APC Calls for CP Mbu’s Dismissal Over #Bringbackourgirls Saga

 
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State Chapter, has called for the dismissal of Mr Joseph Mbu, the controversial FCT Police Commissioner who on Monday banned the peaceful protests by the Oby Ezekwesili-led #BringBackOurGirls coalition, only to be over-ruled by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar.
 
Rivers APC described Mbu’s action as “the height of embarrassment for the Nigeria Police,” and demanded that “Mr Mbu should be shown the way out of the Force now before he drags the name of the Force deeper into the mud.”
 
Rivers APC in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said that “Mr. Mbu obviously did not clear with his superior, the IGP, a disgraceful action that illustrates his disdain for good order, decorum and constituted authority.”
 
“How on earth could CP Mbu outlaw the #BringBackOurGirls peaceful rallies aimed at awaking President Jonathan Goodluck and his Presidency from their slumber on the security challenges and the shame arising from the kidnap of over 250 of our girls and our future mothers by the evil-minded Boko Haram? Does it mean that Mr. Mbu does not know that peaceful protest s a right guaranteed all Nigerians by the Country’s Constitution?” Rivers APC asked.  
 
The party recalled the ordeal of Rivers State in the hands of CP Mbu before his redeployment to the FCT following the endless outcry of Rivers people. According to the party, “When we were shouting about the inimical acts of CP Mbu, nobody paid any attention to the nuisance this man had constituted himself but as soldiers of democracy that we are, we continued to endure him until God in his wisdom touched the hearts of our tormentors to further expose him to the entire world by posting him to Abuja after being rejected by various State Governments. To us in Rivers State APC, CP Mbu is a nuisance, anti-democrat, unprofessional and not expected to parade himself within a democratic set-up.
 
“CP Joseph Mbu, who had been lying low since he was posted out of Rivers State after holding the entire State to ransom based on his undemocratic acts and unprofessional policing, came back to life, once more exhibiting his hatred for normalcy and civilisation by ordering the stoppage of peaceful rallies in Abuja aimed at exposing the wicked acts and incompetence of officers of the Ministry of Education under the watch of Chief Nyesome Wike that have closed our Federal Colleges of Education and Federal Polytechnics for over nine months. Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, brought back life into CP Joseph Mbu when he ignorantly termed the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners APC members. On hearing that these campaigners may be APC members and feeling that he was still in Rivers State, Mbu made promptly and illegally announced the banning of the rallies.
 
“As much as we commend the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, for acting swiftly reversing the ill-advised ban, we wish to urge the Police Service Commission to consider the shame and embarrassment which this man has brought to the entire nation and to the Police in particular, and heed our wise counsel to either dismiss CP Mbu or repost him to Borno State to tackle the menace of Boko Haram since he hates to see peace in any environment where he operates.

APC Calls for CP Mbu’s Dismissal Over #Bringbackourgirls Saga 

#BringBackOurGirls protesters change meeting venue after attack

The new venue is in Maitama.

Campaigners demanding greater government action to free more than 200 girls abducted by extremist Boko Haram more than a month ago have changed the venue of their daily sit-in after coming under attack from pro-government protesters.

The meeting point was moved from Unity Fountain near the Trasncorp Hilton hotel, to Maitama Amusement Park, both in central Abuja.

The protesters were attacked on Wednesday at the Unity Fountain by a group calling on Boko Haram, instead of the government, to release the missing girls.

The group is said to be supported by the government.

The assailants fought with some of the protesters, broke their chairs and destroyed reporter’s cameras.

On Thursday, the #BrignBackOurGirls campaigners, led by a former education minister, Oby Ezekwesili, and civil rights activist, Jibrin Ibrahim, defied the attacks and held a symposium at Thisday Dome.

The National symposium, which was also called the Democracy day event adopted the theme “citizens, accountability and democracy”.

“We do not want to encourage anyone to divert our attention, to distract us and therefore we have peacefully relocated our spot to Maitama Amusement Gardens,” said Ms. Ezekwesili.

She said it was clear their attackers sought to provoke the protesters to fracas.

“It is very clear that the objective of the group that has taken over the Unity Fountain is to provoke us to a place of a fracas and we are determined that the Bringbackourgirls Abuja family citizens advocacy group will not engage in any confrontation with anybody”

#BringBackOurGirls protesters change meeting venue after attack

#Bringbackourgirls: Those Staging The Protest Are Members Of APC – Maku

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, on Wednesday claimed that over 90 percent of those staging the ‪#‎BringBackOurGirls‬’ protest are members of All Progressives Congress, APC.

Labaran Maku

Maku described Jonathan’s achievement after three years in office as a ‘miracle.’

According to him, the President should be commended instead of condemned, because of the feats he achieved despite the many challenges confronting his government.

Maku made these observations while answering questions from State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Jonathan.

The minister further added that a lot of the nation’s resources were being spent by the Federal Government on insecurity in states controlled by the opposition party.

He said, “The entire money we are spending is to maintain security in states controlled by that party. So why do you come back and start playing politics?

“We are busy spending money to maintain security in those states, what have they done about it? Because 90 percent of all insurgency is in states controlled by that party, 90 percent of those campaigning to bring back Chibok girls are members of that party.

“I think that honestly if we want this country to grow, we must ask the relevant questions. The Chibok girls remain our number one priority, we will never sleep, we will not rest until God brings them out.

“The Federal Government is a fire fighter. We did not create this insurgency or the structure that led to them, you know where they came from but you are now blaming the fire fighter for the fire.

“We believe that the President needs to be congratulated and we did so because we believe what he has done in the last three years is a miracle if we look at the challenges, clear bottlenecks that were placed on his path by some of us the citizens of this country”, he said.

#Bringbackourgirls: Those Staging The Protest Are Members Of APC – Maku

#BringBackOurGirls: We won’t negotiate with Boko Haram – Jonathan

ABUJA — Against the backdrop of divergent views on the need to negotiate with the Boko Haram Islamic sect for the release of more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by the sect from Chibok, Borno State, President Goodluck Jonathan re-echoed the government position, yesterday, declaring that the Federal Government will not with the sect for the release of the girls. He said the abducted girls must be released unconditionally.

Senate President David Mark, on his part, had harsh words for the insurgents. He said Nigeria will never negotiate to exchange her people with animals who have declared war against parts of Nigeria even as former Chief of Army Staff, Lt General TY Danjuma argued that Boko Haram had friends among Nigerians and such people should prevail on the sect to release the girls unconditionally.

The President who re-echoed the government position, yesterday, at the Asu Ekiye musical concert and fund raising ceremony in Abuja, advised Nigerians to shun religious and ethnic sentiments in the fight against terrorism.

Jonathan said Nigerians must stop the blame game and the pull down syndrome that are distracting the fight against the insurgents.

He said: “We have gone beyond blames and counter-blames, we are confronted with the reality and must not allow our emotion, religion or ethnic differences speak for us. We must protect Nigeria.”

Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Student Matters, Comrade Jude Imagwe, the President commended the resolute spirit of the Nigerian masses in the face of the insurgency, saying Nigerians have won the fight against terrorism by their resolute spirit.

He urged Nigerians to support government’s efforts to bring back the girls, adding that the terrorists have declared war on the citizens and they must rise up as one to fight and win back the country.

“We must rise up to tell them that they cannot defeat us, they must release our sisters back to us unconditionally but Nigerians must join hands with the government to encourage our security agencies to find the girls and bring them back to us.

“Our security men are working, their mission is to ensure that Nigeria is a safe place and what Nigerians should do this time is to pray for them and support them.

“These are trying times for us, nobody believed that this can happen in Nigeria yesterday. No Nigerian would have imagined that a Nigerian will wake up one day to commit suicide but that is where we have found ourselves, so we must fight together.

“Government is fighting terrorism irrespective of the pull down syndrome, distractions and Nigeria will not stop moving forward.

“Because they know we are religious people, they wanted to divide us using religion, but when we defeated them, they resorted to attacking the citizens. It will take a collective responsibility of all citizens to come together to defeat them again, we must rise up as one people.”

We will never exchange our people with animals –David Mark

Senate President, Mark also declared that Nigeria will never negotiate to exchange its people with criminals who with animalistic instincts have declared war on parts of the country by killing people and destroying property without any justifiable reason.

Mark told a crowd of supporters of Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba in Ikom, Central Senatorial District of Cross River State on Saturday during a grand empowerment programme stated that Nigeria will deploy all available resources to combat the Boko Haram insurgents and their sponsors and defeat them.

“We are not negotiating with criminals who like animals are killing people and destroying property without any reason; we have the resources to wage war against anybody who declares war on us and defeat such people and their sponsors”, he said.

Senator Mark who was angry when he learnt of another bomb blast in Jos, said: “Ordinarily, nobody prays for war but in a circumstance where some people are sponsored to destroy a country, there is no other option than to fight and defeat such people. We do not care what name they go by or who their sponsors are but we have borne the pains of their attacks for too long and shall deploy every available resources to fight and stop such attacks”.

Boko Haram has friends among us — T Y Danjuma

General Theophilus Danjuma also called on leaders in the north and Boko Haram sympathizers to use all their means of communication and influence on the terrorist group to release the abducted school girls.

He made the call, yesterday, in Lafia during the 40th Anniversary celebration of the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Isa Mustafa Agwai I. General Danjuma who was conferred with a traditional title at the emirs palace said “nobody has the mandate and should not be allowed to scatter Nigeria. Therefore, I urge all the elders and politicians who are in touch with Boko Haram to use your influence wherever you are to bring sanity to the North.

“To capture young girls and convert them to Islam at gun point is against Islam. General Buhari had earlier said that the activities of the Boko Haram are against Islam and nobody has come out to challenge him. I plead with you especially religious leaders to speak out.

“Initially when Americans were threatening to brand Boko Haram as a terrorist organization, there were uproars in Nigeria. Boko Haram has friends among us; those friends should use whatever influence and communications to plead with them to be civil. Please release our girls”.

Danjuma regretted the bad image with which Nigeria is being painted in the eyes of the international community as a result of the terrorist activities being perpetrated by Boko Haram. He noted that pre-election violence has started in some parts of the country, and therefore, called on everyone to join hands in the fight against terrorism.

Terrorism has no place in Islam — Sultan

Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar has condemned the Boko Haram Islamic sect, describing it as un-Islamic, as according to him, “terrorism has no place in Islam.”

He spoke at the National Prayer for Peace and Security, organised by the council at the National Mosque, Abuja, yesterday.

The leader of Nigerian Muslims told the gathering of Islamic clerics, traditional rulers and political leaders from Northern Nigeria and other parts of the country that there was need for all well-meaning members of the Nigerian public to unite against the insurgents.

His words: “We must rise up, as always, with one voice to condemn all acts of terrorism, condemn those terrorists wherever they are and try our possible best as Muslims to ensure peace reigns in our community”.

The Sultan, like many other respected Islamic leaders in Northern Nigeria have been severally criticized for allegedly keeping quiet about Boko Haram.

He pledged his commitment to assisting the government in the efforts to restore peace to the troubled Northern Nigeria, in Particular and the nation as a whole.

 

Copyright Vanguard

#BringBackOurGirls: We won’t negotiate with Boko Haram – Jonathan

#Bringbackourgirls: Kano CAN protest against delay in rescue

Disturbed by the delay in the release of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted from Chibok by the proscribed Boko Haram sect, the women wing of the Kano State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has joined other groups in protesting the delay in the release of the girls.

This was just as the state chairman of CAN, Bishop Ransom Bello, stated that he believed God would expose those behind the abduction of the girls.

The protesters with various placards with the inscriptions: “Chibok girls are innocent. Release them”; “We want our girls back”; “Listen to women’s voice”; “We will continue to be in pain until they were released”; “What is the offence of Chibok girls?”

Many of the protesters who could not hide their emotion broke down in tears, with many others rolling on the ground.

Reading the protest letter at the state CAN secretariat, the spokesperson of the women, Mrs Ann West, stated that “as mothers, we are here to draw the attention of President Goodluck Jonathan, the governor of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the entire global communities on the wicked abduction of Chibok girls. Without prejudice, we are condemning the abduction, it is an act of wickedness and even barbaric.

“As concerned mothers, we have been seeking the face of the Lord for divine intervention.”

While handing over the letter to Bishop Bello, West stated that they appreciated the efforts made so far by the government of the country and other numerous individuals.

However, while collecting the letter, Bishop Bello said, “We support your crusade. We feel your pain. The abduction is condemnable in all ramifications; we are against it. We are against the people who use religion as a cover up to perpetrate evil in this county.”

Bishop Bello while promising them that he would hand over their protest letter to the governor, just as he prayed that God would rescue the girls.

#Bringbackourgirls: Kano CAN protest against delay in rescue

#Bringbackourgirls: U.S deploys 80 soldiers

The United States has deployed troops to join the search for the over 200  schoolgirls abducted by the extremist Boko Haram sect in Chibok, Borno State on April 15.

President Barack Obama has notified the Congress of the deployment of 80 military personnel, who  will be based in Chad, Nigeria’s northern neighbour. Their mission is to help locate the kidnapped girls.

Obama has sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and to the Senate, notifying lawmakers about the steps underway to assist in the return of the abducted girls.

According to Obama, the service members will help with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft for missions over northern Nigeria.

The force will stay in Chad until its support is no longer necessary. Chad shares a portion of its western border with northeastern Nigeria.

The military and security agencies may have received satellite images of what looked like the camps where the abducted Chibok girls are kept by Boko Haram, The Nation learnt yesterday.

It was, however, still difficult as at press time to locate the exact place or places.

The analysis of the images by the military and other agencies was ongoing.

The April 15 abductors are believed to have been hiding in the Sambisa forest.

A security source, who spoke in confidence, said troops have not invaded Sambisa forest because a lot of intelligence gathering was being conducted by Nigerian military, security agencies and foreign forces.

The source said: “The search for the girls is still in progress. From intelligence gathering, the military and security agencies have got images of suspected camps or areas where the girls are being held hostage.

“We are analysing these images to be able to locate the exact place or places where the girls are kept.

“The images showed some clusters of people. The reality from these efforts is that it is still difficult to locate the exact point where the girls are.”

The source said the U.S. and other foreign nations have been collaborating with the Nigerian military and security agencies to locate where the girls are.

He added: “A major challenge is getting the spot where the girls are camped. There were contradictory information or clues from the locals and even these foreign partners do not want to capitalise on what the locals are saying.

“Sometimes, these locals would say the girls are in Sambisa forest or around Lake Chad or Cameroonian borders.

“So, a lot of intelligence coordination is ongoing as I am talking to you. It is just for the equipment to pick the exact camp.”

#Bringbackourgirls: U.S deploys 80 soldiers

#BringBackOurGirls: Father of abducted girls allegedly died of BP

A father of 8 children and two wives whose two daughters were among the over 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in Chibok, Mr. Mutai Hona aged 56 died as a result of High Blood Pressure (BP) he sustained during the incident.#bringbackourgirls

The news of the dead of Mr. Hona was announced by his brother, Mr. James Yama.

Yama in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri said, the deceased who was ‘hale and hearty’ died on Sunday this week due to psychological trauma when he realized that none of his two abducted daughters were in the video clip earlier released by the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau. He has since been buried in Chibok on Monday according to Christian rite.

Yama said most of the parents of the abducted girls were not eating neither sleeping  “We are suffering in silence, one of my brother Mr. Mutai Hona whose two daughters were among those abducted died last Sunday as a result of heart attack, since the incident, he has not been eating well, before he developed High Blood Pressure.

“It will interest you to note that on Sunday this week, officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA in charge of North East Zone were here in Chibok to distribute relief materials to the victims, but none of the parents collected even a soap. They protested to NEMA officials that all  they want is for government to bring back their abducted daughters,  infact, most of those who benefited from the relief materials are people whose daughters were not among the abducted.

” If we had seen the corpses of our girls, we would have forgotten about them. They have turned the whole episode into hide and seek game with the authorities not letting us know really what is happening, it is unfortunate”. He stated.

 

#BringBackOurGirls: Father of abducted girls allegedly died of BP

‘Muslim Island’ Comoros bans ‘#bringbackourgirls’ protest

(AFP) – The majority Muslim island nation of the Comoros has banned a march over the kidnapping of over 200 Nigerian schoolgirls by Islamic extremists, amid accusations the government wants to dodge religiously sensitive issues.

Officials in the capital Moroni rejected a request to march from children’s rights group Maeecha, saying “it is not possible to grant you permission to walk in the streets of the capital, for reasons related to the circulation of traffic.”

But NGOs accused the government of the Indian Ocean island of trying to silence debate on the actions of Islamist radicals.

The non-governmental Solidarity Association of the Indian Ocean Islands had appealed to the government to speak out on the kidnapping by the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, but met a wall of silence.

“Authorities that I consulted just after the kidnapping told me to wait because according to them it concerned a sensitive topic, religion,” said the group’s Soilha Said Mdahoma.

Boko Haram, whose name loosely translates as “Western education is forbidden”, kidnapped the girls from their dormitory on April 14, has claimed they converted to Islam and has threatened to sell them.

“No verse in the Koran, no religious principle justifies this kidnapping,” said the rights group’s Nasser Assoumani. “Boko Haram is an enemy of Islam which does not follow the prophet’s doctrines.”

With a long history of political violence, including more than 20 coups, the Comoran authorities suggested Maeecha issue a statement rather than march in protest at the abduction.

 

‘Muslim Island’ Comoros bans ‘#bringbackourgirls’ protest

#Bringbackourgirls: Why we must crush Boko Haram – ECOWAS

By Okey Ndiribe , Favour Nnabugwu, Wole Mosadomi,  Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Ndahi Marama & Victor Ojeme

ABUJA—Assembly of Heads of State and Governments of ECOWAS, yesterday, restated its commitment to crushing insurgent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

It also vowed to cripple its campaign of criminalising the quest for education in Nigeria and across West African countries.

Also, the United States has now agreed to share some intelligence with Nigeria to bolster the search for the more than 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram.

ECOWAS Chairman and President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, in his remarks yesterday, during the opening of the 2014 1st Ordinary Session of the 3rd Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, said “any destabilisation of Nigeria would be a destabilisation of our entire sub-region.”

Mahama, who was represented by his vice, Kwesi Bekoe Amissah, said that it was unfortunate that the insurgents have continued to unleash acts of violence and terror on many Nigerians, killing many and leaving several ordinary Nigerians maimed and frightened.

“The recent abduction of the schoolgirls in Chibok is reprehensible and so disheartening. No decent society will accept this. Unless we are able to overcome Boko Haram and its ideology of criminalising the rightful quest for education, the future of our sub-region could be badly affected. We need to ensure we maintain safe education and learning environments for our children, so that our people can be fully equipped to compete successfully with others in the rest of the world,” he said.

The chairman of the community’s leaders pointed out that the abduction of the schoolgirls in Borno State is one act of terror that has created global concern, especially about the fate of the girls.

He said it was against the backdrop that ECOWAS invoked the relevant sections of its Joint Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

Mahama called on members of the ECOWAS Parliament to use their relationship with their constituents to prevent and discourage radicalisation, especially among the youth.

He urged the ECOWAS Parliament to cooperate and support the governments of the sub region in the fight against insurgency.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by Senate President, David Mark, said terrorism and insurgency are alien to African culture.

“We must, therefore, stand united against it in all its ramifications. We will continue to seek regional and international collaboration in the fight against these crimes which by their nature are transnational,” he said.

Jonathan said the crescendo of regional security challenges required member states to fortify their democratic institutions to be able to confront and overcome the threat.

On his part, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, said the challenge of a more inclusive, peaceful and integrated region required greater coordinated measures to particularly combat the new threats constituted by terrorism and organised crime.

In his welcome address, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, condemned “in strongest terms the brigandage and mindless waste of human lives and property by the renegades who go under the cover of so-called religious extremism to commit crimes against humanity.”

Ekweremadu, who is Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President, also condemned the abduction of the schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State.

“This is the height of cowardice and depravity to take unarmed young women into forced custody. No doubt, the Boko Haram has by this affront declared total war not only on Nigeria, but also the West African sub-region and indeed humanity,” he said.

US now agrees to share intelligence with Nigeria

The United States has agrred to share some intelligence with Nigeria to bolster the search for the more than 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram, the Pentagon said, yesterday.

The U.S. military is flying manned and unmanned surveillance missions over Nigeria, but had been unable to directly share intelligence with Abuja because it had not established protocols with the government.

Pentagon spokesman, Col. Steve Warren said that agreement was struck over the weekend.

“We have finalized an agreement with the Nigerians to share intelligence with them – specifically intelligence relating to the kidnapped girls,” Warren told reporters.

While the agreement would allow the U.S. military to share some intelligence — including aerial imagery — with Nigeria, it did not mean that all raw U.S. intelligence gathered could be shared, Warren added.

The Pentagon’s announcement followed a meeting in Paris over the weekend where West African leaders agreed to work together to combat Boko Haram, saying the group had become a shared threat.

Committee on Chibok abduction arrives Borno, meets Shehu, service chiefs

Meanwhile, the Presidential Fact-finding Committee on the abduction of the Chibok Schoolgirls said, yesterday, that it has entered the crucial stage of its assignment as it arrived Maiduguri, Borno State capital in continuation of its assignment.

The Committee members, led by the chairman, Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo (rtd), arrived Sunday evening aboard an Air Force plane and were received at Maiduguri Airport by the Acting General Officer Commanding the 7th Division of Nigerian Army, Brig-Gen. M. Y. Ibrahim, and officials of Borno State Government.

A statement by the committee’s spokesperson Kingsley Osadolor, quoted Gen. Sabo (rtd) as saying that the committee had entered a crucial phase of its assignment.

“We are now in the main theatre where the Chibok schoolgirls were taken away against their will. The whole world is mobilised against the abduction, and we cannot be happy while our daughters remain in captivity,” he said.

Gen. Sabo reiterated that the Committee had an open mind to its assignment.

“We are not here with preconceived notions. We are here to find facts that will lead to a resolution of the current hostage crisis involving the schoolgirls.”

He said the committee, while in Borno State, would engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders, to enable the committee have a holistic appreciation of the matter at hand, and advise the Federal Government accordingly. He, therefore, called for the co-operation of all concerned.

During a courtesy call on the Shehu of Borno at his palace, yesterday, the Fact-finding Committee Chairman recalled that, historically, Maiduguri was a famous centre in the Trans-Sahara Trade, but regretted that the city and the state had suffered severe socio-economic dislocation as a result of insurgency in recent years.

Responding, the Shehu of Borno, Dr Mustapha El-Kanemi, described the Chibok abduction as unfortunate. He said the Kanem-Borno Empire had been in existence for some 1,200 years, adding that the people were peace-loving.

“What is happening now is unfortunate. It’s entirely new to us. None of the leaders of Boko Haram is from Borno. They cannot claim to be from here. The problem was brought to us from elsewhere,” the Shehu said.

The committee also held a closed-door meeting with service chiefs in Borno State, including the GOC 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Police Commissioner, Mr. Lawal Tanko, Director, Department of State Services, DSS, Mr. Abdullahi Ahmed among others.

The committee’s terms of reference are:

To liaise with the Borno State Government and establish the circumstances leading to the school remaining open for boarding students when other schools were closed;

To liaise with relevant authorities and the parents of the missing girls to establish the actual number and identities of the girls abducted;

To interface with the security services and the Borno State Government to ascertain how many of the missing girls have returned;

To mobilise the surrounding communities and the general public on citizen support for a rescue strategy and operation; and

To articulate a framework for a multi-stakeholder action for the rescue of the missing girls; and to advise Government on any matter incidental to the terms of reference.

At its inauguration, President Goodluck Jonathan announced that the Committee was not a substitute for the search and rescue efforts already mounted by the security and defence forces.

The Committee had spent the past week in the Federal Capital Territory engaged in interactive sessions and consultations with a broad range of sources and contacts. These include the Minister of Defence, Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, and heads of Intelligence agencies.

 

#Bringbackourgirls: Why we must crush Boko Haram – ECOWAS

Abducted Girls: Joint Security Gets Allied Forces’ Support

Channels – The Director of Defence Information in Nigeria, Major General Chris Olukolade, says efforts have been intensified with the support of allied forces towards ensuring that the over 200 school girls abducted from Chibok in Borno State by the Boko Haram insurgents are rescued alive.

At a joint security information news briefing held in Abuja on Monday, Major General Olukolade said that aircrafts belonging to some allied forces were already stationed in some West African countries with the aim of supporting the Nigeria Air Force in the rescue operations.

The coordinator of the National Crises Information Management Centre and director general of the National Orientation Agency, Mr Mike Omeri, told reporters that the international coalition against Boko Haram was part of efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria to stem the tide of insecurity.

Efforts are underway with international community support to rescue the girls that were abducted on May 14 from their dormitory in a school in Chibok.

The girls of the Government Girls Secondary School were  abducted on May 14 and the sect in a video released last week said it would release the girls in exchange of members of the sect held in detention camps across Nigeria.

The leader of the group, Abubakar Shekau, who had earlier threatened to sell the girls in a market, said he had given the Christian girls freedom by converting them to Muslims.

The abduction of the girls triggered protests across Nigeria and other countries with the protesters asking the Nigerian government and the international community to do more in the effort to ‘Bring Back The Girls’.

France, Israel, US, UK and Egypt are some of the countries that have pledged to support the Nigerian government in its rescue efforts.

Abducted Girls: Joint Security Gets Allied Forces’ Support

#BringBackOurGirls protesters to march on Villa

Presidency is weighing whether or not to receive #BringBackOurGirls protesters planning a march on the seat of government.

Also, security has been strengthened in Chibok where 276 students of the Government Girls Secondary School were abducted.

Troops have been deployed to protect the community and the 53 girls who escaped the abduction.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the BringBackOurGirls has written the Presidency of its plans to take its campaign to the Presidential Villa.

It was learnt that the request letter was sent to the government early last week.

The campaign train may hit the seat of government on Thursday, if it is acceptable to the presidency.

It was gathered that the proposed march on Aso Rock was to dismiss the notion that the movement was being used for political purposes by the opposition.

The march is also designed to hear from the President what his administration has done to rescue the abducted girls.

The decision to march on Aso Rock was taken at the group’s sit-out on Saturday in Abuja.

One of the coordinators of the BringBackOurGirls, Hadiza Bala Usman, said: “We are talking of our protest march to Mr. President which we plan do on Thursday.

“We have written a letter to Mr. President, we are hopeful he would grant us audience. We intend to go to the Presidential Villa

“”We maintain our issue; we have refused to allow any politics or religious affiliations to come into the group. We have maintained our neutrality.”

The presidency is said to be weighing its options – whether or not to allow the team to be at the Villa.

“There are arguments for and against the request,” an official said, pleading for anonymity because he is not allowed to talk to the media.

According to him, it is thought that since the group had visited National Assembly leaders, there was no point duplicating functions because “the government is one”.

The source added: “Also, the government is uncomfortable with the activities of the group, especially the involvement of some Nigerians who have been critical of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“At a point, the First Lady advised women not to join the mass movement. Last week, security agencies tried to stop the movement from holding its sit-out at the Unity Fountain in Abuja.”

Security is said to have been strengthened in Chibok to protect the community and the 53 girls who escaped from Boko Haram enclave.

A military source said troops had been deployed in the area to prevent any recourse to reprisals from Boko Haram following the global protest against the abduction of the 276 girls.

“We are aware that 53 of the girls who escaped have been reunited with their families. This is why we have placed the town under heavy surveillance,” a military source said.

The Defence Headquarters yesterday cautioned journalists and visitors from going to operation areas in the Northeast including Chibok and Sambisa forest.

A statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said: “The Defence Headquarters has noted the presence of a large number of tourists, journalists and adventurers of diverse interests moving about in areas where security operations are currently ongoing especially in Adamawa and Borno states, without the necessary security cover or clearance.

“This trend constitutes unnecessary risk to the persons especially the foreigners involved.  It is also an undue obstruction to operations.

“Much as the military has nothing to hide and believes in the freedom of movement in the country, the need for all persons to recognise the status of certain places as operational area is hereby reiterated.

“Anyone violating the existing procedures for coverage or movement in the mission area does so at his or her own peril as the security forces should not be held responsible for any unsavory outcome of such movement.

“Necessary arrangement will continue to be made for the protection of persons and visitors whose movement is duly vetted and in line with development in the security situation on ground in particular mission area.

“The general public is hereby informed that obstructive, suspicious or risky movement of visitors will not be condoned in any mission and operational area in the country.”

Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili in a tweet yesterday confirmed a plan to march on the Villa. She said “We are continuing plans for our next march for our #ChibokGirls that will take us to our President & Commander-in-Chief in the next few days”.

#BringBackOurGirls protesters to march on Villa

#Bringbackourgirls: I Know Where The Chibok Girls Are – Boko Haram Senator, Ahmed Zanna

A lawmaker representing Borno North at the National Assembly, Senator Ahmed Zanna has confirmed he knows the whereabouts of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

Zanna, who claimed that the government refused to listen to him, told CNN that he won’t reveal the location of the girls and the dreaded Islamist group.

The Senator made this declaration when he was being interviewed via a telephone call by Isha Sesay of CNN.

Asked where he thinks the insurgents might be keeping the girls, the Senator replied, “I won’t tell where they are being kept again because I have told the Federal Government where they are likely being kept before the video was released. Now that I saw the video, the vegetation in the clip confirmed what I have told them earlier,” “If they want to know where they are being kept, then the government should remember what I told them before. What I can tell you is that the girls are no longer here in Chibok.”

He affirmed that it would be difficult for Nigeria to get back all the girls abducted by the insurgents, saying that the girls have not only been split by their abductors but ferried through Lake Chad to neighbouring countries among which he said were Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

He said, “I have been in constant touch with the security agencies, telling them the developments, the movement of the girls from one place to the other and then the splitting of the girls and eventually the marriage of these girls by the insurgents.

What bothers me most is that whenever I informed them where these girls were, after two to three days, they will be moved from that place to another and still, I will go back and inform them that see, this is what is happening.

“I lost hope two days ago when I found out that some of them were moved to Chad and Cameroon. Actually, some of them were moved through the Mandara Mountain that is in Gwoza and some of them are just a stone throw from their barracks, even now as I am talking to you, some of them are in Kolofata, which is in Cameroon but about 15 kilometres or even less to the borders.”

#Bringbackourgirls: I Know Where The Chibok Girls Are – Boko Haram Senator, Ahmed Zanna

Attempts To Misrepresent Okonjo-Iweala’s Stance On Chibok Girls Unwarranted

The Nigeria Minister of Finance, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has debunked the media report that said she was tired of talking about the abducted girls.

This was disclosed through the Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance,  Paul C Nwabuikwu

 The statement reads”It has come to our attention that there are attempts to misrepresent the position of CME on the unfortunate abduction of the Chibok girls.

The online campaign is based on the lie that the minister is “tired” of talking about the abducted girls. This is a distortion of her comments to a reporter from ABC News of the US.

Such a distortion is contrary to numerous and consistent comments by the minister which underscore her pain and concern over the issue.

The minister had previously stated during WEF that “As a mother of four children, including a daughter, I cannot imagine the agony the parents of these children must be experiencing. We understand the anger and sadness that is shared by Nigerians at home and abroad.”

She had also tweeted: “Our commitment to ‪#‎BringBackOurGirls‬ does not end with ‪#‎WEFAfrica‬. It’ll continue. It is our task. We must do it until we bring them back!”

The minister is certainly NOT tired of an issue which has been a nightmare to families involved and all Nigerians for the past one month. She urges that we all focus on the girls themselves and how we bring them back.

Below is the video to the complete interview. Please view and judge for yourself.

Attempts To Misrepresent Okonjo-Iweala’s Stance On Chibok Girls Unwarranted

Abducted Chibok girls sighted in Central Africa

There are robust indications that the terrorist sect, Boko Haram, might have moved among the over 200 schoolgirls it kidnapped from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State out of West Africa.

There had been studies on Friday that a number of the kidnapped schoolgirls have been seen in Birao, Central African Republic with armed males.  Birao is a small city within the north of the CAR.

The Islamic sect had kidnapped pupils of the college on April 14 and brought them into the forests alongside the Nigeria-Cameroon border.

Over 50 of the pupils escaped whereas being moved out of the college.

An on-line report by a French information medium,Jeune Afrique, on Friday, stated villagers noticed about 50 younger girls led by armed males within the North Central African Republic final week.

The report was translated into English by one of our correspondents.

The report says, “The Nigerian schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram have passed through the northern CAR, escorted by armed men. Based on several testimonies of inhabitants, the women arrived Wednesday, April 30 aboard trucks.

“They were guarded by heavily armed men, who spoke English, and also members of the former (CAR) rebel Seleka.”

Seleka is an alliance of Islamic insurgent militia factions that overthrew the Central African Republic authorities early last year and put in their leader as president. The group which has reportedly carried out a number of executions, rape and looting break up final yr with Christian and Muslim factions terrorising the CAR, forcing France to ship extra troops to the area.

The French newspaper added that natives of Birao have been afraid to approach the kidnapped girls.

“According to our source, the convoy of two trucks and a pickup was previously seen at Tiroungoulou (about 170 kilometres southwest of Birao) and perhaps Chad.

“Upon arrival, some were frightened, cried and were violently rebuked in English. The girls and their guardians were then housed for several days in a house.

“The group reportedly left the scene on the night of Sunday to Monday, May 4 to 5, without a trace,” the report said.

Barely 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan stated no group had claimed accountability for the kidnapping of the pupils, Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, claimed accountability for the kidnapping.

Shekau, whereas claiming accountability for the seizure of the ladies in a video, threatened to sell  the kidnapped ladies.  “I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the market, by Allah,” he said.

Earlier, there have been stories that the ladies had been taken to neighbouring Cameroon and Chad.

The Cameroonian authorities nonetheless faulted experiences that among the youngsters had been married off within the nation.

Cameroon’s Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakari, was quoted as saying he was shocked by accusations that Cameroon was not collaborating with Nigeria to free the ladies from their captors.

“We insist that allegations from Nigeria that a part of the 200 young female students recently kidnapped in the North-East of Nigeria would have been transferred to Cameroon to be forced into marriage to members of the Boko Haram sect are fully unfounded.

“Cameroon will never ever serve as a support base for destabilisation activities towards other countries,” he was quoted as saying.

The Unites States, Britain, France and China have, nevertheless, expressed their readiness to help Nigeria in rescuing the ladies. The US and British army personnel and hardware arrived within the nation between Thursday and Friday.

One of our correspondents in Abuja additionally gathered that the Federal Government would engage Israel within the search for the kidnapped girls.

SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that the Federal Government and Israeli authorities had held a series of meetings since the girls were abducted on April 14.

A security source said on Friday that the collaborative efforts between Israel and Nigeria on the issue of terrorism and insurgency had been ongoing for some time.

The source who pleaded anonymity said, “The issue of collaboration with Israeli and other countries did not start now, a lot of meetings have been held on insurgency.”

When contacted on Friday, the Press Officer of the Israeli Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Tony Obiechina, said the embassy had closed for the day and could not respond to the issue.

He said, “We have closed. I will have to meet with the ambassador on Monday to see if there is any information on your request.”

Abducted Chibok girls sighted in Central Africa

Cameron joins ‘Chibok girls’ rescue campaign

Prime Minister David Cameron has promised Britain “will do what we can” to help find more than 200 kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls.

He made the comments as he held a sign bearing the “#Bring Back Our Girls” slogan on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show.

Mr. Cameron is the latest high-profile supporter of the social media campaign after United States First Lady Michelle Obama was pictured with a similar poster.

The Boko Haram sect has claimed the abductions.

During the BBC One programme, fellow guest Christine Amanpour, CNN’s chief international correspondent, handed Mr. Cameron the sign and asked if he would like to join the campaign.

Taking it from her, he replied: “Happily.”

The Pope has also tweeted his support, writing: “Let us all join in prayer for the immediate release of the schoolgirls kidnapped in Nigeria.

Cameron joins ‘Chibok girls’ rescue campaign

#Bringbackourgirls: Women group lambast Patience Jonathan

By Ehi Ekhator

The First lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan has been at the centre of attack over the meeting she called last week to address the issue concerning the abduction of the students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

Patience Jonathan

A group called BAOBAB for Women’s right, in Maiduguri, has asked the First Lady to apologise to the parents of the abducted girls for her doubt over the missing girls.

The Statement which was signed by the Borno State Coordinator, Prof. Hauwa Biu, also called on the Federal Government to put adequate plans in place to cater for the parents who are presently going through the trauma of their kids abduction.

The Statement reads: “BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights, Borno State outreach condemns in its totality the actions of the wife of Nigerian president, Mrs. Patience Jonathan on concerns shown by people within and outside Nigeria on the abduction of innocent girls. This act of criminality, as we are aware violates their fundamental human right to education.

“A situation when the wife of the president who does not have a role under the Nigerian constitution begins to summon and interrogate duly appointed government officials as well as giving them directives and detaining some of them, is worrisome as this could interfere with the various actions put in place towards addressing insurgency rocking the country,” the group said.

The group asked the Federal Government to beef up their effort in order to rescue the girls back home.

The group said: “We want them back, safe in their homes wherever they are. The poor handling of information about the exact number of girls who are still missing and the fact that members of the Boko Haram have claimed responsibility for the abduction of these girls must not deter those with the responsibility for the safety of all Nigerians from working to find these girls where they are being held and return them to their parents.”

It commended the effort of various women organisations within and outside the country, religious bodies, local and foreign media towards rescuing the abducted girls.

 

#Bringbackourgirls: Women group lambast Patience Jonathan

#Bringbackourgirls: NSA, Chief of Defence Staff, others visit Chibok

By Ehi Ekhator

As the world come together to find a lasting solution to the abduction of 276 students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, the Defence Headquarters has revealed yesterday that, the national Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, and service chiefs all visited Chibok on fact-finding mission.

According to the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the visit was part of the ongoing efforts to rescue 276 girls that were abducted by the Boko Haram sect on April 14.

The statement said: “The National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), in company of Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police today visited Government Secondary School, Chibok, in continuation of the ongoing effort to rescue the abducted girls.

“While fielding questions fromreporters on the actual number of the missing girls, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who would not want to comment on the issue of number, noted that every single life is important to the nation and no effort will be spared at finding the girls.

“He appealed to the members of the immediate community and the general public to provide security agencies with useful information that will lead to the rescue of the girls.

“The team was conducted round the school by the Vice Principal Administration, Bulama Modu.  Some of the facilities inspected include burnt classrooms, dormitories and a laboratories.  The team has since returned to Abuja.”

#Bringbackourgirls: NSA, Chief of Defence Staff, others visit Chibok

#Bringbackourgirls: Fani-Kayode accuses Northern elders

By Ehi Ekhator

High profile Nigerians are beginning to speak out on what they sense as “Pampering of  Boko Haram by the north” who seems to also cry loudly as though the Federal Government is not doing enough.

Chief Fani-Kayode

An ardent critic of the Federal Government, Chief Fami Fani-Kayode has lashed northern elders who are protecting, sponsoring and backing the insurgents in whatever way, from the Federal Governemtn’s rots.

According to Fani-Kayode, he said the issue concerning the abduction of the 234 students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, is getting clearer since some northern elders do not want troops deployed or force used against Boko Haram members.

The statement reads ” The suggestion by a group of northern elders that ”force should not be used” in securing the freedom of the abducted girls is sickening and instructive. The bitter truth about this whole matter is getting clearer by the day. It is the same people that did not want troops to be deployed to the area in the first place.

It is the same group that did not want a state of emergency to be declared in some parts of the north. It is the same group of people that have been urging the government to negotiate with Boko Haram for the last three years. It is the same group of people who have consistently asked that Boko Haram should be treated with kid gloves and that they should be offered amnesty even when the islamist group have slaughtered no less than 10,000 innocent people in the last three years.

It is the same people that are suggesting that Boko Haram is actually an agent of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). It is the same group of people that secretly rejoice when churches are burnt, when bombs are detonated, when innocent people are killed, when our soldiers are routed, when children have their throats slit, when the country is being made ”ungovernable” and when girls are abducted, sold into slavery and buried alive.

It is one of these so-called northern elders that referred to Boko Haram as ”freedom fighters” only last year. It is another that said that members of Boko Haram ought to be treated ”in the same way as the Niger Delta militants” and that they should be rehabilitated, resettled and paid large sums of money.

Today, just three weeks after the Haramites have abducted almost 300 young school girls at Chibok, burnt down their school and kept them as sex slaves and just three days after 300 innocent people were slaughtered by the same islamist group in a border town with the Camerouns, these so-called elders are saying that force must not be used against them. This is absurd, insensitive and unacceptable and their suggestion must be treated with the contempt that it deserves.

I just do not know what it will take for the Nigerian people to accept the fact that Boko Haram is the greatest evil that our country has ever had to contend with and that there can be no negotiation or dialogue with such demons in human flesh. I just do not know what it will take for these so-called northern elders to accept the fact that evil is evil, that you must never negotiate with terrorists and that their ”gentle way” way simply does not and cannot work.

The truth is that until every single member of Haramite is hunted down, brought to justice and despatched to hell where they belong there will be no peace in our country. We must also eliminate their closet supporters who secretly encourage, fund and protect them because there can be no fellowship with light and darkness.

I have always viewed all those that have suggested that Boko Haram should be treated with kid gloves with the utmost suspicion. It is either that we live in a civilised country where the rule of law prevails, where beasts have no place and where murderous animals are treated like the murderous animals that they are or we shall have no country at all.

All this talk about ”not using force” must stop because it is nonsensical, it is counter-productive and it presents a very real threat to our desire to continue as one nation. Those that abduct, rape, kill, enslave and terrorise little girls deserve no mercy and they do not deserve to live.

Those that believe that the Haramites are rational or reasonable and that ”force should not be used against them” should please give them their own daughters in exchange for our missing girls. After they have done that they can be as gentle with Boko Haram as they like.”

#Bringbackourgirls: Fani-Kayode accuses Northern elders

#Bringbackourgirls: Buhari"s statement on abducted girls

Over the past few weeks, the abduction of the school girls at Chibok, Borno State has underscored the threat we have been facing as a nation in recent times from the actions of misguided persons masquerading as adherents of Islam.

Buhari

Our hearts are with families who have lost loved ones in this cycle of senseless violence. We also empathize with the parents of children whose daughters are in the custody of a group of anarchists.

That horrific video posted on the Internet is a clear manifestation of the mindlessness of the bigots. It shows them for whom they are, such men cannot threaten nor should they be allowed to violate our sovereignty. It is clear from what they profess that they are not followers of God. They do not mean well for our country and her citizens. I am a Muslim, I am versed in the teaching of Christianity and I understand both religions to seek peaceful co-existence of all humanity.

I wish to reiterate that there is no justification whatsoever for this unrestrained disregard for the sanctity of human life. It has no place in the Holy Quran and neither does it have a place in the Holy Bible.

Let these people know that the entire civilized world is united against their terrorist act. We are grateful to the world for standing by Nigeria at this trying time. We hope and pray that the young ladies will be reunited with their respective families in the days to come

While the Federal Government and the nation’s Armed Forces are working to ensure citizens’ safety under the present situation, we believe that more could still be done to ensure the safety of Nigerians and the Nigerian nation. We are therefore glad that the Federal Government has accepted international support in the search for the missing girls and for an end to the insurgency in parts of the country.

I fought for a united Nigeria. In my old age, I want my grand children, your grand children, our youths and indeed all Nigerians to benefit from a prosperous and united country devoid of sectarian violence whether home grown or imposed on us from outside.

Now is not the time to play politics. Now is also not the time to trade blames and amplify our ideological differences. The unity of Nigeria is not negotiable and nothing should divide us as a people. I therefore urge all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to support the country in her effort to bring an end to this attack on defencelesscitizens and indeed a united nation.

We must put aside all other considerations and ensure that our country Nigeria pulls together now so as to recover our sovereignty. After all, we all know that Nigeria is the ONLY country we have that we can call our own.

God help and bless Nigeria.

Thank you.

GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCFR

May 8, 2014

#Bringbackourgirls: Buhari"s statement on abducted girls

#BringBackOurGirls : Dramatic Images Of Chibok Girls Who Escaped From Boko Haram Militants

As Nigerians and the world community ponder the fate of the more than 230 young women still in the hands of the Boko Haram, SaharaReporters has obtained dramatic photo images of those who got away.

The undated photographs are believed to have surfaced in the three weeks since the mass kidnapping by the Islamist group. There is incredible sadness displayed, with many of those captured in the photos openly weeping, as they publicly re-tell the horrors of the late night raid in mid-April.

SaharaReporters has learned the images depict a meeting between the girls, their parents and the wife of the state governor on the grounds of the school where 276 girls were abducted on April 14th. It shows a group of traumatized girls and their parents as well as the wife of the state governor weeping uncontrollably at the school premises.

As with much of the information about the story of the kidnapping, there are roughly thirty to 50 women depicted in some of the images. Some are of parents who either are overcome with grief over the fate of their missing daughters, or of relief, in reuniting with their loved ones.

The highly emotional images here were taken in front of the Government Girls’ Secondary School, in Chibok, with the remains of the burned out building seen in the background. As reported by SaharaReporters when this story unfolded, at least 16, to upwards of 40 of the reported 270 students, had escaped into the forest, as one of the dozen-odd vehicles driven by the Boko Haram sect had broken down during the kidnapping raid.

The photographs here are believed to have been taken within three to five days after the Boko Haram raid, as a whirl of controversy had been generated around the efforts at securing the lives of the abducted students by the Nigerian military forces.

What is depicted here is a kind of public and highly emotional testimony in Chibok that these young women have shared in a dramatic escape they lived to re-tell. Several girls that escaped from Boko Haram militants are shown here, as they were being moved to a secret location inside an abandoned game reserve, and inside the Sambissa forest.

The actual numbers among the missing students remain inconclusive. The numerical figures have fluctuated, from a low of 210 to 270, by various media outlets. Some media outlets have reported as many as 300 students abducted by the Islamic sect.

These pictures tell a dramatic story of a tiny, and isolated village, the world now has come to know as the site of a mass and disturbing kidnapping

#BringBackOurGirls : Dramatic Images Of Chibok Girls Who Escaped From Boko Haram Militants