Breaking News : Obasanjo moves to free abducted Chibok girls

Chibok Girls

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has launched a move to free the more than 200 girls kidnapped by the Boko Haram sect from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
Obasanjo, who confirmed this to Vanguard last night, however, dismissed reports credited to a foreign news agency that he held talks with representatives of the sect in his Ota farm last weekend.
He nevertheless confirmed that he was set to open explorative talks with the Islamic sect, having re-established contacts with a lawyer who mediated his discussion with the sect three years ago. Chief Obasanjo, however, regretted that efforts he made to end the insurgency at that time came to nought after President Goodluck Jonathan dismissed the conditions and capacities of the group.
President Jonathan’s dismissal of the group’s capacities, he said, was despite the willingness of Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State to do all that was required by the sect for peace to reign.
Obasanjo, who has been globally acclaimed for his role in peace mediation especially among troubled African countries also played down claims that the insurgency would not have reared its head were he in power.
The foreign news agency had reported, yesterday, that Obasanjo held talks with representatives of the insurgents in his farm at Ota, Ogun State last weekend.
Asked to confirm the veracity of the report yesterday, the former president said: “Three years ago I tried to reach out to Boko Haram to find out what their problem was and if there was a leader one could talk to.
“I got a lawyer who provided the link between members of the group and I. They told me what the government should do to stop insurgency.”
He said that he subsequently passed on the conditions set by the insurgents to Governor Shettima who pledged his willingness to do all and more of what the insurgents required.
“He told me he was willing to do all that was stipulated and even more, but that his fear was that once he implemented those conditions he would be accused by the president and his people of being a member of Boko Haram,” Obasanjo quoted the governor to have said after the initial talks three years ago.
The former president, however, did not disclose the conditions laid down by the insurgents.
The former president said that following his discussions with the governor of Borno State that he followed up by briefing President Jonathan who he claimed, played down the capacities and conditions laid down by the insurgents.
He said that at that point he withdrew as he lacked the executive powers to proceed further.
Obasanjo said that given the present situation, the need to resurrect talks with the group had become expedient.
“In this instance, there are now two issues involved, the insurgency and the kidnap of the girls and I want to find out if the same lawyer would still mediate,” the former president said.
He said that having confirmed that the lawyer is alive, he had now set machinery in motion to reach out to the group towards releasing the kidnapped Chibok girls and thereafter ending the insurgency.
Asked if the insurgency would have risen to the present stage were in power, Obasanjo said: “My friend go away, go away, go away.”
Obasanjo’s secret talks is besides a secret effort by the administration to engage the Boko Haram group through three individuals reported to be close to the group.
A national newspaper, yesterday, quoted presidency sources as disclosing the enlistment of a former journalist Ahmad Salkida; a Tiv, Benue State born former adherent of the insurgent group, Aliyu Teshaku and an Australian negotiator Steve Davies to negotiate on behalf of the Federal Government.
The government’s decision to negotiate for the release of the kidnapped girls is reportedly informed by fears of a possible harm to the abductees in the event of a full scale military onslaught to effect their release.

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Jonathan Insist : We won’t negotiate with Boko Haram

Jona and CAN

Against the backdrop of divergent views on the need to negotiate with the Boko Haram Islamic sect for the release of more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by the sect from Chibok, Borno State, President Goodluck Jonathan re-echoed the government position, yesterday, declaring that the Federal Government will not with the sect for the release of the girls. He said the abducted girls must be released unconditionally.
Senate President David Mark, on his part, had harsh words for the insurgents. He said Nigeria will never negotiate to exchange her people with animals who have declared war against parts of Nigeria even as former Chief of Army Staff, Lt General TY Danjuma argued that Boko Haram had friends among Nigerians and such people should prevail on the sect to release the girls unconditionally.

The President who re-echoed the government position, yesterday, at the Asu Ekiye musical concert and fund raising ceremony in Abuja, advised Nigerians to shun religious and ethnic sentiments in the fight against terrorism.
Jonathan said Nigerians must stop the blame game and the pull down syndrome that are distracting the fight against the insurgents.
He said: “We have gone beyond blames and counter-blames, we are confronted with the reality and must not allow our emotion, religion or ethnic differences speak for us. We must protect Nigeria.”
Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Student Matters, Comrade Jude Imagwe, the President commended the resolute spirit of the Nigerian masses in the face of the insurgency, saying Nigerians have won the fight against terrorism by their resolute spirit.
He urged Nigerians to support government’s efforts to bring back the girls, adding that the terrorists have declared war on the citizens and they must rise up as one to fight and win back the country.
“We must rise up to tell them that they cannot defeat us, they must release our sisters back to us unconditionally but Nigerians must join hands with the government to encourage our security agencies to find the girls and bring them back to us.
“Our security men are working, their mission is to ensure that Nigeria is a safe place and what Nigerians should do this time is to pray for them and support them.
“These are trying times for us, nobody believed that this can happen in Nigeria yesterday. No Nigerian would have imagined that a Nigerian will wake up one day to commit suicide but that is where we have found ourselves, so we must fight together.
“Government is fighting terrorism irrespective of the pull down syndrome, distractions and Nigeria will not stop moving forward.
“Because they know we are religious people, they wanted to divide us using religion, but when we defeated them, they resorted to attacking the citizens. It will take a collective responsibility of all citizens to come together to defeat them again, we must rise up as one people.”
We will never exchange our people with animals –David Mark
Senate President, Mark also declared that Nigeria will never negotiate to exchange its people with criminals who with animalistic instincts have declared war on parts of the country by killing people and destroying property without any justifiable reason.
Mark told a crowd of supporters of Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba in Ikom, Central Senatorial District of Cross River State on Saturday during a grand empowerment programme stated that Nigeria will deploy all available resources to combat the Boko Haram insurgents and their sponsors and defeat them.
“We are not negotiating with criminals who like animals are killing people and destroying property without any reason; we have the resources to wage war against anybody who declares war on us and defeat such people and their sponsors”, he said.
Senator Mark who was angry when he learnt of another bomb blast in Jos, said: “Ordinarily, nobody prays for war but in a circumstance where some people are sponsored to destroy a country, there is no other option than to fight and defeat such people. We do not care what name they go by or who their sponsors are but we have borne the pains of their attacks for too long and shall deploy every available resources to fight and stop such attacks”.
Boko Haram has friends among us — T Y Danjuma
General Theophilus Danjuma also called on leaders in the north and Boko Haram sympathizers to use all their means of communication and influence on the terrorist group to release the abducted school girls.
He made the call, yesterday, in Lafia during the 40th Anniversary celebration of the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Isa Mustafa Agwai I. General Danjuma who was conferred with a traditional title at the emirs palace said “nobody has the mandate and should not be allowed to scatter Nigeria. Therefore, I urge all the elders and politicians who are in touch with Boko Haram to use your influence wherever you are to bring sanity to the North.
“To capture young girls and convert them to Islam at gun point is against Islam. General Buhari had earlier said that the activities of the Boko Haram are against Islam and nobody has come out to challenge him. I plead with you especially religious leaders to speak out.
“Initially when Americans were threatening to brand Boko Haram as a terrorist organization, there were uproars in Nigeria. Boko Haram has friends among us; those friends should use whatever influence and communications to plead with them to be civil. Please release our girls”.
Danjuma regretted the bad image with which Nigeria is being painted in the eyes of the international community as a result of the terrorist activities being perpetrated by Boko Haram. He noted that pre-election violence has started in some parts of the country, and therefore, called on everyone to join hands in the fight against terrorism.
Terrorism has no place in Islam — Sultan
Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar has condemned the Boko Haram Islamic sect, describing it as un-Islamic, as according to him, “terrorism has no place in Islam.”
He spoke at the National Prayer for Peace and Security, organised by the council at the National Mosque, Abuja, yesterday.
The leader of Nigerian Muslims told the gathering of Islamic clerics, traditional rulers and political leaders from Northern Nigeria and other parts of the country that there was need for all well-meaning members of the Nigerian public to unite against the insurgents.
His words: “We must rise up, as always, with one voice to condemn all acts of terrorism, condemn those terrorists wherever they are and try our possible best as Muslims to ensure peace reigns in our community”.
The Sultan, like many other respected Islamic leaders in Northern Nigeria have been severally criticized for allegedly keeping quiet about Boko Haram.
He pledged his commitment to assisting the government in the efforts to restore peace to the troubled Northern Nigeria, in Particular and the nation as a whole.

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Breaking News: More Boko Haram Terrorists Caught by Borno Men has Revealed The Girls Location

Member

Eight Boko Haram terrorists who came out to get food and items from Goym village in Dikwa local government, Borno state were arrested by visiting Civilian Joint Task Force men who came from Gwoza. The terrorists who came in a hilux truck with some motorcycles were arrested at 4pm Friday evening.

Upon interrogation, the terrorists revealed that the 234 girls abducted from Chibok were still in Sambisa forest and that they had been divided into three groups. They describe the camps in Sambisa as very large. They said they were sent by their leader to get items including clothes for the girls.

    The civilians hoped military support will be sent to Dikwa immediately as it is likely the terrorists return when they find their men were arrested. They also hope “the Americans” will act on this intelligence to rescue the abducted girls.

Dikwa local government area is one of the local governments that is a boundary of Sambisa forest, and is near Gamboru-Ngala where 300 civilians were killed recently.

Maiduguri also remains on high alert as two Boko Haram members arrested by the Civilian JTF two days ago, one pretending to be a phone card seller at Tashai Kamla market told them Boko Haram was planning to attack and massacre men, women and children in the capital city any day now.

Dr. Peregrino Brimah
for http://ENDS.ng [Every Nigerian Do Something]
Email: drbrimah@ends.ng Twitter: @EveryNigerian

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Parents lament as Jonathan aborts Chibok trip

Jonathan

Angry reactions yesterday trailed President Goodluck Jonathan’s last minute cancellation of a trip to Chibok, where over 200 female students of the Government Girls’ Secondary School, GGSS, were abducted last month by Boko Haram insurgents.
Parents of the abducted girls who had lined up waiting to receive President Jonathan on his sympathy visit to Chibok, ended up frustrated, as their ‘’August visitor’’ never turned up.
Although there was no official reaction from the Borno State government over the development, a close associate of Governor Kashim Shettima who pleaded anonymity said that although there was no official communication between the state government and the presidency that Jonathan would visit Borno or Chibok yesterday, the state government had made preparations about the aborted visit of Mr. President, aware of the trip which the presidency was said to have wanted unannounced.
Apart from the parents of the abducted schoolgirls, traditional rulers and other officials state government officials had gathered in Chibok in the morning to welcome the President, but end up frustrated after waiting for some hours under the hot sun. They were later informed that the visit had been cancelled.
One of the parents, Mr. Amos Pagu said in a telephone interview with Saturday Vanguard that, “we are not disappointed by the cancellation of the visit, because, already we parents of the missing school girls have lost confidence in the government of the day for not rescuing our innocent daughters who were kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists over a month ago.
“We have now put our faith in God Almighty whom we believe is the only one that will rescue our daughters.’’
However, the trip was said to have been cancelled due to concerns about unfavourable security reports.
The president was billed to travel to the troubled town where the female students were abducted by the Boko Haram terrorists, triggering international outrage.
Though no official statement was issued on either the proposed visit or its cancellation, the Borno State governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima who was out of the country flew back to Borno State in the early morning of yesterday, apparently to receive Jonathan
in Maiduguri. An ‘’advance team’’ from the Presidency made up mainly security details had left Abuja for both Maiduguri and Chibok before the abrupt cancellation of the trip.
Jonathan has been under severe criticism for failing to visit the community one month after the students were abducted.
But, Jonathan’s Spokesman, Reuben Abati, however said that the president never planned to visit Chibok yesterday.
Abati, said in a series of tweets on his twitter handle @abati1990 that the planned visit was a hoax.
’’Every official trip by the President is preannounced. There was no announcement of the president’s trip to chibok. Please ignore the runour,” he wrote.
His tweets came several minutes after a presidency source told the BBC that the trip was shelved for security reasons. Sources, however said that Mr. Abati, was just trying to ‘’save face.’’
Also, the Special Adviser to the President, Dr. Doyin Okupe, told the CNN yesterday that Nigeria had taken a decision to rescue the over 200 Chibok school girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents on April 14, 2014. Okupe spoke in an interview with CNN Reporter, Isha Sassey late yesterday.
He denied that the President aborted the trip for security reasons and said that Jonathan could still visit Chibok on his return from France.
The aborted trip appeared an outrage in the international media and Doyin Okupe was almost in a shouting match with CNN’s Isha Sassey while denying that insecurity in Chibok are was the reason for the cancellationof the trip.
”If, as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, he is afraid to visit Chibok because of security fears, he is simply telling the hapless people in the northeast that he cannot protect them and they should resign themselves to their fate,” said Debo Adeniran, of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders pressure group.
Lai Mohammed, spokesman for the main opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, said Jonathan had “lost all direction” and the cancellation was “a good example of his government’s policy indecision”. ”He has clearly abandoned the Nigerian people and Nigerians are conscious of this. Obama went to Afghanistan, so did Bush. I think Jonathan lacks good advisers.” Jonathan would have used the opportunity of the visit to the troubled Borno State, particularly the Chibok town, to see things for himself, the level of carnage carried out by the insurgents and hear from eye witnesses.
His working visit to Paris, France was said to be in connection with finding lasting solutions to the problems of insurgents in Nigeria. He is scheduled to meet with his counterparts from Benin Republic, Chad, Niger and Cameroon for talks on how to intensify collaboration against Boko Haram and other security challenges.
Britain, the United States of America and the European Union will be represented at the talks which will give special attention to the coordination and intensification of efforts to curtail the destabilising activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
Following local and international outrage over the abduction, the international community including the U.S, U.K, Israel, China and France among others are assisting the government in the search for the teenage girls.

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Service chiefs vow to bring back Chibok schoolgirls

Service Chiefs

THE service chiefs, yesterday, said the abducted Chibok schoolgirls will be rescued and the war against insurgency won, while endorsing the Presidential Fact Finding Committee on the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.
Badeh, Defence Chief; Minimah, Army Chief; Amosu, Airforce Chief and Jibrin, Naval Chief
They noted that the committee, by its terms of reference, would help reveal to the world an accurate account of the mass kidnap that had roused global outrage and precipitated the offer of help from some major powers.
The service chiefs spoke when members of the committee held an intensive interaction with the top brass of the military in Abuja yesterday.
Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, at the occasion thanked members of the committee for taking on the assignment, saying that the task of the committee would give them some relief if it could deliver on its mandate.
He said: “It will give us respite if you are able to get to the root of all that has happened.
“Everybody thinks this war is for the military alone. It is a war for all of us. Soldiers do not fight wars on their own. It is a nation that goes to war.”
He expressed the hope that with current efforts and support, “we shall win the war and bring back our girls.”
While thanking the service chiefs for the insight provided, the Chairman of the Fact finding Committee, Gen. Sabo (rtd.), frowned at the disparagement of the country’s Armed Forces, and commiserated with the services on the officers that lost their lives in the fight against terrorism.
In a separate meeting with the Department of State Services, DSS, its Director General, Mr. Ekoenyong Ita, gave a detailed brief on the department’s anti-terrorism efforts, which he said had led to several arrests and the bust of terror threats and plots.
On the Chibok abduction, Ita dispelled the notion of inadequate intelligence gathering as a factor hindering the fight against terror.
“We have gone beyond the lack of intelligence. If we didn’t have intelligence, we would not get the Nyanya bombers,” he said.
While, urging Nigerians to be patient, Mr. Ita gave assurance on the safe return of the abducted schoolgirls. “We will get these girls,” he said. “If we can get the people who bombed Nyanya, we will get the girls,” he assured.

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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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#BringBackOurGirls: 30 days after, parents identify 77 girls in video

Parents

SEVENTY-SEVEN of the more than 200 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists, a month ago, have been identified from the video released Monday by the sect. This came as the United States disclosed that it is flying manned surveillance missions over Nigeria in an effort to pinpoint the location of the abducted schoolgirls.
The International Criminal Court, ICC, on its part described the abduction of the schoolgirls as a crime against humanity. The alleged conversion of the schoolgirls into Islam by the sect has also been condemned by Islamic groups and the All Progressives Congress, APC describing it as unacceptable. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said the forceful conversion is a call for war.
Some of the escapee students and parents after watching the Boko Haram video in Borno State Government House, yesterday. Photo: Ndahi Marama.
Some of the escapee students and parents after watching the Boko Haram video in Borno State Government House, yesterday. Photo: Ndahi Marama.
Following release of the video by sect leader, Mallam Abubakar Shekau showing scores of the girls wearing hijabs and reciting the Holy Q’uran, Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima ordered mass production of the video to be shown to the parents of the abducted girls for identification.
After the identification exercises, which Governor Shettima said, yesterday, was on-going, he confirmed that 77 of the girls have been identified in the video. Addressing the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners at the Borno State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, where he released the names of the girls, he announced that he would not relent in the efforts to rescue the girls until they were all safely re-united with their respective families.
According to him, the process of identification was still on-going and, therefore, expressed optimism that more of the abducted students could be identified.
He said: “Fifty-four (names of other 23 girls were released later) of the girls in the video have been identified by their names at an exercise that involved some parents of the girls, fellow students that included escapees from abduction, some teachers, security men and some officials of the Borno State Government led by the Chief of Staff to the Government House, Abubakar Kyari. The parents and students were conveyed to the Government House in Maiduguri for an open identification exercise.”
Identification exercise
Shettima said the figures of those identified by their names were rising as the exercise went on at the Government House in Maiduguri as he was briefed every 30 minutes. Initially, while he was addressing the BBOG group, 36 names had been identified but before his press briefing an hour later, the number had risen to 54, which he informed journalists.
Shettima had on Monday directed the identification exercise to be conducted. Chairman of Chibok Local Government and other government officials were made to mass-produce the video and play before parents of the abducted girls, other students, especially those who escaped from captivity, teachers and management of the school as well as other community members in Chibok. But after the exercise in Chibok, Governor Shettima directed another round of verification exercise to be conducted at the Government House in order to cross check findings so as not to mislead the public (See names of identified girls).
The second exercise confirmed the preliminary exercise in Chibok.
The disclosure gave credence to claims that Boko Haram had been abducting both girls and women in the areas attacked by the sect in the last four years before the Chibok incident that gave rise to international outcry, probably due to the large number involved.
The names are currently being cross-checked with school records as well as names published some days back to ensure accuracy. The exercise continues at Government House and it is hoped that more names will be established by parents, students and teachers as well as management of the affected school.
Conversion of Christians to Islam unacceptable — APC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly condemned the reported conversion to Islam, of Christians among the over 200 schoolgirls abducted, describing the development as totally unacceptable and downright unconstitutional.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, after an emergency meeting to deliberate on the Boko Haram issue, the party also described as utterly barbaric the action of the girls’ abductors in forcing them to make statements against their personal convictions.
It reminded the abductors that Nigeria is a secular state and that the country’s constitution recognizes the rights of the citizens to any religion of their choice, hence it is patently wrong and unconscionable to force any citizen to convert from one religion to another.
“This whole abduction saga has hit at the very soul of our nation. But just when we felt we had all witnessed the worst atrocity by the primitive, brutal group called Boko Haram, we are confronted with a totally repulsive scene of teenage girls, literally with guns to their heads, being forced to say they had converted to Islam.
“This is appalling, distasteful and unacceptable under any circumstance and we condemn it with all the strength we can muster,” APC said.
The party urged the government to critically study the latest video by Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau to see what other measures can be added to the ongoing international efforts to find and rescue the girls.
“We have consistently said some form of negotiation cannot and should not be ruled out to pry our nation from the grip of these terrorists and ensure the safety and security of our citizens.
“In this regard, we consider as prudent the government’s reaction that ‘all options are on the table’ to safely reunite our girls with their families,” it said.
Conversion has no basis in Islam —MURIC
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) described the alleged conversion of the abducted school girls by Boko Haram insurgents as an act that has no basis in Islam.
In a statement issued by the Executive Director of the organisation, Professor Is-haq Akintola, MURIC stated that such conversion does not hold water in Islam because a non-Muslim can only be converted on his or her own free will.
MURIC which cautioned the Federal Government not to enter into any deal with the rebel group in exchange for the girls with their detained fellows, urged the military to go back to the drawing board for firm and clear-cut strategies to bring down the insurgents.
On the purported conversion, MURIC stated: “We have no iota of doubt that the girls ‘converted’ under duress. Such ‘conversion’ is null and void under the Shari’ah.
“We reject the purported conversion of the kidnapped girls. It is cowardly, shameful, ridiculous and preposterous. It is sacriledge.”
Quoting copiously from the Holy Quran-2:256 which says: “There is no compulsion in religion…”, Akintola said, “Such ‘conversion’ is null and void under the Shari’ah. The Glorious Qur’an is very explicit in this regard.
….It’s baseless conversion
“The so called conversion is therefore baseless, unfounded and of no validity whatsoever. It exists only in the hallucinated imageries of Shekau’s demented mind,” he added.
MURIC urged the Federal Government to dismiss Shekau’s offer of exchange of Boko Haram prisoners for the kidnapped girls.
“A man who orders the invasion and kidnap of innocent young girls is honour-blind. Shame on Boko Haram! Shekau has no modicum of integrity left in his anatomy. He has no intention of honouring this deal. He is trying to buy time. He is digging in,” he stated.
Besides, MURIC called on all churches and mosques to pray for the downfall of Boko Haram.
“This renegade group is out to defame and distort the true teachings of Islam. Members of Boko Haram are rebellious subjects and enemies of peace.
“We charge the Nigerian Army to go back to the drawing board and evolve more potent strategies for crushing this renegade group. To crush Boko Haram is a task that must be done”, he added.
US deploys surveillance planes to search for Chibok girls

The US has disclosed that it is flying manned surveillance missions over Nigeria to try to find the abducted schoolgirls
Although Washington did not disclose the type of aircraft it deployed but its officials said “the planes have sophisticated equipment that could listen into a wide range of mobile phone and telecommunications traffic.” These are functions usually associated with security drones.
A senior US administration official said: “With the permission of the Nigerian government, we are flying manned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets over Nigeria and sharing commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerian government.
“We have shared commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerians and with the government’s permission,” said the senior administration official, who declined to be named.
No fewer than 30 US experts, including members of the FBI and defence and state departments, are in Nigeria to help with the search.
Forceful conversion is a declaration of war, says CAN
Also, National President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has expressed outrage over the purported conversion of the abducted schoolgirls by members of Boko Haram, describing the reported forceful conversion as a declaration of war against Christians in the country.
Speaking through CAN’s National Director of Research, Elder Sunday Oibe, in Kaduna, Oritsejafor said the forceful conversion of the girls is tantamount to persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Reacting to the latest video message by Boko Haram showing the Chibok schoolgirls reciting the Holy Qur’an, the CAN president noted that those girls can not be exchanged for the release of any detained Boko Haram member, as demanded by the sect leaders.
“First, these children are Christians and not Muslims and so they cannot be converted to a religion that is not theirs at gunpoint without conviction. Besides, is that how conversion is being carried out? All the children displayed are Christians and that is the motive behind the abduction,” Oibe said.
“Secondly, it smacks of some form of religious persecution. If not, why are their captors converting them to another religion? And if they say they will use them as a condition to negotiate for their men in detention, our daughters are not criminals and cannot be used in any way to free their criminal fighters.
“Show us where in Nigeria you have seen Christians fighting and throwing bombs in the name of God? We challenge any one to show us where Christians have abducted Muslim children in the name of Christianity. We challenge anyone to prove in Nigeria where Christians have taken arms in the name of protecting Christianity or even carry out acts of genocide on helpless and defenceless Nigerians. As far as we are concerned, it is a war against Christians and Christianity,” he explained.
Crime against humanity — ICC
Meanwhile the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, ICC, Fatou Bensouda, has said that the abduction of schoolgirls in Nigeria was a crime against humanity.
Bensouda in a statement, said: “I am deeply troubled and alarmed by disturbing reports of alleged abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Borno State, Nigeria, and the most recent reports that more schoolgirls have been abducted. Such acts shock the conscience of humanity and could constitute crimes that fall within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, ICC.
“I share the agonising pain of the parents of the abducted girls, as well as their hope that the on-going national search and rescue efforts will result in the swift and safe return of their children. International assistance should be made readily available to bolster such efforts, as required by the national authorities.
“The troubling phenomenon of targeting females during conflict, this time, in Borno State, cannot be tolerated and must be stopped. No stone should be left unturned to bring those responsible for such atrocious acts to justice either in Nigeria or at the ICC.
“I express my solidarity with the families of the abducted girls and the people of Nigeria. The abducted schoolgirls must be released immediately and allowed to return unharmed to their communities and families.”
It will be recalled that the situation in Nigeria has been under preliminary examination by the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC since 2010. In August 2013, the Office issued a report concluding that [there is a reasonable basis to believe that] Boko Haram has been committing crimes against humanity of murder and persecution since July 2009. Information gathered by the Office indicates that there has been a sharp increase in the frequency and intensity of attacks attributed to Boko Haram since January 2014, including a significant increase in alleged abductions of women and girls and of sexual slavery.
Some of Boko Haram’s alleged crimes would also amount to war crimes, as the Prosecutor has recently concluded that the situation constitutes a non-international armed conflict.
As Nigeria is a State Party to the Rome Statute, the ICC has jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed on the territory of Nigeria or by its nationals from July 1, 2002 onwards. Having concluded that some of the alleged crimes committed in the Nigeria situation fall within subject-matter jurisdiction of the ICC, the Office of the Prosecutor is currently assessing relevant national proceedings in conformity with the principle of complementarity.
Under the Rome Statute, the Nigerian authorities have primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute the alleged crimes. Such cases may become admissible before the ICC if there are no relevant investigations or prosecutions in Nigeria, or if the national authorities are unwilling or unable to carry out genuine investigations or prosecutions.
On the night of April 14, 2014, about 276 female students were kidnapped from the Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State. The leader of the Islamic militants, Abubakar Shekau has claimed responsibility for the act of terrorism. Boko Haram, an Islamic Jihadist and Takfiri terrorist organisation based in northeast Nigeria had in a video released Monday, demanded an exchange of the Chibok girls for members of his group in custody of Nigeria’s security agencies.
#BringBackOurGirls
In a message sent to Vanguard by Florence Ozor of #BringBackOurGirls campaigners, the group said it would organise a protest today to mark one month of the abduction of the Chibok girls.
The statement further read: “It’s 30 days since over 200 girls have been abducted by Boko Haram. We call on Government to do everything in its power to #BringBackOurGirls Alive and NOW.”

WATCH VIDEO HERE
Names of identified girls in video
See Video here
1. Agnes Gafane
2. Saraya Stober
3. Hauwa Bitrus
4. Hajara Isa
5. Naomi Philemon
6. Hauwa Abdu
7. Magaret Yama
8. Shitta Abdu
9. Jummai Muta
10. Ladi Paul
11. Roda Peter
12. Filo Dauda
13. Godiya Bitrus
14.Saratu Tauji
15. Ross Daniel
16.Hauwa Ali
17. Hajara Isa
18.Luba Afga
19.Naomi Luka
20. Saraya Emos Ali
21. Bilkisu Abdullahi
22. Mairama Ali
23. Maryam Ali Maiyanga
24. Deborah Abbas
25. Kabu Mala
26. Halima Ali
27. Yana Bukar
28. Solomi Pugu
29. Lydia Emmar
30. Luba Sanda
31. Saraya Samuel
32. Comfort Habila
33. Rejoice Shanki
34. Gloria Yaga
35. Mary Nkeki
36.  Moda Baba
37.  Hauwa Isuwa
38. Patience Jacob
39.  Ladi Jajel
40.  Abigel Bukar
41. Fanta Lawan
42.  Zainabu Yaga
43.  Aisha Lawan Zanna
44.  Dokas Yakubu
45.  Kabu Mala
46.  Maryama Bashir
47.  Hauwa M. Maina
48.  Mary  G. Dauda
49.  Susana Yakubu
50.   Maryam Abbas
51.  Laraba John
52.  Hanatu Nuhu
53.  Naomi Bukar
54.  Rifkatu Galang

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FULL 1 HOUR VIDEO : “I Am The One That Took Your Girls” Boko Haram Leader Abubakar Shekau

Shekau

The leader of Boko Haram sect, Imam Abubakar Shekau, released a video today in which he claimed responsibility for abducting the Nigerian school girls, and said he will soak all Nigerian soil with Christian blood, and Muslims opposing them, whom he described as infidels.

The video lasts 56 minutes and 58 seconds, and shows Iman Shekau speaking from a script, surrounded by heavily armed fighters, backed by an armored personnel carrier, and two other armed vehicles.

Iman Shekau said, “I am the one that took your girls.  Are you the one that created the girls? I will sell them in the market. I have my own market of selling human beings. It is Allah, the owner that instructed me to sell. I will sell the girls.”

And he added, “It is Allah that instructed us, until we soak the ground of Nigeria with Christian blood and so called Muslims contradicting Islam. After we have killed, killed, killed, and get fatigue and wondering on what to do with smelling of their corpses, smelling of Obama, Bush and Jonathan worried us then we will open prison and be imprisoned the rest. Infidels have no value.”

234 Nigerian schoolgirls, aged between 15-18, were abducted from a remote school in Chibok village, Borno State, in Northeast Nigeria on April 15. The girls and young women came from schools in Izge, Lassa, Ashigashiya and Warabe to do final exams because other the schools were shut in Borno state because of attacks by Boko Haram.

Iman Shekau said the sects friends are those in Afghanistan, Mali, Yemen and Pakistan, and not those Arabs who just bragged with their colors but deal with Americans and the West. Shekau said there is slavery in Islam, contrary to his critics, noting that Prophet Muhammed took slaves during Badr war in Hejaz region of western Arabia in present day Saudi Arabia.

Shekau said, “Just because I took girls in Western school they are worried. I say they (the girls) should desert the school.  They should go and marry. Stupid people.  Talking about human rights and democracy. Nonsense.  People that are doing same sex marriage and saying they are leaders.”



And he added, “I will imprison Jonathan’s daughter, any one that turn to Islam will be saved. For me anyone that embraces Islam is my own. Stupid Jonathan, you will be surprise. Until the land is soaked with blood.”

Later he said, “This is a war against Christians and democracy and their constitution, we have not started, we will be in Abuja, and in your state. This war is against Christians, I mean Christians, generally the infidels. Allah says we should finish them when we get them.”

Shekau boasted in the video that he has no business with infidel’s money, “I have no time with your trillion. I am working for Allah and will die for it.  No one can stop me. You killed Mohammed Yusuf.  Are you not saying he is even better than Shekau? Even if you kill me, other fighters will rise better than me, I am nothing and worthless before Allah who I am working for. You are sitting with Christians and saying we are one, saying there is no difference. We are not one with infidels.”

Later he said, “It is a lie, in fact you suppose to wash and re-wash a plate Christian eats food before you eat as Muslims. You know all these things and you are contradicting Islam. Are Christians the people we should play with? They killed us in Shendam, Zangon Katab and all the places. It is either you are with us or you are with them, and when we see you, we will harvest your neck with knife.”

He cursed Islamic political leaders the late Malam Aminu Kano, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and Islamic scholar, Usman Dan Fodio as infidels for working and accepting democracy and constitution, and added, “We are not ignorant of all that happened.”

The mass abduction three weeks ago, and the Nigerian military’s failure to rescue the girls and young women, has roused national and international outrage with protests in major cities in Nigeria, and across the world.

A number of girls have escaped who said their captors identified themselves as Boko Haram.

Nigerian Police Commissioner, Tanko Lawan told reporters the number of escaped girls is 53.

Content: Sahara Reporters

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#BringBackOurGirls: The Rock, Usher, Cameron, Amanpour, others lend support

Usher

The bring Back Our Girls Campaign has attracted a worldwide recorgnition and participation.

This is a sign that the world is a global place and peace is all we need to achieve one common goal. The pictures you see are that of celebrities like Usher, British PM, David Calmeron, Ahmed Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, Austin Echiejile in his club, Monaco

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