20,000 SOLDIERS SEARCHING FOR ABDUCTED
SCHOOLGIRLS:
Source: The Rainbow
About 20,000 Nigerian troops have been deployed
to search of the over 200 school girls abducted
from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State by
the deadly Boko Haram terrorists, President
Goodluck Jonathan said on Saturday.
Jonathan also said that the insurgent group which
has so far killed more than 12,000 people since
2009 has transformed massively both in character
and objective.
The president who was speaking Paris, France
where he addressed the regional summit on Boko
Haram insurgency convened by French President,
Francois Hollande, said the ultimate objective of the
vicious guerrilla-warfare campaign of the terrorists
“is to destabilize the country and take over Nigeria
in order to turn it into a base of operation in West
Africa and the entire continent”.
He pointed out that what started as a local
insurgency in North Eastern Nigeria in 2009 has
now evolved into full-scale war, targeting the
stability and integrity of Nigeria and has become the
new frontier of the global war of terrorism.
“This unconventional war has so far claimed over
twelve thousand lives, with more than 8, 000
persons injured or maimed, not to mention the
displacement of thousands of innocent Nigerians”,
the President said.
The president said that the major hamstring in the
search and rescue operation so far has been the
lack of reliable information about the whereabouts of
the girls and the circumstances of their
disappearance.
“We shall spare no effort, we shall explore every
avenue; we shall turn every stone, to ensure the
return of the girls to their families and that the
terrorists are defeated,” her assured.
Jonathan commended President Hollande, for
convening the summit, saying it underscored the
French leader’s commitment to Africa’s stability,
peace and development. He said the Boko Haram
attacks which he described as “unconventional war”
had so far claimed “over 12,000 lives, with more
than 8, 000 persons injured or maimed, not to
mention the displacement of thousands of innocent
Nigerians.”
The president who commended his colleagues from
neighbouring countries, President Boni Yayi of
Benin Republic, President Idriss Deby of Chad,
President Paul Biya of Cameroon and President
Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic, for their
solidarity and friendly disposition in attending the
summit at a very short notice, explained that
declaring a state of emergency in three states of
Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, was the responsible
thing to do.
“This became necessary to give the security forces
the required scope and authority, to enable them op
erate more efficiently in the affected areas in order
to gain victory,” he said.
President Jonathan commended the European
Union, the United States Secretary of State, Senator
John Kerry, and the Rt. Hon. William Hague, the
Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary of the United
Kingdom for attending the Summit.
He said “You have borne with my country, the huge
burden of our counter-insurgency operations, some
times with collateral damage. I thank you for your
support and cooperation.”
Jonathan said their concern and empathy with the
government and people of Nigeria were clear demon
strations of true solidarity and brotherhood in
ensuring that the current security challenges facing
the country were addressed in a definitive and
conclusive manner.
On Boko Haram, he further explained, “But let me
state clearly from the outset that what started as a
local insurgency in North Eastern Nigeria has now
evolved into the new frontier of the global war of
terrorism against our civilization, our way of life,
and against the many prospects of stability in our
region. This is not anymore a challenge to Nigeria
alone; it is a threat to each and every one of us in
this room.
“The Boko Haram sect emerged in 2002 while its
insurgency phase started as far back as 2009.
Officially known as the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna
Lidda’wati Wal Jihad, which in English means
“People Committed to the Propagation of the
Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad”, the group is more
commonly identified with its motivating principle,
and referred to as Boko Haram which literally
means, Western or non-Islamic education is
prohibited.
“The group is hostile to democracy; it uses every
means to indoctrinate its members; its ultimate
objective is to destabilize the country, and take over
Nigeria in order to turn it into a base of operation in
West Africa and the entire continent.
“Since 2009, we have had to contend with many
attacks and killings, which have now developed into
a full-scale war targeting the stability and integrity
of our nation. Boko Haram has launched a vicious
guerrilla-style campaign against the government
and the people of Nigeria. It has attacked schools,
slaughtered students in their dormitories, destroyed
villages, communities and government infrastructure
and has wreaked havoc on the economic and social
life of our people.
“This unconventional war has so far claimed over
12,000 lives, with more than 8,000 persons injured
or maimed, not to mention the displacement of
thousands of innocent Nigerians.
“We have developed intelligence, which indicates
clearly that global terrorist networks are deeply
involved in the recent activities of Boko Haram,
which has now turned into an integral part of the Al
Qaeda network as the West African branch.”
Gunmen suspected to be members of the deadly
Boko Haram Islamist sect have kidnapped 10
Chinese expatriates working for a construction
company at a Nigeria-Cameroon border village.
Security sources said the gunmen in a commando-
like operation swooped on workers at a road
construction site at Wazza, a village along the
Nigerian border, north of Cameroon, and opened fire
on the people.
There were however conflicting reports on the actual
location of the village, while some claimed shares
border with Gamboru/Ngala, others maintained the
area is located around Gwoza Local Government
which has become a Boko Haram stronghold in
recent times.
A Daily Sun report quotes one of the sources as
saying, “The armed men shot dead some of the
workers including a Chinese and then kidnapped 10
other Chinese civil engineers at the site,” the source
said.
Hundreds of Boko Haram insurgents are believed to
be hiding around the Nigeria-Cameroon border,
especially the hilly Gwoza area where they launch at
tacks on communities around the area, a military
source stated. “This area has continued to be their
hideout where they attack and retreat whenever they
are engaged by troops. A better cooperation
between Nigerian and Cameroonian governments
will assist in addressing the challenge,” the source
maintained.
President Goodluck Jonathan discussed the issue of
cooperation with Presidents of Cameroon, Niger and
Chad at a meeting in France this weekend.
Meanwhile no fewer than 40 people were reportedly
killed in two separate attacks by Boko Haram
insurgents between Friday and Saturday.
Sunday Sun gathered that at least 31 people were
killed after Boko Haram terrorists launched a
surprise rocket propelled attack on Soye village in
Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, North-
East Nigeria yesterday. Several others were reported
injured in the attack.
Report has it that some government officials have
already visited the area, among them the Chairman
of Bama Local Government Area, Baba Shehu.
The LG boss who sympathised with the victims,
decried the helplessness of security agents in
defending the people despite the state of emergency
imposed on Borno and the neighbouring states of
Yobe and Adamawa for over a year.
Also on Friday suspected Boko Haram insurgents
reportedly ambushed travellers along Maiduguri-
Damaturu highway, killing nine people and took
away a vehicle loaded with beans.
Sources said some gunmen suddenly appeared
from the bush and attacked motorists at a deserted
location between Mainok and Benisheik and killed
nine people. The incident according to sources
occurred at about 6pm on Friday. A commercial
driver told journalists that the insurgents almost
killed him save for divine intervention, as he refused
to stop when they fired at his vehicle.
“I failed to notice that people in a nearby village
were stopping me. The attackers shot at my vehicle
and killed three people. The rest of us were lucky to
have escaped,” he said.
Another source said the insurgents snatched a lorry
loaded with about 150 bags of beans and drove it
into the bush without a trace.
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