko Haram sect, laid ambush on the village on Wednesday morning.

The attack, according to a resident, Mallam Bakura Mustapha, occurred barely 10 days after the withdrawal of troops from the village.

Sources said the gunmen drove into the village in 15 vehicles and several motorcycles and were armed with AK47 rifles, Improvised Explosive Devices and petrol bombs.

It was gathered that they stormed the village at about 11am on Wednesday and opened fire on armless residents killing 29 people and burnt many buildings.

Another source said, apart from those killed, there were several injuries sustained and many residents of the village who sustained gunshot wounds “are now receiving treatment at one of a hospital in Cameroon Republic.”

Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin, to comment on the attack failed, but a top security source who is not authorised to speak to the press, confirmed the incident

Football | Ghana

Kwesi Appiah © Action Images

Rate our new adverts and win a HD PVR decoder BPL Fantasy League

Appiah to get new two year deal

---

The Ghana FA are concluding contract renewal talks with coach Kwesi Appiah before reaching Brazil.

Appiah will be given a two-year extension after his current deal is expected to expire after the World Cup.

“We have met with the coach and have had initial discussions over his contract renewal,” Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi told Peace FM in Ghana's capital.

Toure wants no regrets

---

Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure on Thursday urged his national teammates to work hard and make sure the Elephants do not return from the World Cup with regrets.

The 33-year-old Liverpool centre back and the rest of the 28-member squad are fine tuning in Dallas, Texas, after which two friendly matches will be played against Bosnia on May 30 and Salvador on June 4.

Pitted against Colombia, Japan and Greece in Group C, the former Arsenal and Manchester City defender said the Ivorian team fell in a balanced group this time.

“Our Group C is balanced unlike in previous editions when we had difficult situations,” Kolo said.

“We played against Brazil, Portugal and Argentina and those times were our first and second appearances in the World Cup finals. This time, we feel the group is quite balanced and we’ll be able to have our say.”

“But beside our initial objective of progressing from the group stage, we don’t want to return home with regrets, that is being unable to do the things we were capable of doing. That’s what I have been telling my mates,” he said.

Football | Africa

Yaya Toure © Action Images

Kanu lauds Yaya Toure

---

Nigerian football legend, Nwankwo Kanu has nothing but praise for Ivorian midfielder, Yaya Toure whom he rates as the best in his position in the world.

Kanu feels there is no other midfielder in world football who can currently match the Manchester City star.

The former Inter Milan forward believes Toure, who pipped his compatriot, John Obi Mikel, to the post in the latest African footballer of the year poll, is world class.

"If you say who is the best midfielder in the world now, for me I would say Yaya Toure. Not only in Africa, but the world," Kanu told africansoccer.weebly.com.

Kanu also took the time to salute the goalscoring exploits of the 31-year-old insisting that the Ivorian “scores goals like a striker.”

Football | Super Eagles

Emmanuel Adebayor © Backpagepics

Adebayor backs Eagles at World Cup

---

Togo striker, Emmanuel Adebayor, has tipped Nigeria as the African country that will produce the best finish at the Fifa World Cup in Brazil.

Apart from Nigeria, there are four other African countries that will take part at the World Cup from next month. Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Ivory Coast are the four other nations.

But the Tottenham Hotspur forward has picked the African champions to shine at the World Cup ahead of the other African representatives saying they "have all the ingredients to be good in the World Cup."

He explained that Nigeria's Super Eagles because of their coach, Stephen Keshi, who managed Togo between 2004 and 2006 and qualified them for the 2006 World Cup.

The former Arsenal and Manchester City man also talked on the influence the trio of John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses and Vincent Enyeama will have in the Nigerian team during the World Cup.

"Out of these teams, it [my choice for which of the African teams will go the furthest] would be Nigeria because of their concentration. Because of Stephen Keshi [the coach] - he knows a lot about football and everything. He has been there as well as a player for Nigeria.

Aye was inspired by God, not a girl – Davido

Music Star, Davido has revealed that his latest hit track, Aye was inspired by God and not by one Adeola Bamisile, daughter of ex-Ekiti State Chief Judge, as initially reported.Chatting with R! the “Aye” crooner said “A lot of things have been going on the social media, especially my relationship with one girl or the other, which I don’t believe isthe best thing to be discussing right now. But for the case of this session, I want to categorically state that I am not in any relationship with any girl that you might have read about. In fact, this is coming as news to me because I don’t even know something like that has been said about me”.

Speaking on the girl she featured in Aye, Davido said “the truth is that I wanted to feature the winner of the most beautiful girl in Nigeria beauty pageant in the video, but her manager said she would not be available for the shoot. So, I decided to use my make-up artist, who eventually did well in the video. I am neither dating her nor other girls as I speak with you. Disregard any rumour linking me with any girl”, he said.

BEYONCE BEATS MICHAEL JACKSON TO BECOME HIGHEST-PAID BLACK ARTIST IN HISTORY

Beyoncé has been named the highest-paid black artist of all time, it follows the overwhelming success of her Mrs Carter Show world tour. Queen bey, has managed to beat on previous earning records held by Michael Jackson, Prince and Janet Jackson.

According to Billboard magazine, Beyoncé grossed $212 million (€153m) for the year-long tour, which sold over 1.8 million tickets during its 126 dates. her recent tour in Europe during the month of February and March earned her $41.1 million (€30m). And the tours are yet to end because she recently announced plans for a new co-headline tour with her husband, rapper Jay Z, which heads across the USA this summer.

Boko Haram members burn their university certificates – Shehu Sani

Shehu Sani is a Nigerian civil rights activist, playwright and author. He is president of the Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria and has negotiated with Boko Haram in the past.Shehu Sani in this write up  speaks on the abducted girls and the insurgents.

Until the abduction of more than 200 girls at the Government Girls Secondary School in rural Chibok, Nigeria’s Boko Haram insurgency received scant attention in the global media, which gave it brief airtime when the insurgents exploded their bombs or torched a school.

However, the mass abduction has brought the world’s attention to the callous and unceasing violence that has become routine in northern Nigeria over the last three years.

The area has suffered more than three decades of religious violence between Muslims and Christians.

But since Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf was killed in a 2009 security crackdown — along with hundreds of his followers — the militant Islamist group has stepped up its attacks.

Boko Haram militants have killed clerics, bombed churches and mosques and assassinated politicians and government officials.

When the militants attack churches, their aim is to start a sectarian war that will engulf the country; when they attack mosques, their aim is to exterminate Muslims they consider collaborators.

In the last three years, the Nigerian Government has opted for the use of force to exterminate the insurgents, rather than diminish the activities of the group — and it has become more daring and audacious in its attacks.

Despite the allocation of 25% of the annual budget to defense and security, the government has been unable to crush and contain the insurgency. The group has taken on and demoralized the rank and file of the Nigerian army and police.

Run away Nyanya Bomb Blasts Suspect Arrested by Interpol

The international red alert for the search and arrest of Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche concerning the April 14 and May Day Nyanya bomb blasts by the Nigerian Police has yielded positive result with the capture of Ogwuche in Sudan.Ogwuche, one of the runaway suspects that allegedly masterminded the two bomb explosions, was mentioned in the confessions of the five arrested suspects that were paraded before the public by the Nigerian Police.

“Following the commendable efforts of our security personnel, especially the operatives of the Directorate of State Services (DSS), some suspects in the Nyanya bombing incidents have been arrested and paraded before the media. These suspects have made useful confession, which will help law enforcement agencies in their operations.

“Let me make it clear that at the appropriate time, the full confessions will be made public. Following this development, the National Bureau of the Interpol based at the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters has issued an international red alert for the search and arrest of terror fugitive, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, who is still at large,” director general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri, said in an earlier briefing on Tuesday.

Borno residents fight back, kill over 200 insurgents

Residents of some communities in Borno State may have been pushed to the wall as some of them dared Boko Haram on Tuesday, killing about 200 insurgents. The villagers also arrested the injured among them, a police source told Daily Sun.

The insurgents who were in a convoy of about 10 Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) painted in military colour with guns mounted on some of them, invaded Sangayari, Mairari and Garawa in Kala Balge Local Government Area, Tuesday morning. The residents confronted them. “It is like many residents were aware the insurgents were coming and have prepared for them. They killed about 200 Boko Haram members and arrested some of the injured,” the source said.

Kala Balge is about 160 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital and located in the northeast, around the Nigeria-Cameroon border. A security source hinted that “the attackers of Kala Balge are likely to be the same set of people that carried out Gamboru Ngala attack last week.” About 150 people were killed.

Chairman of Kala Balge Local Government, Alifa Bukar Rann, told Daily Sun that he could not give the exact figure of insurgents killed in the attack. “I don’t have the details and figure of the death now,” he said

Dora Akunyili arrives India for treatment, thanks Nigerians for prayers

Former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili has commenced continuation of her treatment in India.A statement on Wednesday night by her Media Adviser, Mr. Isaac Umunna, said the former National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC)boss is to be treated of an undisclosed ailment.

The statement read further that she expressed gratitude to Nigerians and other well wishers across the world who have been praying for her since the news of her sickness broke out over the weekend.