By Our Correspondents
— June 3, 2014
No fewer than 15 senior military officers
including 10 generals have been tried
before a court-martial and found guilty
of giving information and ammunition to
Boko Haram terrorists.
In the recent past, the Army and the
Defence headquarters have raised the
alarm that some of their officers and
men are leaking official information to
the terrorists and that some of them
have been arrested and arraigned before
some court-martials in some army
divisions in the north.
Military sources told LEADERSHIP that
some of them who were tried at their
division levels still have hope until the
final review of the judgement at the
headquarters in Abuja.
“There are a lot of arrests that have
been made over some officers who were
sabotaging the ongoing counter-
insurgency operations. The suspects
include about 10 generals and other
ranks, not to talk of soldiers who have
been found culpable of sabotaging our
operations. They are facing trial before
court-martials set up by their divisions;
some have been found guilty, and some
are still facing trial. Once the court
martial rule, the recommendations are
forwarded to the Army Headquarters or
Defence Headquarters as the case may
be,” a source disclosed.
Another top security source told our
correspondent that four senior soldiers
were found guilty of being disloyal and
for working for the members of the sect.
“Four generals have been court-
martialed for divulging high-class
security information to the members of
the sect. They were found guilty of
leaking military strategies to the Boko
Haram people. This was why many
soldiers have been ambushed and killed
by the Boko Haram,” the source added.
Our source who could not disclose the
names of these generals simply said
some senior military officers and
soldiers from a particular section of the
country are deeply involved in the
treasonable acts.
“They have been found guilty of also
collaborating with some top politicians
in the country to make the country
ungovernable for selfish reasons. A lot
of re-organisation is going on in the
military. Many generals will go. Some
will be court-martialed and some will be
forcefully retired,” he added. “The
movement of our troops in the north-
east have been leaked to the Boko
Haram by many of our colleagues, but
the Defence headquarters has realized
that and is seriously considering
redeployment of some senior officers out
of the north-east.”
The army had, on Sept. 19, 2013, said
its 3 Division had set up a general
martial court to try erring officers and
soldiers.
During a press briefing, the then
director, army public relations, Brigadier
General Ibrahim Attahiru, said the new
court would instil discipline and
professionalism among its troops based
on Army Headquarters’ directives.
The court under general commanding
officer Ebiobowei Awala was
inaugurated on April 22 at Rhino
Officers Mess, Maxwell Khobe
Cantonment, Jos, and has tried nine
soldiers for various offences ranging
from murder to manslaughter.
But it was not clear at the time of
fielding this report whether the generals
were court -martialed by the same
court.
Although efforts to confirm from the
Defence Headquarters’ spokesman,
Major General Chris Olukolade, did not
yield any result, a top serving general in
the DHQ said a lot of trials were indeed
going on: “A lot is happening. Those
suspected are being tried, and this is
why it is difficult to confirm or deny the
story. But whenever the final verdicts
are taken on these trials, the press
would be briefed by the appropriate
officers.”
#BringBackOurGirls protesters dare CP
Mbu over ban on protest
FCT commissioner of police Mr Joseph
Mbu has placed a ban on all protests
calling for freedom for the abducted
Chibok schoolgirls in the territory.
Mbu made the announcement yesterday
during a news conference where he said
that the trend of the protests in the FCT
constituted a serious security threat.
According to Mbu, information at the
disposal of the command indicated that
“dangerous elements’’ were planning to
hijack the protests which, he said,
informed the ban.
“As the FCT police boss, I cannot fold
my hands and watch this lawlessness
(protests). Information reaching us is
that, too soon, dangerous elements will
join groups under the guise of protest
and detonate explosives aimed at
embarrassing the government.
“People have been protesting for over a
month now. It is the issue of terrorism;
it is not solved in one day. Then, when
you continue to do it persistently, it
becomes a nuisance to the government.
Accordingly, protests on the Chibok
schoolgirls are hereby banned with
immediate,” he said.
Mbu said that after a group under the
aegis of “Bring Back Our Girls” protested
on April 28, another group, “Release Our
Girls”, emerged.
The police boss said that a situation
where the “Fountain of Unity”, venue of
gathering for the protests, was being
turned into a place for “cooking and
selling” was embarrassing.
Mbu, who lamented that many
diplomats live in that area of the FCT,
called on the people of the territory to
encourage the security agencies in the
war against terrorism and criminality by
appreciating the sacrifices the security
agencies had made and would continue
to make.
Asked whether the ban would not
violate freedom of expression and
assembly, the commissioner said that
one person’s freedom should not affect
another person’s freedom.
The commissioner also announced the
revocation of permit earlier issued for
tinted glass vehicles in the territory.
“There is a period when permit was
granted but the recent security
challenges have made the police
authority to revisit the issue and have
resolved to revoke same. The permit
issued so far remain revoked. You are
hearing this from my mouth, the FCT
police boss. The only authority to grant
tinted glass permit is the inspector-
general of police himself, under his hand
and signature,” he said.
Meanwhile, the FCT CP has also
announced the sack of all divisional
police officers in the FCT, directing them
to hand over to the next senior police
officer in their respective divisions. The
command spokesman, DSP Altine
Daniel, told newsmen that the decision
was taken after the commissioner met
with the DPOs yesterday.
Mbu’s no-rally directive: we are not
deterred, we will continue, group says
The Bring Back Our Girls campaign
group has stated that it is not deterred
by the directive of the FCT
commissioner of police, Mbu Joseph
Mbu, banning rallies in the city.
Media coordinator of the group Rotimi
Olawale, in an interview, stated that the
group cannot be denied having rallies
because it has the constitutional right
to meet at any place it wants to, adding
that it will still continue until the Chibok
girls abducted over a month ago are
brought back alive .
“We understand that the government is
concerned about its image and that is
the reason we are asking it to bring the
children back. That is what we want,” he
said.
Lawyers fault Mbu, say he lacks powers
to ban protest
But some lawyers have faulted the
directive by Mbu, saying that the
Nigeria Police lacks the constitutional
power to ban protest by Nigerians
The lawyers including Malam Abaubakar
Malami (SAN), Prof Awa Kalu (SAN), Mr
Ahmed Raji (SAN), Mr Fred Agbaje, Mr
Festus Keyamo and Mr Bamidele Aturu
described the development as an
embarrassment to the country and an
affront to the rule of law.
The lawyers spoke during separate
interviews with LEADERSHIP yesterday.
Malami said, “It is a clear infringement
on the rights of the protesters to
express themselves. The rights to
organise a peaceful protest is
guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.”
Kalu said, “Protest is part of the
provisions of the 1999 Constitution. The
ban is not healthy for our democracy at
all. They have the right to stage a
protest if they are aggrieved. The ban is
an infringement on the rights of the
protesters.”
Raji said, “The security of the country is
very important at this moment.
Individuals have the rights to protest
but when such protest threatens the
security of the country, the authorities
have the right to take some steps to
ensure that there is no breakdown of law
and order.”
Agbaje : “This kind of proclamation is
unconstitutional. It is an affront on the
constitutional right of Nigerians to
expression. Any Public Act provision
purportedly being acted upon by the
police in making this order is an affront
to both the rights of every Nigerian to
movement and expression. That kind of
order can only be tolerated under a
military government. No law can justify
the order and it must be withdrawn
immediately.
“This order is an embarrassment to the
federal government and it can further
lower the government in the eyes of the
international community that is
collaborating with them to rescue the
adopted girls. It is now clear to all that
the federal government is neck-deep in
the Boko Haram crisis.”
Aturu said, “The news is unbelievable.
It’s unbelievable because it cannot work
and it is very embarrassing to Nigerians
because, at a time like this when the
government should be at the forefront of
the efforts to protect the rights of the
citizens, they are demonstrating that
they don’t even understand the rights.
“The order should also be an
embarrassment to the federal
government and the police because it is
a mockery of our democracy. No one
can determine for Nigerians when to
protest, where to protest, as long as it is
a peaceful one. I hope this evil directive
will be reversed and the police
commissioner called to order
immediately.”
Keyamo said: “It is shocking that the
federal government, hiding under the
facade of the police, has finally openly
displayed its disdain for the public
outcry over the kidnap of those innocent
souls. The federal government would
really have wished that we all went
about our normal businesses and live in
denial like it did for many weeks.
“The government has shown that it is
more concerned about its image and
self-preservation than the safety of
those girls. This is the height of
irresponsibility and insensitivity to the
plight of the Chibok girls and their
family members. At a time when
government has not shown a capacity
to protect lives and properties, it is even
denying the citizens the basic right to
cry out about government’s inaction. It
is like beating a child mercilessly and
choking the child at the same time to
prevent the child from crying out. It is
inhuman, it is degrading and it is
humiliating.”
OIC labels Boko Haram outlaws, anti-
Islam
The Organisation of Islamic Countries
(OIC) declared yesterday that members
of the Boko Haram sect are a gang of
criminal outlaws who have been
misrepresenting the Islamic religion with
gory activities that are anti-Islam in
Nigeria.
Secretary-general of the OIC Eyad
Ameen Madani made the organisation’s
position known when he led a 57-
member delegation to pay President
Goodluck Jonathan a condolence visit
over the wanton killings by the
insurgents.
He said the organisation was also in
Nigeria to suggest to the president
certain things it could do to support the
country and express its willingness to be
actively involved in the war against the
terrorist group.
Madani said one concrete support
Nigeria should expect from OIC is that
since the Boko Haram crisis was multi-
dimensional, OIC could be involved in
many ways, including “first to declare its
position morally from the religious point
of view”.
Labelling Boko Haram as a gang of
criminal outlaws who are
misrepresenting Islam with anti-Islamic
activities, he said: “We are also here to
express our solidarity with Nigeria in
facing up to this terrorist organisation
and to condemn all terrorist acts they
have been committing, and to show our
condolences to the Nigerian people, to
the families of those who were affected.
“The OIC has issued statements that we
are very clear that these people are
outlaws; what they do is criminal act. It
has absolutely nothing to do with Islam,
Islamic teachings, the religion of Islam,
the history, the culture, the civilisation
of Islam, and we should identify them
for what they are: a terrorist group.”
Noting that the delegation of OIC led by
him discussed the organisation’s vision
and its priorities in the years to come,
the OIC secretary general clarified that
the conference is not a religious
organisation but a political one with 57
member-states that are represented in
the conference as a government.
Madani hinted further that OIC informed
Jonathan of the need for Nigerian
authorities to organise or allow inter-
faith forums to tap into Africa’s rich
history of religious tolerance in order to
clear the air on unverifiable claims that
suggest religious bigotry.
“Nigeria is a member of OIC at the
government level; so is Indonesia, so is
Senegal, Saudi Arabia, amongst others,”
he said. “We will convene an inter-faith
dialogue, because we feel that there is a
lot to be said about the veracity of these
claims, and to show the many aspects
of similarities and living together
between not only Christians and
Muslims but between all faiths and
convictions.”
Explaining that Africa was a model of
such tolerance, and its history a history
of tolerance, of living together, he said
the OIC through its different organs are
available to the request of the federal
government and would do all it can to
help in alleviating the social and
economic conditions in any areas
affected by the activities of insurgents.
On his part, foreign affairs minister
Aminu Wali, who followed the delegation
to visit the president, said the support
of OIC which is indicative of the
organisation’s willingness to come to
the aid of member-states was a
welcome development for Nigeria.
13 killed as gunmen, villagers battle in
Gwoza
At least 13 people comprising nine
Christian worshippers and four
suspected Boko Haram gunmen were
reportedly killed in a village in Gwoza
local government area of Borno State as
the gunmen and local residents engaged
in a life-or-death battle, eyewitnesses
and security officials said.
The Christian worshippers were killed
during a Sunday service in Antagara
village, near Gwoza town.
The attack came barely 24 hours after
the burial of the Emir of Gwoza, Idrisa
Timta, who was assassinated by the
Boko Haram gunmen on Friday.
During the burial, three suspected Boko
Haram members were nabbed by the
local youth vigilante when the gunmen
armed with RPG and AK 47 were
planning attack on the town at the time
the state governor Kashim Shettima and
other top dignitaries were busy
attending the burial of the assassinated
monarch.
The Sunday attack on worshippers
appeared to be a reprisal attack by
Boko Haram gunmen angered by the
arrest of their members on Saturday.
Witnesses said some armed men
stormed a church at Attangara village
in Gwoza LGA and opened fire on
worshippers while the Sunday service
was going on at about 9:30am.
In anger over the attack on the hapless
worshippers, the members of community
mobilized and went after the gunmen.
“The attack occurred at EYN Church
(Church of Brethren, Nigeria) while the
service was going on,” said a fleeing
resident called Miss Martha. “Our
church has some men as security group.
They usually keep vigilance on the
church especially when service is going
on. As we were holding service, we
started hearing gunshots and everybody
fled, some through the windows and ran
into a bush. Some whose houses are
near the church also ran to their
houses. Men in the community
immediately mobilised and pursued the
Boko Haram men. They were more than
10; they came with motorcycles and a
car. Our vigilante killed four of the Boko
Haram and arrested three. I later
discovered nine of our men in the
church security group were shot dead. I
left Attangara yesterday afternoon, slept
at Gwoza to get to Maiduguri today.”
A top security person who pleaded
anonymity confirmed the incident, even
as the state police command has not
issued any statement in respect of the
attack.
Borno indigenes worry over abduction of
more girls, women in Borno
Borno indigenes in the FCT are worried
over the continuous abduction of girls
and women by Boko Haram terrorists in
the state even after the abduction of the
Chibok girls.
Speaking in an interview during the sit-
out of the Bring Back Our Girls group at
Amusement Park, Maitama, one of the
indigenes, Dr Fatima Zama Gana, stated
that they had heard about another
abduction of innocent women in Banki,
Borno State, and its environs and the
trend has become a cause of worry for
them.
“Two days ago, we got a frantic call
from one of the abducted women and
she was talking in the Hilux van that
gunmen stormed the place and picked
up women from different settlements in
Banki on the farm and in the market. As
at that time, she was with her phone
because they were many and were not
searched. She was talking to her relation
in Abuja that they were at the Gamboru-
Ngala road. The abductors started
raining insult on her and that was the
last they heard from her. They pick
women randomly. From her group, she
said that they were about 20,” she said.
Another, Yusuf Sheriff Banki, decried the
suffering of his people who are not only
scared of their lives but are also facing
scarcity of food and drugs for
themselves.
“They can’t go to farm any longer
because they are scared of being raped,
kidnapped or killed. Food is rather
expensive there now. They are suffering,
not having drugs and food. No channels
of supplying food there. Dangote is no
longer supplying food there. Other
vendors have stopped theirs,” he said.
No security in place in Chibok – foreign
journalist
A journalist from Marie Claire, France,
Manon Querovil, who travelled to Chibok
recently, has stated that there was no
form of security in Chibok, the place
where over 200 girls were abducted on
April 14.
Querovil, who spoke to the Bring Back
Our Girls campaign group, stated that
her journey to Chibok was a tedious one
with checkpoints on the road and added
that there was no form of security when
they got to the Chibok village.
“The most striking thing is that there is
no security in Chibok and since they are
living close to the forest the insurgents
can come freely and strike,” she said.
Nigeria has withdrawn peacekeeping
troops from Mali – Mark
The president of the Senate, David Mark,
on Monday said the activities of Boko
Haram insurgents had compelled
government to withdraw its
peacekeeping troops from Mali.
He made the remark at a two-day
retreat on Nigeria’s foreign policy jointly
organised by the Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian
Institute of International Affairs in
Lagos.
The Senate president said Boko Haram
insurgency had become a major
challenge to Nigeria’s efforts at forging
relationships with her French-speaking
neighbours.
“The activities of Boko Haram
insurgents are beginning to affect
Nigeria’s foreign policy,’’ said Mark,
represented by his chief of staff, Sen.
Anthony Manzo.
He held that any government’s foreign
policy was an extension of its domestic
policy.
How Borno co-funds fight against Boko
Haram – SSG
The Borno State government has
disclosed that though it received only
N200m contribution from the federal
government since 2011, it has invested
over N10bn in procurement of armoured
personnel carriers, patrol vehicles,
hundreds of trailers of petroleum
products, provision of material logistics
and intervention in the area of
accommodation to support security
agencies in the fight against Boko
Haram insurgency, secretary to the
Borno State government Ambassador
Baba Ahmed Jidda said in an interactive
session with journalists before he left
Lagos at the weekend.
Jidda said the state had earlier decided
not to make public its expenditures on
the fight against Boko Haram because
Governor Kashim Shettima always
restrained officials in order not to be
viewed as embarrassing the federal
government since funding security falls
under the exclusive legislative list which
makes it a constitutional obligation of
the FG.
Jidda said the governor reversed his
position given a series of allegations
levelled against the state by mischief-
makers, part of which is a claim that the
state was not supporting the military.
He said, “First of all, let me say we were
pushed into making public these things I
am about to say. For three years, we
dealt with these challenges without any
noise, since the government was doing
it for Borno people. Some people are
being made to assume that a certain
security vote is provided to state
governments; this is not true. No state
gets a dime from FAAC as security vote.
Every state makes its own budget it
intends to spend from its own normal
allocations for security, not that
external funds from the federal
government accrues to any state.
“For us in Borno, we have spent over
N10billion in the last three years to
support security agencies in the
counter-insurgency. This doesn’t include
our losses. We have lost thousands of
citizens and, in terms of material loss,
we might be talking in tens of billions.
And, in all of these, Borno has received
only N200m from the federal
government as support; we have been
co-funding the security that is the
exclusive preserve of the federal
government.”
Police begin counter-terrorism mass
campaign
The Nigerian police have commenced an
extensive counter-terrorism mass
campaign as part of the strategies lined
up in the ongoing war against terrorism.
Force public relations officer CSP Frank
Mba made this known during a media
briefing during which he said the
campaign would witness massive
distribution of information, education
and communication (IEC) materials
across all strata of the Nigerian society.
According to Mba, the inspector-general
of police, Mohammed Abubakar, called
on Nigerians to partner with the force in
the counter-terrorism enlightenment
campaign (CEC), saying that the
campaign is expected to be sustained
until every citizen of Nigeria is well
informed of their responsibilities in this
age of terrorism.
