Outside Forces Behind Insurgency in Nigeria - David Mark

The Senate President, David Mark, has disclosed that the war against terror in Nigeria has persisted partly because the major perpetrators of terror in the country, Boko Haram sect, has wider networks beyond the nation and also enjoys tremendous support by forces outside the country.

He nonetheless assured that notwithstanding this, the Federal Government is doing everything within its capacity to ensure that it wins the battle against the insurgents.

Mark spoke at the weekend in Abuja when he hosted the American ambassador in Nigeria, James Entwistle.

The Senate President particularly assured the envoy that the Federal Government has not forgotten the kidnapped Chibok school girls who were kidnapped last April by the Boko Haram sect, promising that in no distant time, the girls will regain freedom.

Mark specifically pointed out that Boko Haram is not only a threat to Nigeria but poses a great danger to human existence.

He assured that the nation’s security operatives were doing their utmost to bring the situation under control but would welcome support and assistance from the international community to end the activities of the insurgents.

This was also as the duo pledged Nigeria and the United States of America’s commitment to strengthen strategies to tackle the threat of terrorism confronting Nigeria with a view to bringing the activates of the insurgents to an end.

“The United States of America is a strategic ally to us (Nigeria). We count on your support and military assistance always especially in this battle against the terrorists”, Senator Mark told the Ambassador.

While responding, the American envoy pledged the continued support and assistance of the American government to end terrorism in Nigeria.

Entwistle however cautioned that in the war against insurgents, the security operatives should be mindful of human rights in order not to cause more damage than arresting the situation.

Courtesy:
National Mirror

Security Agencies Want To Set Us Up, Say BringBackOurGirls Campaigners

The BringBackOurGirls campaigners yesterday alleged that security agencies, who accused them of being on “franchise”, planned to set them up.
They said the “plot” might be the climax of incessant harassment and intimidation of the group in the last
two months.
They however said in spite of threats from security agencies, they would not give up the agitation for the rescue of the 219 Chibok girls, who were snatched off their dormitory on April 15.
The group, in a statement in Abuja by two of its coordinators, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and Mrs. Hadiza Bala
Usman, asked the military and security agencies to take action against terrorists who have abducted the girls instead of hounding its members.

The statement said: “For over two months, security agencies have harassed and sought to intimidate our movement incessantly. The latest was the statement yesterday accredited to the Deputy Director of Department of State Security, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, who described the #BringBackOurGirls campaign as a
franchise.
“She made the comment in Abuja while responding to questions from journalists at the press briefing of the National Information Centre (NIC).
“This is a dangerous and unprecedented attack because as is well known in security circles, the term ‘franchise’ is used to refer to inter-related terrorist cells. She is reported to have said that if indeed our movement was a protest group, it would not need to force members to register and wear tags.
“Mrs. Ogar also affirmed security forces know about all the activities of the group. We know that they have a bank account,” she said.
“We know that they visit prominent individuals to solicit funds; we know that they have split themselves into
groups; we know that they want to simulate a protest march in Abuja to make it look like they went to Chibok.”
“There is a clear attempt to smear our work with a link of our work with Chibok and Sambisa forest. It is clear
from these comments that the security agencies are setting up the movement for a crackdown based on trumped up accusations.
“Our activities are open and our meetings are in a public space, the Unity Fountain. There is no compulsion to membership and our symbols, such as the red t-shirts, fez caps and pins are donated voluntarily by members.
“We are motivated by empathy and the need to search and rescue these girls. We are shocked that all we get from our security agencies is harassment, vilification, innuendoes and threats. This must stop.
“Security agencies have the responsibility to protect rather than intimidate citizens trying to do a good turn.

“It will be recalled that on 8th May, the Director of Defence Information of the Defence Headquarters had alleged that we distorted the report of what was for us constructive engagement with them two days previously. He claimed that we were trying to pitch public opinion against the armed forces and to project the Nigerian military in bad light and further heat up the polity.”

Courtesy:
The Nation Newspaper

Nigerian Government Investigating Politicians Linked With Boko Haram

THE Federal Government has said the Nigerian security forces, during their raid in terrorists’ forest in Bauchi, discovered some materials that linked some politicians and a prominent political party to terrorists’ activities.
The national coordinator of National Information Centre (NIC), Mr Mike Omeri, made this known on Wednesday, during a routine briefing on the current security situation in the country.

Omeri, however, vowed that the Federal Government would reveal the names of the politicians and the party involved, stressing the it would not condone involvement of politicians in security issues. He said: “after the last successful operations carried out by security forces to dislodge terrorists from their forest base in Darazo Local Government Area, end of the Balmo forest, some politicians are currently being investigated, following their link with activities in the forest.
“The politicians are being interrogated, following the recovery of some sensitive registration cards and other materials of a prominent political party that were found in the possession of some of the suspects arrested.
“Investigation is still ongoing to further unravel the identity of others that may have been involved and as soon as it is completed, we shall reveal the names of the culprits and the political party.”
Omeri, however, said the government would not condone the involvement of politicians in security matters.

Also the spokesperson of the Department of State Security (DSS), Marylin Ogar, has referred to the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ protest as a franchise. Ogar said, “If it was not a franchise or an ordinary movement seeking to put more pressure on government and security operations to release this girls, there would be no need for the group to have tags,” insisting that “for them to have tags and be properly registered, we also know that they have a bank account.
“We know that they want to go to Asokoro extension and simulate some force movement where they will have foreign media and say they are matching into Sambisa and Chibok.”

Courtesy:
Tribune

Boko Haram Insists on Prisoners-for-Girls Swap, NCS Assures Chibok Girls Will Be Freed Soon

A man claiming to be a member of Boko Haram has maintained that the federal government must release its members detained in numerous facilities nationwide before the terrorist group releases the 219 Chibok schoolgirls it has held in captivity for almost three months.

Speaking on the BBC World Service, the man whose voice was disguised in order to conceal his identity, said he was a teacher or scholar in the sect and joined the group in 2004. He told the BBC that the girls were in “a state of amnesty”, healthy and eating well, adding that the Christians who refused to convert to Islam were not forced to do so as it is anti-Islamic.
The Boko Haram member maintained that the girls were taken for a specific reason and reiterated the condition
for their release, adding that the girls would be released once the federal government met the terrorist group’s
demands for a prisoner exchange deal.
“Today, if the government releases our members, tomorrow or the next day, we promise you can see all of them. As our leader Abubakar Shekau promised to the media, if the government releases our members, we will release them.”

On the condition of the girls, the Boko Haram teacher said: “I am telling a fact, they are in a state of amnesty, they don’t have a problem. Some of them have belief in Islam, some of them said they will not convert to Islam, but we did not differentiate. We are not forcing them or putting them under any pressure.
“Those who agreed to convert to Islam have been converted and those who refused we left them, we said stay. There is no forced conversion in Islam. Allah commands us to treat everyone equally. We are not differentiating them; we treat all of them equally.
“They all are healthy. They are feeding well. If you see them now, you will see that they don’t have any problem.”
He added that under the Islamic faith the killing of women and children was unacceptable except they are
the aggressors, but pointed out that some of them might get caught in the crossfire in the event of bombings or attacks.
“Under Islam, killing women and children is not acceptable. But if they are fighting you, then you must fight them. But if they don’t attack you, you leave them. Killing children and women is not accepted at all. We only go after those who give information to our enemy… But if we bomb somewhere or make arrest somewhere, it will affect them but killing women and children is not accepted,” he said.

Despite the revelations made by the Boko Haram “teacher” the Council of State, which met yesterday reiterated the position of the federal government that the abducted schoolgirls would soon regain their freedom, urging the public to be patient as the government works to wipe out terrorism.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, said the security of the nation topped the agenda, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) were briefed on the steps that were being taken to rescue the abducted schoolgirls.
He said military authorities also confirmed that efforts were being made and very soon there would be good news.
“It was also heartwarming to note that the issue is not whether we can rescue the girls, but the issue is how can we can rescue them in a way that we can ensure their safety so that we don't end up in the attempt to rescue them we endanger their lives.
“What also came out is the need for Nigerians to be patient because terrorism is a new challenge in Nigeria
and it is not something that goes away immediately and we have to be meticulous in our approach and
make sure that we take the best steps forward to reduce and minimise the possible loss of lives in an attempt to curb the insurgents.
“We are very satisfied the security agents know very well where the girls are located and they are on top of the situation.

Courtesy:

ThisDay Newspaper

#BringBackOurGirls: Group Petition ICC To Serve Nigerian Govt. For Criminal Negligence, Decries Interagency Rivalry

The BringBackOurGirls group have petitioned the ICC to serve the Nigerian government for criminal negligence over its inability to rescue the over 200 schoolgirls abducted in Chibok on April 14, 2014.

A member of the group, Dino Melaye, who stated this yesterday, said the ICC negligence would serve the government after he wrote them on 14 grounds of criminal negligence by the federal government in the bid to rescue the Chibok girls.
He said: “With the help of two professors and a Swedish lawyer, we were able to put together a 14-count charge of criminal negligence and within this week, the federal government will be served. We
are hoping that with the help of the ICC
and the international community, our
government will be forced to expedite the action on the rescue of the schoolgirls.

“I have won some cases against the
police in a bid to ensure the continued
gathering of this sit-out and I believe that with the ICC coming in now, we will
achieve great results.”
The group also noted with dismay the
rivalry between the chief of army staff
and his air force counterpart in the rescue mission of the girls and that it was affecting the security mission in Borno State. It emphasised the need for
harmony in the effort.
The group further expressed displeasure
over the lack of results in the rescue
mission and the security situation in the
country, and noted that they would keep
on protesting until the girls were brought back safe and alive.

Courtesy:
Leadership Newspaper

Chibok Community Seeks United Nations’ Support, Implores FG To Negotiate With Sect

Members of the Chibok community have appealed for the support of the United Nations in tackling the spate of insecurity in their community.

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, the National Chairman of Kibaku Area Development Association, Dr Pogu Bitrus, said that the appeal to the international organisation became necessary going by total neglect by the Federal Government in providing adequate security to the community after over 200 girls were abducted.

“The inability or unwillingness of the Federal Government to provide adequate security to the Chibok community following the abduction of the girls leaves us with no option than to call on the United Nations to use its apparatus to come to our aid and protect us from the imminent annihilation as a people”, he said

Dr Pogu said that 81 days after the abduction, seven parents of the abducted girls had died, while over 229 persons have been killed after the attack on Government Girls Secondary School Chibok.

To prevent further attacks on their community and the north eastern part of the country, the group has also called for a negotiation between the Federal Government and members of the Islamic sect.

Courtesy:
Channels TV

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Condemns Boko Haram Attack on Nigerian Churches

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned the killing of at least fifty-six people and the destruction of Churches reportedly by Islamist militant group Boko Haram in Nigeria.
The secretary-general of the OIC, Iyad Ameen Madani, made the statement last week following attacks on at least four villages near Chibok in northeastern Nigeria, allegedly by Boko Haram members.

The official restated the solidarity of the organization with Nigeria.
Meanwhile, foreign minister of Nigeria has said that authorities are working to curb the extremist group.
In an interview with the OIC Journal on the sidelines of the 41 Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah on 18-19 June 2014, Bashir Aminu Wali, the foreign minister of Nigeria, said his government was trying to tackle the extremists.

He commented on Boko Haram’s kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls this year who have still not been found.
““I appeal to the international community to think in terms of the lives and safety of those girls rather than getting them quick, that is not as important as getting those girls back alive and well,” he said.
Commenting on the Islamist group’s motivations, Wali said: “they are nothing more than misguided and what they are, is just criminals.”

Courtesy:
Arabiya News

Boko Haram Writes Girls School in Nasarawa State, Threaten to Abduct School Girls

The Nasarawa State government yesterday confirmed reports of a letter purportedly written by Boko Haram insurgents threatening to abduct girls from a school in the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Barrister Yakubu Na’Hauwa, confirmed that there was a letter from Boko Haram to the principal of GSSS, Lafia, threatening to abduct his female students. He said the letter sought the principal’s cooperation with the insurgents to avoid bloodshed during the operation. He could not confirm receipt of such letters by the other schools which were also said to have been written.
“I was not in the state, but I returned to receive a complaint from the principal of GSSS Lafia about the purported threat letter Boko Haram to abduct female students from the school,” he said, adding that he had to urgently instruct the ministry’s permanent secretary to do a formal complaint to the state government, drawing attention to the letter on the need to quickly act on it.

The letters were said to have been received yesterday from dispatch riders who stopped at the gates of three schools in the state.  State police spokesman ASP Ismaila Umaru said his office had no information on the incident and did not confirm the threat letters.

Courtesy:
Daily Trust

Nigerian Military Arrests a Key Actor in Chibok Girls Abduction; Bust Terrorists’ Intelligence Network

A terrorists’ intelligence cell headed by a businessman who participated actively in the abduction of School Girls in Chibok has been busted by troops. The man, Babuji Ya’ari who is also a member of the Youth Vigilante Group popularly known as Civilian JTF which he uses as cover while remaining an active terrorist, also spearheaded the murder of the Emir of Gwoza. His main role in the group is to spy and gather information for the terrorists group.

Babuji has been coordinating several deadly attacks in Maiduguri since 2011, including the daring attacks on Customs and military locations as well as the planting of IEDs in several locations in the town.

The arrest of the businessman who is known to deal in tricycles has also yielded some vital information and facilitated the arrest of other members of the terrorists’ intelligence cell who are women.  One of them, Hafsat Bako had earlier escaped to Gombe State to avoid suspicion but was tracked and arrested.  Prior to her arrest, Hafsat coordinated the payment of other operatives on the payroll of the group. In her confession, she disclosed that a minimum of N10,000 is paid to each operative depending on the enormity of his task.

Another female suspect named Haj Kaka who doubles as an armourer and a spy for the terrorists group has also been arrested.  Until their arrest, all the suspects actively operated a terrorists’ intelligence cell in collaboration with others still at large.

Courtesy:
Nigerian Television Authority

Boko Haram Lay Siege on Kautikari Villiage, Near Chibok Where School Girls Were Abducted

The terrorist Islamist group Boko Haram has launched a massive attack on Kautikari village in the Chibok area of Borno State. A security source as well as two residents of the area told SaharaReporters that the siege continues as at press time.

The militants arrived in the village early today (Nigerian time) while many residents of the village were in church services and then opened fire indiscriminately on the worshipers, according to our sources.

The number of casualties could not be determined as the attacks were still going on moments ago when our correspondent was alerted.

One of our sources said he feared that scores of innocent people may have died, adding that the villagers were helpless and unarmed at the time the attacks started.

Kautikari is the second largest town in Chibok local government area. Chibok was the location where members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, which western education, abducted some 300 schoolgirls on April 14, 2014. More than 200 of those abducted girls remain missing.

Courtesy:
Sahara Reporters

U.S. 'Scales Down' Nigeria Surveillance Flights Seeking Abducted Chibok School Girls

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States reduced its surveillance flights to help find more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls abducted by Islamist militants after building a body of intelligence and after other states ramped up support, a U.S. official said.

Nigeria has committed itself to the hunt for the girls, who were kidnapped in April in one of the violent group's most spectacular attacks, and received help from the United States and other countries, including its neighbors.
The senior U.S. defense official told Reuters that the U.S. intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
flights, first announced in May, were now flying at an "intermittent" rate.
The official said overall intelligence-gathering had not diminished, and noted additional operations by Britain
and France.

"We had substantial initial coverage for the baseline and we’ve moved into a maintenance mode," the official
said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official declined to say how long the period of heightened initial U.S. coverage lasted. Asked whether it was just a week or two, the official said: "No. We were ... building this baseline for a good period of
time."
The Pentagon had said on Thursday that there were "around the clock" intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance (ISR) operations in support of Nigeria's search. U.S. military personnel are in Abuja helping
coordinate the effort.
The United States also sent about 80 U.S. military personnel to Chad in May to support the surveillance operation. Chad lies to the northeast of Nigeria, bordering the area in which Boko Haram operates.

In the last month U.S. officials have played down expectations about a swift rescue of the girls and stressed the limitations of intelligence gleaned from surveillance flights.
One U.S. official told Reuters of concerns that Boko Haram may have laid booby traps in areas the girls could be held and there have been reports that the girls may have been split up into small groups.
"ISR alone will not solve this problem. It will take … the Nigerian piece of the equation with their own sources and human intelligence coupled with the other forms to really understand the picture," the defense official said.
In an opinion piece in the Washington Post on Friday Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said his
government and security services had "spared no resources, have not stopped and will not stop until the girls are returned home."

The defense official did not discuss specific U.S. intelligence but acknowledged that information gathered from different sources had left only a murky picture of where the girls might be, in how many groups and even in which country.

Courtesy:
Reuters

#BringBackOurGirls: Nigerian Pop Singer Adokiye offers Her Virginity to Boko Haram in Exchange for Missing Girls

Nigerian pop singer Adokiye has caused a social media storm by offering her virginity to Islamic militants Boko Haram in exchange for the return of hundreds of kidknapped schoolgirls.

A total of 276 girls were taken from the largely Christian north-eastern town of Chibok by the rebels, led by Abubakar Shekau, in April.

The majority of the schoolchildren remain missing, despite international pressure for their safe return – including the celebrity-endorsed #BringBackOurGirls social media campaign backed by Michelle Obama and David Cameron, among others.
However, the 23-year-old musician and actress from the country's Imo State, who is also a UN Ambassador of Peace, took the protest to the next extreme.

“It is just unfair. They are too young. I wish I could offer myself in exchange,” she told Nigerian publication Vanguard.

The Independent

Mysterious Snakes, Bees Attack Boko Haram in Sambisa Forest

Some members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, arrested yesterday at Mairi ward behind University of Maiduguri by members of the Civilian JTF vigilante group, have confessed that most of them are fleeing the Sambisa Forest to areas across Borno State owing to what they believe is spiritual attacks from mysterious snakes and bees, which had killed many of their leaders.

According to Kolo Mustapha, one of the arrested insurgents, “most of us are fleeing because there are too many snakes and bees now in the forest. Once they bite, they disappear and the victims do not last for 24 hours.
“We were told that the aggrieved people who had suffered from our deadly mission, including the ghosts of some of those we killed, are the ones turning into the snake and bees.”

‘Our leaders fled, too’
He said some of their leaders have escaped to Cameroon because they are known to the Nigerian authorities and could be easily identified. According to him, those of them who lived all their lives in Maiduguri have nowhere to run to. So they returned and tried to sneak into town.
He said they came in last night and were trying to hide in some uncompleted buildings, when some members of the Civilian JTF saw them.
He said: “We are pleading with them to spare our lives. We were forced into the sect. But we know that it is not the right way. I personally have never killed anyone, but I have my friend here who had killed many people.”
Umar Abor, the other arrested sect member said Kolo Mustapha was lying as they had participated in all heinous acts of the sect.
He said: “We have fought together since 2010. We have fought in Marte, Bama, Buni Yadima and Gwoza. We were not in Chibok. We have not seen the girls, but we heard about the issue.

“Our leaders have been talking about it and we have been following all news from the radio. We decided to flee when almost all our comrades are leaving the Sambisa because of constant attacks by snakes and bees, which we were told was as a result of Chibok abducted schoolgirls.
“They (our leaders) told us that it was our enemies and aggrieved people that are hunting us through diabolical means. We were in the forest in 2010 and 2011. We left and came back last year but we have never experienced such attacks.
“That is why they believe the Chibok people are using juju to pursue us because of their children said to have been taken by our leaders.”

Courtesy:
Vanguard Newspaper

Boko Haram ready to Swap 219 Chibok Girls With 70 Detainees

 Haram has demanded the release of 70 of its members in detention as a condition to free the Chibok girls, it emerged yesterday.
The sect is also asking the government to give amnesty to its members.

A lawyer close to the armed group, Hajiya Aisha Wakil,  told AlJazeera English that the sect said only when these conditions are met would it release the abducted girls.
No fewer  than 276 girls were abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State on April 15.

The Boko Haram leaders deceived the girls that they were soldiers who came to protect them from attack.
There are 219 girls in their custody following the escape of 57 from their enclave.
In spite of the support from an international coalition, including the United States, Britain, France and Australia military personnel and the use of a negotiator, the girls remain in the sect’s custody.

#BringBackOurGirls: Presidential Panel Confirms 219 Chibok Schoolgirls Still Missing

 A total of 219 students of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, are still missing after the mass abduction carried out by members of the Boko Haram sect in the school on April 14.The 219 students were among the 276 girls said to have been snatched from the school during the midnight raid. The Chairman of the Presidential Fact-finding Committee on the Abduction of Chibok Schoolgirls, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo (retd.), disclosed this on Friday while presenting the committee’s report to President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Foreign Troops Only Gives Nigerian Soldiers ‘Coordinates’ Against Boko Haram

As it is 66 days today since the Boko Haram sect in Chibok abducted over 200 female students in Borno state. SaharaReporters today learned from credible sources that foreign countries are only giving Nigerian military official ‘coordinates’ in the battle to rescue the girls.

The ‘coordinates,’ according to the source, says a military officer is basically supplying pictorial intelligence to the Nigerian Air Force of images of areas in Borno where the Boko Haram are sighted, and the whereabouts of their movements in all their locations in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

#BringBackOurGirls: Gordon Brown, President Jonathan Meet As Nigerian Government Flags Off 'Safe School Initiative'

The Nigerian government’s 'Safe School Initiative' has received a boost of N3.2 billion.

The sum is made of two parts of N1.6 billion released by the federal government and another N1.6 billion donated by the private sector.

Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made the disclosure on Tuesday after a meeting of stakeholders of the initiative with President Jonathan in Abuja.

The Safe School Initiative is expected to accommodate children displaced from their schools due to the present insurgency rocking the country. The over 200 girls who were kidnapped in Chibok two months ago are to benefit from these funds.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said, “We are intent on trying to make sure that our children in the states have an environment in which they can come back to school and not have their education truncated.”

Special Envoy to the UN Secretary General for Global Education, Gordon Brown said the reconstruction of the secondary school in Chibok is paramount to the United Nations.

“I am here to say that we wish as an international community to do everything we can to back up the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan and the governors of the states to make sure these girls are returned to their families and at the same time to make sure, that every parent feels that they can send their children to school knowing that they will be safe in the future.”

Yobe and Borno governors said they are committed to making the initiative a huge success.

Ibrahim Geidam, Yobe state governor, said, “I promise to give him all the necessary cooperation to ensure that the programme succeeds.”

Kashim Shettima, Borno state governor, said, “Times like this calls for sobriety, for maturity, for unity of purpose. At the appropriate time we are going to play politics, but this is not time to play politics with the lives of the people.”

The federal government and the international community are bent on encouraging displaced students back to school.

Africa Independent Television

Back-door Talk To Free Abducted Chibok Girls Suffers Setback Due To FG's Intransigence, Mutual Mistrust

The  Federal Government’s back-door talks to rescue the 217 abducted Chibok girls still in Boko Haram’s custody, may have suffered a setback.

The government is demanding an unconditional release of the girls, promising to fulfill the demands of Boko Haram leaders after.
But the facilitators of the talks are seeking a truce which will result in the simultaneous swapping of the girls with some insurgents in detention.
The facilitators/mediators, some of whom are clerics and Northern leaders, are afraid of the consequences of the government reneging on any “deal”.
They think that they may be exposed to danger.

Also yesterday, it was gathered that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is yet to get a Presidential go-ahead for talks with Boko Haram contacts.
President Goodluck Jonathan only gave a verbal approval to him.
Obasanjo wanted a situation where he would sit down with the President and get a firm commitment on offers from the government to the insurgents.

The ex-President may, however, wait for a while because the government was uncomfortable with his comments that the President did not believe the girls were abducted in the first place.
The rescue bid for the girls has been slowed down by some unresolved issues.
It was gathered that there was a major challenge on: agreeing on terms for the release of the girls; and establishing trust that each party will keep to the bargain.
Two sources, who spoke in confidence on the negotiation, the resolution of the two issues is crucial to freedom for the girls.
One of the sources said: “We seem to have a little setback. I think the fear of people who are negotiating is whether the government will honour its own part of the talks.

“The government is demanding unconditional release of the girls whereas the negotiators are seeking simultaneous swapping of some insurgents with the girls.
“The government is saying the insurgents should release the girls and it will unfold its package. There is also a suspicion in government that the insurgents may not live up to their pledge.
“Some of these clerics and Northern leaders are scared that they might be endangered if the government does not make concrete offers to the insurgents.
“The facilitators want to collect the girls and hand over the insurgents at the same time.”
Asked of the attitude of the insurgents, the source, who is believed to be respected by Boko Haram leadership, said: “They have been listening to some of their contacts out of sheer mutual respect but if the government does not act, they do not mind keeping the girls for five years.
“They are prepared to keep the girls. If there are terms acceptable to both parties and firm commitment, anybody can secure the release of the girls.”

Another source said the Federal Government does not have much confidence in Obasanjo’s initiative.
The source said the government would prefer a collective intervention by past Heads of State, as floated last Thursday by President Goodluck Jonathan, than Obasanjo’s singular plan.
It was gathered that Obasanjo’s comments, which alleged that the President did not believe that the girls were abducted made the Presidency to be “cautious” on his initiative.
The source added: “I think there is a problem between Obasanjo and the President. When the two leaders met at the burial of ex-Governor Michael Otedola, Obasanjo told Jonathan what he intended doing and the President said it was a good idea.
“They both agreed to discuss the details later, if Obasanjo is really going into it. The President gave some security insights into the abduction, including the alleged involvement of some people opposed to his administration and some foreign elements.
“But it was shocking to the government when Obasanjo came out and said Jonathan doubted the abduction of the girls. The comments angered the President and some forces in government.

“This is why the President and Obasanjo have not sat down to discuss the modalities of the latter’s initiative. Sensing this, Obasanjo was also absent at last Thursday’s parley on the Chibok girls with past leaders.
“By declaring that not all the girls can return home safely, Obasanjo is not only divulging security matter, he is also doubting his own mission. Do you expect the government to have faith in his initiative?”

It was gathered that Obasanjo refused to resume talks with Boko Haram contacts because he was yet to secure a firm commitment from the President that whatever terms agreed upon would be accepted by the Federal Government.

A third source added: “Obasanjo said he won’t move an inch forward on the talks with Boko Haram again until he gets the consent and commitment on whatever is arrived at from the Federal Government.
“Baba said he cannot act on newspapers reports on the government’s commitment. He does not want to discuss with the insurgents and fail to meet their terms.”

The Nation Newspaper

Boko Haram Writes Chibok Community, Threatens Fresh Attack; Abduction Committee Submits Report This Week

THERE was panic in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, where over 200 female students of Government Girls’ Secondary School were abducted by Islamic militants, Boko Haram, following a letter purportedly written to the people of Chibok by the sect members, informing them of their plans to attack the local government again.

A top local government official in Chibok town, who did not want his name published, revealed this to newsmen in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Monday.

According to him, when the letter purportedly written by the sect was presented to the police, residents were assured of maximum protection.

“Yet, the police are also complaining of shortage of fuel for their vehicles, as  petrol was not being sold in the local government for fear that the insurgents may use it to burn houses,” he said.

According to the source, the local government had also assured the security operatives that they would buy fuel and keep it with them for their use.

It was also gathered that the council had asked the security agents to ask for reinforcement, as the number of security operatives in the area might not be sufficient to face the insurgents.

“Whenever Boko Haram tells you that they are coming, they never fail to come. Our fears now is that, we don’t know when and how they are going to come, but our people are in great fear.

“We are calling for prayers, as well as on government to provide adequate security in Chibok,” he said.

Abduction: Committee to submit report to Jonathan this week

The report on the abduction of over 200 girls in Chibok will be submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan by the fact-finding committee, this week.

This was made known on Monday by the coordinator of National Information Centre (NIC), Mr Mike Omeri, while addressing newsmen in Abuja.

Omeri, however, appealed to Nigerians and international communities for more understanding and patience towards the effort of the government to rescue the girls.

In another development, Omeri revealed that Nigerian troops had apprehended seven terrorists who infiltrated Maiduguri, Borno State capital, to carry out terrorist missions.

He said in the course of interrogation, the terrorists said they were asked to carry out some bombings and sabotage activities in furtherance of directives of the leadership of the terrorist group.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) boss, however, said further investigations, patrol and surveillance had been stepped up by the troops.

Speaking on the kidnap of a construction worker in Plateau, Omeri said the victim, who had since been released, is a Lebanese national as against media reportage, labelling him a Briton.

He said that the Lebanese was abducted by some armed bandits in Lantang, Plateau State, on Sunday night, but was freed through the efforts of security forces in Angwan Bala in Wase Local Government Area of the state.

Tribune Newspaper

Boko Haram: United States Urges FG To Establish National Victims Fund

The United States Congressional Delegation representatives have called on the Nigerian government to establish a National Victim Funds to cater for victims of terrorism.

“Today we call upon the government of Nigeria to establish a National Victim Fund for all the victims who are suffering at the hands of Boko Haram,” delegation co-chair Sheila Jackson Lee told reporters in the capital Abuja.

They made this call during a press conference at the Unity Fountain in Abuja as part of global efforts to drum up support for the rescue of the teenage girls kidnapped on April 14 from their school in the north-eastern town of Chibok.

The delegation also reaffirmed the commitment of the United States government to ensure that the over 200 abducted Chibok girls are rescued alive.

With a mission of intervention, prevention and pressure on the international community, the congressional representatives said they will not give up until the abducted girls are brought back.

Jackson-Lee, further expressed optimism that their voices will be heard at the highest level of the Nigerian government. Despite noting that time is said to be running out in bringing back the girls, Jackson-Lee said the US military will explore all options available.

“It is time for economic empowerment and jobs, to … give the young people of the north and all around Nigeria the opportunity for jobs and education,” she said.

Leader of the delegation, Steve Stockman, said the US Congress realised that “the best thing that could happen is if we have a fund set up for those that lost their lives and for the families that remain here on this earth.”

Another member of the delegation, Frederica Wilson said their mission in the country was to put pressure on the international community, including the US and Nigerian governments, to help bring back the girls, who range in age from 16 to 18.

“Everyone around us has a responsibility to find these young girls. And we cannot afford to give up until we find all (the) young women who were kidnapped from a school which is supposed to be a safe place,” she said.

Two of the girls who escaped from their captors attended the news conference but were not allowed to speak.

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