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Boko Haram: Borno Communities recount ordeal, emphasise citizens engagement
Boko Haram: Borno Communities recount ordeal, emphasise citizens engagement
By: Michael Mike
The communities in Borno State have narrated their ordeal at the hands of Boko Haram terrorists while calling for more engagement of the affected citizens in counter-insurgency and Counter-Terrorism efforts in North East Nigeria.
This was the outcome of consultative meeting and recent engagements led by Neem Foundation and The Truth Alliance, a group of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) committed to unmasking the atrocities of rhe terrorist groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP).
In a statement on Tuesday, The Truth Alliance Spokesperson, Mr. Ahmed Mustapha, said this was the outcome of the group discussions with community leaders, youth groups, and residents from six communities in Maiduguri, Borno state. He said the community members from Baga Road, Bulumkutu, Muna, Shikari, Gamboru, and Hausari, in local fora gathered to discuss the impacts of the conflict and explore sustainable solutions to the long-term effects it has had on their lives.
Members of the Truth Alliance led recovery discussions as the Boko Haram crisis recedes in Borno. The Northeast State, for a decade, has suffered from insurgency attacks, destruction, and catastrophic displacements of persons.
During the consultative meeting, Mustapha said, one of the participants and a stakeholder from Gamboru, Mallam Goni, emphasised the importance of community involvement in the recovery process. “Our people have endured unimaginable hardships. It is through these discussions that we can begin to heal and rebuild our society,” he quoted to have said.
“Despite the devastation, our spirit remains unbroken. These forums provide a platform for us to share our experiences and contribute to the development of lasting solutions,” Zarah, another participant remarked.
According to the statement, the community discussions were focused on various aspects of the impact of the conflict, including economic disruption, psychological trauma, and the displacement of thousands of residents. It noted that participants also explored strategies for enhancing security, promoting education, and revitalizing local economies. One of the critical issues raised is the need for comprehensive mental health support for those affected by the violence, suggesting significant levels of trauma caused by violent extremist groups activities across the northeast region of Nigeria.
Part of the statement read: “Community leaders have called for increased access to counseling services and trauma care to address the psychological scars left by years of conflict. Economic recovery was featured, with suggestions ranging from vocational training programs to microfinance initiatives aimed at empowering local entrepreneurs and rebuilding livelihoods. The suggestions and recommendations highlight the devastating scale of atrocities caused by groups such as Boko Haram ISWAP.
“As the Boko Haram crisis shows signs of abating, the Truth Alliance has taken steps towards fostering recovery of lives that were destroyed. The Truth Alliance, a network of civil society organizations across both Nigeria and Niger that have come together to expose the truth behind how violent and extremist groups draw young people into their ranks, has been instrumental in initiating these dialogues through their Time to Tell the Truth Campaign. The groups want to highlight the significant scale of hardship caused by insurgent groups on innocent communities. This hardship includes killings, kidnappings, looting of properties and the propagation of false narratives which seek to divide the society.”
The Truth Alliance is committed to unmasking the truth behind violent and extremist groups and empowering communities to resist tyranny and violence. Through education, outreach, and collaboration, the Truth Alliance strives to build a safer, more resilient society for all.
In a campaign tagged ‘Time to Tell the Truth’, the Truth Alliance has come together to expose the truth behind how violent extremist groups draw young people into their ranks. Their message is simple: These groups manipulate, they deceive, they Control, they kill, they kidnap, they destroy, and their movement as well as ideology is inherently weak.
Boko Haram: Borno Communities recount ordeal, emphasise citizens engagement
Troops clear bandits’ camps, rescue victims, recover arms in Bauchi
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops under Operation WUTAN DAJI have cleared several bandits’ camps, rescued kidnapped victims and recovered arms during clearance operations in Bauchi State.
Security sources said troops of 33 Artillery Brigade Garrison, in conjunction with elements of the Brigade Headquarters and a team from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), carried out the operation in Kumbodoro forest and Kumbodoro village.
According to the sources, the operation was led by the Commander, 33 Artillery Brigade, Brig.-Gen. S.S. Shehu, as part of ongoing efforts to rid the area of criminal elements.
They added that several bandits’ camps, including Azuge camps, were cleared during the operation, while a number of the criminals were neutralised.
Items recovered include four skeletal rifles, four dane guns, two pairs of boots, three helmets, a power bank, a Startimes decoder, one FN rifle magazine, one AK-47 magazine, communication links, a jackknife, six mobile phones, arrows, radio chargers, ATM cards, photographs, identity cards, as well as several pairs of security agency uniforms and leg chains.
The sources further disclosed that eight kidnapped victims were rescued during the operation.
They said troops are currently holding position within the Kumbodoro forest to consolidate gains from the clearance mission.
In a related development, the sources said troops deployed at Duguri, in collaboration with local vigilantes, recovered 36 cows at Mushen Kura village following information that the animals were roaming the area.
“The cows are suspected to have fled from bandits’ camps due to the ongoing operations and are currently in custody for further action,” the sources said.
They noted that troops’ morale and combat efficiency remain high, while operations continue to deny bandits freedom of action in the region.
Troops clear bandits’ camps, rescue victims, recover arms in Bauchi
Joint security forces raid herders’ camp in Rivers, recover arms and ammunition
By: Zagazola Makama
Joint security operatives under the Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation Delta Safe, have raided a suspected herders’ camp in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, recovering arms and ammunition.
Security sources said the operation was carried out at about 1:30 p.m. on April 12 along the IPO community axis by troops of 6 Division Garrison in collaboration with personnel of the Air Force, Navy, Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and Civil Defence Corps.
According to the sources, the raid targeted identified herders’ and cattle rearers’ camps in the area.
They added that items recovered during the operation include one AK-47 rifle, one pump-action gun, 274 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and four mobile phones.
The sources noted that the operation is part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal possession of firearms and enhance security across the Niger Delta region.
Joint security forces raid herders’ camp in Rivers, recover arms and ammunition
Zulum establishes quarry centre, procures 70 trucks for infrastructure development
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has announced the establishment of a quarry centre in Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area, to accelerate infrastructure development in the state.
Zulum made this announcement on Monday while flagging off the distribution of 70 brand-new Howo pickup trucks to the Ministry of Works and the State Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA) at the Government House.
The 70 Howo trucks are designed to boost the operational capacity of the Ministry of Works and its supervising agencies. The trucks will enable the swift delivery of materials to sites and faster intervention on distressed roads.
According to the governor, the quarry centre will provide locally sourced materials including granite, gravel and sharp sand to support ongoing and future road projects, reducing dependence on external suppliers and cutting costs.
“We have achieved a lot in health, education, agriculture, security, and road construction among others. However, we still have challenges of constructing roads within the state, especially in rural communities,” Zulum said.
“My administration has established a quarry plant in Pulka with a processing capacity of 120 tons per hour. The State Government spent at least 3 billion to establish the quarry plant”, he added.
According to the governor, due to the prevailing insecurity, most contractors are not willing to work in Borno.
“You know, no serious contractor will take the risk of deploying his equipment to most of the implementing areas, so this is the reason we are here”, the governor reinstated.
“So, we have no option but to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Works, the capacity of Borno State Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA), the capacity of special projects, monitoring departments and other MDAs that are responsible for road construction.”
The brief ceremony was attended by the Secretary to Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani, Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works, Engr Baware, BORMA Chairman, Engr Sadu Auno, the Special Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation, Engr Bukar Gujubawu and other senior officials.
Zulum establishes quarry centre, procures 70 trucks for infrastructure development
Troops clear bandits’ camps, rescue victims, recover arms in Bauchi
Joint security forces raid herders’ camp in Rivers, recover arms and ammunition
Zulum establishes quarry centre, procures 70 trucks for infrastructure development
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