Nigeria: Report Gives Details, Says Terrorist Groups Gaining Foothold in Nigeria

[Description of Source: Algiers El-Watan Online in French -- Website of privately owned daily; launched in 1990, it is the most widely distributed French-language newspaper in Algeria; while critical of the authorities, it used to have links to the military establishment and remains a good source for information on security matters; URL: www.elwatan.com]

Gunmen Attack Bank, Kill Four in Northern Nigeria

AFP20110217642009 Paris AFP (World Service) in English 17 Feb 11

[AFP headline: "Gunmen attack bank, police station in northern Nigeria"]

KANO, Nigeria, Feb 17, 2011 (AFP) - Gunmen attacked a police station and a bank in northern Nigeria on Thursday, leaving four people dead and one of the assailants' hands blown off when a bomb he was holding exploded, police said.

The simultaneous attacks occurred in the town of Darazo, with those killed including two assailants, a security guard at the bank and a civilian who was at the police station, police commissioner Abdulkadir Mohammed Indabawa said.

Authorities said they were unsure who was behind the attacks in Bauchi state, but a series of similar raids in Nigeria's mainly Muslim north has been blamed on an Islamist sect known as Boko Haram.

"We have one of the attackers with us whose hand was blown off when a homemade bomb exploded in his hand before he could throw it into the police station," the commissioner said. "He is in hospital being treated."

About 15 assailants were involved in the attacks, he said. Police shot and killed two of them at the police station.

The attackers wounded two officers at the station and killed a civilian who was there at the time, said Indabawa.

Gunmen killed a security guard at the bank before police stationed in the area repelled them, according to the commissioner.

Another bomb, an AK-47 rifle and ammunition was also recovered from the attackers at the police station, said Indabawa.

The Islamist sect, which launched an uprising in 2009, has been blamed for dozens of hit-and-run shootings and other attacks in northern Nigeria in recent months.

It also claimed responsibility for the recent assassination of a high-profile candidate for governor ahead of April elections.

A military assault that put down the 2009 uprising left hundreds dead

[Description of Source: Paris AFP (World Service) in English -- world news service of the independent French news agency Agence France Presse]

Nigeria: Police Refuse To Compromise With Islamic Sect' Demands

AFP20110219578009 Isheri Nigerian Compass Online in English 2300 GMT 18 Feb 11

[Report by Ted Odogwu: "'We Won't Negotiate With Boko Haram'"]

The Nigeria Police will under no circumstance negotiate or compromise with the demands of the Boko Haram sect.

The position of the police was made known by Inspector General of Police [IG], Hafiz A. Ringim who described members of the sect as criminals.

Ringim, made the declaration while addressing reporters at the Police Academy, Wudil in Kano yesterday, shortly after the passing out parade of 414 Cadet Officers, comprising, 203 Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and 211 Inspectors.

He affirmed that the police would continue to wage a relentless battle on the terrorist group until the last Boko Haram member is smoked out of the state.

According to him, the Police will only change tactics, if the Federal Government initiates a new policy in the fight to get rid of the menace of Boko Haram members, not only in Borno State but the entire country.

While addressing the graduants, who underwent an 18 months training programme, the Police boss disclosed that efforts are being intensified to provide a level playing field for all contestants in the April general elections.

"The general election is the prerogative of the Nigeria Police Force, and the Federal Government. President Goodluck Jonathan has said that what he wants is to conduct a free and fair election, and my mandate is to provide a level playing ground for all contestants, and that is what I am trying to do as best as I can.

"On its side, the Federal Government has done everything possible to train, to equip and to support and to fund the Nigeria Police Force. We are doing the best we can to educate the members of the public on their rights.

"By God's grace, we shall provide, and will continue to provide general security, free and fair atmosphere for all to display their wares and be voted for by the respected electorate."

"The election shall be an exercise not in futility but an exercise where every eligible voter would be allowed to come out and vote freely for people and parties of their choice."

He disclosed that a committee, comprising eminent Nigerians, including retired police officers, has been set up to draw up a programme for the repositioning of the Nigeria Police Force, pointing out that he, as the Inspector General of Police, is doing his best to implement the recommendations from the reform committee.

"So far we have gone a long way in the implementation of the approved white paper by the Federal Government, and that includes training, infrastructure, logistics and orientation, and so far, as you can see, we are doing just that.

"Basically, this is to develop the Nigeria Police and make it function in line with the aspirations of the Nigerian society, as well as the good practice of law enforcement as obtainable all over the world.

"The ceremony you witnessed today is part and parcel of the Nigeria Police reform, which is to develop and produce functional, actionable man power that would be in line with the democratic practices globally," he added.

Earlier, the IG reminded the graduants that greater responsibility had been entrusted on them to brace up to the challenges that the 2011 general elections might pose.

[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: Police Raid Boko Haram Training Base, Kill Six

AFP20110223606007 Lagos Guardian in English 22 Feb 11 p 5

[Report by Njadvara Musa: "Borno police kill six suspected Boko Haram members"]

The police in Borno State in the early hours of Sunday raided two houses and training base of the Boko Haram sect members in Maiduguri and Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, killing six suspected members and arresting three others after an exchange of gunfire. Those arrested include Mohammed Zakaria, 24, alias Jiddo, a Chadian who allegedly had been supplying arms and ammunition to the sect from Chad to the sect members in Maiduguri and Damaturu; Abubakar Suleiman, 40, and Abdullaziz Kura Modu, 25.

Parading the suspects along with 11 categories of arms and ammunition recovered, the Police Commissioner, Mohammed Abubakar in Maiduguri said: "I am announcing the victory of the Operation Black Scorpion of the Borno State Police Command over the outlawed Boko Haram sect and its persistent attacks and killings of innocent citizens of Maiduguri and security agents for the last seven months." The victory, according to the police chief, began on Saturday when the Maiduguri metropolitan police patrol team arrested Mohammed Zakaria in an unmarked Golf vehicle in Maiduguri during the ‘stop and search’ exercise. He said Zakaria confessed to the police that he is member of the sect and a coordinator who supplies arms and ammunition to the sect members.

Abubakar added: "Apart from being a member and coordinator of the sect, Zakaria indicted Alhaji Salifu of Damaturu in Yobe State and Mohammed Goni of Gomari ward of Maiduguri, as the financiers of the sect in arms dealings and smuggling of arms from Chad and Cameroun." The bodies of the killed sect members, he said, had been deposited at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital [UMTH]. He urged the general public to cooperate with the police and other security agents by providing useful information on the activities and hideouts of the sect members.

[Description of Source: Lagos The Guardian in English - independent daily]

Nigeria: Police Kill 'Radical' Islamist Sect Financier, Arrest Arms Supplier

AFP20110227534005 Paris AFP (World Service) in English 1319 GMT 27 Feb 11

KANO, Nigeria, Feb 27, 2011 (AFP) - Police said Sunday they had shot dead a man financing a radical Islamist sect in northern Nigeria and arrested another man suspected of supplying the group with arms.

The man financing the Bokom Haram sect, Alhaji Salisu Damaturu, was killed when a shootout broke out during a raid on one of the group's hideouts, Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar, police commissioner for Borno State where the sect is based, told AFP.

He said Damaturu and another man had been fingered as financing the group by an arms dealer, Mohammed Zakaria, who was arrested in the town of Maiduguri on Saturday.

He said Zakaria admitted during interrogation to belonging to Bokom Haram and also to being the sect's arms supplier from the neighbouring countries of Chad and Cameroon.

"He fingered Alhaji Salisu Damaturu and Mohammed Goni as the group's financiers and also gave a description of the sect's enclave in the town," he said.

Abubakar said the police raided the hideout where they engaged some Islamists in a gun battle.

"Many sect members escaped through the fence but Damaturu was killed in the shootout," he said.

He said a cache of weapons was recovered from the hideout, including 12 rocket launchers, two pistols, one loaded AK-47 rifle, two detonating bomb cables and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition.

"At the moment no arrest was made but we have launched a manhunt for the fleeing sect members," Abubakar said.

Nigerian police have recovered arms and ammunition during recent raids on the hideouts of the sect in Maiduguri and nearby Yobe state.

The Boko Haram sect launched an uprising in 2009 put down by a brutal military assault that left hundreds dead.

The radical sect has been blamed for a series of attacks and hit-and-run shootings in northern Nigeria in recent months that have left dozens dead.

Police say some of the killings may have been politically related ahead of April elections.

[Description of Source: Paris AFP (World Service) in English -- world news service of the independent French news agency Agence France Presse]

Boko Haram Says Fighting Corrupt Northern Muslim-Dominated State Leaders

AFP20110303619002 Lagos The Nigerian Newsworld in English 28 Feb 11 - 07 Mar 11

[Interview with Wakilin Mumeenen, leader of Boko Haram, the Islamic religious sect by The Nigerian Newsworld correspondent, Bamidele Babalola in Maiduguri; date not given]

Wakilin Mumeenen succeeded Mohammed Yusuf as leader of the dreaded Boko Haram sect when the latter was killed in 2009. Mumeenen has not spoken to any journalist since he assumed lead­ership of the sect but agreed to speak with Bam­idele Babalola in Maiduguri on the condition that his picture will not be taken

Q: Since the demise of the leader of your sect you have been holding the forth. How hot is the seat?

A: The seat has not been hot since he was killed by the government of Modu Sheriff and the commissioner of police in the state then, who we learnt has been dismissed from service by the federal government.

Since this one is a privileged interview, I will use the opportunity to thank the civil societies who raised their voices when our leader was killed by Governor Sheriff and the police. We shall always be grateful to the media also.

Q: Your sect is said to be against western education but when I entered here, I saw a lot of things that has to do with western education. Is this not a contradiction?

A: That was just like calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it. In the first place, our late leader was not against western education. At least to a reasonable level, he was educated and I am a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria here in Nigeria.

I also had my post graduate degree in computer engineering so also are most members of the brotherhood. The government is just trying to blacklist us, using some media.

Like I was saying, what we are against is the use of western education to embezzle public funds. Money meant for the public is being diverted to private pockets.

As you can see, the governments at various levels have enslaved and strangulated the people of the country. It is even worse in the northern part of the country. Thank God you are from the southern part of the country.

Can you tell me if this is the level of poverty in your place! I served as a youth corps member in Ibadan and I saw how the government of that state was taking care of the populace. Here in the north, the reverse is the case; poverty everywhere.

Look at the Almajiris. The northern governments have not been able to do anything about them simply because they are the children of the poor. The children of these thieves are not in Nigeria. They are in foreign countries.

Q: But if you are fighting for the oppressed like you are trying to say, why are your men attacking churches?

A: You see, in a situation of confusion like we have here in Borno State, the security agents would sniff around. If they did, they would find that we do not attack places of worship but when some people just wake up to cause confusion, they will go round attacking places of worship.

But because the security agencies are not well trained, and they lack investigative experience, they attribute it to the Boko Haram brotherhood. For your information, we have friends among the membership of the Christian Association of Nigeria [CAN].

We do not attack places of worship; it is very unfortunate that some people, especially the security agencies associate everything evil to us.

Q: Why have you not come out to tell the world why you are fighting the government especially states in the north?

A: The world you are talking about is not a daft society. It recognizes our cause, our aim and aspirations to free the downtrodden from the hands of some northern leaders, especially that of Borno State, and that is the reason why we shall continue to fight him.

Q: Does that·mean you are fighting the governor of Borno state? Then why do you strike in other states in the north?

It is not only the governor of Borno State that we are fighting but some northern states with high concentration of Muslims. Without being told you know them, we are out to fight bad governance in the Muslim-dominated states.

We fight injustice, oppression, corruption and other social vices, and that is the reason why some of us are fighting for the betterment of the poor Muslims.

Q: Are you not in Jos?

A: To be frank with you, Jos is not a Muslim state. As a body, we have the population figure of each state and the ratio of Muslims to that of Christians. Jos has a ratio of 60 to 40 in favor of Christians. The security agents do not know this.

Any religious upheaval is automatically associated to Boko Haram. Sometimes, we also read the stories in the media. Of course, if we attack we own up.

Q: How are you funded?

A: Our funds are internally generated; we tax ourselves. Do not forget that some of our members are professionals in their various fields. If you are thinking that we get foreign assistance from some Islamic countries, you are wrong.

Q: I can see that you are surrounded with arms. How do you get your arms?

A: Ask me another question.

Q: Why can't you tell the government your grievances instead of waging wars?

A: For now in some Muslim-dominated states there is no government, may be after the election we can discuss with the new governments. But for now, we are not ready to talk with the thieves in government.

Q: Definitely some politician must have been coming to solicit your support for their political parties, which of them are you supporting?

A: You are right. They have been coming to us but we have not given them a nod, but definitely we shall support a party for the 2011 elections. For now, we are still watching them.

Q: Recently, the inspector-general of police, Hafiz Ringim said that he will not negotiate with your sect. He even described you as criminal elements. What is your reaction?

A: Well, I will quote former President Obasanjo: I dey laugh. I have about 300 of his men as members. Ringim is not a serious inspector general of police. In fact, he is the worst, very incompetent.

Jonathan will use him for the election and dump him. We know him as a member of the Shiite sect. He cannot challenge me on that, tell him I said so.

I do not want to answer any more questions thank you for coming

[Description of Source: Lagos The Nigerian Newsworld in English - independent weekly news magazine]

Report Says Boko Haram Teaches Western Education, Uses Metal Detectors

AFP20110303619003 Lagos The Nigerian Newsworld in English 28 Feb 11 - 07 Mar 11

[Report by Bamidele Babalola; "In a Lion's den"]

A visit to the enclave of the dreaded Boko Haram sect is very much like a destination to nowhere, with an array of weapons reminding one of nothing but death

Security to the enclave was very tight, just like one passing through the Heathrow Airport in England. Metal detectors were used to frisk the visitor to search for any hidden weapons.

The building housing the acting leader who preferred to be called Wakilin Mumuneen (leader of the believers) is very moderate. In the sitting room where he had an unusual interview with this magazine, arrays of light and heavy weapons were on display. At least 40 members of the sect were with him during the interview session.

The interview was facilitated by a member of the sect who was a friend of this reporter way back in 1979 at Maiduguri.

The enclave is about 76 kilometers north of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The road leading to it is very winding but well tarred. Although the reporter was not blindfolded, he was warned of the consequences of describing the location to any security agent.

The reporter was not allowed a tour of the enclave but he was able to notice another row of buildings said to be housing women and some children. Islamic teachers were busy teaching the children how to recite the Holy Quran.

Surprisingly, they were also taught western education. There were exotic cars and a well equipped clinic inside the compound. The clinic is patronized by their neighbors who also were provided with potable water by the sect.

They equally enjoy free meals three times a day, just like people in the enclave.

Since 2009, members of the sect have been terrorizing some states in the north, notably Borno and Bauchi States. The sect, which has its headquarters in Borno State, was founded by Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf in 2002.

Following an uprising in Maiduguri in which 300 were killed, Yusuf was arrested by soldiers while hiding in a goat pen at his father-in-law's house and handed over to the police. Few hours later, the sect leader, according to police, was killed in a gun battle while he was trying to escape.

Reports later showed that Yusuf was handcuffed at the time of his death. About 700 members of the sect died during the attack. In spite of Yusuf's death, the city of Maiduguri has known no peace.

There have been sporadic attacks on personnel and politicians by members of the group. The latest was the 28 Jan assassination of the gubernatorial candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] for the April election in Borno State, Alhaji Modu Fannani Gubio by unknown gun men when he was returning from jummat service.

Five other persons, including the younger brother of the Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, were also killed during the attack. Governor Sheriff told journalists in Abuja that Gubio's assassination was politically-motivated.

But the sect, in a message by its leader, Imam Abubakar Bin Mohammed, claimed responsibility for the attack and said that it was like the one they launched on the Christmas Eve in Borno and Plateau States where many people died.

Mohammed also explained that the attacks were "to propagate the name of Allah and to liberate ourselves and our religion from the hands of infidels and the Nigerian government."

Mumuneen, however, told this magazine that they were fighting against bad governance in some states in the north dominated by Muslims, "for injustice, oppression, corruption and other social vices and for the betterment of the poor Muslims."

He accused northern state governors of perpetuating poverty in the region but denied that the sect members were opposed to western education.

Apart from Borno, Bauchi State also receives some doses of the activities of the sect. In September last year, members of the Boko Haram sect attacked Bauchi central prison and set the place ablaze after freeing their members detained in the prison who were arrested following the 2009 attack.

Abdulai Lawai, the police public relations officer for the Borno State police command accused the sect of waging Islamic jihad against the country.

In a statement, the command said that it arrested one Mohammed Zakaria, a suspected coordinator of the sect who supplies sophisticated weapons to them from neighboring countries.

Zakaria was traveling in a vehicle said to be conveying illegal arms and ammunition to the enclave when he was arrested but the other occupant escaped with the vehicle. The police claimed that the suspect indicted one Alhaji Salifu of Damaturu in Yobe State and Mohammed Goni of Gomari ward as financiers of their arms smugglings from Chad and Cameroun Republics to Nigeria.

"Such sophisticated weapons include heavy rocket launchers, AK 47 rifles, grenades, and other lethal explosives for construction of Bombs." Alhaji Salifu and five other members of the sect were however, killed in exchange of fire when Zakaria led a police anti-robbery team to Damaturu to effect his arrest.

Some dangerous weapons were recovered at the scene after the gun battle including loaded AK 47 riffles with magazines. The corpses of the suspects were later deposited at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for autopsy.

[Description of Source: Lagos The Nigerian Newsworld in English - independent weekly news magazine]

Nigeria: Police Arrest Suspected Leader of Violent Islamic Sect

AFP20110303686011 Port Harcourt Niger Delta Standard in English 28 Feb 11 p 3

[Unattributed report: "Borno Police Recover Heavy Weapons from Boko Haram Suspects"]

The Borno State Police Command security outfit, code named "Operation Black Scorpion" has arrested a suspected leader of the Boko Haram sect, Mohammed Zakaria Alia Jiddo, in an unmarked car in Maiduguri the state capital.

The commissioner of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said the sect leader was nabbed alongside an unknown occupant who escaped and abandoned the vehicle. He said another vehicle conveying arms and ammunition zoomed off before arrests could be effected.

Abubakar said the suspect admitted being a member of the Boko Haram and also its coordinator with regards to supply of sophisticated weapons from neighboring Chad and Cameroon.

The Police Chief disclosed that Zakari fingered one Alhaji Salisu of Damaturu in Yobe State and Mohammed Goni of Gomari Ward Maiduguri as their financiers during interrogations.

He explained that anti-robbery investigation team was dispatched to the residences of Goni and Salisu for interrogation and arrest.

On sighting the team, the sect members opened fire using sophisticated weapons like rocket launchers, Abubakar added.

He said many of the sect’s members escaped by scaling the fence while Salisu, one of its alleged financiers, was gunned down by policemen.