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

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has blamed the Federal Government for not acting enough to reign in the terrorists, in spite of the earlier security information available to it.

The lawmaker, who represents Damboa/Chibok/Gwoza Federal Constituency in the House of Lower Representatives maintained that the government was briefed early enough ahead of the possible out-break of the crisis, but did not act promptly.

The Kano State government, which yesterday expressed concern over the Islamic militant's presence in the North, demolished a mosque in Wudil used by one of the group's leader, Salisu Al- Amin Wudil.

The state government described the activities of the group as unfortunate in view of the fact that the Ibrahim Shekarau administration had been committed to peaceful co-existence and religious harmony amongst residents of the state.

In a statement signed by Adamu Abdullahi, the government reiterated its commitment to the goal of ensuring the security of lives and property of all residents.

The Managing Director of the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KNUPDA), Malam Hassan Na'Abba confirmed the demolition of the mosque and the residents of the militants' leader. Na'Abba said the mosque was situated in a location in Wudil not within areas earmarked for the constriction of residential and religious buildings.

In Jalingo, the sect's school located at Angwan Lariya, the state capital, was said to be solely dedicated to the teaching of ethics opposed to western civilisation.

Confirming the report, the Chairman of the Moslem Council of Nigeria (MCN), Alhaji Inuwa Jauro Manu, blamed the security agencies and the Ministry of Education for allowing such a school to exist in the state.

The school, reportedly named Alfurqan Islamic School, is located on the same street as the Motor Traffic Division (MTD) of the Nigeria Police. Manu, who was visibly dejected, said even though, the "sect called itself a religious organisation, its actions and activities does not conform with Islam." The proprietor, whose name was given as Malam Salihu, was said to have fled to Maiduguri along with some of his followers and their families two days to the mayhem in Borno.

AC has described as ill-timed and ill-advised the current three-day official trip to Brazil by Yar'Adua, at a time the country was in the throes of violence triggered by the misguided and self-styled 'Nigerian Taliban' sect.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party wondered what was so compelling about the trip that it could not be deferred in the national interest.

"At the last count, four states in the north have borne the brunt of the violence unleashed by the senseless members of this sect, and dozens of lives, including those of security agents, have been lost while property worth billions have been damaged.

"In addition, hundreds of our citizens have been displaced and left deeply traumatized, while there is palpable fear across the country that the violence may either spread further or degenerate.

"It is therefore unconscionable that the President, who is the father of the nation, could take this time to travel to Brazil, instead of visiting the affected areas and offering succour to the people affected," AC said. "The President's hastily-arranged media interaction before his departure, during which he commented on the crisis, has done little or nothing to change the fact that the timing of the trip was bad," the party added.

[Description of Source: Lagos The Guardian Online in English -- Website of the widely read independent daily, aimed at up-market readership; URL: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/]

Nigeria: Leader of Islamic Militant Group Reportedly Killed in Police Detention

GMP20090730643005 Doha Al Jazeera.net in English 30 Jul 09

[Unattributed report titled: "Nigeria's Boko Haram chief 'killed"]

The leader of an Islamist sect blamed for violence that has killed hundreds of people in northern Nigeria has been killed in police detention, a policeman spokesman has said. "He has been killed. You can come and see his body at the state police command headquarters," Isa Azare, spokesman for the police command in the northern city of Maiduguri, said on Thursday.

Security forces had earlier reported that Mohammed Yusuf had been arrested and that he was in Giwa barracks in Nigeria's northern state of Borno.

At least 180 people have been killed and thousands of people displaced as the sect seeks to impose sharia, or Islamic law, across Africa's most populous country.

Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege, reporting from Borno state in northern Nigeria, said: "One cannot be hundred per cent sure of what the police are saying about the capture and death of Mohammed Yusuf for two reasons."One, the military and police are under sustained political pressure to rout out Boko Haram. Two, on Wednesday were told that Yusuf and at least 300 of his supporters fled Maiduguru as they were being pursued by Nigerian security forces. What we have asked the Nigerian police force for is evidence that they have actually captured Mohammed Yusuf but we have not got it."

News of Yusuf's death came after the group's deputy leader was reported to be among dozens of people killed after troops had shelled Boko Haram's base in the city of Maiduguri.

Security forces were said to be pressing ahead with the hunt for Boko Haram members on Thursday.

The government warned people to evacuate the area, then shelled and stormed the group's mosque and headquarters on Wednesday night. A firefight ensued with retreating Boko Haram members armed with homemade hunting rifles, firebombs, bows and arrows, machetes and scimitars.

A reporter for the Associated Press news agency saw soldiers shoot their way into the mosque and then open fire on those inside. The reporter later counted about 50 bodies inside the building and another 50 in the courtyard outside.

Our correspondent said there has been a "reduction in some of the fighting and that's because the Nigerian security forces have been able to flush out some Boko Haram members".

"It now appears many of the Boko Haram members have fled the scene, but there has been more violence in another state - Kano state - not far from Borno state, where we understand that security forces bulldozed a mosque and a house where the alleged leader was living," she said.

Bystanders 'Killed'

A spokesman for a human rights group said government forces had killed bystanders and other civilians as they battled members of the sect.

But a military spokesman denied the charge and said it was impossible for rights workers to differentiate between civilians and members of the Boko Haram.

Abubakar Umar Gada, a senator from Sokoto state in northern Nigeria, told Al Jazeera that security agents had been deployed heavily and the situation "is totally under control". He said Boko Haram had "taken advantage of the large number of people who are unemployed" and lacking opportunities to better their lives. "We largely have a social problem that has been taken advantage of by these miscreants to cause havoc and confusion," Gada said.

Boko Haram, which means "Western education is prohibited" in the local Hausa dialect, has called for the enforcement of sharia, or Islamic law, across Africa's most populous nation.

Nigeria's 140 million people are nearly evenly divided between Christians, who dominate the south, and the primarily northern-based Muslims.

Islamic law was implemented in 12 northern states after Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999 following years of military rule.

The clashes began on Sunday in nearby Bauchi state, with fighters attacking police stations, before spilling over into Yobe. Residents said fighters armed with machetes, knives, bows and arrows and home-made explosives attacked police buildings and anyone resembling a police officer or government official in the city.

But most of the casualties appear to have been in Maiduguri, the northeastern city known as the birthplace and stronghold of the group.

[Description of Source: Doha Al Jazeera.net in English -- Website of the Al Jazeera English TV, international English-language news service of Al-Jazirah, independent television station financed by the Qatari Government; URL: http://english.aljazeera.net ]

Xinhua: Writethru: Nigerian Riot Leader Killed in Northeast Borno State

CPP20090730968367 Beijing Xinhua in English 2127 GMT 30 Jul 09

[Xinhua: "Writethru: Nigerian Riot Leader Killed in Northeast Borno State"]

[Computer selected and disseminated without OSC editorial intervention]

LAGOS, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's Islamic sect leader Mohammed Yusuf was killed by Nigerian military force in Maiduguri,capital of Borno State, on Thursday evening, according to the Nigerian military authority.

Mohammed Yerima, director of information of Nigerian Military Force, told Xinhua that the wanted sect leader Yusuf was killed during a gun battle on Thursday evening.

Nigeria's Television Authority (NTA) also reported that the sect head's body was recognized by local residents. The sect leader, who stirred up the four-day riot in northeast Nigeria states, was said to have told his men never to retreat, but he caused about 300 deaths of his men in their gun fight against the military and police on Wednesday.

Nigeria's Borno State Governor Ali Sheriff vowed to catch Yusufand bring punishment to him.

The military destroyed Yusuf's camp and conducted a house-to-house search to ensure that they cleared all his men hiding aroundthe place.

Saleh Maina, military officer commanding of three Armored Division, said the army and the police had taken over the area, noting that there was no escape route for Yusuf and his men.

Till early Thursday evening, the NTA reported that Yusuf was killed in a fighting. The riot was trigged by some popularly called "Boko Haram" which was said to have been campaigning against anything Western.

The sectarian unrest that erupted in northern Nigeria's Bauchi State on Sunday has spread to neighboring Adamawa, Kano, Borno andYobe States where over 300 people were reportedly killed on Monday.

On Wednesday, hundreds of members of the sect were killed in a gun battle and the riots led to about 600 deaths in the past four days. Thousands of residents are reported to have fled their home.

Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has directed that security bebeefed up in all neighboring states and also that security personnel be placed on alert to ensure that the attacks did not spread elsewhere.

It was learnt that members of the sect had been planning a demonstration in Bauchi for a long time but were not given the chance because of the fear by government that their doctrine, if allowed to be preached publicly, would cause a religious crisis, considering the fact that the teachings were completely contrary to those of other Islamic sects as regards peaceful coexistence. Nigeria is a secular country with the population evenly dividedbetween Christians and Muslims.

The northern region with 19 out of the country' s 36 states is predominantly Muslim, while Christians dominate the south.

[Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's official news service for English-language audiences (New China News Agency)]

Nigeria: Uncertainty Over Boko Haram's Leader's Condition

AFP20090730606008 Abuja Punch in English 30 Jul 09 p 1

The Nigeria Police say they have arrested the fleeing leader of the self-styled Nigerian Taliban aka Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf. He was arrested as he fled the Borno State capital, Maiduguri, with some of his followers. He was found hiding in a goat pen in the home of his parents-in-law. The state police commissioner, Mr. Christopher Dega, said the militant leader was being held at the Giwa Military Base in Maiduguri. Mohammed Yusuf had been paraded before journalists with no apparent sign of injury.

However, an al-Jazeera reporter in Maiduguri expressed doubts that the person captured was Yusuf. The report said, "We can’t be 100 percent sure that the man that Nigerian forces say they’ve captured is indeed the leader of Boko Haram because throughout 30 July, Nigerian security forces were telling us that Boko Haram’s leader, Mohammed Yussef and at least 300 fighters had fled a complex that was under fire. There was serious gunfire between Nigerian security forces and followers of Mohammed Yusuf. Now we’re hearing this news that he has indeed been taken by police and incarcerated, and we are trying to get the Nigerian security forces to show us evidence that he is behind bars."

When contacted, the spokesman of the Nigeria Police, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, neither confirmed nor denied it.

During the NTA 2000 GMT News 30 July, however, Mr. Ojukwu said Mohammed Yusuf was killed in a shootout along Potiskum/Damaturu road, Borno State.

AIT News 1900 GMT 30 July says Yusuf was arrested by the joint security team at 1800 GMT while fleeing from the gunfire between the joint security force and his followers in Borno State.

[Description of Source: Abuja Punch in English - independent news daily]

Nigeria: Officials Confirmed Killing of Mohammed Yesufu, Boko Haram Sect Leader

AFP20090730614015 Abuja Radio Nigeria-Abuja in English 2100 GMT 30 Jul 09

The leader of the Islamic militant group, Boko Haram sect, Mohammed Yesufu has been killed

Radio Nigeria Correspondent Abdallah Bello reports that security agents swooped on the area following a tip off.

The Borno State deputy governor, Alhaji Adamu Shetimma, confirmed that the extremist leader has been killed.

Also, the DIG [Deputy Inspector General of Police] Operations, Force Headquarters, Mr John Hamza Ahmadu, said Yesufu was killed in a shoot out with security agents.

Mr Yusuf led Boko Haram, which wants to overthrow the government and impose a strict version of Islamic law.

Hundreds of people have died in five days of clashes between his followers and security forces.

[Description of Source: Abuja Radio Nigeria-Abuja in English -- Federal government-owned, independent radio]

Nigeria: Kebbi Government Denies Existence of Islamic Sect in State

AFP20090731565001 Lagos This Day Online in English 31 Jul 09

[Report by Saka Ibrahim: "'No Boko Haram in Kebbi'"]

Kebbi State government yesterday denied the existence of 'Boko Haram sect in any part of the state.

Security Adviser to the State Governor Colonel Musa Abdullahi (rtd), after an emergency security meeting with emirs to prevent the spread of the crisis to the state, said the meeting was necessary to protect lives and property.

The Boko Haram religious sect started violence in Bauchi, which later spread to Borno, Yobe, Kano and Kastina states.

Abdullahi said the traditional rulers were told to meet with their district heads, village heads, religion and opinion leaders, to ensure peace in all nooks and crannies of the state.

He said all the 21 local government chairmen had also been mandated to hold security meetings to prevent violence.

He said, "actually the state Security Council has met in response to the present crisis in the North. We don't want the crisis to spread to Kebbi State. We know that religious matters are best handled by the emirs and that is why we invited them. We have taken measures that will prevent the spread of the crisis to the state and adequate security measures have also been taken to protect lives and property.

"We have to call the emirs, because whenever we have problems, they are the first people we go to, because they are the people close to those at the grassroots and that we'll be able to fish out criminals within the communities.

BOTh the state government and security agents are working hand in hand with the emirs to prevent crisis in this state," he said, and appealed to the people to report criminals and people with suspicious characters to traditional rulers and security agents, for prompt action.

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

Nigeria: Plateau State Police Arrest 18 'Suspected' Members of Islamist Sect

AFP20090731565002 Lagos Daily Sun Online in English 31 Jul 09

[Report by Mariam Leshinloye Agboola: "18 Suspects Arrested in Jos"]

The Nigeria Police, Plateau State Command, has arrested 18 people suspected to be members of the Islamist militant known as Boko Haram sects in Jos.

Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr Gregory Anyangting, while parading the suspects before journalists said from the intelligence report they have gathered, the members of the group planned to attack Jos, which led security operatives to beef up security in Jos.

According to him, one person named Shamsuddeen Salisu Nakofa was arrested with large quantity of camouflage army uniform, one shoe and berret, 15 CD plates and some materials with Arabic inscription.

The suspect told the police that he belonged to the Taliban group and led police detectives where he used to purchase the materials from one Ete Ekafor in Aba, Abia State.

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

The commissioner said police was investigating them to know whether they have linked with members of the sects.

Speaking to journalist after they were paraded, Malam Shamsuddeen Salisu said even though he was not a member of the Taliban group, he sold the army uniform to them. He said some of them had ordered him to purchase and take them to Bauchi before he was arrested.

Mr Ekafor said he was not the one who sold the uniform but confessed that he assisted Shamsuddeen to get to the person who sells the materials in Aba because the buyer told him that he was a tailor with the Nigerian Army.

[Description of Source: Lagos Daily Sun Online in English -- Website of the privately owned daily close to former Abia State Governor Orji Kalu; URL: http://www.sunnewsonline.com]

Nigeria: Katsina State Police Arrest 35 'Suspected' Members of Islamic Group

AFP20090731565003 Lagos Daily Sun Online in English 31 Jul 09

[Report by Andy Asemota: "35 Islamist Militants Nabbed in Katsina; 2 Found Dead"]

No fewer than 35 suspected members of Islamic fundamentalist group known as 'Boko Haram' which created palpable fear, panic and left deaths on its trail in Borno, Bauchi, Kano and Yobe states have run out of luck in four different towns in Katsina State.

The state Police Command Commissioner, Mr. Dan' Azumi Doma, who confirmed this to newsmen on Thursday disclosed that 12 of the suspects were arrested in Katsina metropolis, 16 in Bakori, seven at Danja town and one in Abukur village.

Mr. Doma also pointed out that while two members of the sect who sustained injuries during the attempt to kill policemen and torch Danja Police Station were found dead, two policemen received matchet cuts.

Drawing attention to the blood soaked knife, container of fuel, charms and herbs suspected to be Indian hemp seized from the suspected militants, the commissioner said mayhem was averted in Katsina because the police intercepted 95 knives, 18 matchets, 46 arrows, six bows and 44 swords among other dangerous weapons the group was about to distribute to its foot soldiers in the state.

He noted that adequate security arrangement had been put in place to guarantee the safety of lives and property in the state, hence an attempt by members of the group to burn down Danja Police Station was quickly repelled.

Responding to criticism that members of the Boko Haram were known to security agencies and nothing was done to curtail their excess, the police commissioner insisted that it was a wrongly held impression.

Said he: "I want to place on record that acting on my intelligence, ten members of the group were arrested in 2008 and transferred to Force CID, Abuja, for further action as their activities transcended Katsina State.

"Few weeks later, the ten suspects were returned to the command to be prosecuted. They were charged to Chief Magistrate Court but were discharged and acquitted under Section 159 of the Penal Code Law (using false evidence to procure conviction)."

[Description of Source: Lagos Daily Sun Online in English -- Website of the privately owned daily close to former Abia State Governor Orji Kalu; URL: http://www.sunnewsonline.com]

Nigeria: Buhari Says Only Elite, Education can Redeem Nigeria, not Courts

AFP20091115619001 Lagos TheNews in English 09 Nov 09 - 16 Nov 09 pp 19-19, 21-27

[Interview with Muhammadu Buhari, former military head of state, ANPP presidential candidate for 2003 and 2007 elections by TheNews correspondents Babafemi Ojodu and Oluokun Ayorinde in Kaduna; date not given - first paragraph TheNews introduction]

Former head of state and presidential candidate of the All Nigeria peoples Party in the 2003 and 2007 elections, offers his ideas on how to stop the juggernaut of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, solutions to political ills bedeviling the country, and his plans for the 2011 election. He spoke to managing editor, BABAFEMI OJUDU and Abuja bureau chief, OLUOKUN AYORINDE.

Nothing, perhaps, illustrates the popularity of General Muhammadu Buhari (retired) with the Nigerian masses than the ease with which his Kaduna residence could be located. All it would take a first-timer is to ask any of the thousands of commercial motorcyclists who ply different parts of the city that once served as the capital of the Northern region for direction. The stranger can be sure of enjoying the services of an outrider to the Sultan Close residence of the former head of state.

But For the well armed soldiers standing guard at the gate of the residence, there was nothing else to indicate that, Maigaskiya, i.e. the one who cherishes the truth, as the northern masses like to call Buhari former head of state and two-time presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] is the occupier of the simple white duplex which straddles the end of the close.

You would not see a crowd of hangers-on or a retinue of favor-seekers with expensive automobiles lining up, a common sight at the residence of other politicians of even less influence than Buhari. The fact that the name of the close itself has not been changed to that of its most prominent occupant is itself a reflection of the character of the retired military officer-turned politician.

When a team from this magazine met the retired General for an interview three weeks ago, he was just returning from the Friday juma’at prayers. The interview was held against the background of a coalition consisting of politicians of different hues being spear-headed to challenge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] in the 2011 elections.

This came to light some weeks ago with the visit of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, the immediate past govern or of Sokoto State, to Buhari’s residence in Kaduna. Atiku and Bafarawa were the presidential flag bearers of the Action Congress [AC] and the Democratic Peoples Party [DPP] respectively in the 2007 elections.

"It is true they met to strategize on ways of bringing like-minded politicians to salvage the democratic process and save the country from the bad governance of the PDP," Mallam Garba Shehu, spokesperson to Atiku said in confirmation of the meeting.

"Yes, they discussed the plight of Nigerians in the areas of insecurity, the lack of social welfare as well as socio-economic and political problems, and mapped out strategies on how to redress them," Sule Yahaya-Hamma, the director general of The Buhari Organisation also told reporters.