Military nabs abductor of Chibok girls
By Emma Ujah, Ben Agande, Caleb Ayansina & Ndahi Marama
ABUJA—Almost
three months after Boko Haram terrorists abducted more than 200
schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, the military announced, yesterday,
that it has arrested one of the sect’s leaders, who was one of the
abductors.
This came on a day the sect members bombed a Divisional
Police Headquarters in Shani Local Government Area of Borno State and
also attacked an emir’s palace.
The alleged abductor of the Chibok
girls, whose name was given as Babuji Ya’ari, was also said to have led
the attack in which the Emir of Gwoza, Alh. Idriss Timta, was killed a
few weeks ago.
Babuji Ya’ari (A suspected abductor of the Chibok girls).
The
Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, disclosed
in a statement issued in Abuja, yesterday, that Ya’ari doubled as member
of the Youth Vigilante Group, popularly known as Civilian JTF.
According
to the Defence spokesman, the Boko Haram kingpin used his membership of
the civilian JTF only as a cover, as he has been coordinating deadly
attacks in Borno State since 2011.
He added that the arrest of
Ya’ari led to the arrest of several other Boko Haram intelligence cell
members. Olukolade said that those arrested had confessed their
involvement with the deadly sect and named several others who were being
trailed.
The full text reads: “A terrorists’ intelligence cell
headed by a businessman, who participated actively in the abduction of
School Girls in Chibok has been busted by troops. The man, Babuji
Ya’ari, who is also a member of the Youth Vigilante Group popularly
known as Civilian JTF which he uses as cover while remaining an active
terrorist, also spearheaded the murder of the Emir of Gwoza. His main
role in the group is to spy and gather information for the terrorist
group.
“Babuji has been coordinating several deadly attacks in
Maiduguri since 2011, including the daring attacks on Customs and
military locations as well as the planting of IEDs in several locations
in the town.
“The arrest of the businessman, who is known to deal
in tricycles has also yielded some vital information and facilitated the
arrest of other members of the terrorists’ intelligence cell who are
women. One of them, Hafsat Bako had earlier escaped to Gombe State to
avoid suspicion but was tracked and arrested. Prior to her arrest,
Hafsat coordinated the payment of other operatives on the payroll of the
group. In her confession, she disclosed that a minimum of N10,000 is
paid to each operative depending on the enormity of his task.
“Another
female suspect named Haj Kaka, who doubles as an armourer and a spy for
the terrorist group has also been arrested. Until their arrest, all the
suspects actively operated a terrorists’ intelligence cell in
collaboration with others still at large.
“In another development,
troops deployed in Goniri, Yobe State, over the weekend, had an
encounter with terrorists, resulting in casualties on both sides after
the attack was successfully repelled”.
Boko Haram bomb police headquarters, attack Emir’s palace, burn houses, shops
Meanwhile,
barely 24 hours after the terrorists attacked Cbibok communities in
Borno State killing no fewer than 51 persons, the sect members,
yesterday, invaded Shani Local Government Area of the state and bombed
the Divisional Police Headquarters.
Shani is south and about 245 kilometres drive to Maiduguri which also shares boundary with some parts of Adamawa State.
The
insurgents also attacked the palace of the newly appointed Emir of
Shani, Alhaji Sanusi Mailafiya. The sect members were said to be hunting
for the Chairman of the council, Alhaji Madu Walama, whom they believed
was hiding inside the palace.
According to the residents of the
community, after the heavily armed terrorists attacked the police
headquarters with an Improvised Explosive Device at about 2.45pm,
yesterday, they proceeded to the town and started shooting
indiscriminately at people. They also set houses, shops and vehicles on
fire. Many of the residents were feared dead, although casualty figure
could not be ascertained.
After attacking the Emir’s palace, the
terrorists were also reported to have looted a pharmaceutical store in
Witambaya village before escaping into the hills of Pelambirni village
bordering some communities in Adamawa State.
Another set of gunmen also reportedly attacked Mandaragirau village in Biu Local Government Area and went away with 60 cows.
A resident told
Vanguard
on phone that the gunmen came at about 10:00pm on Sunday and started
shooting sporadically for some hours before they carted away 60 cows. No
life was however lost.
Efforts to reach the Police Public
Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Gideon Jibrin for confirmation did not
yield any result, as his phone was switched off.
Jonathan condemns attack on Chibok
Meantime,
President Goodluck Jonathan has called on all lovers of peace in the
country to condemn efforts by agents of global terrorism to disunite and
destabilize Nigeria by callously instigating violence among religious
groups in the country.
Reacting to the attack on some churches in
Chibok where scores of worshipers were killed, President Jonathan said
he shares the view of the most learned Islamic leaders and scholars that
no true Muslim will resort to the mindless killing of innocent people
at any time, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, to redress any
perceived grievance.
“The President deplores the renewed
targeting by Boko Haram of adherents of a particular religion and urges
all lovers of peace and unity to wholly condemn the renewed violence by
the Boko Haram insurgents.
A statement by Reuben Abati, the
Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity said: “The
President believes, therefore, that Sunday’s attacks on churches and
other similar atrocities by Boko Haram are conclusive proof, if any is
still needed, that its leaders and members are thoroughly misguided
persons who are only using religion as a cover for their reprehensible
crimes against their countrymen and women.
“President Jonathan
urges all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious beliefs, to resist
this new attempt to undermine the nation’s firm and collective resolve
to unite in full support of its armed forces and security agencies
against the vicious perpetrators of brutal attacks on innocent citizens.
“The
President assures all Nigerians once again that the Federal Government
and national security agencies will continue to intensify ongoing
efforts to end Boko Haram’s senseless attacks until the terrorists are
routed and totally defeated.
“He commiserates with the families
and churches that lost loved ones, members and places of worship during
Sunday’s attacks” the statement concluded.
Chibok abduction won’t hinder fight against terrorism – FG
The
Federal Government has also restated that it would not be deterred by
the abduction of more than 200 school girls in Chibok, Borno State to
fight the insurgents.
The National Coordinator of National
Information Centre, Mr Mike Omeri stated this, yesterday, at the routine
security briefing, alongside with spokespersons of security forces, in
Abuja.
Fielding questions from journalists on why killings
continue in spite of the deployment of security operatives by the
government, Omeri said government was not demoralised and would not be,
despite challenges it is facing to rescue the girls.
He said: “The
President, security agencies, even all of us sitting here said in
relation Chibok girls: The focus is to rescue them alive not attracting
collateral damage or destroying the lives of those children. And
therefore, the approach at rescue is different.
“Now, the Air
Force even as at yesterday (Sunday) came out to fight the insurgents,
where they make themselves available to be confronted. You can confirm
that from Chibok and even the other week as well.
“As I said
earlier, there are rules of engagement in the war, a conventional
professional armed forces will stick to it, but an unconventional group
or team of criminals will not stick to it.
“And don’t forget that
this government have zero tolerance for abuses whether by armed forces,
police or whosoever. So, we will stick to the rule of engagement and do
the right thing,” he said.
Speaking on the attack in Kautikeri,
kwada and Birnjuzu about 10 kilometres from Chibok, Borno state, Omeri
said government had intensified patrol in the area.
He maintained
that government and the community leaders were working to ascertain the
extent of damage and figures, noting that there were causalities from
both the security forces and the insurgents.
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From left, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., Senate
Minority Leaders Mitch McConnell of Ky., Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid of Nev. and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio hold hands as they
sing, "We Shall Overcome," during a 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964 ceremony, Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in the Capitol Rotunda on
Capitol Hill in Washington. A Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the
Reverend Doctor and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr., who were instrumental
in the law’s passage, was also presented. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) 
