Anger as suicide bomber kills 47 schoolchildren

A   teenage   suicide bomber on Monday killed 47 schoolchildren and three teachers on   the assembly ground of the Government Comprehensive School in Potiskum, Yobe State.
At least 98 other students and teachers were   seriously injured in the incident which occurred hours after Northern governors called on President Goodluck Jonathan “to declare a total war and eliminate Boko Haram in our midst before the 2015 elections.”

Jonathan, who will on Tuesday(today) formally declare his intention to seek a re-election in 2015,     had shortly after the news of the schoolchildren’s killing, assured Nigerians that those behind the act would be apprehended.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the Monday attack, residents believe that the bomber must be a member of Boko Haram.
A bomber had last week attacked a procession of Shiite movement in the town, killing   over 30 persons.

Our correspondents gathered that the teenager bomber beat the school’s security   and joined the students and teachers who were about to have their prayer before detonating explosives strewn to his body at about 7.45am.
An eyewitness who did not want his name in print said that the bodies of “about   50, including three teachers, that died due to the attack were scattered on the assembly ground.
He added, “We heard a loud bang and since then the area was cordoned off but ambulances were seen going into the school to pick corpses and take the injured to the hospital.
“Both members of staff and students who were not hurt wept profusely as they struggled to rush the wounded to the hospital.

“Potiskum has been in pandemonium since 7. 45am as a result of the attack on the school. I can tell you that all schools in the town have been closed now as parents have gone to pick up their children. There is wailing everywhere, especially around the school where the incident happened.”
The state government and the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, however put the number of the students and teachers that died at 35 and 47 respectively.
Ojukwu confirmed that the bomber wore the school’s uniform and mingled with the students   before detonating “some improvised explosive devices.”
Ojukwu said, “The male suicide bomber was dressed as a student and he was able to enter the school and join the students on the assembly ground where he detonated the IEDs on him. The blast killed 47 students and teachers and injured 98 others. We have secured other schools around the area and investigation has commenced.”
He explained that the bodies of the dead victims were deposited at the General Hospital mortuary close to the school.

Gov. Gaidam closes schools, asks for emergency rule’s scorecard
The state Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, who said the attack had left him heartbroken, closed all public schools in the town pending improved security situation.
He added that he lacked enough words to describe the incident, but challenged Jonathan to come out and explain to all Nigerians, especially those from   the North-East   what had been achieved through   emergency rule in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states.
The governor, in a statement by his spokesman, Abdullahi Bego, said, “This (Monday) morning, our state woke up to a very sad and heart-breaking news of a bomb attack on our young students at the Government Comprehensive School, Potiskum in which no fewer than 35 students were killed and many more injured.

“The governor has noted that this is the fifth time in a little over one year when schools in Yobe State were   attacked and students killed.
“He deeply regrets that all of these dastardly attacks took place under a climate of emergency rule declared in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states by President Jonathan.
“In theory, the emergency rule declaration was a signal that more vigorous steps would be taken to protect lives and property   in the affected states and   restore peace and security. Unfortunately, these have not been fully the case. Instead of forcing insurgents and criminals to flee; the insurgents are forcing innocent people to flee and making life miserable for everyone.

“Governor Gaidam believes that President   Jonathan has a very urgent responsibility to explain to the people of Yobe State and people all across the affected states why murderous and callous insurgent and criminal attacks are still on the rise despite the state of emergency.
“The governor also insists that it was not just enough for the Federal Government to condemn the almost daily rounds of violence. He believes urgent action must be taken right now to restore a fast waning public confidence by doing whatever it takes to stop the escalating violence.
“He has ordered for the immediate closure of all public schools around the Potiskum area until a full review of the situation is undertaken.”

The governor however called on all people   to exercise restraint and continue to pray for the intervention of   Allah.
The governor directed hospital authorities in Potiskum, Nguru and Azare to provide immediate medical support to victims of the   attack free of charge.
Perpetrators’ll be brought to justice –Jonathan

Jonathan on Monday promised that no matter how long it would take, his administration would ensure that all those responsible for the   killings were brought to justice.
He said the same fate awaited all those behind continuing acts of terrorism across the country.
Jonathan said this in a statement made available to journalists by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.
He extended his commiseration to the government and people of Yobe State on the death of the students.

He also sympathised with all parents who lost their children and wards in the attack.
The statement read in part, “The President condemns the dastardly murder of the students on their school’s assembly ground as they prepared to begin another week of study in pursuit of a better life for themselves and their families.
“He assures the grieving parents and people of Yobe State that no matter how long it takes, the Federal Government will ensure that all those responsible for the senseless murder of so many promising youngsters and the continuing acts of terrorism across the country are brought to justice and made to pay for their atrocious crimes.

“The President similarly assures all Nigerians that in spite of seeming setbacks, his administration remains fully committed to winning the war against insurgency and terrorism.
“Nigeria, President Jonathan affirms, will ultimately overcome the current security challenges imposed by domestic terrorists and their foreign allies, with the dedication of its Armed Forces and national security agencies, as well as the continued support and cooperation of all patriotic citizens.”
Jonathan had before the statement during the inauguration of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation secretariat in Kaduna   said his administration remained resolute in the protection of lives and property of Nigerians .

The President, represented by the Minister for Special Duties and the supervising Minister of Labour, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, said the issue of security was a collective responsibility and not of security agents alone.
According to him, his administration would   faithfully continue the war against terrorists in the country.
The President, who extolled the virtue of the late Premier of the defunct Northern Region,   Ahmadu Bello,   also said that his   government was still disposed to dialogue with Boko Haram.
He however noted that for those   not prepared for dialogue, the Nigerian Army had the capacity to overrun them.

Northern govs want total war against Boko Haram
The Chairman of the Northern State Governors’ Forum,   Babangida Aliyu, who attended the event, said unless the Federal Government declared a total war against Boko Haram, its members might overrun the North.
Aliyu said the NSGF   would support the Jonathan-led government on a total war against the insurgents.
He argued that since the Boko Haram members “were no longer terrorists but rebels,”   the Federal Government must wage a total war against them.
Aliyu lamented that the activities of the sect had dealt a deadly blow to the socio-economic life of the region.

He said, ‘‘Our job is complicated by the present predicaments in the country – Boko Haram, insecurity and abject poverty, among others.
“We must, as leaders, all come together on bipartisan or non-partisan basis to encourage Mr. President and the Federal Government to declare total war and eliminate Boko Haram in our midst before the 2015 elections.

“They are no more terrorists but rebels, who have declared war against their country and have acquired illegal territories. We must therefore crush them.”
Atiku, Mark, Saraki outraged
A former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, Senate President David Mark and a former Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki, condemned the killings and called for a concerted effort to wipe out Boko Haram.

Atiku said in a statement by his media office in Abuja   that the latest bombing   once again underscored the need for the government at all levels and “our elders and opinion leaders   to find a permanent solution to the insurgency which has ravaged our country for the past five years.”
He said, “One expects that knowing the anti-education mindset of the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, the relevant authorities should have done their bit to ensure that at least, our educational institutions are provided with additional security.”
Mark,   in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary,   Paul Mumeh, expressed regret over the incident and commiserated with the government and people of Yobe State, especially the bereaved parents over the sad development.
He asked the members and sponsors of the “barbaric, senseless, and inhuman attack ” to stop it in the interest of peace and unity.

Mark said, “The war on Nigerians by terrorists without boundaries where men, women, children and even the unborn are victims speaks volumes of the agenda of the terrorists.
“What is the offence of these innocent children? Even in warfare, there are boundaries. Even when enemies are known, women and children are usually spared, talk less of schoolchildren.
“No matter the level of anger, it cannot be endless. Enough is enough. We must remember that no evil done to man by man would go unpunished , if not by man , certainly by the Almighty.
“We cannot continue this way. It is not a way of life. It is time for a ceasefire. What do we achieve by ceaseless killings. How can we suddenly forget our brotherhood?”

Mark, therefore, called on   security operatives to step up action against the terrorists stressing that, “with increase intelligence and surveillance , a lot could be achieved.”
Also, Saraki lamented the killing and asked Jonathan to end the insurgency in the North-East.
Saraki, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology,   noted that Boko Haram had by its action shown that it was bent on destroying the unity of Nigeria.

He said, “In this regard, as we battle this scourge, and unite around those affected by today’s attacks and all victims of this scourge, we must demand that President Jonathan take all necessary action to end Boko Haram’s menace once and for all, instead of using security forces to intimidate perceived opponents.
“My heart goes out to the families of the students affected by the bomb blast on an assembly ground in Yobe State this morning.

“These children are the future of Nigeria, and again we have witnessed the fact that by attacking the young and innocent in our society, Boko Haram is seeking to break our united Nigerian spirit through their evil and cowardly acts. This shall not stand.”
He regretted that Boko Haram had in the past few weeks, “rampaged through the North-East, going as far as being audacious enough to tempt our sovereignty by hoisting   a dark flag to signify conquest.”Source: Punch

TRAFFICKING: UK COURT CONVICTS NIGERIAN COUPLE

A jury at Cardiff Crown Court, United Kingdom, has found guilty a Nigerian woman of people trafficking after she forced two Nigerian women into prostitution by making them eat snakes in an African black magic ceremony. The 24-year-old convict, Lizzy Idahosa, and her husband, Jackson Omoruyi, 41, made more than £70,000 out of the women, who were terrified with voodoo and made to see a witchdoctor for a sinister ‘juju’ ceremony.
Both are now facing jail after Idahosa was convicted of trafficking the women, inciting them to become prostitutes and transferring criminal property, while Omoruyi was found guilty of money laundering.

During the couple’s trial at Cardiff Crown Court, according to MailOnline, the jury was told that the two victims, aged 23 and 29, had their pubic hair shaved and forced to eat live snakes and snails as part of the ritual, and then flown to Britain in the belief that they were going to find a better life. However, when they arrived in the UK they were put to work as prostitutes, working in brothels at massage parlours across England and Wales.

They were told they had to give all the money they earned to Idahosa, and believed the black magic curses would make them go insane or die if they refused. “The couple were involved in the exploitation of two women brought into the UK from Nigeria to work as prostitutes,” said Caroline Rees, prosecuting, during the trial. “They were bound to this by something called a juju ritual. It was a ceremonial ritual used to full effect to terrify both women into doing what was demanded of them. “It was used to ensure compliance, secrecy, and they believed if they broke the bond dire consequences would follow: illness, madness, infertility or death.

“They genuinely believed the powers would work,” Rees added. The offences came to light after police arrested a 23-year-old Nigerian woman at the Ambassador Suite brothel in Cardiff, in June 2013. She told officers she had been living rough in Nigeria after her mother died and had wanted to travel to the UK to find her father. She had then met a woman, claiming to be Idahosa’s sister, who promised to make arrangements for her to travel to London, and as part of the agreement had to take part in the ceremony. “She did not know what was expected of her,” said Rees, who said the woman had been able to pass through immigration at Heathrow. “She was taken to premises full of women dressed in their underwear.

There was no explanation as to what was going on but it soon became clear,” she said. The woman started to work as a prostitute and was forced to have sexual intercourse with seven or eight men every day, working in brothels across the UK, including in Cardiff and Swansea. When interviewed, she claimed she had given Idahosa £45,000.
Source: New Telegraph

Military Plans 'Operation No Mercy' against Boko Haram

Piqued by the recent setbacks in its battle against Boko Haram terrorists, especially with the loss of Mubi and other towns in the North-east, the Nigerian military has launched "Operation No Mercy" to deal with the marauding terrorists.

The military, THISDAY gathered, would be more decisive and unsparing in their approach at dealing with the Boko Haram menace to restore the country's territorial integrity.

According to an intelligence source, the military will launch an all-out operation against the insurgents and other criminal elements, including those aiding and abetting them.

Citing how the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, was maligned for his aggressive approach to combating insurgency, which was effective, the source explained that the constant intervention from the political class, as well as barrage of criticisms from the Amnesty International and other human rights groups, had been impacting negatively on the military operations.

However, the source revealed that with the recent gains made by insurgents in the North-east, the military was launching "Operation No Mercy" to reclaim occupied territories.

"They have already started, meaning that the moment you are being suspected and later confirmed of being a terrorist or their sponsors you are gone,” said the source, adding,  “you cannot harbour criminals, terrorists that harm the country and expect the military to spare you.”

The intelligence personnel, who did not want to be named, noted: "All these political solutions and ceasefire could have worked if we are dealing with people who are sensible but government has now come to realise that our military need to do their job. These terrorists don’t understand the language of negotiation.

"They could have allowed Gen. Ihejirika and the military then to do what they had to do and we wouldn't have been in this situation today.

"Now what we have is a situation whereby the military is afraid of what the international community will do, what human rights groups championed by Amnesty International will say and the reaction of our political class that has been in the habit of criticising and harassing the armed forces, so-called leaders who will wake up and start criticising the operations for no good reason. The moment we do away with sentiments we will begin to see result.”

Also speaking, a senior military officer assured that the military was determined to dislodge the terrorists who have captured many territories in the North-east, including Vintim, the hometown of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

The officer also allayed fears that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) may not be relevant in what is likely to be an urban combat with Boko Haram to avoid high collateral damages and civilian casualties should the terrorists use them as human shield.

"Air force will still continue to carry out the operation in conjunction with the ground forces. One thing you should know is that the air force does not just enter into any battle or warfare. There are always coordinates from the ground and in this case, they will be directed to bomb or destroy concentration of terrorists.

“Again, people say that Boko Haram has captured territories like Mubi. That is not completely true because it is not as if they have occupied every part of the town, even though their presence is being felt.”

A soldier involved in the combat operations in the North-east told THISDAY how the insurgents used military vehicles and uniforms to deceive the soldiers before opening fire suddenly and causing so many fatalities.

"They wore military uniforms to camouflage and before you know it they started firing suddenly,” he said. “These people use our military vehicles and uniforms and pass through the checkpoints to deceive us.

“We have asked the authorities to either maintain a strictly controlled camo or change to an entirely new one but what you have is array of camos being allowed with some using desert, trees, and bomb camo. That is the problem we have had and have been pressing them to stick to one.”

Speaking on the role of the air force in the impending onslaught, the military personnel said; “They (air force) have gone for Alpha Jets and F-7's. Even though they may not use air power to attack built up areas it would be useful in scaring and picking out the terrorists.

"Mainly the urban warfare is the work of the striker and counter-terrorist force. We intend to surround the towns but what we have in our hands now is urban warfare. We will cut off the different routes that the terrorists might want to escape from while our strike force take them on inside. We are going to strike them down."

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army on Saturday released another 125 persons who were suspected of having links with the Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram. This followed the earlier release of 42 persons who were investigated and found to be having no link with the fundamentalist group. The 42 persons were released on Thursday to Governor Kashim Shettima.

Handling over the new set of 125 persons to the governor, the spokesman of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Col. Sani Usman said 254 persons were intercepted fleeing from the state after attack on Boko Haram strongholds in September.

He said the arrest was made in Biu on September 23 and after proper investigation 125 men now handed to the governor were found to have no link with Boko Haram. He however said those who have been investigated and found wanting would be prosecuted in the court of law

Source: Thisday

Female suicide bomber kills Bauchi’s First Bank customers

A female suicide bomber yesterday morning, at about 10 am, bombed bank customers at the First Bank, Azare, Bauchi State while banking transactions were going on, killing seven and injuring 10.
A resident of Azare town who spoke on the condition of anonymity said most of the victims were workers who were in the bank to withdraw their salaries.

Reuters however reported that nine people died from the explosion.
The suicide bomber, it was learnt concealed the Improvised Explosive Device, IED, in her hijab and joined the bank customers on a queue to make withdrawals from one of the bank’s ATMs centres before the bomb exploded.
The Information and Communications Officer, at the Federal Medical Centre, Azare, Mallam Dahiru Haruna Shira, confirmed the incident on the telephone with newsmen adding that both the injured and the dead were brought to the hospital.

However, the Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Azare, Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim,  said at the hospital that 14 dead bodies and 37 injured persons were brought to the hospital.
Ibrahim also said 16 other victims were still on admission, while others were referred to Malam Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital, Kano because the victims had brain injuries.
Two women were among those who died, and most of the people are from within Azare, while others are from Shira and Giade, he said.

The First Bank building where the suicide bombing took place had all its glass windows shattered. All banks in the town have been closed down and banking services suspended.
Another bank staff who spoke on the issue said about 20 persons died while another said that the woman who carried out the attack had her body cut into two even as her head was found across the road near a suya spot, adding that a student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who was in the bank to make withdrawals when the incident that killed her occurred.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in Bauchi State, DSP Haruna Mohammed, also confirmed the bank attack by a suspected Boko Haram female suicide bomber, pointing out that  seven persons died while another 10 sustained various degrees of injuries.
“On the 7/11/2014 at about 10:05hrs,there was a bomb explosion suspected to have been carried out by a female suicide bomber at First Bank premises in Azare Town, Bauchi State,” he said, adding that the, “scene of incident was visited by the Commissioner of Police for an on the spot assessment and to commiserate with victims.”

According to him, “The entire surrounding have been cordoned off and swept by Police Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit, E.O.D,” even as “four suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident and they are assisting the police with useful information that could aid investigation.’’
Source: Vanguard

POLICE ARREST ANOTHER LAGOS DPO FOR RAPE

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Oladipo Afolayan, for allegedly raping a woman in his office.
The development comes a few months after another Lagos DPO, Mr. Adekunle Awe, was arrested for allegedly raping a woman, Idowu Akinwunmi, in his office at the Onikan Police Division.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Afolayan, who is a Superintendent of Police, had only been recently posted to the Magodo Police Post when the incident allegedly occurred.
It was learnt that the woman he allegedly raped was a suspect in an ongoing investigation.
It was gathered that following a report by the victim, Afolayan was arrested and brought before the Commissioner of Police, Cornelius Aderanti.
Aderanti was said to have also reported the matter to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Command, Mr. Umar Manko.

Our correspondent learnt that the matter was transferred to the X Squad, a department at the state command which is in charge of investigating police crimes and misdemeanours.
When our correspondent visited the Magodo Police Post on Thursday, policemen on duty refused to comment on the matter.

It was, however, learnt that after taking his statement, the X Squad transferred the DPO and the case file to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
When contacted on the telephone, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed that the police were investigating the matter, adding that the senior police officer would be made to face the law if found culpable.

He said, “Yes, we are investigating an allegation like that. As a result of the sensitivity of the matter, it would be too soon to come to a conclusion. The stance of the Commissioner of Police is not to condone any act of indiscipline whether from the public or from our men.

“Therefore, when investigations are concluded, and the officer is found culpable, he will be made to dance to the tune of the law, and if it is found otherwise, he will be cleared. The press will be invited and briefed once investigations are concluded.”
Source: Punch

Boko Haram stole dynamites from Ashaka cement –Residents

Residents of Ashaka, the factory site of the popular Ashaka Cement Plc, in Gombe State, revealed that the suspected Boko Haram terrorists group, who carried out a deadly operation on the village on Tuesday, went away with dynamites fully loaded in eight Toyota Hilux Vehicles.
The terrorist group had on Tuesday launched attacks on the border towns of Nafada and Ashaka in Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe State as well as Ngalda and Fika towns in Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State.

The attacks claimed scores of lives in both Nafada and Fika, in Gombe and Yobe states, respectively.
Some Ashaka residents said that the insurgents after taken control of the company and the town, gathered the residents together and preached their strange brand of Islamic ideology to them.
They also promised the people that they were not in the area to hurt anyone.
“Yes, the group came here without killing anybody but they went away with eight Toyota Hilux belonging to Ashaka Cement Plc which they fully loaded with dynamites taken from the production site of the company after preaching their beliefs to the residents,” a resident said.
He added that the Hilux vehicles were the property of the company.

Also, a security source, who did not want to be mentioned, told journalists on Wednesday that seven travellers along the Gombe-Potiskum highway were killed around Fika town by the insurgents.
He said that the killing of the seven came moments after a popular religious cleric and three of his apprentices were killed in Nafada on the Gombe/Yobe border.
The Police Public Relations Officer Gombe Command, Mr. Fwaje Atajiri, who confirmed the raid of the area, said the unknown gunmen torched the police station, the local government and the Peoples Democratic Party’s secretariats in Nafada town.
Atajiri said that their efforts to enter Bajoga the headquarters of Funakaye Local Government Area were repelled by security forces.

He also said the security operatives were not aware that dynamites were taken away by the insurgents, but revealed that the command had commenced investigations into the attack, promising to address the media on the situation at a later day.
He however confirmed that a cleric and three others were killed in Nafada while a police man who was wounded during the raid had been taken to an undisclosed hospital in the state for treatment.
“I can confirm the attack on the two Local Government Areas of the state. The number of casualty is four while a police man was injured during the attack and he is being treated. Our team of investigators have commenced inquiry on the attack and I can assure you the media will be adequately briefed as things unfold,” the PPRO told journalists.

But the management of the cement company on Wednesday announced that normalcy had returned to the Ashakacem plant after insurgents entered the plant on Tuesday afternoon.
The cement firm in a statement issued by the Country Communications Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, Viola Graham-Douglas, said, “Ashakacem, which is located in Gombe State in the northeastern region of Nigeria, was the target of an intrusion by people who were strangers to the plant. However, the situation has now stabilised and there is no report of any injury to employees or damage to the plant.”

Ashaka is located in Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Tuesday’s attack of Ashaka by the insurgents is the second, as the dreaded sect members had carried out an attack on some financial institutions in the town in 2012.
Meanwhile, the International Committee on Red Cross has lamented difficult conditions of 50,000 Nigerians, who were displaced by the Boko Haram’s attacks.

The ICRC,   in a statement on its website on Wednesday , said the committee had launched an emergency operation after assessing conditions of the displaced people.
In the statement, the Head of its delegation in Nigeria, Karl Mattali, said that the Nigerian Red Cross Society had completed the distribution of food and household essentials “to over 50,000 people living in extremely difficult conditions.”
Source: Punch