NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
General News

Gboko communities enjoy Dangote Cement CSR schemes

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By Ismail Abdulaziz

The Dangote Cement in Gboko, Benue, has scaled up its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) schemes for its host communities, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

This is contained in a statement from its Branding and Corporate Communications Department, on Wednesday in Abuja.

It said that this was its expanded interventions as part of the company’s observance of Global Sustainability Week.

Sustainable Week is a private initiative that tackles sustainability in its three dimensions: economy, social and environmental.

“Dangote Cement Plc., Gboko is committed to addressing the impact of its activities and contributing to sustainable development through projects and initiatives that promote safe, inclusive, and sustainable communities,” it said.

It added that the annual Sustainability Week initiatives include medical and charity outreach programmes.

‘’The Sustainability Champions in Gboko serve as role models for students, making a positive impact on their lives.

‘’The company engages students through environment clubs established in local schools during World Environment Day, which are used for educational and engagement sessions.

‘’Empowering women remains a key focus of the company’s programmes in the community,’’ the statement added.

This year’s Sustainability Week was launched on Monday in Gboko by the Plant Director, Louis Raj, who emphasised that Dangote Cement is one of the most socially responsible companies in Nigeria.

NAN reports that some of the programmes during the week in Gboko communities are training in liquid soap and Vaseline production, school mentoring, medical outreach, and donations to orphanages.

It said that the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, is encouraging businesses to adopt energy efficiency practices in light of the on-going global climate crisis.

Head, Sustainability at Dangote Cement Plc., Dr Igazeuma Okoroba, had said the manufacturing giant was committed to sustainability of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

Okoroba said: ‘’this year’s sustainability week afforded the cement company another opportunity to demonstrate our love for humanity by sharing our sustainability message and showing support to the residents of our host communities.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

General News

We’ve eliminated 300 Boko Haram, banditry groups’ commanders – Tinubu

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President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said that Nigerian security forces have eliminated more than 300 commanders of the Boko Haram terrorist group in the last one year.

Also eliminated are many commanders of other banditry groups, especially in the North-West and North-East.

Tinubu gave the security update in his National Broadcast to mark the nation’s 64th Independence Anniversary.

“I am happy to announce to you, my compatriots, that our administration is winning the war on terror and banditry.

“Our target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism.

“Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever.

“As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country.

“We have restored peace to hundreds of communities in the North, and thousands of our people have been able to return home.

“It is an unfinished business which our security agencies are committed to ending as quickly as possible.

“As soon as we can restore peace to many communities in the troubled parts of the North, our farmers can return to their farms.

“We expect to see a leap in food production and a downward spiral in food costs. I promise you, we shall not falter on this,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

One of the Boko Haram commanders who surrendered to Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Monguno, Borno
Defence/Security

2 Boko Haram commanders surrender to military task force in Borno

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By Hamza Suleiman

Two Boko Haram commanders, Ibrahim Muhammed and Auwal Muhammed, alias “Wanka”, surrendered to troops of Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Monguno, Borno on Monday.

The MNJTF is a combined multinational formation comprising military units from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

It is headquartered in N’Djamena and it is mandated to bring an end to Boko Haram insurgency.

Chief of Military Public Information of the MNJTF, Lt.-Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, stated on Tuesday that the two insurgents escaped from the Kwalaram/Bakura Buduma camps after fighting for more than a decade.

He added that the former Boko Haram commanders caved in as a result of intensified kinetic and non-kinetic operations targeting terrorist groups within Sector 3 of the MNJTF.

Abdullahi stated also that during investigation, the two Muhammeds admitted to their long-standing affiliation with the Bakura Buduma camp where they had fought for 15 years in Kwalaram, in Marte, Borno.

“The recovery of various items from the surrendering terrorists underscores the significance of this development.

“Items recovered from Ibrahim Muhammed were two AK-47 rifles, three AK-47 magazines, 90 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, two magazine carriers and one mobile phone set.

“From Auwal Mohammed, we recovered five magazines, 101 rounds of 7.62millimeter special ammunition, one X-mobile phone, two hand grenades and one X hand-held radio,” Abdullahi stated. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Deborah Coker/Alli Hakeem

Defence/Security

FG resumes trial of suspected Boko Haram members

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By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Federal Government on Monday resumed the trial of suspected Boko Haram members in the Kainji Prosecution Project Phase IV in Abuja.

Speaking at the opening of the court session, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the first phase commenced in 2017.

Fagbemi said that the Federal Government, in the 2017 trial, secured a total of 366 convictions, while 896 others were discharged for lack of evidence and 61 cases adjourned for further hearings.

He said the resumption of the prosecution of terrorism suspects marked another step in the journey of ensuring the security and safety of Nigeria and Nigerians.

According to him, security is a duty that is of utmost importance to all Nigerians, and a primary duty of  government.

“I must acknowledge the fact that we have come a long way in this initiative.

“The first phase of the Kainji Prosecution Project commenced in October 2017 with remarkable achievements.

“We recorded a total of 366 convictions, 896 others were discharged for lack of sufficient evidence, and 61 other cases were adjourned for further hearing.

“There have been three phases of the exercise so far, spanning between October 2017 and July 2018.

“I must, at this point, challenge all stakeholders to ensure that the momentum is sustained, seeing how important this assignment is to the wellbeing of our beloved country and its people,” he said.

Fagbemi said prosecution is one of the end processes of criminal justice administration, assuring that the Federal Government would deploy resources to enhance its prosecutorial capacities.

He added that the ministry would continue to support efforts towards deradicalisation and reintegration of repentant terrorists.

“We have made tremendous efforts to ensure that the trials are conducted with due regard to the provisions of the Constitution regarding openness as much as can be permitted.

“And in the circumstances provide the suspects with adequate opportunities to make their defence.

“I would like to urge the prosecutors and defence counsel to continue to maintain the highest levels of professional standards in this national assignment,” Fagbemi said.

On his part, the Director, Criminal Justice, Legal Aid Council, Mr Abdulfattah Bakre, said they had the consent of the defendants to represent them in the case.

Baker promised to cooperate with the prosecution while representing the defendants to ensure quick dispensation of justice in the case.

“We are happy that this trial is resuming after such a long time and we are glad that the defendants will have the opportunity to be heard.

“We are representing them based on their trust and not on the instruction of the Federal Government.

“We were in Kainji some years ago, and also recently we were in Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri where we interacted with them, and we have been fully instructed to represent them,” he said.

In his part, the representative of the National Human Rights Commission, said they would ensure that the defendants’ rights were respected while the trial lasted.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Attorney General personally commenced the prosecution of the suspects at the resumed hearing on Monday.

NAN also reports the trial is being presided over by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, said the resumption of the trial was in line with Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law and human rights-based approach to countering terrorism.

Ribadu said his office had ensured the full participation of the Armed Forces and other law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies towards the successful prosecution of all the suspects under the Terrorism Prevention Act.

According to him, efforts have been made through training and capacity building of investigators and prosecutors towards an evidence-based trial and witness protection.

He called on all stakeholders to commit to the identified timeline for the completion of the trials.

Ribadu assured them of the full support of President Bola Tinubu in strengthening Nigeria’s countering terrorism strategies within human rights frameworks. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

Gboko City Chiefs, Champions of the 2023 Sam Oguche/Bullet Energy Drink Invitational Tournament at the Mo Arena in Abuja
Sports

Gboko City Chiefs emerge champions of 2023 Bullet Energy Basketball Invitational

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By Victor Okoye

Gboko City Chiefs on Friday defeated Mak Town Flyers basketball club to emerge champions of the 2023 Sam Oguche/Bullet Energy Drink Invitational Tournament at the Mo Arena in Abuja.

Both Gboko City Chiefs and Mark Town basketball club reached the final having defeated FCT Hard Rockers 87-100 and Warriors 313; 84-73, respectively in the semi-finals on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five-day tournament, which dunked off on Monday, ended on Friday in Abuja.

The Jeff Verem-led team emerged champions after recording an impressive (90-77) at the end of the fourth quarter.

With the victory, Gboko City Chiefs smiled to the bank with a N1 million prize money, while Mark Town basketball club recieved a N500,000 runners up prize.

After faltering in the first quarter (19-22) to the runners up, Gboko City Chiefs never looked back, taking control of three other quarters (28-11, 19-21, 24-23) in the second, third and fourth quarters to claim the title.

Interestingly, the champions are one of the four teams that qualified for the finals of the 2023 Nigeria Basketball (NBBF) Final Four to be held in Port Harcourt, Rivers.

Haruna Friday won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award to pocket a N20,000 prize money, while Umar Garba emerged the competition’s top scorer with 22 points.

Speaking after the final, the organiser, Sam Ogwuche, said he was satisfied with the outcome of the championship.

He noted that the competition surpassed the expectations of basketball fans who trooped in their numbers to the Mo Arena.

“I feel very excited because it’s not easy planning a competition like this. For me the objective of the competition has been achieved because the winners are going to the NBBF Final Four.

“This serves like a preparatory competition for them, and of course I wish them all the luck going to Port Harcourt.

“As organiser we supported the winners with N1 million as prize and we will keep supporting the team and we believe that in the subsequent editions, the prize money would be jacked up.

“We are planning a competition also for the girls and that will come up anytime soon. The men’s competition will also be back in January,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Salif Atojoko

Defence/Security

Repentant Boko Haram member in police net for clubbing ex-wife to death

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By Hamza Suleiman

Police in Borno have arrested one Musa Dauda, a repentant Boko Haram member who allegedly killed and buried his ex-wife, Hafsat Musa, at a farm at Muhammed Goni stadium, Maiduguri.

Police spokesman in Borno, ASP Sani Kamilu, stated in Maiduguri on Friday that Dauda invited 45-year-old Hafsat to meet with him on her farm in the stadium premises, on Sept. 12.

Hafsat was nowhere to be found after honouring the invitation, Kamilu stated.

“The case was not reported to the police until a few days later when the decomposing body of Hafsat was discovered on the farm by her relatives,’’ Kamilu added.

He stated that the police swung into action immediately; visited the scene and evacuated Hafsat’s corpse to Umaru Shehu Ultramodern Hospital, Maiduguri for autopsy.

Kamilu stated also that Dauda was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 21 and that he confessed to the commission of the crime.

He added that Dauda said he saw Hafsat with another person on the farm and he clubbed her with a hoe on the head before she slumped and died.

Dauda later buried Hafsat on the farm and fled, Kamilu stated.

The suspect would be arraigned at the conclusion of investigation, Kamilu assured. (NAN)

Edited by Alli Hakeem

Defence/Security

Buhari has indeed subdued Boko Haram — Buratai

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By Sumaila Ogbaje

The former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, says President Muhammadu Buhari has fulfilled his promise of subduing Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.

Buratai, who made the assertion in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, recalled that the President had in his inaugural address on May 29, 2015, promised to subdue the terrorist groups.

The former COAS, however, explained that it was wrong to think that victory over Boko Haram terrorists meant a total cessation of hostilities.

He said that total cessation of hostilities would happen only when the terrorist groups agree to forsake their ideology, embrace democracy, respect national constitution and cling to peace.

Buratai said that the President had right from his inauguration, came with clear-cut strategies to subdue the terrorists and restore peace to the North-East and Nigeria in general.

He recalled Buhari as saying in his inaugural address that, “The military command center will be relocated to Maiduguri and remain until Boko Haram was completely subdued”.

“I say this with every sense of responsibility that the Buhari administration has subdued the Boko Haram insurgency and terrorism.

“As his premier Chief of Army Staff, and as the longest one that served under him for that matter, I think I owe it a duty to Nigerians and the whole world to say it as it is.”

According to him, the president came fully prepared with all the right information about the root causes of the insurgency and terrorism.

Buratai said that the Boko Haram insurgency was allowed to manifest before 2015 by official bungling, negligence, complacency and collusion.

This, he added, made Boko Haram to become a terrifying force, taking tens of thousands of lives and capturing several towns and villages, covering swathes of Nigerian sovereign territory.

“This is the true summary of the Boko Haram armed insurrection.

“The murder of Muhammad Yusuf by the police was clearly extrajudicial.

“Negligence, complacency and collusion with the proponents and strategic leaders of the Boko Haram insurgency for selfish reasons, caused the insurgency to degenerate into a full blown nightmare,” he added.

Buratai recalled that “the President made it clear that there were lapses in the way our police operate.

“Notwithstanding, he also made it clear that the methods used by members of the sect qualified them to be labelled as mindless and godless human beings.

“He told Nigerians and the international community that the terrorists were not true Muslims”.

Buratai promised to reveal the greater details of how the military subdued the terrorists and the parameters to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the assertion, in his memoire.

The former COAS said non kinetic approaches were necessary to ensure total victory, including deradicalisation of the terrorists to forsake their ideology, embrace democracy, respect national constitution and embrace peace.

Buratai quoted a world-renowned scholar on terrorism, Philip H. Gordon, as saying that military victory alone in the war on terror will not end terrorism.

“Gordon went on to further explain in his book that victory in the war against terrorism, means not the complete elimination of any possible terrorist threat.

“Pursuing that goal will almost certainly lead to more terrorism, but rather, the reduction of the risk of terrorism to such a level that it does not significantly affect average citizens’ daily lives, preoccupy their thoughts or provoke overreaction.

“At that point, even the terrorists will realise their violence is futile.

“Keeping this vision of victory in mind will not only avert considerable pain, expenses and trouble, it will also guide leaders toward the policies that will bring such a total victory about,” he added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abubakar Ahmed/Maharazu Ahmed

General News

Peace Institute foresaw Boko Harm emergence – DG

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By Ifeanyi Nwoko

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) foresaw the emergence of the Boko Haram insurgency way back in 2007, the Director-General of the institute, Dr Bakut Bakut, disclosed on Sunday.

Bakut, who made the disclosure at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, said that based on its findings, the institute had advised the then administration in power to act on the discovery of the institute.

He said that the institute also discovered warning signals of the current crisis between farmers and herders.

The don said that based on the growing rate of religious intolerance and strict application of certain doctrines in the Northeast, which the institute noticed, IPCR had to alert the then administration.

“One of the things that I would like to say and I always say it with caution, is: in 2007 this institute could predict that the intolerance that we saw, particularly in terms of religion and strict application of doctrines in the Northeast, we saw it becoming a problem.

“We warned them but obviously maybe we did not warn enough and today we have what we call Boko Haram.

“The same thing we saw again in 2012, the danger of what has become the farmer-herder issues. Again we warned but again, maybe we did not warn enough.

“So, what we have now done is to make sure that we do not just warn but go into the environment and try to intervene directly.

“These are the things that we have done to make sure that between year 2000 and today we operate within the context of our mandate,” Bakut said.

Giving further insight into what the institute has done in concrete terms to ensure peace in Nigeria, the director-general said that the IPCR had prepared a National Peace Policy and handed it over to the government, which in turn presented same to the United Nations (UN).

He said that based on that policy, which Nigeria also presented to the global body, the UN Security Council passed a resolution asking other African countries to follow Nigeria’s example.

“In that period, the Federal Government under the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo, set up a Presidential Implementation Committee on our findings and established a Presidential Implementation Plan.

“The directors of the IPCR then were working on strategies that would help solve some of the problems but something happened and that one went out.

“By 2007, when the government was going we were moved to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Unlike before when we sent our policy directly to the president, we now have to go through the ministry.”

Bakut noted that changes in the country’s administration and changes in the institute’s supervising body could have scuttled plans to act on the institute’s forecasts over the years. (NAN)

General News

Logout Boko Haram: NGO, EU handover 325 houses to Borno govt. for IDPs

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By Yakubu Uba

An International humanitarian organisation, Mercy Corps, in collaboration with European Union (EU), has handed over 325 two-bedroom houses for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bama, the headquarters of Bama LGA, to the Borno government.

This is contained in a statement on Friday in Maiduguri by the Communication Specialist of Mercy Corps, Grace Oguntade.

According to the statement, Mr Raiz Khan, the Corps Team Leader, at the hand over event said the houses were constructed under the “European Union-funded Borno ‘Maida’ – Early Recovery Programme”.

Khan  represented Mr Ndubisi Anyawu,  the Mercy Corps Country Representative, at the ceremony and said:

“Mercy Corps Nigeria provided the vital support to beneficiaries who have lost their homes as a result of the insurgency in NorthEast Nigeria.

“Mercy Corps Nigeria had learned about the precarious existence of the beneficiaries and their urgent need for shelter following the devastating impact of the insurgency in Bama in 2018.

“Subsequently, the organisation conducted a needs assessment to ascertain how many displaced families were affected and who were most at risk.

“Findings from the assessment showed that many houses and community structures were damaged while some were completely destroyed.

“Working closely with Community Resilience Groups (CRG), the community members were engaged and a suitable shelter prototype for their homes was agreed upon – two rooms and a veranda for 325 of the most vulnerable returnee households.”

Also speaking at the occasion, the representative of EU, Mrs Cecile Tassin-Pelzer, said that the project was an EU-funded project which started in 2017 to support recovery of up to 200,000 returnee IDPs.

Tassin-Pelzer said that similar 325 shelters were months ago handed over in Gwoza town of the state to the IDPs.

“The 650 permanent shelters constructed in Gwoza and Bama, equipped with solar system will go a long way to restore hope and safety to the people whose property were destroyed by the insurgent,” Tassin-Pelzer said.

Mr Abba Yusuf, the representative of Borno Government and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, lauded EU and Mercy Corps for the intervention for the vulnerable.

He said that the provision was one of the critical infrastructure needed.

Yusuf called on EU and other development partners to key into the state’s 25-year development plan and 10-year strategic transformation agenda “which is our road map and vision for a better Borno State”. (NAN)

General News

Battle of supremacy rages in Boko Haram/ISWAP camps

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By Sumaila Ogbaje

Fierce battle between Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has broken out in the terrorists’ camps leading to the killing of several of their fighters.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Yerima said the incident which took place in a border area between Nigeria and the Niger Republic was revealed by Al Thabat, an al-Qaida affiliated media outfit.

He said that Al Thabat, in a statement, said Jama’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihad, commonly known as Boko Haram, killed ISWAP insurgents in the village of Sunawa on the Nigeria-Niger border.

According to him, the battle occurred after ISWAP abducted dozens of women linked to Boko Haram.

“The group subsequently attacked the ISWAP base and rescued the women.

“It will be recalled that ISWAP broke off from the Shekau led Boko Haram in 2016, and since then, a bitter war of attrition and violent confrontations between both factions have been recurrent.

“This incident has once again exposed the disorganised and disoriented nature of these criminals,” he said.

Yerima said that the Nigerian Army in recent operations continued to dismantle all logistics and operational bases of the insurgents along the Lake Chad Basin axis and Sambisa forest area.

He said the troops had in one of its operations in Sambisa forest discovered and destroyed Abubakar Shekau’ farm and rescued abducted victims.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to use this medium to reassure Nigerians of the determination of troops to clear the remnants terrorists out of the Nigerian territory,” he said.

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