Breaking News : Boko Haram pledges allegiance to IS

Nigerian militant group Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS), according to an audio statement.

The message, which could not immediately be verified, was posted on Boko Haram's Twitter account and appeared to be by the group's leader.

Boko Haram began a military campaign to impose Islamic rule in northern Nigeria in 2009. The conflict has since spread to neighbouring states.

It would be the latest in a series of groups to swear allegiance to IS.

Boko Haram's insurgency has threatened Nigeria's territorial integrity and triggered a humanitarian crisis.

It has carried out frequent bombings that have left thousands dead and has also attacked targets in the capital, Abuja.

FULL STORY : CNN

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Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau emerges, dismisses claims of his death

Guess there is an undertone to the stories we have been hearing from the Defence HQ of both Nigeria and Cameroun concerning the death of Abubakar Shekau, as he claims to be alive and healthy. In a 36 minutes video released exclusively to AFP, Boko Haram leader, Shekau Abubakar dismissed reports of his death. Shekau, pictured above from the video, is quoted by AFP as saying he's alive and that his members are running their captured towns.

"Here I am, alive. I will only die the day Allah takes my breath. Nothing will kill me until my days are over... I'm still alive. Some people asked you if Shekau has two souls. No, I have one soul, by Allah.

It is propaganda that is prevalent. I have one soul. I'm an Islamic student. I'm the Islamic student whose seminary you burnt... I'm not dead,"

He went further to say "We are running our caliphate, our Islamic caliphate. We follow the Koran... We now practice the injunctions of the Koran in the land of Allah," he said.

AFP also reports that the insurgency group claimed in the video to have shot down a Nigerian air force jet that went missing nearly three weeks ago.

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Boko Haram claims responsibility for Abuja & Lagos bombings in new video

Boko Haram

In a new video made available to AFP, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the bomb attacks on June 25th in Abuja and Lagos state that killed over 21 people. AFP confirmed the release of the video on their site. Continue...

AFP also said that Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau voiced its support for the extremist Sunni Islamic State (ISIS) militant group, which has taken over most parts of Iraq and Syria.

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Pics of soldiers killed by Boko Haram that caused military mutiny in Maiduguri

Major Olalekan Akintola

Very often we hear that soldiers in battle with the dreaded Islamic sect Boko Haram were killed, but we hardly get to see the fallen officers. Well, here are two of them.

The officer above is Major Olalekan Akintola, aka Lokoso, he was one of the officers ambushed and killed by Boko Haram men last Wednesday night.

The officer below is Lt Odushina Oluwafemi, he and his fellow soldiers were killed when their convoy was ambushed by Boko Haram after their GOC, Major General Abubakar Mohammed, made them make an unusual trip, his friends say.

Their deaths sparked a mutiny against the GOC. Y'all remember the story last week. The GOC has since been redeployed because of the incident.

Lt Odushina Oluwafemi

Lt Odushina Oluwafemi attended Air Force Secondary School Ikeja, and has served as part of the UN peace keeping forces in Darfur. He went to Pakistan for additional training course and was only deployed to Maiduguri in March 2014 where he met his untimely death. May their souls rest in peace.

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Breaking News : Northern leaders back FG deal with Boko Haram over kidnapped Chibok Schoolgirls

Chibok Girls

As the Federal Government explores ways of rescuing the girls seized by terrorists from their school in Chibok, Borno State, over a month ago, two northern groups have said that there is nothing wrong with the plan by the government to negotiate with the insurgents in order to free the captives.

Chairman of the Northern Elders Council, NEC, Alhaji Tanko Yakassi, and the National Coordinator of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, NPAPB, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, in separate interviews with Vanguard yesterday, threw their weight behind the plan by the Federal Government to dialogue with the sect in a bid to free the more than 200 girls in its custody.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has rejected the idea of a swap of Boko Haram prisoners for the schoolgirls, Britain’s Minister for Africa said after talks with him in Abuja, yesterday.
“He made it very clear that there would be no negotiations with Boko Haram that involved a swap of abducted schoolgirls for prisoners,” Mark Simmonds told a news conference.
The northern leaders, who are delegates to the ongoing National Conference, said the Federal Government had no option than to negotiate in good faith with the sect to return the children to their parents and end their agony.
He said: “As far as we are concerned, discussion with the group is a step in the right direction. There is no substitute to dialogue. What we want in this country is peace.”
The leader of NPAPB, Mohammed, said that despite the provocation by Boko Haram, the Federal Government should seize the offer made by the sect and dialogue in utmost good faith to free the children.
According to Mohammed, the attention of the Federal Government and men of goodwill should be focussed on securing the release of the children unharmed and returning them to their parents.
The Second Republic politician, who described Boko Haram as a repugnant group that does not represent the interest of anyone, asked the government to learn lessons from what the sect had done in recent years and bring it to an end.
While welcoming the assistance of the United States of America, USA, to help find the missing school children, Mohammed said that all other conditions should be subordinated to saving the children.

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OMG : Video of girl Stoned to Death but This barbaric act didn't happen in Nigeria

Girl Stoned to death

I'm sure by now most of you have seen the unbelievable video of a young girl being stoned to death. If you haven't seen it, please don't go looking for it, it will spoil your whole week.

Anyway, a lot of people have been speculating that it happened in Nigeria and it's one of the abducted Chibok girls buried from neck down and stoned to death.

But according to The Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, this happened a while back and it didn't happen in Nigeria.

WATCH VIDEO HERE

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Boko Haram Leader Declares Total War Against Christians

Wearing a bullet proof vest and sandwiched between two AK-47s, Abubakar Shekau, the new leader of Boko Haram, the radical Islamic sect responsible for the death of over 500 people in 2011 alone, is seen in a video released earlier Wednesday, 11 January 2012, outlining the group's grievances against the Nigerian state and President Goodluck Jonathan.

Also mentioned specifically as target by name is the...
President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, whom the group singled out for condemnation after his call on Christians to protect themselves - a call he made after the Christmas Day bomb attack at the St. Theresa's Catholic Church at Madalla, near the Federal Capital Territory.

In the video, Abubakar Shekau boasted that the security agencies could not vanquish his group. It may be recalled that President Jonathan had himself admitted that the sect had infiltrated all arms of his government including the security forces.

Speaking further in the 15-minute video, Mr. Shekau said the group could only hold talks with the government in accordance with the teachings of Islam.

Declaring total war on Christians, the Boko Haram leader said: “We are also at war with Christians because the whole world knows what they did to us,” adding that his group’s successes against the Nigerian state “is an indication that they are in the right path.”

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Jonathan Gives Family Of Slain Boko Haram Leader N100M Compensation!

THE Borno State government decided, on Monday, to settle out of court with the family of the late in-law of the deceased Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, with the payment of N100 million compensation for extra-judicial killing of Baba Fugu. Baba Fugu was killed by policemen in 2009 after he made himself available at the Borno State Police Command.

The family subsequently went to court seeking compensation from the Borno State and the Federal Government for the death of Bata Fugu.

Their prayer has since been answered by the Maiduguri High Court, which ordered the state government and the Federal Government, including the Inspector General of Police (IGP), to pay compensation of N100 million, with the state asked to cough up N40 million and the Federal Government and the police paying the balance of N60 million.

The Borno State government, feeling unsatisfied went to the Federal Appeal Court, Jos, to challenge the ruling but with yesterday’s decision, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mallam Zanna Gana, was instructed to withdraw the appeal.

Presenting the cheque to the family's solicitor, Mr Anayo Adibe, the state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, said the ceremony was a solemn one and that his heart went out to the family of Baba Fugu and others who lost their lives to the crisis which engulfed the state.

He said no amount of money paid to the family could compensate them for the loss of their patriarch and prayed God to continue to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

The governor said despite the situation the state had found itself since the Boko Haram sect decided to take up arms against everyone, the state government would not stop to appeal to them to lay down their arms and choose peace since violence would not achieve anything.

According to him, "I wish to call on all men of goodwill to join us in the pursuance of peace."

He, however, said he knew the government would be criticised for insisting on peace with all the harm the sect had done to the state and country, but added that since it was the government and people of Borno that were at the centre of the crisis, they knew where the "shoe pinches".

“No matter what it takes, we have to stick our necks out and pursue peace. Though people, especially those outside the state, will condemn us for our action, we live in Borno and know where the shoe pinches,” he explained.

While receiving the cheque on behalf of the family, the family solicitor, Adibe, commended the governor for having a good heart, insisting that in line with what the governor said every life was worth living and no amount of money could equal a lost life.



Na Wa OOOOh - So government are busy paying boko haram N100M and cant afford subsidy for the masses!!!!! God help Nigeria and deliver us from all elements of badluck

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Boko Haram attack claims 12 in Adamawa

YOLA – Gunmen, suspected to be members of Boko Haram, yesterday, attacked Christ Apostolic Church in Yola, Adamawa State capital, killing 11 worshippers. Another member died in hospital from bullet wounds.

News of the shooting made residents, mostly non-indigenes, to flee their homes in the night and seek refuge at the General Jalo Army Barracks, Yola, for fear of being killed.

Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, campaigned for the re-election of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State despite the nationwide strike called by labour over the recent increase in petrol price.

It was learnt that the unknown gunmen, who rode on motorcycles, entered the church and opened fire on the worshippers. 11 members reportedly died on the spot and several others sustained bullet wounds.

One of the wounded church members reportedly died later, bringing the number of those who died to 12, even as five others are in critical conditions at the Specialist Hospital, Yola.

Last Friday, 12 mourners were killed in Mubi, the commercial nerve centre of the state by suspected members of Boko Haram sect.

Those killed were allegedly holding a meeting on how to raise money to convey home the remains of three of their relatives earlier shot dead by members of the sect on Thursday before they were attacked.

Police in the state said they were investigating the incidents.

… kills SSS officer in Borno

By Ndahi Marama

BORNO—An official of the State Security Services, SSS, was, yesterday, killed in Borno State by suspected members of Boko Haram even as the nationwide strike embarked on by Nigerians over the removal of fuel subsidy paralysed the state.

The SSS personnel was reportedly killed in Biu Local Government Area of the state, one of the five local governments where President Goodluck Jonathan declared state of emergency following the insecurity threats by Boko Haram.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Simeon Midenda confirmed the killing saying, “I have received a report that an SSS officer was shot dead in Biu council area after returning from the Mosque where he performed his 2pm Azzhar prayers.”

Meanwhile, the streets in Maiduguri were deserted as all government and private businesses were grounded although there were no anti-subsidy removal protests.

The absence of protest was attributed to the already tense situation created by the activities of Boko Haram.

State Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Chairman, Mr. Ali Abana, expressed satisfaction with the situation in the state as most people in the state fully complied with labour directives by remaining in their homes instead of doing anything that would further jeopardise the relative peace in the state.

OBJ, Atiku in Yola for Nyako

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar led the PDP supporters during the party’s grand finale campaign in Yola, where Nyako was presented to the people for their support in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

The rally witnessed a large crowd despite the strike.

Obasanjo, in his message, condemned the killings by Boko Haram in the state, saying, “Adamawa is one of the states in the country that encourage inter-religious friendship among residents irrespective of where they come from.”

On his part, Abubakar said the election was as good as won because “PDP is a multi-party and will win the election because all other political parties will vote for PDP, the party they all belonged to before now.”

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We’re ready for Boko Haram

Former leader of Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari has warned that Niger Delta fighters are ready to take up arms to fight Boko Haram Islamists, and are holding back only out of respect for the president.

Dokubo-Asari, a Muslim who led a rebellion in the Delta until a peace deal with the government in 2004, said bomb attacks by Boko Haram could provoke retaliation by mostly Christian Southerners, including those living in the delta.


Asked if Northerners could be the in the south, he replied: “It is seconds away ... Nigeria is on the precipice of a civil war.”

“For Niger Delta, people to take up arms is just a minute away. Its just Goodluck that is holding us back,” said Asari. “We have all reached the extreme. There is nothing anybody can do about it except we fight.”

It would be recalled that the Asari-led Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, managed to push oil prices to record highs in 2004 with its constant attacks and threats against oil production in the Delta’s swampy creeks.


Since then, peace deals with the region’s warlords have pacified the Delta, and Boko Haram in the North has become the number one threat to Nigeria’s security.


Asari paused to read some Facebook posts from his iPad about the Christmas Day bombs.

Asari said, he was skeptical that the government could negotiate with moderate members of Boko Haram via “back channels” as National Security Adviser, General Owoye Andrew Azazi suggested in an interview with Reuters.

Sitting in his flat in the city of Port Harcourt, Asari said the group’s faceless nature, an issue General Azazi acknowledged, made talks impossible.

“If you cannot identify the people who are carrying out these attacks, how can you dialogue with them, interact with them, and bring them round the table?” He said.

In any case, such extreme violence meant the time for talks had passed, he said.
“You cannot ask government to negotiate now. On what basis? The government should...rein these people in, or the people will resort to self-help,” said Asari, who stressed where his loyalties lay despite being a Muslim: “Anybody that wants to start any revolution in Goodluck’s time, we the Ijaw will pull down that revolution,” he said.

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WE NEED A REVOLUTION

Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has warned that Nigeria was drifting dangerously, asking that urgent steps be taken by the Federal Government to address the current insecurity in the country. He called for what he described as the ‘’revolution of the mind and spirit.”

Okogie lamented that the government has failed to protect Nigerians in the face of incessant bombings by Boko Haram Islamic sect.


Cardinal Okogie

In his New Year message to the nation, Okogie said only the collective will of the citizens, government and God can change the dark cloud hanging over Nigeria.

The cleric said: “To get back on track and salvage our beloved country from its present woes, there is need for change. There is an urgent need for a revolution. In line with the three dimensions of man, revolution is possible at the physical level, at the level of the mind and at the level of the spiritual.

“However, for us Christians, violent revolution at the physical level is excluded. When we speak about revolution we do not mean a bloody revolution but a revolution of the mind and spirit

“That we are born to be great is clear to all. But unfortunately, we are not great. Instead, we are a nation in distress, a nation on the verge of falling, a nation that is gradually drifting.

“Our woes as a country are visible in every thing: epileptic power supply, the death traps we call roads, insecurity of life and property, irrational and unjustifiable ethnic and religious riots, unrestrained corruption in the corridors of power and beyond, high rate of unemployment and abject poverty.”

He expressed confidence that Nigerians could come out of the challenges posed by current insecu-rity, but stressed that this could only happen when leaders decide to be true shepherds and not wolves.

Okogie said: “In spite of all the evils that besiege us as a nation, Nigeria is redeemable. A new national order where all can flourish irrespective of tribe or social class; a new society characterised by justice, peace, love, and true reign of brotherhood is still possible in our country.

“But we must first get it right and this can only happen when our leaders decide to be true shepherds. There is anger mixed with fear, distrust, anxiety and uncertainty in our nation. In fact, a dark cloud hangs on the faces of the people.

’’The nation is moody and in a mourning mood. Only the collective will of the citizens and the government with God’s grace can change the sad and dark cloud hanging over Nigeria.



“For now, democracy has not taken firm root in our country. Our politicians and public office holders are still wobbling.

“Many politicians and public figures behave like semi-gods full of themselves and autocratic. We want to remind them that man today is, tomorrow he is not,” he added.

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There’ll be no reprisal killings in N-Delta – Kuku

The Federal Government, yesterday, assured that there would be no reprisal killings in the Niger Delta region, in response to the violent activities of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Government’s assurance came against the backdrop of the two weeks ultimatum given by Egbesu warriors, after the bombing of a mosque in Sapele, Delta State, to Muslims in the region, to leave or face reprisal killings.

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, in an interview in Lagos, said the reported attack on the mosque in Sapele was an isolated case, which should not be seen as retaliatory attack.

According to him, the provocative antics of the Boko Haram sect will not instigate any form of attacks on Northern or Islamic targets.

He said: “The President has said it all, what Boko Haram is doing is pure terrorism. What the sect is doing has nothing to do with Islam neither can any one say the sect is propagating a Northern agenda. It is terrorism, pure and simple.

“The wicked activities of Boko Haram are affecting both Christians and Muslims. The bombs they have been throwing have been killing northerners and southerners. Beyond the declaration of state of emergency in certain parts of states in the north, where Boko Haram cells are very active, I am aware of other unprecedented security measures that had been put in place by President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Based on what I know as a Presidential Adviser, I can confidently tell Nigerians that the days of Boko Haram are numbered.”

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Governor Aliyu knows the sponsors of Boko Haram

The Governor of Niger State, while commiserating with victims of the St Theresa Church bombing two days ago said...


We know highly placed people up there as sponsors of the sect and it is time for Mr. President, security agents and all of us to go after the sponsors of the Boko Haram now. This is a pure act of terrorism and not religious."


They know the sponsors of Boko Haram and nobody is being arrested? If this president doesn't act fast, this country will be in serious crisis soon.

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Boko Haram makes world terrorists list

Anti-terrorism experts met yesterday under aegis of the Global Counterterrorism Forum to discuss ways of preventing the financing of armed militant groups, focussing on north Africa’s Sahel desert region.

Intrestingly, Boko Haram, which has claimed responsibility for series of bombings in Nigeria was one of the groups discussed by the experts.

Manuel Lopez Blanco, coordinator for European Union strategy on the Sahel, said Al-Qaeda’s north African branch, known as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Boko Haram had a shared agenda and probably cooperated in training and operational tactics.

Experts from about 30 countries participated in the two-day forum, which was co-sponsored by Turkey and the United States. The closed meetings were chaired by Algeria and Canada. The Global Counterterrorism Forum is coordinated by Daniel Benjamin, an ambassador-at-large for the United States State Department. The forum held an initial meeting in Washington, where members of its justice group and special prosecutors convened two weeks ago.

Yesterday’s talks concentrated on the influence of (AQIM) one expert speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP. AQIM, with an estimated 400 members, exploits the weakness of Sahel states such as Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger and operates freely on those countries’ terrain, the expert said.

He called for a global strategy in tackling the problems that can foment extremism, such as poverty and lagging development. The Sahel is an eight-million-square-kilometre (3.1-million-square-mile) area on the edge of the Sahara desert shared by several countries.

Delegates at the forum in the Algiers suburbs also spoke about the financing of terrorism, the expert said. Algeria, like the United States and other countries, reiterated the danger of kidnapping for ransom. The issue resurfaced recently with the October 23 snatching of two Spaniards and an Italian in southwestern Algeria.

Much of the forum centred on Libya, whose new government sent a representative to the conference.

Experts were concerned about the fate of the nomadic Tuareg people, who supported Moamer Gadhafi’s regime then returned to the Sahel after his overthrow in recent months.

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