Rice farmers in Konduga Local Government of Borno State are fleeing for their lives, as suspected Boko Haram terrorists set their farms ablaze and have killed at least eight persons in the last five days, eyewitnesses said.
Alhaji Umaru Musa, one of the leaders in the rice farming community, told LEADERSHIP that he had to rush to the state capital, Maiduguri, to report to the state government that they had been besieged by Boko Haram. “Our rice farms were still on fire as at when we left for Maiduguri this morning,” he said.
Musa further said, “Just this morning (Wednesday), one of our farmers was killed. Two others were shot yesterday, but one survived and three rice farmers were killed on Monday. All in all, at least eight farmers have died since the beginning of this week. This is the peak of harvesting period and they attacked us last night, setting ablaze already harvested and bagged rice, as well as the rice farms. As I speak, the rice farms are on fire and our people are on the run from all the areas where major rice farms are located, like Balge and Umba-Umba.
“They have killed one of our most prominent farmers, Zanna Apolo, whom they said had been leaking information to security operatives,” he said.
An enquiry sent by email to the state police commissioner, Tanko Lawan, had not been replied as at the time of filing this report.
Cameroon gendarmes frustrating war against Boko Haram, Borno gov tells Ihejirika
The refusal of Cameroonian gendarmes to collaborate with Nigerian security agencies in fighting Boko Haram terrorists crossing into Cameroon has been a major setback in the war against the insurgency, the Borno State deputy governor, Zanna Umar Mustapha has said.
The deputy governor, who disclosed this to the chief of army staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika when the latter paid him a courtesy visit in his office yesterday, said there was the need for greater military presence in the porous border areas.
Ihejirika was in the Borno State capital on an official visit, to inspect the operations of the newly created 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri.
“Our Nigerian soldiers and other security agencies have tried tremendously in quelling the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents. But our major headache is with the Cameroonian gendarmes, who habitually refuse to arrest or chase back Boko Haram terrorists that flee into their territory after launching attacks in our land.
“By a non-Commonwealth international law, our soldiers are not permitted to cross the borders of Cameroon, a non-West African country. Even when they see armed Boko Haram insurgents fleeing into their border areas, they keep saying ‘We don’t know them as criminals, because they don’t attack us’,” Mustapha said.
He implored the COAS to urge the federal government to consider the imperative of border security and establish a military command or brigade under the new 7 Division in the border areas.
Lieutenant General Ihejirika had earlier said that President Goodluck Jonathan was in talks with presidents of sister African countries, with a view to collaborating on border security. Ihejirika said soldiers and other security outfits in Nigeria must see the fight against terrorism as a sacrifice and duty to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
He praised the disposition of the civil society to cooperate with security agencies as something worthy of commendation.
“I want to express my satisfaction with the level of cooperation existing amongst military and other security agencies here in Borno State. I am also very satisfied with the cooperation of well-meaning members of the civil society in Borno State, who have suffered untold hardship in the hands of the terrorists. The president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, is pleased with your sacrifice for our country,” Ihejirika said.
The CAS had during a question and answer session with journalists denied allegations that soldiers on special duty under the dissolved JTF and the new 7 Division paid from their pockets to get uniforms. He said that over 7000 sets of army uniforms and 40, 000 pairs of boots were recently issued to soldiers, especially those in Borno State.
Ihejirika holds 4-hour closed door meeting with 7 Div GOC on Boko Haram insurgency
Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika on Wednesday held a closed door meeting with the general officer commanding the new 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Obida Ethan for over four hours at the division’s headquarters, located along the Pompomari bye-pass in Maidugiri, the Borno State capital.
After the meeting, the COAS disclosed to newsmen that he was in the state for the first time since the new division was created, to ascertain how well it had settled down and to receive briefing on its operations. The COAS further said that he was satisfied with the level of operations of the 7 Division military men with respect to the insurgency and appealed to the citizens of Borno to continue to cooperate with and support the division, to restore peace to the state in the shortest possible time.
Ihejirika said that the GOC 7 Division had briefed him on the successes and challenges of the 7 Division and that efforts would be made at improvement where needed on his return from the state, while other issues would be treated accordingly in due course. The COAS added that he was impressed with the cordial relationship existing between the 7 Division and the people and government of Borno. Encouraging the men of the division, he said that army headquarters was fully aware and mindful of those among them that had been injured and killed. He urged the soldiers and officers of the division to remain steadfast and resolute in the discharge of their duties and service to the country, so as not to compromise the integrity of the Nigerian Army.
The COAS, however, declined to speak on the sensitive issues of the restoration of GSM telecommunication services in Maiduguri and the civilians allegedly arrested and being held by the military JTF at the military barracks in Maiduguri for over a year without trial, despite appeals from parents of some of the detainees for their release. It was gathered that some of the suspects in military detention have been subjected to severe torture and some even killed.
Boko Haram suspect arraigned for attack on Deeper Life Church
The federal government has filed charges against a suspected Boko Haram member, Abdul Obadiki, who is being held for the 2012 attack on a Deeper Life church in Lokoja, Kogi State.
Worshippers were killed by gunmen, who stormed the church where they were holding a night vigil in August last year. About 20 people were said to have been killed in the attack, which was carried out at midnight.
The suspect is being charged for allegedly engaging in terrorism activities and illegal possession of firearms, in a six-count charge filed against him by the office of the attorney-general of the federation. He is alleged to have committed the offences in collaboration with some others now at large.
Obadiki was charged before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, but his planned arraignment was aborted owing to his inability to secure the services of a lawyer.
Justice Kolawole adjourned proceedings until December 12 for his arraignment.
SSS arrests 5 Boko Haram suspects
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services has said, “The determination of security forces to rid Nigeria of acts of terror has continued to yield favourable results.”
Ms Marilyn Ogar, the deputy director, Public Relations Department of State Services, said in Abuja on Wednesday that their efforts had led to the uncovering of a Boko Haram cell in Kogi by the service.
Ogar said the discovery further led to the arrest of five suspected Boko Haram members - including a university lecturer - who were allegedly plotting to launch violent attacks in Igalaland in Kogi. She said the lecturer taught Arabic and Islamic Studies at the Kogi State University, Ayingba.
Ogar, who presented the suspects to newsmen, said that three of the suspects were arrested in a mosque in Zuba, FCT, while two others were arrested in Jos and Kogi. She said the lecturer among the suspects was the spiritual leader and recruitment coordinator, while the others were head of operations/instructor, chief courier and foot soldiers in Kogi.
“We want to enjoin all Nigerians to be vigilant and continue to cooperate with security agencies through the provision of useful information of suspicious activities within their immediate environment. The war on terror is still on; this service, in collaboration with other security agencies, will not rest on its oars until we rid our society of criminality. We must all remember that we are not terrorists, we are Nigerians,” she said.
Ogar urged parents who send their children to Islamic lessons after school, to be very careful of the people they choose as their teachers.
She said they should take time to investigate the teachings so as to ensure that their children were not being taught what they do not practise.
The lecturer alleged to be the spiritual leader/recruitment coordinator of the group denied knowing anything about the sect, but admitted that he’d held several preaching sessions. “I have never been a member of Boko Haram for one minute in my life, I even preach against them,” he said.
Other members confessed to being members of the sect and that they were on their way for training in Maiduguri when they were arrested at Zuba.
One of the suspects said he joined the group in May and was placed by the sect on a salary of N50, 000 per month.
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