PDP crisis: Jonathan considers dumping Tukur

by Isi Esene There are indications that president Goodluck Jonathan may have decided to accede to the demands of Peoples Democratic Party governors by withdrawing support from the apparently out-of-favour party chairman, Bamanga Tukur. Sources say Jonathan’s strategists have made it clear to him that it would not be in his political interest to openly... Read More

Abuja, adamawa, Bamanga Tukur, Borno, Goodluck Jonathan, governors, PDP, yobe

January 11, 2013

Opinion: Maiduguri student shooting: JTF’s lies and the burden of truth

by Abdulkadir Bamoto The report that JTF in Maiduguri has killed more than the insurgents is true. These unprofessional weapon carriers will continue to commit atrocities if left unchecked. The Nigeria Army operations (STF, JTF) across the country has come under attack in recent times, but this particular incident has left the writer with no... Read More

Abdulkadir Bamoto, Abdulmumin Abubakar, boko haram, Borno, Joint Task Force, maiduguri, Sagir Musa, Student, terrorism

January 3, 2013

Opinion: Nigeria where every problem is too hard to fix

by Gwynne Dyer But it is the Government that raises, trains and pays these security forces, and even in a continent where many countries have problems with the professionalism of the army and police, Nigeria’s are in a class by themselves. It is not known if the word “dysfunctional” was invented specifically to describe the... Read More

boko haram, Borno, Goodluck Jonathan, maiduguri, mali, nigeria

January 2, 2013

Opinion: Unpaid goon of the cabal

by Oluseun Onigbinde 2012 has ended. My President has gotten N161bn for stabilize fuel in festive period. Yet I still queue to buy at N110 per litre. The Cabal and its kindred in government houses will always be among us. Either they lurk with greasy palms around Apapa Jetty or they sit in decrepit office... Read More

#Aluu4, 2012, Borno, Budgit, Cabal, dana crash, farouk lawan, Mubi Killings, Oluseun Onigbinde, yobe

December 28, 2012

Crocodile tears? Borno governor weeps during budget presentation

by Isi Esene Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima yesterday wept on the floor of the House of Assembly while presenting the 2013 Appropriation Bill to the honourable members. The governor was said to have broken down into tears while reflecting on the havoc wreaked by a militant Islamic sect operating in the state. Reports say the governor repeatedly stated... Read More

boko haram, Borno, budget, House of Assembly, Kashim Shettima, terrorism

December 22, 2012

Opinion: Azazi, Yakowa’s deaths: How safe is Goodluck Jonathan?

by Obinna Akukwe President Goodluck should be careful of his personal safety. This growing irritation and desperation could result in extremist attacks on the life of the nation’s number one citizen. General Andrew Azazi, Nigeria’s former NSA and Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State died in a plane crash a week ago raising concerns over... Read More

Andrew Azazi, boko haram, Borno, Goodluck Jonathan, nigeria, olusegun obasanjo, patrick yakowa, security

December 22, 2012

Temie Giwa: Boko Haram spreads its wings (YNaija FrontPage)

The problem of Boko Haram is coming to all our homes faster than we can imagine. Days before the splintering began, the Boko Haram faction, still whole, had created a list of all its public enemies. These men represented all they felt was wrong with their world and contained those that could be traced to... Read More

Alli Modu Sheriff, boko haram, Borno, FG, Mohammed Yusuf, Temie Giwa, YNaija Frontpage

December 3, 2012

Boko Haram gunmen kill policemen, burn churches in Borno

by Isi Esene In what is now becoming a weekly orgy of violence, gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, yesterday killed at-least two police officers in Maiduguri, Borno State. Residents said about 50 men in cars and on motorcycles carried out a raid in the town burning three churches... Read More

army, boko haram, Borno, Gamboru Ngala, maiduguri, Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, police, sss, state security service

November 23, 2012

President Jonathan blames politicians for religious crisis in Nigeria

by Isi Esene President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday maintained that most of the religious tensions in the country were politically motivated. He said this at the launching of Faith Foundation-led programme to encourage religious reconciliation between Christians organised by the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. In a speech delivered on his behalf by the minister for housing... Read More

Aduju Zubairu, Ayo Oritsejafor, boko haram, Borno, Goodluck Jonathan, maiduguri, Sa’ad Abubakar, sss, state security service, Tony Blair

November 23, 2012

Boko Haram slaughters 3 children (5, 7, 12) of SSS officer in their mother’s presence

by Isi Esene Men suspected to be members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect on Thursday morning attacked the family of a State Security Service (SSS) personnel, Aduju Zubairu, killing his three children while he was away. The gunmen were reported to have forcefully made their way into his residence around 1:55am and slaughtered the... Read More

Aduju Zubairu, Ayo Oritsejafor, boko haram, Borno, Goodluck Jonathan, maiduguri, Sa’ad Abubakar, sss, state security service, Tony Blair

November 19, 2012

Church pastor killed by gunmen in Borno, police inspector assassinated in Bauchi

by Isi Esene A police inspector and a retired pastor were yesterday gunned down by unidentified men. The inspector, identified as Babangida Danbaba, who is attached to the Bauchi State Government House, was said to have been trailed by his assailants just after observing his morning prayers in a mosque along Nasarawa road. Residents of... Read More

Babangida Danbaba, Bauchi, boko haram, Borno, COCIN, Ilaisha Kabura, maiduguri, Mohammed Ladan

November 19, 2012

Shocking: Reuters reveals videos showing ‘the killing of unarmed men by Nigerian solidiers”

by Isi Esene An international news agency, Reuters, has revealed that it is in possession of a video purportedly taken by a Nigerian soldier showing the killing of unarmed men in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Reuters reported on Sunday that the unnamed soldier as saying that he was present when the soldiers shot the... Read More

boko haram, Borno, FG, Joint Military Task Force, JTF, maiduguri, Mohammed Yerima, reuters, terrorism, uk guardian

November 15, 2012

Borno under siege as terrorists target public officers, kill Water Resources director

by Isi Esene The director of design and construction in the Borno State Ministry of Water Resources, Mallam Ali Mohammed Sheriff was yesterday shot and killed by unidentified gunmen in Maiduguri, the state capital. Sheriff was said to have been shot in front of his house around Mafoni ward as he was preparing to go... Read More

Ali Mohammed Sheriff, Bbagana Kolo, boko haram, Borno, JTF, maiduguri, Musa Sagir, terrorism

November 2, 2012

Maiduguri murder: Gunmen assassinate PDP BOT member and his guest

by Isi Esene Four gunmen earlier today attacked the home of Retired General Mohammed Shuwa killing him. The men were reported to have killed the ex-army general in his residence at the Gwange 1 area of Maiduguri metropolis. He was killed alongside a guest who was with him during the unfortunate incident. Shuwa was a... Read More

boko haram, Borno, JTF, maiduguri, Mohammed Shuwa, Sagir Musa

October 24, 2012

Danger ahead: Boko Haram plans to “launch massive attacks” during Sallah – JTF

by Hauwa Gambo The spokesperson of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Borno, Colonel Sagir Musa, has announced that the Boko Haram sect plans to launch an attack during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration starting tomorrow. “Information available to the JTF indicates that the Boko Haram terrorists are planning massive attacks on military and civilian targets... Read More

boko haram, Borno, JTF, sallah, yobe

October 23, 2012

“JTF killed 15 boys playing football,” says Sen. Zannah, as Army asks him to “just confess”

by Isi Esene Senator Ahmad Zannah (Borno Central) who was accused by the Joint Military Task Force of sheltering a Boko Haram Commander in his house, yesterday fired a return salvo at the JTF accusing the outfit of killing 15 boys playing football in an open space. The senator had on Sunday denied sheltering the... Read More

Ahmed Zannah, Borno, JTF, maiduguri, Modu Ali Sherrif, Sagir Musa, Shuaibu Bama, sss

October 23, 2012

“I gave Boko Haram N1.5 million to buy Sallah rams” – Senator Zanna

by Stanley Azuakola The news which everyone heard loud and clear from the Joint Task Force (JTF) was that a top Boko Haram commander, Bama, was arrested in the home of a senator representing Borno Central Senatorial District, Ahmad Zanna. Even Zanna admitted that the Boko Haram man was a nephew of his. What he... Read More

Ahmad Zanna, Ali Modu Sheriff, Bama, Borno

September 18, 2012

Gunmen murder Borno State Justice commissioner

by Isi Esene The Borno State commissioner for Justice, Zannah Malam Gana, was yesterday killed by unidentified gunmen. Reports say the commissioner was killed Monday night at his residence. A government official who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity said, “He was shot dead by some gunmen in his house around 8:45 pm last... Read More

Abu Qaqa, Bauchi, boko haram, Borno, Commission for Justice, kano, maiduguri, Mariri, prisons, Zannah Malam Gana

September 7, 2012

Everywhere you go: IGP orders round-the-clock surveillance on telecoms facilities

by Isi Esene Telecommunications facilities in the country will soon have police security details mounting 24-hour surveillance around them due to the recent attacks on telecoms facilities by men suspected to be members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect in several states in the north. Suspected Boko Haram members on Wednesday attacked several telecoms masts... Read More

boko haram, Borno, facilities, Frank Mba, IGP, Inspector General of Police, kano, masts, Mohammed Abubakar, MTN, telecommunications, yobe

September 4, 2012

JTF raids Boko Haram enclave, recovers large cache of arms

by Isi Esene The Joint Task Force (JTF) commander, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, told reporters yesterday that the military has recovered a large cache of arms from the residence of a top Boko Haram commander in the Bulunkutu-Lawanti area of Maiduguri, Borno State. Although he did not disclose the identity of the Boko Haram commander... Read More

boko haram, Borno, commander, IEDS, Joint Task Force, JTF, maiduguri, Sagir Musa, weapons

September 2, 2012

At ease: New bill seeks to put military officers under control

by Isi Esene The Federal Government is proposing a law to penalize military personnel who violate the rules of engagement in their activities within a civilian population during disturbances. The bill was sent to the National Assembly for deliberation and passage to punish offenders who unjustifiably attack civilians. The proposed law known as ‘A Bill... Read More

AGF, Attorney General of the Federation, Bauchi, bill, boko haram, Borno, Fatou Bensouda, genocide, ICC, Joint Task Force, jos, JTF, Mohammed Bello Adoke, terrorism

September 1, 2012

Has the Kokomaster, D’banj, found love at last? (See Photos)

by Isi Esene There have been several speculations about D’banj’s love interests; the last one linking him with the star actress, Genevieve Nnaji, who later denied any amorous relationship between herself and the self-acclaimed ‘Kokomaster’. There are however recent indications suggesting a more-than-meets-the-eye relationship between D’banj and Adama Indimi, one of the daughters of Alhaji... Read More

Adama Indimi, Borno, D'banj, Dapo Oyebanjo, Kokomaster, London, maiduguri, Mohammed Indimi, uk

August 21, 2012

Deja vu: We are running Boko Haram out of town, says JTF spokesman

by Isi Esene Lt. Colonel Sagir Musa, the Joint Task Force spokesman told reporters recently in an interview that the members of the Islamic militant group, Boko Haram are presently on the run due to the vigilant crime fighting of the Joint Task Force stationed in strategic locations in the northern part of the country... Read More

boko haram, Borno, Joint Task Force, JTF, maiduguri, militant, Sagir Musa, terrorism

July 13, 2012

Bomber attacks Shehu of Borno’s palace in Maiduguri

by Isi Esene A suicide bomber has targeted the Shehu of Borno’s palace in Maiduguri, Borno State. According to SaharaReporters, the blast happened around 2pm. Hundreds of worshippers use the palace of the Shehu of Borno as a praying ground for their Friday prayers. A palace source told SaharaReporters that the explosion occurred as the Shehu... Read More

boko haram, Borno, Juma'at prayers, maiduguri, palace, Shehu of Borno, terrorism

July 3, 2012

#InCaseYouMissedIt: Borno construction workers slaughtered In their sleep

by Isi Esene Nine construction workers, working on Shehu of Borno Central Mosque, Maiduguri, Borno State, were yesterday murdered. They were reportedly slaughtered in their sleep. The reason for the killings could not be immediately confirmed. The increased lack of security around Maiduguri has forced a few Islamic scholars to employ the services of security escorts in open pick-up vans filled... Read More

Borno, killed, maiduguri, Murder, nigeria

July 2, 2012

No dying for Nigeria? Corps members refuse to go North

by Tolu Orekoya The rise in violence in Nigerian northern states have sent non-residents fleeing from the region, as bombings by terrorist group Boko Haram and reprisal attacks flourish. The National Youth Service Corps still deployed corps members to states such as Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto and Yobe, despite the lack of stability in those states. Some... Read More

boko haram, Borno, call up letters, corpers, deployment, facebook, nigeria, nysc, twitter.

June 10, 2012

Move over, INEC! Boko Haram postpones elections in Borno

by Hauwa Gambo It’s a ‘hell no’ from the Borno State government on the prospects of conducting local government elections in the state anytime soon. The reason? Well, this is how a reporter for PM News put it: “Because of security challenges in the area, created by the unrelenting insurgency of Boko Haram militants and... Read More

boko haram, Borno, government, INEC, state

June 8, 2012

Not again: Bomb explosions in Borno leave seven dead

Just 48 hours after the Joint Task Force (JTF) launched an assault against Boko Haram in Maiduguri, engaging the religious sect in a gun fight for hours, there was another series of bomb explosions in the Borno State capital. At least seven people have died as a result of the explosions. In the first explosion... Read More

Bomb, Borno