News

Boko Haram Insurgents Run Out Of Supplies …As Nigeria Troops Advance

Published

13 years ago

May 20, 2013

Nigerian soldiers have blocked roads out of Borno State to deprive Boko Haram fighters of supplies in remote towns they control, the army has said.
The military said yesterday that its offensive against the group, which followed a declaration of a state of emergency in three Borno, Yobe, Adamawa states, was aimed at re-establishing Nigeria’s “territorial integrity”.
The assault on Boko Haram, which has said it wants to create an Islamic state, included air strikes on strongholds in remote parts of northeastern Borno State, and has spread to the state capital Maiduguri, the fighters’ traditional home base.
Residents said yesterday the base had been blockaded.
“There is a huge build-up of trucks loaded with essential commodities… along the Baga road on the way out of Maiduguri to the northern part of the state,” said Ibrahim Yahaya.
“The drivers said they have been prevented by the military from going northward,” he told a news agency by email.
The phone network in Borno has all but collapsed since President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday declared a state of emergency there and in two neighbouring states, Adamawa and Yobe.
Chris Olukolade, a defence spokesman, said in a statement on Saturday that fighters on the run were scrambling for key supplies like fuel. He urged residents to report anyone trying to buy large quantities of fuel.
The supply shortage has begun to bite in the town of Gomboru Ngala, on the border with Cameroon, where some Borno residents have fled to escape the air raids.
“Trucks bringing in goods from Maiduguri have ceased since last week,” said resident Grema Babagoni. He said the supply shortage has pushed prices up by as much as 25 per cent.
“If the blockade continues for some time, we may completely run out of supplies,” he said.
On Saturday, the army declared a 24-hour curfew in a dozen neighbourhoods of Maiduguri, Boko Haram’s stronghold.
The curfew in the main city in Borno State came as soldiers continued the government’s emergency campaign against fighters in the region.
A defence spokesman also said the military had seized stockpiles of weapons including rocket-propelled grenades, guns and ammunition from areas around Maiduguri.
Boko Haram has carried out scores of attacks in recent years, and has become emboldened and better armed in recent months.
Meanwhile, following the declaration of a state of emergency in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states, some members of the fundamentalist Boko Haram sect have started fleeing to neighbouring Gombe, Bauchi and Jigawa states, our correspondent reports.
President Goodluck Jonathan placed the three states under emergency rule following unabated bloodbath and bomb attacks which have left hundreds of people and security officials dead.
Security sources confided in our correspondents on Friday that following the increased pressure by the military, some of the insurgents have started sneaking out of the states.
A top military official who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter said, “All the states are under intense military surveillance and we are ensuring that no one sneaks out but the insurgents have some secret routes which we are going to block. They will use these secret routes to sneak out because of the heat on them. Ordinarily, they will want to protect their wives, children and the weak among them.”
One of the soldiers deployed in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, also told one of our correspondents that some of the insurgents are fleeing the state to neighbouring ones.
The solider who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter said, “We have reports that they are running away to neigbouring states and even neighbouring countries. We are doing our best to ensure that all escape routes are blocked.”
According to the soldier, several residents of Gamboru, Ngala, and Marte, where the sect hoisted its flags are fleeing the area because of heavy military operation.
“The military should use a lot of tactics to freeze the bad guys (Boko Haram). The essence of conducting the military operation in the North-East is to flush out or capture the Boko Haram elements. If they get away, then the purpose of the exercise is defeated.”
He added that members of the sect might wear military uniforms to disguise as they were becoming more adaptive. According to him, it would become difficult to differentiate between a genuine military officer and a Boko Haram member in military uniform.
In a related development, members of Boko Haram and other extremist groups in Nigeria, could face war crimes charges for deliberate acts leading to ethnic and religious cleansing, the UN has said.
Rupert Colvile, the spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said this in a statement made available at the UN Head quarters in New York on Friday.
He reiterated calls on Boko Haram and other extremist groups in Nigeria to cease their “cowardly attacks” against civilians, members of government institutions, security forces and foreign nationals.
“The High Commissioner noted that members of Boko Haram, if judged to have committed systematic attacks against a civilian population on grounds such as religion or ethnicity could be found guilty of crimes against humanity.
“Deliberate acts leading to population ‘cleansing’ on grounds of religion or ethnicity could also amount to a crime against humanity,” Colville stressed.
In recent weeks, more than 220 people have been killed in violent clashes between military forces and the Islamist group, Boko Haram.
OHCHR has urged the Nigerian government to abide by human rights principles during security patrols.
The rights body also said it was concerned about the large number of casualties, reportedly including many civilians, and massive destruction of houses and property.
Colville urged the government to ensure that international human rights law was respected during its emergency operations.
Similarly the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon had said he remained very concerned about the ongoing instability in the country.
He underscored the need for all concerned to fully respect human rights and to safeguard the lives of all
Nigerians.
“Part of the measures to succeed in the task had led us to getting into partnership with the American government to procure advanced surveillance equipment for better border security. The illegal immigrants were sent out of the country by the appropriate authorities under the ministry.”
In a related development, Amnesty International has called on security forces to adhere to international human rights standards and the rule of law.
It said it would continue to document human rights abuses by the security forces and Boko Haram, and the dire situation of the people trapped in the middle.
“Unfortunately, at the moment in Nigeria we have a situation where the military are behaving like they are above the law – like they don’t have to respect the rule of law. So, in some respects, the issue is not so much which law the military are operating under, although it is vitally important that the law complies with international human rights law and standards.”

News

Navy, Army Intercept 8,500 Litres Of Illegal Petroleum Products

Published

16 minutes ago

August 24, 2026

The Tide

The Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, has intercepted two vehicles conveying about 8,500 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined petroleum products along the Ejemekuru–Obudi-Agwa axis of Imo State.

The operation, conducted on August 21, 2026, by personnel of Naval Base Oguta and the Nigerian Army, also led to the arrest of three suspects.

Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement.

According to him, the personnel intercepted a tipper truck and a Toyota Hiace bus carrying about 150 bags of suspected illegally refined petroleum products.

“Three suspects were arrested during the operation, while some occupants of the second vehicle fled, abandoning the vehicle,” he said.

Folorunsho said the arrested suspects, vehicles and recovered products were subsequently taken into custody for further investigation and necessary action in accordance with established procedures.

He said the interception underscored the effectiveness of sustained inter-service cooperation and intelligence-led security operations in disrupting the illegal movement of petroleum products and denying criminal elements the opportunity to exploit established routes for economic crimes.

The Nigerian Navy, he added, remained committed to deepening collaboration with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to combat crude oil theft, illegal refining and the illicit movement of petroleum products while protecting Nigeria’s critical economic interests.

News

NDLEA Arrests 101-Year-Old Great-Grandma For Selling Drugs In Sachets

Published

24 minutes ago

August 24, 2026

The Tide

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 101-year-old great-grandmother for dealing in illicit drugs.

The great-grandmother, identified as Esther Ogunmabo, was arrested in Ilisan, Ogun State, with retail sachets of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 90 grammes, which she claimed she sold to locals.

A statement by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, yesterday, said the centenarian told operatives that she started engaging in illicit drug trade after her provisions shop was razed by fire.

The statement partly read, “Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have recorded significant breakthroughs across the country’s land and maritime borders, including the arrest of a 101-year-old great-grandmother for dealing in illicit drugs.

“NDLEA operatives on Saturday, August 15, 2026, arrested a 101-year-old woman, Esther Ogunmabo, in Ilisan, Ogun State, with retail sachets of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 90 grams, which she claims she sells to locals.

“The centenarian told operatives that she resorted to the illicit drug trade after her provisions shop was razed by fire, adding that one of her daughters, who resides in Lagos, arranges the supply of the substance to her every four days, which she in turn sold in bits.”

Babafemi said the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), directed that the suspect be granted bail and placed on counselling because of her advanced age, while her daughter had been arrested.

In a related development, he said NDLEA operatives in Akwa Ibom State, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a wooden boat on the high seas, last Friday, conveying illicit drugs to fishing settlements in the Republic of Cameroon.

According to him, three suspects arrested aboard the boat, which was heading to Ine Isu, Ine Mbah and Ine Ikot Itie Udung fishing ports in Cameroon, included Etima Effiong Eekpo, 29, caught with 1.120kg of skunk; Otobong Eyoh Etukudoh, 33, who had 42.060kg of skunk in his possession; and 27-year-old Kingsley Effiong John, who was found with 20 grammes of cocaine cleverly concealed inside a large wrap of edible cassava fufu, alongside 435 grammes of skunk.

“A total of 42.622kg of narcotics was recovered from the trio,” Babafemi added.

In the nation’s maritime space, Babafemi said the agency recorded its first-ever seizure of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand through the maritime corridor, following the interception of two containers of cannabis indica, also known as Loud, at the Apapa and Lekki ports, with a combined street value put at over N4.4bn.

“Both containers were loaded at the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, underscoring the emergence of a new trafficking route being exploited by drug syndicates to smuggle synthetic cannabis into the country,” he added.

At the Apapa Port, Babafemi said a container declared to be conveying dry fish, rice, vehicle spare parts, turmeric soap and inverter batteries was found, during a joint examination of the shipment, last Friday, by the NDLEA, Customs and others, to contain 1,090.5kg of Thai Loud packed in 54 cartons comprising 2,181 sachets of 500 grammes each.

“At the Lekki Deep Sea Port, a similar container, which had been placed on the Agency’s watchlist and monitored by its Marine Special Operations Unit, was jointly examined on Wednesday, 19th August. Of the seven pallets found in the container wrapped in black nylon, four were confirmed to be laced with Thai Loud, yielding 96 cartons made up of 400 parcels weighing a total of 400kg. The remaining three pallets contained 798 rims of A4 paper, which had been used as cover for the consignment,” he said.

In the Federal Capital Territory, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives on Saturday, August 22, intercepted three waybill packages containing 24,410 pills of tramadol capsules inside a Hummer bus travelling from Enugu to Zuba.

“A follow-up operation conducted in Niger State led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, Sunday Eze, 28, in Kontagora, after which he was transferred to Abuja,” he said.

In Ondo, Babafemi said operatives raided a cannabis farm at Ijare forest, Ifedore Local Government Area, on August 19, following the earlier arrest of three suspected cannabis planters at the same location on August 16.

“The team destroyed a total of 10,000kg of skunk cultivated across four hectares of the forest. In a separate operation in the state, operatives same day at Ita-Ogbolu, Akure North LGA, recovered 210kg skunk and a Toyota Camry car with registration number AGL 223 JH belonging to Sylvester Dibiagu Anthony, who is currently at large,” he added.

Babafemi also said, “A raid at Hadeija Road, Kano, on Monday, August 17, led to the arrest of Chibuzor Madueke, 31, with 98 blocks of skunk weighing 73.3kg recovered from him, while a similar operation by NDLEA operatives at Seme, Badagry area of Lagos, led to the arrest of three family members: Nasiru Tijjani, 52; Moshood Tijjani, 27; and Salami Tijjani, 27, at Ashipa area, near the Seme border, with 48kg of skunk.

“In Abia State, NDLEA officers on Thursday, August 20, raided the residence of Ikechukwu Anthony Iwuno, 36, at Umuobia Olokoro area of Umuahia South LGA, where 14.4kg Loud, 2.3kg Colorado, 386 grammes of tramadol and 134 grammes of rohypnol were recovered.”

While commending the officers and men of the Ogun, Apapa, Lekki, Seme, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, Kano, Abia and FCT Commands for the various successful operations, Marwa enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the current balanced approach to the agency’s drug-control efforts.

News

FG Designates Bonny Island As Premier Tourism Destination

Published

29 minutes ago

August 24, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has officially designated Bonny Island as a premier tourism destination in the country.

Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mrs Hannatu Musawa, announced this at the just concluded Bonny Island Tourism and Investment summit in Bonny, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The event was organised by the Bonny Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture.

Musawa said the Federal Government would partner with relevant stakeholders and development partners to transform Bonny Island into a leading tourism destination in the country.

Represented by the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, Dr. Olayiwola Awakan, the Minister said Bonny Kingdom possesses enormous economic, cultural and natural potentials capable of positioning it as a major tourism hub.

According to the minister, the extraordinary combination of the kingdom’s natural heritage, historical resources, rich community traditions and emerging investment opportunities makes Bonny uniquely positioned to become one of Nigeria’s leading tourism destinations.

She, however, said the development of Bonny Island must go beyond the construction of individual tourism facilities to the creation of a comprehensive destination ecosystem that addresses accessibility and connectivity, accommodation, attractions, entertainment, environmental sustainability and other critical components required to enhance the experience of visitors and improve the quality of life of residents.

The minister stressed the need for partnership, adding that the development of tourism requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders .

Meanwhile, the Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple, has declared the readiness of his kingdom towards making Bonny Island a tourism hub.

Pepple reaffirmed the determination of the traditional institution to support genuine, credible and sustainable investments capable of advancing the prosperity and well-being of the people.

He said, though Bonny is presently occupying a unique position in the nation’s oil and gas industry, its story goes beyond oil and gas as the kingdom has been noted for its exploits in commerce, maritime activities and diplomacy.

According to him, “Discover Bonny” which is the theme of the summit is not the creation of a new identity but a clarion call to the rest of the world to come and discover the rich natural heritage of the people.

He said that the traditional institution would continue to promote a tourism development model that is economically viable, environmentally sustainable and culturally inclusive.

The monarch commended Nigeria LNG Limited, Renaissance and other development partners for their sustained collaboration and contributions towards the socio-economic development of Bonny Kingdom.

President of the Bonny Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Mrs. Constance Nwokejiobi, in her address, emphasised the importance of strategic partnerships and investment in unlocking the tourism and economic potentials of Bonny Island.

She noted that the summit provided an important platform for government, traditional institutions, investors, development partners and other stakeholders to explore opportunities for sustainable tourism development and investment in the kingdom.

According to her, the summit is expected to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and promote investments that will harness Bonny Island’s rich cultural heritage, natural attractions and economic potential, ultimately positioning the kingdom as a preferred destination for local and international tourists and investors.

Speaking earlier at a panel discussions, President, South South Chambers of Commerce industry Mines and Agriculture, Prince Billy Harry, called on the leadership of Bonny Kingdom to build upon the existing peace in the kingdom.

Harry said tourism thrives in a society that is peaceful, and commended the Bonny Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture for coming up with the ‘Discover Bonny’ initiative.

Similarly, a Nollywood Actress, Hilda Dokubo, said women and every segment of the Bonny society must be involved in the Island Tourism sector.

John Bibor