The two cities are
the capitals of Borno and Yobe states respectively.
The information was gotten from a police
officer stationed in one of the villages along the highway.
Travellers are reportedly being told to
turn back as the terrorists have taken over the road between Benisheik and
Ngamdu.
The officer was quoted to have said that
the terrorists attacked Ngamdu village and killed 10 persons there.
He said: “As I am talking to you now,
soldiers are moving towards Benisheik, while we are here asking motorists to
return to Maiduguri until the road is cleared the Boko Haram terrorist group yesterday also continue with destruction resources and killings in
Yobe and Borno States, even as it emerged that the sect has formally aligned
with the ruthless Islamic State (ISIS) militants in the Middle East, when both
groups jointly released a video.
The joint release of the video sets a terrifying new
precedent. It is the first gruesome video of a beheading since it (Boko Haram)
pledged allegiance to ISIS last year.
In the video, a suspected Nigerian soldier was seen in a
kneeling position, surrounded by three terrorists wielding AK 47 assault rifles
and later, another picture, without the head.
This video is coming as President Muhammadu Buhari and the
federal government continue to work day and night to tackle and end the
insurgency before it runs out of hand and have vowed to crush the insurgents to
the last man.
The video adopts many of the same style-points as the
hundreds of barbaric videos released by ISIS over the last year.
The ‘West Africa’ insignia at the top-left corner of the video, suggests the terror group may have set up a new so-called media wing in the country.
The ‘West Africa’ insignia at the top-left corner of the video, suggests the terror group may have set up a new so-called media wing in the country.
It was learnt that a Somali terror group has also disclosed
intentions to join ISIS, which would extend its so-called caliphate to East
Africa.
According to Daily Mail online, the 10 minute-long propaganda video begins with what appears to be an intense fire fight against Nigerian soldiers. Boko Haram fighters exchange machine gun fire with the troops and launch heavy mortar grenades on their locations. It shows them standing proudly next to the corpses of scorched Nigerian troops – and showing off their security badges to the camera.
The video ends with the senseless murder of a captured
African Union soldier. With a look of true horror on his face, the man kneels
in front of three masked Boko Haram fanatics – two of whom point AK47s at his
head. The video then cuts to reveal his decapitated body lying motionless on
the floor.
Islamic State accepted a pledge of allegiance from Boko Haram, who were responsible for the deaths of over 10,000 in Nigeria in 2014, in March this year.
The audio message
entitled ‘kill and be killed’, released through the militants’ vast social
media channels, was read by an ISIS spokesperson who also threatened further
violence against the Christian and Jewish communities.
The sequence of
events clearly indicated that Boko Haram that has been causing devastation in
the North Eastern part of the country, has forged a strong operational alliance
with ISIS.
Speaking for his
leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the man in the recording said, “we announce to you
to the good news of the expansion of the caliphate to West Africa.
“Our caliph has
accepted the pledge of loyalty of our brothers of Boko Haram so we congratulate
Muslims and our jihadi brothers in West Africa.”
The militants have been waging a six-year insurgency to impose strict Sharia law in Nigeria and earlier this year, launched attacks across the border on Cameroon, before striking Niger and Chad.
The group has killed
thousands in bomb attacks and violent sieges on villages in the remote
north-east, and are now feared to be spilling over into neighbouring Cameroon
and Chad.
It inspired five
African nations to form a coalition to take the group on and 8,700 troops from
Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin are expected to begin operations
before the end of next month.
Also yesterday, the
Somali terror group, Al-Shabaab, indicated it could soon scrap its allegiance
to Al-Qaeda and pledge loyalty to rivals ISIS, instead.
Islamic State invited the East African jihadi group to join forces with them through a propaganda video released in March, urging it to wage jihad on neighbouring Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania
Islamic State invited the East African jihadi group to join forces with them through a propaganda video released in March, urging it to wage jihad on neighbouring Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania
Now, Al-Shabaab
members and sources within the Somali army suggest the invitation will be
accepted and the group, which commands around 9,000 fighters, will soon extend
ISIS’ self-proclaimed caliphate to East Africa.
The decision comes
at a time when many of Al-Shabaab’s local and foreign leaders are being killed
by commando raids and drone strikes, the group is rapidly losing territory and
its money is running out as a result.
Security expert, Ryan Cummings says that ISIS’ desire to merge with Al-Shabaab is part of its international expansion plan.
Security expert, Ryan Cummings says that ISIS’ desire to merge with Al-Shabaab is part of its international expansion plan.
“Al-Shabaab is the
largest jihadi movement in East Africa and central to the core mandate of ISIS
is the unification of the Muslim world,” a counter-terrorism expert told CNN at
the time.
Ryan Cummings added
that a merger “would be a significant ideological victory for the group (ISIS).
It would be massive from a public relations perspective, which is central to
the Islamic State’s operations.
“The Islamic State still wants to create the perception that it’s growing and branching out to various parts of the world. The only way that it will be able to achieve this will be to have groups serving as an extension in their various areas of operation.”
“The Islamic State still wants to create the perception that it’s growing and branching out to various parts of the world. The only way that it will be able to achieve this will be to have groups serving as an extension in their various areas of operation.”
Meanwhile, several
suspected terrorists were feared dead
when troops who were newly deployed to the troubled Borno State clashed along the Damaturu-Maiduguri road, on Saturday morning.
The incident, according to sources, took place on Saturday morning, between Ngamdu-Mainok-Jakana villages, which is about 50km drive to Maiduguri, the state capital.
when troops who were newly deployed to the troubled Borno State clashed along the Damaturu-Maiduguri road, on Saturday morning.
The incident, according to sources, took place on Saturday morning, between Ngamdu-Mainok-Jakana villages, which is about 50km drive to Maiduguri, the state capital.
Between Benisheik
and Ngamdu is about 25km stretch of road, without any security checkpoint.
According to a security source, the terrorists, in a convoy of three white coloured Hilux vehicles, had earlier barricaded the road where they blocked two motorists, including a truck, which they suspected were conveying foodstuff to Maiduguri, but luck run out on them as troops with support from the residents of Jakana village, immediately swung into action and killed some of the terrorists before they set ablaze two hilux vehicles and destroyed the third, all belonging to the terrorists.
According to a security source, the terrorists, in a convoy of three white coloured Hilux vehicles, had earlier barricaded the road where they blocked two motorists, including a truck, which they suspected were conveying foodstuff to Maiduguri, but luck run out on them as troops with support from the residents of Jakana village, immediately swung into action and killed some of the terrorists before they set ablaze two hilux vehicles and destroyed the third, all belonging to the terrorists.
The source further
stated that at about noon, a detachment of military troops was seen at the
scene, with over four Armoured Personnel Carriers, evacuating some corpses and
the injured to Maiduguri, but insisted that he did not know if there were
casualties on the side of the troops.
“I can confidently tell you that the busy Maiduguri-Damaturu road had a deadly attack between insurgents and troops, which I believe many of the terrorists were killed with destruction of three of their vehicles,” the source emphasised.
“I can confidently tell you that the busy Maiduguri-Damaturu road had a deadly attack between insurgents and troops, which I believe many of the terrorists were killed with destruction of three of their vehicles,” the source emphasised.
Another security
official in one of the villages on the axis, while also confirming the
incident, said travellers were being asked to detour as terrorists had taken
over the road between Benisheik, a town 85km away from Maiduguri and Ngamdu,
35km away from Damaturu.
The security source, who preferred anonymity, said 10 persons were killed in an earlier attack at Ngamdu village of Benesheikh, the council headquarters of Kaga local government area, on Friday night, adding that it may be the same group that clashed with troops on Saturday.
The security source, who preferred anonymity, said 10 persons were killed in an earlier attack at Ngamdu village of Benesheikh, the council headquarters of Kaga local government area, on Friday night, adding that it may be the same group that clashed with troops on Saturday.
4 Suicide Bombers Die In Failed
Mission
Four suspected Boko
Haram suicide bombers were yesterday killed by the explosives they were
ferrying in a tricycle, popularly called Keke NAPEP, after a failed attempt to
enter a large bus station in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, witnesses and
security sources said.
A thunderous explosion resonated all over Maiduguri at exactly 7:11am yesterday.
A thunderous explosion resonated all over Maiduguri at exactly 7:11am yesterday.
Witnesses said the
bombers went after a passenger bus that was coming out of the Borno Express
Terminus filled with travellers, but could not get the bomb detonated on time.
The tricycle later exploded, killing all the passengers except one who managed
to alight shortly after the tricycle hit the rear of the moving passenger bus.
The suicide bombers,
according to witnesses, tried to enter the terminus to detonate the bomb but
were stopped by security operatives at the entrance who asked them to park
outside because as a rule, only cars and buses are allowed into the park. The
bombers were said to have made another failed attempt through the exit gate, a
distance of about 300 meters apart and as a last resort, decided to take it on
a bus that had loaded its passengers and was exiting the terminus.
The tricycle driver was said to have driven after the bus and tried to ram into its rear, but the driver was quick to speed off and seconds later, the tricycle exploded.
The tricycle driver was said to have driven after the bus and tried to ram into its rear, but the driver was quick to speed off and seconds later, the tricycle exploded.
According to Aliyu
Danmalam, a Civilian JTF operative, “when they came initially, we suspected a
foul move as the Keke NAPEP rider came to attempt taking passengers into the
station; everyone knows only cars and buses enter the park but here we had a
tricycle rider trying to ride in. Only a total stranger would want to ride Keke
NAPEP into the park.
“It didn’t occur to
us to quickly arrest him, rather, we sent him back. He even tried going through
the exit gate but later changed his mind. He then waited, with his passengers
still on board, for a bus to come out before he decided to attack. One of the
passengers on the suicide tricycle was said to have escaped seconds after the
rider rammed the tricycle into the rear of the moving bus before it exploded.
He was later arrested by youths who went after him. But one woman and two other
persons were injured due to the explosion.”
15 killed in Chad
At least 15 people
were killed and 74 injured in a suicide bomb attack at a crowded market in
Chad’s capital, N’Djamena on Saturday.
No group has claimed responsibility for the Chad attack, but authorities have blamed the Nigeria-based militants for a series of bombings and shootings in the country in recent weeks.
No group has claimed responsibility for the Chad attack, but authorities have blamed the Nigeria-based militants for a series of bombings and shootings in the country in recent weeks.
Travellers on the
route passing through the Nigerian village of Ngamdu were asked to turn back as
the terrorists mount road blocks on the only safe highway leading to Maiduguri.
“Our current count is 15 dead,” Chadian police spokesman, Paul Manga, said. The total includes the suicide bomber – a man dressed in a woman’s burqa.
“Our current count is 15 dead,” Chadian police spokesman, Paul Manga, said. The total includes the suicide bomber – a man dressed in a woman’s burqa.
Chad authorities
banned the head-to-toe religious garment last month, citing the risk that
attackers could use it as a disguise or hide explosives underneath.
The bomber attempted to enter the market, then detonated his bomb when military police tried to stop him, Manga said.
The bomber attempted to enter the market, then detonated his bomb when military police tried to stop him, Manga said.
In another development, as a proactive measure to guard against a likely attack by the Boko Haram sect, the Cameroonian immigration authorities have deported about 450 Nigerians living illegally in the country.
Those affected were
picked up from Kousseri, a border town between Cameroon and Chad, where they
had initially been sent packing by the authorities in that country.
They were handed to government officials in Mubi, Adamawa State, North-Eastern Nigeria, according to Africa Review, a Kenyan digital news platform.
A Cameroonian official, Mr. Albert Mekondané Obounou, said those affected, “are foreign nationals without valid documents.”
A security source, who asked not to be named, revealed that the move was also part of an agreement reached by countries leading the fight against the insurgents in the sub-region.
They were handed to government officials in Mubi, Adamawa State, North-Eastern Nigeria, according to Africa Review, a Kenyan digital news platform.
A Cameroonian official, Mr. Albert Mekondané Obounou, said those affected, “are foreign nationals without valid documents.”
A security source, who asked not to be named, revealed that the move was also part of an agreement reached by countries leading the fight against the insurgents in the sub-region.
“We decided to send
home all foreigners without valid papers. Other countries of the sub-region
involved in the fight against Boko Haram had advocated this solution to truly
fight against the terrorists who infiltrate people,” the source said.
Nationals of other countries affected in the latest crackdown include Chad and Mali. Cameroon said it was only the beginning of a hunt on undocumented foreigners in the country.
Nationals of other countries affected in the latest crackdown include Chad and Mali. Cameroon said it was only the beginning of a hunt on undocumented foreigners in the country.
Reported by haruna
kareem
No comments:
Post a Comment