Curfew in Bauchi, North East Nigeria Over Religious Clash afp20090727614002 Abuja Hot fm in English 26 Jul 09

However, the military action which had been on for two days finally yielded fruits.

Yusuf's Maiduguri enclave was finally levelled by the Nigerian security forces yesterday afternoon.

The attack on the stronghold resulted in heavy casualties mostly on the side of the fundamentalists.

Though the military men had taken control of the headquarters of the sect, however, the fleeing members of the group set ablaze the Makera Police Station in the suburb of Maiduguri.

Meanwhile, normalcy is gradually returning to the town as people who have been holed up in their houses since Sunday evening have started trickling out, though random searching of people by security agents is still on.

Our correspondent who went out found the streets littered with corpses. There is serious stench everywhere and those moving about have to cover their nostrils.

Sheriff said in his broadcast: "Let me seize this opportunity to express our most profound gratitude on behalf of the government and people of Borno State to the President, Commander-in-Chief, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, for his quick intervention through the deployment of capable military personnel that have liquidated the miscreants.

"May I also express our gratitude to the General Officer Commanding the Third Armoured Division, Jos and the entire members of the state security forum, top government officials and officers and men of the Nigerian Army and Police for standing by us during this trying period."

The governor in the broadcast aired at 10pm on Wednesday also thanked residents for their patience and understanding while appealing to the entire citizenry to remain calm, vigilant and report any suspicious character in their midst to the nearest security agent.

He said: "Government is aware that some members of the discredited group are being harboured by some unpatriotic members of the public," warning that "any one found harbouring any member of that group will be dealt with."

Sheriff said security agents had been put on red alert and would soon be made to conduct house to house check throughout the state.

He urged all residents to go about their normal business, insisting that adequate security had been put in place to avoid any reoccurrence of the incidence.

The Director of Defence Intelligence (DDI), Col. Mohammed Yerima, said at a joint press briefing by Defence Headquarters, Force Public Relations, Nigerian Police, ACP Emmanuel CS Ojukwu, and Assistant Director Public Relations, State Security Service, Marilyn Ogar, that the militant sect had been in existence since 1995.

He said intelligence reports showed that members of the sect were not only in the North-east but also in some states outside the area.

He said the show-of-force which will be implemented in all states of the affected areas is on the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Paul Dike.

Tracing the history of the group, Yerima disclosed that it had operated under different names one of which was Ahlulsunna wal'jama'ah hijra.

He also said the sect leader was first arrested in November 2008 and taken to court but was freed by an Abuja High Court in January 2009.

"We will begin with a little background story on how the crisis snowballed into this current ugly situation. A certain group of Islamic fundamentalists, led by one Mohammed Yusuf had in the recent past been engaging in some suspicious activities with security implications. The group named Boko Haram is rabidly opposed to all forms of western education and civilization.

"They consider as their primary target for attacks, law enforcement agents, critical public infrastructure and centres of worship which in their view are opposed to their doctrines. It has been ascertained that the group did not emerge just of recent.

"They have been in existence as far back as 1995 under different names such as Ahlulsunna wal'jama'ah hijra. Security agencies have over this period been monitoring and containing their activities even when they transmuted to other names but with the same doctrine of intolerance.

"For instance, on 13 November 2008, the group's leader, Mohammed Yusuf, and quite a number of his followers were arrested by the security operatives and was handed over to the Inspector General of Police for prosecution.

"However, they were subsequently granted bail by an Abuja High Court on the 20 January 2009. Before then in 2007, one of his ardent disciples, Al-amin, who was also the Kano State leader of the group, was arrested along with some of their members after an attack on a police station in Kano; he was also handed over to the police for prosecution.

"Similarly, between February and April 2009, Yusuf's second in command named Kilakam, a Nigerien, was on two occasions arrested and repatriated to his country.

"In furtherance to their violent tendencies, the extremists sometime in June 2009 launched an attack on a police station in Bama, Borno State but the police was able to contain their violence which left about 17 of their members dead; the leader of the group vowed to avenge the death of his members and ordered his followers to stockpile arms. Based on intelligence report, all security agencies were put on alert which led to the discovery of a hideout where members of the sect were preparing bombs in Maiduguri.

"Following security reports on the activities of Boko Haram, the group's hideout located at Dutsen Tanshi area of Bauchi town was raided on 26 July 2009 by a joint security team and nine of them were arrested and materials for bomb making and other weapons were confiscated. About two hours later, the group launched another deadly attack on police formations in Bauchi State. Unfortunately for them, they were met with heavy casualty. They subsequently struck in Potiskum, Yobe State where they bombed police stations and set inmates free. Between July 26 and 29, these violent extremists had launched sporadic suicide attacks on Bauchi, Yobe and Borno States.

"Their weapons of offence include Improvised Explosives Devices (IED), AK-47 rifles, dane guns, pistols, daggers, machetes, catapults and clubs.

"Gentlemen of the press, let me take a moment to give you an insight into the crisis management procedure in internal security operations. First of all you may wish to note that the Nigeria Police is responsible for the maintenance of law and order in the country.

"It is only when the NPF is unable to contain the situation that the military might come in. This notwithstanding, the military cannot intervene or deploy unless so directed by the President. It is against this background that the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria, having assessed the situation on ground, directed the Chief of Defence Staff to take over the operation of restoring law and order in the affected states.

"Consequently, the Chief of Defence Staff ordered the military to conduct internal security operation which is already in progress. We however assure the public that the military is in control. In fact, Maiduguri town was cleared of the fundamentalist as at yesterday.

"We implore the public to give security agencies accurate and timely information that will assist in ending the crisis. The issue of religious extremism is not peculiar to Nigeria as it has become a global challenge. Countries including Nigeria are not resting on their oars; we therefore enjoin you the press and members of the public to partner with us to tame this monster. The time to act is now," Yerima said

Fielding questions from newsmen on why Yusuf was yet to be apprehended, Yerima disclosed that as at Wednesday night, the joint team where in pursuit of him (Muhammed Yusuf) and had a lead that he had left Maiduguri for his home in Girgir, in Jakusko Local Government area of Yobe State.

On the allegations that the SSS had been negligent and aided his freedom when he was last arrested, Ogah replied, "Muhammed Yusuf was arrested on November 13, 2008 and as at November 17 2008, after gathering substantial evidence he was handed over to the police by the SSS for prosecution and was subsequently released by an Abuja High Court on the January 20, 2009.

"It will be wrong for the press to assume that the security agencies failed because it is on record that sufficient intelligence have been collected on Muhammed Yusuf and his followers and same has been passed to action agencies. As at July 14, 2009, 21 reports have been submitted on Muhammed Yusuf activities and members of his group. The duty of State Security Service is that of collecting proactive intelligence and passing it on to our consumers and that we have done sufficiently and we are still doing."

[Description of Source: Lagos This Day Online in English -- Website of the independent daily; URL: http://www.thisdayonline.com]

Nigeria: Army Kills 100 Militants in Gun-Battle in Borno State

AFP20090731565014 Isheri Nigerian Compass Online in English 2300 GMT 30 Jul 09

[Report by Cheke Emmanuel, Lafia, Sadeeq Amokpa, Ted Odogwu, Gbenga Akingbule, Stephen Osu, Dahiru Suleiman, Moses Gbande, Akeem Oyetunji, Theophilus Remi, and Godwin Isenyo: "Fundamentalists Routed as Soldiers Storm Mosque; Military Chiefs Talk Tough; Tension in Jos"]

After a fierce overnight gun duel, the Nigerian Army announced yesterday that it had decisively overpowered the Boko Haram sect, whose members murdered hundreds in four days in the name of al-Qaeda.

Soldiers shelled the group's compound and killed about 100 militants in a fierce gun-battle at their mosque in Maiduguri on Wednesday night.

The leader of the sect, Mohammed Yusuf, managed to escape the fighting with about 300 of his followers, but his deputy was not so lucky, as he was killed by soldiers.

The Army was scouring the outskirts of the city yesterday looking for Yusuf and the missing fighters, who style themselves as the Nigerian Taliban.

Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, announced on state radio yesterday. " Security personnel have succeeded in disloging the militants and I urge everyone to go about their normal duties.

"Meanwhile, the house-to-house search is still going on and anybody that harbours them will be dealt with according to the law."

Soldiers shot their way into the Boko Haram mosque on Wednesday and then raked those holed up inside with gunfire.

About 50 bodies were seen inside the building and another 50 in the courtyard outside.

The militants were armed with home-made hunting rifles, bows, arrows and scimitars.

The commander of the operation, Maj-Gen. Saleh Maina, announced: "The mission has been accomplished."

Major-Gen. Maina said that his troops would fire mortar shells later yesterday to destroy what is left of the sprawling compound, which stretches over four kilometres (about 2.5 miles).

There was tension in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, yesterday over a possible attack by the fundamentalists, who have launched a war against Western education in some parts of the North, especially as some of their members were suspected to have been found in the state.

A member of the sect, Mallam Sadibu Abdulkarim, who is the proprietor of Alfutqan Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools in Jalingo, had started implementing their beliefs in his schools, forcing all the pupils to abandon their Western attires for the Hausa dress code, until the intervention of the state Ministry of Education, which ordered the school shut.

Security agents were on the red alert yesterday, as it was found that among many of the people escaping from the violence in Bauchi, Borno, Yobe and Kano states were members of the sect.

The Nigeria Compass learnt in Jalingo that the fundamentalists trooped into the state, disguising as beggars and nail cutters, and waiting for their trumpet to be blown before they would come out of their actual colours.

But, not prepared to be caught napping, a combined team of policemen and soldiers in the state have since embarked on thorough stop and search of vehicles entering and exiting Jalingo and major towns in the city.

The State Police Command spokesman, Baba Sani, told the Nigerian Compass on phone that their men and officers had been put on red alert in case of any eventuality.

The Senior Assistant to the Governor on Security, Charles Maijankai, also said on phone that none of the sect members would go back alive if they attempted invading Taraba.

Just as it was in Taraba yesterday, residents of Nasarawa State, particularly Lafia, the state capital, are now living in fear over a possible attack by the fundamentalist.

Determined to forestall any breach of the peace, the police in the state have beefed up security.

Speaking with reporters in Lafia, the Police Commissioner, Alhaji Shehu Babalola, said that security had been beefed up throughout the state to checkmate the fundamentalists.

He listed the City Gate ("Welcome to Lafia" point), Shendam, Doma, Obi and Makurdi roads, all in Lafia, as the flash points being closely monitored.

Besides, policemen are specially protecting government establishments and places of worship, he added.

He said that the police were collaborating with the State Security Service (SSS), t he Civil Defence Corps, Prison Service, Immigration and others to ensure adequate security in the state.

Meanwhile, the Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, has condemned in strong terms incessant religious violence and intolerance in some parts of the North.

Aliyu particularly described as a most thoughtless and barbaric act the ongoing violence targeted at crucial facilities and infrastructure.

The governor said the activities of the faceless sponsors were "most deplorable, wrongly-timed and retrogressive especially given the fact of the pressing economic hardship occasioned by the global economic melt down."

The Chief Servant and chairman of the Northern Governors Forum said he was irked by the fact that the violence was unleashed by the youth, who should be seen to be helping the cause of nation-building.

He endorsed the measures adopted by the Federal Government to tackle the situation and called on religious, traditional, political and other leaders to prevail on their people not to take the law into their own hands.

Meanwhile, there was tension in Jos, the Plateau State capital yesterday as news filtered in that fundamentalists were coming to attack residents.

Security agents were immediately drafted to strategic locations with heavily-armed soldiers and anti-riot policemen mounting several check-points at Maraba Jamaar, UTC Junction and Zaria/Bauchi Road.

To put them in check, 18 suspected fundamentalists were yesterday arrested.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr Gregory Anyangting, told reporters yesterday: "Intelligence report shows that members of the group planned to attack Jos, the Plateau State capital which led to operatives beefing up security in all parts of the state. One Shamsuddeen Salisu Nakofa was arrested with a large quantity of camouflage army uniform, a pair of armoured shoe and beret, 15 CD plates and some materials with Arabic writing.

"He told us that he belonged to the Taliban group and led police detectives to where he used to purchase the materials in Aba, Abia State.

"The police also arrested 16 people in one house with one Ghanaian, a Nigerian and youths from Funtua in Katsina State."

Speaking to journalists, Nakofa said although he was not a member of the Taliban group, "I often sell army uniform to them and I was taking some of the uniforms to Bauchi when I was arrested."

He said one Mr Ete Ekafor, who was also arrested, was his main supplier but Ekafor denied this immediately, saying "I linked him to the person who sells the materials in Aba because he told me that he was a tailor with the Nigerian Army."

One of those arrested, Emmanuel Francis, a Ghanaian, said he was an alternative medicine dealer and all the boys arrested in his house "are those helping me to sell the medicine."

In Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, the police commissioner, Abdullahi S. Fana, vowed that security agents would deal with any fundamentalist.

Addressing a press conference in his office, Fana stated that Jigawa, being the most peaceful state in the federation, is security-threat free, declaring "we are battle ready for any eventualities."

Fana, who denounced the presence of members of the Boko Haram sect in Jigawa, assured that "the command was ready to crush them at any point in time, should they dare to step in."

In Dutse metropolis alone, 103 suspected militants were arrested.

In Bauchi, fake military and police uniforms, three sewing machines and other sophisticated weapons stocked in a house were discovered.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Water Inyang, disclosed that aside the weapons, two teenagers were arrested from the house in the Kandaha area of the state capital.

He further said a member of Boko Haram, who initially escaped during the hostility, was gunned down by the police along Airstrip area.

In Kaduna, security agents intensified their patrol of the volatile city yesterday.

Members of the state se curity outfit, code-named Operation Yaki in a convoy, were chanting war songs, apparently to wade off fundamentalists.

The operatives, comprising the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Police, State Security Services (SSS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were strategically positioned at the Sheik Abubakar Gummi Central Market, the Nnamdi Azikwe Western bye-pass and other sensitive locations.

In the ancient city of Zaria, a predominantly Muslim enclave, security was unusually beefed up.

At the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), a patrol van filled with soldiers was stationed there.

In Abuja, the Federal Government directed the military to use 'maximum force' to contain the fundamentalists. It also accused the judiciary of adding to the crisis because it granted bail to the sect's leader, Mohammed Yusuf, in January.

The 'show of force' is the movement of military armoured tanks around major cities across the federation to assure the populace that they are safe and should go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation.

At a joint press conference addressed by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Col. Mohammed Yerima, Police Force PRO, ACP Emmnauel Chukwu and the State Security Service (SSS) Assistant Director in charge of Public Relations, Merilyn Ogar, at the Defence Headquarters yesterday, Yerima said Yusuf was arrested on November 13, 2008 by men of the SSS and handed over to the then Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, for prosecution.

He however, regretted that Yusuf, despite the overwhelming evidence provided by the police against him, was released by an Abuja High Court after three months of detention.

Yerima traced the history of the activities of the sect to 1995 and said security agencies had since been monitoring and containing their activities.

"For instance, on November13, 2008, the group's leader, Mohammed Yusuf and some followers were arrested by the security operatives and handed over to the Inspector-General of Police for prosecution. However, they were subsequently granted bail by an Abuja High Court on January 20 this year," he lamented.

Sequel to the escalation of the religious crisis, which started in Bauchi, the DDI said the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike, was directed by President Umaru Yar'Adua to deploy military personnel to maintain law and order in the affected states, adding: "We assure the public that the military is in control. In fact, Maiduguri town was cleared of the fundamentalists as at yesterday.

"We implore the public to give security agencies accurate and timely information that will assist in ending the crisis. The issue of religious extremism is not peculiar to Nigeria as it has become a global challenge. We therefore, enjoin the media and members of the public to partner with us to tame this monster".

Reacting to question on alleged indiscriminate killings of innocent civilians by the civil societies, a visibly angry defence spokesperson posited that the civil societies were being unfair to the security operatives, insisting "I don't think the human rights groups are being fair to the security agencies".

He maintained that security operatives involved in curbing the crisis have so far being using "bearest minimum force", "whereas the fundamentalists used dangerous weapons including improvised explosive devices, AK-47 rifles, dane guns, pistols, daggers and machetes."

Yerima, who declined to disclose the actual figure of casualties recorded so far on both sides, insisted that members of Boko Haram, have not been linked to the Taliban group in Afghanistan as being touted in some quarters.

He disclosed that security operatives were still on the trail of the group leader, Mohammed Yusuf. Ojukwu assured that he would eventually be arrested and prosecuted.

The Boko Haram sect, which emerged in the country in 2004, has killed many people in a week of bloodletting, while security agents killed hundre ds of them in retaliation.

[Description of Source: Isheri Nigerian Compass Online in English -- Website of the privately owned newspaper close to former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili; URL: http://www.compassnewspaper.com]

Nigeria: Security Joint Team Kills Islamic Sect Leader, Yusuf

AFP20090731606001 Abuja African Independent Television in English 1900 GMT 30 Jul 09

AIT 1900 News 30 July -- News just coming says the manhunt for the leader of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf is over. He was arrested in Maiduguri while trying to flee. He was arrested at about 1800 GMT. His enclave in Maiduguri was destroyed in a military operation led by the Operation Flush Commander, Colonel Ben Ahanotu. The operational headquarters of the sect leader located behind the railway quarters was totally destroyed and his disciples who were in the enclave were killed during the operation, while others escaped with bullet wounds.

AIT 0630 News 31 July -- The leader of the Islamist sect blamed for days of violence in northern Nigeria has been shot and killed while in police custody, officials said on 30 July. The police commander of Borno State announced on state radio that Mohammed Yusuf, the leader of the sect some call the Nigerian Taliban, has died in police custody.

He gave no further explanation, but the state governor's spokesman, Usman Ciroma said,

[Begin recording][Ciroma] I saw his body at the police headquarters. I believe he was shot while he was trying to escape. [end recording]

Yusuf's death could provoke more violence, though his followers in the Boko Haram sect may be in disarray after troops shelled his compound in the northern city of Maiduguri on 29 July. Yusuf, 39, managed to escape with about 300 followers, some of them armed. His deputy, Bukar Shekau, was killed in the attack, according to Army commander Maj. Gen. Saleh Maina. Troops killed about 100 militants, half of them inside the sect's mosque. Soldiers then launched a manhunt, and Yusuf was reportedly found in a goat's pen at the home of his in-laws.

Seeking to impose Islamic Shari’ah law throughout this multi-religious country, the militants attacked police stations, churches, prisons, and government buildings in a wave of violence that began on 26 July in Borno and quickly spread to three other northern states. But, leading Nigerian rights groups accuse security forces of killing bystanders and other civilians. A military spokesman denied the charge and said it was impossible for rights workers to tell who was a civilian and who was a member of Boko Haram, which means "Western education is sin" in the local Hausa language.