Sunday, February 01, 2015

Military Captures Armored Vehicles, Artillery Guns from Boko Haram in Maiduguri Battle
01 Feb 2015
Nigerian ThisDay

•As fighting intensifies in other parts of Islamists' enclave

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

In their officcial statement, the Nigerian military has said the Islamic sect, Boko Haram,  fighters that attacked Maiduguri this Sunday incurred massive casualties, with large cache of weapons captured from them.as the Nigerian troops successfully repelled them,

The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade confirmed this is in a statement, saying that the terrorists attack on Maiduguri the early hours of Sunday was quickly contained.

He assured that the situation is calm as mopping up operation in the affected area is ongoing.

Meanwhile, the Defence spokesman said that there are ongoing operations being coordinated under the Multinational Joint Task (MJTF) arrangement to dislodge Boko Haram from the occupied towns in Borno and Adamawa states.

He said:  "The terrorists are meant to be engaged in all fronts, including their previous safe havens and hide outs in the region".

According to Olukolade, the MJTF latest offensive is in line with the arrangement for a comprehensive and coordinated military operation with inputs by military forces in the Lake Chad Basin Commission namely Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.

He also gave a hint that the terrorist positions including Bama, and possibly Gwoza and Baga are being pounded from the land and air, with mop up operations taking places in areas that have been liberated.

"The terrorists who in their disarray strayed towards Bama, Ngom, Alou, Delwa and Mafa in the night have now been effectively contained. Mopping up operation is ongoing", he said.

Consequently, the DDI disclosed that several weapons, arms and ammunition including two armoured vehicles and two artillery guns as well as 17 Hilux vehicles have been captured from the terrorists during the course of the operations.

He said that "several terrorists also died...and the affected locations have been secured and soldiers wounded are being treated.

"Patrols and pursuit of fleeing terrorists is continuing in coordination with allied forces".


Maiduguri Attacks: PDP Commends Military

01 Feb 2015

* Urges support from Nigerians

By Chuks Okocha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has praised the gallantry of officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for repelling insurgents in Borno and other troubled states in the north.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said in a statement Sunday that the members of the armed forces had shown exceptional patriotism while risking their lives to protect those of other citizens and intensifying efforts to ensure that the nation is rid of terrorist activities.

The party said it recognizes the sacrifices being made by the military, adding that “What is needed at this point is for all Nigerians to close ranks and support them with words of encouragement, prayers and helpful information where necessary.

“This is no longer the time to dwell on politics or engage in unnecessary blame-games. We cannot continue to seek political capital while terrorists slaughter and maim our people. To win this battle, therefore, all citizens must come together, stand with our government and the military and present a common front against terrorism irrespective of our religious, political and ethnic differences”, the party said.

The PDP condoled with the families of the victims of the attacks, comforted the displaced and the wounded and prayed God to restore enduring peace in the country.


82 Killed in Boko Haram Invasion of Maidugri

01 Feb 2015

Not less than 82 persons were killed in Sunday's attempted invasion of Maiduguri by the Islamic fundamentalists, Boko Haram, security sources have said.

But this fell short of another account by one of the members of the youth vigilante group, Abba Modu, who was involved in the battle against the terrorist group. He claimed that not less than 500 insurgents were killed at the points of entry into the town where the insurgents tried to invade from.

According to the breakdown of the security sources who spoke anonymously to our correspondent, not less than 70 insurgents were killed, ten innocent civilians and two insurgents were felled in the attempted invasion of the town, the second in a space of seven days.

About 65 persons were reported killed during last Sunday's multiple attack on Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram.

Security sources said that 50 insurgents were killed in Dalwa, about 20 kilometres from Maiduguri, where the battle was fiercest as the insurgents met their Waterloo.

It was gathered that about 20 others were killed in other parts of the town where the terrorists also attempted gaining entrance into the town.

It was also gathered that though the number of soldiers lost in the attack might be more, two were reportedly killed and had been conveyed from the battlefield with five seen seriously injured.

The latest attacks on the town were said to have been at four major points of entrance -  Ngom, Dalwa, Molai and Jawuri.

A member of the youth vigilante group, Abba Ibrahim, said: "The insurgents in the customary way attacked just moments after the early morning Islamic prayers, they attacked the town from Ngom (the border with Mafa), Dalwa (the border with Konduga), Molai (the border with Damboa) and Jawuri (around Njimtilo, border with Kaga on the Damaturu road)."

According to him: "The insurgents launched two rocket propelled grenades into Gindari Polo area killing many civilians."


Twin Explosions in Gombe Hours Before Jonathan's Visit

01 Feb 2015
Segun Awofadeji in Gombe

Two bomb explosions were witnessed on Sunday afternoon in Gombe metropolis killing five people including the perpetrators of the blasts barely twenty hours before President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign visit to the State.

THISDAY checks revealed that the blasts which occurred within an interval of five minutes occurred at the gate of the old Gombe market in the heart of the town around 2:50 pm while the second occurred about five minutes later at the timber market which is directly behind the 301 Artillery Regiment Quarter Guard of the Nigerian Army.

According to eye witness accounts, the blast at the old Gombe market claimed the lives of a man and woman on a motorcycle at the main road directly opposite one of the gates of the market.

It was however not clear as at the time of filing this report whether the man riding the motorcycle had the same mission with the woman or if he was just a commercial motorcyclist because it was learnt that the explosives were hidden inside a food flask the woman was carrying.

An eye witness, Sanusi Abubakar who was at the scene of the market explosion told reporters that the man and woman who came down from the motorcycle and headed towards the market gate refused to be searched by the security and went back to the motorcycle.

It was also gathered that the bomb ripped-off when the security man followed them to inquire why they refused security check. He was said to have sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital.

When our correspondent headed towards the second scene of the blast about a kilometre apart, it was learnt that the explosion claimed the lives of three people, a kiosk owner, a food vendor and an on-looker. Several people including a soldier were said to have sustained injuries during the explosion which happened directly opposite a military check point.

In the meantime, the Gombe Police Command has banned the use motorcycles in the State capital from Sunday until Wednesday, 4th February 2015 because of the campaign visit of President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP and his rival, General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) of the APC on 2nd and 3rd February, 2015 respectively.

The Command’s spokesman, Fwaje Atajiri, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in a telephone interview with newsmen announced the motorcycle ban and also confirmed the occurrence of the twin blasts but said investigations were still ongoing.


Six Killed in Fresh Suicide Bomb Attack in Potiskum

01 Feb 2015
Michael Olugbode

Six persons have been killed in a fresh suicide bomb attack in Potiskum, Yobe state, north-east Nigeria, residents of the town said on Sunday.

The attacks are believed to have been initiated by bombers used by the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Witnesses said the explosions occurred around 1:20pm on Sunday in front of the residence of Sabo Garbu located opposite Federal Government College in Potiskum.

Sabo Garbu is the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Potiskum/Nangere federal constituency in Yobe state for the general elections.

Ali said the bomber came to the residence of the politician and detonated the explosives just in front of his house while he was hosting a lot of party supporters.

He said the explosive which went off killed six persons on the spot with several others sustaining injuries.

Authorities are yet to confirm the incidents but hospital authority, who pleaded anonymity, said six corpses where brought to the hospital with several others injured.

No comments: