North West Leads As 496 Civilians, 86 Security Operatives Killed In 1 Month

Almost five hundred civilians were killed as a result of various attacks by armed groups across the country last month of September 2021, as insecurity in the country worsened.

A report by West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP) released on Friday indicated that 944 Nigerians lost their lives, 496 of which were civilians. The North West geopolitical zone recorded the highest number of casualty.

A breakdown of the loss of lives across the zones indicated that, in North West, one person was killed in Jigawa, 84 in Kaduna, 4 in Kano, 5 in Katsina, 5 in Kebbi, 70 in Sokoto and 25 in Zamfara state.

In the North East, 13 persons were killed in Yobe, 12 in Borno, 7 in Adamawa and 4 in Bauchi State.

In North Central, 114 people were killed in Niger State, 18 in Kogi, 16 in Benue, 11 in Plateau, 10 in Federal Capital Territory and 9 in Kwara.

In the South East, 30 people were killed in Anambra, 16 in Imo, 5 in Ebonyi while 3 we’re killed in Enugu state.

In the South South, 30 people were killed in Delta State, 4 in Bayelsa, 1 in Akwa Ibom, 2 in Rivers and 3 lost their lives in Edo state.

In the South West, 8 people were killed in Lagos, 3 in Ogun and Osun states while 2 were killed in Ondo and 1 person lost his life in Oyo state within the same period.

According to the report, out of the number of civilians killed during the period 20 were females, while 18 were children.

365 people including 39 females and 98 children were also kidnapped across 26 states within the period.

The report indicated that suspected armed bandits killed 339 people in Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna and Niger States.

Suspected terrorists from Boko Haram and ISWAP ranks also killed 85 persons in Borno state, according to the report. Other criminal groups caused the death of 24 people within the same period.

The report indicated how banditry is taking leap ahead of insurgency as bandits killed 275 persons, with Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks causing the deaths of 22 deaths. Communal clashes caused 7 death while uncategorised armed violence led to the deaths of 106 people across the country.

Violent clashes also caused 13 deaths, Cult clashes claimed 12 lives, while one person was lost to violent demonstrations. The report indicated that 23 people were killed in culpable homicide.

Eight people were said to have been killed through extrajudicial killings while farmer/herders clashes claimed 39 lives, mob attacks led to the death of 26 people within the same period.

The Economist magazine yesterday painted a gloomy picture of the Nigerian intractable security challenge, in a piece titled “Insurgency, secessionism and banditry threaten Nigeria”.

The London publication said Nigeria is facing “its biggest test since the civil war 50 years ago”.

It lampooned the political and security leadership for inability to take the myriad of security threats bedevilling the country.

The publication alleged that the Nigerian army is populated “with corrupt generals and unable to protect the country from the mutating violence”.

“But many of its soldiers are ‘ghosts’ who exist only on the payroll, and much of its equipment is stolen and sold to insurgents.”

“The police are understaffed, demoralised and poorly trained. Many supplement their low pay by robbing the public they have sworn to protect,” it said.

In a swift reaction to the publication, spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the report was crafted to denigrate, demonize and destabilize the Nigerian Government. He said the report contained some unimaginable slurs targeted at the Nigerian military and the Nigerian Army in particular.

According to him, “Even as the real intention of the otherwise respected Economist magazine in publishing such toxic concoctions weaved up as report on Nigerian Government’s response to the multi-faceted security challenges assailing the country is yet to be unraveled, the source of the article is very clear.

“It is one of those deliberate falsehood and noxious narratives orchestrated by a network of detractors and coven of dark forces working very hard to adorn the Nigerian Army in an unfitting garb of infamy.’’

The army spokesman added that, the vile report which the Economist chose to offer its platform for publication, spared no effort in trying to vilify and rubbish the image, character and reputational standing of the Nigerian Army, but failed woefully.

“As a professional, hard-fighting and globally respected institution that has continued to occupy deserved glorious position in the comity of global defence forces, the Nigerian Army is certainly not what the so-called report by the Economist tried to characterize it.

“Even more ludicrous was the embellishments of the said report by the notorious unprofessional media outlets that were quick to republish the obvious falsehood.

“How is it conceivable that an international magazine worth its name and professional reputation would agree to lend its medium for a hatchet job of an article without as much as committing little effort to finding out the real truth about the Nigerian Army?

“How is it imaginable that the Nigerian Army that has distinguished itself as a worthy contributor to global peace and security through regional, continental and international peace keeping and peace support operations would be characterized as “Mighty on paper”?

“How can the Nigerian Army that has restored democracies, brought peace to troubled lands and stabilized the sub-region through the dint of hard work, commitment to duty, discipline and professionalism be so denigrated?

“Is it the ‘ghost soldiers’ of the Nigerian Army that have weathered the storm of terrorism and insurgency of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province Terrorists (ISWAP) in the north eastern part of the country and parts of the Lake Chad region?

“In case the Economist magazine and those who fed it all the lies it published do not know, the Nigerian Army working in a joint environment, has been able to stop ISWAP, a very formidable international terrorist organization in its tracks, in spite of all the obstacles, including arm sale blackouts on its way.

“The Economist and its ilk ought to have known that the Nigerian Army has long distinguished itself as a professional force that does not toy with accountability nor shirk from its statutory responsibility of defending Nigeria from external aggression or internal insurrection.

“Is it not curious that an otherwise respected international magazine could so easily be sucked in by the antics of conflict merchants and agents provocateurs who are uncomfortable with the steadfastness, patriotism, unwavering commitment, sacrifice, ruggedness and resoluteness of the Nigerian Army in stamping out terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes assailing the country and the West African sub-region?”, he argued.

[Dailytrust]

Foreign mercenaries invade Nigeria, free Fulani leader Wakili from Oyo Prison

Hired Fulani mercenaries have been fingered as being responsible for Friday night’s attack on Abolongo correctional facility, Oyo town in Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria.

The gunmen arrived in their numbers around 11pm and started shooting sporadically. They then released inmates who fled to their various destinations.

It is understood that there was a bit of panic around the prison vicinity, as residents thought it was a robbery attempt.

The Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS), Oyo state Command, on Saturday morning confirmed the attack on the prison, stating that it is assessing the situation.

Now, fresh information coming in says the attack was planned and carried out by invading bandits.

According to Sahara Reporters, the gunmen carried out the attack specifically to free Iskilu Wakili, a prominent Fulani man accused of being among those behind most kidnappings and mindless killings in Ibarapa axis of Oyo State. Wakili, who has sight problem, was arrested by the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in March. He was immediately handed over to the Police, and has since been in custody.

Information has it that gunmen struck on Wednesday on Oyo-Ogbomosho Road. And these invaders who attacked Abolongo prison are believed to be same terrorists who struck three days ago on Oyo-Ogbomosho road.

[PoliticsNg]

Bandits kidnap youth corpers on way to NYSC camps

The Police Command in Zamfara on Friday confirmed that bandits had abducted two prospective corps members deployed from Benue to Kebbi and Sokoto states.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mohammed Shehu, disclosed this in a statement in Gusau, Zamfara.

Shehu said the Zamfara Police Command had received report of their abduction from the State Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Zamfara State, Namalam Taura, in Gusau.

According to the PPRO, the report indicated that two prospective corps members deployed from Benue to Kebbi and Sokoto states were among the victims abducted along Tsafe  – Gusau road on Tuesday Oct. 19, 2021 at about 22.30 hours.

Shehu said the command received the report on Friday, October 22, 2021 when the Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Elkanah, visited the Orientation Camp at Tsafe, Tsafe Local Government Area.

He said that Elkanah had visited the NYSC orientation camp to assess the existing security emplacement to ensure safety and security of the prospective corps members arriving at the camp for the two weeks orientation exercise.

“It could be recalled that on Oct. 19, 2021, at about 2230 hours, a vehicle with registration number GBK 339 ZY was blocked by armed bandits along Tsafe-Gusau road while travelling from Benue to Sokoto State.

“The vehicle was attacked while passing through Wanzamai Village in Tsafe LGA.

“And that resulted to the abduction of some passengers whose identities and number remained unknown,” Shehu said.

He said that the Command had commenced investigation into the incident with a view to establishing the actual number of persons abducted.

He said the command had deployed a team of security forces on search and rescue operation to rescue the victims.

Shehu said that CP Elkanah assured the NYSC coordinator and the corps members of police commitment to safeguard their lives.

The commissioner, however, enjoined them to be security conscious and restrict their movement while in the camp.

Meanwhile, effort to get details from the NYSC was not successful due to suspension of mobile network in Tsafe local government area.

(NAN)

FG Exposes Sunday Igboho’s Link With Boko Haram Sponsors

The Federal Government has exposed the “link between Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, and convicted terror sponsors.

At a briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), spoke on the financial transaction involving Igboho and suspects in the Joint Terrorist Financing Investigation.

Malami said the findings were made by a committee set up by the Federal Government.

“Investigation reveals that Adesun International Concept Ltd (belonging to Igboho) transferred the sum of twelve million seven hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N12, 750,000) to Abbal Bako & Sons.

“It might be recalled that Abbal Bako & Sons and its promoter Abdullahi Umar Usman are suspects in the on-going Joint Terrorist Financing Investigation. Abdullahi Umar Usman is by way of financial transaction connected to SURAJO ABUBAKAR MUHAMMAD (who was sentenced to life imprisonment in UAE on charges of financing terrorism [Boko Haram]).

“This report shows the nexus between separatists’ agitation, terrorism financing and disruptions of peace in the country.

[Dailytrust]

Nigeria Announces Killing Of ISWAP Leader Who Succeeded Al-Barnawi

The Nigerian government has announced the killing of a leader of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), Malam Bako.

Bako succeeded Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, the late leader and son of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf.

The announcement comes some days after the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor confirmed that the death of ISWAP, Abu Musab Al-Barnawi.

Al-Barnawi was the son of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, who was also killed by security forces in 2009 when he launched a war against the Nigerian state.

He was previously the spokesperson for the Islamists before he later became ISWAP leader following the death of Abubakar Shekau.
 
Addressing journalists at the State House on Thursday, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno said Bako was killed by Nigerian troops alongside an ISWAP commander.

“In one month, we have been able to take out the leadership of ISWAP, that is Abu Musab Al-Barnawi.
 
“Two days ago, the man who succeeded him, Malam Bako, one of ISWAP Shura Council, was also taken out.”
 
According to Monguno, the military operations against the terrorists is putting pressure on them.

Sahara Reporters earlier reported in September that Abu Musab Al-Barnawi was killed in Borno State.
Al-Barnawi sustained vicious attacks especially on military facilities and troops in the Lake Chad region while at the same time strategising on how to subdue Shekau.
 
He controlled large swathes of territory in Northern Borno, imposed taxes on the local population and earned income from fishing aside from the financial and material support he got from ISIS.
 
Al-Barnawi’s fighters had also destroyed many military camps in Dikwa, Monguno, Abadam and Marte in Borno; and other military facilities around Geidam in Yobe State.
 
He equally established many cells on the Lake Chad islands and surrounding villages from where his fighters launched attacks on Nigeria, Niger and Chad.
 
His death in August, after that of Shekau in May 2021, was seen as a turning point in the war against terror.

(Saharareporters)

Tell Nigerians Why You Ignored Security Intelligence On Abuja/Kaduna Railway Attack: HURIWA Tells NRC

…..Says Attack Shows Complicity Among Security Agencies

Foremost Civil Rights Advocacy Group,  HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA)  has expressed worry over the failure of both the Nigerian Railway Corporation and the security agencies in the country to act on the purported intelligence report on impending terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna railway service.

The group said the NRC and the security services had all the time and resources to avert the attack but failed to act if information we gleaned from some competent sources are anything to go by. HURIWA lamented that this sort of inactiin even after getting advanced intelligence about impending attacks are a regular occurance in virtual all bloody attacks staged by armed Fulani militia across the Country thereby lending credence to widespread allegations that the attackers have funders inside the highest echelons of government.  The group has therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari to uncover these sponsors of terrorism within his administration and flush them out.

In s statement signed by it’s national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National media affairs Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA said the action and inaction of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and the security services in the country have further shown the complicity of the security on the terrorists activities ravaging the country.

HURIWA, while making references to various newspaper publications revealing that intelligence reports about impending terrorists attacks on the Abuja-Kaduna railway services were made available two days prior to the attack yet nothing was done to avert the attack, allowing the terrorists ample time to carry out two attacks on a Kaduna bound train, thereby exposing both the commuters and the rail architectures to harm and danger.

The Civil Rights crusading platform further called on the relevant security agencies in the country to launch a thorough investigation and those found culpable for not acting on the said intelligence should be made to face the full wrath of the law. “The attack on Owerri Correctional Centre and the police command was also captured by proactive intelligence officers of the Department of State Services but as was alleged the police Inspector General then failed to act. The attack on a village near Nsukka two years ago by Fulani terrorists in which over 40 villagers were slaughtered that made the Enugu State governor Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to weep on television whilst visiting the villages, was also revealed to the governor just as the governor reportedly passed on the intelligence to all the heads of security in Enugu State clear 48 hours before the terrorists struck but no action was taken to forestall the attack. All the attacks on Plateau State and Southern Kaduna by armed Fulani militia were detected by intelligence but the armed forces failed to prevent these genocides from happening. The time to stop this vicious circle of deliberate failed intelligence or conspiratorial plots by top officers of the security services is now”.

HURIWA said if the safety of train users can no longer be guaranteed then the railway corporation should as a matter of urgency shutdown services on the Abuja-Kaduna railway pending when security improves.

Armed Fulani Terrorists Are Becoming More Daring-: HURIWA

…..Condemns Bombing Of Kaduna/Abuja Train

HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has said that the attack and killing of over 45 Hausa farmers in Sokoto State and the bombing of the ABUJA/KADUNA train shows that the activities of armed Fulani attackers and terrorists have grown from strength to strength.

The Rights group said it is therefore disappointing and totally unacceptable that President Muhammadu Buhari continues to dither in classifying armed Fulani militia as terrorists so that clear cut military actions are employed to check their expansion. HURIWA deplores the habitually unending empty rhetorical threats intermittently oozing out from the desk of the Senior special assistant on Media to President Muhammadu Buhari informing Nigerians that Mr. President will ‘deal’ with the so called armed bandits who in actual fact says HURIWA are some of the most cruel terrorists in the World in the last half a century. 

In a media statement issued by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf,  HURIWA insisted that the President Muhammadu Buhari is surrounded by Northern Ethnic bigots as internal security chiefs who share same Ethno-religious affinity with members of the increasingly advancing armed Fulani group causing grave damage to North West State including the recent attacks in Sokoto and the train coming to Abuja the nation’s capital from the erstwhile Northern regional capital of Kaduna. These terrorists,  the group insists are heavily pampered and protected by government at the highest levels. 

HURIWA is of the strong opinion that President Muhammadu Buhari does not get sound, qualitative, objective security advice which demands that he needs to hire a much more competent, professional and patriotic National Security Adviser who must necessarily not share his same Ethno-religious affiliation.

Citing media reports of the bombing of the ABUJA bound train from Kaduna HURIWA recalled that there was pandemonium from passengers when the security men in the VIP coaches shouted for all to take cover after the loud sound just  as lights and the air conditioning systems immediately went off, leaving passengers in the heat and darkness. Policemen in the VIP coaches reportedly shouted to unsuspecting passengers to get down when the loud bang occurred. HURIWA quoted a passenger as stating thus: “We all fell over each other, while some ran to other coaches, thinking that the train was under attacked.”

HURIWA applauded the former Senator representing Kaduna central in the eight session of the Senate of the Federal Republic Senator Shehu Sani for his courage and patriotism in announcing the possible bomb attack which targeted the train in which he too was a passenger who narrowly escaped being harmed by the armed Terrorists. 

The Rights group then asked- “Does it make any sense anymore why our President, the head of the Nigerian State and an elected leader of modern day Nigeria, retired military General Muhammadu Buhari is dithering in clearly classifying these bad boys operating in the North West who are mostly Fulani as terrorists? What is the plausible excuse for the Commander -in- chief not to take steps to concretely wipe out these terrorists or is it the case that certain actual terrorists are much more favoured because they come from the Fulani Ethnic stock much more than other so – called ‘terrorists’ who were hurriedly labelled ‘terrorists’ by the current government and the full force of the military unleashed on them even when they are to the best of the knowledge of everyone are not terrorists but campaigners for self determination or self rule?”

“Mr President should be told in plane English that the pampering of Fulani terrorists by his government will backfire because by the time these pampered mass murderers finish with the North West and North Central,  they will then move their locations to other regions in Southern Nigeria and this will instigate civil war that may destroy the fragile stability that Nigeria is witnessing. The earlier they are declared as terrorists and crushed decisively and not by audio or fake military strikes as it is now, the better for the health, stability, unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria “. 

After Claims Of Bandits’ Attack, NRC Suspends Train Operations From Abuja To Kaduna

The Nigerians Railway Corporation has withdrawn train services from Abuja to Kaduna State. This is coming on the background that trains were reportedly attacked by terrorists on Wednesday. But the corporation said the suspension was to enable it conduct maintenance. “We are withdrawing the DMU on Abuja Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) from Tuesday 19th-Thursday 21st October, 2021 for scheduled maintenance. The DMU will return back to operations on Friday 22/10/21. Tuesday 19th & Wednesday 20th will be four trips each (I:e AK1, KA2, AK9 & KA10).Thursday 21/10/21 will be 8trips ( AK1, KA2, AK3, KA4, AK7, KA6, AK9 & KA10) respectively, While full train service will return on Friday. Any inconvenience to our esteemed passengers is regretted,” NRC announced on its website.

Senator Shehu Sani had alleged terrorists “attacked the Kaduna Abuja railway with an explosive and opened fire on the train”.

But the Nigerian Police denied the claim made by the senator who represented the Kaduna Central senatorial district in the 8th Senate.

Speaking on the development, the State Police Spokesperson, Mohammed Jalige said, “That is not true, the command is not aware of anything. The train was faulty yesterday on its way coming from Abuja to Kaduna which caused a delay in people’s arrival time.

“They were no explosives denoted; there was no any attack.”

(The Whistler)

UPDATE: Bandits bomb Abuja-Kaduna train

Armed bandits on Wednesday reportedly bombed a train travelling between Abuja and Kaduna, inflicting technical damages on the country’s major rail infrastructure.

Former Senator Shehu Sani said a train he rode between Kaduna and Abuja on Thursday morning nearly derailed because of an explosive that damaged a section of the tracks.

Mr Sani, in a telephone exchange with Peoples Gazette over the incident, said the bandits were targeting the trains in order to dispose of passengers of their cash and other valuable possessions. He also said the attackers opened fire on the train driver.

A spokesman for the Nigerian Railway in Abuja did not immediately return a request seeking comments on Thursday morning.

Bandits have repeatedly targeted the railway between the nation’s capital and the key northern city, which has become the preferred route for passengers seeking to avoid the perilous three-hour journey by road.

The deadly gangs have raided military bases and shot down at least one reconnaissance jet of the Nigerian Air Force. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that the military paid a ransom to the bandits to prevent President Muhammadu Buhari’s plane from being shot down.

The president has repeatedly vowed to be ruthless against the attackers largely responsible for widespread abduction and plunder of communities across Nigeria’s northwestern region.

But security agencies are warning that the gangs are becoming more armed with sophisticated combat equipment that would make it more difficult to defeat them.

(Gazette)

We attacked Sokoto market to avenge the killing of innocent Fulani Muslims— Bandit commander

Terror bandits operating between Sokoto and Zamfara states have taken responsibility for the attack on Goronyo Market in Sokoto State, where 49 villagers were killed on Sunday, describing it as a reprisal.

One of the kingpins, who is close to both Kachallah Turji and Halilu Sububu – the two notorious warlords in the area – Shehu Rekeb, said the attack was carried out to avenge killings of “innocent Fulani” in the area.

Daily Trust had on Tuesday reported that the attack was a joint one with the attackers storming the market on over 100 motorcycles.

They surrounded the place and opened fire on buyers and sellers that led to the death of 49 people.

“We heard those who attacked Goronyo being described as criminals. They were not.”

“The president (Muhammadu Buhari) came out to say so. Those people (of Goronyo) have killed so many people, so they would have to be attacked and killed,” he said.

Citing the killing of some Fulani Muslim worshippers at Unguwar Lalle, Rekeb said, “When those people (Fulani) were killed, the president did not say anything but he is now coming out to react to this one.”

A resident had on Monday told Daily Trust that, “The recent attack could be a misplaced reprisal by ‘Yan Sakai’ because of the recent killing of 11 herders at Mamande Market in Gwadabawa Local Government Area.

“This outlawed group is arresting and killing Fulani men unjustifiably,” he said.

(Elomba)