Strategies To Counter Terrorist Narratives, Radicalization Are More Confused Than Ever

It’s been a busy year for counter terrorist narrative watchers. Since we last checked in, the State Department launched a peer-to-peer program challenging extremism, Facebook is working with civil society organizations to push back on hate, the Senate approved three bills fighting online terrorist recruitment, Secretary Kerry met with Hollywood executives to discuss countering terrorist narratives, and the Department of Justice hosted a meeting with tech executives, entertainment industry leaders, other government agencies, and the media on the topic. Even the FBI got in on the action, shrewdly finding a way to combine play-time with work-time. Countering terrorist narratives is the new black. Given the self-proclaimed Islamic State’s robust presence online, the desire to do something is understandable. But the majority of these efforts are premised on false assumptions and targeted at the wrong audience.

UK Schools Given Software To Detect Extremism Among Pupils

UK Schools are being offered new software that helps teachers spy on pupils' potentially extremist online activity.

Terror Is Not As Big A Threat To British Values As The Hysterical Response To It

In a speech today, foreign secretary Philip Hammond attacks those who apologise for Islamic State (Isis) recruiting. “A huge burden of responsibility rests with those who act as their apologists,” he says; they are to terrorism what Lenin called “useful idiots”.

Update On Boko Haram Attack On Yobe: 300 Militants, 33Police Officers, 6 Soldiers Killed

Hundreds of  Boko Haram members may have been killed in Damaturu, following Monday’s deadly attack on the Yobe State capital.

That number could be even higher, as the Hausa service of the BBC is reporting over 300 members of the militia to have died in the battle.

Hausa Community In South West Nigeria Arrests 1,000 Boko Haram Members

Sarkin Hausawa of Lagos, Alhaji Sani Kabir, on Thursday told the Federal Government that northerners in the South-west have arrested more than 1,000 members of the Boko Haram insurgents in parts of the South West of Nigeria.

15 Soldiers of 23rd Armoured Brigade Yola Court-Martialed, Jailed 4 Years’ For Refusal To Fight Boko Haram

Reports from the 23rd Armoured Brigade, Yola, has revealed that no fewer than 15 soldiers were court-martialed and each sentenced to four years’ jail following their refusal to go to the war front in the northern parts of Adamawa State.

Soldiers Kill Over 400 Boko Haram Terrorists In Borno Villages

At least 400 members of the Boko Haram terrorist group were killed in the last three days by soldiers during separate shootouts in different parts of Borno State, security sources said.

Nigerian Troops Back From 'Tactical Manoeuvre' To Cameroon, Deployed To Another Counterterrorism Operation

Residents of Mubi confirmed that Nigerian troops numbering up to 480, were seen on arrival from Maroua, most of them looking haggard and wearing tattered clothing.

They were ferried back to Nigeria by military trucks, according to witnesses.
The soldiers supposedly fled a Boko Haram rampage in the border town of Gamboru when they came under superior firepower, but the Defence Headquarters in Abuja said on Monday the troops were “charging through the borders in a tactical manoeuvre”.

Spokesman for the DHQ, Major General Chris Olukolade also confirmed yesterday that the troops were back but declined to state their location.
“Yes they are in the country but I will not confirm their location,” he said.

On Monday, Cameroonian army spokesman Lt Col Didier Badjek said the Nigerian soldiers who crossed the
border were disarmed and accommodated at a school in Maroua.

Nigerian military authorities said later that following talks with Cameroon military “the issues have been sorted out. Subsequently, the troops are on their way back to join their unit in Nigeria.”

In Mubi, witnesses said the soldiers were conveyed back yesterday in batches by military trucks, but it was not clear whether the trucks transported them all the way from Maroua.
“At first, residents panicked before but they soon discovered they were Nigerian soldiers,” a resident told Daily Trust.

Another resident told the BBC Hausa of how they saw the returnee soldiers: “As we came out of our homes in the morning, we just saw the Nigerian soldiers, who were said to have crossed over to Cameroon, all over the place, and looking for where to get food.
“Some of them were holding their weapons, while others don’t have weapons. But their number would likely
reach 400.”
He added: “If you see them, you must pity them, because as someone who works for the army, but due to the condition they found themselves, they had to run away.”

Defence Headquarters said the troops who returned from Cameroon were addressed by the General Officer Commanding the 3 Division, Major
General Zaruwa, “as they embark on another mission in the counter-terrorism campaign.”
“All the soldiers are in high spirit with all their weapons and equipment intact,” the DHQ added.

DailyTrust

Boko Haram: DSS Raises Alarm Over Possibility of Female Suicide Bombers Disguised As Catholic Reverend Sisters

The Department of State Service (DSS), has raised alarm over the possibility of Boko Haram terrorists, using a female suicide bomber disguised as a Catholic Reverend Sister to attack a church.

This warning was given by Deputy Director, Public Relations, DSS, Ms Marilyn Ogar, who said that the
timely information is to prevent such terrorists disguising themselves in order to gain entrance to tomorrow’s Sunday services.

According to Ms Ogar, some unidentified persons had on August 20, 2014, about 0400 hours, broken into a tailoring shop located at No.55 Odutola Street, Sabon Gari, Kano, and stole about 13 pieces of Catholic Church Reverend Sisters’ regalia.

She said that with the recent trend of female suicide bombings in the country, the theft of these regalia heightens concerns about the possibility of terrorist elements using same to perpetrate acts of terror.

Consequently, she added that the Department of State Service wishes to draw the attention of the public to this development and to call on all citizens to be more circumspect and exercise greater vigilance with users of such peculiar attires.
"We therefore enjoin all to continue to cooperate with law enforcement agencies through the provision of
useful information on suspicious activities within their immediate environment".

"This Service will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders as we strive to keep our country safe", she assured.

Source:
ThisDay

Three Things To Know During Anti- Terrorism Awareness Month - US Army

Each year, the US Army sets aside August to raise awareness of its ongoing efforts to protect Soldiers and their families, Department of the Army civilians and contractors from terrorist threats.

The Army's Anti-terrorism Program protects personnel, information, and facilities in all locations and situations
against terrorist activities. The purpose of Anti-terrorism Awareness Month is to instill Army-wide heightened awareness and vigilance to protect Army communities
from acts of terrorism.

Here are a few things to always keep in mind:

1. The threat is real:
According to a recent article by the Heritage Foundation, there have been 60 terrorist plots against the U.S., since 9/11. Their research of media reports and court documents shows that military facilities were the number one target in these plots, followed by New York City and places with mass gatherings, such as the Boston Marathon.
"Our enemies never rest and continue to seek ways to attack our nation and destroy our way of life. AT month
provides us an opportunity to contribute to the defense against terrorism and keep our families and communities safe through training and awareness," explained Col. Mike Blahovec, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command's protection director.

2. Awareness is critical:
Knowledge is power, and just like in the National Football League, defense wins championships. As part of the awareness month, every member of the Army team is required to take the online AT Level I Awareness Training course. The online course is located at https://jkodirect.jten.mil.

To further enhance awareness, every Soldier within TRADOC, and all new civilian hires, are required to receive face-to-face AT Level I training, according to Jim Kirkland, TRADOC's anti-terrorism officer.

3. See something - Say something:
Sometimes seemingly benign -- but odd -- situations can lead to terrible consequences, if they go unreported.
According to Kirkland, the "See Something -- Say Something" motto has contributed to preventing planned
attacks.

For example, an alert citizen in Minnesota recently noticed someone crossing her yard to a storage area. She reported the suspicious activity, and a 17 year old was charged with attempted murder, possessing explosives and attempted damage to property. He possessed six bombs, seven weapons, and 400 rounds of ammunition, and planned to kill his family and classmates.

"We are all in this fight together," says Bill Moisant, TRADOC's G-34 protection chief.
"Our Soldiers and their families know what they've signed up for, and they know the type of business we are in, but we can all help watch each other's back. AT Awareness Month focuses on training; this is critical in protecting our people and enabling our missions.
Awareness is our most certain defense against an act of terrorism. If you see something - say something."

US Army

Anxiety Mounts Over Whereabout of Detained Boko Haram Chief ‘Butcher’ - Muhammed Zakari

The lack of inter-agency coordination between security forces in Nigeria appears to be playing out again in
Nigeria as Police and military authority appears lost on the where about of suspected Boko Haram chief butcher, Mohammed Zakari.

The suspect was arrested on July 15 after a counter-insurgency operation in Balmo forest in Bauchi State, which was rated as the major armoury of the sect and has been undergoing interrogation in a police facility.

The inability to account for the where about of Zakari is coming few days after another suspected Boko Haram Kingpin, Farouk Abubakar allegedly escaped from custody.
Abubakar was arrested by the Nigerian troops in the Darazo-Jigawa operations early last month and was detained alongside 3 other members in 33AB Bauchi, but a report alleged that he escaped from custody on 25th July 2014.

The sad reality according to report is that the Military Police reportedly didn’t realize his absence in the cell until August 1.
While Farouk Abubakar is believed to have escaped from prison custody, nothing is known about Muhammed
Zakari. Is he alive or dead, no one can tell?

According to The Nation, a source claimed that the suspect was in Bauchi; another said he had been transferred to a secret location in Jos.
It was gathered that the tension over the suspect’s whereabouts was heightened by the fact that he had not been grilled by the military and other security
agencies.

A top security source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, confirmed that there was disquiet over
the fate of the suspect because the police did not state the extent of their investigation into his activities.
“No one can also explain who is keeping the suspect in the last two weeks. There are different claims on whether he is in Bauchi, Jos or Abuja,” the source said,
adding: “It could also not be confirmed whether he is still alive or dead during encounters. The situation is creating fears in the states under emergency rule.
“Those from these states have been raising concerns on Zakari’s actual status.”

It was also learnt that there were issues about the lack of coordination between the police and the military and
security agencies.
A military source, who spoke last night, said: “Well, the police arrested the suspect they should be in the best
position to account for his whereabouts.
“So far, we have not been involved in the quizzing of the suspect.”
Attempts to get official confirmation from the police last night did not yield results.

A text message to the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Frank Mba, was not replied as at 8pm.

abusidiqu.com

Lagos State Police Launch Counterterrorism Enlightenment Campaign

THE police in Lagos State have begun an enlightenment campaign on how to fight terrorism with the launch of security tips pamphlets, which will be shared to the people of the state.

Over 17 million pamphlets, containing tips on how to prevent, identify and tackle terrorism will be distributed among the people of the state.

This was disclosed on Thursday by the image maker in charge of the state police command, Sade Braide, who said the new initiative was necessitated by the security challenges in many parts of the country.

Braide, while speaking on the pamphlets  entitled:   “Counter- Terrorism  Campaigns”  said the content would help Lagosians to be more security-conscious and know what to do when confronted by any security issues.

The Lagos police image maker stated that strategies had been mapped out to  distribute the pamphlets in churches, schools, banks, hotels, among other places.

She advised that “people should know their neighbours and their means of livelihood. Landlords should conduct background checks on all their prospective tenants.”

She  also advised that residents of the state should “draw the attention of the police to vehicles parked or abandoned by unknown persons, do not allow unknown persons to drop or abandon bags, boxes, fruit barrows, trolleys, articles of trade or cartons.”

The Lagos police image maker also advised that “ legitimate sellers of chemicals such as fertiliser, ammonium products, acid, etc should be wary of persons they sell such products to.

She said people should be vigilant at public places,  as objects such as bombs could be kept by unscrupulous persons in unattended bags, packages, cans, and containers.

Tribune