Boko Haram Chief: We’ll Attack Abuja, Refineries

Boko Haram threatens to attack Abuja, Refineries as government rejects deal to swap prisoners for abducted girls.
Boko Haram leader Imam Abubakar Shekau has made another video appearance, daring the United States and others.

He said none of the world powers could locate his whereabouts, no matter how hard they try. Besides, Shekau vowed that the sect would attack Abuja – the seat of the government and the refineries – the symbol of Nigeria’s economic power.

In a 56-minute video in which Shekau mixed Arabic, Hausa, English and Kanuri, he declared war against those he described as infidels, including Christians.

He also spoke on the fate of the girls, who have been converted to Islam.
He said: “I am going to marry all these girls off; you cannot see them again. We will sell them in the market; there is a market where I will sell them.
“If you bring three trillion troops, we will not release the girls. We stand to deal with infidels.

“If they catch me, it does not stop me from what I am doing. They said anybody that catches me will be given $50million. So I am important; Obama and Jonathan are unimportant.

“You are looking for who? It is not a new thing that they are catching children and selling them. It is the owner that puts them in the market.
“We are stronger than America anywhere they are. If you want to defend do so because I am ready.
“Where do you say you will come and look for me? Do you know where I am since all these days?
“You are just searching in vain by looking at every nook and cranny.
“I don’t have a land; anywhere I find myself is my land because all land belongs to God.”
Shekau likened the sect’s campaign to the one in Afghanistan signposting a link with Al-Qaeda.

He said: “The war we are fighting is like the ones in Afghanistan and Iraq, it is the war against Christians and infidels.
“Those fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq, Indonesia, Pakistan, Yemen, Mali are my brothers. We will doJihad. This is my message.”

Shekau took on many countries and world leaders.
The list includes the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, Israel and Italy
He said: “Some of you (like Germany, Russia, China, Italy) think because we do not mention your names, you think we don’t know you people are involved.
“If I catch Jonathan, Obama and others I am going to sell them. Don’t think I am joking. God, you are my witness.
“If you (Obama, Jonathan, others) seek God’s forgiveness, He forgives. He is a merciful God. If you don’t seek forgiveness, I am going to cut you into pieces.”

He went on: “You Jonathan, you are watching me. If you like, go and bring everybody all over the world, you cannot do anything. Bring up human rights issue, you don’t know anything. Do Nigerians know their rights?

“I am the President; there is no President in Nigeria; there is no President in the world. I am the President in Islam and in the world.”
Shekau vowed that the spate of killings by the sect would continue in any part of the country.

He added: “We will kill until we get tired. We will kill all infidels until we get tired. We will kill unbelievers like chicken. We will tie them. We have decided what we will do.
“Any amount let them spend; we will bring this country down. We are stronger than America anywhere they are.

“We will open a killing pool for all those who have insulted us like George Bush, Obama and even Jonathan.
“I pledge to Allah my God to be faithful, loyal and honest. And you to your country. We will know who God will answer between you and I.

“There is no government existing in Nigeria. Do you think you have government?”

On the sect’s recurring attacks on FCT, the Boko Haram leader said the sect would also not ceasefire.
He added: “We are in Abuja, we will cause havoc. We will do Jihad. We are all Abuja residents. Very soon, we will come to Abuja.

“We are going to the refineries. We are going to the unbelievers. We won’t go to your (Jonathan’s) state; we will go to where there are refineries.”
Shekau listed the sect’s grouses against some world powers, including opposition to western education, democracy and homosexuality.

He said: “The war we are fighting is against democracy, constitution, Christianity and Western Education.
“I don’t have any relationship with Saudi Arabia, they are nothing. They are also unbelievers. I don’t follow white men. I am not going to follow anybody except God. I won’t have any relationship with anybody than God.

“You say you want to use democracy to cheat us or to deceive us. You are talking of government of the people by the people for the people. I am talking of the government of Allah by the Allah for the Allah

“What is the essence of allowing a female to marry a female? I don’t understand what they are saying. They said it is about freedom which I do not understand.”

- See more at: http://gistpage.com/p/1941/boko-haram-chief-we-ll-attack-abuja-refineries#sthash.fIvpsrKF.1TIWEHdm.dpuf

BREAKING: Suspected Boko Haram Men Bomb Bridge Linking Nigeria To Cameroon

Information reaching us, indicates that suspected Boko Haram militants, have bombed a small bridge that links Nigeria to Cameroon.

The destruction of the bridge, which is in Borno state, has caused serious damage and confusion in the outskirts of Gamboru Ngala, which is the site of Monday’s attack by Boko Haram men, that resulted in the death of over 300 residents of the village..

Northern Nigeria Christian Association Alleges Conspiracy In Chibok Abduction

The Northern Nigeria Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday released a statement expressing reservations and alleging conspiracy in the Chibok schoolgirls abduction.

The chapter said they believe the kidnapping is a conspiracy involving the governor of the state, Kashim Shettima, the principal of the school, the chief security officer of Borno & the commissioner for Education. In the statement, they asked how 300+ girls can disappear into air without any trace and where the daughters of the principal, vice principal & CSO of the state were when the kidnapping took place, and why no single photograph of the Chibok girls has been made public by school authorities. Find their press statement after the cut...


CHIBOK: PRESS STATEMENT BY NORTHERN CAN
Abducted female students of Chibok: CAN gives 6 posers to Borno Governor
...says there's conspiracy between Shettima, school authorities

The position of Northern CAN on the abduction of female students in Chibok

Since the abduction of some female students in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, Northern CAN has decided to be silent for some reasons. We have decided that we will make statements when we have all the facts of the matter. It may interest Nigerians to know that we have fundamental questions which demand one million answers:
1. Since the abduction of these girls over two weeks ago, has Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, constituted any panel of investigation with a view to making its report public?

2. How did the 353 female students disappear from the school into the thin air?

3. Why did the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Principal, Vice Principal and Chief Security Officer, all Muslims, ignore the valid advice of WAEC on the security implication of writing exams in the school and the need to have a centre where the children’s life will be secured?

4. How did Boko Haram carry over 200 students and their food stolen by these criminals from the school? Was it carried with trailer?

5. Why is it that since this issue came up, no single photograph of the abducted children was made public by the school authorities? After all, they were preparing for exams and may have submitted their photographs.

6. Where were the daughters of the Principal, Vice Principal and Chief Security Officer when the abduction took place?

We hope that this is not a political gimmick to carry out a political conspiracy against these daughters of Nigerians, future mothers of Nigeria and citizens who are wants to be leaders of tomorrow.
So these are the questions; we have done our investigations, we are begging the international community, we are begging the Federal Government of Nigeria and the press to ask these legitimate questions from the Governor, Commissioner for Education, Principal and CSO of the school because Chibok is a predominantly Christian area. What we are after is the safety and future of these children, whether they are Christians or Muslims or our enemies doesn't matter. They are Nigerians, first and foremost.

Our positions are as follows:
1. The Governor and government of Borno State should and must as a matter of urgency stop playing politics with the lives of the children of other people. They should produce those children without delay because they know their whereabouts.

2. We demand an explanation from the Governor, Commissioner for Education, Principal and CSO of the school on what they did and what they did not do that led to the ferrying away of these innocent children who went to sit for an examination for the betterment of their tomorrow.

3. How come that the parents of these children have not been able to come out and say anything? Are they saying that these children are orphans and do not have parents? We demand an explanation because from our investigation, parents of these children are facing intimidation and threats from the government of Borno State. That is why they could not come out to speak; but they are nursing their pains in silence.

4. We also demand that the Federal Government and the international community should help us beg the Governor of Borno State to do everything within his powers to produce these children.

5. We also reject a situation where they will turn our daughters to be sex slaves of these criminals called Boko Haram members. We have it on good authority that some of these children are being raped 15 times a day. Some of these children are being compelled to be wives of these criminals. If you want to marry somebody's daughter, you must seek the consent of her parents and not to ferry under-aged children and perpetrate a lot of havoc on them.

The abduction of these girls seems a resurrection of what the Christian communities in Northern Nigeria have been suffering for centuries in the hands of the Emirs and Imams regarding forceful conversion and abduction of Christian girls. Borno State government should be reminded that the fundamental human rights of these people should be respected and protected.

The Governor should provide immediate explanation because we know that some people want to sacrifice these children on the altar of politics. There is a limit to which Christians would tolerate all these abnormalities. We suspect a conspiracy among all of these characters including the Governor, Commissioner for Education, Principal and CSO since non of the daughters of the teachers and Principal were abducted; there is more to it and this is the position of Northern CAN.

SIGN:
Wednesday May 7 2014
Prof. Daniel Babayi
Secretary-General
Sunday Oibe
Public Relations Officer

New York Times: Jonathan’s government corrupt, with little credibility

Three weeks after their horrifying abduction in Nigeria, 276 of the more than 300 girls who were taken from a school by armed militants are still missing, possibly sold into slavery or married off. Nigerian security forces apparently do not know where the girls are and the country’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, has been shockingly slow and inept at addressing this monstrous crime.

On Tuesday, the United Nations Children’s Fund said Boko Haram, the ruthless Islamist group that claimed responsibility for the kidnappings, abducted more young girls from their homes in the same part of the country in the northeast over the weekend. The group, whose name roughly means “Western education is a sin,” has waged war against Nigeria for five years. Its goal is to destabilize and ultimately overthrow the government. The group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, said in a video released on Monday, “I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the market, by Allah.”

This is not the first time Boko Haram has attacked students, killing young men and kidnapping young women. The security situation in Northeast Nigeria has steadily deteriorated. In the first three months of this year, attacks by Boko Haram and reprisals by government security forces have killed at least 1,500 people, more than half of them civilians, according to Amnesty International. Until now, there has been little response to the violence, either in Nigeria or internationally. But the kidnapping of so many young girls, ages 12 to 15, has triggered outrage and ignited a rare antigovernment protest movement in Nigeria.

On Sunday, after weeks of silence, Mr. Jonathan admitted that “this is a trying time for our country,” and he said that Nigerians were justified in their anger against the government and appealed for international help. The reaction of Mr. Jonathan’s wife, Patience, was stunningly callous; according to state news media, she told one of the protest leaders, “You are playing games. Don’t use schoolchildren and women for demonstrations again.”

Boko Haram’s claim that it follows Islamic teachings is nonsense. A pre-eminent Islamic theological institute, Al-Azhar in Egypt, denounced the abductions, saying it “completely contradicts the teachings of Islam and its tolerant principles.” Although Boko Haram is believed to number no more than a few hundred men, Nigerian security forces have been unable to defeat them.

Mr. Jonathan, who leads a corrupt government that has little credibility, initially played down the group’s threat and claimed security forces were in control. It wasn’t until Sunday, more than two weeks after the kidnappings, that he called a meeting of government officials, including the leader of the girls’ school, to discuss the incident. There is no doubt the intelligence and investigation help President Obama offered on Monday is needed.

The kidnappings occurred just as President Jonathan is about to hold the World Economic Forum on Africa, with 6,000 troops deployed for security. That show of force may keep the delegates safe, but Nigeria’s deeply troubled government cannot protect its people, attract investment and lead the country to its full potential if it cannot contain a virulent insurgency.

New York Times editorial.

Ekwueme, Gbonigi, Clark to Jonathan: Roll out total arsenal against Boko Haram

Elder statesmen from Southern Nigeria have enjoined President Goodluck Jonathan to declare total war against the insurgents, Boko Haram.

Rising from a meeting on Wednesday that lasted for over two hours in Abuja under the aegis of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, they posited that the unity of the country should not be compromised.

The Southern Assembly, which is co-chaired by former Vice President Alex Ekwueme (South East), Edwin Clark (South South) and Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi (South West) insisted the security situation must be tackled by rolling out full military arsenal against the insurgents.

Speaking after the meeting, Bishop Gbonigi said the Assembly condemned the recent abduction of over 200 girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, noting that the security situation is becoming unbearable.

He said: “We urge the President to take additional measures, including the full deployment of our military arsenal to defeat the terrorists.

“The corporate existence of the nation and collective will of the people to live peacefully together is being challenged and every patriotic Nigerian, irrespective of their tribe, religion and political affiliation, should rally round President Goodluck Jonathan as he leads the fight to take back our country from agents of darkness and self seeking bigots.

“We cannot fold our arms and watch our dear country slide into anarchy.

“The painful memories and scars of the unfortunate civil war are still very much with us.”

Also, Gbonigi enjoined security agencies to intensify efforts and bring to book those who may be sponsoring the insurgents.

Ekwueme, who was represented by Dr. Dozie Ikedife, said: “We must find solution to the issue of insecurity because it must not be beyond us.”

Clark restated his earlier call for declaration of full emergency rule in the three northern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

The Ijaw leader said: “The issue of Fulani herdsmen is another one as it has become a threat.

“If we must live together, we must find solution to that.

“We are not saying that the Fulani herdsmen should not earn a living but the killings are getting too much.”

Abducted girls: Governor Shettima, school authorities culpable – CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria, Northern States and FCT chapter, has implicated the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, and the school authorities of the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, over the abduction of schoolgirls partaking in the examinations of the West African Examinations Council.

Apart from this, CAN in the North also claimed that the number of students abducted was 353 and not 234 as being claimed.

The Christian Association of Nigeria, Northern States and FCT chapter, has implicated the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, and the school authorities of the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, over the abduction of schoolgirls partaking in the examinations of the West African Examinations Council.

Apart from this, CAN in the North also claimed that the number of students abducted was 353 and not 234 as being claimed.

CAN in a statement on Wednesday by Prof. Daniel Babayi (Secretary-General) and Sunday Oibe (Public Relations Officer) said there were pertinent questions that Shettima and the school authorities needed to answer on the abduction of the girls.

It accused Shettima of intimidating the parents and guardians of the abducted girls, saying this was why none of them had come out to speak openly on the abduction saga.

CAN also questioned the school authorities over their roles in the abduction, wondering why none of their own children was abducted.

The statement reads: “Since the abduction of some female students in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, Northern CAN has decided to be silent for some reasons. We have decided that we will make statements when we have all the facts of the matter. It may interest Nigerians to know that we have fundamental questions which demand one million answers:

“1.    Since the abduction of these girls over two weeks ago, has Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, constituted any panel of investigation with a view to making its report public?

“2.    How did the 353 female students disappear from the school into the thin air?

“3.    Why did the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Principal, Vice

Principal and Chief Security Officer, all Muslims, ignore the valid advice of WAEC on the security implication of writing exams in the school and the need to have a centre where the children’s life will be secured?

“4.    How did Boko Haram carry over 200 students and their food stolen by these criminals from the school? Was it carried with trailer?

“5.    Why is it that since this issue came up, no single photograph of the abducted children was made public by the school authorities? After all, they were preparing for exams and may have submitted their photographs.

“6.    Where were the daughters of the Principal, Vice Principal and Chief Security Officer when the abduction took place?

“We hope that this is not a political gimmick to carry out a political conspiracy against these daughters of Nigerians, future mothers of Nigeria and citizens who are wants to be leaders of tomorrow.

“So these are the questions; we have done our investigations, we are begging the international community, we are begging the Federal Government of Nigeria and the press to ask these legitimate questions from the Governor, Commissioner for Education, Principal and CSO of the school because Chibok is a predominantly Christian area. What we are after is the safety and future of these children, whether they are Christians or Muslims or our enemies doesn’t matter. They are Nigerians, first and foremost.

“Our positions are as follows:

“1. The Governor and government of Borno State should and must as a matter of urgency stop playing politics with the lives of the children of other people. They should produce those children without delay because they know their whereabouts.

“2. We demand an explanation from the Governor, Commissioner for Education, Principal and CSO of the school on what they did and what they did not do that led to the ferrying away of these innocent children who went to sit for an examination for the betterment of their tomorrow.

“3. How come that the parents of these children have not been able to come out and say anything? Are they saying that these children are orphans and do not have parents? We demand an explanation because from our investigation, parents of these children are facing intimidation and threats from the government of Borno State. That is why they could not come out to speak; but they are nursing their pains in silence.

“4. We also demand that the Federal Government and the international community should help us beg the Governor of Borno State to do everything within his powers to produce these children.

“5. We also reject a situation where they will turn our daughters to be sex slaves of these criminals called Boko Haram members. We have it on good authority that some of these children are being raped 15 times a day. Some of these children are being compelled to be wives of these criminals. If you want to marry somebody’s daughter, you must seek the consent of her parents and not to ferry under-aged children and perpetrate a lot of havoc on them.

“The abduction of these girls seems a resurrection of what the Christian communities in Northern Nigeria have been suffering for centuries in the hands of the Emirs and Imams regarding forceful conversion and abduction of Christian girls. Borno State government should be reminded that the fundamental human rights of these people should be respected and protected.

“The Governor should provide immediate explanation because we know that some people want to sacrifice these children on the altar of politics. There is a limit to which Christians would tolerate all these abnormalities. We suspect a conspiracy among all of these characters including the Governor, Commissioner for Education, Principal and CSO since non of the daughters of the teachers and Principal were abducted; there is more to it and this is the position of Northern CAN.”

Boko Haram relocates kidnapped girls to Cameroon border

Members of the dreaded sect, Boko Haram, have relocated the school girls they kidnapped in Chibok, Borno State to the border between Lake Chad and Cameroon.

The girls were abducted about a fortnight ago at the Government Secondary School in Chibok.

They over 200 girls were initially held by their captors at the Sambisa forest in Borno State.

However, a senator from Borno State, Senator Ahmed Zana, informed his colleagues on Tuesday that the girls have been moved out of Sambisa forest.

Zana also told the Senate that the girls have been forcefully married out to members of Boko Haram.

This information filtered in just as the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, urged the Federal Government not to have any sacred cow in the fight against terrorism.

Zana said it was unfortunate that the military waited until the girls were moved out of the forest to the border between Lake Chad and Cameroon.

Contributing the the debate on insurgency, Senator Maina Ma’Aji Lawan stated that with the onslaught of the military, the members of Boko Haram have relocated from Borno State to another location near Cameroon and Chad.

Lawan expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the operation in Borno State by the military.

Senator Ali Ndume alleged that security agencies have become negligent.

Ndume said there was no attack that the military was not aware of before the terrorists struck.

He said: “I appreciate the motion but there is no action.

“We spoke to officers, they told us that there is no equipment and their allowances are not paid.

“I have not seen new equipment in Borno.

“They only use outdated guns.

“The people of Chibok and I thought we have been abandoned.

“Let us back our motion with action.”

Mark, who spoke against the backdrop of Nyanya, Abuja bombing and the kidnap of school girls in Borno State, added that the military should declare full strength and might to counter insurgency in Nigeria.