Emir of Kano - Muhammad Sanusi II Says Security Is A Collective Responsibility

The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has said that the general public should not leave security matters to government or traditional rulers alone, even as he blamed insecurity situation in the country on poverty and illiteracy.

The emir who made the call on Monday, while speaking at a meeting of Kano elders, said ensuring adequate security in the society, should be collective efforts of all Nigerians.

His words: “If you see a 17-year-old carrying bomb, there is a need to ask ourselves a question; was she brainwashed because of illiteracy or how much was she paid because of
poverty.”

He, however, informed that his council had already met with Ulamas in the state over the situation.

Nigerian Tribune

Amnesty International Claims Nigerian Army Committed 'War Crimes'

Nigeria's army has committed atrocities in the north-east in its fight against Islamist militants belonging to Boko Haram, Amnesty International says.

The campaign group said it had seen "gruesome footage" including alleged members of the military slitting the throats of detainees.
The Nigerian authorities said such barbarity had no place in the military and promised to investigate.

Boko Haram has been waging an insurgency in Nigeria since 2009.
Thousands of people have been killed in a series of bombings and assassinations in the north-east and in the capital, Abuja, this year alone.

Amnesty says footage obtained from multiple sources on a trip to Borno state, in the north, "includes horrific images of detainees having their throats slit one by one and dumped in mass graves".

The perpetrators "appear to be members of the Nigerian military and the "Civilian Joint Task Force" (CJTF), state-sponsored militias," the organisation adds.
"The ghastly images are backed up by the numerous.testimonies we have gathered which suggest that
extrajudicial executions are, in fact, regularly carried out by the Nigerian military and CJTF," says Amnesty
International Secretary General Salil Shetty.

The Nigerian authorities say they are "deeply concerned" about the footage in circulation, adding: "That level of
barbarism and impunity has no place in the Nigerian military."

Guardian

Defence HQ's Response To Amnesty International's Claims of 'War Crimes'

The Nigerian military takes the issue of Human Rights seriously and will never condone any proven case of abuse by its personnel. Military authorities are deeply concerned about the set of video footage being circulated and which unfortunately has also become reference data for Amnesty International in its report.

Much as the scenes depicted in these videos are alien to our operations and doctrines, it has to be investigated to ensure that such practices have not
crept, surreptitiously into the system.  The Defence Headquarters considers these allegations too grievous to be associated with Nigerian troops, considering the doctrinal and operational contents of the training
imparted to personnel on a continuous basis; emphasizing the importance of respect for Human Rights and dignity of human person as well as observance of humanitarian laws.

Notwithstanding the cases of impersonations that have pervaded the counter terrorism operations in Nigeria and many other related issues which cast doubts on the claims made in the video, the military authorities view those grave allegations very seriously, more so as it borders on the integrity of the ongoing counter-terrorism operation, which must be sustained in the interest of our national survival.

Consequently, the Defence Headquarters in addition to the already existing Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has constituted a team of senior officers and legal cum forensic experts to study the video footage and the resultant allegations of infractions in order to ascertain the veracity of the claims with a view to identifying those behind such acts. This will further determine and stimulate necessary legal action against any personnel or anyone found culpable in accordance with the provisions of the law.

The Nigerian Armed Forces cannot condone any action or inaction that tramples on the right to life of any Nigerian. The ultimate objective of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism operation is the complete cessation of the heinous and barbaric activities of the terrorists and to stamp out every vestige of terrorism in our country with the application of international best practices in such operations.

It will therefore, be absurd for the Nigerian Armed Forces as an institution to perpetrate such unprofessional acts in the manner and level depicted in that video as alleged by Amnesty International.  Indeed, that level of barbarism and impunity has no place in the Nigerian military.  Respect for the sanctity of life is always boldly emphasized in our doctrinal trainings. It must thus be reiterated that the Nigerian military is a very well organized professional body of troops whose conducts in war and peace times are guided comprehensively by law.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria is conscious of the nation’s obligation to observe all rules, regulations and commitments in all activities, and wishes to reassure all Nigerians, the civil societies and the international community that it will not encourage or condone any form of human rights violation as depicted in the said video.

Nigerian Defence HQ

Countering Radical Islamic Extremism: The Niger State Example

On Tuesday June 3, 2014, the Niger State government dislodged members of a radical and controversial Islamic group, the Nibrassiya Huda Islamic sect, from Lapai, in Lapai Local Government Area of the state. The sect’s camp had been situated inside a forest on the outskirts of the town. In that raid, which was carried out by the military, no fewer than 240 members were dislodged.

The sect, led by Sheik Mohammed Abubakar, had become a menace to the public and the traditional institution of the town. Members of the sect had been accused of disturbing public peace by attacking people who did not share their views. Their members viewed other Muslim adherents as largely misguided and treated them with no regard. Indeed, the Etsu Lapai, Alhaji Umar Bago Tafida, had accused the leader of the sect of teaching and propagating wrong doctrines that have no root in Islam.

Before routing the sect from the location, the state government had, in May 13 this year, revoked the Certificate of Occupancy of the land on which the camp was situated and gave an eviction notice of two weeks to the sect.

This is not the first time the government of Niger state is taking proactive measures to stem religion extremism. In 2010, the government took a preemptive initiative against the Darul Islam group, led by Amrul Bashir Abdullahi, settled on the outskirts of the state. Earlier in
2009, the Niger State government had set up an interreligious body to promote peace and friendly living among the adherents of the various religions in the state.

The last three decades have witnessed a proliferation of religious sects and groups in Nigeria. Many of them have extremist orientation, including a propensity to violence.
The most problematic of these sects in Northern was the “Nigerian Taliban” which many think transmuted into the Boko Haram sect.

A review of the evolution of the Boko Haram sect and other violent religious movements shows that they pass through several phases, usually marked by radical and messianic doctrines. They may not initially espouse violence but as they become strong and institutionalised with a large and fanatical following, their leaders begin to take on the image of a messiah, called to create a world
without the social ills of corruption, drunkenness and prostitution. The bulk of those who flock to such groups are usually the dispossessed, the disturbed, those in trouble, those in states of hopelessness, those who seek a world free from the frustrations of ordinary life, and those in search of quick solutions to challenging problems. That is why many have linked the rise of Boko Haram, especially its capacity to recruit
persons, including teenagers, to the relatively severe level of poverty in Northeastern Nigeria.

Terrorist organisations capitalise on an environment in which their ideology resonates and smart, competent individuals are then motivated to act either with or on behalf of the organisation because they consider their grievances legitimate.

The likelihood of ideological resonance is greater when members of a community are desperate for justice, social agency, human dignity, a sense of belonging, or positive identity as they live in a variety of depressingly negative or outrageous social conditions.

Their intense outrage or hatred of a specific entity, because of their actions, translates into suicidal opposition to prevailing conditions and systems of authority. The extent to which the early apprehension of the emerging extremist groups in Niger State has saved Nigeria from housing additional terror groups may be a subject of speculation. But it is clear that preemptive measures are central to addressing the challenge of terror. There is always a need for
intelligence backed by prompt action.

Terrorism cannot be addressed by means of hard power alone. That is why several individuals and groups have called for a variety of strategies, including dialogue with the sect.
There is a need to improve conditions of life and mount campaigns to win the hearts and minds of the people and communities in those areas.
Such moves are important elements of soft power strategies. Dealing with terrorism requires preemptive measures like those taken by the Niger State government and more. We believe that if the Boko Haram had been apprehended as a small religious sect before it blossomed, it would not have become the Frankenstein monster that it is today.

We call on state governments to collaborate with the security agencies in intelligence gathering and in taking preemptive action against ‘shadow’ economies in their states. These may
be underground, covert, or illegal businesses that trade in small arms and light weapons, hard drugs, or religious groups that propagate hatred, violence and other destructive values. These provide the infrastructure for terrorist organisations to operate in.

Such economies make financing easy for terrorist groups and render their detection difficult.

Tribune

Former Army Chief - Ihejirika Recommends Re-deployment of Soldiers to Porous Borders, Asks Public To Volunteer Information To The Security Agencies

Nigeria’s former Chief of Army Staff , retired Lt.- Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, on Saturday called for the deployment of military personnel to the country’s
porous borders.

Ihejirika said such deployment would prevent illegal arms importation into the country.
He said the military would work hand in hand with other security agencies in preventing and arresting all those involved in the illegal business.

He explained that illegal arms importation posed threat to the country’s corporate existence.
Ihejirika also called on traditional leaders to complement the effort of the security agencies by sensitising the people on the need to be security
conscious and report dubious characters.

He said that the active support of the royal fathers would enable members of the public to come forward with information on bad eggs in the society.
He explained that since security officers could not be everywhere all the time, Nigerians should develop the habit of offering information that could lead to the arrest of insurgents.

Ihejirika said the Nigeria Army and other security agencies were in dire need of intelligence reports from members of the public.
He explained that such information would enable the security agencies to come out with a formidable security method for peace, progress and political stability.

DailyPost

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

Nigerian Government Advises Nigerian Students to Vacate East Ukraine

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised Nigerian students in eastern Ukraine to vacate the area due to fierce violence and unrest in the region.

Ambassador Abdulaziz Dankano, Under-Secretary in charge of Economy and Consular in the ministry, gave the advice in an interview with NAN on Sunday in Abuja.
Dankano said that the advice became necessary following the deteriorating security situation in the war-torn region.
He said that no fewer than 146 Nigerian students were still in eastern Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Lungansk despite repeated advisories from the Nigerian mission in Kiev.

According to him, over 1000 Nigerian students were in different tertiary institutions in the region and many heeded the repeated advisories issued by the Nigerian mission in Kiev.
“But we still have 146 students who have refused to vacate the territory and the situation in the region is not getting better because of the fierce fighting
between the separatists and Ukrainian military”, he said.

NAN recalls that crisis erupted in eastern Ukraine after rebels declared independence from the new
government in Kiev.
Russia, which annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region in March, has been accused of arming the rebels and has been targeted by US and European Union for
sanctions.

Last month, UN Human Rights Chief, Navi Pillay, said that no fewer than 1,129 people had been killed and 3,442 others wounded in the violent conflicts in eastern Ukraine since mid-April.
Dankano also confirmed that nine Nigerian students kidnapped in eastern Ukraine on July 17 had all regained freedom.

He identified the students as Femi Oredugba, Wasiu Rasaki, Oyinola Sheriff, Ahmed Salis and Semiu
Mabadeje. Others are Chigozie Amaobi, Daniel Eitokpah, Callistus Ezike and Agihibenma Wayne.

He said that the students regained freedom on July 24, adding that the Nigerian mission in Kiev played a “key role” in securing their release.
“We made informal contacts with the rebels through members of the Nigerian community familiar with that region.
“Since the Kiev government is not in control of the region, our diplomats were not physically present in the region because of security concerns”, he
explained.

Dankano did not confirm or deny whether ransom was paid to the rebels before the students were released.
On Libya, Dankano told NAN that the ministry was closely monitoring the situation in the country amid violent clashes between rival militias.
He said that the Federal government had not taken any decision to evacuate Nigerians in the country.
Already, thousands of foreign workers, including British, France, Germany citizens have left Libya, and the US has asked its citizens to leave the country.

Also, the UN has withdrawn its staff because of the deteriorating security in the country. Dankano recalled that the Federal government evacuated over 2000 Nigerians from the country in
2011 when its late president, Muammar Ghadafi, was overthrown.

DailyPost

"Boko Haram Effect": Real Estate Prices At All Time Low in Parts of Nigeria

The unrelenting violence perpetrated by the Boko Haram insurgents has taken its toll on the real estate sector in most states in northern Nigeria, where the prices of properties have significantly been crashed.

Prices of properties have drastically falling to an all time low, THISDAY investigations have revealed.
Besides crashing the prices of property, especially in the North-eastern states, public property worth billions of naira have gone down the drain through the
destructive acts of the terrorist group.

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State told THISDAY recently that more than 900 schools had been reduced
to rubble by the sect in his state.
The destruction of private and public buildings in the region has led to an all time crash of property prices, as has never been experienced in the North-eastern part of the country.

Mr. Mohammed Aliyu, an indigene of Edo State, who relocated to Abuja with his family from Maiduguri last year, spoke to THISDAY, while counting his losses.
He said: “I had a four-bedroom bungalow, with all the appurtenances in a choice area in Maiduguri, going for
N500,000 per annum, yet no buyer has come up for it.
It is that bad. There are many vacant houses and apartments in the city without occupiers. This is what
the insurgency has done to me.”

Mr. Femi Stephen Alao, a Kaduna-based architect and estate developer, said there was no doubt that insecurity has had an adverse effect on the property
market in Kaduna city and adjoining towns.

At Tundun Wada, Kawo and Kabala west, an upscale area in Kaduna city, prices for three-bedroom homes
have nosedived to as low as between N60,000 and N200, 000 per annum. In the past the apartments used to go for between N400,000 and N600,000, he
explained.
“In all of these areas, real estate businesses have ground to halt. You cannot find developers on site
working now,” he said.

However, Alao said that the southern parts of Kaduna, like Gonigora, Bana-Wa, Chikun, Angwua and several
areas of that state were experiencing a hike in rent because a majority of non-indigenes in these zones believe that the areas are safe havens.

A plot of land in Angwua now sells for N1 million, whereas it used to sell for less than N500,000 per plot
a few years back.
Corroborating Alao’s assertion, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Benue State Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), Mrs. Brigid Sheidu, said the security challenges in the north had affected the company’s revenue from its property unit in Kaduna State.

“This has affected our guest house facility in Kaduna township. Unlike in the past, business was booming but
because of the insecurity, we have lost most of our clientele as not many people patronise like they used to in the past. But we hope that things will change for the better,” she said.

Speaking in the same vein, the National President, Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria (REDAN),
Mr. Emmanuel Olabode Afolayan, acknowledged that insurgent activities in the North-east and other states in
the north had done unquantifiable damage to the real estate sector.
He said: “I can tell you authoritatively that nothing is presently ongoing in some parts of the north, except a
few states like Sokoto, Kebbi and Gombe States. In other states, where there is a serious security upheaval,
construction and building activities are at their lowest ebb; this is a big problem for all of us.

“For instance, in Borno and Adamawa States, our members are not building at all. In fact, no bank is ready to provide them facilities in states where there
are security challenges. No workmen are even interested in working in those areas, so transactions in the real estate sector are today almost non-existent.”

On how much has been lost to insurgency especially in the areas affected, he said: “Honestly, it will be pretty difficult to roll out figures now as we are still counting the losses, but what I can authoritatively tell you is that
most of our members have not really lost their building.

However activities are practically at a low ebb." Vice-President, REDAN, North-central, as well as the Managing Director of AIS Ltd, Mr. Sunday Idachaba, said the level of activities as far as the built sector was concerned had no doubt been affected by rising insecurity especially in the North-east.

He explained that the real estate industry involves the movement of various categories of workers like
engineers, masonry foremen and other artisans but when an area is undermined, it would be difficult to go
there to work.
“No matter the amount of money you offer workers, they will be reluctant to work in an insecure environment. So certainly the real estate sector has
nose-dived for now in those areas. People are not willing to buy homes in a place where there is insecurity.
“Property prices have crashed in cities like Maiduguri and Yobe. People are willing to sell, yet nobody is
willing to buy. This is the challenge that we are facing at the moment,” he added.

ThisDay Newspaper

Obama, Jonathan, Others Meet On Security, Power

Security as well as regular power supply under “Power Africa” will top the agenda of the meetings that United States president Mr Barrack Obama will hold with President Goodluck Jonathan and other African leaders in Washington, DC, from today to Wednesday.

The White House will push initiatives like “Power Africa”, a privately funded plan to bring electricity to 20 million households across sub-Saharan Africa.
Six African countries have been selected for the project and Nigeria is first on the list. Companies have pledged $9 billion, and the White House is likely to announce more support at the summit meeting.

The four-day meeting which is tagged
“Investing in the Next Generation” will
include a civil society forum with
discussions on investments in health,
women, food security and power. There would be a high-octane conference to stimulate trade and investments.

According to Professor Adebowale
Adefuye, Nigeria’s ambassador to the
United States, President Jonathan and his counterparts will be brought in contact with American companies’ chief executives to discuss investment opportunities in Africa and conclude deals.

Adefuye added that other activities on
economy development were the
discussions on the issue of re-
authorization of AGOA, stressing that it was an American government system of preferential access to goods produced in Africa as a way of stimulating trade in the continent.

President Jonathan, who arrived in
Washington yesterday with his delegation,.is expected to meet congressional and business leaders as well as the media. He will address members of the Nigerian community and will be hosted to a reception by the two leading American business conglomerates, the US Chambers of Commerce and the Cooperate Council for Africa, after the meeting of African leaders with Obama.

The strategic importance of Nigeria
makes President Jonathan’s personal
attendance important. Nigeria is the
largest economy in Africa, America’s
largest trading partner and the country described by Vice President Joe Biden as America’s anchor in Africa. America is actively assisting Nigeria in coping with its current security challenges.

According to Ambassador Adefuye, the Embassy of Nigeria has been able to effectively counter negative perception about Nigeria on government’s reactions and activities to contain Boko Haram and end the kidnap of Chibok girls.
He noted that the key stakeholders in
business, politics, and think-tanks were now convinced that the government did all that it could to deal with Boko Haram and get the girls freed, adding that a series of well-coordinated actions to deal
with the menace of Boko Haram in
perpetuity was on.

According to the US national security
adviser, Ms Susan Rice, the meeting is intended to build a deeper relationship with Africa based on mutual interests and mutual respect. In each of the sessions, there will be some very straight talks, and give and take. Invitations were sent to 50 heads of state.

Also, American officials emphasized that it is not a meeting with the AU even though the chairperson of the AU is invited. This is the justification of the exclusion of some African countries with which America does not enjoy good relations for a variety of reasons.

Leadership Newspaper

Boko Haram Threatens To Attack Akwa Ibom State

The Akwa State Government, Friday , said it had received text messages from the Boko Haram terrorist group threatening to attack public places in the state.

In a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah,
he said the public places targeted include churches, markets and schools, among others.

Insecurity: Kwara State GovernmentBans Use of Schools for Social Events

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara on Friday in Ilorin announced restriction on the use of public schools in the state for social events.

The governor announced the restriction at a meeting of All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPS).

Boko Haram: Nigeria Raises N60 Billion to Assist Terror Victims

The federal government on Thursday realised over N60 billion as individuals and groups donated to the Victims of Terror Support Fund launched in Abuja.

The fund is expected to be used for the rehabilitation of victims of terror attacks across the nation.
Over 13,000 people have been killed in attacks by the Boko Haram sect while hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced and thousands of property destroyed.

Police Discover Buried Arms, IEDs In Bauchi State

The state’s police spokesman, Mohammed Haruna (a deputy of police) said the lethal weapons were discovered on Wednesday at about 4:30pm following a tip-off.

Gunmen Kill 15 in Rivers State (South South) Nigeria

AT least, 15 persons were feared killed in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State by unknown gunmen.

The gunmen numbering about 12 stormed seven communities in the local government area and opened fire on unsuspecting persons.

It was gathered that the assailants, who were all armed with AK-47 rifles, rode into the area with six motorcycles and operated from 9pm on Wednesday till the wee hours of Thursday.

Spread of Boko Haram Threatens Heart of Nigerian Economy

LAGOS, Nigeria—To understand why Africa's top economy is faltering after five years of Islamist attacks, take a look at Tochukwu Odidigwe's car-parts dealership.

In June, an explosion tore through a traffic jam near his storefront near the port of Lagos, the country's commercial hub. The deadly blast left his street covered in ash and his customers scared to come back. "They are afraid they may be killed," said Mr. Odidigwe.