Western govts ‘knew where Chibok schoolgirls were’

Both the British and United States (U.S.) governments knew where some of the schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram members from Chibok were hidden but felt powerless to launch a rescue mission, it has been reported.

More than 200 girls have remained missing since 2014 when they were kidnapped by the terrorist group from a boarding school in Chibok while preparing for end-of-year exams.

Although 57 of the 276 girls managed to escape, the rest have not been seen since May 2014, when they appeared in a video reciting verses of the Koran.

But a former British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Andrew Pocock, has said that a large group of the missing girls were spotted but the governments felt any rescue attempt was risky.

He told The Sunday Times: “A couple of months after the kidnapping, fly-bys and an American eye in the sky spotted a group of up to 80 girls in a particular spot in the Sambisa forest, around a very large tree, called locally the Tree of Life, along with evidence of vehicular movement and a large encampment.

“A land-based attack would have been seen coming miles away and the girls killed, an air-based rescue, such as flying in helicopters or Hercules, would have required large numbers and meant a significant risk to the rescuers and even more so to the girls.

“You might have rescued a few but many would have been killed. My personal fear was always about the girls not in that encampment — 80 were there, but  250 were taken, so the bulk were not there. What would have happened to them? You were damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

Western govts ‘knew where Chibok schoolgirls were’

B’Haram: Nigeria has much work to do, says US

The United States of America and Britain have condemned the recent attacks carried out by Boko Haram, saying the insurgents have no regard for human lives.

The US government noted that much work remained to be done by Nigeria and its neighbours involved in fighting the Boko Haram.

Between December 25 and 28, the Islamist sect renew its onslaught against the North-East by killing scores in Borno and Adamawa states.

In a statement following the December 27 and 28 attacks, the British Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, said Britain would continue to provide assistance to Nigeria to bring the Boko Haram insurgency to an end.

He added, “Boko Haram attacks on civilians in recent days, some of whom were in a mosque, show a contemptible disregard for human life. I utterly condemn them.

“Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives or were injured. The United Kingdom continues to support the Nigerian authorities as they fight terrorism and to provide aid to those suffering because of Boko Haram’s actions.”

Also, in a statement by the US Embassy in Nigeria, the US government condemned the terrible attacks by the insurgents.

According to the US Department of State spokesperson, Mark Toner, Boko Haram has rendered more than two million people homeless across the Lake Chad Basin region, noting that at least 170,000 Nigerians had been displaced.

Toner stated, “The United States condemns the terrible attacks carried out by Boko Haram in Nigeria, December 25–28, as well as other recent attacks in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Boko Haram killed dozens of innocent people who were targeted as they went about their daily lives—attending service at a mosque, shopping in a neighbourhood market, or simply travelling down a road.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, and we stand with the people of Nigeria and the region in the fight against Boko Haram.

“The United States remains committed to helping Nigeria and its neighbours counter Boko Haram’s senseless acts of terror. Despite much progress over the past year — due in large part to newly bolstered Nigerian and regional efforts — more work remains to ensure the people of Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria live in peace.”

B’Haram: Nigeria has much work to do, says US

US to lift arms embargo on Nigeria

THERE were strong indications on Monday that the United States would soon lift the current arms embargo placed on Nigeria.

Buhari and Obama

The Head of a Delegation of the US Congress Committee on Judiciary to the country, Mr. Darrel Issa, said this while speaking with journalists after an indoor meeting with the nation’s defence and military chiefs at the National Defence College, Abuja.

Issa said that the US had commenced the process of lifting the restrictions of the Leahy Law on Nigeria because of the recent moves to professionalise the military by the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, and the service chiefs.

The Leahy Law is a human rights law of the US, which prevents the US State Department and the Department of Defence from selling arms and ammunition to countries whose military are believed to have committed brazen acts of rights violation.

The refusal of the US government to sell arms to the country because of the Leahy law had made Nigeria under former President Goodluck Jonathan to explore other options, including the Black Market, to get desperately needed arms and ammunition to halt the advances of the Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.

Issa added that most of America’s support for Nigeria in the area of training, technical support and equipment provision was not tied to the Leahy and had not been stopped.

He said that the US was relying on President Muhammadu Buhari and the military chiefs to rebuild the trust of Nigerians in the military as an institution that would protect the citizenry.

The US congressman said that Nigerian military chiefs and the American delegation had discussed the issue of additional support, especially in the area of aerial surveillance critical to the fight against insurgency and the theft of the nation’s crude oil.

He said, “There are a number of things that we discussed today. Basically, there was the need for additional technical support, including overhead surveillance. This is important for Boko Haram but it is also important to stop the theft of this country’s oil by pirates and others.

“The fact is that this new regime with the new general staff has begun the process of ensuring that military professionalism in all post-civilians and combats has been made in a way that we can both be confident that the rule of law is being obeyed.

“So the process has begun to lift the restriction of the Leahy. But let’s understand that the vast majority of support that the US provides and would provide would be provided regardless of those. Our technical support, our training and most of the equipment we supply have never stopped and will continue.

“But we are looking forward to the President, with the new General Staff to work to make sure the people of Nigeria can have the confidence in the professionalism of the military, something the people rely on when the military is trying to clear insurgents and protect civilians.

“That is important to the new President; that is important to our President. So those are some of the areas that we discussed but we are very much looking forward to a great difference in the relationship, a proactive relationship and one in which we can provide a much greater level of support. Many of the items we discussed today are new and enhanced items that would be provided to this government.”

Issa said that the leadership of the military had been showing an understanding that the war against terrorism involved getting the people out of the insurgency and securing the communities as well as creating the environment for them to have trust in the government rather than the Boko Haram.

He stressed that the Boko Haram had not only disrupted the peace of the area, it had also caused famine in the affected communities.

He added that USAID “would be providing assistance as the military close areas and make it safe for communities to be rebuilt.”

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Samaila, said that the visit of the American delegation to the country was a follow-up to President Buhari’s recent visit to the US.

Samaila said that the President’s visit was of great gain to the country and that it rekindled the hopes and aspirations of both the US and Nigeria.

He said, “This is a delegation from the United States Congress; they are on a visit to Nigeria and this is a follow-up to Mr. President’s visit to the US. We have said it again and again that the visit of Mr. President was of great gain to this country. It has rekindled the hopes and aspirations of the two countries.

“The United States believes in Nigeria; they have trust in our President and the government of the people of Nigeria. And they are also very concerned about the security situation in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin area.

“And that is one of the reasons they are here to discuss with us and the military, that is, the services. We have discussed the issues concerning the insecurity in Nigeria and also the issue of human rights. They are pleased with the discussions. We hope that at least we would continue to build on this. Gaps that had been created before have been identified and they are definitely going to work on them.”

US to lift arms embargo on Nigeria

Man who tried to assassinate Obama with ricin sentenced to 25 years

The Mississippi man who pled guilty to sending ricin-laced letters to President Obama and other officials was sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday.

James Everett Dutschke plead guilty in January for mailing the highly toxic substance to President Obama, Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker and Justice Court Judge Sadie Holland. He briefly withdrew that plea, but reconsidered last week to avoid the threat of a life sentence.

The failed assassination attempts were not politically motivated, rather a failed attempt by Dutschke to frame Elvis impersonator Kevin Curtis. Just small doses of the castor-bean-derived substance are deadly to human beings.

Dutschke will also serve a five-year sentence of supervised release when he is reintegrated. He will be 66 when he is released. UPI

GJH/AGB

Man who tried to assassinate Obama with ricin sentenced to 25 years