Regional News

Dozens Killed In ISWAP, B/Haram Rival Clash In Borno. Source: Daily Trust

Another fierce rival battle broke out between late Abubakar Shekau Boko Haram faction and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Thursday that led to the killing of a commander simply identified as “Kundu” and dozens of fighters. The fight happened between Dikwa and Bama local government areas. A security source said that Kundu and his team were on a robbery mission when the ISWAP intercepted them on six motorcycles, each conveying three fighters.

Terrorists’ Negotiator, Mamu’s Arrest Won’t Stop Talks For Release Of Abuja-Kaduna Train Victims — Nigerian Government. Source: Sahara Reporters

The Nigerian government has said the arrest of Tukur Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald newspaper, and terrorists’ negotiator will not stop talks for the release of the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers. Mamu, an aide to Ahmad Gumi, popular Islamic cleric, had been involved in negotiations for the release of the passengers who were abducted during an attack on the train in March 2022.

Media Jihad: Social Media Use Shows Islamic State’s Increasing Interest In Africa. Source: Humangle

The Islamic State has increased the number of Hausa language social media accounts, signalling their focus on local insurgencies in Africa, a leading group of extremism analysts say. The Jihadist group has opened a “regional outlet” increasing its output of messages, graphics, and clips in the language most spoken in the Lake Chad area, a year-long investigation from the Institute of Strategic Dialogue has found. For Jihadists, social media is critical for disseminating propaganda to their sympathizers, supporters, and the public.

Kaduna troops kill bandits, rescue 10 chained hostages. Source: Punchng

Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed scores of bandits and rescued 10 hostages in the Chikun and Igabi local government areas of Kaduna State. The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement on Tuesday, said the troops neutralised the bandits while on clearance operations across the two LGAs, adding that some weapons were also recovered.  Aruwan said the troops, after clearing out the bandits, stormed hideouts and rescued 10 kidnapped persons who were chained and tied with ropes.

BREAKING: Terrorists Kill Nigerian Soldier In Kaduna. Source: Sahara Reporters

Suspected terrorists have killed a soldier identified as Abdulahi Yaaqub in Kaduna State. SaharaReporters gathered that the Master Warrant Officer was found dead by his colleagues in Bula village on Monday.

NAF airstrikes destroy terrorists’ hospital in Sambisa, kill scores in Borno, Katsina. Source: Blueprint

Air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets in conjunction with ground troops, killed several terrorists and destroyed their hospital and health care facility in Somalia, a location near Sambisa Forest where wounded fighters as well as those critically ill were treated, Blueprint has gathered. Blueprint checks revealed Monday that, “Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft under the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, acting on credible intelligence struck a target at Somalia in Sambisa Forest suspected to be a terrorist hospital and health care facility on 9 September 2022.

Buhari blames Nigerian elite for insecurity, poor infrastructure. Source: Premium Times

President Muhammadu Buhari has blamed Nigerian elite for not contributing to the development of the country, particularly the fight against insecurity.

Mr Buhari stated this on Tuesday shortly after commissioning some projects in Imo State done by Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration. The projects commissioned included the dualised 36-kilometer Owerri-Orlu Road and the first phase of the dualised 53-kilometer Owerri-Okigwe Road. He also commissioned the newly reconstructed Imo House of Assembly Complex. Mr Buhari said Nigeria has not recorded the expected developments because of a number of factors and inability of the elite to assist the country.

Again, soldiers clear terrorists’ hideouts, rescue kidnap victims in Kaduna. Source: Premium Times

Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued ten kidnap victims during clearance patrols conducted around the Chikun and Igabi Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. The state’s Commissioner for Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan, told reporters on Tuesday. On Monday, troops rescued six other kidnap victims around the Kangon Kadi area of Chikun Local Government as they continued their offensive against terror gangs in the area. Mr Aruwan said the troops also killed several terrorists and dislodged their hideouts in the forest traversing Chikun, and Igabi council areas.

Soldiers rescue six hostages as offensive against terrorists continues in Kaduna. Source: Premium Times

Troops of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna rescued six kidnapped victims during clearance patrols conducted around the Kangon Kadi area in Chikun Local Government Area.

The state’s Commissioner for Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan, announced this to reporters in Kaduna on Monday. “According to operational feedback, the troops, under Operation Forest Sanity, embarked on a clearance operation from Damba to Kang on Kadi and fired on identified bandit locations around the Kangon Kadi forest, Labi and the Udawa River.

Keeping Troops’ Morale Alive Amid Rising Insecurity. Source: PRNigeria

The Nigerian military may be giving its all to ensure peace and guarantee national security. But it is having issues with its public image. Though the misconduct of some military personnel in recent times is one of the factors influencing wrong public perception about the military. There are persons who have, over the years, appear adamant in not seeing anything amazing about troops and officers of the country’s military, and their extraordinary combat exploits.

Amid Terror: Playing ‘Hide And Seek’ With Terrorists In North-central Nigeria. Source: Humangle

In part 2 of the Amid Terror series, a teacher in Niger state, North-central Nigeria, makes the bike ride to and from work with the hope his school will not be the next target for terrorists. Not too far away, a farmer strives to keep his one source of income afloat by all mean.

We’ll collaborate with stakeholders to improve security – CP Kolo assures Zamfara Govt. Source: PRNigeria

We’ll collaborate with stakeholders to improve security – CP Kolo assures Zamfara Govt. The Zamfara Commissioner of Police, Mr Kolo Yusuf, on Monday reiterated police commitment in partnering stakeholders to end banditry and other security challenges facing the state. This is contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Muhammad Shehu.

Kidnapping: A Lucrative Trade Threatening Nigeria’s Stability. Source: PRNigeria

In Nigeria, it is safe to say that kidnapping has grown into a flourishing multi-billion naira industry where kidnappers, often labeled ‘bandits,’ are increasing by the day and claiming wider territories. Nigeria is now among the countries with the highest rate of kidnap-for-ransom cases. Other countries high up on the list include Venezuela, Mexico, Yemen, Syria, the Philippines, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. These are largely failed states and it is a big shame that Nigeria finds itself in this very wrong company. According to a report conducted by SBM Intelligence titled: ‘The Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry’, which captured a period of one year – from July 2021 to June 2022 – over 500 incidents of kidnapping were said to have been recorded with no fewer than 3,420 Nigerians and some foreign citizens abducted across the country. This is even without the addition of unreported cases that are still unknown due to the poor quality of data and documentation in the country.

Nigerian Troops Strike Boderi, Musti Banditry Gangs in Kaduna… El-Rufai Commends Efforts. Source: PRNigeria

Notorious bandit Boderi Isiya has narrowly escaped being neutralized, while his deadly second in command and several other fighters were gunned down by Nigerian Army troops. Security agencies informed the Kaduna State Government of this development in an operational feedback. A painstaking check with credible human intelligence sources further confirmed that Boderi and his terror group had a bad day at the hands of the combat-ready troops.

Insecurity: Army to appraise performance at COAS 3rd quarter conference. Source: Blue Print

The Nigerian Army, Friday, said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Third Quarter Conference will provide a platform for the Nigerian Army to appraise its performance in the fight against insecurity and consolidate on its gains. Director army public relations Brig. – Gen Onyema Nwachukwu who stated this in a statement, said the conference will evaluate all ongoing operational engagements of the Army, with a view to effectively project into the future.

Owo Attack: How victims received assistance from church, govt. Source: Premium Times

The Catechist of St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Jonathan Awolo, has said that the church committee on welfare bought caskets for the dead victims of the 5 June terror attack. Mr Awolo, who escaped unhurt during the shooting, told PREMIUM TIMES that the church also distributed money to the victims and their families. “We distributed N33,000 for each person and the corpse (casket) of those that are dead. It was the church that bought it. The church paid for the mortuary and also gave families of the deceased victims 250,000 each,” Mr Awolo said.

Life In Boko Haram’s Caliphate. Vestiges of Violence: Episode 76

What is life like as an abducted woman in the Boko Haram enclave? How different is it from life in state-controlled territories?

Vigilante members foil attack, kill “many” terrorists in Katsina. Source: Premium Times

Members of a pro-government vigilante group, the Special Hunters and Vigilante, on Sunday, foiled an attack by a gang of gunmen on Batsari town in Katsina state, killing several of the assailants. Multiple local sources, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on condition of anonymity, because of concern over their safety, said members of the vigilante group surrounded the gunmen after they entered Batsari Local Government headquarters around 4:00 p.m. Batsari is one of the most terrorised towns in Katsina state. The town shares boundaries with Jibia, Safana, parts of Zamfara State and the dreaded Ruguforest, which is a notorious hideout for terrorists.

The Hopelessness Of One Orphaned By A Brutal Insurgency. Source: Humangle

The insurgency has had a profound impact on many children due to the displacement of over two million people, separation of families, and deaths of parents, in addition to the insurgent attacks, abductions, and recruitment of child soldiers. In 2017, the then Governor of Borno, Kashim Shettima, revealed that 52,311 children in the state were orphaned by the Boko Haram insurgency. He also disclosed that some 54,911 women became widows due to the crisis.

Police Apprehend Local Terror Leader In Northwest Nigeria. Source: Humangle

Operatives of the Zamfara State Police Command have arrested one Isiyaku Babangida, a wanted terrorist, during the raid of a terror camp in Gima Village of Zamfara State in Northwest Nigeria on Friday, Sept. 9.

Military and the Burden of Safeguarding Nigeria’s Territorial Integrity. Source: PRNigeria

The constitutional mandate of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) including the Army, Navy and the Air Force is to safeguard, and of course ensure the maximum safety of Nigeria’s territories against any external aggression. With a force strength of about 223,000 active personnel, the Nigerian military is one of the largest uniformed combat services in Africa. According to Global Firepower, the AFN is the fourth most powerful military in Africa, and ranked 35th on its list internationally. However, over the years, insecurity has plunged Nigeria into a quagmire which had never been experienced before since gaining independence from the British colonial masters.

Buhari’s intervention stopped bandits from overrunning Imo – Uzodinma. Source: premium Times

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has said bandits and hoodlums would have overrun the state if not for the “prompt” intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Uzodinma stated this on Tuesday after the commissioning of the dualised 36-kilometer Owerri-Orlu Road and the first phase of the dualised 53-kilometer Owerri-Okigwe Road in the state by Mr Buhari. The president also commissioned the reconstructed Imo House of Assembly Complex.

Peace and Security

Insecurity: Northern Govs, Monarchs Back State Police. Source: Daily Trust

The 19 northern governors and all the traditional rulers in the region have called for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to give legal backing to state police. They said this was the only way to tackle the myriad security challenges affecting the region and the country at large, among them banditry, insurgency, kidnapping and other forms of criminalities.

ANALYSIS: AU set for more rigorous sanctions on African coup plotters. Source: Premium Times

The African Union (AU) decided in May this year to activate its Peace and Security Council (PSC) sanctions committee. Although established in 2009, the committee has never operated – partly due to opposition and a lack of buy-in from member states. The decision is being hotly debated in AU policy circles, particularly the use of sanctions to curb coups and the trend of unconstitutional changes of government that enable leaders to extend their term of office. Over two decades, the AU has set the pace among its global counterparts in using sanctions against member states. But despite its impressive record, without a committee to advise and monitor penalties and decide when to lift them, sanctions have sometimes been applied inconsistently and with mixed results.

Humanitarian

Flood Washes Away Farmlands In Borno. Source: Humangle

Torrential rains in Borno state has this year caused flooding to submerge farms, as local subsistence farmers are left worrying about possible poor harvest and food scarcity.

Stakeholders Join Forces To Combat Sexual Violence In Northern Nigeria. Source: Humangle

The Centre for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA), a non-governmental and not-for-profit organisation based in Kano, Northwest Nigeria, has partnered with social media influencers in Northern Nigeria to amplify the war on sexual violence, particularly in Nigerian universities, and to promote survivors’ courage to speak up. During the partnership inauguration on Saturday, Sept. 10, in Kano State, the executive director of the non-profit, Comrade Kabiru Dakata, stated that the partnership is intended to combat the cancerous problem of sexual harassment in the academia by promoting awareness using social media.

Many Lives Lost As Days Of Rainfall Floods Maiduguri. Source: Humangle

Residents of Gwange, a crowded neighbourhood of Maiduguri Borno State, Northeast Nigeria, did not sleep all through Friday night as a river that had overflown its banks poured into their homes.   The flood has also submerged other neighbourhoods through the city, causing deaths and temporarily dislodging residents. The state government has no official toll on the number of lives lost in the raging waters, but cases of children being washed away have been reported.

Halted Inheritances, Marriages … Lives On Hold Due To Nigeria’s Disappearances. Source: Humangle

According to the latest tally from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), over 25,000 people have been reported missing in Nigeria, about 40 per cent of the total figure across Africa. “During displacement, children face risks such as exploitation, violence, mental distress and disappearance. Many also end up alone, with no news of their families’ whereabouts,” notes the humanitarian organisation.