News
Your Romance With Terrorists Pushing Us To Join Boko Haram, IDPs Tell FG
The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Kuchingworo and Durumi camps in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have threatened to join Boko Haram should Federal Government continue to romance with repentant terrorists and ignore them who are the victims of terrorists’ attacks.
They issued the threat at the public presentation of the report, “Managing Internal Displacement Crisis in Nigeria”, held in Abuja, yesterday.
One of the IDPs from Kuchingworo camp, who pleaded anonymity, accused the Federal Government of being biased for prioritizing rehabilitation of the repentant Boko Haram insurgents, and abandoning their victims to nurse the wounds.
The IDP, who said he lost his father, mother and all his siblings to the blooding tasty Boko Haram before his escape, said IDPs in his camp are not only abandoned but discriminated against by the society, wondering why the government would stop free medical treatment and other provisions made available to them in past only to turn attention to the same Boko Haram that had and still causing the country so much pains.
‘‘I am worried that government would start rehabilitating what they called repentant Boko Haram and abandon us their victims in the IDP camp to suffer hunger and deprivation. If that is how it wants it, we will be compelled to join Boko Haram so that government can pay attention to us.
‘‘I lost my father and all members of my family to Boko Haram before I escaped to this camp and see my life, the government can’t pay attention to me but it can rehabilitate repentant Boko Haram.
‘‘The society is also our problem because they discriminate against us. A German offered to take me abroad, but I was denied visa at German embassy because I am an IDP. Some of us have skills and are hardworking but because we found ourselves in IDP camp, the society treats us as if we are nobody,’’ he lamented.
Apart from the obvious deprivation and hunger in the camp, Yohanna said IDPs in his camp no longer have access to government medical facility as they were made to sell their food items to raise fund for their medical bills.
He warned that most IDPs would be compelled to join Boko Haram, if the government does not change its approach and cater for them.
Another IDP from Durumi camp, who also preferred not to be mentioned, said most IDPs in the camp had been recruited into drug trafficking because they were vulnerable and neglected by government.
Meanwhile, the Senator representing Southern Borno and Chairman Senate Committee on Army, Ali Ndume, has said the report credited to him that 70 elders were killed in his community in Gwoza Local Government Area by Boko Haram sect happened more than five or six years ago, and not a fresh attack as being insinuated in some quarters.
Ndume made the clarification to newsmen, yesterday, in an interview in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
It would be recalled that the senator was among his colleagues (Senate Committee on Special Duties and North East Development Commission) who visited Maiduguri, last Wednesday, where they paid a courtesy visit to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, in which Ndume, in the process of memories, told the gathering that “there was a time when Boko Haram slaughtered 70 of his elder-statesmen at one of the abattoirs in Gwoza within one day”.
He expressed worry that some newspapers misquoted him and made the statement breaking news.
Ndume said, “I am surprised to see some national dailies reported today (Thursday) or misquoted me as if it’s a new attack that happened to my elders.
“Yes, during our visit to Borno State, and in one of our fora/gatherings, I told them that there was a day, even before Gwoza was made a Caliphate of the Boko Haram sect, 70 elders in Gwoza alone were slaughtered.
“I want to clarify that this statement on the attack is not a fresh one, but belated as it happened a few years ago.
“In fact, I can recall vividly that you were among those who published report of the 70 elders killed which is more than five years ago now, and so is not breaking news as being erroneously reported, but I will reiterate it is belated”, Ndume clarified.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
-
News2 days ago
Obuah’s Victory Excites Former Lawmaker as APC Primaries Conclude in Rivers West
-
Politics4 days agoAPC PRIMARIES: FUBARA’S WITHDRAWAL, HISTORIC SACRIFICE FOR NATIONAL STABILITY ……. GROUP
-
News4 days agoCourt Sentences Seven To Death Over Murder Of Cleric In Rivers
-
News2 days ago
105 Nigerians Killed In S/Africa In Seven Years
-
Sports4 days agoPH Arsenal Community Set For Streets Procession, Saturday
-
Niger Delta2 days agoRoyal Father Endorses PH Arsenal Community, Pledges To Support
-
Politics4 days agoIPAC Flays INEC Over Election Guidelines Judgement
-
Politics4 days agoNDC To Adopt Electronic Voting For Future Primaries