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Buhari  tells Nigerians that they will vote in peaceful atmosphere

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coic
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Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), the president, declared on Thursday that his administration would ensure that Nigerians cast their ballots in an environment that supports free and fair elections on February 25 and March 11, 2023, despite the election-season high spirits.

When he met with Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary-General of the World Customs Organization, at the State House in Abuja, Buhari said, “I have made it a cardinal commitment to ensure that every Nigerian is able to exercise their franchise by participating in a free and fair election… it is our objective to ensure that this takes place in a peaceful and conducive atmosphere.”

Mikuriya is in Nigeria for a Global Conference on Fragile Borders with the theme “Enabling Customs in Fragile and and Conflict Affected Situations,” according to a statement signed by Femi Adesina, Special Advisor to the President on Media and Publicity.

The statement is titled ‘How fragile borders fuel terrorism, economic sabotage, and illicit flow of arms, by President Buhari.’

Commending Mikuriya for his fourth visit to Nigeria, Buhari said his latest appearance comes when the electorate goes to the polls.

He said, “I have made it a cardinal commitment to ensure each Nigerian is able to exercise their franchise by participating in a free and fair election, in true practice of our relatively nascent democracy.

“It is our objective to ensure this takes place in a peaceful and conducive atmosphere, despite all the usual excitement and gamesmanship that is known to occur during election campaigning.”

Buhari also lamented that the porous borders of many African states and the attendant proliferation of illicit arms were fueling economic sabotage and prolonging the fight against terrorism.

He argued that Nigeria and her neighbours must place a higher premium on the effective policing of borders, as the fragile nature of entry points into various countries enhances terrorism.

“In fact, it is quite frankly the singular most concerning sub-issue in our national security agenda. The fragility of our borders has been a major Achilles heel in our fight against terrorism, economic sabotage and illicit flow of small and light weapons,” Buhari remarked.

Therefore, the President lauded the timeliness of the Global Conference on Fragile Borders, expressing his delight that the WCO dedicated an entire conference to the subject and theme.

This move, he said, recognises not only the importance of border security but dedicates working sessions and brainstorming opportunities around it.

This is “of critical importance for us as a country as we go to the polls, but equally important to most countries on the continent, and dare I say the world,” said Buhari.

He also briefed the WCO Secretary-General and his team of the several efforts of his regime in combating the challenges of fragile borders.

They include the National Security strategy 2019, which promotes close inter-agency cooperation and the National Counter-Terrorism strategy, which supports the armed forces in launching operations to secure the borders, demonstration of a strong political will to support Nigeria Customs Service as a critical agency of the state in the discharge of its security and revenue mandates, amongst others.

Read Also: 2023: Osinbajo out to procure immunity against prosecution, Arewa youths lambastVP over ambition

Buhari also cited the approval of the Federal Executive Council for a new Customs Modernisation Project that actively promotes technology integration into border operations, saying the ongoing effort to review the Customs enabling law would strengthen the service and provide stiffer sanctions against smuggling and other criminal acts.

Dr Mikuriya, who thanked Nigeria for hosting the three-day conference, described the WCO as a 184-member worldwide organisation in which Nigeria plays an active and vibrant role.

He said Customs services must now go beyond mere revenue generation and delve into security, as “without security at the borders, we cannot effectively collect revenue.”

Mikuriya lamented that Customs officials were often targets of terrorists and armed groups, “and so we need to have collaboration with other security agencies, share intelligence, and deploy technology.”

2023: Osinbajo out to procure immunity against prosecution, Arewa youths lambastVP over ambition

By
Toby
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The Coalition of Arewa Civil Society Groups has kicked against the presidential ambition of Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, noting that he intends to shield himself from probe after the expiration of his tenure.

The group, which declared the VP as unfit to run for the most-coveted position in the country, made this known at a press conference in Abuja.

In a statement signed by its converner, Comrade Musa Attah, the Arewa group said Osinbajo’s track-record in the handling of the social intervention programmes is still being questioned.

Attah said Osinbajo’s mismanagement of funds prompted President Muhammadu Buhari to create a new ministry for that purpose.

The group, therefore, called on all Nigerians to resist vehemently the attempt by Osinbajo to hide under cover of immunity to escape the long hands of the law.

According to Attah, a vote for Osinbajo is against progress

Read full statement below:

The leadership of the coalition of arewa civil society groups welcomes you all to this significant press conference which has become a child of necessity given the recent clamour for the vice president, yemi osinbajo, to vie for the highest political office in the country.

As a group representing a vast interest of critical stakeholders in northern Nigeria, and some other parts of the country, we are constrained to lend our voice to an ambition we consider misplaced and against the interest of the generality of Nigerians in our quest for sustainable growth and development.

The presidential aspiration of vice president Yemi Osinbajo does not suit the purpose given his track record in the mismanagement of the various social intervention programmes of the federal government hitherto domiciled in his office until recently before the creation of the ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development.

It is instructive to ask questions about how vice president yemi osinbajo managed the national social investments programmes (nsip), intended to tackle poverty and hunger across the country.

For the records, the suite of programmes under the nsip focuses on ensuring a more equitable distribution of resources to vulnerable populations, including children, youth and women, under the supervision of the office of the vice president.

The n-power programme, conditional cash transfer programme, government enterprise and empowerment programme, the home grown school feeding programme and the tradermoni empowerment scheme were all intended to bring succour to the vulnerable groups in the country.

Therefore, it is curious how such laudable initiatives were mismanaged by the office of the vice president, which warranted the president to create a new ministry and transfer the responsibility of managing these programmes to the ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development.

What Nigerians might be aware of is that under the supervision of vice president Yemi Osinbajo, the national social intervention programmes became an avenue for corrupt enrichment by the vice president and his cronies. they diverted funds meant for the vulnerable groups to private pockets.

The heist committed by the vice president and his cronies in implementing the programmes is quite despicable and a shame, given the multitude of evidence pointing to gross mismanagement and abuse of office. therefore it is unimaginable for the vice president to indicate interest to rule this country. the implication of a yemi osinbajo presidency in nigeria is that the country’s resources would be diverted to private pockets most brazenly, as we saw in the nsip.

We must recall that in November of 2018, the house of representatives committee on emergency and disaster preparedness indicted vice president yemi osinbajo in its report, accusing him of illegally approving the n5.8 billion north east intervention fund, which was mismanaged by the national emergency management agency (nema) under his watch.

The issue of tradermoni is another example of how vice president yemi osinbajo mismanaged the initiative and deprived millions of market women of the opportunity to advance their various businesses.

It, therefore, amounts to an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerians for the vice president, yemi osinbajo, to want to lead nigeria. He lacks morals and uprightness, as evident in his corrupt tendencies and lack of sincerity of heart and purpose.

At this point, we are tempted to state in unequivocal terms that the attempt by vice president yemi osinbajo to seek the highest political office in the county is an attempt to shield himself from the probe after the expiration of his immunity.

The coalition of arewa civil society groups wishes to call on all Nigerians to resist vehemently the attempt by vice president yemi osinbajo to hide under cover of immunity to escape the long hands of the law.

The vice president is unfit to aspire to lead our great country. all well-meaning nigerians must resist his recent scheming if we are indeed desirous of the country of our dreams. we are also aware that vice president yemi osinbajo has engaged the services of fictitious groups to drum support for his presidential ambition.

We are also aware that part of the larger plot is for these groups to purchase the nominations forms for him to deceive nigerians in a most despicable manner further. all nigerians must resist the antics of vice president yemi osinbajo and instead demand an unreserved apology from him for his misdeeds and insensitivities to the plight of the vulnerable groups in the country.

The generality of Nigerians must resist yemi osinbajo’s candidature as he is morally unfit to lead this country, and more worrisome is the fact that he is hiding under the title of a pastor to perpetrate evil against the people.

We wish to reiterate that a vote for vice president yemi osinbajo is against progress. This much the leadership of the progressive congress (APC) must be aware of and the generality of nigerians.

Thank you all for your time and kind attention.

Bomb blast: NRC reiterates commitment to rescue missing passengers

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coic
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The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), has reiterated its commitment to collaborate with security agencies to rescue other missing passengers aboard the recently attacked AK9 Abuja-Kaduna bound train.

Mr Fidet Okhiria, NRC’s Managing Director, in a statement on Sunday, said two more passengers had been confirmed safe, making the total of safe passengers 172.

”The Corporation also confirms updates that a total of 172 passengers on board the train are safe and okay while 21 passengers are still reported missing.

”Let us assure our esteem passengers that the Corporation in collaboration with the security agencies will leave no stone unturned in our efforts at rescuing the missing persons.

”Once again, the Corporation deeply condoles with those who lost loved ones and pray for the repose of the lost souls.

”We equally sincerely sympathise with our injured passengers and indeed everyone on board the AK9 train of Monday, March 28, for the trauma this unfortunate incident has caused you,’’ he said.

The NRC boss expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air force, Nigerian Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies for their support and cooperation so far.

”I specially thank the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for support and surprise visit to the accident site. This has indeed boosted the morale of the men at work,’’ he said.

On restoring the train service, Okhiria said that as at April 2, the NRC’s restoration team had further rerailed four more coaches.

According to him, two of the coaches (SP 00007 and SP 00013) have been safely moved to Idu and Rigasa Stations respectively.

He said the other two coaches were still at the site due to damaged tracks.

‘’This brings the total coaches so far rerailed to seven, but only five have successfully been moved to the Stations.

”However, efforts are on to link the track, at the moment, a total of 80 meters of the affected section has been fixed including replacement of affected Sleepers and twisted Rails,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that about 11coaches were involved in the unfortunate incident of bandits attack on the train on March 28. (NAN)

Police arrest man, 27, for allegedly killing his father with a machete in Ogun

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coic
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The Police Command in Ogun on Sunday said it had arrested a 27-year-old man, Ibrahim Sikiru, for allegedly killing his father with a machete at Onipanu area of the state.

The Police Spokesman in Ogun, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Ota, saying that the suspect was arrested on March 30.

Oyeyemi explained that the suspect was arrested following a complaint lodged at the Onipanu Divisional Headquarters,by one Abiodun Sunday.

Sunday explained further that a neighbour to the deceased, who reported that the deceased, Mumuni Ibahim, a night security guard, asked his son why he was still sleeping after coming home from work.

He added that when the father questioned his son why he was still sleeping at the time of the day, the son (suspect) got annoyed and brought out a cutlass to hack the victim in five different places.

Read also: Buhari meets Deby on Chad’s transition, assures of Nigeria’s support

“Upon the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Onipanu Division, CSP Bamidele Job, quickly mobilized his men and moved to the scene where the suspect was arrested and victim rushed to the General Hospital for treatment.

“The suspect, who is strongly suspected to be a cultist, has no reasonable explanation for his action when interrogated.

“On March 31, the victim died while receiving treatment at the general hospital, and the family insisted on burying him according to the dictate of his religion,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to homicide section of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for further investigation and diligent prosecution

Buhari meets Deby on Chad’s transition, assures of Nigeria’s support

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coic
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President Muhammadu Buhari has received an update from Chad’s leader, Mahamat Idriss Deby, on the country’s transition.

At a meeting attended by top government officials from both nations, Buhari and Deby met at the State House in Abuja.

The Chadian President acknowledged that the continuing process had certain difficulties, but insisted that it was on track.

Buhari urged Deby to proceed with the transition plan, assuring him of Nigeria’s assistance, according to a statement by presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina.

“The two leaders also reiterated their resolve to continue the fight against terrorism in the Lake Chad region area”, it added.

Read Also:  Northern APC youth, women in mother of all rally to Villa, adopts Tinubu as consensus candidate

Present were Chief of Staff Ibrahim Gambari, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria’s special envoy Babagana Kingibe, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) chief Ahmed Abubakar.

Former President Idriss Deby died of gunshot injuries in April 2021 after he was hit while fighting rebels in the north.

Days before his death, the former military officer won a sixth term after the provisional election results were declared.

Terrorists still killing our members, 170 churches remain shut – Northeast Church

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coic
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Empty church before a wedding ceremonyPlease see some similar pictures from my portfolio:

Despite the Federal Government’s assertion that it has identified insurgency supporters, Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN), an indigenous Christian denomination located in the North East, has reported its church structures are still being targeted and members slain.

During its annual general assembly in Kwarhi, Adamawa State, the denomination, also known as the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, warned that insecurity is rising and that members of the church are still being slain by terrorists.

In his presentation to the 75th Majalisa at the weekend, EYN President Rev Joel Stephen Billi claimed that security throughout the country has never been in such a bad position as it is currently.

Read Also:  Northern APC youth, women in mother of all rally to Villa, adopts Tinubu as consensus candidate

The EYN President asked, “If truly the Federal Government is fighting insurgency and has uncovered the sponsors, why is the war endless? They should route out the sponsors and end the terror.”

The EYN President said, “Nothing improves. We have become vulnerable in the hands of kidnappers, Boko Haram and ritual killers.”

He insisted that terrorism has continued to impact badly on its existence, that about 170 branch churches mostly in Borno and Adamawa States which were shut as a result of terrorism, have remained shut.

General Secretary of the church, Rev Daniel Mbaya, told newsmen, “Many of our members were abducted recently and we have not heard about them. Many of our people cannot go to their farms. The situation is still terrible.

“Over 170 churches that the insurgency forced to close are yet to open. We have four District churches behind the Gwoza mountains (in Borno State) that are still closed.”

Northern APC youth, women in mother of all rally to Villa, adopts Tinubu as consensus candidate

By
Toby
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Millions of women and youths from across the nineteen northern states in Nigeria today converged on Abuja and marched to the Presidential villa to demand the adoption of All Progressive Congress, APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the consensus candidate of the party in the forthcoming Presidential election.

The Nigerians said Tinubu is the only person fit and capable among all those that have been declaring their intention to turn around the economy of the country.

Led by Patriot Yakubu Dauda, they said the APC Youth and Women in the 19 Northern States of the federation have been actively involved in the activities of the party through several ways that have positioned the party firmly in the hearts of the people.

 

He said, “We wish to inform Mr President that we have also been actively mobilizing support for the party at the grassroots levels across the 19 northern states in preparation for the 2023 general elections.

 

“The response of the people has been encouraging. We wish to use this medium to inform Mr President that the APC as a party has continued to have a stronghold amongst the people who have been beneficial to the various social security initiatives implemented across the country in critical sectors such as agriculture, education and health.

 

“Mr President, in the course of our daily engagements, across the northern states, we have been inundated with an astronomical level of support for the presidential aspiration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His acceptance level amongst the grassroots is phenomenal. One might be tempted to think he has his origin from the North.

 

“As a group with a vast network amongst youths and women in the 19 northern states in the county, including the Federal Capital Territory, we can say without fear or favour that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is widely accepted as the prime candidate for our great party in the coming 2023 general elections. This is on the heels that he has been able to build bridges across the country in service to the country and humanity through ways too numerous to mention” he added

 

The group said after extensive deliberations and consultations, the APC Youth and Women in the 19 Northern states, including the federal capital territory, have elected to adopt Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the consensus presidential candidate of the APC in the 2023 general elections.

 

Dauda saud It is the firm conviction of the group  that the candidature of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is well in place for guaranteed victory for the APC because of his broad appeal across religious groups and ethnicities.

 

“The candidature of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is such that it resonates with the ordinary man and woman on the street. They see him as their role model, and he has indeed touched their lives in ways too numerous to mention.

 

“Mr President, the adoption of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tunubu as the consensus presidential candidate of the APC is a national concern for the party and its teeming supporters. They are desirous of not just ensuring the party comes out victorious at the general elections but also a president that would sustain the tempo of your laudable initiatives.

 

 

“Mr President, as the leader and father of our great party, we are grateful to God for gifting you to Nigeria when the country was on the verge of annihilation. You indeed remain God sent to Nigeria.

 

“It, therefore, becomes imperative that our great party presents a candidate in the mould of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has the clout and all other requirements to sustain those laudable initiatives of this present administration.

 

“Mr President, may we humbly use this medium to inform you that there is a need for your kind and urgent intervention towards adopting Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the consensus presidential candidate of the APC. In our opinion, this would go a long way in positioning the party for electoral success come 2023” he added

 

Dauda added that there is no gainsaying that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a well-loved and adored Nigerian whose antecedence speaks volumes of selfless service to the country right from 1999 in his capacity as the executive governor of Lagos state.

 

“Mr President, we must not also forget the numerous contributions of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the formation and sustenance of our great party, as it is on record that he has been selfless without fail since our great party come into existence.

 

“The Concerned APC Youth and Women in the 19 Northern States, including the Federal Capital Territory, supports the candidature of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2023 presidential elections in the country.

 

“We are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that all stakeholders in our great party would adopt the endorsement of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the consensus candidate of the party for the presidential elections.

“Mr President, we thank you for your selfless service to the country. We pray that God continues to bless you with wisdom and understanding as you pilot the affairs of our great nation” he added

Benue-Bound Man Intercepted With Ammunition In Borno

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coic
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Clement Asuk, a resident of Akamkpa Local Government Area in Cross River State, was arrested with 122 Anti-Aircraft and 222 7.62mm life ammunition at a motor park in Maiduguri on his way to Benue State.
The suspect was paraded with others at the police headquarters in Maiduguri on Friday by Borno State Commissioner of Police, CP Abdu Umar.

According to Muhammad, the suspect was moving the ammunition from one location to another.

A credible Intelligence and Surveillance team of the command arrested one Clement Asuk of Akamkpe LGA of Cross Rivers State at Kano Motor Park on 30 March 2022 at 07:22 hours with the following exhibit: 126 Anti-Aircraft Ammunitions, 222 7.62mm Life Ammunition, 517 7.62mm By 51 Life Ammunition, 7.62mm By 39 Life Ammunition, 2 Empty Magazines of Ak47, 4 Rpg Prepare Lent and 1

Read also: HIV/AIDS: 25,000 Patients On USAID Treatment In Edo

“Application Form of Nigerian Navy, 3 Tooth Pieces, 2 Small Fish, 1 Anti-Aircraft Ammunition Belt, 3 Pg – 7pm Preparelent, 1 Wrist Watch, 5 Rings, 3 Cowries, 1 Infinix Phone, 1 Charger, 15250 Naira, 10000 KRW, Akapaka Battries (Mei Zaaki), 3 Gold Circles (Keys), 2 Vaselin Blueseal, 1 Meinnah 120 Drugs and Cham.”
He stated that the case is being investigated to uncover their past atrocities and will then make the findings public.

HIV/AIDS: 25,000 Patients On USAID Treatment In Edo

By
coic
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0

USAID claims to have identified and placed 25,000 HIV/AIDS patients on life-saving treatment in Edo State.

Ms. Dolapo Ogundehin, USAID Care and Treatment Team Lead in Nigeria, revealed this during a courtesy visit to Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, the Governor’s wife in Benin.

Ogundehin, who spoke about the agency’s projects in Edo State, praised the state for its support over the last 18 years.

“We still have 17,000 people to diagnose and treat,” he says.

Read also: Faced with setbacks, ISWAP ramps up recruitment of child soldiers.

“Unfortunately, we have over 6,500 children. This calls for us to do more to avert a long-term catastrophe.

“We work with orphans and vulnerable children in the state,” she added.

It is a great pleasure for me to commend USAID on its efforts to help those affected by HIV/AIDS worldwide, particularly in Edo.

Earlier, Edo First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, praised USAID for its various interventions in the state.

She praised the agency’s commitment to the State’s HIV/AIDS population.

It is a great pleasure for me to commend USAID on its efforts to help those affected by HIV/AIDS worldwide, particularly in Edo.

“Your concern for the less fortunate and those in need is admirable. We appreciate the agency’s intervention and collaboration with our people in Nigeria to help us better govern and serve our people.”

“Your organization is known for its high morale. You are a very reliable partner for any project. “We value your collaboration, partnerships, and intervention in our state,” she said.

The Edo First Lady assured the agency and all its implementing partners that the State Government will continue to support and assist them to succeed and implement projects across the state.

Faced with setbacks, ISWAP ramps up recruitment of child soldiers.

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coic
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After suffering devastating setbacks from the Nigerian military, the Islamist State of the West African Province, an armed extremist group operating in the Lake Chad Basin, has increased its recruitment of children as fighters.

The Boko Haram faction Jama’tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) was well-known for recruiting and using child soldiers.

However, following the Nigerian military’s recent mass elimination of ISWAP top leaders and fighters in some of their hideouts, its rival faction has been doing the same across the Lake Chad shores.

Other factors that contributed to the desperate recruitment drive included ISWAP clashes with JAS Boko Haram, which resulted in the surrender of more than 50,000 members to Nigerian authorities, as well as other factors that resulted in mass fighter desertion.

Read also: Femi Adesina finally admits that Nigeria is at war after train attack.

The history of child soldiery began in 2016, when children as young as three years old were conscripted under the influence of a cleric who pretended to teach them Arabic education.

They will then undergo combat and non-combat training in the group’s “Darul Quran” radicalization camps. They were initially only sent on suicide missions, but they were later used as combatants fighters.

According to intelligence reports, the ISWAP terrorists have trained hundreds of child soldiers through its subsidiary “Albahrul Islam,” an ISIS-supported institute in Somalia, through the “Darul Ilm and Darul Qur’an” institutions.

They’ve graduated over 2,000 child militants from across Africa who went through six months of combat, non-combat operations, bomb making, martial arts, and other weapon handling technical training.

The institute opened training camps in KURNAWA, Arge, Metele, and Tumbum Allura in January 2022, with its headquarters in KAYOWA, Abadam local government area.

More than 200 newly graduated child soldiers from Lake Chad were sent as mercenaries to Mali and Niger in February 2022, to form an alliance with the Islamic State of the Greater Sahel and wage a terror campaign under the supervision of the ISIS Central Command.

The Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Christopher Musa Musa, stated that the conscription of children by Boko Haram/ ISWAP was one of the driving forces behind the atrocities.

According to Musa, the recruitment of minors is a war crime under international humanitarian law.

He added that child recruitment is destroying society and robbing children of their future, noting that women are used as sex slaves and children are forced to commit atrocities against their will.

“When we arrest them, they can spend up to three days without knowing what they’re doing because they’re under the influence of hard drugs.” This is why they have no fear of dying. So even if you shoot a Boko Haram or an ISWAP member, he won’t feel the pain right away,” he explained.

“Since 2009, Boko Haram has killed 350,000 people in northeast Nigeria, mostly women and children, and displaced over three million people in Adamawa, Yobe, and restive Borno states.

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