Terrorism: Court orders DSS to freeze 20 bank accounts
The DSS has obtained a Federal High Court order in Abuja to freeze 20 bank accounts linked to Aisha Abdulkarim, a suspected female terrorist.
Alleged terrorism: DIA gets court order to detain policeman, 19 others
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has approved the request of the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, to detain an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, and 19 others for 30 days. The police ASP, named A. A Babangida, was ordered to be detained along with other suspects for 30 days order is following their alleged involvement in banditry, kidnapping and terrorism activities. The order is to enable DIA operatives carry out thorough investigation into their alleged involvement in the heinous crimes. ASP Babangida who was arrested in June and had since been in DIA custody, was alleged to have been helping Boko Haram, bandits and ISWAP members in carrying out terrorism activities in some parts of the country. In the ex-parte application, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1146/2024, Counsel to the security agency, S.A Aminu requested for permission of the court to detain the suspects for 90 days. According to her, the involvement of the suspects in terrorism activities was so complex because the bomb experts for the gang have just been apprehended based on information being volunteered by the detainees. She explained that DIA intends to carry on critical investigation into the unlawful activities of Babangida and others before handing them over to the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, for prosecution. The ex-parte application of the DIA was supported with a 21 paragraph affidavit which chronicled how the agency obtained hints that led to the arrest of the suspects in various locations and at different times. After scrutinizing the documentary exhibits placed before the court, Justice Lifu ordered the agency to detain the suspects till the conclusion of investigation. The judge declined to grant the 90 days requested by DIA on the ground that the suspects have been in custody for three months and the fact that the Constitution presumes them innocent until the otherwise is established against them. Justice Lifu also ordered that the DIA should do everything within its powers and within the ambit of the law to complete its investigation into the allegations against the suspects so as not to run foul of the law. Others ordered to be detained along with the Police ASP Babangida are Usman Idris, Abu Safiyanu, Alhassan Idris, Sahada Ishaka, Abubakar Ibrahim Sani Bello, Yahaya Abdullahi, Haruna Salisu and Mohammed Muazu. Other Respondents in the matter are Nura Idris, Alhaji Manu Mohammed, Umar Mohammed Lamu, Abubakar Mandara, Suleiman Musa Mohammed, Alhaji Madayi, Alhaji Amodu Bukar Prince Oghewe and Uzoma Aghaoyibo.
Boko Haram Terrorists Kidnap Passengers Along Maiduguri-Kano Highway
Some passengers travelling along the Maiduguri/Kano highway have been kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram insurgents. Reports obtained on Tuesday morning revealed that the insurgents carried out the abduction between Garin Kuturu and Mannanari village near Auno, which is located along the Damaturu highway, at approximately 5:50 pm on Monday. Daily Trust quoted a source to have disclosed that the terrorists barricaded the highway and forcibly took away several passengers. As a result of this incident, numerous travellers and commuters found themselves stranded on both ends of the usually bustling road. Consequently, many of the commuters were left with no choice but to return to Benishek and Auno, respectively. “There was an incident between Mannanari and Garin Kuturu where some Boko Haram fighters came out to block the upcoming vehicles and some passengers were abducted. “We are not sure of the number as we speak but certainly there was an abduction on Monday evening,” the source noted. Some residents who spoke to journalists on the development narrated how many commercial drivers took refuge in their community momentarily when the insurgents were operating between Garin Kuturu and Mannanari villages. “They came out with three wheelbarrow and I believe they were looking for food stuff. We don’t know how many people abducted but some commercial drivers came back and later returned to Maiduguri before reinforcement of military arrived,” the residents noted. A passenger, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters that he, alongside others were stranded for hours. “We were heading for Kano from Maiduguri when the driver got hinted about the attack and took a detour. “We have been waiting for the military to clear the road but we don’t know when. We are stranded here,” he said.
Heroes Return: Villagers Cheer Nigerian Soldiers Back From Successful Operation
Soldiers returning from a military operation in Nigeria’s Northeast were met with cheers and celebrations from local residents recently. The troops, who were on Operation Desert Sanity III, had been deployed to combat insurgents in the Sambisa and Timbuktu Triangle regions. The Nigerian Army disclosed this in a video shared on its official X account on Friday. The caption read, “In a heartwarming display of gratitude and solidarity, local communities in Nigeria’s Northeast region have extended a warm welcome to heroic troops of the Nigerian Army following a successful operation in the notorious Sambisa and Timbuktu Triangle areas. “The operation dubbed “Desert Sanity III,’ aimed at neutralising insurgent threats and securing the region, culminated in a significant victory for the nation’s security forces.” PUNCH reports that troops of Operation Desert Sanity III rescued another abducted student of the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, identified as Lydia Simon, around Ngoshe in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State recently. It was also reported on Wednesday that the troops captured a stronghold of the Boko Haram/Islamic State of West African Province in Borno State. The Army stated that both air and ground units of the operation conducted a clearance mission, targeting the terrorist stronghold situated along the Ngumne, Kawaran, and Mangu axes within the Sambisa Forest and Timbuktu Triangle.
NAF Airstrikes Annihilate Terrorists’ Hideouts In North East, North West
The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in the North East and Operation Hadarin Daji in North West has destroyed several terrorists’ enclaves in recent operations across the theatres. This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, on Sunday in Abuja. Gabkwet said the operations were coordinated in collaboration with the land component and other security agencies within the operational theatres. He said the troops had ensured that terrorists, insurgents and other criminal elements operating in the two regions did not constitute significant security threats to innocent citizens within the regions. In the North East, Gabkwet said the precision air strikes by the Air Component of OPHK on Nov. 3, led to the elimination of several terrorists at their meeting point near Degbawa, a reclusive location within the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno. He said the air strikes were called for after intelligence revealed the sighting of some key terrorists’ figures and their foot soldiers arriving the location for a probable meeting. According to him, their gathering in large number raised concerns, thus necessitating the need for an air interdiction on the location with devastating outcome for the terrorists. “An assessment of the location after the strike revealed several terrorists were indeed eliminated. “According to several sources, the particular location was carefully chosen by the terrorists to evade being easily detected, especially by NAF aircraft. “The outcome of the strike, however, proved the terrorists wrong as their nefarious plans to meet were detected, thus leading to the success of the air strike. “The sources also noted that this strike was a major setback for the terrorists who have, of late, been at the receiving end of the air and land components of OPHK,” he said. NAF spokesman said that there were also strong indications that the terrorists were responsible for the recent attack on some locals in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe on October 31. He said the terrorists had planned to meet to review the attack as well as plan the next line of attack on innocent civilians and other vulnerable targets. In the North West, Gabkwet said the Air Component of OPHD has on Nov. 1, conducted series of successful airstrikes in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, targeting the hideout of a notorious terrorist kingpin, Babaru. According to him, Babaru has been implicated in numerous acts of terrorism and banditry across Kankara and adjacent LGAs in Katsina State. He said that the said Badaru was involved in the massacre of over 100 residents of Gidan Gari and Yarmai-Yadiya villages in Bakori Local Government Area on February 2. According to him, the airstrikes destroyed Babaru’s hideout and eliminated several terrorists, though there was no confirmation if Babaru was among those neutralised. Gabkwet said the air strikes were also carried out at the enclave of terrorist kingpin known as Mai Solar in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara. According to him, the air strikes took out clusters of enclaves used as hideouts by the kingpin and his cohorts at the location. “It was a successful strike as few survivors were observed fleeing the scene of the strike. There is no confirmation if Mai Solar was among the terrorists eliminated,” he said.
War On Terror: CDS, Service Chiefs Visit Maiduguri
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa accompanied by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, on Tuesday paid an operational visit to the Theatre Command in Maiduguri. They were received by Maj. Gen. Gold Chibuisi, Theartre Commander North East Operation Hadin Kai, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Ali, Force Commander Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division /Commander Sector 1 Operation HADIN KAI Maj. Gen. Peter Malla, heads of paramilitary and other principal staff officers of the Military Command and Control Centre at Airforce Base Maiduguri. Speaking during the visit, Maj. Samson Zhakom, Acting DDAPR Headquarters Theatre Command OPHK, said the CDS would be holding meetings with the Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Chiefs of Training and Operations from the Defence Headquarters, Army, Navy, Air Force and other field commanders, where they would be briefed on recent operations in the theatre. Zhakom said that the CDS would also pay courtesy visits to the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Elkenemy and visit Military Reference Hospital in Maimalari to check wounded personnel.
Insurgency: 35,000 persons killed in North-East –UNHCR
United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has disclosed that no fewer than 35,000 people have been killed since the inception of the insurgency in the North-East in 2009 to August 2023. Mrs Elsie Mills-Tetty, UNHCR’s Head of Adamawa Office disclosed this at a training for military personnel on human rights, humanitarian principles and civilians protection in Yola on Wednesday. The training was organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with UNHCR. Mills-Tetty, who was represented by Umar Abdullahi, Assistant Protect Officer, said this was according to the “Global Center for Responsibility to Protect” report of August 2023. According to her, the implication of these acts to the economic and social development of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Nigeria at large can never be overemphasized. She added that in 2022, the NHRC reported that it investigated complaints on human rights as well as assisted victims in seeking redress. Mills-Tetty said: “Cumulatively, the commission received 2.314 complaints. Adamawa had 65,456 complaints, which is approximately three per cent of the total complaints from the 36 states of the federation. “The 2022 NHRC report also indicated that incidences of Insurgency, banditry, kidnappings, farmers/herders’ clashes and attacks by gunmen continued to increase with the attendant number of internally displaced persons who face enormous human rights violations.” She further called on the participants to take advantage of the training to boost their knowledge on human rights in the course of their duties. In his address, Mr Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary, NHRC said the training was aimed at mainstreaming human rights into the counter-insurgency efforts of the Nigerian troops in the North-East. Ojukwu, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Mr Benedict Agu, commended the Nigerian military and other law enforcement agencies for performing exceedingly well in containing insurgency. He added: “To further sustain the gains made so far, the commission, in partnership with UNHCR is here to train key Military officers and men who are directly involved in the counter- insurgency operations in the North-East. “The justification for this training cannot be overemphasized as the war against insurgency is complicated by the asymmetric nature of the conflict. “The insurgents live within us and there is hardly a clearly drawn battle-line between the insurgents and the civilian population,” he said. Ojukwu urged the participants to ensure the implementation of the knowledge acquired while discharging their professional and private mandates.
NRC records drop as 441,725 Nigerians travel by rail
A total of 441,725 passengers travelled via the rail system in Q1 2023, lower than the 953,099 reported in the corresponding quarter of 2022. This represented a growth rate of -53.65 per cent. The rail transportation data for Q1 2023 by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), showed that 59,966 tons of goods were transported in Q1 2023, compared to 39,379 tons reported in Q1 2022. “In terms of revenue generation, N768.44 million was received from passengers over the period, lower by 63.02% relative to N2.08 billion in the same quarter of the previous year. “Similarly, N181.27 million was collected in Q1 2023 as revenue from goods/cargos, up by 99.28% from N90.96 million received in Q1 2022. “In addition, other receipts amounted to N34.17 million, indicating a decline of 41.02% in Q1 2023, from the N57.92 million collected in Q1 2022,” the NBS said.