Boko Haram: PDP agents kidnapping women, children in the name of insurgents – Group alleges
Members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have been accused of masterminding the abduction of women and children in some part of the country under the guise of Boko Haram.
The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) in Nigeria, which made this claim, observed that these attacks have changed from what was the norm to now exclusively target military formations, ambush troops and sack towns and villages along the path of the terrorists.
Jonathan Audu, Secretary General of the group while addressing the media on Wednesday, alleged that there was an established pattern of the attacks taking place once the opposition is running out of steam and issues to tackle the government on.
According to him, this raises the suspicion that the PDP may know more than it admits in public, considering its constant attacks on the government.
Full text of his statement after the press conference below.
It is with utmost dread that the Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) in Nigeria confirms to you that is in possession of intelligence that the PDP in the north east, under the direction of its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abbaukar, has unleashed their thugs to act as Boko Haram fighters. The objective of this criminal move is for the thugs to slip into areas where the military has successfully carried out clearance operations so that they can carry out attacks that would be used to rubbish the claim of success against Boko Haram as announced by the military.
Analyses show that the thugs reporting to PDP are the ones that have diverted to the killing and kidnapping of innocent women and children and make it appear like the handiwork of Boko Haram. We were made to understand that this tactic allows the PDP to have instances it can use to accuse the federal government of allowing civilians to be killed.
The party is also said to have opted for this approach because it hopes to use the fear of violence to keep people away from the polling units so that they do not get to vote because of the fear of violence.
According to the intelligence we have received, the PDP will spread this campaign of terror further south as the elections draw closer. The objective is to make every inch of the country feel unsafe or Nigerians so that they can be deceived into thinking that the incumbent president has failed in securing their lives and property.
CATE unequivocally condemns this irresponsible act of the PDP whereby it is deploying its thugs to imitate Boko Haram attacks with a view to using it to criticize the government of the day. It is the most inhumane form of deception every carried out by humans on earth especially when it involves abusing human lives and depriving people of their lives.
We demand that the PDP immediately retrace its steps and discontinue these attacks because they violate the rights of other citizens. The party must also hand over to law enforcement agencies those that conceived this idea, those that implemented it and those that are aware of the plot without doing anything to stop it. The moderate elements in the PDP must give up those responsible for this evil so that they can distances themselves and the party from the bad eggs among them.
Nigerians should take the PDP to task. They should insist that the party come clean and explain to the nation how it allowed thugs to be recruited in its name to impersonate Boko Haram fighters. Where this party fails to comply, Nigerians should punish it as they deem fit because the safety of citizens is above the interest of one political party.
The international community should note the extent the PDP is willing to go to in its desperation to win elections. What the PDP has done violated several international instruments and it should be held to account. When the relevant international agencies are dealing with this issue, it is then up to the PDP to give up those that are directly responsible for what can best be described as copycat terrorism.
Sponsors of Zamfara killings will be exposed – Bishop Fomson
Foremost clergyman, Bishop Musa Fomson has prophesied that the politicians behind Zamfara killings will be exposed in a matter of weeks.
In his message released ahead of the New Year, Bishop Fomson, warned that the only thing that will save the people behind Zamfara killings from disgrace is if they repent of their dark ways to embrace light and confess their sins against Nigeria.
Fomson, who predicted former President Goodluck Jonathan’s loss in 2014 when he was widely believed to be on the way to being re-elected, lamented that “the blood of the murdered innocent is crying to God for vengeance”.
In the message, the Bishop revealed that “those who sow human blood in the hope of reaping political powers will be exposed and disgraced before we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, whose birth we celebrate this season.
He said “Embittered politicians are the one behind these killings. They empower killers. They sow sorrow. But it is a business that they have just a few days to repent of lest the disgrace that they have been piling up will be heaped on their head.
“Their ways are unclean in the manner of the abomination of the idol worshipping rulers that led Israel to sin in the Books of Chronicles and Kings. They walk in dark paths and shall perish if they refuse to embrace light, confess the sins they have committed against Nigeria by being behind the killer bandits.
“They support bandits to kill law-abiding Nigerians and their ways have been measured, weighed and found wanting before God, which leaves repentance as the only viable option before them. They may thwart the laws of men but the blood of the innocent cry to God daily. There shall be recompense and they shall answer for their actions,” he prophesised.
He also revealed that “desperate measures will not avail much for the political class as only those that the people find truly appealing would win the positions they are contesting for.”
The Bishop urged people to be confident in God and appreciate what is happening to the country while charging that “remember what happened to the Israelites when being led to the Promised Land by Moses; they grumbled and wished to return to Egypt, which is unacceptable to God. We must never express the desire to return to the evil days that God has been kind enough to lead us away from.”
Understanding Why Boko Haram Urgently Needs A Territory
By Karen Goulding
Notorious terrorist group, Boko Haram (Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād) has ramped up its suicidal attacks. Suicidal in this context should not be missed up with suicide bombing in which person borne improvised explosive devices are detonated, killing the bearer and anyone unfortunate enough to be caught up within range of the explosion. Suicidal is in reference to the attacks staged against military facilities and convoys, which until recently was successful for the terrorists until the Nigerian Army made it into a costly venture for any of the insurgents on Boko Haram’s posse to their chosen locations or targets. They get killed in droves.
This has not deterred Boko Haram as it continued these brainless attacks. The end game on the part of the terrorists has been confirmed as the desire to again have geographical areas under their black flag. If they succeed in doing this they would have achieved the same level of nuisance and threats that they were to the country pre-May 29 2015 when they announced a caliphate in parts of the north-east; if they succeed in doing this, their political sponsors would be able to claim that the present administration has not achieved anything in the four years it has been in the saddle.
A second consideration along this point is that Boko Haram, at least the faction branded the Islamic State in West Africa or Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), would be able to show itself as a worthy affiliate of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ISIS/IS). The main Islamic State has been the recipient of a harsh medication dispensed by Russia and its allies, delivered in sufficient dose for the United States to be pulling out of Syria with President Donald Trump declaring that the group has been defeated.
With the US out of the picture Russia may dispense with any form of finesse, which could potentially imply a scorch earth policy for ISIS. Boko Haram could thus be eager to carry out attacks until it lays claim to a geographical area it can use to harbour the fleeing murderers from Syria and Iraq. Hopefully, the coalition led by Russia will see to it that ISIS commanders do not make it out alive from the enclaves in which they are presently holed up, hiding from the sustained attacks that has ensured their poison does not spread beyond its current reach.
On the domestic front, Boko Haram carries out these attacks because the terrorists are broke. They lack funds and it makes sense to deploy what is left of their strength and resources to stage attacks that can convince their financiers that they are still worth backing. In the past, attacks on the scales they have been able to pull off would have led to some phony negotiations that put money in their pockets but it is apparent that the government they are currently dealing with would not play ball as expected. The natural response to the government’s refusing to bend has been to scale up the attacks.
Escalating attacks is as well a kind of signal to the international terror brand, ISIS, to which Boko Haram is affiliated. ISIS no longer sees its Nigerian franchise as useful nor is it appreciated as a potent force to reckon with. The group that once attracted the label of the most bloodthirsty terror group in the world is now desperate to the point of emphasizing the ISWAP tag merely for its propaganda value. The chronic rant about a religious Jihad has since lost its value after the group was decimated, sent out of Sambisa Forest and now compelled to conduct cross border attacks.
The resort to ambushes and kidnapping of women to get stipends is also not flying on the scale it once did. The best ransom comes from French nationals, whose government somehow finds the means to pay millions of dollars in ransom. But even the French have learnt to avoid the harrowing experiences of being dehumanized by the terrorists before they regain their freedom. The market for kidnap-for-ransom has thinned out.
Even the strategy of focusing on military targets to win public sympathy has been jettisoned. It has returned to attacking soft target, on which attacks are becoming the order of the day. The return to attacking food supply, markets and farming communities might have driven terror into the hearts of the people that are proximate to areas where the terrorists operate, it has also sown a hatred for Boko Haram in their hearts. Now they know that the government forces are a better option above the terrorists any day.
Finally, elections are around the corner so those that want to prevent or postpone the polls appear to again be exploiting Boko Haram’s attacks as justification to distort the political landscape. The attacks from Boko Haram should have threatened the polls same way it happened in 2014 but each successive attack has only proven that there is not much that the terrorists can do to stop the exercise in any part of the country. If the attacks have not had the desired results then the politicians that would have financed more of them to disrupt the polls no longer see sense in throwing money away for terrorists that cannot do worse than the level they have been reduced to.
Boko Haram has been suffocated for too long as a result of sustained military action against them. The escalation of attacks by the group should be treated with the diverse perspectives to its dire financial needs in view. Beyond the unleashing of military might against the terrorists, there should be further efforts to starve the terrorists of funds, food and weapons. In addition, the earth should be swept from under their feet to ensure that they have to claim to a squared metre of territory over which to hoist flags less declaring a territory.
Authorities must also meet the terrorists on any other front to which they take the battle. As their attacks intensified, their media and online assets also activated, which makes it important that the government is prepared to counter the escalation they are coming with. The most critical part of course is not to allow these killers the breathing space to re-strategize.
Goulding, a counter-terrorism expert wrote this piece from the United Kingdom.
Understanding Why Boko Haram Urgently Needs A Territory
By Karen Goulding
Notorious terrorist group, Boko Haram (Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād) has ramped up its suicidal attacks. Suicidal in this context should not be missed up with suicide bombing in which person borne improvised explosive devices are detonated, killing the bearer and anyone unfortunate enough to be caught up within range of the explosion. Suicidal is in reference to the attacks staged against military facilities and convoys, which until recently was successful for the terrorists until the Nigerian Army made it into a costly venture for any of the insurgents on Boko Haram’s posse to their chosen locations or targets. They get killed in droves.
This has not deterred Boko Haram as it continued these brainless attacks. The end game on the part of the terrorists has been confirmed as the desire to again have geographical areas under their black flag. If they succeed in doing this they would have achieved the same level of nuisance and threats that they were to the country pre-May 29 2015 when they announced a caliphate in parts of the north-east; if they succeed in doing this, their political sponsors would be able to claim that the present administration has not achieved anything in the four years it has been in the saddle.
A second consideration along this point is that Boko Haram, at least the faction branded the Islamic State in West Africa or Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), would be able to show itself as a worthy affiliate of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ISIS/IS). The main Islamic State has been the recipient of a harsh medication dispensed by Russia and its allies, delivered in sufficient dose for the United States to be pulling out of Syria with President Donald Trump declaring that the group has been defeated.
With the US out of the picture Russia may dispense with any form of finesse, which could potentially imply a scorch earth policy for ISIS. Boko Haram could thus be eager to carry out attacks until it lays claim to a geographical area it can use to harbour the fleeing murderers from Syria and Iraq. Hopefully, the coalition led by Russia will see to it that ISIS commanders do not make it out alive from the enclaves in which they are presently holed up, hiding from the sustained attacks that has ensured their poison does not spread beyond its current reach.
On the domestic front, Boko Haram carries out these attacks because the terrorists are broke. They lack funds and it makes sense to deploy what is left of their strength and resources to stage attacks that can convince their financiers that they are still worth backing. In the past, attacks on the scales they have been able to pull off would have led to some phony negotiations that put money in their pockets but it is apparent that the government they are currently dealing with would not play ball as expected. The natural response to the government’s refusing to bend has been to scale up the attacks.
Escalating attacks is as well a kind of signal to the international terror brand, ISIS, to which Boko Haram is affiliated. ISIS no longer sees its Nigerian franchise as useful nor is it appreciated as a potent force to reckon with. The group that once attracted the label of the most bloodthirsty terror group in the world is now desperate to the point of emphasizing the ISWAP tag merely for its propaganda value. The chronic rant about a religious Jihad has since lost its value after the group was decimated, sent out of Sambisa Forest and now compelled to conduct cross border attacks.
The resort to ambushes and kidnapping of women to get stipends is also not flying on the scale it once did. The best ransom comes from French nationals, whose government somehow finds the means to pay millions of dollars in ransom. But even the French have learnt to avoid the harrowing experiences of being dehumanized by the terrorists before they regain their freedom. The market for kidnap-for-ransom has thinned out.
Even the strategy of focusing on military targets to win public sympathy has been jettisoned. It has returned to attacking soft target, on which attacks are becoming the order of the day. The return to attacking food supply, markets and farming communities might have driven terror into the hearts of the people that are proximate to areas where the terrorists operate, it has also sown a hatred for Boko Haram in their hearts. Now they know that the government forces are a better option above the terrorists any day.
Finally, elections are around the corner so those that want to prevent or postpone the polls appear to again be exploiting Boko Haram’s attacks as justification to distort the political landscape. The attacks from Boko Haram should have threatened the polls same way it happened in 2014 but each successive attack has only proven that there is not much that the terrorists can do to stop the exercise in any part of the country. If the attacks have not had the desired results then the politicians that would have financed more of them to disrupt the polls no longer see sense in throwing money away for terrorists that cannot do worse than the level they have been reduced to.
Boko Haram has been suffocated for too long as a result of sustained military action against them. The escalation of attacks by the group should be treated with the diverse perspectives to its dire financial needs in view. Beyond the unleashing of military might against the terrorists, there should be further efforts to starve the terrorists of funds, food and weapons. In addition, the earth should be swept from under their feet to ensure that they have to claim to a squared metre of territory over which to hoist flags less declaring a territory.
Authorities must also meet the terrorists on any other front to which they take the battle. As their attacks intensified, their media and online assets also activated, which makes it important that the government is prepared to counter the escalation they are coming with. The most critical part of course is not to allow these killers the breathing space to re-strategize.
Goulding, a counter-terrorism expert wrote this piece from the United Kingdom.
COAS, Buratai hosts troops to dinner on the frontline, charges officers, soldiers to be wary of Boko Haram propaganda
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, Wednesday alongside Principal Staff Officers, Corps Commanders and other senior officers of the Nigerian Army held a Christmas luncheon with troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in the North East of Nigeria.
The COAS was at Forward Operation Base (FOB) Delwa, Konduga Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State where he met with the officers and soldiers of the FOB and 7 Division Garrison.
In his address to the troops, Gen Buratai paid glowing tributes to the gallant officers and soldiers that that paid the supreme price in the course of fighting terrorism and insurgency. He also congratulated the troops for their bravery and steadfastness.
Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, Director Army Public Relations in a statement quoted the army boss as informing the troops that the government and Nigerians appreciate their efforts.
He also said that the President had promised total support to the military in order to bring the conflict to logical end.
Lt Gen Buratia, however, warned the troops to be wary of Boko Haram terrorists misinformation and propaganda aimed at demoralizing the troops to break their cohesion and fighting spirit.
The COAS further said “you have decimated the Boko Haram terrorists, but they want to brainwash you through propaganda. You should not believe their lies and misinformation”.
Speaking further, Lieutenant General Buratai said that there were several elements who don’t wish Nigeria, well hence their concerted efforts to bring disaffection among the officers and soldiers into logger head through false information and claims on the social media.
The COAS also said that the Nigerian Army have made significant progress and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country, what is remaining is to clear the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists through offensive actions, long range patrols and ambushes.
Highlight of the occasion was a field training exercise by the troops and a sumptuous lunch in which the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen TY Buratai, Prinicpal Staff Officers, Theatre Commander, GOC 7 Division and Commander Sector 2 Operation LAFIYA DOLE personally served the soldiers with food and drinks.
Those that accompanied the COAS to occassion include the Chief of Training and Operations (Army), Major General LO Adeosun, the Director Military Intelligence, Major General SA Adebayo, Chief of Account of Budget (Army), Major General CU Agunlanna, Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Major General BA Akinroluyo and the Acting Provost Marshal (Army), Brigadier General H Ahmed. Others were the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division, who is also Commander Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Brigadier General Bulama Biu and Commander Sector 2, Brigadier General MB Dala, amongst others.
Gombe APC Rally: Get ready for overwhelming defeat- Kera
Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo who double as the Director General Media and Publicity of the PDP’s 2019 Campaign Council, Dahiru Hassan Kera has told the opposition APC in the state to get ready for an overwhelming defeat in the forthcoming general elections.
Reacting on the rally held today by the APC in the state, Kera said it was a show of shame rather than the intended show of strength by the party.
‘’Today’s event shows that the APC in Gombe State is feeble and an assemblage of individuals without real political capital who are out to ruin the state built with unparalleled dedication by the administration of Governor Dankwambo and the PDP campaign council will not in any way be deterred even in the face terrible mobilisation of political thugs and underage children.’’
Commenting further, Kera reiterated the determination of the PDP in the state to replicate the victory it has over the APC in the 2015 election.
‘It’s on record that in 2015 PDP had overwhelming victory over the APC despite the infamous change tsunami.. 2019 election will be a replica of what transpired in the last election, defeating APC is not a new thing to us, we’ve done it in 2015 election and God willing we shall do it again in 2019.’’ Kera has said.
‘’PDP in Gombe State under the able leadership of Governor Dankwambo has in the past seven years transformed the state to an enviable status among her contemporaries and for sustainability and continuity of the unprecedented growth recorded, another chance should be given to the party in 2019.’’ He added.
Recall that Governor Dankwambo who ran for a second term in 2015 defeated the APC’s Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya and in 2019. The same Mr. Inuwa of APC will be slugging it out with Sen. Usman Bayero Nafada of PDP.
Boko Haram: Nigerian Army Assures NEMA of Cooperation
