Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika
- 50 insurgents killed in Borno
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has found evidence of
atrocities allegedly committed by men of the Joint Task Force (JTF)
and Boko Haram in Baga, Borno State.
and Boko Haram in Baga, Borno State.
In an interim assessment report on the Baga incident of April 16 and
the situation in North-east, the commission warned that a humanitarian
crisis loomed in the area because it was no longer safe to go out and
farm in the area.
the situation in North-east, the commission warned that a humanitarian
crisis loomed in the area because it was no longer safe to go out and
farm in the area.
Clashes between the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and the
Islamic militant group in April had stirred a controversy following
dispute over the death toll and the extent of damage after the two
groups engaged in gun duels in Baga, Borno State.
Islamic militant group in April had stirred a controversy following
dispute over the death toll and the extent of damage after the two
groups engaged in gun duels in Baga, Borno State.
While some interest groups put the death toll at 187, the MNJTF
Commander, Brig-Gen. Austin Edokpayi’s account showed that 37 people,
comprising 30 Boko Haram members, one soldier and six civilians died.
Commander, Brig-Gen. Austin Edokpayi’s account showed that 37 people,
comprising 30 Boko Haram members, one soldier and six civilians died.
A report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW), released in May in
Johannesburg, South Africa, said its investigations showed that 183
people were killed, adding that its analysis of satellite images of
Baga, before and after the clash, showed that 2,275 buildings,
majority of which were likely residences, were razed by fire with
another 125 severely damaged.
Johannesburg, South Africa, said its investigations showed that 183
people were killed, adding that its analysis of satellite images of
Baga, before and after the clash, showed that 2,275 buildings,
majority of which were likely residences, were razed by fire with
another 125 severely damaged.
Also, the Senate in a report last week described the casualty figures
bandied around during incident as exaggerated.
bandied around during incident as exaggerated.
However, the NHRC in its interim report, a copy of which was obtained
at the weekend, established the fact that members of the Boko Haram
sect carried out multi-faceted attacks on law enforcement agents and
service personnel.
at the weekend, established the fact that members of the Boko Haram
sect carried out multi-faceted attacks on law enforcement agents and
service personnel.
The report came just as the military announced Sunday that it had
killed 50 insurgents in Borno during a gunfight at the weekend.
killed 50 insurgents in Borno during a gunfight at the weekend.
The report said: “In addition to systematic attacks on law enforcement
and internal security assets, JALISWAJ (Boko Haram) is also credibly
alleged to have attacked communities, churches and places of worship.
and internal security assets, JALISWAJ (Boko Haram) is also credibly
alleged to have attacked communities, churches and places of worship.
“Victims reported the shooting of family members by young men who
spoke the local Kanuri language. In many communities, women were
reportedly prevented from going to the farms to undertake planting.
Some who ventured were attacked or abducted.”
spoke the local Kanuri language. In many communities, women were
reportedly prevented from going to the farms to undertake planting.
Some who ventured were attacked or abducted.”
The commission said it found incidents of forced marriage perpetrated
by members of the sect and spoke with witnesses whose family members
were abducted and forced into marriage.
by members of the sect and spoke with witnesses whose family members
were abducted and forced into marriage.
On the part of the JTF, the commission added that it received several
credibly attested allegations of gross violations by officials of the
JTF, including allegations of summary executions, torture, arbitrary
detention amounting to internment and outrages against the dignity of
civilians, as well as rape.
credibly attested allegations of gross violations by officials of the
JTF, including allegations of summary executions, torture, arbitrary
detention amounting to internment and outrages against the dignity of
civilians, as well as rape.
The report said: “In particular, we have received persistent and
credibly attested allegations of indiscriminate disposal of dead human
remains by personnel of both JTF and the Borno State Environmental
Protection Agency (BOSEPA).”
credibly attested allegations of indiscriminate disposal of dead human
remains by personnel of both JTF and the Borno State Environmental
Protection Agency (BOSEPA).”
The report also stated that JTF allegedly detained people
indiscriminately and in violation of constitutionally guaranteed
rights.
indiscriminately and in violation of constitutionally guaranteed
rights.
“Detainees are allegedly held in un-gazetted places of detention, with
no or inadequate documentation and outside the safeguards provided for
under applicable laws, including the Constitution of Nigeria and the
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
no or inadequate documentation and outside the safeguards provided for
under applicable laws, including the Constitution of Nigeria and the
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
“They are not allowed access to family, counsel or medical personnel," it added.
It explained that most of the allegations against JTF related to the
question of proportionality of the use of force as well as the
standards applicable to the conduct of the armed forces in internal
security operations.
question of proportionality of the use of force as well as the
standards applicable to the conduct of the armed forces in internal
security operations.
Nevertheless, the commission urged the authorities to regularly
undertake rotation and renewal of the troops deployed in the
North-east to allow the troops have enough rest and recuperation.
undertake rotation and renewal of the troops deployed in the
North-east to allow the troops have enough rest and recuperation.
The report also noted that the farming communities of Borno State had
lost the 2013 planting season due to fear of Boko Haram attacks.
lost the 2013 planting season due to fear of Boko Haram attacks.
“The consequences of this are far-reaching. The immediate result is
the likelihood of a food security and nutritional crises in Borno and
surrounding states that are dependent on the agricultural output from
its Lake Chad Basin,” the report added.
the likelihood of a food security and nutritional crises in Borno and
surrounding states that are dependent on the agricultural output from
its Lake Chad Basin,” the report added.
It called on the federal government to urgently deploy mitigation
mechanism in order to avert a food crisis in the area.
mechanism in order to avert a food crisis in the area.
Already, the commission has established that the prices of foodstuffs
had gone up in many parts of the North-east.
had gone up in many parts of the North-east.
It also noted that since the introduction of a state of emergency in
Borno, Adamawa and Yola States, there had been a notable de-escalation
in Boko Haram activities in the affected states, particularly in
Borno.
Borno, Adamawa and Yola States, there had been a notable de-escalation
in Boko Haram activities in the affected states, particularly in
Borno.
Notwithstanding the reduction in terrorist attacks in Borno State,
about 50 suspected members of the outlawed sect were said to have been
killed during a confrontation at the weekend with the men of the JTF
in Borno, Operation Restore Order.
about 50 suspected members of the outlawed sect were said to have been
killed during a confrontation at the weekend with the men of the JTF
in Borno, Operation Restore Order.
The suspects were killed at Zabarmari ward, an outskirt of the
troubled town of Maiduguri metropolis.
troubled town of Maiduguri metropolis.
Zabarmari ward, a military source said, has been one of the identified
enclaves of the Islamist sect.
enclaves of the Islamist sect.
In another incident, members of Vigilance Youths Group, aka “Civilian
JTF” on Saturday at the Borno Express Motor Park, arrested three Boko
Haram suspects. They were intercepted while trying to travel to Jigawa
State to launch attacks.
JTF” on Saturday at the Borno Express Motor Park, arrested three Boko
Haram suspects. They were intercepted while trying to travel to Jigawa
State to launch attacks.
A top military officer told journalists that acting on intelligence
report, the task force moved to stop the terrorists before they could
launch a coordinated attack on Zabaramari ward in Jere Local
Government Area, a few kilometres from Maiduguri.
report, the task force moved to stop the terrorists before they could
launch a coordinated attack on Zabaramari ward in Jere Local
Government Area, a few kilometres from Maiduguri.
The source said: “We received an intelligence report that several
members of Boko Haram have regrouped and were residing and hiding in
this ward. We mobilised our troops to the area, and on reaching the
place, the suspects upon noticing our presence, began to chant:
‘Allahu Akbar,’ (God is Great) and started shooting sporadically at
us. We therefore had no option than to repel the attackers; we
succeeded in shooting dead 10 terrorists.
members of Boko Haram have regrouped and were residing and hiding in
this ward. We mobilised our troops to the area, and on reaching the
place, the suspects upon noticing our presence, began to chant:
‘Allahu Akbar,’ (God is Great) and started shooting sporadically at
us. We therefore had no option than to repel the attackers; we
succeeded in shooting dead 10 terrorists.
“We decided not to take away any of their corpses as we left them in
the area; but the following day, when we mobilised our men to the
area, we found out that hundreds of the terrorists were at one of the
graveyards burying their dead ones; and when we approached, some of
them started shooting at our troops, which led to the exchange of gun
fire for half an hour, that led to the killing of 40 of them.”
the area; but the following day, when we mobilised our men to the
area, we found out that hundreds of the terrorists were at one of the
graveyards burying their dead ones; and when we approached, some of
them started shooting at our troops, which led to the exchange of gun
fire for half an hour, that led to the killing of 40 of them.”
He told reporters in Maiduguri that as at yesterday, troops were still
in Zabarmari hunting for suspected terrorists.
in Zabarmari hunting for suspected terrorists.
On the arrested Boko Haram suspects embarking on a journey to Dutse,
Jigawa State, the JTF source said: “The men of the JTF are highly
delighted with the zeal/effort being put in by the vigilante youth
popularly called Civilian JTF. They were yesterday (Saturday) able to
arrest three Boko Haram suspects at the Borno Express Motor Park.
Jigawa State, the JTF source said: “The men of the JTF are highly
delighted with the zeal/effort being put in by the vigilante youth
popularly called Civilian JTF. They were yesterday (Saturday) able to
arrest three Boko Haram suspects at the Borno Express Motor Park.
“They later handed them over to the JTF local commander. But one of
them is now dead. The terrorists are from Bama Local Government Area
and they were going on a deadly mission to Jigawa and other states in
the north. In fact, the deceased before his death told us that already
all their weapons of massive destruction had been transported to the
targeted areas; waiting for their arrival.”
them is now dead. The terrorists are from Bama Local Government Area
and they were going on a deadly mission to Jigawa and other states in
the north. In fact, the deceased before his death told us that already
all their weapons of massive destruction had been transported to the
targeted areas; waiting for their arrival.”
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika,
has expressed delight that the unwholesome activities of Boko Haram
and other insurgent groups have helped to boost military innovation,
invention and overall transformation of the army into a force better
prepared to meet the contemporary security challenges.
has expressed delight that the unwholesome activities of Boko Haram
and other insurgent groups have helped to boost military innovation,
invention and overall transformation of the army into a force better
prepared to meet the contemporary security challenges.
He stated this Sunday at an interdenominational church service in
Abuja, which is part of activities marking the Nigerian Army Day
Celebration (NADCEL), 2013.
Abuja, which is part of activities marking the Nigerian Army Day
Celebration (NADCEL), 2013.
He said as part of the innovation, the army has come up with mobile
kitchens to be exhibited during the celebration, which would enable
them serve troops adequately and promptly.
kitchens to be exhibited during the celebration, which would enable
them serve troops adequately and promptly.
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