DSS Drags Ex-NSA To Court Over 'Illegal Possession of Firearms'

Sambo Dasuki

The Department of State Services (DSS) has taken Sambo Dasuki, immediate past national security adviser, to court for alleged possession of unlicensed firearms.

Boko Haram Camps Will Be 'Taken Out' In Six Weeks, Says NSA; Shekau Responds In A New Video, Vows To Defeat Regional Force

NIGERIA on Monday vowed to crush Boko Haram within six weeks as its leader warned a new regional fighting force "will not achieve anything" and the rebels launched a fresh cross-border attack.

National Security Advisor Sambo Dasuki, who this weekend secured a delay to Nigeria's presidential elections, said "all known Boko Haram camps will be taken out" by the time of the rescheduled vote.

Nigeria Unveils New Security, Counter Terrorism Strategy

Pres. Jonathan

The Federal Government on Thursday formally launched a New National Security Strategy document, to combat terrorism in the country.

Nigeria's National Security Adviser - Dasuki Calls For Postponement Of February Elections

Sambo Dasuki

President Goodluck Jonathan’s National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has called for the February 2015 election to be postponed to allow more time for the distribution of voter cards, a call that has drawn a forceful rejection by the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.

Russia, Nigeria Sign MemorandumOn Security Councils’ Cooperation

MOSCOW, December 3. /TASS/. Russia and Nigeria have signed a memorandum on interaction and cooperation between their security councils, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev’s spokesman Igor Shvytkin said Wednesday.

Ministry of Defence and Office of National Security Adviser Rift Over Control of Defence Spending

There are strong indications of a rift over the control of the country’s defence spending, with the Ministry of Defence and the Office of the National Security Adviser split over where the power to spend the fund should reside.

Minister of Defence - Gusau and National Security Adviser - Dasuki in Supremacy Battle

There is an intense supremacy battle going on between the Minister of Defence, General Mohammed Aliyu Gusau and the National Security Adviser, NSA, Colonel Sambo Dasuki.

Nigerian Government May Include Counter-terrorism In School Curriculum - Sambo Dasuki

As part of the soft approach to countering terrorism, the Federal Government is planning to tinker with
national school curriculum for more productivity.

National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki gave the hint when he addressed the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOG) of the United Nations in New York on Monday.

Already, extensive assessments of schools across Northern Nigeria have been conducted in order to gain a better understanding of the state of
education.

The soft approach was developed to complement the pounding of the terrorists by the military in what
can be described as the “carrot and stick” method which has been recommended by some experts on
counter terrorism across the world.

The Soft CVE programme has four basic aspects which include De-radicalization, Strategic Communication, Counter Radicalisation and Economic Regeneration.

The Council had invited Dasuki to elaborate on the non-military aspect of Nigeria’s Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program also known as the Soft Approach to countering terrorism, which was first unveiled to Nigerians on March 18, 2014.
“We have conducted extensive assessments of schools across Northern Nigeria in order to gain a better understanding of the state of education”.

“We have now begun preliminary consultations with the Ministry of Education with regard to potential
changes to the national curriculum and will be hosting an Education Summit, bringing together key stakeholders and policy-makers”, he said.

Already, some prisons were being configured to achieve the de-radicalization program, which involves training of a new generation of practitioners in the areas of forensic psychology, religious instruction with particular emphasis on extremist narratives, art therapists, social workers and vocational and educational counsellors.

Government is also training a multi-disciplinary prison based treatment team including Imams to manage terror suspects responsible for developing curriculum and training in religious education, cognitive behaviour therapy, anger management, relapse prevention, empathy, risk management and
risk assessment.

Dasuki explained that this stream is expected to “foster greater respect for human rights and rule of law; train relevant prison staff on CVE, to
professionally handle terror suspects and issues of rehabilitation; develop a range of expert psychologists and counsellors to pioneer rehabilitation efforts and; introduce a more holistic
approach to the rehabilitation of prisoners in the country, using in-depth psychological analysis and research to understand the root causes of extremism and other criminal ideologies.

“Through Strategic Communications, we are working to counter extremist ideology and narratives.
Extremists’ views are often based on ignorance, misconceptions, willful misinterpretation and twisted ideology.

In the case of Boko Haram, narratives are founded on a set of core beliefs that are opposed to the state and aspects of western education.
“One of the ways to implement the strategic communication strategy would be by developing a voluntary code of conduct on reporting national security issues that will regulate crisis reporting especially with regard to terrorism for the press.”

He added that in the multi thronged strategy, civil servants and members of the military were being trained to strengthen government’s public diplomacy efforts, while a documentary on Boko Haram and research on the Pathways to Radicalisation had been commissioned to further the understanding of Boko Haram.

The NSA disclosed that implementation of the Counter Radicalisation plank rested mainly on the Society Against Violent Extremism (SAVE) Project based in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and will seek determinedly to counter the drivers of radicalisation by encouraging CVE action in communities, civil society and government institutions; building community engagement and
resilience; using education as a tool for countering violent extremism; and promoting religious tolerance.

Dasuki noted that in order to achieve the stated objectives, key projects have been designed to ensure that education is used as a tool to stem extremism by emphasizing the teaching of critical thinking and logical reasoning as well as sports, music, arts, and drama while also creating psychological support structures for victims of terrorism through the main stream provision of
PTSD.

He further told his audience that “we are beginning to make real progress but are aware that these are but the early stages of what must be an extensive and all-encompassing set of interventions”.
The former aid-de-camp to former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida told his audience that the Economic Regeneration aspect of the Soft Approach to the CVE programme will work with governors of six north eastern states in designing an economic revitalization program targeting states most impacted by terrorism.

Dasuki thanked members of the international community that have supported Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and reminded the gathering that “no nation has the monopoly of knowledge especially when it comes to dealing with terrorism”, as could
be attested by Great Britain, Columbia, Spain and Iraq.

Source:
Daily Post

BOTCHED ARMS DEAL: Jonathan,Why Send Asari Dokubo To Buy ArmsFor Nigeria? – APC

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to explain to Nigerians what Asari Dokubo, was doing on the plane that illegally ferried US$9.3 million to South Africa, where Asari Dokubo, another Nigerian and an Israeli were arrested, according to a published report.

General Danjuma to President Jonathan: Lead Us as C-in-C to Sambisa Forest

Chairman of the Victims Support Fund Committee, General Theophilus Danjuma has challenged President
Goodluck Jonathan as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces to lead the onslaught to the Sambisa forest where the Boko Haram insurgents are said to be operating from.

Danjuma who spoke on Wednesday during the inauguration of the Committee in Abuja by President
Jonathan said the war against terror was taking too long to win and must be won urgently by the Federal Government.
“One thing we will not do is to go to Sambisa forest.
The commander-in-chief will lead and we will follow the commander-in-chief. But seriously, this war must be brought to an end. We must win this war immediately.

It is taking too long.
“I called it civil war when it began; people say it is insurgency. The insurgents appear to be having an
upper hand at this very moment. They pick and choose where to strike. They are even holding positions and
displacing us. We must win this war Mr. President; we must do so immediately,” Danjuma said.

While inaugurating the Committee, President Jonathan admitted that his administration owes Nigerians victory
over Boko Haram.
Stressing that evil will never prevail over good, Dr. Jonathan said no effort would be spared by his government to bring the individuals responsible for crimes against humanity to justice.
But he called for the support of all Nigerians for the security agencies in the war against terror.
He said: “We owe Nigerians nothing but victory over terror. The life of every Nigerian is precious and we will
continue to work round the clock to put an end to this insurgency.”
“I call on all Nigerians to stand together in support of our security agencies against terrorism. They are working night and day under difficult circumstances. It is unfortunate that when our security personnel prevent
1000 attacks, it is the one attack that succeeds that makes headline news and tends to portray our security agencies as not doing enough. It is part of the realities we have to deal with.”

“The menace of terrorism has emerged as one of the most complex and challenging problems confronting governments in different parts of the world. Terrorists aim to cause social dislocation, spread fear and panic among the populace and disrupt government activities.
But they never win. They have not won in the Middle East, in the USA, in China, in Columbia, in Italy, in the United Kingdom, in Kenya, etc. And they will not win in Nigeria. And, with the support of all Nigerians, we would ensure they do not win in Nigeria. Good must prevail over evil.

The President spoke about how it began “on December 25, 2009, when a 23-year-old Nigerian attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear on Northwest Airlines Flight 253, on his way from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan, United States”.
“Although his plan failed and the lives of 289 passengers were saved, it was one incident that finally confirmed that a few Nigerians had finally embraced terrorism as a way of life. Now we could no longer deny that terror has arrived our country with its ugly claws
deployed!”

He added: “The year 2009 appears to be a tragic turning point. Boko Haram, an assemblage of heartless individuals, took it upon itself to bring evil upon our country. They have in their mission, turned women to widows and reduced children to orphans.
“They have killed and maimed and struck fear into law-abiding citizens. They have destroyed villages, attacked property and terminated people’s livelihoods without a care in the world. They have engaged our security agencies in a meaningless warfare that has wasted unimaginable human and material resources.”

“The reality today is that, we are confronted with individuals whose minds have been so twisted and
tutored to believe they are doing God a service.”
“For those who take pleasure in seeing innocent human beings in pains, to see limbs being shattered and blood flowing in all direction after terror attacks, we say, you shall have no hiding place. Nigerians will expose you.
The people of conscience around the world have rejected you.”
Jonathan praised the countries backing Nigeria to fight the insurgency and this country’s neighbours for their co-operation.

He said: “This has given us more fillip and we are confident that the days of Boko Haram are numbered. It is now just a matter of time. Our war against terrorism is gathering momentum. When you read about bombing
incidents in the mass media, they may come across to those not directly affected as mere statistics. As the old proverb says, when you carry another man’s coffin, it looks like an ordinary log of wood.”
“But to us, fathers and mothers, and the families of the victims, they are not just numbers. They are human beings – sons and daughters, uncles, nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters and indeed, fathers and mothers! They are Nigerians!! They are individuals with dreams and aspirations, noble Nigerians who love their country.”

According to him, the Victims Support Fund Committee will help to mobilise collective efforts and resources in support of the victims.
He urged Nigerians and non-Nigerians, individuals and cooperate bodies, to give generously to the Fund.

The committee is to:
•Identify sources and ways of raising sustainable funding to support victims of terror activities;
•Develop appropriate strategies for the fund raising;
•Ascertain the persons, communities, facilities and economic assets affected by terror activities;
•Assess and determine the appropriate support required in each case;
•Manage, disburse and/or administer support to the victims as appropriate;
•Address related challenges as may be appropriate; and
•Advise the Government on other matter(s) necessary or incidental to support victims of terror activities.
Giving the vote of thanks, National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki, assured the committee that
the Federal Government would win the war against terror.

He said: “Sir, you gave me a very difficult task after Gen. Danjuma’s statement. The only thing I will do is
thank them for agreeing to serve and assure them that we will win the war.”
“But there are some very hard choices that would have to be made. We have to been more concern about the lives of a few versus the condition of a few million. The decision has to be made soon. This is not the first time we have been challenged by very senior Nigerians about the need to end this.

Courtesy:
The Nation

Boko Haram: Nigeria, Cameroon Hold Trans-Border Security Meeting

In an effort to stem security challenges, the second session of the Nigeria/Cameroon Trans-Border Security Committee meets in Abuja from July 8-11.

This information is contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by Karounwi Adekunle, the Special Assistant, Media, to the National Security Adviser, NSA.
Mr. Adekunle said that the session was being organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Office of the NSA.
He said the session will be declared open by the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
The spokesperson quoted the head of Nigerian delegation, Babatunde Samuel, as saying that “the purpose of the second session is to move the cooperation of both countries to the next level”.

He said this would be done by identifying ways and means of implementing security agreement.
“As brothers and neighbours, we agreed to overcome our differences and focus on shared beliefs and values -peace and security of lives and property.
“And to make positive difference to our kith and kin residing in the border areas of our countries and in the long run extend that peace and security to all citizens of Nigeria and Cameroon,” it said.

He explained that prior to the first session held in November 2013, in Yaounde, Cameroon, the presidents of the two countries resolved that there was need to deepen the bilateral relations existing between them.
Mr. Adekunle added that relations would be particularly in the area of security in order to further sustain the bond of friendship.

The border communities between Nigeria and Cameroon are some of the major bases and areas of operations of the Boko Haram insurgent group.
The sect members are known to attack Nigerian communities and flee to Cameroon, and neighbouring Niger and Chad, after the attack.

(NAN)

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