Vigilante group made up of Hausa natives on Saturday launched a crackdown on those they tagged as ‘bandits informants’ in Anka town, Anka local government area of Zamfara state, North-West Nigeria.
Popular Zamfara Activist, Yusuf Anka made the revelation on twitter saying that many ‘informants’ were slaughtered during the crackdown launched by native Hausa Vigilante members.
The tweet reads;
Heavily Armed Hausa Vigilante Group invaded Anka today Slaughteing scores of people they accused of been informants or Fulani. The group claims to have a lot of informants, One of their Victims, Alh. Aliyu Dareta a fulani leader in Anka.
This resorts to lawlessness are symptoms of anarchy and failure of a state. The government must be willing to protect the people, investigste and prosecute criminals.
Heavily Armed Hausa Vigilante Group invaded Anka today Slaughteing scores of people they accused of been informants or Fulani. The group claims to have a lost of informants, One of their Victims, Alh. Aliyu Dareta a fulani leader in Anka.
Zamfara has suffered consistent bloodshed where thousands of natives have been killed in the last six and a half years in attacks blamed on Fulani terrorists group the Nigerian media and government chose to call bandits.
There have been claims from some section of the public in Zamfara that the victims of the attacks and mass killings going on in the state have been mostly Hausa natives and Saturday’s onslaught further lend credence to such claims.
Since the coming to power of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, Fulani militia groups have intensified their campaigns of violence in different parts of the country, sacking communities and inflicting maximum casualties.
President Buhari who himself is a Fulani man has done little in tackling the crisis which many view as an attempt to takeover indigenous lands in parts of the country.
Mourners during the mass burial of the 38 victims of the attack. Photo credit: Middle Belt Times
Survivors who are now internally displaced persons (IDPs) as a result of the September 26 deadly terrorist herdsmen attack which rocked Madamai and Abun communities are still living in extreme fear due to absence of security personnel in the communities.
Middle Belt Times had reported how 38 villagers were massacred in a barbaric manner by terrorists suspected to be Fulani herdsmen militia during a Sunday, September 26 attack on the agrarian communities.
Investigation carried out by this newspaper revealed that two weeks after the terror group killed 38 persons and burnt down at least 40 houses, the over 3,000 survivors who are now IDPs are living in extreme fear and uncertainties as the government has refused to deploy security to the area.
Anthony Timothy, A Kaura youth Coalition official told this reporter that the two Communities of Madamai and Abun have been completely deserted.
“The people no longer live there, only the brave men stay there to watch over what was left by the terrorists while the women, children and others who are vulnerable return to Mallagum every evening to sleep.” He said.
Timothy further said that some of the displaced persons have had to relocate to Kagoro and Kwoi towns to seek refuge in relative’s homes.
“Some who have relatives in Kagoro have gone to live with them, some even went as far as Kwoi town to stay.”
This reporter also spoke with the Catholic Priest of St. Thomas Parish, Mallagum, Rev. Fr Cosmos Magaji who lost many parishioners to the attack. Fr Magaji who had to flee the community after threats to his life were made by yet to be identified persons said the current situation ‘is disturbing’.
“As I speak to you now, the people are still displaced, they cannot go back to their ancestral communities for fear of the unknown.
“Plans were on ground to have them all under one IDP camp. The caretaker chairperson of the local government approved a primary school to be used as a makeshift IDP camp but the challenge is that the police has refused to deploy security to enable the proposed camp kickstart.
“I was informed that the Police Area Commander in charge of Kafanchan area said he cannot deploy policemen to any camp that is not fenced.
“In the whole of this area there is no school that is fenced, so what do they want the displaced persons to do?.” Fr Magaji said.
The Priest also complained about the inadequacy of relief materials supplied by the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
“SEMA actually brought some relief materials but it is very inadequate considering the number of persons affected. Magaji said.
The items brought by SEMA as confirmed by MBT from the Priest includes;
60 bags 10kg Rice
20 cartoons of indomie
20 pieces of 6inches mattresses
10 jerricans of10 litres Palm oil
10 jerricans of 10litres ground nut oil.
When contacted, the SEMA Director of Relief and Disaster Management, Mr Ya’u told this reporter via telephone that the Agency is not comfortable with setting up IDP camps in the area for obvious reasons such as security. Ya’u also said the Agency has learnt from experience that IDP camps are often abused and exploited negatively by those he called criminals who used IDP camps for selfish interests.
“As an Agency, we are not encouraging people to gather in IDP camps, this is because we do not know who the attackers are and having them in camps could further endanger their lives.
“What we advise for now is that people should move in and live in neighbouring communities while we continue to assist them with relief materials to alleviate their sufferings.
“We are also in touch with his Excellency the governor of the state to provide the communities with building materials so they can rebuild and return to their communities as soon as possible.” Ya’u said.
The Director also said that the Agency is at the moment working on being proactive instead of always reacting to emergency situations.
“As an Agency, we do not just want to be providing relief materials, we want to prevent situations that could lead to emergencies in the state.
“We are working hand in hand with the Kaduna Peace Commission and communities in the state to identify the problems and possibly tackle them before they become emergency situations.” He said.
When contacted the Area Commander of Kafanchan, ACP Danladi Ibrahim denied the allegations of refusing to deploy Security to the camp saying no such camp has been set up.
“Our duty is to deploy security, we cannot say we will not send security to the area.
“The question is, have setup any IDP camp? The arrangement is between them and the caretaker chairperson of the local government.
“When they set up a camp and inform us, of course we will deploy security to the camp.” He said.
As at the time of filing this report, all efforts to get the Caretaker chairperson of Kaura local government area, Mrs Naomi Anguwa to comment on the matter proved abortive as her calls were neither taken nor returned. An SMS sent to her line was also not immediately replied.
No fewer than 12 villagers have been reported killed as group of bandits attacked people of Sakajiki village in Kaura Namoda Emirate in Zamfara State.
According to Channels Tv, the Zamfara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Shehu confirmed the incident on Friday. Saying, casualties recorded in the incident would have been more if not for the response if the police operatives deployed to the area.
Report reveals that the bandits arrived at the village at about 9pm on Thursday and left the following morning around 4am on Friday, in the process, a dozen persons were killed.
Several shops and houses were razed, the police outpost in the area was also set ablaze as well as several other vehicles, one of which belonged to the police.
Meanwhile, search for more dead bodies are still going.
The team of police mobile force operatives tried their best to repel the attack, but they were purportedly overpowered by the bandits.
Terror group suspected to be Fulani terrorists yesterday, 15 October killed three persons in Nkeidonwro community, Miango District, Bassa local government area of Kaduna state, North Central Nigeria, Middle Belt Times can confirm.
The terrorists invaded the agrarian community in the early hours of Friday and began shooting sporadically “in their usual manner” a resident of Miango told this newspaper on condition of anonymity.
“They came in like they always do and by the time they finished their mission, three of our people have been confirmed dead while one, a minor sustained gunshot injury. He said
“A man and his son were among those killed while another of his son, a minor sustained injury.
The names of the persons killed were given as;
Reuben Sunday 28 years old
Anis David 42 years old
Abednego Amos 8 years old
A certain 12 years old Emmanuel Amos sustained injury and is currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in the area.
It would be recalled that the same community was attacked by herdsmen in September 2021 and two people were killed while another two sustained injuries.
Bassa local government area of Plateau state has witnessed several of such attacks this year with at least 70 people killed in July and over 300 houses and farms destroyed by the rampaging terrorists.
About 24 ISWAP fighters including top-ranking Commanders while attempting to attack a military convoy were killed at Ngamdu axis by airstrikes on Wednesday evening
PRNigeria gathered that among the ISWAP high-ranking Commanders who were eliminated in foiled attempts to attack the military convoy and Forward Operating Base (FOB) included Yaya Ebraheem, Baba Chattimari and Abu Adam Oubaida.
Meanwhile, ISWAP Deputy Jaysh in Sambisa, Modou Bacheer Oukocha, is among those fatally wounded.
A top military intelligence officer told PRNigeria that while the convoy of ground troops engaged the ISWAP fighters in a firefight, the air component from the Nigerian Airforce (NAF) arrived at the scene and bombarded the locations of the terrorists.
The source said: “A military convoy was moving between Damaturu to Maiduguri when it got intelligence of impending attacks on a FOB at Ngamdu axis. The convoy quickly made a U-turn to reinforce the base after sending signals for air cover.
“En route to Ngamdu, the military convoy encountered ISWAP fighters and engaged them. A firefight ensued before the sudden arrival of fighter jets that shelled the enemies’ locations. Many of the terrorists were killed.
“The well-coordinated operation of the Nigerian Army and Air Task Force with the support of intelligence components in the swift response is highly commendable.”
Nigeria Air Force (NAF) fighter helicopters, with the support of ground troops, had repelled a terrorist attack launched at a military base in Ngamdu by ISWAP insurgents on Tuesday as reported by PRNigeria.
However, four soldiers paid the supreme price, while an officer who sustained serious injuries while engaging the terrorists, is fast recuperating from a military health facility.Ngamdu is a border town between Yobe and Borno states.
The ongoing rampage by armed bandits and Boko Haram insurgents, especially against police stations and military bases across the country, has overwhelmed the Buhari administration, Afenifere said on Wednesday.
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group cited how Boko Haram terrorists set up camps in villages in Kuje, Abuja, and took over about 500 communities in Niger.
The group in a statement by its spokesperson, Jare Ajayi, recalled that Nasarawa Governor Abdullah Sule once said Boko Haram had taken over parts of his state.
“He even went further to remind the federal government and security agencies that Nasarawa is very close to Aso Rock, the country’s seat of power,” the group said.
Afenifere said aside from Boko Haram setting up camps in Niger and Nasarawa, bandits had overran large cache of lands in Zamfara, Borno, Kaduna, Benue and Yobe.
“Zamfara, Borno, Kaduna, Benue, Yobe have cache of lands where bandits have established themselves from which they unleash terror on the people and government interests.
“In the South West, Ibadan to Ijebu-Ode highway, parts of Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun and Osun States posted cases of armed attacks and abductions almost on a daily basis. The same way it is happening in Edo State among others,” the group said.
According to the group, the frequent killings by unknown gunmen, and the effectiveness of the ‘stay-at-home’ order by IPOB, had consigned the Buhari regime to “feebleness”.
Afenifere said Mr Buhari was “very much aware of the challenges” but lacked the political “will and determination to confront the challenges headlong.”
According to the statement, the Buhari regime’s failure to act decisively on insecurity, “has imperiled the social and economic activities in various parts of the country.”
Afenifere said the incessant incidents of insecurity across the country were portrayals of the Buhari regime’s failure in its primary responsibility of protecting Nigerians.
The group said urgent steps were required to stop terrorists and bandits from gaining ground, and “prevent the country from going into smithereens.”
t least four Iranian-backed militia have been killed and seven others wounded by Israeli strikes, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The rights group which monitors violence in the war-torn country, said the dead were all Syrian nationals working for Iranian militias and the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah.
The SOHR’s account was, however, different from that of the state-run Syrian News Agency (SANA) that a Syrian soldier was killed and three others wounded.
The Syrian TV reported that shortly after midnight Thursday, Israeli strikes hit the eastern countryside of Homs, targeting a communications tower and surrounding points.
An Israeli military spokesperson said they won’t comment on “reports in foreign media.”
Israeli strikes in Syria are seen as attempts to prevent Iran, one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s main allies, from building up its military influence in the region.
No fewer than 50 gunmen invaded the Nasarawa State Local Government Service Commission, making away with a safe box full of valuables, and an AK-47 rifle belonging to an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Sun reports that the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Rammatu Julde, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lafia, the state capital.
Jude said the gunmen stormed the premises in the early hours of Monday at 2am, gained access through the main gate linking the offices of the Local Government Commission and the Civil Service Commission, and operated without intervention by security agencies.
“They launched the attack in the early hours of Monday at exactly 2am. During the operation, they tied down two officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps who were guarding the premises with a rope and collected one AK-47 rifle in their possession,” Julde reported.
“They also attempted to take away our 150 KVA generator, but they could not succeed; however, they took away the safe box where valuable documents of the Commission were kept. We are presently doing stock-taking to know what other items were carted away,” she added.
The Commission’s secretary clarified that no life was lost during the attack but appealed to the NSCDC to carry out a detailed investigation into the incident in order to be sure that there was no conspiracy between its officers and the unidentified gunmen.
The unidentified gunmen also invaded the State Civil Service Commission which shares a fence with the Local Government Service Commission and carted away two LED 32-inch televisions.
Reacting, Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC Jerry Victor, explained that, “The gunmen launched an attack on the premises on Monday morning and unfortunately carried out their plans without any hindrance.
“Two of our officers who were securing the premises were tied down with ropes and they collected e Ak-47 rifle from them. The officers have been detained at our Command headquarters here in Lafia and investigation is currently ongoing.”
The incident occurred three months after a group of armed men raided the State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning in Lafia, making away with cash, also without interventions by authorities.
Says attack on Catholic Seminary is a continuation of ongoing genocide
Leading civil Rights Advocacy Platform-:HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has tasked the President as the father of the nation to kindly halt the massive attacks and killings of Christians in Southern Kaduna by suspected armed Fulani terrorists just as the group said the attack in kagoma, Jema’a local government area council of Kaduna state targeting a Roman Catholic Senior Seminary fits into a pattern of genocides that have gone on for over five years since president Buhari came on board.
HURIWA learnt that gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits had attacked St. Albert the Great Institute of Philosophy, a seminary belonging to the Catholic Church. The seminary is situated at Fayit community, Kagoma Chiefdom in the Jama’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The attack, according to sources, led to the abduction of an unspecified number of students. HURIWA gathered from the media that the suspected kidnappers in their large number stormed the school premises on Monday evening with sophisticated weapons, surrounded the school, and overpowered the students who had just finished their evening prayers. According to one of the students, who narrowly escaped the bandits, they had just finished evening prayers in the church when the gunmen attacked with sporadic shooting and whisked the victims away. He added, “The other students who left early and were already having their dinner at the dining hall on hearing the gunshots escaped in disarray to different directions and were able to save themselves from being kidnappers.” He explained that some ran to the nearby river for their dear lives, stressing that the incident put the entire school into confusion as those that were lucky ran away from the gunmen. The student who sought anonymity said, “In all, it is estimated that an unverifiable number of students were kidnapped.” Another source who spoke on the incessant kidnapping in the state appealed to the government to do the needful by protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.
HURIWA condemns the attack and the persistent and systematic decimation of Southern Kaduna Indigenous Christian population and described these targeted violence and killings as well crafted, well coordinated and well executed genocides which President Buhari must stop and bring the perpetrators to face justice.
HURIWA said there are recorded evidence of many Captured and Occupied Southern Kaduna Territories just as HURIWA said that below are indigenous rural Christian communities of Southern Kaduna that have been sacked by rampaging armed Fulani militia and displaced to various communities and IDPs camps. These villages are now under the full occupation of Fulani some for over two years listed bellow according to LGAs and Wards. 1 KACHIA LGA ( from 2019) (i) Doka ward Chikwale, Idum, Muruchi, Kwasau Legede, Kafeyawa, Amale, Chikwale, Unguwan Pa, Gidan Sambo, Gidan Para, Unguwan Muruchi, Unguwan Dutse, Baware kasa, Gidan Duna, Sabon Gida Duna, Opase, Gidan Sunday, Gidan Yarima, Gidan Auta, Bakin Garma, Gidan Ladan, Maigari, Gidan Wakili, Pago, Oshowodo, Gidan Peter. (ii) Ankuwa Ward Ungwan pah (iii) Bishini Ward Koron, Kurmin iya, Ungwan Gwari, Kurmin Iya (iv) Kateri Ward Rishi Numbers of communities displaced in Kachia LGA = 33 Communities from 4 Wards 2 Kajuru LGA (from 2019)
(NOTE: On the 1st June, 2021, a few men from Idazo, Ungwan Shaba and Magunguna villages took risk and went back to clear their farms, after it was established that the occupying armed herdsmen have left. They are still there at the time of compiling this report. Past attempts were met with death)
(ii) Tantatu Ward Ungwan Makware
(iii) Idon Ward
Edanu, Ungwan Mudi, Ungwan Rana, Ifele, Ungwan Gora
Number of Displaced Communities from Kajuru LGA = 24 from 3 wards 3 CHIKUN LGA (from 2019) (i) Kunai Ward
Number of Displaced and Occupied rural communities = 8
(NOTE: some of the displaced persons here have started returning from last year. But majority do not still feel that there is an assured safety and security of the lives after past attempts had ended in regrettable tragedy. The herdsmen are notorious for breaking violating agreements reached) 5 Kauru LGA (2020)
(i)Badurun ward
Kikurunkuwa
(ii) Kamuru Ward
Kiziti, Kikpene, Kirim,
Number of Displaced villages = 5
As at June 5th, 2021, at least 115 communities scattered in 5 LGAs of Southern Kaduna have been displaced and taken over by armed Fulani militia unchallenged by the state. There are at least 100,000 IDPs leaving in several camps in Southern Kaduna and with relations in other parts of the state. Those close to Plateau and Niger State have fled there.
Source: Official records of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU). Date: 5th June, 2021 Sign: Luka Binniyat. SOKAPU Spokesman and obtained by HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA.
The Rights group said the attacks and genocides in Southern Kaduna contravene several sections of the Nigerian constitution such as Section 14 stated thus: 14(1) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice. (2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that: (a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority; (b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government: and Section 33 stated thus: 33(1) Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.
Besides, HURIWA appealed on President Muhammadu Buhari to halt these premeditated attacks because section 218 (1) of the constitution says: “The powers of the President as the Commissioner-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation shall include power to determine the operational use of the armed forces of the Federation. (2) The powers conferred on the President by subsection (1) of this section shall include power to appoint the Chief of Defence staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and heads of any other branches of the armed forces of the Federation as may be established by an Act of the National Assembly. (3) The President may, by directions in writing and subject to such conditions as he think fit, delegate to any member of the armed forces of the Federation his powers relating to the operational use of the Armed Forces of the Federation. (4) The National Assembly shall have power to make laws for the regulation of – (a) the powers exercisable by the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation; and (b) the appointment, promotion and disciplinary control of members of the armed forces of the Federation.” HURIWA said it has begun drafting another petition to be sent to the INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT IN THE HAGUE NETHERLANDS so the suspects and Kaduna State government officials are charged for CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.
Last week, the Reverend gentleman who is the Special Adviser on Media and publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari in the person of the erstwhile Managing Director of the Daily Sun newspaper Mr. Femi Adesina told his audience that within days the administration would showcase a documentary on the milestones madecin two years of the second and final constitutionally permitted term of the President.
Most Nigerians battling with how to overcome the economic challenges foisted on them essentially by the consequences of the Covid-19 PANDEMIC did not actually take him serious. Moreso, the Spokesman of the President is a man who has consistently defended the policies of the administration some of which have adverse economic consequences on the living conditions of millions of Nigerians. However, the documentary has actually been shown. But this is not the theme of this write up which essentially represents the official position of the non governmental body that I have led since the last fourteen years known as HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA). This reflection of my group is on the positive trends made by the federal government in the area of arms procurement process that began when LIEUTENANT GENERAL TUKUR YUSUF BURATAI headed the Nigerian Army for nearly 6 years since 2015 up ubtil he voluntarily retured from active soldiering work and was tapped for another international assignment for Nigeria as the Country’s Ambassador to Benin Republic. During his years in service as Head of the Army General Buratai established a system of transparency and accountability in all aspects and in the area of procurement of weapons, he made the process so open and subject to public scrutiny in such a way that the media captured moments when those weapons were procured, delivered and deployed. In one of those public occasions, General Buratai said the equipment has aided military operations against bandits and Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the North East.
The media reported then that the Nigerian Army had inducted eight units of locally made combat vehicles Mine–Resistant, Ambush–Protected (MRAP), also called `EZUGWU’’ into Operations Lafiya Dole and Sahel Sanity.
The then Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, who made this known at the inauguration of the vehicles in Kaduna, said the equipment has aided military operations against bandits and Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the North East.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the vehicles, which are designed specifically to withstand improvised explosive device attacks and ambushes, were manufactured by the Command Engineering Depot, Kaduna.
General Buratai, who was represented by the Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Jamil Sarham, also inaugurated the Smart Factory also called Additive Manufacturing Technology, Vehicles Assembly shop and Officers/Soldiers accommodation at Command Engineering Depot (CED).
“The vehicles have significantly improved our capability to defeat our common adversary, Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province,’’ he said.
The army chief said that the induction of the vehicles was a “clear testament to the unprecedented commitment of the Nigerian Army to building industrial capacity of the CED to undertake in-depth Research, Development and Innovation (RDI).’’
“Today, one of the greatest challenges facing the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security agencies is an outright reliance on importation of defence logistics from allies.
“Accordingly, President Muhammadu Buhari posits that Nigeria’s dependence on other countries for critical military equipment is unacceptable, the country must evolve (a) viable mechanism for near self-sufficiency in military equipment and logistics production,’’ he said.
General Buratai said that the president’s charge, therefore, made the Nigeria Army to initiate collaboration among CED, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria and Buffalo Engineering Technical Services Ltd., to produce the local MRAPs.
He said that additional defence logistic requirements produced through the collaboration include “Light Armoured Tactical Vehicle, Special Patrol Vehicle, Mobile Field Bakery and Mobile Borehole Drilling Machine among others.’’
“Succinctly, these platforms are aiding the Nigerian Army to perform its constitutional roles across all spectra of warfare such as the ongoing counter insurgency operations in the North East and other operations.’’
Earlier, the Commander, Engineering Depot, Sunday Araoye, said the induction of the vehicles was a clear manifestation of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to enhancing the industrial base in the country.
Araoye said that the uncommon approach was adopted in fabricating the hardware for the armed forces and other security agencies in the country.
The then Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, had also in Kachia, Kaduna State, inspected and inducted new set of artillery guns and equipment to be deployed for operations in the North East.
General Buratai also inaugurated the new Headquarters complex for the Nigerian Army School of Artillery, NASA, as well as inspected several ongoing projects in the school and the barracks’ community.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Defence, procured the brand new artillery guns and equipment.
The guns are field artillery pieces and some of the equipment are vehicle ultra-light carriage for artillery and self propelled light gun series whose identity and specification would not be published for security reasons.
Speaking to journalists after the commissioning ceremony, then spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brig- Gen. Sagir Musa said the COAS was in the NASA to inspect and test fire the guns, in line with his vision of ensuring a conducive working environment for officers and men of the Nigerian Army.
“It was in this vein the COAS commissioned the ultra-modern NASA Headquarters here in Kachia today which you just witnessed.
“Given the quality of work done, that singular act is commendable and will help in enhancing the productivity of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army School of Artillery”.
“The new artillery guns inspected by the COAS will be inducted into the Northeast Theater of Operation Lafiya Dole in the North East”, Brigadier General Musa said.
Therefore, Appraising the progress so far recorded in the war on terror, especially with the purchase and delivery of the first batch of the Tucano Jets, the foremost pro-democracy and leading civil rights advocacy group; Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has commended the level of commitment of the current administration of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari in the war against terror through his efforts in arms procurement since its inception in 2015.
A statement endorsed by the National Coordinator; Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko quoted HURIWA as saying that there were hitherto a number of significant difficulties for the Nigerian military in what was termed the “Long War on Boko Haram;” ranging from weapon system acquisitions and personnel drawdowns, Nigeria’s denied access to sophisticated weapons in the past and the past administration’s mismanaging and embezzling of funds meant for weapons procurement.
However, at the inception of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, one thing was clear to all, here was a soldier’s soldier coming to tackle a most difficult and daunting task of winning the war against terrorism.
Before the Buhari administration came into the office, the previous administration for the most part of its six years of existence had battled, albeit unsuccessfully the Boko Haram terror group, adjudged as one of the deadliest, if not the deadliest in the world. Such was the enormity of this task.
Although the reins of governance fell into Buhari’s way through his victory at the 2015 elections, the task of fighting terror was given to one of Nigeria’s most loyal military officers in the person of General Tukur Yusuf Buratai by his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff in 2015 and by extension the man upon whom the biggest responsibility yet, in recent times fell upon not only to win a most unconventional warfare against terror, but to organize a largely disillusioned, ill-equipped, low in morale army, that had so suffered on many fronts, in organization, motivation and infrastructure, more than in the fronts fighting terror”, HURIWA informed.
Highlighting the efforts the current administration has made in arms procurement right from the past Chief of Army Staff; Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd.) and his counterparts held sway, HURIWA recalled that on December 14, 2017, Nigerian governors had approved the release of $1bn from the country’s excess oil account to the federal government to buy arms for the effective execution of the Boko Haram war.
The approval, which reportedly reduced the $2.3bn Excess Crude Account by half, HURIWA noted that development had generated heated debate with some analysts saying the money would be stolen just as the rights group stated that though some governors from the South rejected the approval, the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, briefed the press on the decision after the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), during when he assured that the money would cover the whole array of needs which included purchase of equipment, training for military personnel and logistics.
Subsequently, in April 2018, in a letter to the National Assembly, Buhari disclosed that the sum of $496m was withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account for the purchase of military aircraft. However, the money was paid to the United States for the 12 Super Tucano aircraft nation’s fight against terrorism.
On July 22nd, 2021, The Nigeria Airforce (NAF) announced it had received the first batch of six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from the United States since its purchase in 2018, with the last batch due to arrive before the end of the year. This was disclosed in a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information for NAF Headquarters; Edward Gabkwet in Abuja.
The aircraft represented a historic level of partnership achieved between the US and the Nigerian military. This is because, beyond the new hardware on the runway, this programme has brought the two nations’ militaries closer in formal training, professional development, air base construction, logistics planning, and negotiations. We are pleased with this partnership approach to end violent extremism and ensure a more stable, prosperous country for all Nigerians,” HURIWA added.
Also HURIWA informed that beyond the Tucano Jets, various procurements had been made for the purchase of critical equipment for the army, navy and air force, in support of the war on terror contrary to allegations.
Quoting the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity; Garba Shehu, HURIWA revealed thus: “Various other military procurements for critical equipment have been made. These are for the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy, amounting to $380.5m. These procurements include money for the purchase of Navy Lynx helicopters.
The total amount spent is $876.8m. The equipment paid for has due dates of delivery of between six months to two years. Balance of the money that is unspent as at March this year is $123.1m”, HURIWA quoted Garba Shehu to have said.
Furthermore, rejecting the integration policy of the government which favours terrorists, the rights group emphasized on the need for the administration to widen the scope of the war on terror by bringing terrorists to justice adding that the policy is serving as potential recruitment grounds for terrorists since terrorists who are released mostly return to their bad ways because its ideological and the process of deradicalisation is not adequately implemented in Nigeria due to lack of expertise within Nigeria for such.
Although, for a successful counter-terrorism campaign, scholars and conflict practitioners emphasize a combination of military and non-military strategies. While a military strategy is useful to weaken the military capacity of terrorists, non-military strategies including negotiations, deradicalization, disarmament, rehabilitation, reintegration, and other soft measures are advanced to tackle the underlying problems fuelling terrorism to achieve a long-term peaceful outcome.
While within the non-military approach, deradicalization program is very significant, especially in combating religion- or ideology-motivated terrorism, given that the strategy not only aims to deconstruct extremist ideologies but also facilitates the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-combatants and victims of violent extremism, the design and implementation of the deradicalization program of the Nigerian government towards countering Boko Haram have structural weaknesses that has further contributed to the problem of violent extremism, the rights group explained.
HURIWA therefore craved that the process of bringing suspected terrorists to justice could be fast-tracked, explaining that the criminal jurisdiction of a court is activated through a formal charge before a court of competent jurisdiction. “So, without a formal charge filed against a suspect, the machinery of justice via the judiciary has not been set in motion”.
However, HURIWA pointed out that it is important that security agencies conclude investigations before the prosecution of persons or organisations indicted, adding that those could be handled with every sense of urgency. “This cannot be done by mere lip service but by concentrated positive efforts, which is presently lacking since the Terrorism Act seems to be in abeyance and relegated to the background with the reintegration policy of the government being proposed for arrested suspected terrorists.
If the suspected terrorists are granted amnesty, it definitely would be applicable to their sponsors too. So, we are invariably back to square one, where the will to enforce existing law is lacking,” HURIWA reasoned.
Noting that terrorism is a global challenge, HURIWA warned that except suspects are prosecuted and punished for crimes against humanity with concerted global collaborations, sponsorship for terrorism would continue to evolve.
Hence, HURIWA concluded by condemning the general state of insecurity, occasioned by payment of ransom to terrorists when they abduct citizens. “What can we call our present situation where bandits kidnap people and are paid ransom by the government? Is that not a form of sponsorship for terrorism?” HURIWA asked. We urge that the wealth of experiences of past Service Chiefs including the strategic thinking of Generals such as Buratai should be tapped so the current Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yahaya Faruk who has started well can be able to finish the war on terror in no time.
*EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO is the Head of HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) and blogs @www.thenigerianinsidernews.com, www.huriwanigeria.com.
