Gwoza: Boko Haram’s Claim is Empty - DHQ

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fIKyApszdLxZ106cRLT86Crx00IwKTI0MVupHtDAELhLY5tkNPvwUeHIcHvm2xzGv1oCzJOdWnwvOh7xAgxIHW2UYZTPJFe8p_JhMG8xLwsqGllF9UOROfkK5sCglY5Aaaw5Le4PUtc/s1600/nigerian-military-majorgeneralchrisolukolade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fIKyApszdLxZ106cRLT86Crx00IwKTI0MVupHtDAELhLY5tkNPvwUeHIcHvm2xzGv1oCzJOdWnwvOh7xAgxIHW2UYZTPJFe8p_JhMG8xLwsqGllF9UOROfkK5sCglY5Aaaw5Le4PUtc/s1600/nigerian-military-majorgeneralchrisolukolade.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" /></span></a></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />The Defence Headquarters has dismissed as empty, claims by Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau that the sect had seized Gwoza from the Nigerian government.<br /><br />In a statement just released, Defence spokesman, Major Gen. Chris Olukolade insisted that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country remained intact.<br />The statement said:<br /><br />    “The claim is empty. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nigerian state is still intact. Any group of terrorists laying claim to any portion of the country will not be allowed to get away with that expression of delusion and crime. Appropriate military operations to secure that area from the activities of the bandits are still ongoing”.<br /><br /></span></div>

Gwoza: Boko Haram’s Claim is Empty - DHQ

The Defence Headquarters has dismissed as empty, claims by Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau that the sect had seized Gwoza from the Nig...

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Boko Haram Claims New Land In Nigeria, Hoists Flag Over New Borno Town as Nigerian Government seems clueless

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="http://cdn-01.naij.com/o/3zXGN2ScGPuVqm0fP3q19IpH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Boko Haram" border="0" class="size-full wp-image-277173" height="245" src="http://cdn-01.naij.com/o/3zXGN2ScGPuVqm0fP3q19IpH.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="470" /></span></a></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />After their sudden attack on the National Police Mobile Training Camp in Limankara village of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno state recently, Insurgent group Boko Haram has attacked Pulka village of Gwoza and sacked the whole community, hoisting their flag and claiming it as part of their unrecognised republic.</span><br /> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_277173" style="width: 480px;"> <div class="wp-caption-text"> </div> </div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pulka is located 20 kilometres from destroyed Gwoza town which is surrounded between the Mandara Mountains close to the camerounian border.<br />This is not the first time, Pulka has been stormed into by the insurgent group, the latest attack happened on Thursday evening and is said to be the deadliest, as the Islamic group went on a killing rampage with quite a number of residents being killed and properties, shops and vehicles being destroyed.<br />One source told Vanguard: <em>“the insurgents, large in number, and using Rocket Propelled Launchers, Improvised Explosive Devices and petrol bombs,  invaded Pulka and opened fire on innocent civilians before overpowering security operatives and vigilante groups and  hoisting  their flags”.</em><br />Refugees from the area have been on the run ever since the insurgent group over took Gwoza three weeks<br /><a href="" name="more"></a>ago and are now going over to Madagali town of Adamawa state.<br />One of such refugees, Mr. Yakubu Jidda told reporters:<em> “the latest attack on Pulka forced many people in Madagali including the displaced persons to flee to neighbouring Mubi and Gombi towns of Adamawa for fear of possible attacks from the terrorists who now operate freely without confrontation from security operatives”.</em><br />One member of  Kashim Shettima community said: <em>“Yes some Boko Haram terrorists invaded Pulka and killed many innocent people and destroyed  a lot of  houses before hoisting their flags in different locations of Pulka.  We,  the people of Gwoza are very  worried with the spate of killings and destruction by terrorists without  military or security agencies confronting them.</em><br /><em>“The terrorists are now having a field day in any community they storm in Gwoza. Just  last Wednesday, the terrorists invaded the Police  Mobile Training Camp in nearby Limankara village and took over the facilities on ground.”</em><br />Thousands including security operatives have been killed across Nigeria, and many rendered homeless especially in the north-eastern region since Boko Haram launched its violent attacks in 2009.<br />Members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect had reportedly seized the town of Buni Yadi town, in Yobe State, on August 20.<br /></span></div>

Boko Haram Claims New Land In Nigeria, Hoists Flag Over New Borno Town as Nigerian Government seems clueless

After their sudden attack on the National Police Mobile Training Camp in Limankara village of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno state ...

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Chibok girls: Parents want case closed, say funeral rites already performed

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">MORE than four months after unfruitful search for their abducted girls, parents of the kidnapped Chibok school girls said they want the matter closed.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Since the girls have been missing for more than four months, the parents said they presumed the students to have died for which their funeral rites have already been performed in their (parents’) minds according to their custom.</span></div> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_456121" style="border: 0px; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 422px;"> <a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/bringbackourgirls-jonathan-meets-chibok-parents/jonachibok5/" rel="attachment wp-att-456121" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Parents of abducted Chibok girls during a meeting with President Jonathan at State House" class="size-full wp-image-456121" height="274" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/JonaChibok5.gif" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.247059) 1px 1px 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="412" /></span></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Parents of abducted Chibok girls during a meeting with President Jonathan at State House</span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They, however, urged the federal government bring the girls’ corpses for honourable burial.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This position was disclosed yesterday by the #BringOurGirls advocacy group, during its daily sit-out meeting for the rescue of the missing school girls at Unity Fountain, Abuja.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“All they said they want is their corpses to bury them honourably,” the group said.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As a way of driving their demand home, the group said it is vigorously mobilizing people on and offline and via social media towards holding a mega protest march in the FCT.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to them, over 200 groups in Abuja have so far been contacted and have given positive response to participate, with 135 individuals on the group’s database contacted.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">While calling on federal government to double its effort to free the girls,  the meeting said only political and military action can rescue our girls, and that is why we do what we are doing to compel that.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The group added a new slogan #NotWithoutOurDaughters! in response to a question on when  it will  stop the campaign.</span></div> <br /></div>

Chibok girls: Parents want case closed, say funeral rites already performed

MORE than four months after unfruitful search for their abducted girls, parents of the kidnapped Chibok school girls said they want the ma...

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Boko Haram Exploits in Gwoza: An Insider Account

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <header class="post-header cf" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="featured" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/shettim-agoza-people.jpg" itemprop="image" rel="prettyPhoto" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Boko Haram exploits in Gwoza: The inside story"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="shettim agoza people" class="attachment-main-slider wp-post-image no-display appear" height="336" src="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/shettim-agoza-people-702x336.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Boko Haram exploits in Gwoza: The inside story" width="702" /></span></a></div> <h1 class="post-title" itemprop="name" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 35px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 18px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Boko Haram exploits in Gwoza: The inside story</span></span></h1> <a class="comments" href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=78287#comments" style="border: 0px; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px -35px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="fa fa-comments-o" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span> </span></span></a></header><div class="post-container cf" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-content-right" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-content description" itemprop="articleBody" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px -1.857em; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">…Appoints Ameer who now sits on the Emir’s throne</strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Sincerely speaking, my people, including the traders and other businessmen and women, have been prevented from travelling to Maiduguri to buy industrial and household goods for sale to customers in my chiefdom with an estimated population of 655, 000 in 11 wards and other border communities with Cameroon.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Besides that, there is no blessed day the <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Boko Haram </i>gunmen will not kill 7 to 15 residents on these three roads that had already been blocked and taken over by insurgents. My people have been prevented from going to work on their farmlands last year; and even the limited cultivated farmlands with harvests, including my 350-hectre farmlands and orchards at Jaje village, were seized by the insurgents last October… Therefore, I am pleading, and will continue to beg the Military, Police and other security agencies in the state to take emergency action on the three blocked and taken-over roads in Gwoza council area. If my people flee to Cameroon, leaving me alone in this palace, who will I rule, as their traditional and religious leader in this chiefdom?”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Those were the words of the late Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idris Timta, in April, this year, in his “Save Our Soul” SOS, letter to the Federal Government and all the security agencies in Borno State.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But by May this year, about one month after crying out, the late emir was sent to his grave, by the same people-<i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Boko Haram</i>, he had cried to security agencies, to save his people from.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And even after his death, the insurgents appear not done yet with the town, surrounded by several hills. At the last count, the town, <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday Sun’s </i>investigations reveal, has been seized by the insurgents, with the late emir’s son, who is now the new emir, fleeing to safety.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Before the <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">emir’s </i>date with the insurgents in May this year, one of his sons, who was the District Head of Takumbari, in Gwoza Council area of the state, was also killed last year by the insurgents.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To show their current control over the town, the insurgents have appointed a spiritual leader, known as Ameer, for the town. The Ameer, who now sits on the <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">emir’s </i>throne, and holds court regularly, right inside the palace, <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday Sun’s </i>investigations further reveal, is a native of Gwoza.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Gwoza, for whatever reason, <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday Sun </i>recalls, has always been a centre of attraction for the insurgents, since 2004, when they first invaded Borno State, then on the auspices of the  “Nigerian Taliban.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The group first struck in Yobe State in December 2003, precisely December 22, a day after, according to the then governor, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, they had promised to leave the state. The group equally struck again on December 31 2003, in Yobe State, while on their way to Borno State on a New Year day, when they engaged in a gun duel with military personnel drafted to the border town between Borno and Yobe states, a situation that left two of the members dead.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The group’s first strike in Borno State, <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday Sun </i>further recalls, was recorded on Tuesday, September 21, 2004, when the group invaded Bama and Gwoza towns, in Borno State, where the Area Commander-in-Charge of Bama, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Ismail Sirajo, was brutally murdered.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But after about four days of gun battle between them and a combined team of Army and mobile policemen then, the group was subdued, losing about 40 of its members in the process.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The operation, carried out during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s second term in office, was supervised at the time by the current chairman of the Police Service Commission, retired IGP Mike Okiro, as DIG, in charge of  Operations, under the then IGP Tafa Balogun.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Why is it then difficult for the Army to rout the insurgents from Gwoza, considering the fact that the late emir had raised the alarm on the group’s occupation of parts of his territory before his death?</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Although, the Army is yet to issue any statement since the insurgents occupied major parts of Gwoza formally, about two weeks ago, a highly placed personality from the area told <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday Sun: </i>“We are at a loss, as to what is happening. No one can really say, we can only continue to guess.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Remember that the governor once came up to speak on the need to equip and motivate our soldiers so that they can confront these criminals headon. His call was misconstrued. But recent events and statements from both the Presidency and the Army have further vindicated the governor.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“As we speak, if you are travelling on that road, you can hardly notice the difference between our Army and <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Boko Haram </i>militants. They dress in military uniform, using the same vehicles as our military. Until probably when you come face-to-face with them, that is when you know these chaps are in borrowed uniform.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I read you people writing that the military has re-taken Damboa from the insurgents. Let the truth be told, the military did not re-take anything. Those guys (insurgents) had a field day, in Damboa, and when they were done, they left on their own volition.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“It is the same group which left Damboa, which has taken over our town (Gwoza). As I speak, majority of our people, have run to Adamawa State. We are just praying to God that one day, they will leave Gwoza too, because our military appears helpless. And only God knows the reason,” the source added.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Speaking on the development, after accompanying Governor Kashim Shettima, to Adamawa and Gombe states, to visit the displaced persons, Senator Ali Ndume, who is from Gwoza, and who represents Borno South Senatorial District, at the upper chamber of the National Assembly, disclosed in Yola last Wednesday that Gwoza was under “siege.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He further said it was “sad that we have to wait till now that people are being killed for government to take action. We know that for long, the road to Gwoza from Maiduguri had been a no-go area even for the soldiers.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“It is a known fact that soldiers of the Nigerian Army have been overstretched in both human and material capacity. The Federal Government has to rise to the occasion to give these soldiers the needed support to work. Two major Federal Government bridges leading to Gwoza have been bombed and no one seemed concerned about this.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Our hope is not lost because we kept praying that the insurgency will soon come to an end. This is not the first time in history of the nation that insurgency attack is happening. It had happened before, only that the way Nigeria is handling it is quite different.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We are in Madagali, Gulak, Mubi and other villages in the borders of Borno and Adamawa to sympathise with, and console our people over the loss of their beloved ones and properties. We will be visiting Biu and Gombe to meet with the other displaced persons there.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We have learnt from our mistakes of handling the insurgency problem. If the right thing was done, it would not have happened in the first place. Now that it has happened there is no point apportioning blame on any person or group, this is the time to look for solution,” a beleaguered Ndume, said.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As at the time of filing this report, the insurgents were said to have invaded and taken over the Mobile Police Training College, in Gwoza. For a very long time, the college, remained the only one in the country, until that of Ila Oragun, in Osun State, was added to it, under then IGP, Tafa Balogun.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Similarly, they are also said to have taken over Buniyadi town, in Yobe State. But details remained sketchy, as at press time, just as the Army was yet to make any formal statement on the latest developments.</span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Boko Haram Exploits in Gwoza: An Insider Account

Boko Haram exploits in Gwoza: The inside story   …Appoints Ameer who now sits on the Emir’s throne “Sincerely speaking, my peop...

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Back From Boko haram Hell

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <header class="post-header cf" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="featured" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/oyeyinka-boko-hell.jpg" itemprop="image" rel="prettyPhoto" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Back from Boko Haram hell"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="oyeyinka boko hell" class="attachment-main-slider wp-post-image no-display appear" height="336" src="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/oyeyinka-boko-hell-702x336.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 0.8; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Back from Boko Haram hell" width="702" /></span></a></div> <h1 class="post-title" itemprop="name" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 35px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 18px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Back from Boko Haram hell</span></span></h1> <a class="comments" href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=78288#comments" style="border: 0px; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px -35px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="fa fa-comments-o" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span> </span></span></a></header><div class="post-container cf" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-content-right" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-content description" itemprop="articleBody" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px -1.857em; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">■ They raped my wife almost every day and I could not raise a finger, says man who spent 3 months in Islamist sect’s custody</strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Boko Haram </i>insurgency is far be­yond the problem of the North East people as families in other parts of the country are now equally battling the bitter taste of the sect’s rampaging ac­tivities. One of such is Alhaji Mustapha Oy­eyinka who is now cursing the day he decid­ed to relocate to Nigeria from Europe where his family has been doing fine. Today, he has not only lost his sight to the insurgents but live with an agonizing memory of seeing his wife raped along with other women almost on a daily basis for three months in one of the camps of the deadly sect in Kaduna State.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Excited about his return to Nigeria, the victim sometime in February 2011 decided to take a trip to Kaduna with his wife, Rachael to attend a wedding ceremony. Unknown to him, that trip will alter his destiny as they ended up in a <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Boko Haram </i>camp where they spent three horrifying months.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Enraged and bitter, the frustrated 50-year- old Oyeyinka said he has remained in hiding in Lagos since he regained his freedom and refused to tell his story because he was too terrified. He said he decided to open up now because he has made up his mind to return to his base in Spain in Europe where he expects a miracle to regain his sight. In an encounter with <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday Sun, </i>he told his sordid story.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My story</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As a matter of policy, Oyeyinka, who hails from Abeokuta in Ogun State, ensured that he comes home from Europe regularly in an attempt not to forget his roots. “Shortly after my university days, I relocated to Europe in 1988, in search of business opportunities. I was into importation and exportation of goods to and from Europe. I never wanted to forget my root hence I invested in Nigeria. I made it a matter of policy to always return to Nigeria and spend some months.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“As usual, we returned to Nigeria in November 2011 on a long vacation. The plan was to gradually relocate our children down to Nigeria, so that they will not forget their roots. It was also an opportunity to audit our investments and in February 2012, one of my friends invited us over to Kaduna for his wedding.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I was so excited and my kids pleaded that they wanted to be a part of that trip. I refused because I wanted to use this as an opportunity to hang out with my wife alone. It was also an opportunity to return to the North and see how it had developed. In the early 90s, I used to buy goods from Saudi Arabia and sell them in Ilorin and Kano. I had a lot of friends in Kano.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to Alhaji Oyeyinka, his friend made arrangement for a mini bus that will convey them to and from Kaduna. The trip was very smooth till they got to Kaduna. “I do not know the village, but I know that it’s Kaduna because there was a billboard that had the address on it. We ran into a little traffic jam caused by some men who were in military uniform. They were stopping vehicles and searching them. When it got to our turn, they asked us to get down. The driver asked us to relax, as it was a routine.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I later discovered that the soldiers were not wearing boots and some were smoking. I waved that observation aside since it was in a bush. I assumed that they were tired of wearing boots for hours. Suddenly, there were gunshots; people started lying down on the floor while some were shouting Jesus! Jesus! In a split of seconds, they shot all those who they heard shouting Jesus. It was then that it dawned on me that these were no robbers.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Terrified and quietly praying for divine intervention, Alhaji Oyeyinka laid on the ground alongside others who survived the shooting. Minutes later, a truck emerged from the bush and they were asked to step into the truck. “We were more than 50 that were packed in the open truck and the rest in another truck. They drove into the bush and at a point stopped and blindfolded everyone. Everyone was silent, except for the loud voice of our captors who kept speaking Arabic language. I am a Muslim scholar, and understand the language  although I cannot speak. I was more terrified wondering if they were Talibans. After driving about 50 kilometres, they stopped and asked us to get down from the truck. Our blindfolds were removed.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We found ourselves in a camp built with mini halls which later turned out to be our detention room. There were so many young men. It was then that they told us in Hausa that they are <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Boko Haram </i>members. I don’t understand Hausa, so some of us helped to interpret what they were saying. They collected our phones, and asked us to strip down including the women.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“They asked if there is anyone related to the president or any influential Nigerian. Those who said yes were immediately slaughtered and their bodies taken away. Those who claimed that they were Christians were also killed if they failed to renounce their religion. I told them that I am a practising Muslim and they asked me if I was ready to kill for <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Allah</i>. I kept quiet and the leader of the group said that with time I would beg to join them.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“It was then that I said never and one of them hit me on the head with his gun. I fainted and woke up later in an open hall with my hand and feet tied up. We were kept in that room without food until the next day when they came and took all the women out including my wife.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“They returned them two hours later. It was then my wife told me that they were raped by more than five men each. It was terrible, I couldn’t help my wife but I was consoled that she was still alive. Every day, they will come and carry all the women out to be raped and those who did not come back were slaughtered because they resisted. It was terrible knowing that every day different kind of men will forcefully have sex with your wife and you cannot do anything about it.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He also claimed that they were only fed with beans, once in a day. “Initially, we were only drinking water and a can of juice. It was days later that they announced that food has arrived and asked if there was anyone in our midst that can cook. Two persons volunteered and they were taken to the kitchen every day to prepare beans. It was always half done and the excuse that was given is that they do not have enough firewood to cook beans”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The escape</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. Alhaji Oyeyinka, who could barely see again, waited endlessly for a messiah. “Then I had completely lost my sight. The after effect of that gun on my head was blindness. I was lucky that my wife was with me to attend to me if need be. On May 8, 2011, the camp remained deserted because they had gone out to hunt. One of the guards came to our cell and picked the prettiest woman among the women. For fear that his people might see him; he shifted her to the end of the hall and had sex with her there. She was just screaming. While he was at it, we heard the sound of the truck, and he quickly ran out of the hall and forgot to lock the cell. They all jumped into the truck and drove off.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We waited till everywhere was really quite and took off into the bush. My wife was there to assist me since I could no longer see. We only left a young girl who was too weak behind. She was young and beautiful, so sometime they will come for her more than once in a day. It was a survival of the fittest, so we left her behind.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We got to a point and a Fulani woman who was fetching firewood asked us to follow her. She took us to their village head where we were given food and clothes. He also made an arrangement for a vehicle to take us to Kaduna town. We took the next bus down to Lagos.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Plans to regain sight</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ever since, they escaped from <i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Boko Haram </i>camp, Alhaji Oyeyinka is yet to regain his sight. “Initially, I thought that I was still suffering from the after effect of the gun that was hit on my face. I got the shock of my life when I was told that I am permanently blind. I have visited different hospitals in Nigeria and the story is the same. I am not losing hope that I will regain my sight. I will soon travel back to Europe where I hope to get my sight back. I have already started selling off every of my investments. I do not want to have anything to do with Nigeria again. I am telling my story, not for anyone to pity me but to draw the attention of Nigerians who are planning to go to the North to beware”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our plight, our destiny— Wife</b></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Collaborating her husband’s story, Mrs. Rachael Oyeyinka who still looks visibly shaken said that it was God that destined that they will survive the abduction. “They took turns to rape all the women. I cannot count the number of times but every day. Some of the women got pregnant, and they were given concoctions to drink and flush it out. So many of the women who resisted were killed. If you are very pretty, they will initially reserve you for their leader. As soon as he gets another replacement, he will push the woman out for general use. It was bad and I remained strong because I had children who still need their mother. Today, my husband is blind but we strongly hope that he will regain his sight.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I can’t wait to get out of this country. We are based in Spain and because my husband wanted to relocate some of the kids to Nigeria, we returned about three years ago. The plan was for them to go into boarding house, while our relatives will serve as guardians.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Continuing, she said: “They forced a lot of Christians to denounce their religion. You don’t need anyone to tell you to claim to be a Muslim. This was the only way you can survive.”</span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Back From Boko haram Hell

Back from Boko Haram hell   ■ They raped my wife almost every day and I could not raise a finger, says man who spent 3 months in ...

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Boko Haram overruns a Police College in Gwoza

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-embedded centered clearfix block-story-object block-story-object-resource block-story-object-resource-image" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="block-story-object-asset"><img alt="" class="media-element file-embedded" src="http://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/page_images/galleries/2014/Ngala-bridge-cameroon.jpg?itok=ta3Y9T_w" /></span><span class="block-story-object-content"><span class="block-story-object-content-header"><span class="block-story-object-content-header-description"> </span></span></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-embedded centered clearfix block-story-object block-story-object-resource block-story-object-resource-image"><span class="block-story-object-content"><i><span class="block-story-object-content-header"><span class="block-story-object-content-header-description">A bridge in Gamboru-Ngala bridge blown up by Boko Haram </span></span></i><span class="block-story-object-content-footer"><span class="block-story-object-content-footer-item block-story-object-content-footer-item-attribution"><i>Sahara Reporters Media</i> </span></span></span></span> </span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />A police source told our correspondent that the surging militants blew up an armored tank stationed at the gate of the training camp before gaining entrance into the school and wreaking havoc. <br />Heavily armed insurgents belonging to the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, today invaded a well-known Nigerian Police training college in Gwoza, Borno State.<br />Our police sources said the militants, who numbered several hundred, stormed the police college with five armored tanks they had earlier seized from Nigerian soldiers who had had made several unsuccessful attempts to dislodge the sect from Gwoza over the last two weeks.<br />The sources told SaharaReporters that the college had five units of police officers in training at the time of today’s attack. One source disclosed that each unit had 59 trainees and a unit commander. Among the units in residence at the college were two mobile police (MOPOL) units from Nasarawa and Gombe States and a<br /><a href="" name="more"></a>mobile police unit from Abuja. Two other units from Zamfara State were also at the college during the attack.<br />One of our sources disclosed that numerous trainees were killed or seriously injured by the militants who carried out the assault. “Those who survived the attack had to run to the mountains nearby,” said the source. He added that some of the trainees managed to escape to Adamawa State.<br />A police source told our correspondent that the surging militants blew up an armored tank stationed at the gate of the training camp before gaining entrance into the school and wreaking havoc.<br />Boko Haram had seized much of Gwoza town two weeks ago. They hoisted the sect’s flag in the town and appointed an Emir to administer the strategic northeastern township, after the town’s traditional ruler escaped with other refugees.<br /></span><br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The training center was one of the few government facilities that remained out of the control of the sect, until today’s massive offensive by the insurgents.<br />Since the Islamist group’s take over of much of the town, the Nigerian army had launched a series of operations to liberate the town. But each of the military actions had been repelled by the militants in counter-attacks that proved deadly both for Nigerian troops and insurgents, according to a military source.<br /></span><br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Recent efforts by the military to mobilize troops in a determined battle to wrest Gwoza from Boko Haram have been hampered by protests by soldiers and their spouses.<br />SaharaReporters learned that many soldiers were refusing orders from their superiors go on missions against Boko Haram fighters. The defiant soldiers and their wives have expressed concern that the Islamist insurgents are equipped with weapons that are far superior to the weaponry and other equipment available to soldiers.<br />“Some of the soldiers complain that their weapons do not march those of Boko Haram,” one source said.<br /><br /></span></div>

Boko Haram overruns a Police College in Gwoza

  A bridge in Gamboru-Ngala bridge blown up by Boko Haram  Sahara Reporters Media     A police source told our correspondent that the s...

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Boko Haram Militants Appoint Emir For Captured Gwoza As Women Bury Their Dead

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="page-header-lead lead flush-bottom" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 12px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Another female source said it became necessary for them to bury the dead because “the men in our town and surrounding towns have either been slaughtered or have fled for fear of being killed.”</span></div> <div> <br /></div> <br /> <div class="first" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none;"> <span class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-embedded centered clearfix block-story-object block-story-object-resource block-story-object-resource-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: block; margin: 0px auto 24px; max-width: 500px; width: 500px;"><span class="block-story-object-asset" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="" class="media-element file-embedded" src="http://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/Palace_of_Emir_Gwoza.jpg?itok=uRUO3fJg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image" /></span></span><span class="block-story-object-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; padding: 12px;"><span class="block-story-object-content-header" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="block-story-object-content-header-description" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; text-shadow: none;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Palace of The Emir of Gwoza reportedly taken over by Boko Haram militants who have appointed their "emir"to govern the township</span></span></span><span class="block-story-object-content-footer" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin-top: 6px;"><span class="block-story-object-content-footer-item block-story-object-content-footer-item-attribution" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; font-style: italic; text-shadow: none;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sahara Reporters Media</span></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-sizing: border-box;">With most of their menfolk killed or on the run, women in the town of Gwoza, Borno State, have taken on the grim task of burying dozens of residents massacred in last week’s assault by insurgents belonging to the Islamist group, Boko Haram.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In telephone interviews, two sources in the town said the women of Gwoza were burying men, women and children who lost their lives when a vicious band of Boko Haram fighters descended on the town last week in an orgy of death and destruction.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We are very fatigued,” one of the women told our correspondent. She added, “We are almost resigned to fate in our tedious and unusual work of burying scores of dead bodies that still litter our town.”</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-sizing: border-box;">Another female source said it became necessary for them to bury the dead because “the men in our town and surrounding towns have either been slaughtered or have fled for fear of being killed.”</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-sizing: border-box;">The source said the town was now peopled by trapped women, little children and the elderly who were spared by the Boko Haram fighters.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-sizing: border-box;">The insurgents have seized the Emir’s residence as well as a government lodge in Gwoza, and have appointed a replacement for the town’s fleeing Emir. Our sources added that Boko Haram’s black flags have been hoisted at different locations in the town as a mark of the sect’s authority.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-sizing: border-box;">A source also stated that the sect had introduced strict Islamic laws in the seized emirate.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-sizing: border-box;">A soldier involved in a counter-insurgency operation corroborated the accounts of the situation in Gwoza. He said some women and youths who arrived in Madagali, Adamawa State, after fleeing Gwoza and traveling through the rough terrain of hills painted terrifying portraits for military officials who interviewed them.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-shadow: none;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-sizing: border-box;">A senior military officer told SaharaReporters that the Nigerian Army was drawing up a strategic plan to execute “a multi-dimensional offensive in a bid to dislodge Boko Haram from Gwoza and surrounding villages.”</span></div> </div>

Boko Haram Militants Appoint Emir For Captured Gwoza As Women Bury Their Dead

Another female source said it became necessary for them to bury the dead because “the men in our town and surrounding towns have either be...

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