PRESIDENT JONATHAN ORDERS REMOVAL OF OFFENSIVE BRING BACK JONATHAN SIGNS

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has directed that the #Bring Back Jonathan 2015 signs and banners around Abuja which he and many Nigerians find offensive and repugnant  be brought down immediately.

President Jonathan wholly shares the widely expressed view that the signs which were put up without his knowledge or approval are a highly insensitive parody of the #Bring Back Our Girls hash tag.

While President Jonathan appreciates the enthusiastic show of support for his administration  by a broad range of stakeholders, he condemns the #Bring Back Jonathan 2015 signs which appear to make light of the very serious national and global concern for the abducted Chibok girls.

The President assures all Nigerians and the international community that his administration remains fully engaged with efforts to rescue the abducted girls and that he will not knowingly promote any actions that will fly in the face of the seriousness of their plight and the anguish of their families.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 10, 2014

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE SAFE RESCUE OF CHIBOK GIRLS – PRESIDENT JONATHAN ASSURES MALALA

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE SAFE RESCUE OF CHIBOK GIRLS – PRESIDENT JONATHAN ASSURES MALALA
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan said Monday in Abuja that the notion that the Federal Government has not been doing enough to find and rescue the abducted Chibok girls, is very wrong and misplaced.
Speaking at an audience with Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani Girl-Child Education Campaigner, President Jonathan said that the Federal Government was definitely doing everything possible to ensure that the girls were rescued alive and safely returned to their parents.
He however explained to Malala, who was accompanied by her father and other members of her Foundation, that the Federal Government's efforts were constrained by the overriding imperative of ensuring that the girls' lives are not endangered in any rescue attempt.

Malala in Abuja, five escaped Chibok girls join protest

L–R: Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade
girls education campaigner, Malala Yousafzai; spokesperson
of theState Security Service, Marilyn Ogar; and Coordinator,
National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, during Malala’s
visit to the National Information Centre, in Abuja... on Sunday

Five of the schoolgirls who escaped from Boko Haram captivity joined the members of the BringBackOurGirls Coalition rally in Abuja on Sunday to drum up support for their colleagues who are still being held captive by the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

Over 200 girls were abducted in their hostel at the Government Secondary School. Chibok, Borno State on April 15.

The girls were brought to the BBOG sit-out meeting at Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja on Sunday.

The young girls who sat quietly throughout the duration of the sit-out, looked subdued and withdrawn.

ABATI: Nigeria’s offensive against Boko Haram

The concern that has been expressed over the abduction of more than 200 girls from a secondary school in Nigeria since April 14 is legitimate and understandable. What is not fair, and which stands out in many of the criticisms directed at the Nigerian government, is the attempt to ignore the issues and argue that President Goodluck Jonathan is the problem. This attempt to turn the matter of the abducted girls into a referendum on the Jonathan administration has resulted in a complete misreading of the situation and much deliberate mischief fueled by ignorance and sponsored propaganda.
Take for example, Karen Attiah’s morbid satire, “What Nigerian president should have written” (The Washington Post, July 3). The piece merely repeats worn misconceptions about the Chibok incident and the efforts of the Jonathan administration in Nigeria to find and rescue the abducted girls.

Photos: Inauguration of Presidential Committee on Save School Initiative

2 President Goodluck Jonathan left  Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako, Yobe State Governor Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam  and Alh Aliko Dangote at the Inauguration of Presidential  Committee on  Save School Initiative by the President at the State House Abuja  on Wednesday 9th July 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan 5th right, left Director General NEMA Alh Mohammadu Sani Sidi,Education Minister of State Onyeso Wike, Women Affairs Minister  Hajia Zainab Maina Vice President  Namadi Sambo  flank by Yobe Governor Ibrahim Gaidam,Adamawa Governor  Murtala Nyako and Representative of National Coucil of Women Society at the Inauguration of Presidential  Committee on  Save School Initiative by the President at the State House Abuja  on Wednesday 9th July 2014

Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Yobe Governor Ibrahim Gaidam,Adamawa Governor  Murtala Nyako Vice President Namadi Sambo and President Goodluck Jonathan  at the Inauguration of Presidential  Committee on  Save School Initiative by the President at the State House Abuja  on Wednesday 9th July 2014

Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Yobe Governor Ibrahim Gaidam,Adamawa Governor  Murtala Nyako Vice President Namadi Sambo and President Goodluck Jonathan  at the Inauguration of Presidential  Committee on  Save School Initiative by the President at the State House Abuja  on Wednesday 9th July 2014

Nigerian Troops arrest 3 female undercover operatives of Boko Haram

The Nigerian army have released a statement stating that they have arrested 3 women who worked as undercover operatives for Boko Haram. Find the statement below...

In the aftermath of the failed suicide bombing attempt on a military facility by a female terrorist who blew herself up in Gombe recently, troops have arrested three suspected female terrorists who have been secretly recruiting ladies into the female wing of the terrorists group. The suspects, Hafsat Usman Bako, Zainab Idris and Aisha Abubakar were intercepted while travelling to Madagali from where they were to transit to the forest to reunite with their cohorts. Continue...
 Investigations revealed that the suspects, led by Hafsat Bako, have the mission to recruit members into the female wing as well as conduct espionage for the group. Hafsat’s link with the terrorists group had earlier been a subject of investigation in 2012, when security agents on a manhunt for one Usman Bako, her husband who was identified as a terrorist, stormed their residence in Jimeta.  This resulted in the discovery of an AK 47 rifle and 2 loaded magazines.   Though Usman Bako later died in an encounter with troops in Sokoto where he had relocated to continue his terrorist activities, Hafsat continued with the terror group specializing in surreptitious recruitment of members into their fold.
The arrested trio suspects were luring ladies especially widows and young girls by enticing them with male suitors who are mainly members of their terror group for marriage. Before their arrest, they were on a mission to take additional briefing from the leadership of the terror group.
The trio has been operating together as members of the intelligence team of the group.   Their arrest has yielded information still being verified by security agencies.
Colonel ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
for Director Defence Information

50 TERRORISTS DIE AS TROOPS AVERT RAID ON COMMUNITIES

DHQ/ABJ/901/32/DDI                                                                                                   9 June 2014

 PRESS RELEASE: 50 TERRORISTS DIE AS TROOPS AVERT RAID ON COMMUNITIES

Troops conducting anti-terrorists campaign in North-Eastern Nigeria have successfully averted attempted massive raid on villages in Borno and Adamawa States during the weekend.  The terrorists who were on their way to attack selected communities were ambushed by troops along  Bilta, Borno state on receiving intelligence report of the terrorists’ intention.

The attack was launched on the terrorists as they filed out of the forest to embark on their mission at about 10pm on Saturday.  Over 50 terrorists died in the fierce encounter that ensued, while 30 rifles, 36 Hand Grenades, 7 Machine guns and 11 Rocket Propelled grenade tubes were captured by the troops.  Also recovered from the terrorists were over 3,500 rounds of ammunition, 6 smoke grenade canisters and locally fabricated guns as well as 4 vehicles used by the terrorists in the foiled attack.

The four soldiers who were wounded in the operation are currently receiving medical treatment in the military medical facility.

CHRIS OLUKOLADE
Major General
Director Defence Information

Why I left APC — Femi Fani-Kayode

I declared for the APC in June last year in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State well before the party was registered by INEC.         I formally joined the party, amidst great fanfare, on 7th February, 2014 in my hometown, Ile-Ife and I registered my membership on that day. The registration was done outside the Ooni’s palace and it was done in the prescence of the media, numerous party leaders in the state, including Hon. Rotimi Makinde, who represents Ile-Ife at the Federal House of Representatives, and all the other key leaders of the APC in the state and Ife-Ife including Chief Akantioke and Alhaji Soko Adewoyin the former  Deputy Governor of Osun state.

UK probes Islamic preacher for hailing Chibok abduction

A United Kingdom-based Islamic preacher, Mizanur Rahman, is being investigated by police after a video showed him praising Boko Haram for kidnapping over 200 schoolgirls.

The 31-year-old of Palmers Green, north London, claimed in the video-recording posted online that killing non-Muslims was ‘not necessarily a bad thing.’

The sect had abducted the pupils from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State since April 14.

A report by a UK tabloid, Daily Mail, said Rahman also praised the terror group for its activities.

He said in the video, “People want to make it out as though history began on the day these girls were taken from – sorry I should say these women – were taken from this high school in Nigeria.

Account for your allocations, Okonjo-Iweala dares govs

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has challenged state governors to tell Nigerians what they do with the huge allocations they receive regularly from the Federal Government.

According to the minister, many of the states get monetary allocations that far outweigh the annual budget of some neigbouring countries to Nigeria.

Okonjo-Iweala spoke on Sunday at Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, while delivering the Babcock University’s convocation lecture entitled: ‘Transforming Nigeria’s economy: Opportunities and challenges’.

The minister alongside the Executive Producer of Moments with Mo on Ebonyi Live TV, Mo Abudu, received the university’s honorary doctorate degrees.

#BringBackOurGirls: Why we want dialogue option — Abati

In this interview with Ben Agande, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, speaks on why the Federal Government will not swap Boko Haram detainees with the Chibok schoolgirls abducted on April 14, some 50 days ago.
He, however, says government is ready to integrate Boko Haram members who lay down their arms and renounce terrorism back to the Nigerian family.
Excerpts:
The President has met with several world leaders since the abduction of the Chibok girls. What have these meetings produced?
The reach out to the international community and the acceptance of offers of support and expression of solidarity by various countries and multilateral institutions has been very productive and fruitful.
The President welcomes any offer of assistance and help. What has been achieved with all these efforts: the Paris meeting, the meeting with the President of the Republic of Congo and the meeting in South Africa on the sidelines of the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma is that the President of Nigeria has been able to mobilise international cooperation.

How Boko Haram Ambushed, Killed Some Of Nigeria’s Finest Soldiers Near Sambisa Forest

On May 12 2014, a group of soldiers selected from the Special Operations Battalion of the Nigerian Army headquarters were asked to proceed on an operation in Bita, Borno State. The mission, according to military sources who spoke to SaharaReporters, was informed by actionable intelligence showing that Boko Haram militants had been sighted in the area.

The village of Bita had witnessed numerous attacks by Boko Haram insurgents to the point that the residents had fled since February of this year to other locations, abandoning their community to the militants.

The selected soldiers had been taken from their operational base in Mubi, Adamawa State, and made to join some soldiers from the “213” battalion from the newly created “7 Division” of the Nigerian army stationed inside Maimalari Barracks.

48 killed in fresh Borno attacks, Chibok schoolgirls sighted in Chad

Father of kidnapped girls dies of heart attack
NUT shuts schools for Bring-Back-Our-Girls rally
US troops hunt for schoolgirls in Chad

Maiduguri—No fewer than 48 people were killed by insurgent group, Boko Haram, in Shawa and Alagarno villages of Askira Cuba and Damboa local government areas of Borno State, respectively.
The attackers also carted away food items after setting ablaze almost all houses in the villages.
Shawa is about three kilometres south of Kwapchi village which came under attack in the last two weeks, where 12 people were killed with several residential houses set ablaze, while Alagarno village is about 30 kilometres to Chibok town, where about 275 female students of Government Secondary School were abducted by the insurgents and about 117 kilometers from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
A local resident, Mallam Umaru Saina, who spoke with our correspondent on phone, said about 30 terrorists on 10 motorcycles stormed Alagarno village yesterday at 1:30a.m. and had a field day before they left.

FG rejects B’Haram’s prisoner swap offer

Dr. Reuben Abati, Special Adviser
(Media & Publicity) to President Goodluck Jonathan

The Presidency has ruled out the possibility of engaging in what it called “trade by barter”  in securing the release of the  over 200  schoolgirls abducted from the  Government  Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram insurgents  on April 14.

It said that in asymmetrical warfare, dialogue could also be difficult because the enemies  were usually  faceless.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said this in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH  on Wednesday.

He was responding to a question on whether President Goodluck Jonathan would set up a committee to negotiate with Boko Haram for the release of the   girls since the Federal Government had  said it was open to dialogue on the matter.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN REITERATES NIGERIA’S APPRECIATION OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

PRESIDENT JONATHAN REITERATES NIGERIA'S APPRECIATION OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Wednesday in Abuja reiterated Nigeria's appreciation of the support being given by Britain and others for efforts to locate and rescue the girls abducted from Chibok
Speaking at talks with the British Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Mark Simmonds at the Presidential Villa, President Jonathan said that the Federal Government will also welcome international support for its plans for the socio-economic rehabilitation of the North-Eastern States after the Boko Haram insurgency has been substantially curtailed.
President Jonathan told Mr. Simmonds that he looked forward to meeting the Heads of State and Government of Benin Republic, Chad, Niger and Cameroon this weekend in Paris for talks on how Nigeria and their countries can strengthen and intensify collaboration against Boko Haram and other criminal organizations.

B’Haram, others received $3m from bin Laden – Report

The violent sect, Boko Haram and other groups in northern Nigeria received $3m from Osama bin Laden in 2002, according to a report by some United States intelligence analysts.

Bin Laden was said to have dispatched an aide to Nigeria to hand out the seed money in naira to a wide array of Salafist political organisations that shared al Qaeda’s goal of imposing Islamic rule.

According to  a report in a United States-based newspaper, The Daily Beast, the Al-Qaeda founder helped provide Boko Haram’s seed money.

Boko Haram was founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2002. Yusuf was killed in police custody in 2009.

Chibok girls: Bisi Akande reaction irresponsible – Reuben Abati

First, we consider it most unfortunate that the chairman of the APC will use the opportunity of ​the ​situation ​in the country ​namely the abduction of the ​​girls ​of GSSC, Chibok ​to engage in partisan blackmail.
The issue of national security should go beyond partisan politics. This is a very serious moment requiring seriousness. But to reduce all of that to partisan politics is in bad taste, ​irresponsible​ one-upmanship.​ ​
One, Nigeria is not on auto pilot. There is a government in place, there is a President who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He is doing his very best to provide quality leadership and to reassure Nigerians that government stands ready always to defend their best interest.

UK Experts Arrive Nigeria To Help #BringBackOurGirls Mission

#BringBackOurGirls Mission
UK Experts Arrive Nigeria To Help #BringBackOurGirls Mission

A team of experts from the United Kingdom have arrived in Nigeria to help rescue over 200 schoolgirls who were on April 14 abducted by members of the Boko Haram sect, in Chibok, Borno State, north east of Nigeria.

The team, which will assist the State security agencies, will also advise the government on how to find and rescue the missing girls.

BRITAIN, CHINA TO DEPLOY ADVANCED TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES IN SUPPORT OF EFFORT TO LOCATE ABDUCTED GIRLS

PRESIDENT JONATHAN RECEIVES  COMMITMENT BY BRITAIN AND CHINA TO DEPLOY ADVANCED TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES IN SUPPORT OF EFFORT TO LOCATE ABDUCTED GIRLS

In furtherance of efforts by the Federal Government to locate and rescue the girls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Wednesday requested and received a commitment from Britain to deploy its intelligence gathering resources in support of Nigeria's security agencies currently engaged in the search and rescue operation.