Military nabs abductor of Chibok girls

Almost three months after Boko Haram terrorists abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, the military announced, yesterday, that it has arrested one of the sect’s leaders, who was one of the abductors.
This came on a day the sect members bombed a Divisional Police Headquarters in Shani Local Government Area of Borno State and also attacked an emir’s palace.
The alleged abductor of the Chibok girls, whose name was given as Babuji Ya’ari, was also said to have led the attack in which the Emir of Gwoza, Alh. Idriss Timta, was killed a few weeks ago.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja, yesterday, that Ya’ari doubled as member of the Youth Vigilante Group, popularly known as Civilian JTF.
According to the Defence spokesman, the Boko Haram kingpin used his membership of the civilian JTF only as a cover, as he has been coordinating deadly attacks in Borno State since 2011.
He added that the arrest of Ya’ari led to the arrest of several other Boko Haram intelligence cell members. Olukolade said that those arrested had confessed their involvement with the deadly sect and named several others who were being trailed.
The full text reads: “A terrorists’ intelligence cell headed by a businessman, who participated actively in the abduction of School Girls in Chibok has been busted by troops. The man, Babuji Ya’ari, who is also a member of the Youth Vigilante Group popularly known as Civilian JTF which he uses as cover while remaining an active terrorist, also spearheaded the murder of the Emir of Gwoza. His main role in the group is to spy and gather information for the terrorist group.
“Babuji has been coordinating several deadly attacks in Maiduguri since 2011, including the daring attacks on Customs and military locations as well as the planting of IEDs in several locations in the town.
“The arrest of the businessman, who is known to deal in tricycles has also yielded some vital information and facilitated the arrest of other members of the terrorists’ intelligence cell who are women. One of them, Hafsat Bako had earlier escaped to Gombe State to avoid suspicion but was tracked and arrested. Prior to her arrest, Hafsat coordinated the payment of other operatives on the payroll of the group. In her confession, she disclosed that a minimum of N10,000 is paid to each operative depending on the enormity of his task.
“Another female suspect named Haj Kaka, who doubles as an armourer and a spy for the terrorist group has also been arrested. Until their arrest, all the suspects actively operated a terrorists’ intelligence cell in collaboration with others still at large.
“In another development, troops deployed in Goniri, Yobe State, over the weekend, had an encounter with terrorists, resulting in casualties on both sides after the attack was successfully repelled”.
Boko Haram bomb police headquarters, attack Emir’s palace, burn houses, shops
Meanwhile, barely 24 hours after the terrorists attacked Cbibok communities in Borno State killing no fewer than 51 persons, the sect members, yesterday, invaded Shani Local Government Area of the state and bombed the Divisional Police Headquarters.
Shani is south and about 245 kilometres drive to Maiduguri which also shares boundary with some parts of Adamawa State.
The insurgents also attacked the palace of the newly appointed Emir of Shani, Alhaji Sanusi Mailafiya. The sect members were said to be hunting for the Chairman of the council, Alhaji Madu Walama, whom they believed was hiding inside the palace.
According to the residents of the community, after the heavily armed terrorists attacked the police headquarters with an Improvised Explosive Device at about 2.45pm, yesterday, they proceeded to the town and started shooting indiscriminately at people. They also set houses, shops and vehicles on fire. Many of the residents were feared dead, although casualty figure could not be ascertained.
After attacking the Emir’s palace, the terrorists were also reported to have looted a pharmaceutical store in Witambaya village before escaping into the hills of Pelambirni village bordering some communities in Adamawa State.
Another set of gunmen also reportedly attacked Mandaragirau village in Biu Local Government Area and went away with 60 cows.
A resident told Vanguard on phone that the gunmen came at about 10:00pm on Sunday and started shooting sporadically for some hours before they carted away 60 cows. No life was however lost.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Gideon Jibrin for confirmation did not yield any result, as his phone was switched off.

Jonathan condemns attack on Chibok
Meantime, President Goodluck Jonathan has called on all lovers of peace in the country to condemn efforts by agents of global terrorism to disunite and destabilize Nigeria by callously instigating violence among religious groups in the country.
Reacting to the attack on some churches in Chibok where scores of worshipers were killed, President Jonathan said he shares the view of the most learned Islamic leaders and scholars that no true Muslim will resort to the mindless killing of innocent people at any time, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, to redress any perceived grievance.
“The President deplores the renewed targeting by Boko Haram of adherents of a particular religion and urges all lovers of peace and unity to wholly condemn the renewed violence by the Boko Haram insurgents.
A statement by Reuben Abati, the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity said: “The President believes, therefore, that Sunday’s attacks on churches and other similar atrocities by Boko Haram are conclusive proof, if any is still needed, that its leaders and members are thoroughly misguided persons who are only using religion as a cover for their reprehensible crimes against their countrymen and women.
“President Jonathan urges all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious beliefs, to resist this new attempt to undermine the nation’s firm and collective resolve to unite in full support of its armed forces and security agencies against the vicious perpetrators of brutal attacks on innocent citizens.
“The President assures all Nigerians once again that the Federal Government and national security agencies will continue to intensify ongoing efforts to end Boko Haram’s senseless attacks until the terrorists are routed and totally defeated.
“He commiserates with the families and churches that lost loved ones, members and places of worship during Sunday’s attacks” the statement concluded.
Chibok abduction won’t hinder fight against terrorism – FG
The Federal Government has also restated that it would not be deterred by the abduction of more than 200 school girls in Chibok, Borno State to fight the insurgents.
The National Coordinator of National Information Centre, Mr Mike Omeri stated this, yesterday, at the routine security briefing, alongside with spokespersons of security forces, in Abuja.
Fielding questions from journalists on why killings continue in spite of the deployment of security operatives by the government, Omeri said government was not demoralised and would not be, despite challenges it is facing to rescue the girls.
He said: “The President, security agencies, even all of us sitting here said in relation Chibok girls: The focus is to rescue them alive not attracting collateral damage or destroying the lives of those children. And therefore, the approach at rescue is different.
“Now, the Air Force even as at yesterday (Sunday) came out to fight the insurgents, where they make themselves available to be confronted. You can confirm that from Chibok and even the other week as well.
“As I said earlier, there are rules of engagement in the war, a conventional professional armed forces will stick to it, but an unconventional group or team of criminals will not stick to it.
“And don’t forget that this government have zero tolerance for abuses whether by armed forces, police or whosoever. So, we will stick to the rule of engagement and do the right thing,” he said.
Speaking on the attack in Kautikeri, kwada and Birnjuzu about 10 kilometres from Chibok, Borno state, Omeri said government had intensified patrol in the area.
He maintained that government and the community leaders were working to ascertain the extent of damage and figures, noting that there were causalities from both the security forces and the insurgents.

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Presidency angry with CDS, Badeh, over Chibok girls’ sighting claim

CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, has reportedly incurred the wrath of the Presidency over his claim that the military has sighted the 270 girls seized from the dormitory by Boko Haram terrorists last month.
President Jonathan, it was learnt Wednesday, was unhappy with the claim by the defence chief, which he considers as a breach of military tactics capable of hindering the move to free the children, who have been in the kidnappers’ den for the seven weeks running.

A top Presidency source told Vanguard last night that the Jonathan considered the CDS claim as an unnecessary outburst, which could frustrate ongoing efforts by the multinational team currently in the country to salvage the girls.
The source, which did not want to be quoted because he was not authorised to speak to the press on the matter, said President Jonathan was still at a loss as to why Badeh made the statement at a time he was expected to be more cautious over the contentious issue, which is generating interest across the globe.
“Indeed the President is really upset over the claim and we do not know what will happen,” the source said but did not give further details.
Vanguard further learnt that the claim by the CDS was the subject of analysis during the weekly security meeting between security chiefs and the President last Monday.
Badeh had during a solidarity rally organised by the Citizens Initiative for Security Awareness, led by its National Coordinator, Mr. Chidi Omeze, outside the Defence Headquarters, Abuja on Monday, said that the military was aware of the location of the Chibok girls and that something was being done to free them.
Badeh said: “The good news for the girls is that we know where they are but we cannot tell you, we cannot come and tell you military secrets here. Just leave us alone, we are working, we would get the girls back.”
He stated, “We want our girls back; we want our girls back; we can do it, our military can do it but where they are held, can we go with force?
“If we go with force, what will happen? So nobody should come and say the Nigerian military does not know what it is doing. We know what we are doing; we can’t go and kill our girls in the name of trying to get them back. So we are working,” he said.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, has also slammed Badeh over the claim, saying that it was unnecessary in counterproductive to the current move to free the children and reunite them with their parents.

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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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