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

The State Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, who visited the scene of the incident was said to have been prevented by the protesting youth of the area from visiting the victims admitted at Saint Loius general hospital, Zonkwa.

He was said to have been held hostage for about an hour before he was finally allowed to enter the hospital wards in company of the State commissioner of police, Ballah Nassarawa, the General Officer Commanding, one Division of the Nigeria Army, Kaduna, Major General Joseph Shoboiki as well as the Director of the State Security Services, Yomi Zamba.

The rampaging youth were said to have used the opportunity to register their alleged dissatisfaction with the security outfit of Yakowa's administration popularly known as Operation Yaki for their inability to protect lives and property in the area, even as unconfirmed report said that the angry youth pelted the Governor's convoy with pebbles.

The Kaduna State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Aminu Lawan confirmed the attack, saying, "I got a report that two people were killed in the attack but I don't know how many people were injured. We are still gathering more facts."

A statement issued by Reuben Buhari, the media spokesperson to Governor Yakowa said that the governor visited St. Louise Hospital, Zonkwa to sympathize with those affected in the current shooting incident in Tabak, Zangon Kataf local council where two people were killed and several injured.

"His Excellency condemns in totality the unnecessary and reprehensible shooting. The governor also took time to interact with youths of the area and listened to their complain advising them not to take the law into their hands.

His Excellency views with dismay that some criminally-minded people are bent on creating unnecessary tension within the state.

His Excellency further appeals to all residents of Zonkwa in particular and Kaduna State in general to shun any act capable of shattering the peace that the state is currently enjoying, while security agencies continue with investigation into the incident.

People of the state are further enjoined to remain security conscious and report any suspicious movement to security agencies.

Furthermore, his Excellency has stated that the medical bills of those currently in hospital will be taken care of by the state government," the statement said.

In the meantime, Kaduna State chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria [CAN] has condemned the incident in its entirety. The secretary of the Kaduna State CAN, Reverend Yunusa Nmadu in a statement said, "Kaduna State CAN condemns in an equivocal manner the attack on innocent Christian worshippers in the church.

Indeed, the trouble makers of Kaduna have taken their senseless killings to the doorsteps of God and this is very dangerous for us as a State. We are worried that in spite of the heavy presence of soldiers in the area, this kind of attack can still be carried out.

Information reaching me from the local CAN in Zonkwa confirms that sophisticated rifles were used. We call on the government of Kaduna State to ensure that the perpetrators of this evil acts are fished out and brought to book.

We call on all Christians to be calm and prayerful in the face of this new dimension of attack on the Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Zonkwa."

It would be recalled that about a fortnight ago, some unknown gunmen had attacked a police station and a bank in Saminaka town in Lere local government area of the State as well as another attack on Fadiya village, killing two persons about a month ago in the same Zango Kataf local government area of the State, all in the southern part of the State.

Meanwhile, information reaching National Daily disclosed that 20,000 security operatives have been dispatched to Kaduna State to check possible breakdown of law and order in the state during the festival.

The Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attacks in Borno and Yobe States, with the worst damage done in and around the city of Damaturu. The group also promised to continue its bloody sectarian fight against Nigeria's weak central government. Residents are therefore, nervously moving through empty streets, waiting for the next attack.

Presidency dismayed

President Goodluck Jonathan stated through his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati that he did not consider those who launched the attacks "true Muslims," as the assault came during a holy period.

Abati also promised that "every step will be taken" to arrest those responsible, the same pledge made again and again as Jonathan has visited other sites bombed by the Boko Haram sect.

"The security agencies will tell you that what happens on this scale is even a fraction of what could have happened considering the scope of the threat," Abati said. "The security agencies are busy at work trying to make sure the will of the majority of the Nigerian people is not subverted by a minority group with a suicidal streak."

However, the Nigerian government faces an increasingly dangerous threat from the Boko Haram sect. The group apparently has split into three factions. One faction remains moderate and welcomes an end to the violence, another wants a peace agreement with rewards similar to those offered to a different militant group in 2009.

The third faction, though, refuses to negotiate and remains the most radical. This faction is in contact with al-Qaida's North Africa branch and likely the Somalia-based terror group al-Shabab, a diplomat said on condition of anonymity according to embassy orders.

The federal government under Jonathan has however reiterated its resolve to protect Nigerians and punish those responsible for the pre-sallah killings in Kaduna, Borno, and Yobe states.

[Description of Source: Lagos National Daily in English - independent weekly news magazine]

Government Reportedly Monitoring Nigerians Returning From Libya

AFP20111114598021 Ibadan Nigerian Tribune Online in English 14 Nov 11

[Report by Olawale Rasheed: "Boko Haram: FG Monitors Libyan Returnees"]

Following reports of a relationship between the Libyan civil war and the renewed attacks by Boko Haram insurgents, the Federal Government has commenced discreet monitoring of Nigerians who recently returned from the just concluded Libyan civil war.

Findings by the Nigerian Tribune showed that there are credible reports of some Nigerians of northern origin who fought in support of the late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, being involved with the Boko Haram insurgency against the Nigerian state.

Reports indicated that these former mercenaries have been streaming into the country through the northern borders with weapons of various kinds, a development said to have necessitated security surveillance on Nigerians who just returned to the country from Libya.

While some Nigerians were officially repatriated by the Nigerian government, thousands more were said to have made their way through southern Libya en route Niger Republic to enter northern Nigeria, where they easily blend with their kith and kin.

This category of returnees was reportedly undocumented and is suspected of being easy recruits for the insurgency against the Nigerian state in view of earlier pronouncement by the late Libyan leader that Nigeria should be divided into Christian south and Muslim North.

A top security official in a northern city told the Nigerian Tribune that the intelligence officials were already shadowing such returnees with a view to rounding up those suspected of carrying arms or participating in the insurgency.

"We have the reports of such characters entering the country but we are monitoring the entire northern axis. We are also linking up with our partners in Niger Republic through exchange of intelligence to easily track such elements," the official said.

Speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, the official disclosed that the security service personnel were already embedded in various segments of the border towns and villages, adding, "we are monitoring the situation as we believe the insurgents are coming from neighbouring countries."

Special Forces

Meanwhile, it was learnt that special forces had been deployed to monitor thousands of illegal entrances into the country in the northern regions as a way of stemming the porosity of the borders and alleged entrance of religious militants.

A top administration source said the measure is to be in place until the completion of aerial and land surveillance of the nation's northern borders through sophisticated technologies and instruments, noting that the forces are to operate in commando like fashion with a view to hunting down extremists along the border.

Security personnel involved in the operation are reportedly trained by the American anti-terrorism unit while the operation is to be coordinated alongside similar special forces already in operation in such countries as Niger, Mali, Mauritania and other Margreb nations.

It will be recalled that the American and the French had helped the Margreb countries to set up special forces to fight the Al-qaeda in the Margreb to which the Nigerian sect, the Boko Haram, is allegedly linked. Both the French and American government have offered to help Nigeria tame the islamist insurgency.

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

Nigeria: Government Introduces New Measures To Tackle Islamic Sect

AFP20111115598017 Ibadan Nigerian Tribune Online in English 15 Nov 11

[Report by Chris Agbambu: "Boko Haram Problem'll End Soon -FG"]

The Federal Government has declared that the Boko Haram menace will soon be over, as it has introduced new measures to tackle the problem.

Minister of Defence, Dr Bello Haliru Mohammed, who disclosed this on Monday while declaring open the 2011 Defence Advisers/Attaches Annual Conference in Abuja, said that government approach had been to apply physical security only as a catalyst for honest dialogue among genuine stakeholders and key players.

The minister, who was represented by the Minister of State for Defence, Mrs Olusola Obada, said that the various efforts of government at finding a lasting solution to the increased attacks on innocent citizens and security agents by the Boko Haram were a clear indication of the government's commitment to lasting peace and security in the country that would foster national unity and progress.

According to him, "I am happy to inform you that the government is on top of the situation in the Boko Haram issue. It is in these fundamental senses that the repositioning of the Defence Intelligence Agency in meeting contemporary security environment becomes paramount and your input as defence advisers and defence attaches in forecasting potential threats to our national security and cohesion is crucial to the implementation of government policies."

The minister noted that the government believed in efficient information and intelligence that were capable of predicting threats to the collective security and providing information of value to their diplomatic and defence initiatives, including strategies for deterrence.

He said that the passing of the bill stipulating measures to combat terrorism by the lawmakers would further ensure that perpetrators of evil in the society have no place to hide.

He declared that the Federal Government would do all that was required to continue to have an efficient, reliable and proactive intelligence gathering system, hence it was proper that the Ministry of Defence's basic strategy to realise its foreign and national security objectives was the development of a fully committed crop of defence advisers, among others.

The minister reminded the defence advisers that their work was to support the political, economic and diplomatic initiatives of the government, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding that they were, therefore, expected to maintain a healthy relationship with the ambassadors.

"You are required to cultivate international relationship between your countries of accreditation and Nigeria, therefore, your integrity, honesty and reliability and that of your family must be very high, so that the people would have confidence in you and your country," the minister said.

He admonished the defence advisers to evolve strategies to reposition the Defence Intelligence Agency in meeting contemporary security environment, as this would be in pursuit of a strong, virile, proactive and responsive security organ, for greater input in establishing lasting peace and stability in our country.

In his remark, the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Major-General S.Y. Audu, said Nigeria had experienced several security incidents which had necessitated the increased involvement of the Nigerian Armed Forces in internal security operations.

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

Nigeria: Normalcy Returns to Yobe State Following Islamic Sect's Attacks

AFP20111115598019 Abuja Daily Trust Online in English 0400 GMT 15 Nov 11

[Report by Hamisu Kabir Matazu: "Damaturu Bombings: Yobe Govt Relaxes Curfew"]

The Yobe State Government has eased the 12-hour daily restriction it imposed on movement of people following the recent Boko Haram attacks, as normality returns to the state.

A statement signed by Governor Ibrahim Gaidam's Special Adviser on Press Affairs and Information, Abdullahi Bego, said the governor, who returned from Saudi Arabia yesterday, approved that the restriction on movement now starts from 10.00pm daily to 6.00 o'clock in the morning. Until now, public movement was restricted between 7.00pm and 7.00am daily.

Bego's statement quoted Governor Gaidam as expressing his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of those who lost loved ones and those who sustained injuries in the crisis.

He also said that the governor will address the state shortly. "While the governor will make a special statement on the issue in the coming period, he appeals to members of the public to go about their normal and lawful businesses and to continue to co-operate with security agencies," the statement said.

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

Observer Urges Nigeria To Increase Intelligence Efforts To Tackle Islamic Sect

AFP20111117589008 Pretoria Institute for Security Studies in English 16 Nov 11

[Commentary by David Zounmenou and Arthur Chatora: "Nigeria Seeking an Effective Response to Boko Haram"]

Nigeria's internal security remains extremely volatile following a spate of recent shootings, bombings and suicide assaults in the country's northern cities of Damaturu, the Yobe State capital and in Maiduguri in the Borno State. Almost every week, there are reports of attacks or threats putting the security agencies on high alert. Fear of attacks have compelled the most populous country in Africa to hold a low profile National Day in October 15. As the sect's capacity is growing, can the Federal Government be up to the task of defeating it to save its economic transformation agenda and preserve peace in the country?

Linked to the Islamist group, Boko Haram (whose name literally translates to 'Western education is forbidden'), the attacks resulted, according Nigerian media reports, in the killings of 136 people - the deadliest in recent months. Some reports, however, allege the involvement of irredentist and even criminal elements in the killings. Of the 136 people who died, 135 were reportedly male and one female, while 17 others were injured. This latest wave of attacks has targeted police stations, banks, military installations, and churches and mosques, reinforcing the impression that a mixture of political, economical and religious agendas motivated the attackers.

A look at the government's responses shows that it has found it difficult to eradicate Boko Haram but worryingly so, the group seems to be reinventing itself and its strategies. It has increasingly embraced suicide bombing; a strategy that ensures concealed attacks to inflict casualties. The Nigerian government has, so far, employed about seven different response mechanisms. The latest involves door-to-door security searches for weapons, particularly, in the northeastern state of Borno. This initiative follows the expiry on 31 October of the deadline for amnesty for those who would have surrendered their arms. Previously, the government initiated the controversial proposal to grant amnesty to Boko Haram. When the move did not work, it followed it up with another controversial attempt at negotiations.

The third move was to launch an inquiry into the group's support base and supposed links with Nigerian political actors. Subsequently, the government engaged the services of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, in what turned out to be a failed mediation that resulted in the death of the Boko Haram Leader, Babakura Baba Fugu, in a reprisal attack by other Boko Haram members. The fifth attempt involved the deployment of approximately 20 000 military personnel across the country with a full mandate to deal with the increasing security challenges around ethnic and religious violence, violent crimes and terrorist activities.

The government then went further to set up of the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North-East Zone, which submitted its report in late September. The committee found out, among others that, the increasing violence was a result of weak governance and failure to deliver services to the people, especially against the backdrop of huge resources accruing to government. The report also observed that the security agencies had not been able to contain the violence because of palpable operational lapses, rivalry, under-funding, under-equipment and lack of collaboration between the various security agencies. In a pointer to the muddled nature of the situation, the Presidential Committee also observed that some politicians and certain individuals contributed to the lingering violence by funding private militias, using them and then sometimes dumping them. This created a problem because the groups were not only trained but also had dangerous weapons. The Presidential Committee again proposed amnesty to members of Boko Haram willing who surrender and a comprehensive socio-economic strategy to address people's needs.

While the Nigerian government took up the amnesty proposal, it again raised controversy with some arguing that it would not succeed due to the sect`s radical views. The expiry of t he government's amnesty offer on October 30 is what led to the door-to-door security searches. Whether the door-to-door search will offer a lasting solution is subject to debate. Judging from the incessant attacks, it appears the Nigerian government has not yet found a clear answer to the radical violent militancy phenomenon.

Unfortunately, Nigerian politics has thrived on strong patronage networks and rampant corruption thus making it difficult for the government to be speedily responsive to people's needs. A key question that needs further and throughout investigation relates to the existing links between the Nigerian sect and Al-Qaida. With U.S. and other intelligence sources suggesting that Boko Haram members have been trained outside Nigeria and have connections with Al Qaeda`s North African wing, the Nigerian government will need to move quickly to seize the moral and political legitimacy, especially in regions where young people are willing to join insurgents for lack of better socio-economic opportunities. Hard evidence is not yet available as to how consolidated are the external links of the sect but three indications could help making sense of the foreign dimension of the sect's activities.

Firstly, the sophisticated tactics deployed by the group - suicide bombing and the weaponry could not have been of domestic making. Also, attempts to hit transnational institutions could have the double objective of extending to capacity of the group to attack beyond Maiduguri and perhaps beyond Nigeria and attract international media attention. Secondly, with the downfall of Col. Muammar Gaddafi, a significant amount of weapons have been unleashed in the Sahel. Some of these weapons could fall into the wrong hands including the Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb whose members are likely to lend support to Boko Haram fighting " the western infidels" . In the same vein, Kenya's assault against Al Shabaab could have a collateral impact of dispersing them into the Sahel providing another source of support for the irredentist groups challenging the security of the region.

Boko Haram should not be underestimated and its threat to take the fight southward needs to be dealt with carefully. The danger here will not only be the deterioration of the precarious post-amnesty environment in the Niger-Delta but also retaliation from Niger-Delta militants who are looking for an opportunity to attack Boko Haram. President Goodluck Jonathan's mandate is clearly under threat and current security challenges run the risk of distracting his administration from it economic transformation agenda.

Careful, balanced yet decisive actions are needed for him to defeat the scepticism about his ability to ensure peace and security of citizens and protect Nigeria's territorial integrity.

A victory may not necessarily mean the destruction of the insurgent fighters but rather the winning of the hearts and minds of the local population through the restoration of state authority. It calls for comprehensive military, socio-economic, political and civic actions. The government will not only need to increase its intelligence gathering and preventive measures, but also use local influential individuals to pacify the groups and, much more importantly, address the local historical grievances that have produced the " push" and " pull" fac­tors.

[Description of Source: Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies in English -- Independent policy research institute providing research and analysis of human security issues in Africa to policy makers, area specialists, and advocacy groups. The think tank is headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa with offices in Kenya and Ethiopia; URL: http://www.iss.co.za]

Nigeria: Islamic Sect Gives Conditions To Hold Dialogue With Government

AFP20111118598006 Abuja Daily Trust Online in English 0400 GMT 18 Nov 11

[Report by Hamza Idris: "Boko Haram Reiterates Condition for Dialogue"]

Members of the Boko Haram sect that has been carrying out bombing raids in the noth yesterday reiterated that all their members who have been arrested must be released before they accept to take part in any dialogue.

The group also revealed the identity of the two suicide bombers that attacked the Joint Task Force headquarters (JTF) in Maiduguri and the Anti Terrorism two- storeys building in Damaturu, Yobe State on November 4. Over 150 people including security men were killed in the two attacks.

Spokesman of the group Abul Qaqa who spoke to Daily Trust on phone called on President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mohammed Bello Adoke to expedite action on the release of all members of the sect.

"The recipe for peace is the unconditional release of our members. Let me repeat what I said: All our members must be released before any attempt at going into negotiations. All the top men in the country are sleeping in the comfort of their rooms and singing the songs of dialogue when our members are being persecuted. This is unacceptable," Qaqa said.

He gave the identity of the man that bombed the anti terrorism building in Damaturu as Mohammed Usman alias Baana. "We see him as an exceptional martyr because he was barely four days in our group when he pleaded that we should allow him to carry out the act," Qaqa said.