Boko Haram/ISWAP: Group lauds military, Service Chiefs commitment to end terrorism in Nigeria

The Coalition against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) has applauded Nigeria’s military and Service Chiefs for displaying unwavering commitment to end insurgency.

The coalition made this known at a press conference on Monday on “the war against terrorism and the laudable efforts of the Nigerian military in the preservation of the territorial integrity against Boko Haram and other militant groups”.

In a statement signed by National Coordinator, Gabriel Onoja, CATE commended President Muhammadu Buhari under whose leadership the military recorded tremendous gains in the fight against terrorism.

The troops’ doggedness and high fighting sprit, committed with the onerous task of keeping Nigeria safe and secured within the ambit particularly impressed the group.

CATE, therefore, said it is “proud of the great exploits of the Nigerian troops for the numerous sacrifices they have made in the pursuant of peace all over the country”.

The coalition further hailed the Service Chiefs for the provision of sound strategic and policy direction for implementation in the war against terrorism.

CATE, thus, expressed “unalloyed confidence in the President Buhari, the Service Chiefs, as well as the officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Read full statement below:

I bring warm greetings from the leadership of the Coalition against Terrorism and Extremism, a group of civil society organizations at the forefront of winning the war against terrorism and extremism in Nigeria through the instrument of advocacy and intellectual engagement with the relevant stakeholders in Nigeria.

We stand on all existing protocol and warmly appreciate the presence of our dependable partners, the media, with whom we have been able to take the message of countering violent extremism to the nook and cranny of Nigeria. We thank you.

We also recognize the presence of other distinguished stakeholders, as well as members of civil society organizations that have indeed distinguished themselves as worth partners.

This press conference is deemed necessary in a bid to bring to public notice the efforts of the leadership of the country in the fight against terrorism in North-East Nigeria, as well as the activities of other militant groups in Nigeria.

As a first, the Coalition against Terrorism and Extremism in Nigeria wishes to use this medium to commend President Muhammadu Buhari, under whose leadership the Nigerian Military has been able to record tremendous gains in the fight against terrorism.

This fact was evident in the quality of appointments in this critical sector that has seen to the injection of renewed vigor and commitment in the quest towards preserving the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

The Coalition against terrorism and extremism must not fail to appreciate the doggedness and high fighting sprits of our loyal and gallant troops in the theater of operations in North-East Nigeria with the way and manner they have carried on with the war against terrorism even though the Boko Haram group have been receiving external support from countries and individuals against the interest of Nigeria.

Our fighting troops have remained committed and have carried on with the onerous task of keeping Nigeria safe and secured within the ambits of the rules of engagement in warfare.

We wish to state that there are abounding examples of how our fighting troops have come to the rescue of unarmed women and children, as well as elderly Nigerians, who have been affected in one way or the other by the crisis in North-East Nigeria.

A good example is the foiling of an attempt by the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group to carry out a suicide bombing attack in an Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camp in Gwoza, Borno State, which would have left no fewer than 10,000 women and children dead.

This example is indeed one out of the numerous foiled suicide bombing attempts of the Boko Haram/ISWAP group by the proactive Nigerian troops at the battlefront in North-East Nigeria.

The Coalition against terrorism and extremism is ever proud of the great exploits of the Nigerian troops for the numerous sacrifices they have made in the pursuant of peace all over the country. At this point, our vote of confidence in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as the leadership of the Armed Forces, is revered and unflinching.

This is also cognizant of the ability of the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to halt the vain seeking glory of decimated members of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group who are out to cause pandemonium in the polity through the instrument of propaganda.

The Coalition against terrorism and extremism lauds the resilience of the fighting troops in this onerous task. It wishes to encourage them to continue to give their best in the final push for the defeat of terrorism in Nigeria.

The various efforts of the Service Chiefs (Army, Navy, and Air force) are also commendable for the provision of sound strategic and policy direction for implementation in the war against terrorism.

The Coalition against terrorism and extremism wishes to use this medium to encourage well-meaning Nigerians to extend their support to our loyal and gallant troops as they continue their push for the total decimation of the Boko Haram/ISWAP group.

This is indeed necessary as winning the war against terrorism in Nigeria is a common cause that requires all hands to be on deck. Consequently, all well-meaning Nigerians are duty-bound to continue to extend their support to our gallant troops now, and always.

It must also be stated that in a matter of time, Nigerians shall indeed celebrate the end of the terrorist activities of Boko Haram/ISWAP. We must arise as compatriots for when Nigeria calls; we must obey.

The Coalition against Terrorism and Extremism herby expresses its unalloyed confidence in the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Service Chiefs, as well as the officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Long Live the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Thank you all, and God bless.

CALSER warns int’l NGOs against aiding terrorism in order to halt attacks on humanitarian workers, clergymen

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER) has called on the European Union Commission and all International NGOs in the north east providing food and drugs for the terrorists to stop in order to put an end to the continuous attacks on humanitarian workers and clergymen in the region.

CALSER made this known during a state of the nation press conference on Sunday in Abuja to address what it described as “the senseless Boko Haram/ISWAP attack on clergymen and humanitarian workers”.

According to the convener, Princess Ajibola, certain INGOs have continued to breach international protocol on their operations by aiding and abetting the supply and delivery of sophisticated weaponry, food and drugs to the Boko Haram/ISWAP group under the guise of rendering humanitarian services.

In its periodic assessment for the month of January, CALSER further warned political and religious organisations in the country not to expand the frontiers of Boko Haram by overheating the polity with unfounded allegations that are capable of undermining the ongoing efforts by the government to tame terrorism.

The centre, therefore, called on the European Union and the representatives of the United Nations in Nigeria to audit and caution international NGOs in operation in the northeast to stop the supply of arms and ammunitions and other essential items to the terrorist group.

Read full statement below:

The leadership of the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CASLER) welcomes you all to the State of the Nation Press Conference to address some of the issues of national importance in the country with regards to the senseless and barbaric attack on Clergies and Humanitarian workers in North East Nigeria by the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights is alarmed by the way and manner the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group has intensified attacks on unarmed and innocent clergies and humanitarian workers rendering services in North-East Nigeria.

All must condemn this callous act. It should serve as a wakeup call for all concerned stakeholders to put heads together towards ending the unscrupulous activities of the Boko Haram/ISWAP in North-East Nigeria.

It is indeed unfortunate that despite the efforts of the Nigerian Military in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, some groups/individuals are not happy with the gains made and have consequently constituted themselves as clogs in the wheels of progress by providing the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group with logistical support in furtherance of their evil agenda against Nigeria.

Ironically, The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights has it on competent authority that some local political organizations, as well as religious bodies, are covertly providing tactic support to the Boko Haram/ISWAP group all in a bid to undermine the efforts of the government.

The International Non-Governmental Organizations, as well as some local Non-Governmental Organizations, have continued to breach international protocol on their operations in North-East Nigeria by aiding and abetting the supply and delivery of sophisticated weaponry to the Boko Haram/ISWAP group under the guise of rendering humanitarian services.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights in times past have raised the alarm in the complicity of international NGOs in operation in North-East Nigeria in fueling the Boko Haram war by supplying them food, drugs, and other essential items that they need.

This trend is unacceptable, and it is advised that urgent steps are taken to arrest this decline before things get out of control because as it stands, the Boko Haram/ISWAP have been emboldened to carry out attacks on soft targets in women and children, students, clergies, as well as humanitarian workers because of the tactic support it has been receiving from both internal and external sources.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights also wishes to use this medium to call on the European Union and the representatives of the United Nations in Nigeria to audit and caution international NGOs in operation in North-East Nigeria to stop the supply of arms and ammunitions and other essential items to the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group with immediate effect. It must be stated that if this is done, we would witness a drastic reduction in the merciless killings and maiming carried out by the Boko Haram/ISWAP group in North-East Nigeria.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights also states that as a matter of necessity and urgency, the European Union must investigate the supply of sophisticated arms and ammunitions from her member countries to impose the needed sanctions on these countries. This is on the heels that many pieces of evidence indicate that some EU countries have been covertly selling arms and ammunitions to the Boko Haram/ISWAP group using fronts.

The European Union, in the interest of fairness, must act and deal decisively with its member countries that have been providing support to the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group. If this is not done, the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights might be indeed convinced that the European Union as a body might be aiding and abetting the propagation of terrorism in Nigeria.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights condemns these despicable acts and it is hopeful that the end of the Boko Haram/ISWAP threat to peace and tranquility in Nigeria would manifest soon if all concerned stakeholders indeed join hands with sincerity of mind and purpose to fight the common enemy of humanity.

The Centre for Africa Liberation also calls on all genuine stakeholders to encourage dialogue and strategic engagements in the best possible ways to bring about peace and not to destabilize the peace of the whole nation for their selfish agenda.

Religious and political bodies must exercise restraint in ensuring that selfish politicians do not take advantage of them to paint the activities of Boko Haram/ISWAP as religious or targeted at certain religions or ethnicity.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights wishes to state that Nigeria must be ridden of terrorism,4 and it behooves on all well-meaning countries, groups, and individuals to extend their support to Nigeria by doing what is right at all times.

With 150,000 weddings MFM debunks ‘Church with highest single ladies’ allegation

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Sunday debunked an online newspaper report that claimed it has the highest number of single ladies among churches in Nigeria.
The church in a statement by Collins Edomaruse, says that the MFM, through its singles ministry, GEN 218, in the last decade, “Has to its credit, over 150,000 weddings that have occured as a result of Gen218 forums.‎”
Quoting the pastor‎ in charge of the programme, Pastor Popoola,
GEN 218 offers training, teaching and guidance for bachelors and spinsters within the fold.
He said: “Here at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, our singles ministry, Gen218, is based on the scripture in Genesis 2:18 which states “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him”(NLT).
“It is an exciting and vibrant minstry, attracting singles from all other denominations since its inception. It was established by our Role models, Dr Daniel and Pastor Mrs Shade Olukoya.
“In the last decade, Gen 218 has provided training, teaching and guidance to thousands of single men and women across Nigeria, Africa and all around the world.
“To its credit, over 150,000 weddings have occured as a result of Gen218 forums.
“The false assumption that the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries has the largest number of female singles is baseless, erroneous and very misleading.
“The Mountain of Fire and Miracles ministry has a distinctive and well structured youth movement. The youths and young adults of this minstry, under the leadership of the General Overseer, have distinguished themselves as leaders in the fields of academia, music and sports with laurels to back this up. This fervency spills over into the Gen218 ministry, attracting large numbers of singles to our forums and events. It is therefore fallacious to assume the Mountain of Fire and Miracles ministries has the largest number of single females. Thousands of weddings hold on a weekly basis, both at regional and branch levels.
“Dr Olukoya and the Mountain of Fire and Miracles ministries have never stated that single men and women within this minstry should only marry within the minstry.
“We encourage and actively support all spinsters and bachelors, regardless of denomination, to build their relationships on biblical standards. We strongly advise all our single men and women to marry fellow believers within the Christian faith who equally believe in Christ’s redemption plan.
“We believe this is God’s will for marriage and is the best foundation for a successful and a Godly marriage.”

NDDC Audit: Why MD, Nunieh must not relent – Frank

Political activist and former Deputy National Publicity of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Sunday, urged the acting Managing Director of the NIger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Joy Nunieh, not to relent in her efforts to rid the agency of corruption.

Frank in a statement in Abuja, also advised the NDDC boss to ensure that the ongoing forensic audit of the organization is taken to its logical conclusion notwithstanding the lies being cooked against her and members of the Interim Management Committee by “corrupt politicians and contractors.”

He challenged the “faceless groups” behind insinuations that the MD is parading a ‘fake certificate’ to publish their facts, if any, or stop their blackmail attempt.

He added that the MD and the IMC need the support of all, especially critical stakeholders in the region to succeed.

Frank said: “It is very sad that Niger Deltans especially some youths in the region have allowed themselves to be misled by corrupt politicians and contractors who have been syphoning the patrimony of the Niger Delta through the NDDC.

“These corrupt politicians and contractors are enemies of the Niger Delta, they don’t want change; they want the status quo to remain so they can continue to fritter our wealth away, hence the campaign of calumny against Dr. Joy Nunieh – the acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

“They have thrown caution to the wind and are churning out outright lies through their proxies, hoping that their lies will stick in an effort to put a stop to the forensic audit that is being carried out in the NDDC.

“Dr. Nunieh must not relent, this forensic audit must be completed and those found wanting must be made to pay the price as a deterrent to others.

“These corrupt politicians and contractors whose stock in trade is to get jobs from NDDC and after mobilization, abscond and abandon the project, have tried to compromise her to no avail, they have now resorted to outright propaganda, blackmail and treat to her life, all in a bid to dissuade her from carrying out her mandate.

“They claim that her certificate is fake. I challenge these faceless groups that are being sponsored be the enemies of Niger Delta to publish any proof they have against her or forever keep quiet.

“I therefore urge the Niger Delta youths, Niger Delta citizens and lovers of Niger Delta to rally round Dr Joy Nunieh and give her all the necessary support to enable her continue to carry out the forensic audit of the NDDC.

“This is an opportunity to put the NDDC on the right part so that the average Niger Deltan can benefit from the NDDC as under her leadership, the NDDC will fulfill its mandate to the Niger Delta.

He added: “As acting MD NDDC, Dr Joy Nunieh has given scholarship to one child per ward in each of the wards in the whole of the Niger Delta, that translates to over 200 children.

“This is the first time that these scholarship is given to the children of the Niger Delta from the ward level and not the children of politicians or highly placed individuals children.

“She has done something that her predecessors couldn’t do and will do more, as such should be applauded and encouraged instead of being blackmailed and her life threatened.”

He urged the nation’s security agencies not to allow any harm befall the MD while urging President Muhammadu Buhari to give her all the necessary support so she can carry out her mandate, especially the forensic audit.

“I also call on all Niger Deltans irrespective of age or party affiliations, especially the Niger Delta senators to sheath their sword, put their personal interests aside and support Dr. Nunieh so that she can do more for the Niger Delta.

“The interest of the region is bigger than any personal interest and therefore should be paramount.
I also use this opportunity to appeal and call on the uncommon minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to support Dr. Nunieh by using his experience to help her achieve the set goals.

“I also call on the traditional rulers and the governors of the Niger Delta region to come together and support her laudable ideals that will accelerate the development of the region.

It is clear that and we are aware that the campaign against her is because she has refused to play ball and they are hell bent on removing her so that they can bring their stooge to do their bidding and continue to loot the NDDC.

“Finally, Dr. Nunieh is already an accomplished woman before her appointment as acting MD of NDDC, no amount of blackmail or intimidation will work against her.”

Clerics begin 21 days prayer for Nigeria’s unity against destabilization

About 500 clerics have again gathered in Abuja to kick start  a 21 days prayer and fasting session in what they describe as against the forces planning the destabilization of Nigeria.

The clerics drawn from various churches across the country said with the present situation of things in the country, prayers and fasting is urgently needed to salvage the Nation.

Led by Bishop Sunday Garuba, the President of the National Interfaith and religious organization for peace, NIFROP, he said the prayer session that will end on the 15th of February will afford the clerics to intercede so that Nigeria can be healed.

Speaking from the second book of Chronicles 7:14 (New International Version) which declares that “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 

Garuba said,  “We have come to that point when we can no longer persist in our division and way of life that rend us asunder contrary to God’s will. 

“We can no longer continue to posture that all is well when it is clear that God wants us to repent of the sins we commit against ourselves and the glorious land that the Lord has provided for us in Nigeria. 

The Cleric said NIFROP have made Agape its creed, doing onto others as the Lord ordained irrespective of sectarian variations. 

He said this is done to the extent that compatriots call upon God in their own understanding in a manner that does not violate the tenets of true worship as revealed by the spirit.

He added that there is no basis to go to war with a fellow human over theological divergence. 

Continuing he said, “it is for this very reason that prayers offered by NIFROP are answered when we continue to hear from God each time we gather to seek understanding through supplications.  We had prayed in the past and God exposed the sponsors of the herdsmen/farmers crisis.  

“We had also prayed in the past and God humbled the Boko Haram terrorists since President Muhammadu Buhari came on board. God brought President Buhari on board after the prayers of this group to redeem Nigeria and the many blessings. These terrorists had thumped their nose at God in their ignorance but they were put to shame because they never knew that President Buhari was coming as God’s right hand against their evil intentions.  

He said not to be forgotten are those that had kept Nigeria backwards by stealing our commonwealth. 

“They pushed God’s people to the wall to the extent that we had to again resort to prayers until God exposed all these looters since President Buhari came on board as a servant of God.  

“Our  perseverance and persistence in prayers has been of help in warding off the sustained evil and demonic attacks which has made the devil to continue to fail in all his machinations against our nation, Nigeria. Brethren I can tell you that all these are the reason why the devil is out to destabilize this nation. They do not want to see anything good in the country”he added 

The Man of God implored brethren not to allow these evil ones regroup after God has given the nation victory over them. It is for this reason that Nigerians, irrespective of faith, must rise up in prayers for the unity of the country. The intention of these demons is to turn our land into their own killing field but our intercessions to God has not allowed them to prevail over us. Rather, we shall eternally triumph over them. 

Garuba said their latest strategy of using terrorists to attack Christians is meant to provoke believers in Christ Jesus to forsake their faith and become vengeful in contravention of the Lord’s charge that we should not embark on vengeance. They want to make us lose the grace of the Lord that abounds in our life. 

“Their expectations are that Christians will launch reprisals against Moslems and shed blood for their demons to drink. But the wisdom of the Lord that profited and the spirit of discerning have laid bare their plot to us such that no one fell into the snare they had set out for us. 

Brethren, knowing the powers of prayers, we exhort you all to again resort to prayers in asking God to ward off these latest rounds of spiritual and terrorists’ attacks directed at tormenting God’s elected. We shall again triumph and have cause to sing songs of thanksgiving onto the Lord”he said

They were various prayer session, song rendition at the flag off ceremony. 

The killing of Ropvil Daciya Dalep and NANS debased aluta-crazy

By Usman Bio

What is known today as National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has an enviable history. It started as National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) sometime in 1956. The students who pioneered the idea intended the organization to be a rally point for Nigerian students.

For decades of the existence of NANS which assumed its present nomenclature in 1980 saw the organization vigorously discharging the mandate of pursuing issues centered on the country’s education system, welfare or rights of students and challenging bad government policies with alternative perspectives.

Until the late 80s and as one of its leaders in my undergraduate days at the Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria, NANS defined its existence as a formidable and potent students’ body. But the reality today is different. NANS has morphed into a quasi-political organization, comprising lobbyists and debased chasers of the shadows of illicit wealth from corrupt politicians.

My heart bled when I read contents and arguments raised in the public statement signed by NANS, one Danielson Akpan released mainly in respect of Ropvil Daciya Dalep, an undergraduate student of the University of Maiduguri, who was abducted by Boko Haram on his way back to campus from Jos and later killed. May the soul of Dalep and other victims of terrorism in Nigeria find eternal peace.

But the statement advertised the final degeneration of NANS to an embarrassing level. Our students’ body has lost its voice of conscience. They canvassed positions far beyond their purview and displayed generous ignorance anchored on presumptions. We have never had it this bad in NANS.

The contents of the public statement portraited NANS more as a pressure group for politicians and betrayed the essence of her existence. Worse still, it never made pretensions of mutating into worthless paid activists in the service of masked paymasters.

How it has become the duty of NANS officials to dabble into the campaigns of advocating for the sack of Service and Security Chiefs beats my imagination. This is the subsisting posture and sermons of politicians or sabs hellbent on reversing the gains Nigeria has recorded on the Boko Haram/ISWAP counter-operations.

It is quite tragic and it traumatized me to realize that NANS could afford to commercialize the killing of one of her own by visiting politicians with press statements ostensibly written to extort money from Nigerian politicians and spite the government. That the students’ body has become a willing tool in the hands of desperate politicians who are covertly instigating and funding terrorism, violence and killings in the country to discredit the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is most incredible.

When we functioned under NANS, the union was respected each time it raised its voice on a national issue. There were no lone rangers in the union as the statement exposed, but decisions were debated and decisions collectively endorsed before stepping out in public domain. Our position was concrete and our views held sacrosanct.

But we have consciously fretted away such veneration. We are pained. We are bereaved over the the killing of the UniMaid student and other Nigerians by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists. We mourn with the grieving families and all Nigerians caught in this nightmare and quagmire of terrorism.

But for those who are still alive, the action of the NANS should worry us more. It is senseless and outright wickedness to side with oppressors of your country in her moment of torments as demonstrated by the greedy, selfish and unfocused leadership of NANS. They are worse than the proverbial snake in green grasses.

The world and Nigerians have the divine responsibility to closely monitor the destructive tendencies and satanic inclination of NANS. I suspect some of them are on the payroll of the foreign sponsors of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorism in Nigeria.

I was shocked that NANS’ sight was blurred in seeing the determination, commitment and difference the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari has made and continue to make in quenching the consuming fires of insurgencies and insurrections in the country.

Perhaps, by NANS cursed wisdom, President Buhari is wrong for reclaiming the 18 LGAs in the Northeast which Boko Haram forcefully annexed before his Presidency. Buhari could be wrong for freeing over 20,000 Nigerians held in captivity in secret camps by insurgents. And Buhari is wrong for halting the spread of Boko Haram terrorism to the Southern part of the country. Buhari is also wrong for freeing the entire north east including the FCT and Plateau from the daily torments of suicide bombings and daily killings by Boko Haram.

The President is wrong for deflating IDPs camps in the Northeast and the steady progress in the reconstruction and rebuilding of the Northeast devastated by years of insurgency. These are the reasons I suspect have caused the restlessness of these odious NANS officials.

But NANS cannot play this smartness on Nigerians. We are neither deceived by their veiled devilry, garbed in polluted wisdom and sympathy with terrorists’ kingpins. They want the Service and Security Chiefs who have achieved these milestones in counter-terrorism in Nigeria to be sacked and pliant ones appointed to reverse the gains. This is a crazy idea!

I have discerned that this has been the desire of foreign agents and other sponsors of terrorism in the last one year. It has been the fervent prayers of Boko Haram sponsors. And it’s unfortunate that NANS has submitted itself to the dance of such destructive drumbeats, with the lyrics trumpeted by enemies against their own country.

Let me remind.NANS that their induced anger with President Buhari’s determination to regenerate and redeem Nigeria cannot change this narrative. NANS must realize that under the Buhari Presidency NNPC is no longer open for anyone to loot. Therefore, by accepting to play such unpatriotic roles of emergency activists in the hope of approaching any government official to suppress a script or to collect cash and become rich or live large on campus is unrewarding investment now.

It is not lucrative business now. NANS must be goaded into the realization that nothing under the Buhari Presidency pays, except hard work. So, they can continue to spew the nonsensical and destructive campaigns, but no one’s ox is gored.

Under this government, it has also not been easy with paid emergency activists. The NANS leaders can confirm from the experiences of Charlie Boy, Deji Adeyanju and several others who have had to diversify their trade in order to keep afloat. And in truthfulness to these NANS leaders, they are worse than the devil by joining the league of those pulling down Nigeria.

Why would they think of using the killing of the UniMaid student as a source of cake to service their epicurean life styles? It is the lowest level of debasement any human being on earth can condescend. Today, I can confirm that truly, NANS itself has also died! It should first mourn its funeral. What a pity!

Bio is a historian and wrote from University of Ilorin.

Insecurity: Cleric claims God is angry with CAN leadership

The General Overseer of the Ark of Covenant Total Life Ministries, Prophet Isaac Itodo has revealed that the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been enmeshed in playing politics and fraternizing with political opponents of the present administration in heating the polity in Nigeria at the detriment of uniting the body of Christ in Nigeria.

The fiery cleric stated this in an exclusive chat with journalists in the wake of the killing of the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa state, Rev. Lawan Andimi by Boko Haram terrorist group.
Prophet Isaac Itodo stated that the prophecy from God is that the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has compromised its position as a body of Christ to lead the children of God by availing itself as a willing political tool for sale to the highest bidder.
“The Prophecy from God is that from the time of Ayo Oristejafor as the Chairman of CAN, the leadership of the association was compromised when they started dinning and winning with politicians and also using CAN as a political tool for settling political scores.”
“As strange as this may sound, the revelation from God is that the leadership of CAN as it was engaged in too many activities that brought the body of Christ into disrepute in return for a plate of porridge.”
When asked what he meant by activities that brought the body of Christ into disrepute, the clergy stated that some of the decisions taken by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan were not in the interest of the country and instead of the leadership of CAN to speak out, they supported him by playing the religious card.
“The CAN was a willing tool used by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to hide the killings and mismanagement of public funds meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition to prosecute the Boko Haram war in North-East Nigeria.”
The cleric further added that some leaders of CAN instead of sober reflecting on the killing of the Chairman of CAN in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, they have capitalized on it to make monetary demands from highly placed politicians in the country for propaganda purposes.
“God works in mysterious ways. Ways we mortals cannot comprehend. For in Romans 1:18, it stated that “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”
“It is ironic that these leaders have forgotten so soon on about the wrath of God in Ezekiel 25:17 that states how God will “execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes. Then they will know that I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon them.”
The cleric averred that God is angry with the leadership of CAN and advises them to retrace their steps or be ready for God’s visitation upon them.
“It is indeed a shame that the body of Christ could denigrate to a level where truth would be far from them, where they take pride in bearing false witness against brethren. God is angry with them on how they have compromised by preferring to tell lies instead of telling the truth at all times like Jesus Christ.”
Prophet Isaac Itodo further asserted that CAN allowed itself to become an accomplice in the unemployment equation by seeking to pray for Governors and top politicians that are ready to pay than holding a nationwide spiritual exercise to disgrace the devil and his plans for Nigeria.
“The leadership of CAN is cash and carry, where prayers are offered in return for money. They prefer to be seen in the company of governors and other political office holders who can pay their price in return for prayers. And to think that the leadership of CAN is now using the killing of Rev. Lawan Andimi to seek personal gains from top politicians in the country is very sad.”
“The leadership of CAN cannot mock God because instead of bringing the Church together, they have elected to share money and utter just anything to the highest bidder because they have turned CAN to the biggest political party in Nigeria by using the name of God in vain to promote their empire for selfish interests and gains, forgetting that the scriptures state that Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Prophet Isaac Itodo stated that several other revelations were received from God on how the leadership of CAN had compromised. If they do not desist from their old ways, the wrath of God will come down heavily on them.
“God revealed that the leadership of CAN must imbibe the spirit of uprightness and deviate from their old ways. That they should seek His Face in times of tribulations rather than running to those whose actions and inactions have contributed to the level of insecurity in Nigeria.”
When asked about the state of insecurity in the country as one of God’s wrath on Nigeria, the clergy stated that the issue of insecurity had been politicized and blown out of proportion by politicians.
“The issue of insecurity has been politicized, and it is sad that CAN have been brought into the fray by these same set of politicians that are fueling the crisis to demand the sacking of Service Chiefs. Monies have indeed exchanged hands with the leadership of CAN for them to be calling for the sack of Service Chiefs”.

Boko Haram: Tsav writes editors, seeks support for troops, against fake news

A former Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, has cautioned Nigerian editors over the implication of fake news as it concerns the war against terrorism.

Mr. Tsav made this known on Thursday in a letter titled “winning the war against insurgency and the role of a patriotic press” and addressed to the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

According to the elder statesman, journalists are rather promoting insurgency, than supporting the military despite remarkable gains.

As partners in progress, he revealed that the media have a great role to play collectively in winning the final war against Boko Haram.

While it will take a battalion of armies about a year to bring an entire nation down, Mr. Tsav reckoned that the pen requires just a second to pull down a whole nation.

Hence he wants journalist to be cautious in reporting insurgency, so not to, in a way, promote terrorist propaganda.

For this to be achieved, however, the ex-Police chief believes the Nigerian Guild of Editors must be actively involved, blocking mischievous reporters influenced by unscrupulous power monks from compromising our national security.

Alhaji Tsav, therefore, urged Nigerian editors to embark on thorough fact-checks and show support for the military.

Read full letter below:

My Dear Nigerian Guild of Editors.

I extend my warmest regards to members of Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE). Same to every Nigerian wherever he is resident now, whether in Southeast, Southwest, North Central or Northeast. I appreciate our unbreakable fraternity whether in our offices, our homes in the city or villages.

I am an elder statesman and proud to be a Nigerian with vast knowledge on security issues. I spent my youthful to adult age, serving my country in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) diligently, loyally, patriotically and faithfully for 35 years before I retired.

I finally retired as the Police Commissioner, Lagos State. And sometime, years back, I acted as the MILAD of Sokoto state. It therefore means I have vast experience in security matters. It is what nobody can take away or derobe from me, until I answer the final call of Almighty Allah.

In this capacity, I have presented papers at Media seminars, workshops and conferences locally and internationally in the course of my working schedules in serving Nigeria. I have mainly interrogated security experts, top Government officials and other professionals on security matters.

And in all, I have always projected and promoted the view that much as the media must perform it’s constitutional responsibility as watchdogs of society; there must be some restraint when it relates to national security issues. We must be mindful not to incense the public to react violently in a nation under serious insecurity threats by our reportage or might of the pen.

We have insecurity threats that have threatened the very foundations of our robust lives and peaceful co-existence. These issues have gravely impeded us in dimensions we can only recollect in regrets. We need to be careful in the manner scenes at the battlefield are reported by the media.

By our actions or inactions and in most of the reports I have read on the ongoing clearance operations in Nigeria’s Northeast against Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorists, it means journalists are rather promoting insurgency, than helping Nigeria and the global community overcome it. We are all affected this badly!

When you read through some media reportorials on the military’s counter- insurgency operations in Nigeria’s Northeast, one gets angered that our journalists are rather supporting the atrocities of terrorists against Nigeria. Let me point it to our editors that a variant of terrorism is called, cyberspace terrorism. It’s more dangerous than even the trench battles with insurgents.

We should not posture very eagerly in promoting terrorists propaganda on triumphs over violent raids of our communities. And most times, it’s fake news, crafted to service the ego of their foreign paymasters and sponsors from other foreign nations. Whatever happens, I plead that restraint should be observed by war correspondents on reporting insurgency in Nigeria.

I say this because the reports of some war correspondents, reporting the insurgency conflict in Nigeria’s Northeast, drape and yawn with un-patriotism, disloyalty and pandering to the overt pleasantness of the reporters to insurgents and their paymasters.

Honestly, the Nigerian media has no reason to play this card, when their country is under the fumes of Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorism. It’s unfair to all of us. And I dare say, such excesses from inexperienced and excited reporters on the field must be checkmated by editors manning the security desk in the media Houses.

Let me remind all of us that we have a duty and a price to pay for the peace of our nation. We cannot shirk from it, under the illusion that it is the responsibility of the Military, Airforce, Navy, the Police or other uniformed men and women.

On security, we are all partners in progress with the Military and other para-military organizations. We have a great role to play collectively in winning the final war against Boko Haram insurgency Your pen, arrow, cudgels are very important, much as conventional weaponry in this battle. Let’s not leave anything to chance.

Of course, I don’t want to dispute an ancient scholar, Edward Bulwer Lytton, who said, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Today, he is countered empirically in the dynamism of other equally sound scholars that bombs are mightier than the pen! So, must we toe this line of thinking to self-destruct?

So, the pen can either mitigate or inflate the atmosphere of war where Nigeria has found itself in the current counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists. I believe, the pen can do incalculable damage when deployed wrongly.

Whilst it will take a battalion of Armies about a year to bring an entire nation down, it will take the pen just one second to pull down a whole nation.The pen can also build the nation. The pen defeated tyranny in the past, even in Nigeria and brought us democracy.

I want to believe the pen can still humble Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, if only we deploy it patriotically. We should not be more excited in promoting Boko Haram/ISWAP devilish atrocities and horrendous crimes against Nigerians and humanity generally.

The Nigerian Guild of Editors must assist us in this battle. They should deploy their intelligence to block mischievous reporters from compromising our national security, especially in the traditional media, who are influenced by unscrupulous power monks.

When such un-patriotic stuff is churned out through the traditional media, it’s unpardonable. If Nigerians read it through the social media, one can forgive; but when it is the traditional media that commits such blunders, then there is need to be afraid for our country.

I am worried because the traditional media’s specific recent publication of a glaring falsehood that 17 soldiers were killed by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Gwoza/ Bama/ Pulka axis and others has been exposed by concrete evidence as fake! This should prick the conscience of editors who allow such flawed scripts from reporters to qualify for publication and public consumption.

Nigerian Guild of Editors! Please, do us a fact-check each time your reporters in the Northeast send news to you from the frontlines. Verify and ascertain the truthfulness of the story on your desk before going to press. And in such circumstances of overtly partial news in support of terrorists, Nigerian troops are not only discouraged, but their morale is demoralised.

Nigerians should know that if we lose the war to the insurgents, it is partly because the media failed us. If we win it, it is because the pen, a very strong weapon in warfare supported us. We should not use the pen in our hands against ourselves.

I thank all security agents for their wonderful job and most warmly, you the media.

Caution Igini over “planned” electoral robbery in Akwa-Ibom, APC tells INEC

As Saturday’s rerun senatorial election in Akwa Ibom state gets closer, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC)Yekini Nabena, has accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the state, Mike Igini of working for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Speaking to newsmen Thursday in Abuja, Nabena told the electoral body to call Igini to order following his (Igini) alleged antecedents which saw him compromise, manipulate and swing the 2019 elections conducted in the state in favour of the PDP.

INEC had cancelled elections in the Essein Udim Local Government Area of the state and ordered a rerun scheduled for Saturday.

Nabena said, “The Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Akwa Ibom state, Mike Igini despite proven incidents of bias against the APC continues to preside over INEC in Akwa Ibom state. Igini controversially declared every candidate of PDP winner in 2019 elections.

“It is in record that Sen. Goodwill Akpabio challenged INEC and the Court of Appeal upheld his appeal, nullified PDP’s fraudulent victory and ordered retrieval of the certificate of return given to the PDP Senator by INEC. However the Court of Appeal ordered repeat election in only Essein Udim Local Government Area of the state, Sen. Akpabio’s LGA.

“Sen. Akpabio now a Minister for the Niger Delta has opted out of the repeat election citing his current higher responsibilities to the Nation and the continuous occupation of INEC office by a compromised REC.

“A clear proof of compromise is the case Sen. Akpabio’s state constituency where APC won and INEC refused to issue certificate of return till date. Infact without the order of court Mike Igini and INEC plans to repeat state constituency election in Essein Udim Local Government Area on Saturday.

“APC won a Federal House of Representatives seat in Cross River and INEC changed the REC for Saturday’s rerun. In Akwa Ibom the REC did well for PDP hence he is retained for all reruns where APC won.

“Infact the then operations head in 2019, Mr. Okereke who retired has been recalled and posted to Akwa Ibom to help bury APC electorally. Mike Igini has brought his blood relation, Mr.Vincent Ogene who is serving as an electoral officer in Anambra state to man his planned rigging in Essien Udim LGA of Akwa Ibom state.

“Hon. Nse Ntuen won Essien Udim state constituency election and was declared winner and returned elected by INEC’s Prof Ignatius Uduk but Mike Igini refused to give him certificate of return because he was of APC. The loser went to the tribunal and the PDP case was struck out. PDP appealed to court of Appeal which ruled its case was rightly struck out at the lower tribunal.

“In a twist INEC cross appealed stating that lower tribunal having struck out the PDP case should not have reordered that certificate of return be given to the APC winner. The Appeal court agreed meaning status quo as at date of first return was restored. Curiously, INEC interpretated this to mean it should conduct fresh election. Hence, without a court order Mike Igini has ordered fresh state Assembly election in Essien Udim LGA.

“Igini is personally campaigning for PDP, abandoned 31 Electoral Officers (EOs) and brought a cousin, Mr. Vincent Ogene.

From Delta state who is an EO in Anambra state and who did well for PDP in 2019 elections in Anambra state. INEC must urgently call its Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini to order and stop this imminent electoral robbery.”

EU center commends Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations

The European Union Centre for Human Rights Protection (EUCHRP) has commended the Nigerian government and military for making significant progress in its counter-insurgency operations.

The Centre made this known in a report: “ Threats posed by Boko Haram/ISWAP, the response of the Nigerian State and plight of civilians”.

In the report signed by Executive Director, Stuart McGhie and released on Tuesday, the Luxembourg-based centre appraised President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring Nigerians and Nigeria is safe from enemies within and beyond its borders.

The team of highly-skilled researchers took into account the origin of the Boko Haram/ISWAP sect, previous government’s efforts and how the current administration and military leadership led by Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has turned the tide positively.

Among others, the group highlighted transparency in defence procurement; human right and obedience to rule of engagement; procurement of modern equipment as well as regional cooperation as the catalyst.

Notwithstanding these obvious gains, the European Union Centre for Human Rights Protection, however, urged the Nigerian government and military not to rest on its laurels.

Read full report below:

Introduction

The emergence of the Boko Haram sect could be traced to the activities of Mohammed Yusuf, who called for the reinstitution of sharia governing Muslim Empires, which existed long before the British Empire subdued it. He argued that the colonial administration had turned the area to anti- Islam, breeding amongst the people an un-Islamic lifestyle. He was quoted in a BBC interview saying that “There are prominent Islamic preachers who have seen and understood that the present Western-style education is mixed with issues that run contrary to our beliefs in Islam…” Hence the name “Boko Haram” used by media, Government, and the general public to refer to the group who took up a more radical approach at the death of its founding leader, Mohammed Yusuf, who died in prison in 2009.

The Boko Haram Sect, since then under Abubakar Shekau’s leadership, has evolved from fringe religious movement into one of the most lethal terrorist organizations in the world. The group has been linked and has claimed several terrorist attacks against the Nigerian state, and most back-breaking was the kidnap of over 200 girls (Chibok) from a boarding school on 14th April 2014 with President Goodluck Jonathan at the helm of governance.

The inability of the Government of the day to successfully persecute a counter-insurgency war against the sect highlighted the failures of the Jonathan government on the military front. More “high profile” attacks were carried out by the sect; several civilians and military personals were killed, civilians displaced, Chibok girls unreached, lots of monies spent, and many more stolen.

This was the security situation the Nigerian military faced before the election of Muhammadu Buhari as President in 2015. Since the advent of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, it could be argued that the Security situation in Nigeria had significantly improved, and the Nigerian military has successfully launched several military campaigns against the Boko Haram group.

Nigerian Government Response against Boko Haram

Available statistics indicate that Boko Haram was able to exert its authority and control over some areas of northeast Nigeria. They made Camp Zero in Sambisa forest a reliable defense, training, and command center for their operations. The importance of dislodging the terror group from their Sambisa hideout could not have been overemphasized. It was indeed a significant victory for the Nigerian military authorities, which struck a heavy blow on the capability of the sect.

Dislodging Boko Haram from the Sambisa forest was not a question of “should” but a question of “how” for the Nigerian military who faced a daunting task of wrestling the forest from terrorist control.

The policy and administrative arms of the military had been accused of being detached from the reality of soldiers on the frontline. Complaints from troops about inadequate supplies of equipment and poor welfare was nullified by the relocation of the military command center to Maiduguri aimed at centralizing operations close to the action, cut the bureaucracy and speed up decision-making.

These initiatives paid off evidenced in the fact that Boko Haram was not only dislodged from the Sambisa forest but were also continually retreated into neighboring countries. Since the launch of Operation Lafia Dole, Boko Haram’s capacity to attack territories outside Borno state has been limited. This is a great gain against a lethal and highly sophisticated group whose activities extended to the capital city of Abuja.

The Highlights of the War against Terrorism in Nigeria (2015-date)

Transparency in Defence Procurement

To enhance transparency, the Nigerian military has since brought corrupt officers and officials to book and also recovered looted security funds. Due to the irregularities that took place in the defence spending, the National Security Adviser instituted a committee to investigate weapon procurement since 2007 to check irregularities that lead to the purchasing of sub-standard and unserviceable equipment.

The superior firepower of troops, especially those provided by the Nigeria military, has paid off significantly on the battlefield. A large number of terrorists have since been captured, some killed, and others have fled their hideouts. In a bid to strengthen trust and transparency in executing the war against terrorism between the military and the general public, the command center of Operation Lafiya Dole conducts media briefing on the progress and setbacks of the operation.

Regional Cooperation

Before the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s President, the Multi-National Joint Task Force established in 1998 was a weak regional security set up that could not live up to its billings highlighted by the pull out of Chad and Niger in 2013 and 2014 (peak years of Boko Haram terrorism) and the overrunning of the MNJTF headquarters near Baga (Nigeria) by Boko Haram terrorist which was a massive blow on the regional security set up.

However, the regional cooperation was reviewed and revived in mid-2015 with headquarters at N’Djamena commanded by a Nigerian General through the diplomatic prowess of the President Muhammadu Buhari which permitted the execution of joint operations, planning, intelligence sharing and the temporal permission of Nigerien and Chadian troops to intervene in Nigerian territory in the Lake Chad area.

Procurement of Modern Equipment

The Nigerian Government responded to the activities of Boko Haram by procuring modern equipment for the execution of the war against the sect. The procurement of modern equipment and weaponry lifted troop morale and, as such, impacted on the military gains against the sect. The Government also solicited and continues to solicit for international assistance in this regard.

In December 2016, the German Ministry of the defence supplied the Nigerian military with modern mobile medical units, several metal detectors, and counter-improvised Explosive Device and Explosive Ordinance Disposal. In the same year, during the African Union, Summit, Britain had committed 860 million Euros in foreign aid to Nigeria to boast her efforts against Boko Haram. Most of these donations have been judiciously spent on arms procurement, which has lifted troop morale. The Nigerian military, since the commencement of new procurement policy, got rid of sub-standard weapons and bad equipment.

Human Right and Obedience to Rule of Engagement

It is important to note that the Nigerian military instituted measures that check excessive human rights abuse as may be committed by the armed forces in the course of its military engagement with Boko Haram in the North East. By October 2015, the Nigerian military had begun to investigate cases of indiscipline by soldiers, including human rights abuses, and also announced the creation of a human rights desk to handle complaints from members of the public.

In August 2017, a presidential investigation Panel on Review of Compliance of Armed Forces with Human Rights Obligations and Rules of Engagement was instituted to “investigate, prosecute and punish all crimes under international law and other serious violations of human rights law, whether committed by Boko Haram, Nigerian military or the civilian joint task force.”

To ensure effective control of arbitrariness and lawlessness by military personnel, deliberate, unambiguous rules or directives that define the circumstances, conditions, degree and manner in which the use of force or actions which might be construed as provocative may be applied, are given out by competent authority to every soldier on internal security operation.

These rules are consistent, account for a variety of potential scenarios and the political and military aspects of a given situation. Such awareness and the penchant for the respect for human rights by the military leadership ensures that at all times, troops are aware of these rules before they are launched into the operational arena, and any violation is met with a severe penalty. By so doing, a lot of human rights abuses are being checkmated.

Conclusion

Security is a vital part of socio-economic development in Nigeria, that is why the Nigerian Government deploys every ounce of capability within her reach to protect her own, whether it is her territory, people, sovereignty or resources from potential and actual threats from fellow states, non-state and stateless actors such Boko Haram. The above report has shown that the Nigerian Government has made significant progress security-wise in the past decade, especially against insurgency activities in the North East region. It is on this note that this report recommends that the Nigerian Government should not rest on her laurels but continue to defend her citizens and territory from enemies within and beyond its borders.