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

According to him, 19,000 of the total enrolled number of 20,192 in the first phase of the programme had been fully demobilised, having undertaken non-violence transformational training at the demobilisation camp, located in Obubra, Cross River State.

The final batch of 1,192, according to him, would be demobilised this month, bringing to an end, the demobilisation component of the first phase of the programme.

Kuku reiterated that the amnesty programme did not have a third phase, adding that youths who recently claimed to have surrendered their arms to security agenci es would not be accepted into the programme.

He accused unnamed security men of colluding with the agitators in accepting arms from them after the amnesty had closed, instead of them treating those people as criminals in possession of arms.

Illegal immigrants: Customs boss summons state comptrollers

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mrs Rose Uzoma, on Thursday, read the Riot Act to the state comptrollers of immigration and other top officers of the service for allowing illegal immigrants into the country and constituting a security risk to the nation.

Mrs Uzoma, who summoned the state comptrollers of immigration service to an emergency meeting in Abuja, on the growing insecurity in the country, was worried that intelligence reports had pointed to the fact that some of the people involved in the recent bomb blasts in Nigeria were foreigners.

She urged the comptrollers to sit up, stressing that the immigration service remained the first line security agent in the country and that efforts must be made to secure the borders.

Uzoma said the government was not unaware of logistic challenges being faced by the service but said efforts were being made to address some of these operational challenges.

"I didn't call you here today for us to bemoan the lack of logistics we have. I invited all of you to sensitise you to the present challenges once more and to remind you of our duties.

"The situation today is such that, this is not the time to ask what Nigeria can do for you. This is not the time for us to bemoan budgetary insufficiency.

"This is the time for patriotism and display of rare courage and professionalism. This is the time to justify all the investment Nigerian government has made in all of you. This is the time to put to test all the trainings you have received. You just have to ignore the fact that you don't have enough and make maximum use of what you have to secure our borders and the nation," the Comptroller-General said.

Mrs Uzoma, who emphasised that she would no longer tolerate excuses from any of the state comptrollers where there were noticeable lapses, particularly blamed the security lapses being experienced on the officers in charge of the northern states.

[Description of Source: Ibadan Nigerian Tribune Online in English -- Website of the privately owned daily; URL: http://www.tribune.com.ng]

Politician Rejects Existence of Boko Haram; Blames West for Crisis in Nigeria

AFP20110910642010 Kano Pyramid Radio in Hausa 2030 GMT 26 Aug 11

Sani Sallau, a political analyst in Kano, rejects claims that there is a group called Boko Haram in Nigeria.

[Begin Sallau recording] I do not think the so-called members of the Boko Haram exist at all. It is a deception by the Western world and properly executed by them. It is sometimes very expensive to work for the United Nations because they will sacrifice any important member of their staff to prove a cause. Nigeria will be turned into another Pakistan, using our people to kill our people. Just consider those countries they planned for, did not they succeed? Russia, Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen etc and now Libya, and do not forget Iran and Syria are battling to survive.

Please my brothers and Sisters, just think. As for me, I do not think Boko Haram really exists. They are just trying to divide our beloved Nigeria bearing in mind that it has abundant oil and other natural resources. So, these are some of the basis for the Western countries to perpetuate their plots in Nigeria since all they need to do is bomb and blame Boko Haram. [end recording]

[Description of Source: Madobi Pyramid Radio FM in Hausa - federal government-owned radio]

AFP: Explosions Rock Nigerian City Beset By Sectarian Unrest

EUP20110911638001 Paris AFP (North American Service) in English 11 Sep 11

[AFP headline-"Explosions rock Nigerian city beset by sectarian unrest"]

One person was wounded Sunday night after two explosions went off in the central Nigerian city of Jos, security officials and witnesses said.

The blasts, which went off at a packed outdoor eatery in the city centre, were the latest in a series of night-time attacks in and around Jos that have killed dozens of people.

"Yes, there were minor explosions, nothing serious," said Emmanuel Ayeni, police chief for Plateau state, whose capital in Jos.

One person was reportedly wounded in the blasts -- the latest to hit Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, in recent months.

Plateau state government spokesman Pam Ayuba said they suspected a member of the Islamist sect Boko Haram had planted "two bombs".

"We are convinced it's Boko Haram and we highly think it's part of the (national) terrorist attacks," said Ayuba.

It was Boko Haram that claimed responsibility for the August 26 suicide attack that killed at least 23 people at the UN headquarters in Abuja, one of the worst attacks to hit the United Nations.

Charles Ekeocha, a spokesman for a special military task force deployed in the city, also confirmed the explosions, but gave no further details.

A resident Steve Aluko-Daniel said the blast had wounded one person.

And another local resident, who would only give her first name, Pauline, said: "I was in my room, when I heard a blast that sounded like a dynamite, the kind used in blasting rocks."

Before she could establish what had happened, "we heard another blast and we saw people running away from the area saying there were blasts."

While bomb blasts have rocked various parts of Nigeria in recent months, the city of Jos has become a flashpoint of sectarian and ethnic clashes.

In recent years, it has been shaken by waves of violence between Christian and Muslim groups that have left hundreds dead.

And in the past few days, gangs have raided villages, shooting and hacking to death entire families, with the latest attacks targetting Christian communities. Christmas Eve bomb attacks in 2010 killed dozens in Jos.

Jos lies in the so-called "middle-belt" between the predominantly Christian south and mainly Muslim north of Africa's most populous nation.

The Geneva-based office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday expressed concern at the resurgence of violence in central Nigeria.

Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation with 158 million people, divided roughly in half between a mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.

[Description of Source: Paris AFP (North American Service) in English -- North American service of the independent French press agency Agence France-Presse]

Nigeria: Radical Islamist Sect Threatens To Attack Universities in South

AFP20110913683001 Lagos Vanguard Online in English 13 Sep 11

[Report by Ola Ajayi, Gabriel Enogholase: "Boko Haram Threatens To Bomb UI, UNIBEN, 18 Others"]

IBADAN - DISSATISFIED with its unchallenged bombing activities in the North, Boko Haram has threatened to extend the reign of terror to southern parts of the country.

Leaders of the sect said yesterday that their radar was now on University of Ibadan (UI), University of Benin (UNIBEN) and 18 other universities, which they said they would bomb between yesterday (September 12) and September 17.

Boko Haram sent an e-mail last Thursday to the mail box of UNIBEN Registrar, notifying the institution of its resolve to bomb the university as part of its agenda to stop western education in the country. Last week, there was a bomb scare at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa.

In the purported e-mail, the Islamic Sect gave September 12 to 17 as the target date to detonate bombs at the higher institution, warning that the message was "not a threat, but a notification which must be strictly adhered to."

The sect declared that it had listed University of Benin alongside 19 other universities where it planned to explode bombs within the stipulated period it gave, saying "Western education must stop in Nigeria. May Allah bless us."

In order not to be caught off guards, UNIBEN authorities yesterday beefed up security at the two campuses of the institution. Security personnel thoroughly searched every car moving in and out of the institution.

Vanguard gathered that against the backdrop of the threat, several students of the university have voluntarily stayed away from the institution as a precautionary measure to avoid being victims of the planned bomb blast.

Contacted yesterday, the University Public Relations Officer, Mr. Harrison Osarenren confirmed the receipt of the Boko Haram threat e-mail message.

However, there were indications yesterday that many of the students were unaware of the threat as lectures went on smoothly.

UI receives threat too

Relatedly, UI management also confirmed Boko Haram's threat to bomb the university between 12 and 17 September.

The rumour was confirmed yesterday by the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Pro. Elijah Afolabi Bamigboye while speaking with newsmen at the institution

The threat led to serious panic among the staff and students and there was heavy security presence at the main entrance that is opposite Agbowo Shopping Complex.

Many staff and visitors going into the campus were subjected to thorough search by security operatives who were armed with AK 47 rifles and bullet proof jackets.

Motorists entering the institution waited many hours in a traffic snarl and this affected all vehicles coming from Ojoo end of the road.

Prof. Bamigboye, who said he too was subjected to thorough search, said the security beef-up was necessary to check any eventuality.

His words: "We heard rumours that a group which detests education is likely to descend on institutions where education is being imparted. We heard that UI is top on the list. When we heard the rumour of threat to bomb UI, we did not want to take chances. We've heard of experiences in the past, especially the recent bombing of the UN house in Abuja as well as the Force headquarters which left several people dead. The essence is to sensitize the community and to alert the people on the rumour. We directed the security department to step up screening of all vehicles into the campus. My car too was subjected to thorough search this morning."

The don condemned the threat and the accompanying traffic logjam saying it was not the best for the institution's image now that some foreigners were preparing to come.

"You can imagine if such international people were to come to UI now and face this traffic snarl. Of course, they will go back and who knows, they could go back to their country to spread the information that Nigerian universities are not safe," he lamented.

For a host of southerners, it used to sound like news from distant lands even though it was so close as newspapers, television and radio stations buzzed with reports of deadly bomb explosions detonated by the dreaded Islamic Sect, Boko Haram, in many Northern cities including Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

For about a year now, counting from the October 1, 2010 Independence Day twin bomb explosions in Abuja, Boko Haram had stepped up its campaign to stop western education in Nigeria with a series of bomb blasts including a recent car-bombing of the Police Headquarters, Abuja and the bombing of the United Nations office in Abuja, which claimed scores of lives and with property worth millions of Naira destroyed.

[Description of Source: Lagos Vanguard Online in English -- Website of the independent widely read daily; URL: http://www.vanguardngr.com]

AFP: Nigeria Charges 8 Suspects Over Bombings Near Capital

EUP20110913764001 Paris AFP (North American Service) in English 13 Sep 11

[AFP headline-"Nigeria charges 8 suspects over bombings near capital"]

A Nigerian court on Tuesday charged eight suspects in connection with a string of deadly bombings near the capital Abuja after authorities said the attacks were linked to Islamist group Boko Haram.

The eight are accused of being behind four separate attacks between March and July this year in which 24 people were killed in the town of Suleija and at Buhari village, both near Abuja.

They all pleaded innocent before a magistrates' court in the capital.

One of the suspects confessed to having previously been a member of Boko Haram, which has been blamed for repeated attacks in the north of the country and which claimed responsibility for a bomb blast at UN headquarters in Abuja on August 26.

Ahmed Hassan Ezimakor said he did not take part in the bombing, but helped obtain the explosives. He said he joined the sect in 2008 but quit early this year.

"I met Salisu Ahmed (one of the suspects) in 2008 when we joined Boko Haram," Ezimakor told the court.

The worst of the attacks the eight are alleged to have staged was on the eve of parliamentary elections in April, when a bomb rocked a local election office, killing 16 people, mainly recent graduates hired as election officials.

Other explosives went off outside the venue of a political rally, another at a church and yet another at a village near Abuja.

The secret police last week claimed to have unearthed a bomb-making factory near Suleija and made six arrests.

The suspects were ordered to return to court on October 4.

[Description of Source: Paris AFP (North American Service) in English -- North American service of the independent French press agency Agence France-Presse]

Nigeria: Boko Haram Threatens to Bomb 19 Universities

AFP20110914606001 Lagos Guardian in English 13 Sep 11 p 2

[Report by Iyabo Lawal, Alema-Ozioruva Aliu and Taiwo Gbadamosi: "Anxiety at UI, UNIBEN over Boko Haram threat"]

Security was beefed up yesterday at the University of Ibadan [UI] as well as the Ekenwan and Ugbowo campuses of the University of Benin [UNIBEN] following reports of alleged plans by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram to bomb some top universities in the country. At the entrance of UI, armed security personnel were seen in bullet-proof jackets frisking all vehicles entering the campus. This led to a heavy traffic snarl along the Samonda, Bodija and Ojoo end of the city as vehicles coming into the campus were thoroughly frisked. The Guardian learnt that security was beefed up in the institution following security reports that the university was to be bombed by the Boko Haram group between 12 and 17 September.

In an interview with reporters, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Afolabi Bamigboye said: "We heard rumors that a group which detests education is likely to descend on institutions where education is being imparted and that UI is top on the list. When we heard the rumor of threat to bomb UI, we did not want to take chances."

In Benin, all vehicles going into and coming out of Ekenwan and Ugbowo campuses of UNIBEN were searched and the occupants frisked before they were allowed into or out of the campuses. The sect was said to have sent an email message to the Registrar of the university, Dr. G. O. Ogboghodo saying that the school was one of the 19 penciled down for attack which they said would take place between 12 and 17 September. Confirming the development, the school’s spokesman, Harrison Osareneren said: "They sent it through bokoharamewe@yahoo.com to the registrar@uniben.edu. They said in regard to the eradication of western education in Nigeria, this university has been short-listed among the other 19 universities that will experience a series of bomb blasts."

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

Nigeria: Islamic Sect Reportedly Threatens To Bomb US Consulate Lagos

FEA20110914021972 - OSC Feature - Nigerian Compass Online 2300 GMT 13 Sep 11

[Report by Johnchuks Onuanyim and Gbenga Akingbule: "US Embassy Gets Boko Haram Bomb Threat"]

Security was on the red alert at the United States embassy at Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos State, yesterday following reports of plans by some members of the Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram, to bomb the place.

Police offices from Zone 2 in the state were swiftly deployed to the area to join the US security forces.

On Monday night, four persons were killed by suspected members of the group at a local drinking joint when a bomb exploded at Jajeri in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

An inside source told Nigerian Compass that the threat to the US embassy was real but added that the government and the embassy were on top of the situation. Bomb detectors were used to scan vehicles going in and out of the area which also houses other embasses.

Eyewitness account revealed that the four who died in Maiduguri include the manager of the joint, a bar attendant and two customers.

The Nigerian Compass learnt that a group of unidentified men had, before the attack, warned the residents to vacate the area, vowing to launch an attack.

Although the state Commissioner of Police Mr. Simeon Midenda, gave the death toll at two, eye-witnesses insisted that it was four. Midenda said that they were killed about 8:45p.m., adding that the police had "since cordoned off the area with a view to protecting lives and property".

Midenda revealed that the attackers had besieged the joint requesting for money and decided to kill the owner and the bar attendant when their request was turned down.

"It was the wife of the deceased who was inside the joint that later gave the police this information," he said: adding: "We are doing our very best to ensure the protection of lives and properties in Borno State. We once again are calling on well-meaning citizens to furnish the police with useful information, because security is everybody's business".

Our correspondent also gathered that the children of the drinking joint owner had, due to prevailing security challenges advised, their late father to desist from the business.

Also yesterday, one of the suspected Boko Haram members arrested by the Department of the State Service (DSS) said that the spate of bomb attacks in the country is to avenge the death of the leader of the sect, Mohammed Yusuf.

The suspect, Ahmed Hassan Ezemako, standing trial with seven others at the Magistrate's Court 11, Wuse, Abuja, said he was a member of violent sect from inception, but later opted out and was later invited by one of the leaders, Basha, who is at large.

Ezemako further told the court that when he was invited by Basha, he was told that they have to undergo training to avenge the death of their leader.

The suspects were charged before Magistrate Oyewumi Oyebola with a two-count of criminal intimidation and threat to life, as well as voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous means contrary to Section 97, sub-sections 248(1) and 397 of the penal code and punishable under the same section.

Also read to them were the facts supporting the charges, including the death of 16 persons at the INEC office in Suleja on 8 April 2011; the death of three persons at a political rally in Suleja on March, 3, 2011; the death of three police officers on May 23, 2011 at Dakwa village, Bwari, FCT; and the deaths of three persons at the All Christian Fellowship Church, Suleja on July 10, 2011.

Seven other suspects arraigned with Ezemako are: Shuaibu Abubakakr, Mohammed Dahattu, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babangida Umar, Mohammed Ali, Musa Adamu and Umar Ibrahim, who pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Although, Ezemako pleaded guilty to one of the charges, the trial magistrate entered not guilty for him since the case of guilt could not be established yet.

According to the magistrate, despite Ezemakor's acceptance of guilt to one of the charges, she has to enter "not guilty" since the court cannot really establish that guilt on him until the trial began properly.

The case was adjourned t ill October 4 for mentioning since the DSS counsel, C.I. Osagie said some other suspects might also be arraigned.

While stating his involvement, Ezemakor, said through his friend, Ahmed, he was invited by Basha and was taught how to use AK 47 rifle.

According to him, after the training, himself, Salisu and Basha swore to an oath of secrecy and Basha told them that they have to avenge the death of Yusuf.

The late Yusuf was last year shot dead by men of the Nigeria Police Force after he was arrested by soldiers and handed over to the police.

Since his death, several bomb attacks have rocked the country, which the Islamic fundamentalists claimed responsibility for.

Meanwhile, the military high command yesterday issued an alert to the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta to increase surveillance around oil installations, a source has said.

The move follows a series of bombings by the violent Muslim sect Boko Haram in recent weeks.

Although the bombings, which have claimed dozens of lives, have so far taken place in the North-East and the North-Central zones, security sources said reports have emerged of plans by the group to extend the bombing campaign to the South.

There was panic at the universities of Ibadan and Benin yesterday over threat e-mails sent to some officials of the institutions in which those claiming to be Boko Haram members informed them of their decision to launched a bombing campaign in 16 universities in the country.

The group had claimed responsibility for the August 26 bombing of the United Nations (U.N.) building in Abuja, in which 23 people died and over 80 were injured.

Boko Haram has also claimed responsibility for a June bomb attack on the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.

Meanwhile, the JTF also said yesterday that it was giving Niger Delta militants, who had repented until September 18 to surrender their weapons.

"The JTF has issued a deadline of September 18, this year, to all militants still bearing arms in the Niger Delta to surrender such weapons at any of the JTF units. Anyone found with arms after the deadline will be arrested and treated as a criminal," JTF spokesman, Lt-Col. Timothy Antigha, said.

The military's action, Antigha added, was to implement the provision in the amnesty deal between the government and militants, which stipulated that any rebel who failed to surrender his weapons by October 2009 would be charged with criminal offences.

Antigha dismissed claims that the activities of the JTF were responsible for the renewed agitation by some ex-militants in the region for the implementation of the third phase of the amnesty programme.

He said the security outfit had nothing to do with the running of the programme, which he explained was the prerogative of the Federal Government.

Antigha said the task force was only concerned with taking control of the illegal arms and ammunition in the possession of some ex-militants.

He added: "So far, the JTF has mopped several thousands of arms and ammunition, which would otherwise have been used to perpetrate crime in the region and the nation in general.

"The JTF believes that the Niger Delta region is more secured with these arms recovered from unauthorised persons.

"It is, therefore, with utmost shock and disappointment that the JTF views the recent willful and mischievous misinterpretation of its patriotic duty to mean incitement of ex-militants to agitate for the third phase of the amnesty programme."