SHIITES DENY PLOTTING TERROR ATTACKS

The leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria otherwise known as Shiite, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) have faulted a statement credited to Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai that the movement was planning to unleash terror on the country.

The movement contended that its tagging as a terrorist group by the state government in a white paper was a ploy to “give the dog a bad name in order to hang it.”

The Islamic group’s spokesman, Mallam Ibrahim Musa, alleged that “in the aftermath of the brutal attack on Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and IMN by the Nigerian government in December last year, frantic steps have been undertaken by state officials and security agencies to portray the movement as violent.

“This is to give retroactive justification to its hostile actions against the IMN. The hallmark of this misnomer was the recent declaration by the Kaduna State governor that the movement is even an insurgent group.”

Musa noted that “this has appeared to garner currency among security agencies in Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, Plateau and lately Jigawa states, with officials parroting the ridiculous pronouncement, and some going steps further to insist that IMN should be monitored because it is a violent group.”

He went on: “The maintenance of this false position without basis is an indication that there is a sinister scheme by these government officials to create an insurgency in our name, out of desperation to stamp out the Islamic movement.

“We wish to strongly reject such unjustified tagging of the IMN. For the avoidance of doubts, we would like the world to know that we have never and do not even contemplate taking up arms against anyone. Our leader, El-Zakzaky, has in the over four decades of the existence of the movement taken a non-violent posture, repeatedly saying that guns and other weapons are the tools of the insane.”

Musa added: “In all this time, our weapons have been truth, perseverance, sacrifice and a firm belief that no force or weapon can crush the truth no matter how powerful it appears. That has been the secret of the IMN remaining non-violent throughout the harrowing experience of the Zaria massacre.”

 

NIGERIA: BOKO HARAM STILL CARRY OUT ATTACKS IN MADAGALI, ADAMAWA - LAWMAKER

19 December 2016

Despite the efforts of soldiers, Boko Haram member still carry out sporadic attacks in Madagali, Adamawa State, a lawmaker has said.

The lawmaker who represents Madagali/Michika Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Adamu Kamale, also said that Madagali Local Government Area is the worst affected by insurgency in the state.

Mr. Kamale told journalists in Yola on Saturday that Madagali is now a ghost of its former self and needed urgent government attention, particularly in areas of more security and relief supply.

"The situation in Madagali calls for the attention of Mr President; in fact, the view of the people of Madagali is that the president will do them a favour by visiting the area to boost their morale and that of the military.

"Madagali is still experiencing sporadic attacks and kidnappings by the insurgents and needed urgent attention," Mr. Kamale said.

He lauded the effort of the Presidential Committee on North East and other intervention groups for their effort in rebuilding areas affected in Adamawa, and urged for priority to be given to Madagali, being the worst hit.

"Madagali should have the highest percentage of any intervention coming to Adamawa, then Michika", Kamale said.

The lawmaker said that sufficient funding was being expected in 2017 budget for rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the North-east.

While lauding the effort of the military and other security agencies in his constituency, Mr. Kamale urged the people to be more vigilant and security conscious, particularly at the yuletide period to forestall any danger.

"I want my people to comply with all security tips or advice given to them by the security regarding the festive period", he said.

FALANA URGES PARDON FOR JAILED SOLDIERS

December 19, 2016

Lagos lawyers, Femi Falana (SAN), on Monday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to grant pardon to 70 soldiers found guilty of mutiny by various military courts since 2014.

He made the request in a letter written to the President dated December 19, 2016.

The soldiers whose death sentence had since been committed to 10 years imprisonment are currently held in custody at the Ikoyi and Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos.

Falana argued that since the demand of the convicted soldiers and others for weapons found justification in the criminal diversion of the huge funds provided for the purchase of arms and armament to fight the terrorists, there was no legal and moral justification for the conviction and sentences imposed on them by the courts-martial.

“In Your Excellency’s interview aired by the BBC Hausa service on December 28, 2015 you rightly observed that “The government at that time sent the soldiers to the battlefield without arms and ammunition to prosecute the war. That was what led some of them to mutiny. They were arrested and detained because of this.”

“In the light of the foregoing, Your Excellency will agree with us that since the armed forces were not equipped to defend the territorial integrity of the nation the convicts did not commit mutiny or any other offence whatsoever in demanding for adequate weapons to fight the well-armed insurgents. But assuming without conceding that our clients committed any offence they have suffered enough having spent over three years in dehumanizing prison conditions.

“However, since the demand for weapons to carry out counter-insurgency operations in the north east zone was legitimately made by our clients under the Armed Forces Act, we urge Your Excellency  to grant  them pardon  pursuant to Section 175 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended,” he pleaded.

Falana listed grounds upon which he based his appeal.

“The courts-martial which tried our clients deliberately failed to take cognizance of Section 179 of the Armed Forces Act which permits “a soldier, rating or aircraftman to make a complaint to his commanding office and that he shall not be penalized for having made a complaint.

“The Arms Procurement Panel set up by Your Excellency has confirmed that the huge fund earmarked for the purchase of arms and ammunition was criminally diverted by former services chiefs and other senior military officers,” he stated.

COURT ORDERS 24/7 POLICE PROTECTION FOR SHI’A LEADER, EL-ZAKZAKY AND HIS WIFE UPON RELEASE

DEC 19, 2016

An Abuja Division of the Federal High Court ordered 24/7 police protection for the leader of the Shi’a Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife once they are released from custody. It would be recalled that Mr. El-Zakzaky was arrested by the military on December 14, 2015, after a clash between the movement and officers of the Nigerian army. The army killed at least 347 members of the group.

Justice G.O. Kolawole of the Federal High Court Abuja ordered El-Zakzaky, and his wife to be released from unlawful detention following the lawsuit filed on their behalf by human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN.

The court in Suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/281/2016 between Sheikh Ibraheem Elzakzaky and State Security Service; the Nigeria Police Force; and the Attorney General of the Federation ruled that, “The Respondents shall within 45 days of this Judgment make proper and decent arrangement of a residential abode for the Applicant and his family in Kaduna State or anywhere of their choice within the Northern Region, where the Applicant and his wife and their children can relocate when released upon the expiration of 45 days from today (that is, 2/12/2016).”

The judgment dated  December 2 2016 reads in part: “Let me state clearly and for the avoidance of doubt that the failure by the government to effect the release of the Applicant and his wife from its custody or any illegal custody whatsoever, upon the expiration of the 45th day from 2/12/2016, such failure shall not only constitute a deliberate acts of disobedience of these orders, but it will crystallize into fresh cause of action of infraction of the Applicant’s rights and his wife to personal liberty guaranteed by the Constitution of Nigeria 1999, as amended.”

“The Inspector General of Police or any of its subordinate officers not below the rank of Assistant Inspector General when he received the Applicant and his wife as ordered, shall take immediate step within 24 hours of receiving the Applicant and his wife convey the Applicant and his wife under necessary security escort to their place of abode as would have been provided by the 1st Respondent working in conjunction with the 3rd Respondent. The 2nd Respondent shall then provide the Applicant and his wife police protection which shall operate 24/7 until the alleged threats which were not provided by any admissible evidence but left in the realm of speculation are moved or significantly diminished.”

“Let it be clearly stated and for the avoidance of doubt that the protection which the 2nd Respondent shall accord to the Applicant and his wife shall not be used under any guise by the 2nd Respondent to place or confine the Applicant and his wife under any form of restriction which would invariably translate to the 2nd Respondent substituting its own ‘safety custody’ with the 1st Respondent’s ‘protective custody’.

“The essence of the order which I have made is to enable the Applicant and his wife to be able to live their normal lives whilst being under constant protective watch by the 2nd Respondent’s officers in their new place of abode. It is the primary responsibility of the 2nd Respondent to protect lives and properties of every Nigerian and even non-Nigerian within our country’s boundaries.”

“Applicant and his wife in the said sister suit have cumulative general damages which I have fixed at N50 million. The Applicant’s suit and the wife’s sister suit succeed on the basis of the reliefs which the Court has granted.”

“When I reflected on all the issues and questions which I had raised in the course of reviewing the processes filed and exchanged by both parties, not only was I unable to set my eyes on the provision of any law or the Constitution by which the Applicant’s detention, albeit in a ‘protective custody’ can be justified.”

“By my modest understanding of constitutional law, every act of detention is presumed to be unlawful and having to the omnibus provision of Section 35 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 as amended, to be unconstitutional. The evidential burden to prove that the detention of any citizen or non-citizen who resides within the boundaries of Nigeria in the context of the exceptions in Section 35(1)(a)-(f) invariably lay on the State or any of its agents or agencies as the jailer.”

“The Court has not been afforded any believable evidence (for instance, to produce the Applicant in court in order for him in the full glare of the public, to denounce the suit filed on his behalf by Femi Falana, and to state as a free citizen, that he had consented to his being held in the custody of the 1st Respondent’s custody for his own safety) to prove the alleged consent of the Applicant to be held in protective custody.”

“The issues which the instant suit has thrown up are in my view too serious and of fundamental importance to the health of our national psyche in a democratic setting that this Court will fail the legitimate and expressed expectations of the Rules to enforce the Applicant’s fundamental rights allegedly breached by the Respondent. If I leave to borrow a folklore saying in the Yoruba language, a more deleterious ailment of leprosy as it were, and begin to grapple with the lesser issue of ‘ringworms.'

“To do so by dancing to such niggling issues of technicality will be a disservice to the demands of justice, and the legitimate expectation of majority of Nigerian people who look up to the Judiciary as the only arm of government empowered by virtue of the provisions of Chapter IV of the Constitution to serve as the bulwark against possible violations of the Constitution and occasional mindless abuse of powers by any of the arms or agencies of government.”

“While both learned Counsel have been duly heard on their respective processes, in the course of adjourning the case for Judgment, I deliberately engaged both the Applicant’s lead Counsel Femi Falana, Esq. SAN, who over the years has remained unarguably one of Nigeria’s legal profession’s constant and unwavering ‘combatant’ in the field and on the frontline of human rights advocacy and the Respondents’ Counsel.”

“My judicial intervention in this regard was to protect our country from further needless global exposure which the instant case has occasioned, and to minimize whatever damage the incident may have caused to our national image with the international community amongst friendly democratic states.”

INSURGENCY: LET’S PAT BRAVE TROOPS ON THE BACK

December 20, 2016

I am ok. God is in control. Maiduguri is safe now and life has returned fully.”
This was the response from a colleague, an award winning journalist. I rang him to find out the security situation in Borno State and Adamawa. He missed my call, and I sent him a text. His response quoted above became a decider for two families resolved to hold back their graduating sons who were North-east bound on mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. They expressed grave anxiety about their safety in the front line states of Boko Haram insurgency.
While their sons were zealous to adorn the national colours and wanted to proceed with their call up letters, their parents refused to let go. Their fear was understood.

Realising I could provide some needed information, patriarch of one of the families dialled me, and that resolved the impasse.
Writing from Boko Haram frontlines in the North-east, my colleague had won several media awards reporting for one of the popular national dailies. He knows virtually all the flash points in the region and his informed situation report can hardly be faulted.
Therefore, when the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai, in his recent motivational message, told troops that December was a month of decision, it was not an empty boast. If anything, he was acknowledging troops’ exploits in significantly decimating the potency of the terrorists, and strongly believes in their capacity to finish the terrorists off.
For a military that had in recent past shirked from battle before the deadly terrorists, it is not out of place to celebrate to high heaven their new found courage under the leadership of Buratai. How do we sustain troops’ success in many fronts and ensure lasting security in the villages?

In this unconventional war, the military would liberate villages hitherto under Boko Haram siege, occupy, and maintain the areas. They would also protect the IDP camps, provide security for convoys and people passing through the routes that have been cleared. In all fairness, the military have been overstretched. Yet, some critics find it convenient to criticise rather than encourage Buratai and his men.

We must not forget in a hurry what the security situation in the region had been, and realise that a lot have been achieved in the insurgency war since Buratai mounted the saddle as Chief of Army Staff about a year ago.
Those who are in Maiduguri know that the checkpoints all over town are all gone as the military are all about the township, and there’s a lot of confidence in the people today that they could now sleep and wake up with their eyes closed.

Three remaining local governments in Damasak axis of Borno including Kalabalge, Abadam and Morkpa have been entirely liberated. In the Konduga axis, the military have been up and running, going in and coming out every now and then. And lately, they have turned on the heat on the much dreaded Sambisa forest, combing the areas while the Airforce sustained their interminable air raids within the past two months. For every operation troops carried out, they destroyed over four to five villages of Boko Haram, killed hundreds of their members, and liberated thousands of captive natives including children and women.

Buratai with his troops has embarked on a final aggressive action and comprehensive sweep of all fortresses, camps, dens and enclaves of the criminals to completely flush them out and dominate these areas to ensure they are not reoccupied.

It is for this reason that his message to troops about a week ago is reassuring. He wrote: “I hope to be with you sometime this month – December, to motivate and positively influence the ongoing operations. This is with a view to having a colourful end of year and peaceful Yuletide in the North-east and indeed Nigeria.
“I urge all commanders to plan and embark on effective patrols, raids, ambushes and deliberate attacks in conjunction with other Services especially the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Navy, to rescue all those abducted by the terrorists.

“I also wish to remind all troops that captured and surrendered Boko Haram terrorists must be treated humanely and fairly and in strict accordance with the provisions of International Humanitarian Law and Laws of Armed Conflict,” he said.

“I wish to reiterate that December is a month of decision. It is either we succeed in clearing the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists or we continue to live in perpetual circle of their atrocities in the North-East.
“I, hereby, want to reassure all troops that I intend to return everybody to Barracks in 2017 only leaving behind a strong, highly mobile, effective and motivated force that will continue to do the good work that we have already started,” he said.
Buratai had before now rekindled the morale of troops, paying all allowances and benefits of soldiers hitherto withheld by their superior. To further get them more committed to their military career, the military headquarters has directed Army Post-Housing Development Directorate to work out modalities for housing scheme for all soldiers, mostly those exposed to ongoing anti-terrorism fight. If the housing scheme scales through, all military personnel may own their personal houses on retirement.

Massive renovation of residential and office accommodations, building of new military barracks being undertaken across the country are some of the ambitious projects to change fortunes of the military across the country.

The Maxwell Khobe Cantonment Jos, Nigerian Army School of Artillery, Kachia Kaduna State, Office of the Military Secretary, Army Barracks building in Oturkpo Benue State, massive renovations of military barracks across Lagos and the entire South-west and many more are some of the projects embarked upon by the military leadership.
In equal measure, the military helmsman has demonstrated keen preference for peaceful resolution of ethnic agitations using alternative means other than coercive use of legitimate force.
Always urging troops deployed to volatile areas to exercise caution and restraint against the use of force, Buratai has repeatedly warned all military personnel to respect the rights of law abiding citizens in their areas of operation.

For him, the civilian populace are critical to the success of every military operation, and therefore must be treated with respect as partners in business.

A practical demonstration of how Buratai’s military dearly regarded civilian populace could be seen in his free healthcare delivery services to civilian populace in many communities in Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states. Now, Imo State has been added to the number.
In addition to this, soldiers have gone out of their line of duty to rescue kidnap victims in the volatile states including Imo, Lagos, Rivers, Cross River, Abia, and many more. They have been able to tame abductions and kidnappings that had become a daily ritual in these regions.

For this government, two major achievements even the most virile critic of the administration cannot deny are the exploits of the Buratai-led military in counter-terrorism fight, and the Ibrahim Magu-led ambitious fight against corruption. Those behind this isolated success story of restoring hitherto elusive peace and security in the North-east and other hotbeds of crime like Niger Delta, Arepo in Ogun State, and parts of Lagos State ought to be celebrated.

In fighting this unconventional war, it is important to appreciate that security is everyone’s responsibility. Working out a system of safeguarding returnees in their homes, farms and markets is as important as food assistance.

Therefore, North-east leaders, the police, DSS, the Interior Ministry and other stakeholders should join hands with the military to put in place a security arrangement within the communities to protect lives and property in areas liberated by gallant soldiers. The battle is not Buratai’s alone.

BOKO HARAM LEADER SHEKAU REPORTEDLY CAPTURED IN BORNO

DEC 19, 2016

The leader of the deadly Boko Haram terrorist group Abubakar Shekau may have been captured by ‘king of hunters’ around Gafa Mountain in Borno state.

According to reports by Daily Sun, there has been speculation about Shakau’s capture for over a week.

An highly placed source quoted in the report revealed that troops of the Nigerian army fighting in the area had surround the Gafa Mountain area last week over intelligence report that top Boko Haram leaders were hiding there.

Recall that severally, the Nigerian military had pronounced Shekau either arrested or killed only for the Boko Haram leader to bounce back alive, with YouTube video releases

The Nigerian army, earlier this year had announced the death of three key commanders of the extremist Boko Haram sect. The army said the terrorists were killed in a major air strike on their location in the dreaded Sambisa Forest.

Also, on May 12, 2014, the DSS, through its former spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, insisted that the man in the videos released by the sect was not the real Shekau.

"Boko Haram has become a franchise; anybody can assume and lay claim to any name. What I know is that the original Abubakar Shekau is dead; the person claiming to be the national leader now is not the original Abubakar Shekau,” she had stated.

Efforts to reach Army spokesperson, Col.S.K Usman proved abortive as calls placed to his telephone line were left unanswered. Text message was also not responded to.

NIGERIAN NAVAL OFFICER PRESENTED WITH BRITISH BRITANNIA SWORD AWARD

December 19, 2016

A Nigerian naval officer has been rewarded for enthusiasm and commitment to his training at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in the UK.

Abdulrahman Buniyamin, a sub lieutenant, was presented with a ceremonial sword by Royal Marines, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Gordon Messenger, during the final passing-out-parade held at BRNC on Friday.

Among the VIP guests invited to attend the parade was the Defence Advisor at the Nigerian High Commissioner, Gbolahan Oyefesobi, a Brigadier General in the Nigerian Army

The sword, sponsored by the Britannia Association, the College Alumni, also recognisec the Cadet who improved the most during training.

Mr. Buniyamin trained at the College between February and October 2015, completing the 30-week initial naval training course alongside his UK counterparts.

Through hard work and dedication, he overcame initial difficulties to meet the standards required of him, putting in extra hours of study and foregoing his free time for private tutoring.

During his time at the world-renowned College, Mr. Buniyamin achieved a Royal Yacht Association Powerboat Level 2 qualification and became known as the first to volunteer for any extra task.

Mr. Buniyamin, who is currently serving on the Nigerian Navy ship Burutu, said:  “I am very happy to receive this prize.  I put in my best effort for every activity, be it assessed or not assessed.  My knowledge has improved by being here, which has made me a better Naval officer back at home.”

BRNC is a modern military College steeped in traditional values.  In 2016 the College provided initial naval training for nearly 500 cadets destined for careers in the Royal Navy, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary or overseas naval and defence forces.

In addition the Royal Naval Leadership Academy has provided professional development courses for almost 6,000 Officers and Ratings across the Service.  Members of the Royal Naval Reserve and the Cadet Forces have also had extensive use of the facilities at the College.

As part of the UK’s commitment to Nigeria, a resident British Military Advisory and Training Team in Nigeria coordinates an expanding programme of UK support in capacity building for the Nigerian Armed Forces. A Liaison and Support Team provides specific guidance and medical provision.

Some 2,000 Nigerian military personnel have received UK training prior to deploying on operations in the North East. Several thousand more have benefitted from UK specialist military training.

More than 300 UK military personnel provided training to the Nigerian Armed Forces this year (2016). This is more than double the number of UK personnel who deployed to Nigeria on training tasks in 2015