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

"Thus, I wonder: Where are the movements that call themselves Islamic? Where are those who rant in the name of resistance and jihad? And where are those who rant in the name of democracy and human rights? They are in still immersed in deep slumber, sleeping and inadvertently heedless of the Muslims' blood.

"They all should know that those who do not stand up for the Muslims' blood in Nigeria and in other oppressive countries will regret, unless they repent to God and apologize to the oppressed Muslims.

"From this place, I offer my greetings and admiration to the Boko Haram movement and to all steadfast Muslims in Nigeria, telling them what Almighty God states in the Holy Koran:

"'Therefore patiently persevere, as did (all) apostles of inflexible purpose; and be in no haste about the (Unbelievers). On the Day that they see the (Punishment) promised them, (it will be) as if they had not tarried more than an hour in a single day. (Thine but) to proclaim the Message: but shall any be destroyed except those who transgress?' [Koranic verse, Al-Ahqaf, 46: 35]

"God has predestined a time for the destruction of the depraved infidels, which He will never miss, 'Such were the populations we destroyed when they committed iniquities; but we fixed an appointed time for their destruction.' [Koranic verse, Al-Kahf, 18: 59]

"Thus, 'patience is most fitting, it is Allah (alone) Whose help can be sought" [Partial Koranic verse, Yusuf, 12: 18].

"As for you, Muslims in Nigeria, know that God supports you and He will not let you down, therefore 'Persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah.' [Partial Koranic verse, Al Imran, 3: 200].

"'And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out' [Partial Koranic verse, Al-Talaq, 65: 2].

"On this occasion, I send my greetings and high regard to Shaykh Abu-Mus'ab Abd-al-Wadud, amir of the jihadist Al-Qa'ida in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb [AQLIM], for his noble magnanimity to strengthen Nigerian Muslims, and his willingness to offer the duty of support and help. Also, the Mujahidin Youth Movement [MYM] has prepared itself to support the jihadist Al-Qa'ida in happy [term often associated with the name of the country by Arab media] Yemen. If this means something, it means that those men are truly following in the footstep of the chosen Prophet - prayer and peace be upon him - and his honorable companions from the pious ancestors - may God be pleased with them.

"By this consolidation, they remind us of the companions of God's messenger, who supported the da'wah of great Islam without looking at race, nationality, affiliation, or ethnicity, such as Suhayb Bin-Sanan al-Rumi, Bilal al-Habashi, and Salman al-Farisi who trod on the affiliations and races and generally agreed on God's Book and the teachings of His noble messenger.

"Almighty God states: 'Offspring, one of the other: And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.' [Koranic verse, Al Imran, 3: 34]

"Hence, God honored the noble companions, those who followed them, and those who followed their path until the Judgment Day - they are the best descendants of the best ancestors.

"Honorable brothers and sisters

"What is taking place today on the arenas of planet earth is but a stage of 'labor' for the birth of the state of great Islam, following the prophetic approach, so persevere patiently.

"We have an appointment with the Boko Haram and its sisters, the groups of global jihad, to conquer Jerusalem - God willing.

"Until we arrive there, accept our greatest jihadist greetings and best salutation.

"Peace, God's mercy, and blessings be upon you.

"Our last prayer is 'praise be to God, Lord of all creation.'

"Your supportive brother

"Abu-Khalid al-Sayyaf

"Coasts of the Levant

"Jerusalem

"3 Rabi al-Awwal 1431 [corresponding to 17 February 2010]."

Nigeria: Police Arrest 17 Officers Over Shooting Suspected Islamist Sect Members

AFP20100301683003 Paris AFP (World Service) in English 1627 GMT 01 Mar 10

Kano, March 1, 2010 (AFP) - Nigeria has arrested 17 policemen for the alleged extra-judicial shooting of suspected members of a radical Islamist sect in last year's rebellion that claimed over 800 lives, a police source said Monday.

The arrest followed the February 9 broadcast of a five-minute video footage by Al-Jazeera satellite station showing policemen killing unarmed young men and teenagers suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect, outside the police headquarters in northern Maiduguri city.

"Seventeen policemen who appeared in the footage were apprehended here in Maiduguri on February 23 and transferred to the force headquarters in Abuja for interrogation and further investigation," a police source told AFP on the phone from Maiduguri.

He said the arrests were carried out on the orders of the Acting President Goodluck Jonathan "to investigate the case and take appropriate action".

No official comment could be immediately obtained from police on the arrests of their mates.

The footage, which was later posted on several websites, has been downloaded on to mobile phones and circulated around Africa's most populous country, provoking public fury and criticism.

The clip shows police officers ordering unarmed young men, some on crutches, to lie face down and shooting them at close range while hordes of residents watched.

Some of the police were recognisable with name tags vividly displayed on their chests. One officer could be heard shouting "shoot him in the chest not the head, I want his heart".

Nigeria's lower parliament on February 10 set up a special task force to probe the killings and report its findings to the parliament within two weeks.

Sect leader Mohammed Yusuf, 39, was killed after security forces crushed an uprising in July last year by the self-styled Taliban fundamentalist group in several northern states of the Nigerian federation.

The violence left more than 800 people dead, the majority of them sect members.

Days after the rebellion was crushed, President Umaru Yar'Adua had also ordered an investigation into the violence and Yusuf's killing after his capture by security forces in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, the epicentre of the violence.

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

Nigerian Police Reportedly 'Invited' for Questioning Over Extrajudicial Killings

AFP20100306581002 Lagos Daily Independent Online in English 05 Mar 10

[Report by Abdulkareem Haruna: "Boko Haram: Fear in Borno Over Arrest of 14 Security Agents"]

Weeks after Aljazeera cable news channel aired footage of policemen from the Borno State Command of the Nigeria Police Force carrying out extrajudicial killings of arrested persons suspected to be members of the infamous Boko Haram sect, about 14 men and officers of the police were said to have been invited to Abuja for questioning.

This development sent some degree of jitters among those in government, most especially as it was alleged that the Boko Haram killings of last year were carried out at the behest of some top elements in the government of Borno State.

Borno State Government and the state's police command have declined comment on the Aljazeera's recent footage on Boko Haram, where uniformed men suspected to be police officers, were shown carrying out extrajudicial killings of unarmed civilians, even as many in Borno State accused Aljazeera of deliberate mischief with the aim of inciting people in the country.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Isa Azare, who confirmed the invitation of the said police officers to Abuja for questioning, said the concerned officers have since returned to their base. But he did not specifically confirm to Saturday Independent* whether they were absolved of the allegations levelled against them.

Though the gory memories of the Aljazeera video clips is fast fading in the state, even as it was greeted with mixed feelings, it was gathered that the issue of the 14 arrested policemen in connection with the Aljazeera footage, had rattled some people in the government circle. Many within the government of Borno State were particularly scared for their lives, praying that the clips should not in any way ignite reprisals from the members of the sect, who are currently believed to have gone into hiding, or from those who felt their relations were killed during the insurgence innocently.

Most people contacted from within the government circle declined any comment on the matter, even as they insisted that on no account should their names be featured in print. But those that offered to make unofficial comments off-record, said Aljazeera should be investigated to ascertain the reason behind airing the controversial footage months after the incident.

[Description of Source: Lagos Daily Independent Online in English -- Website of the privately owned independent daily; URL: http://www.independentngonline.com]

Nigeria: Sectarian Leader's Kin Sues Yar'Adua, Police Chief Over Father's Murder

AFP20100306581003 Lagos Vanguard Online in English 06 Mar 10

[Report by Ndahi Marama: "Boko Haram: Gov Sheriff Challenges Murder Charge"]

Family of the late Boko Haram leader, Mallam Mohammed Yusuf, allegedly killed in a gun- shoot out by the police during the insurgency July last year has dragged President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua; Inspector General of Police, Mr Ogbonnaya Onovo; Governor Sheriff of Bornu state and the Borno State Attorney General before the state high court over the brutal murder of their father.

Borno state governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, who is also one of the accused had last Tuesday in the court, challenged the procedure adopted in filing a murder case preferred against them by the plaintiff.

It would be recalled that a Maiduguri High Court last month granted an application sorted by counsels to Babakura Alhaji Fugu, eldest son of the late Fugu and leader of the family to serve court summons on all the defendants.

However, President Umaru Yar'Adua and Inspector General of Police, Ogbonnaya Onovo who were also joined as defendants in the suit for the alleged murder of Alhaji Fugu Mohammed were not represented by any counsel.

Barrister Bukar Umar, counsel representing Sheriff, while arguing at the resumed hearing of the suit presided over by Justice Mohammed Mustapha, said the procedure for filing the case was improper.

He prayed the court to disregard the case as according to him, "the process of filing it was full of flaws as the plaintiff has erred for filing the suit in consideration of provisions of Order 2 and Rule 2 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which was just adopted in December last year."

Barrister Umar insisted that the plaintiff should have filed the case by relying on the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules of the 1979 constitution.

In his submission, Barrister Yusuf Bado Mok, counsel to the attorney general of the federation, asked for an adjournment as he is residing in Abuja out of the jurisdiction of the case.

This he said was to give him more time and enable him to prepare all relevant documents and facts to counter the case.

Lead counsel to the plaintiffs, Barrister Anayo Adibe, did not however object to the request.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Mustapha, granted the prayers and adjourned the case to Tuesday, March 2nd 2010 for continuation of hearing.

He however expressed dismay over the inability of the counsels to make effective preparation for the case despite the fact that notice of summons had been conveyed to their clients almost a month ago.

The judge who was visibly furious on the issue warned that henceforth he will not condone indiscriminate adjournment.

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

Commentary Attributes Jos Violence to Northern Nigeria's 'Jihadist Islam'

AFP20100308565007 Ibadan Nigerian Tribune Online in English 08 Mar 10

[Commentary by Leo Igwe: "Still on Jos Crisis"]

Plateau, a state once known for peace, tolerance and harmony - by both 'indigenes' and 'settlers' has been plagued by an orgy of hatred, hostility and bloodshed in recent times. The latest outbreak of violence left hundreds of people dead and thousands injured or displaced.

Many people have presented the crisis as an 'isolated', state-backed cleansing of Muslim minority by Christian majority. They have tried to play down on the criminality, violence and carnage of Maitatsine, Boko Haram and other jihadist groups in other states of Northern Nigeria.

Some have attributed the problem to the hostile and volatile relationship between indigenes and the mainly Hausa-Fulani Muslim settlers in the state. No doubt, this is a major factor in the crisis in Plateau. But, there is more to it than anyone would make us understand. It is not only in Plateau State that we often experience some tension been indigenes and settlers. Such tensions occur in many states across the nation. So, why has the situation in Plateau turned to be a recurrent nightmare in the last few years?

Many analysts have made it look as if Plateau State is enthnically homogenous. That the indigenes are of an ethnic group, while the settlers belong to one ethnic group. This is not the case. Plateau State is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society. In fact, Plateau is one of the most ethnically diverse states in the country. The same is applicable to the settlers in Plateau. They come from different ethnic backgrounds-Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Tiv, etc. The Hausa-Fulanis are not the only settlers in Plateau. What many analysts have not tried to find out is the reason the recent conflicts in Plateau have mainly been between the 'indigenes' and Hausa-Fulani settlers, not with the Yoruba, Igbo or Tiv settlers in the state.

Some people have made it seem as if all the 'indegenes' of Plateau State profess one religion-Christianity, while the settlers belong to another religion-Islam. This is not the case. Plateau State is religiously diverse. There are Christians, Muslims, Animists and adherents of other faiths and beliefs. Though, Christians are at the majority, that does not rule out the fact that there are indigenes of Plateau who profess other faiths, including Islam. And Muslim indigenes have been living in peace with the Christian and Animist counterparts for decades. The settlers also come from different religious backgrounds- Islam, Christianity, traditional religion, etc. So, the question is this: Why is it that the conflicts have been between the Plateau indigenes-of different ethno-religious backgrounds and the Hausa-Fulani Muslim settlers?

The conflict in January was the latest in the series of clashes between the indigenes and Hausa-Fulani Muslim settlers. To draw one's conclusion from this incident alone, without making reference to other past cases of ethno-religious bloodbath in Plateau and other states of Northern Nigeria would not be balanced. I agree with those who said that the Muslim settlers' community sustained heavy casualities in the latest outbreak of violence. But, anyone who has been following the conflicts in Jos and Plateau State as a whole would know that the local community, including settlers from other ethnic and religious backgrounds has recorded heavy casualities in the past. In fact, it was reported that Muslim militants, wearing army uniforms started the killings in January.

Many analysts have failed to point out the role of fanatics and militants from the Muslim settlers' community in the recurrent ethno-religious carnage in Plateau State, since 2001. Personally, I see a kind of connection between the crisis in Plateau and the wave of Islamic fanaticism, political and jihadist Islam sweeping across Northern Nigeria.

Since 1999, the imposition and implementation of sharia law by Muslim majority states have escalated tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims in Northern Nigeria. Muslim politicians elected by the people used their positions to foist Islamic theocracy on the entire populatio n, including indigenes and settlers from different ethno-religious backgrounds. Non-muslims were forced to live under sharia law by state governments, that donned the 'islamic partisan cassock'.

In some states in Northern Nigeria, like Kaduna and Bauchi, the imposition of sharia law sparked religious riots, clashes and cleansing. Non-muslims, particularly those in other Northern but non-sharia implementing states have been living in fear, suspicion and mistrust, particularly of Muslim politicians. They are afraid of voting them into power or of supporting them politically, because they could use their positions to impose sharia law and promote Islam.

So, what appears to some people as the Christian partisanship of the Plateau State government is a reaction to the Islamic partisanship that holds sway in most states in Northern Nigeria. What we have in Plateau is a situation where militant Islam has led to the emergence of militant christianity. Political Islam had bred political Christianity. The Islamic partisanship in Muslim majority states has caused the emergence of Christian partisanship in Plateau and in other Christian majority states in the country.

The crisis in Plateau is intricately linked to, and caused by the political and jihadist Islam that prevails in Northern Nigeria. The Plateau butchery cannot be resolved without rooting out militant and political Islam. Muslim politicians must stop using elective positions to further Islamic agenda and implement Islamic law. Muslim politicians must learn to uphold democracy and universal human rights, and stop foisting Islamic theocracy on the people.

Section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution says that, "No part of the Federation or state should adopt any religion as state religion." Politicians in Plateau and other states in Northern Nigeria should learn to steer religion away from politics. They should learn to keep mosque, church and state separate. Some people have called for the perpetrators of the latest Plateau butchery to be brought to book. But, I think this should apply, not only to those who orchestrated the killings in January, but also all those responsible for the religious attacks and carnage in Plateau since 2001, including those groups and individuals from the neighbouring states who have been supplying militants on both sides with army uniforms arms and mercenaries.

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

Former Minister Says Nigeria To Take Action Against Proliferation of Small Arms

AFP20100318578031 Abuja Daily Trust Online in English 17 Mar 10

[Report by Aisha Umar Agaie: "Nigeria Worried by Proliferation of Small Arms in W/Africa"]

Former Defence Minister Godwin Abbe said Nigeria will rally the West Africa sub-region to take action against the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapon (SALW) in the region.

This, according to Abbe, was as a result of outbreak of violent conflicts in Nigeria like the Boko Haram, Jos sectarian crisis and the unending Niger Delta restiveness.

He spoke Tuesday at the meeting of Ministers of Defence and Security from the region to adopt the Action Plan for the implementation of the ECOWAS convention on SALWs.

The former minister said proliferation of SALWs in the West African sub-region undermines good governance and the economic and political integration of the sub-region.

"That is why Nigeria in her position in ECOWAS is encouraging others to ratify the Conventions to give meanings to the intentions of the ECOWAS Heads of State" he stated.

[Description of Source: Abuja Daily Trust Online in English -- Website of the independent pro-North daily; URL: http://www.news.dailytrust.com/]

Nigeria: Commentary Urges Jonathan To Probe Into NGO's Role in Jos Crisis

AFP20100324564009 Ibadan Nigerian Tribune Online in English 24 Mar 10

[Commentary by Akeem Adebayo: "Human Rights Watch and Jos Crises"]

The latest massacre of innocent and defenceless infants, children, women and men by Fulani terrorists in Jos should not surprise Nigerians, because the writing was on the wall immediately after the last massacre in January. Unfortunately, the nation didn't take notice of the obvious signs. The latest killings could have been prevented, had Nigerians paid a closer attention to the sudden interest of Human Rights Watch in the murderous conflict in Jos, since 2008. Far from being an impartial observer, the American organisation has taken sides.

Human Rights Watch or specifically, its so-called "senior West Africa researcher", Corinne Dufka, has taken sides with the Hausa/Fulani forces in the Jos murderous impasse. The white American woman, who is based in Dakar, Senegal, laid the foundation for the Sunday, 7 March mass killings. During the crisis of 28-29 November, 2008, Human Rights Watch issued a press release accusing the police of using excessive force on mainly Muslim youths. The release came after reports of the Yoruba National Youth Corps members, who were bludgeoned to death with machetes by Hausa/Fulani gangs and other gory stories of violence perpetrated against Southerners had enraged the whole South. Out of the blue came the release - a way to create the impression that both "Muslims" and "Christians" were victims alike.

In January this year, as the outcry against Hausa/Fulani violence in Jos was assuming almost universal dimension in the country, Human Rights Watch again released another report on Kuru Karama, where it alleged that 150 "Muslim" (Hausa/Fulani) villagers were killed and their corpses stuffed into wells. Again, the organisation portrayed Hausa/Fulani as victims of mass murder, whereas elements of their community were actually the chief perpetrators.

Until today, there is no credible independent confirmation of the two incidents that the so-called human rights organisation cited to very powerful international media. How come it is the group that got wind of the information of the corpses in wells in Kuru Karama, when the author of the report, Corinne Dufka, is based in Dakar and not Nigerian journalists, who were present in Jos in large numbers at a time no one could even venture out into the streets because of the rumours that Hausa/Fulani soldiers were killing civilians indiscriminately?

And our uncritical press just relayed the story without much of a thought about its authenticity. Before you knew it, opinion articles started appearing in our newspapers on Kuru Karama, not to mention the wide international media coverage given to the phony story.The obviously partisan intervention of Human Rights Watch or, better said, Corinne Dufka, laid the grounds for the new round of genocidal violence in Jos. I will explain.

The Kuru Karama report was the one that was being relentlessly quoted in the Northern Nigerian media, with mosques to show how "Muslims" suffered in Jos - to create an impression that it was "Governor Jang and his Berom people" who killed "Muslim Northerners". "This is genocide in my own opinion, because the amount of massacre that took place was not witnessed during the Boko Haram crisis, in Maiduguri in particular, and the Kala Kato crisis in Bauchi, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, said at meeting of Northern traditional rulers, which took place in Kaduna on 26 January, 2010. In newspapers, especially the chief propaganda press organ of the Hausa/Fulani, whenever the Jos conflict was discussed since January, reference was always made to the Human Rights Watch report.

This is despite the overwhelming evidence that the Hausa/Fulani, with the support of high-ranking officers in the security forces, planned and carried out the killings of other Nigerians during the January crisis. That much has been testified to by Yoruba, Igbo, Benue State and South- South indigenes, who fled the city. In fact, more than 200 Yorubas were said to have lost their lives, according to the President-General of the Yoruba Community Council in Plat eau State, Chief Toye Ogushuyi, who holds the Hausa/Fulani elements responsible for the deaths.