Nigeria's Mission to Free Boko Haram's Hostages

Nigerian troops have freed hundreds of hostages held by the militant Islamist group Boko Haram in recent counter-terrorism efforts in Nigeria's northeast.
In a press statement released yesterday, by army Public Relations Director Sani Usman, the Nigerian military is aimed at driving out terrorists and rescuing their captives. About 829 people were freed last week.

He said, the army rescued 520 people in the village of Kusumma, and 309 others from 11 other villages. Troops have also rescued 72 people held captive in northeast villages in two “clearance operations,” He added that the Boko Haram sect still holds an unknown number of hostages they are still trying to rescue.
Usman said of one of last week’s missions.

“The gallant troops cleared the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists hibernating in Kala Balge general area,”

He added that Nigerian soldiers also destroyed a terrorist training camp, warehouse, and factory in Tilem village. Twenty-nine insurgents were killed and that troops recovered weapons from Boko Haram hiding spots in the operations that freed 72 people.


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Nigerian Security Agents Arrest Boko Haram’s Top Gun Albarnawi In Kogi

The security operatives on Friday made a major breakthrough in the intensified campaign against the Boko Haram insurgency by arresting the leader of the Ansaru Islamic Sect, Khalid Albarnawi.

The Acting Director Defence information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, confirmed the arrest of the top wanted terror suspect to one of our correspondents on the telephone on Saturday.
Abubakar said that Albanarwi was second in command to Abubakar Shekau in the hierarchy of the dreaded Boko Haram Sect.
He attributed the arrest of Albarnawi to effective collaborative efforts among the various security agencies in the country.
The Acting Defence Spokesman said that with the arrest of the top leader of Ansaru, regarded as Shekau’s second in command, the days of the Boko Haram Sect were numbered.
According to him, the arrested terror suspect was cooperating with security operatives in the area of volunteering information.
However, Abubakar was not specific about which of the security agencies were in custody of the top terror suspect.
He called on Nigerians to cooperate with the security agencies in the ongoing onslaught on the Boko Haram by volunteering necessary information and intelligence to them.
He said, “I can confirm that he (Albarnawi) is in custody. It is a product of the existing synergy among the security agencies which led to this breakthrough in the war on terror.
“Nigerians should assist the security agencies with relevant information and intelligence, I can say that the days of Boko Haram are numbered.
“We have just confirmed that he has been nabbed and he is with the relevant agencies and as time goes, people would know how this kind of person was nabbed and it is due to the synergy existing among the security agencies.
“He has been arrested and he is with the relevant agencies and he is cooperating with giving information.
“He is the second-in-command as far as the Boko Haram hierarchy is concerned. So their days are numbered by the grace of God.”
An online portal, the Cable, had quoted Ahmad Salkida, a journalist, known for his access to some of the leaders of the Boko Haram has having said that Albarnawi was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services in Lokoja and moved to Abuja on Friday.
The Ansaru leader, Albarnawi, who reportedly trained in the North African country of Algeria is believed to be highly  influential in the nation’s terror network.
Ansaru which was formed as a splinter group of the Boko Haram in January 26, 2012 and it claimed responsibility for the November 2012 attack on the Special Anti Robbery Squad Headquarters, Abuja.
Several top commanders of the Boko Haram were released in the attack which was praised in a YouTube video by Shakau’s in a message to  the ‘Soldiers of God in the Islamic State of Mali.’
Also, in the early hours of January 19, 2013, Ansaru attacked a convoy of Mali-bound Nigerian soldiers numbering 180 from the Second Mechanized Division, Ibadan, Oyo state, killing three soldiers among others.
On June 21, 2013, the United States Department of State had declared the leader of the Boko Haram Sect, Abubakar Shekau, and two of his lieutenants Abubakar Adam Kambar and Khalid al-Barnawi as ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorists’ under Section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224.
The State Department had said then that ‘Shekau is the most visible leader of Boko Haram based in northern Nigeria, Khalid al-Barnawi and Abubakar Adam Kambar, have ties to Boko Haram abs have close links to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.’

Suspected Bomber With Claims To Chibok Receives Treatment In Cameroon

Cameroonian health and security officials on Monday started the treatment of an arrested suicide bomber who claimed to be one of the 219 missing Chibok Girls.

The girl was found to be heavily drugged and bore several injuries on her body.
The girl’s health condition had delayed her movement to the far north regional capital of Cameroon, Maroua, as earlier planned.
Pictures of the arrested suspected bomber obtained by Nigerian officials indicated that the girl was likely a minor, between ages nine to 12 years.
Her accomplice was about 30 years or more, and both spoke only in Kanuri language.
Considering the well-known guidelines regarding the publication of photography of minors, we have decided to forward the pictures of the suspected bomber to the Murtala Mohammed Foundation for verification by interested Chibok community stakeholders.
The Ministry of Women Affairs, the Nigerian High Commission in Cameroon and other agencies of government will continue to work together with other stakeholders to verify all the issues.



Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media and Publicity)
March 28, 2016

Photos: Nigerian army intercepts two female suicide bombers in Borno State

The ever alert and vigilant troops of 7 Division Garrison based in Maiduguri, in conjunction with Civilian JTF averted yet another suicide attack on the innocent citizens in Borno State today.


The troops intercepted 2 female suicide bombers at about 1.20am this morning, almost 100 metres south of Umurari village, outskirts of Maiduguri.
However, one of the suicide bombers on sighting own troops detonated her explosive device, killing herself instantly, while the second bomber in an attempt to escape was gunned down by one of the Garrison snipers.

The combined team of Nigeria Police and Nigerian Army’s Explosive Ordinance Device team safely detonated the unexploded Improvised Explosive Devices strapped on the gunned down suicide bomber.

It is important to state that there was no casualty beyond the two suicide bombers. Presently, the troops and the Civilian JTF deployed in the village are now combing the general area to forestall further breach of security.
The situation in the area is calm and law abiding citizens are going about their normal activities without fear.

More photos

 

Defence Headquarters Dismisses New Boko Haram Video

 

The Defence Headquarters has advised the public to dismiss an online video said to have been released by Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.


According to the BBC, Shekau had reportedly released a video purportedly showing remorse over the insurgency in the northeast of Nigeria.

But the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in a statement says the Nigerian Armed Forces will continue with its operations against insurgents in the north-east in spite of the purported Boko Haram video.

The DHQ also stated via its Tweeter handle, “The video clips by Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, should be disregarded as it could be another antic of the terrorists.

“Members of the public should not be carried away by the video clips, and be security conscious at all times during Easter celebration and beyond.”

Troops Kill 19 Boko Haram Militants, Rescue 67 Hostages

Troops from Nigeria’s 22 Brigade Garrison killed 19 Boko Haram terrorists in Dalore on Sunday.

 

Nigerian troops
They also rescued 67 hostages, who are undergoing screening at the Internally Displaced Persons camp in Dikwa.


The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said that during the operation, the troops captured 2 AK-47 Rifles, 1 Small Machine Gun and a hand grenade. They also recovered four pickup vehicles.


“Unfortunately, during the operation, the troops' Mine Resistant Anti-Personnel (MRAP) vehicle ran into an Improvised Explosive Device and [suffered] a damaged tyre,” he noted.

Troops Kill Suspected Boko Haram Suicide Bomber

 

Troops of 25 Task Force Brigade ambushed and killed a Boko Haram terrorist suicide bomber at Kumala and Musafanari villages’ general area.


According to the army, the operation which took place on Saturday led to the saving of lives and property of some residents of the area.


A military spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman, said the troops, after receiving a tipoff, laid an ambush for the terrorist at suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ crossing point, engaged the terrorist who was obviously on suicide mission, from Sambisa general area.


“The suicide bomber paid the price of his wicked activities as he was dealt with decisively.

“The troops recovered a motorcycle, 12 primed Improvised Explosive Devices and a hand bag containing personal effects which included a hijab obviously meant for disguise and concealment of explosives for the intended nefarious act,” he said.

The army spokesman further reassured Nigerians that the morale of the troops had remained high, as they continue to mop up all surviving terrorists.

Nigerian Army Clears Out Boko Haram Camps, Arrest Logistics Officer

The 7th Army Division has cleared Boko Haram camps killing several terrorists in the last two days, according to the Army spokesman SK Usman. He stated in a press release that in the duration of their operations vehicles, weapons, and other equipment were recovered.

According to Mr. Usman, “the troops of 151 Task Force Battalion have cleared terrorists hideouts in Izza and 8 surrounding other villages. Similarly, troops of 121 Task Force Battalion deployed at Pulka came under attack from suspected Boko Haram terrorists fanning out of Sambisa forest to escape sustained aerial bombardment by the Nigerian Air Force pilots.”
Mr. Usman also noted that the 7th Division Garrison, in cooperation with the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), arrested Ashiru Zamari a suspected logistic officer for the terrorist organization.
Mr. Zamari “has been handed over to the Joint Intelligence Processing Center,” according to Mr. Usman.
The 81st Battalion also “laid an ambush for Boko Haram terrorists at suspected Boko Haram terrorists crossing point from Sambisa forest  near Komala and Musafanari villages,” according to him.
This is the second notable Boko Haram leader to be in military custody in recent days. Abubakar Kime voluntarily turned himself in to military and Civilian JTF in Benisheikh, Borno State according to Mr. Usman.