PDP CRITICISED INCREASING ATTACKS ON JOURNALIST

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday criticised increasing spate of attacks on journalists on duty, and admonished security agencies to adopt rigid actions to check the trend.

Kaduna State Chairman, Mr Hassan Hyet, while on a solidarity and sympathy visit to the Kaduna chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said that the consistent attack on media men was an assault even to the entire society.

Reports said that thugs invaded the NUJ secretariat on Sunday, when top members of the APC, including senators, House of Representatives members and party officials were addressing a press conference centred on the delegates election conducted by the party on Saturday, July 29.

The thugs beat up journalists, broke cameras and midgets, and also destroyed part of the NUJ building.

The NUJ official advised politicians against using youths as political thugs and hoodlums, but mobilising such youths into positive ventures that will make them assets to the nation.

NAN/TSIDKENU

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Army Recovers Corpses Of Soldiers, Arrests, Kills Terrorists

Major General Leo Irabor, theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, delivered a press briefing on Wednesday in which he updated the public on the Nigerian Army’s latest counter-terrorist activities.

He announced that over 50 Boko Haram terrorists have been killed since the start of the new year and several more have been arrested. The Major General also said that troops have been recovering the bodies of soldiers who lost their lives in the fight against Boko Haram.

Read the text of the press briefing below:

TEXT OF PRESS BRIEFING BY MAJOR GENERAL LEO IRABOR THEATRE  COMMANDER OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE AT MILITARY COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTRE, MAIDUGURI TODAY WEDNESDAY 11TH JANUARY 2017

It is in line with our resolve to keep you and the general public informed of our activities in Operation LAFIYA DOLE. Our gallant troops have continued exploitation and mop-up operations against fleeing Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs). The activities of the week under review show that the BHT are in disarray and are equally desperate. Therefore, this brief is intended to give update as follows:

a. Clearance Operations. Our gallant troops have conducted some clearance operations during the last one week:

(1) On 7 Jan 17 at about 1625hrs, following reports of BHT attempting to regroup, our troops embarked on clearance operation and established contact with BHT elements at WULGE village. Fire fight ensued which resulted to 11 BHT killed in action while 9 others were captured. However, one soldier was wounded in action. The captured BHT are undergoing interrogation.

(2) On 9 Jan 17 at about 0630hrs, own troops deployed between BANKI and DAREL JAMEL conducted clearance patrol towards BHT crossing site and encountered the insurgents at about 0715hrs. The insurgents fled on sighting own troops approaching and abandoned Honda motor cycle and 6 Jerry cans of 25 litre each containing AGO. The items were destroyed in situ.

(3) On 5 Jan 17 at about 0745hrs, own troops in conjunction with CJTF conducted clearance operation along DAMASAK – GASHIGAR road. The troops successfully cleared DUOMA, ASAGA, GASHIGAR and other surrounding villages. At ASAGA village, our troops encountered and dislodged some BHT elements. Subsequently, the troops recovered corpses of one officer and 15 soldiers earlier declared Missing in Action during their dislodgment from GASHIGAR on 16 Oct 16. The corpses were recovered along Kamadugou River line. Among the recovered corpses was that of Lt Col K Yusuf, the former Commanding Officer of 223 Tank Battalion. They have since been buried in Maimalari Cantonment Cemetery with full military honours.

(4) On 8 Jan 17 at about 1125hrs, own troops in conjunction with CJTF conducted clearance operation to METELE village and encountered pockets of BHT which were successfully cleared. The troops also cleared all identified BHT hideouts from DOGON CHUKU toward TUMBUN RAGO. During the  operation, 6 BHT were killed in action while 2 of our soldiers were wounded in action. The wounded soldiers are currently receiving treatment in our medical facility in Baga.

(5) On 8 Jan 17 at 0830hrs, own troops conducted clearance operation in MANAWASI and GAREL villages. The troops encountered BHT at BULAKESA village. The troops successfully cleared the BHT with support from Air Component and dominated the village. Sadly, an officer and 4 soldiers were killed in action while 3 other soldiers were wounded. A total of 50 BHT were killed in action while 3 AK47 rifles and several weapons and grenade were recovered from the BHT. Also, 9 BHT adults and 18 minors were arrested during the operation.

b. Arrests. Own troops have arrested some BHT suspects as follows:

(1) On 3 Jan 17 at about 1240hrs, 4 women and 13 children were apprehended by vigilantes at BUNI YADI and were later handed over to our troops. Preliminary investigation revealed that the women were wives of BHTs who fled from Sambisa Forest as a result of our operations. All suspects are in our custody undergoing investigation.

(2) On 9 Jan 17, a surrendered BHT identified a male sympathiser as BHT spy to MONGUNO and identified 2 wives of BHT Amir from the arrested BHT members.

(3) On 4 Jan 17 at about 1300hrs, own troops at KATARKO while on patrol along GUJBA-NANAMAJI road arrested 4 BHT suspects fleeing TALALA. Their names are Babagana Mohammedu from HONG in MICHIKA LGA, Usman Usman from FUNTUA Katsitna State, Murtala Dan-azimi from KOFAR GOMBE Bauchi State and Sanusi Dahiru from SAKWAYA in Jigawa State. Arrested suspects are in own custody undergoing further interrogation.

(4) On 5 Jan 17 at about 1030hrs, own troops and CJTF arrested 4 BHT suspects at SHUWARI village ahead of own checkpoint following a tip off that there were some BHT amirs lurking around. The suspects are Modu Auwami, Mamye Modu, Usman Kachanawa and Mallum Maji. During preliminary investigation, some local witnesses identified Modo Auwami as the one who used to provide medical treatment to injured BHT and had been seen wielding AK47 rifle on several occasions. The other 3 suspects claimed they were abducted by the BHT but only spent few days in their camps. The suspects are all from DAGUMBA and GUMSHE in MAFA and DIKWA LGA respectively. The suspects are in custody undergoing further interrogation.

(5) On 3 Jan 17 at about 1430hrs, own troops in conjunction with CJTF arrested 4 BHT suspects namely: Usman Alhaji Karama, Wakil Aga, Biye Kunti and Maimusa Khadi at SHUARI village close to custom house. The suspects were from DAGUMBA village in MAFA LGA and they all confessed to be BHT members. They claimed to have come to town to buy Tramadol tablets as they were arrested with 27 sachets of Tramadol tablets, 3 sachets of Cowbel chocolate and the sum of N5,040.00 only. They are all undergoing further interrogation.

(6) On 8 Jan 17 at about 2317hrs, following a tip-off a suspected BHT member one Abubakar Babagana Tijani (also known as Mafiyo) was arrested at GONGE area of MAIDUGURI. The suspect is believed to be among those at the top hierarchy of the BHT sect as he is especially known for his cross border activities. He has been to Chad, Cameroun and Republic of Niger at various times. The suspect has been undergoing interrogation.

(7) On 6 Jan 17 at about 1140hrs, our troops while on patrol at AWTI village general area arrested one Alhaji Muhammed with gunshot wounds on his left leg. The suspect confessed to be among the BHT that were ambushed by own troops around RANN on 30 Dec 16. The suspect is currently undergoing medical treatment in one of our medical facilities while interrogation also is ongoing.

(8) On 6 Jan 16 at about 2120hrs, own troops deployed at BUNI YADI arrested 2 men who were wandering forward of own troops location. On challenge, one of them identified himself as an ex-soldier. Troops arrested them and preliminary investigation revealed that the ex-slodier was dismissed from the military in Jan 16 at NASI while the other suspect was his friend. The suspects are undergoing interrogation.

c. Discovery of CHIBOK School Girl. On 5 Jan 17 at about 1900hrs during profiling of some rescued persons from BHT at AJIGIN-TALALA general area, our troops discovered one of the CHIBOK School girls abducted by the BHT in 2014. Her name is Rakiya Abubakar and was with her 6 months old baby boy named Abdullahi, I handed them over to the Borno State Governor same day at about 1900hrs at the Borno State Government House here in MAIDUGURI.

d. Handover of IDPs. On 5 Jan 17 at about 1130hrs, a total of 119 Nigerian IDPs were handed over to our troops at BANKI by the Cameroonian forces. The IDPs comprised 20 male adults, 25 female adults and 74 children. They were screened and moved to the IDP camp.

e. Surrendering of BHT in Limankara. On 9 Jan 17 at           about 1250hrs, one Alhaji Njida, a BHT member surrendered to our troops deployed at LIMANKARA. One AK 47 rifle loaded with 9 rounds with 7.62mm special ammunition was recovered from him. He is currently in custody undergoing interrogation.

f. Person Borne Improvised Explosive Device Explosions. During the period under review, there were recorded incidences of PBIED:

(1) On 8 Jan 17 at about 2015hrs, civilians within MUNA DALTI sighted 2 suicide bombers trying to infiltrate the metropolis through MUNA DALTI. When challenged, the armed suicide bombers opened fire and killed a member of CJTF and injured a little girl. The suicide bombers thereafter ran into Muna Park where one of them detonated his suicide vest killing himself, and a Motor Boy. The other suicide bomber was shot by the CJTF. However, suicide vest strapped on him did not detonate. Quantity 2 AK47 was recovered at the scene. The injured girl was evacuated to hospital while Nigeria Police EOD Team disposed the suicide vest and NEMA staff evacuated the body parts and disinfected the area.

(2) On 8 Jan 17 at about 2230hrs, 2 female suicide bombers detonated their suicide vests at KALARI general area. The first suicide bomber knocked at the door of one Wakili Bulama’s house, the daughter came out to check on who was at the door and the suicide bomber detonated the suicide vest and killing herself and the little girl. The explosion also destroyed part of the building. The second suicide bomber also knocked on the door of one Usman Wule about 200m away from the first scene and the owner of the house came to open the door. She detonated the suicide vest at about 2240hrs, killing herself and the owner of the house.

g. BHT Attack. On 7 Jan 17 at about 1740hrs, some BHT elements attacked our troops location through the Range Area during stand-to. The troops repelled the attack. Sadly, an officer and 3 soldiers were killed in action. By first light the following day, own troops went pursuit of the attackers by trailing their tracks. The tracks led the troops through GOLGORE up to BULAISARI village, where own troops discovered a camp observed to have been their staging area. Apart from one dead BHT discovered at the camp, a camel bag and several jackets all soaked in blood were discovered. The troops also found a pair of forceps, disposable hand gloves and cotton wool all stained in blood suspected to be as a result of the heavy casualty inflicted on BHT during the attack. The camp which was deserted had a workshop, grinding mill, scattered settlements and livestock. Own troops also recovered 2 dane guns and a motorola GP 340 hand held set. Thereafter, troops cleared the camp and exploited further to AJIGIN and TALALA general area.

h. Recovery of BHT Items. On 5 Jan 17 at about 1000hrs, own troops conducted a mop-up operations around CAMP ZAIRO general area and recovered additional BHT items. They included a pair of black uniform with camouflage design on the edges, a précis on motar operation written in Arabic, one big size Quran, 4 notebooks containing names of BHTs, a list of BHT locs, a list of IED materials and method of preparation, breakdown of quantities of arms and ammunition issued to BHT members, some instructions written in Arabic and a small BHT flag with Arabic inscription.

i. Display of BHT Doctor and Amir.
Summary of Arrested/Surrendered BHT Suspects and Other Rescued Persons.  A total of 963 civilians were arrested as BHT suspects while 2 BHT members surrendered to our troops during our operations conducted between 4 – 11 Jan 17.

Maritime Operation. The update for Op LAFIYA DOLE Maritime Component will be delivered by the Maritime Component Commander.

Air Operations. The clips of Air ops conducted during the period is as shown.

Going Forward. While we await other stakeholders to undertake repairs of broken down infrastructures, we have reconstructed many bridges and a bridge currently constructing one as could be seen among other construction works. I am hopeful that my earlier call to well-meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies for equipment support for construction and rebuilding of infrastructures will be fruitful.

At this stage of our fight against terrorism, I urge you and members of the general public to continue to be more security conscious. Given the apparent end of BHT, they are changing their modus operandi. As you go about your normal activities, be careful to know who is knocking at your door before opening.

We shall continue to inform the public of these developments. Your continued support would be highly appreciated as we Work to Win the Peace. Winning the peace is a process. Accordingly, What value are you adding? I urge you to leave the ranks of noise and distraction. Join to add value qualitatively. Thank you and God bless.

Major General LEO IRABOR
Theatre Commander
Operation LAFIYA DOLE

Nigerian troops in action

 

Source: saharareporters

Abdulsalami: We must find a solution to Southern Kaduna crisis

Abdulsalami Abubakar, former head of state, says a solution must be found to the crisis in the southern part of Kaduna state.

Speaking on Friday when he led a delegation of the National Peace Committee to the state, the elder statesman emphasised the need for peace.

The delegation held a closed door meeting with Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, before briefing journalists.

Abdulsalami disclosed that there were plans to meet with stakeholders in the region to find out the cause of the problem.

“We are here due to the recent happenings in Southern Kaduna. And from here, we are going to meet with other stakeholders, religious leaders, the chiefs in the area and also visit the site where these problems are and discuss with the people,” he said.

“We will sit down and see what we think should be done. Then, we come back to the governor and also if necessary to the federal government… This crisis is not only limited to Kaduna, it is something that is engulfing the country.

“We want to make sure that peace reigns in Nigeria, to make sure that people know that we are together, we have to live in peace with each other and we have what it is to give and take.

“We are reaching a situation in the country where human live doesn’t mean anything to people and this is wrong.”

He appealed to the people to embrace peace, saying no religion preaches violence.

“There is no religion on earth or anywhere that preaches violence. So this is why we are here today,” he said.

“We thank the governor and his team for receiving us. One of the points that the governor drew our attention to is the way people take law into their hands and they go scot free. And this impunity must be checked. These are some of the issues we discussed.

“Everybody is aggrieved  in one way or the other, so what we beg on people is to be patient, try as much as to forgive and to be each other’s keeper. We must live together, we must find solution to the problems to sit down and talk to ourselves because there is no problem that cannot be solved when you are talking to each other.”

Mathew Kukah, Catholic bishop of Sokoto diocese, who is from the southern part of Kaduna, said the meeting was to show solidarity with the people.

He said the committee would get first-hand information from the people of the state.

“I think the visit is more of a solidarity with the people of Kaduna state. We are here to hear for ourselves what exactly is happening and what we can do with the hope that we can find a way forward based on the situation,” he said.

“We are part of the delegation, I convened the peace committee and what we are doing now is to try  to bring about peace.  We are looking at how we can achieve peace and stability.

“I think what the people of Kaduna state, including the government should be doing now is to look into how we can achieve peace and development, and I think that is the reason we have democracy.

“What is going now is a very sad phase in our history, but I believe that we can get over it and we will get over it and come out stronger and committed to peace.”

Sources: www.thecable.ng

UN To Investigate Southern Kaduna Killings

Channels Television.

 

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary Executions, Dr. Agnes Callamard, has confirmed that she is probing the “recent allegations of killings of over 800 citizens mostly women, children and the elderly in Southern Kaduna by suspected herdsmen, and to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice, and provide reparations to victims”.

This followed a petition dated December, 30 2016 and sent by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

The development on Dr. Callamard’s investigation on the killings was disclosed on Wednesday by SERAP’s Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni.

In a communique sent to SERAP on Wednesday, Dr. Callamard said: “Many thanks to SERAP for your petition. I am writing to confirm that I have well received it and will review it with great attention. I will update you on follow-up interventions.”

In its response, SERAP said: “We welcome the attention by the Special Rapporteur to the matter and her commitment to pursue justice and accountability with respect to the killings in Southern Kaduna.”

It would be recalled that SERAP had in its petition to Dr. Callamard expressed “concern over the killings of citizens in Southern Kaduna of Nigeria, amounting to serious violations of the rights to life, security of the human person, respect of the dignity inherent in a human being and rights to property guaranteed not only by the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) but also the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.”

“SERAP contends that Nigerian authorities have failed and/or neglected to respect these human rights and to exercise due diligence to ensure that these rights are not violated by private individuals such as herdsmen and other unknown perpetrators.

“The Nigerian government should therefore be held accountable for failing or neglecting to guarantee and protect the rights of the people in Southern Kaduna, regardless of whether such violations are directly or indirectly attributable to the state or its officials.”

“SERAP is concerned that the Nigerian government has failed and/or neglected to create an environment in Southern Kaduna to end the unlawful killings by failing to move their legal and institutional machinery towards the actual realisation of these rights. It is in fact the failure by the government to take adequate measures to prevent the violence which has contributed to the increasing number of victims.”

“SERAP believes that the killings would not have taken place if the Nigerian authorities have taken measures to prevent their happening and to address persistent impunity of those responsible for the violations and abuses. The lack of accountability for the attacks by herdsmen and other unknown perpetrators across the country has continued to create a culture of impunity which clearly is not compatible with the rule of law in a democratic society.”

“According to the leadership of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan in Kaduna State, a total of 808 people were killed in 53 villages across the four Local Government Areas in the state ridden by crisis.

“The church leaders also said that 57 people were injured; farm produce estimated at N5.5 billion were also destroyed, and a total of 1,422 houses and 16 churches were burnt during the attacks.

“The affected communities are spread across Kaura, Sanga, Jama’a and Kauru Local Government Areas where there had been persistent attacks on communities by gunmen believed to be Fulani herdsmen.”

SERAP therefore urged Dr. Callamard to prevail on the Nigerian authorities to;

• Take measures to urgently secure the right to life, security and dignity of the human person and right to property of citizens in Southern Kaduna.

• To prevent further attacks and killings by herdsmen and other unknown perpetrators.

• Carry out an effective investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killings and identify the perpetrators to bring them to justice and provide reparations to victims.

• Provide a framework of security for the protection of life, and protect the lives of those individuals at risk from unlawful attacks in Southern Kaduna.

• Also to provide an effective remedy and reparation for the victims.

Southern Kaduna: You are hypocrites- CAN tells Imams calling for their arrest

Few dayas ago,  the Council of Imams and Ulama in Kaduna state, held a press conference where they called for the arrest of some Christian religious leaders including CAN President, over some of the comments he has made on the lingering Southern Kaduna crisis(Read here).

CAN in a statement released yesterday, described the Islamic clerics as hypocrites for turning blind eyes to the real issues that have continuously caused the crisis. The statement signed by the Secretary General of CAN,  Rev. Musa Asake reads in part;

“To CAN, this is a surprising shameless, unveiled criminal support for evil. While, the killings of children, women, aged and the most defenseless of Southern Kaduna natives and the destruction of entire communities was at its peak, no one knew that a group called Council of Imams and Ulama existed in Kaduna state.

When Church leaders under the banner of CAN kept praying for Southern Kaduna and other affected areas in the country, visiting traumatized communities and softly calling on government to do the needy, this Council of Imams was silent and invisible. In a press conference in Kaduna on November 7th 2016, Jema’a Foundation, Miyetti Allah and Mobgal Fulbe Development Association confirmed that Fulani and Hausa Muslims have been behind the ethnic cleansing and destruction of villages and houses of worship in Southern Kaduna. They claimed they had to do this to entrench their rights to practice Islam, alleging they were being marginalized in Southern Kaduna. Those who addressed the press were Abdullahi Hassan Mohammed, Ahmad M. Yandeh and Abdulhamid Musa. Again, on December 31, 2016, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Assistant National Secretary of Miyetti Allah also echoed the same position that the Fulani were carrying out reprisal killings. In view of this glaring confession by all these Fulani men, is it not reprehensible, distasteful and vile that the Council of Imams and Ulama Kaduna State did not call for the arrest of these people who are in conspiracy with the murderers? With their position now, it is obvious that these Imams are part of the evil network desperately trying to decimate the Christian population of Southern Kaduna and the taking over of their lands by Islamist herdsmen terrorists. These are the Muslim clerics that encourage and inspire the jihad carried out by their foot soldiers. We have refused to keep silent as we are speaking up to government and telling the world the devilish plot against the Christian community in Southern Kaduna and other affected areas. While those they inspired through their wicked sermons to kill and conquer new territories for Islam are carrying out their instructions, they are now intimidating the victims with Gov. El-Rufai’s infamous position of “call for self-defense is hate speech. Our Lord Jesus Christ is exposing the enemies of His Kingdom one by one. For the records, the words and the way of life of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world before whom all knees shall bow, was never violent. CAN therefore, thrives under His inspiration and guidance. We can never call on a Christian to kill another human being. But we cannot tell a Christian to unjustly submit himself to murderers, his family wiped, his community taken over with crude violence so that a new community of herdsmen terrorists be established as it is happening now in Southern Kaduna, especially as government is not showing enough commitment to arresting the situation. CAN therefore, has no apology over what comment it has made on the religious cleansing in Southern Kaduna and other places in the country. It is clear fact that CAN has the more to lose with the continuance of these madness. Since May last year to date in Southern Kaduna alone, over 100 Christians have been killed; over 53 communities with their churches have been destroyed and not less than 16 villages have been conquered and are now being occupied by Fulani herdsmen terrorists”.

Source: http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2017/01/souther-kaduna-you-are-hypocrites-can.html

9 times ethnic and religious crisis threatened the peace of Nigeria

Author: Temitope Popoola

Nigeria is indeed a strong country considering the crisis it has been subjected to in recent times. Looking back at the wars we have fought in the past, it will be weird for anyone to take an obtuse stand.

File photo of a riot scene in Nigeria.

Thousands of people do not think of our past and the kind of work we have done to get here. There have been many events that could have torn us apart as a nation but for so many reasons we are still standing as a country and the pride of Africa.

Despite the flaws in our system, the nation is standing against all odds and struggling to attain the peace and unity that we all sing about. Some Nigerians are playing their roles too by putting the country in good view; those in diaspora are not left out as most of the reports heard about them are good and soul lifting.

The activities of an Islamic sect that killed more than a hundred people while displacing thousands of people few days ago is a major concern for all. This has forced us to review the timeline of religious and ethnic violence that has left the nation threatened.

Find below some major events that has resulted into violence between the Christians and Muslims in Nigeria:

1. The fight that ensued from the introduction of Islamic sharia law

This event happened in year 2000 and is marked by the death of thousands of people in the northern part of Nigeria. The sharia law passed was opposed by the non-Muslims; this resulted into a fight between the Muslims and people outside the faith in Kaduna State.

2. The Christian-Muslim violence in Jos

The violence that resulted from the clash between Muslims and Christians in Jos left the icy city in despair. This event occurred in September 2001. More than 900 people lost their lives as a result of the violence.

3. The riot from the Miss World contest held in Abuja

This happened in November 2002 after a newspaper article made a blasphemy against Prophet Mohammad by suggesting that the holy prophet would have married one of the beauty queens at the contest if he was alive. This resulted in a fight that left more than 20 people dead in Kaduna.

4. The Christian Tarok militia activities

In May 2004, hundreds of people were killed by Christian Tarok militia in the Yelwa, a central Nigerian town. Most of the people affected were mainly Muslims as over 600 corpses were buried after the violence according to the survivors.

5. The Muslim-Christian fight in Kano

The same month the Christian Tarok militia group had the clash, the streets of Kano were soaked in blood as Muslims and Christians were involved in a violent fight. According to the community leaders, more than 500 people were killed. Lots of Christians lost their lives in the fight.

6. The riot between Christians and Muslims in Maiduguri

February 2006 came with another bloodbath. The religious fight between the Muslims and Christians left over a hundred people dead.

This fight started with the protest against Danish cartoons which was made to mock the holy prophet according to a Muslim. The northeastern city of Maiduguri was affected most by the violence.

7. The religious fight at a local government election in Jos

There was another clash between the major religious groups of Nigeria in November 2008. This was triggered by a local government election which left about 400 people killed in Jos.

8. The curfew in Bauchi

For some unknown reasons, the curfew imposed by the governor of Bauchi state did not settle things as scores of people were killed while churches and mosques were burned down in February 2009.

9. The Boko Haram launch in July 2009

Boko Haram sect got started with the illegal education remark. Several attacks were staged in the northern city of Bauchi after some of their members were arrested.

More than 50 people were killed then even though many people were arrested in connection with it. Boko Haram stood against western education and demanded for the adoption of sharia in every part of the country.

Sources: https://www.naij.com/1082502-9-times-ethnic-religious-crisis-threatened-peace-nigeria.html

3 policemen killed, 2 missing in herdsmen attack in Adamawa

Sources: http://www.vanguardngr.com

Adamawa Police Command on Sunday confirmed the killing of three Mobile Policemen and the disappearance of two others in an attack by suspected herdsmen in Demsa Local Government Area of the state. The policemen were among those drafted to secure Kwayine, Gidan Dadi and Karlahi communities after clashes that followed the killing of 47 cattle in the area.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Othman Abubakar, who confirmed the development to newsmen in Yola, said that four rifles belonging to the policemen were also missing. “Fulani militia attacked the three villages and we lost three of our gallant MOPOL while two are missing. “We have constituted a high powered search team and by the special grace of God we are going to recover our men.

“On the side of the civilians, two bodies have so far been recovered,” Othman said. The spokesman said that the police had succeeded in killing scores of the militias who where however able to escape with their dead ones. Abubakar said more policemen had been drafted to the affected areas. Gov. Muhammad Bindow had condemned the attack, which occurred less than 24-hours after a government delegation on peace building mission visited the area. The governor in a statement signed by the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, directed security agencies to deploy more personnel to the area. He described the attack as unfortunate and sad especially coming after recent peace and confidence building efforts. “The Governor feels highly disturbed that after he had sent delegations on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday to interface with the different communities in the area, a clash could occur so soon thereafter.” He assured residents of government’s resolve to restore peace to the affected areas and protect the lives of every citizen. Bindow saluted the gallantry of the police in confronting the attackers and urged them not to relent until normalcy is fully restored.