A rehabilitated ex-fighter of Boko Haram terror group, Alayi Madu and the traditional ruler of Kajola, a border community between Ondo and Edo states, Baale Akinola Adebayo are among 37 persons arrested over 2.2 tonnes of illicit drugs seized by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and in raids across 12 states in the past week.

A statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi on Sunday said as  part of ongoing operations to mop up illicit drugs across the country ahead of the next round of elections, NDLEA officers in the early hours of last Friday stormed Kajola forest in Kajola community, a border town between Edo and Ondo states where they destroyed three cannabis farms measuring 39.8 hectares.

He said the owner of the farms who claims to be the Ba’ale of Kajola, Akinola Adebayo, 35, was arrested on the farm at 2:30am, while two other suspects believed to be his workers: Arikuyeri Abdulrahman, 23 and Habibu Ologun, 25, were also nabbed in a hut near the farms.

Babafemi also revealed that a 26-year-old Alayi Madu, who was a Boko Haram fighter for 15 years before he surrendered to the Nigerian military in 2021 was intercepted by NDLEA operatives last Thursday along Abuja-Kaduna express road with 10 kilogrammes of skunk, which he said he bought in Ibadan, Oyo state and was taking the consignment concealed in a sack to Maiduguri, Borno state.

Madu, in his statement, said he is from Banki town, Borno State and joined the notorious terrorist organisation, in 2006 when he was just nine years old, but repented and surrendered to the military in 2021, after which he underwent rehabilitation and de-radicalisation processes at Umaru Shehu rehabilitation centre, Maiduguri and Malam Sidi de-radicalization centre, Gombe. He was  subsequently discharged after spending six months and thereafter traveled to Ibadan, Oyo state where he worked as commercial motorcycle rider (Okada rider) before going into drug trafficking and his eventual arrest along Abuja-Kaduna express road.

Babafemi said at the Lagos airport in Ikeja, operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a consignment of 11.90 kilogrammes of heroin and 500 grammes of skunk concealed in deep freezers, which were part of a cargo that arrived from South Africa last Tuesday onboard Ethiopian airline via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He said the agency’s sniffer dogs were deployed to locate where the illicit drugs were hidden in the cargo and in no time, identified the cartons packed in the deep freezers.

He added that a total of four suspects, Dairo Quam; Oluwaseun Ogunmene; Adeleke Abdulrasaq; Bamidele Adewale and Oluwafemi Ogunmeru. who played active roles in the movement of the drugs and a truck driver have been arrested so far in connection with the seizure.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives attached to the Gate C departure hall of the MMIA last Thursday intercepted a passenger, Aigbedion Philomena heading to Italy via Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airline flight. He said when her bags containing body cream, hair attachments, drinks, and some food items were searched, a total of 1.2 kilogrammes tramadol capsules concealed inside gift wrapping sheet and covered with old daily newspapers were discovered.

At the Idiroko land border, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence last  Thursday intercepted a commercial Toyota Camry Salon Car with reg. number JJJ 756 HB (Lagos) along Ilase-Akoko road, Idiroko with 34 compressed jumbo size wraps of imported skunk weighing 17 kilogrammes and concealed in two cooking gas cylinders. Two suspects in the car, Benjamin Ajose, 48 and Oluwatobiloba Ajayi, 37, were arrested.

In Akwa Ibom state,Mrs. Hope Iniobong , 42, was arrested with bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,112 kilogrammes (1.1 tonnes) in her house at Ediene Abak in Abak local government area, while operatives in Kogi state last Thursday recovered 25 cartons, containing 50,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection weighing 200 kilogrammes in a Toyota Hiace bus marked LAM 652 LG, Kogi, travelling from Lagos to Abuja.

In Ogun state, operatives arrested a female drug dealer, Bola Egbebi in Ota local government area, with different quantities of cannabis sativa, methamphetamine, tramadol 225, skuchies, molly and codeine cough syrup, while in Gombe state, another female drug dealer, Fatima Hassan (a.k.a Boss) was arrested last Saturday in her house at New Mile 3 area of Akko local government area with three and half blocks of skunk weighing 3.245 kilogrammes, two other female drug dealers: Folake Ladipo and Adeola Babatunde were arrested with 49.5 kilogrammes skunk last Friday in Mushin area of Lagos state.

In Kwara, operatives on patrol along Ilorin-Jebba highway last Tuesday arrested two suspects: Ismaila Saidu and Dahiru Abdullahi with 50 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 578 kilogrammes, while in the FCT Abuja, 15 suspects were transferred by the Nigerian Army with 35 bags of cannabis weighing 384.3 kilogrammes.

A 56-year-old suspect, Shinayemà Kelenku was arrested at Tse-kelenku village, Logo local government area of Benue State with 36.7 kilogrammes skunk, while in Delta state, operatives intercepted a suspect, Chimeze Ndukaire, 56, conveying psychotropic substances worth over N30 million in a white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number Lagos FST 279 XS coming from Onitsha to Warri. The vehicle was intercepted last Friday at G.S.M junction, Asaba based on a tip-off, and recovered from the bus include 267.3 litres of codeine (2,673 bottles); 25,110 pills of tramadol and other opioids.

In Kano state, NDLEA operatives last  Saturday raided the Sabon-gari area of Kano where they arrested a suspect, Chukwuebuka Christopher and recovered from him 7,740 bottles of Codeine based syrup, measuring 774 litres, concealed inside 43 sacks of garlic.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) while commending the officers, men and women of MMIA, Idiroko, Edo, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Kogi, Ogun, Gombe, Lagos, Kwara, FCT, Benue, Delta and Kano Commands of the agency for their diligence and commitment to work, however charged them and their compatriots across other commands not to rest on their oars.

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There is nothing like Sambisa Forest, Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said.

Speaking at a Sunday night programme, Peoples Townhall 2023, a talk show on Channels Television anchored by Seun Okinbaloye, Mr Atiku, said he once served as a Customs Officer in the North East and knew Borno State as well as other states in the present day North East so well as to know that there is no forest in any part of that region.

Short of accusing the Federal Government of complicity in the festering of the Boko Haram crisis, Atiku wondered why the Nigerian Armed Forces which used to be Africa’s pride have failed in routing out Boko Haram, making them look helpless and vulnerable.

Atiku said there is no place for anybody to hide in Borno State as it is a vast land of sand dunes and a sprinkle of shrubs.

 “I do not understand why Boko Haram should exist because there is nowhere for them to hide. I served in the North East I know Borno. I led many patrols there and know the terrain. They say there is a place called Sambisa Forest, I have been there and there is no forest, it is only shrubs.”

He said if elected into office, he is ready and determined to rout out Boko Haram and lay the ghost of insecurity to rest. According to him, the country is facing problems of insecurity and unity and needed experienced and competent people to lead in 2023 to restore “the Nigeria of our dream.

He noted that every part of the country has security challenge, and vowed that his administration, if elected, would negotiate with the different geopolitical zones to resolve the peculiar security situation afflicting the region.  “Every zone of the country has their peculiar insecurity challenges. In the South East, we have the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) agitation, but is realising Biafra possible in this time and age? We cannot afford another civil war in Nigeria. That is why we are talking about restructuring and devolution of power to grant more autonomy to the regions. The country cannot afford to go into another civil war over the separatist agitations in the South East.

“The realisation of Biafra Republic may be impossible to achieve at this time and age that is why we are talking about restructuring and devolution of power to grant more autonomy to the geopolitical zones.”

He advised the South East zone to form alliances with other parts of the country to be more politically relevant in the scheme of things in Nigeria.

“The South East geopolitical zone should do more to move across the river Niger, they should do more to align with other geopolitical zones to secure political power.”

The former vice president said his administration would not scrap security votes, but would monitor how chief executives, at the states, or local government levels deploy the funds. We shall make all heads of government at the other two levels accountable.

“What we need on this issue of security votes is to ensure accountability. The chief executives, whether at the federal, state, or local government should account for how they spend the security ..ot fold our arms and watch governors spend the money recklessly. There will be proper accountability.”

He said his administration would remove fuel subsidies after proper dialogue with critical stakeholders on how to give palliative to the people.

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By Olukayode Idowu

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, on Wednesday toured 10 farmlands in the outskirts of four local governments: Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Jere, Mafa and Dikwa to monitor farming activities.

During the separate unscheduled visits, Zulum, a University Professor of irrigation farming, interacted with farmers, asking them of problems they face so he could address them.

With rainy season in place, majority of the farmers were seen weeding and planting across most farmlands when the governor paid them the visits.

Zulum explained to farmers that unlike in other states, Borno State was not able to procure and allocate NPK fertilizer to farmers because there was an existing ban by the federal government through office of the National Security Adviser.

“We have long been in receipt of a security letter from the office of the National Security Adviser which placed ban on the usage of urea as well as NPK across Borno State because insurgents use these fertilizer components to produce improvised explosive devices (IEDs). It will therefore not augur well for the government of Borno State to distribute that fertilizer as the case in most states”, Zulum said.

The governor however explained that the only option is to distribute liquid fertilizer.

Professor Zulum said he was excited with the turnout of farmers he met on ground during his visits and from reports he got, similar and even more farming activities in areas like southern Borno which has been more peaceful over the years.

He said it was for that reason that he directed the allocation of farm inputs and tractors to farmers in parts of Borno’s three senatorial zones: Central, South and North.

He promised to enhance his focus on agriculture especially continued strengthening of agro rangers and other security groups to sustain safe farming activities across Borno State.

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It was gathered that the suspected terrorist was arrested Saturday night by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Ogun State.

Most residents of Abeokuta have now been thrown into a panic mood, as information about the arrest went viral within the State capital.

This is coming amidst rumour that terrorists are planning to attack some States in the South West

On Sunday, a reliable source informed our correspondent that the suspected Boko Haram leader was arrested at Ijaye area of the metropolis.

The suspected terrorist was said to have initially tried to resist arrest before he later bowed to the superior power of the DSS operatives.

It was gathered that the Boko Haram leader had left Katsina for Abeokuta, where he was employed as a security guard.

However, he had since been gathering intelligence for terrorist attacks.

Security sources hinted that the man was purposely in Abeokuta to set up terrorists’ cells for kidnapping and terror attacks.

He was said to have done the same in Abuja, Kaduna and Zamfara before he moved to Abeokuta.

“However, intelligence gathering gave him out and he was promptly apprehended before he succeeded in Abeokuta,” a source said, adding that there are still many of them being monitored.

It was learnt that the Boko Haram commander is still in the custody of the DSS.

Contacted, the spokesman of the DSS, Peter Afunanya, neither denied nor confirmed the arrest.

Replying to a message sent to him, he said, “No comment.”

Also, the Ogun police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the command was yet to be informed of the arrest.

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United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has said about 8,000 children have recruited in fighting the war against Nigeria since the start of the Boko Haram crisis in the North East in 2009.

The UN agency, while calling for a step-up of effort to protect child victims and witnesses in terrorism-related proceedings in Nigeria, said that reports have shown that some boys and girls were increasingly being used as human shields and to detonate bombs.

A statement on Wednesday said: “According to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) report from the Handbook of Children Recruited and exploited by Terrorist and Violent Extremist Groups, since 2009, about 8,000 children have been recruited and used by Boko Haram in Nigeria. Some boys have been forced to attack their own families to demonstrate loyalty to Boko Haram, while girls have been forced to marry, clean, cook and carry equipment and weapons.”

The statement added that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) received consistent reports that some boys and girls were increasingly being used as human shields and to detonate bombs, citing that in May 2015, for example, a girl about 12 years old was used to detonate a bomb at a bus station in Damaturu, Yobe State, killing seven people. Similar incidents were reported in Cameroon and Niger Republic.

The statement further said that the recently released propaganda video by ISWAP, showing children being taught military skills to train them for fighting and the latest attack on the Chibok community in Borno State by ISWAP are a reminder of the importance to step up the efforts aimed to protect children from terrorist groups.

The statement revealed that UNODC, working closely with national counterparts have recently started to provide support aimed at preventing and responding to violence against children by terrorist and violent extremist groups, under a new European funded project called “STRIVE Juvenile.”

Project Manager of STRIVE Juvenile, Bianca Kopp, said UNODC acknowledged during the opening of a recent capacity building workshop that “we have all sadly become familiar – unfortunately – with the phenomenon of child recruitment and exploitation by terrorist groups, noting that “indeed, the kidnapping of the Chibok girls was probably the first event that brought global attention to the brutality of these groups towards children and, even more crucially, it showed how children play a key role in their criminal tactics.”

UNODC lamented that: “Thousands of children have since then been recruited, exploited as servants, cooks, spies, in hostilities, and even used to carry out suicide attacks. When these children exit the groups, they have experienced prolonged violence, their bonds to the communities have been severed, and their personal development has been warped. As thousands of people, including children, are currently leaving the ranks of the groups to rejoin society, the urgency of appropriate responses increases.”

The statement quoted Doctor Ifeakandu, from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Nigeria, to have said:

“Terrorism remain one of the most potent challenges to Nigeria,” adding that “children are disproportionately affected by it and we need to find responses in line with their best interests”.

Acknowledging the primary responsibility of state authorities to support the children’s trajectories of rehabilitation and reintegration, and to that end require specialized training to respond to the complex needs of these children and address the victimization that they have experienced, Rear Admiral YEM Musa, from the Office of the National Security Adviser, emphasized that “Investment in rehabilitation and peace, especially as it concerns our children, is essential to end the cycle of violence that is generated and exploited by the terrorists and violent extremists”.

This was also echoed by the representative of the European Union, Mr. Jerome Rivière by stressing that the STRIVE Juvenile project “recognizes the importance of children’s role as agents of peace and in their potential to transform societal dynamics. (…) When children and families do not feel safe, counterterrorism cannot work”.

The recent workshop held in Abuja allowed Nigerian and international experts from the security sector, the justice system, and the child protection sector to discuss national context and practices, strategies for child sensitive and trauma informed interaction with children, as well as means of protection of these children throughout the justice process. The workshop is part of a series of activities under the STRIVE Juvenile project. STRIVE Juvenile in Nigeria is a joint UNODC-EU project that aims to increase resilience of children and society against violent extremist and terrorist tactics.

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The police command also arrested one of the suspects, Odedira Ezuala aged 23yrs, a native of Umudike Ihiala LGA of Anambra State, while others including the motorcyclists, escaped with bullet wounds.

In a statement released on Saturday by the spokesperson of the Command, Michael Abattam, he said in the bid to search the passengers in the bus, one of suspected terrorists pulled out a Berretta Pistol and in an attempt to shot at the police operatives, he was neutralized which led to a shoot out.

The statement also stated that “while the police command’s tactical teams were on a vigorous and aggressive stop and search operation, suspected gunmen masquerading as persons going for burial ceremony somewhere in the State, approached the Police check point in a convoy of three motorcycles carrying two passengers on each, alongside a passenger bus with registration number Anambra NNE 725 ZG carrying passengers, and displaying in front of the bus, a belated burial poster of late Mrs. Bridget Chine Nwadiozor dated 22/10/2021.

“On seeing the date on the belated poster, the Police operatives became suspicious and flagged them down for routine search. After searching the passengers on the motorcycles and nothing incriminating was seen, they went to the bus.

“The following Items were recovered from the bus: one (1) Police Special Berretta Pistol with breach No.90005 and Ten (10) rounds of live ammunition, one (1) Bus Imo with Reg. No. Anambra NNE 725 ZG and one (1) belated Burial Poster.

“The corpse of the neutralized bandit has been deposited in the Mortuary, while the arrested suspect is presently undergoing interrogation and has made useful statement to the police. Also, he has volunteered to assist the police in the arrest of his gang members that escaped.

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed gave the admonition in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Washington.

No fewer than 1,000 Boko Haram fighters and their families have handed themselves over to army units in recent weeks in the southern Borno towns of Konduga, Bama, and Mafa.

The minister berated those who were alleging that the surrendered insurgents were not actual Boko Haram fighters and if they were, they should be shot rather than granted amnesty.

He also described as “false and demoralising’’ the claim in certain quarters that the surrendered insurgents would be recruited into the Nigerian military

Mohammed said rather than changing the narratives, President Muhammadu Buhari and the military should be respectfully commended for their resourcefulness and doggedness respectively in the fight against insurgency.

“The fact that we are witnessing insurgents submitting in droves calls for commendation of our military for their doggedness.

“We must not forget that two months ago, Nigerians were putting pressure on the President to recruit mercenaries to fight the war against terror because they said we were losing the war.

“The President, however, remained focused and confident in his belief in the Nigerian military that they have what it takes to defeat the insurgents.

“We thank God that Mr President today has been proven right.

“We were able to achieve this, largely because of the leadership of Mr President in providing the wherewithal continually to the military and ensuring that their fighting morale is sustained by way of welfare packages,’’ he said.

The minister said it was unfortunate and inconceivable that some Nigerians would be going about with fake news that the surrendered insurgent would be engaged into the military.

Mohammed added that the call for the prosecution and killing of the repentant militants rather than granting them amnesty was against global best practices.

“I personally spoke to the military authority before I left Nigeria and they said what they were doing is what the global practice dictates about soldiers that surrendered that should be treated as prisoners of war.

“You cannot just shoot them because there are international conventions that give rights also to prisoners of war

“What the military is doing is that, when they surrender, they profile them to ensure that they are genuine and reintegrate them into the society,’’ he said.

Mohammed also said that the situation in Afghanistan was not the same as in Nigeria because there was no time the Nigerian that the military had engaged repentant militants.

For those yet to surrendered, the minister said the military would not rest on its oars but continue to pursue the Boko Haram and ISWAP members until they could no longer be harmful to Nigerians.

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Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has commenced consultations on how to react to the massive surrender of Boko Haram with a visit on Monday to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor in Abuja.

According to a statement by the governor’s spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau, the meeting, was in furtherance of Zulum’s resolve to widely consult security and Borno stakeholders towards developing a framework that would address concerns raised over the surrender of members of the Boko Haram/ISWAP through the military’s ‘Operation Safe Corridor’ deployed as a psychological warfare to weaken the ranks of the terrorists.

Governor Zulum who arrived in Abuja from Maiduguri on Monday, headed straight to the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff.

The governor is scheduled to hold series of other consultations.

Zulum had on Saturday during visits to Bama and Gwoza, addressed military commanders and community leaders.

He had then disclosed plans to engage in a high-level consultation with President Muhammadu Buhari, the service chiefs and the resident security heads, traditional rulers, elders and religious leaders, national and state assembly members, academics, other stakeholders and victims of insurgents’ attacks with a view to addressing what he described as a difficult situation.

The governor noted that though the surrender by thousands of insurgents provides a significant opportunity to end the 12 years of war, there were concerns that needed to be addressed, which bother on the feelings of victims as well as the confidence of citizens in the event repentant insurgents are to be reintegrated.

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Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has said that the ongoing large number surrender of Boko Haram has demanded a unified decision of all stakeholders on how to react.

The governor made the call on Saturday in Bama and Gwoza, while addressing military officers and community leaders.

He said the ongoing surrender of Boko Haram fighters has left Borno State with two extremely difficult situations, that require diverse stakeholders including representatives of attacked communities, to come together and critically review the pros, cons and implications of the surrender, in order to agree on a framework that is well thought-out.

Zulum, according to his spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau was in Gwoza and Bama local government areas for humanitarian and developmental activities.

He later addressed  military commanders at Brigades in Gwoza and Bama, and community leaders at the palaces of the Emir of Gwoza and Shehu of Bama, with the same message that there is an urgent need to decide how to react to the expected influx of repentant Boko Haram back into the society.

He said: “We (in Borno) are in a very difficult situation over the ongoing surrender by insurgents. We have to critically look between two extreme conditions and decide our future. We have to choose between an endless war or to cautiously accept the surrendered terrorists which is really painful and difficult for anyone that has lost loved ones, difficult for all of us and even for the military whose colleagues have died and for volunteers.

“No one would find it easy to accept killers of his or her parents, children and other loved ones. In the last 12 years we have been in this war, and we have lost thousands of fellow citizens.

“We don’t know the whereabout of thousands of others, we don’t know whether they are alive or dead. In these 12 years, millions have been made homeless and many wealthy farmers, transporters and others have been rendered poor.”

He added that: “In these years, we were able to cultivate maybe around 3% of the arable land, and as a result our people became dependent on food aid amid donor fatigue and potential food insecurity, infact the repercussions of the Boko Haram crisis are enormous and as someone who has been involved with assessment of the impacts and rebuilding efforts in the last seven years, I am in position to know the endless negative impact the Boko Haram has made in Borno.”

The Governor said accepting Boko Haram has the risk of seriously offending the feelings of victims with potential of civil rebellion, just as there is the risk that if Boko Haram fighters willing to surrender are rejected, they can join ISWAP to swell the ranks of fighters in the bush and the path of peace becomes narrowed.

He said: “On my way travelling to Gwoza and Bama, I saw many people cultivating their farmlands by the roadside and this is an indication of emerging peace, which we have to sustain in order to salvage our people. However, like I said, we must come together to carefully analyze the two extremes and come up with a workable framework.” Zulum explained, that he will engage in high level consultations with President Muhammadu Buhari, service chiefs and resident security heads, traditional rulers, elders and religious leaders, national and state assembly members, academics and other stakeholders particularly victims of the crimes perpetrated by the insurgents, so that stakeholders will critically review the situation and come up with a framework on how to move forward.

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Médecins Sans Frontières otherwise called Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has opened a centre in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital for the treatment of children with complicated forms of malnutrition.

The MSF in a statement on Monday said, the centre named Nilefa Keji (which means ‘health is wealth’), has 120-bed and will provide both inpatient and outpatient treatment.

MSF assistant project coordinator Mohammed Dikko Abdullahi was quoted in the statement to have said: “The move from Fori to Nilefa Keji became necessary because we were seeing a lot of malnourished children in our facility,” noting that: “Fori nutrition centre had limited space for expansion and we needed to accommodate more people.”

The new facility has four emergency beds, 14 intensive care beds and two beds for children with kwashiorkor, a severe form of malnutrition (which causes the legs and body to swell). MSF teams will provide inpatient treatment for children with severe acute malnutrition and with moderate acute malnutrition accompanied by medical complications. The new centre also has an outpatient therapeutic feeding centre with space to accommodate more than 150 children and parents each day.

MSF project medical advisor, Rodel Lambatin said: “The medical team has seen increasing numbers of patients with malnutrition over the past couple of months and, looking at the trends at our hospital and recent reports on food security, we expect an increased number of patients in the coming months.”

To staff the new centre, MSF has recruited and trained additional Nigerian nurses, doctors, nutrition assistants and counsellors.

From January to June 2021, MSF staff at Fori nutrition centre treated 1,110 children for severe acute malnutrition as inpatients and provided outpatient care to 1,122 children with moderate acute malnutrition.

The new centre at Nilefa Keji was completed over five months and includes improved infection prevention and control measures. It also has a rainwater channel, designed to prevent flooding and avoid the accumulation of standing water, which can attract insects and present a health risk. “With the new site, we have more land for any needed extensions and we have more room for staff,” says MSF construction manager Jordan Gartner. “We will be able to handle more patients, especially during the peak malnutrition season.”

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