Four arrested for allegedly diverting rice meant for IDPs

The Katsina Police Command on Saturday said it had arrested four persons for allegedly diverting tonnes of rice meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East Zone.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Salisu Agaisa, told newsmen in Katsina that the suspects had claimed to be customs agents.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government had directed the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to distribute rice it seized from smugglers to the various IDPs camps.

The police spokesman said the suspects were arrested after they offered to sell the commodity to one of the prominent persons in the state.

“One of the suspects had called the prominent person through a mobile phone that they have five trucks of the diverted rice for sale.

“Our investigation also shows that the suspects had concluded arrangement to sell a bag of rice to that person at the rate of N12, 500 per bag,’’ he said.

Agaisa said the suspects were later arrested at Liyafa Palace Hotel in Katsina where they had lodged for 21 days.

He said the suspects would be prosecuted after investigations were completed.

North East govs set May 29 deadline to shut IDP camps

Governors of states in the north east affected by Boko Haram insurgency have resolved to shut down camps of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in various locations by May 29, nest year.
Borno State Governor, Kassim Shettima disclosed this to State House Correspondents at a press briefing yesterday after a closed door meeting with United States Secretary of State, John Kerry shortly after his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Shettima said: “On the issue of resettlement, the bulk of IDPs are from Borno State , the population of Maiduguri has swelled from two million to three million now. And where there is a will there is always a way.

“Believe me by May 29th, next year we want our people to go back to their homes. We are going to marshal whatever resources with or without international support to see that we have restored the dignity of our people.
“We cannot wait for eternity for manner from international community to develop our communities. The biggest IDP camp is in Kenya, the Kenyan government has finally summoned the political courage to close down that camp.
“In most of the camps, there is challenge of early marriages, child prostitution, drug abuse, of gangsterism.
The sooner we close them down the better.
“In any case, no matter how good life is in the IDP camp there is no place like home.”
Shettima briefed the press in company of three other governors, including Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto)

He stressed that he was interested in restoring the dignity of the IDPs, saying this would start with the rebuilding of Bama.
“By May 29th next year, believe me, you will hear very little about IDP camp. We will adhere to the Kampala convention; we will not compel anyone in IDP camps to go back to their community.

“But you know our people, they carry their poverty with dignity and they are willing to go back home,” he said.
Shettima explained that Kerry had assured that the United States would continue to provide necessary support for the people affected by the insurgency.
Also at the briefing, Ahmed explained that one area that was emphasised was looking at the meeting with the United States Secretary beyond being a talk show.
According to him, there was need to see it driven under actionable plan that would translate to the expected goods and services for the people and truly strengthen the synergy for improved service delivery.

BOKO HARAM | Bombardment to Continue as Aisha Wakil, Bolori reports to Army HQ

· Wanted Aisha Wakil, Bolori submit selves to military

Nigeria’s top security chiefs met yesterday at the Presidential Villa and declared that the ongoing military op­erations against the Boko Har­am insurgents in the North East will continue.

The meeting came a day af­ter the Boko Haram terrorists released a video of some of the Chibok schoolgirls they kid­napped on April 14, 2014 in Borno State.

The terrorists had in the video demanded freedom for their arrested members as a condition for releasing the over 200 girls abducted from the Government Girls Second­ary School in Borno State.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, which was not at­tended by President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen. Gabriel Olonishakin, said the parley also covered other secu­rity challenges outside terrorism.

He said the military was still analysing the latest Boko Haram video before making appropriate comments.

Olonishakin, who chaired the meeting, said that it was about “how we handle crises, all forms of crises – be it flood or terrorism. We are analysing the video released by Boko Haram and we will make appropriate comments at the right time.”

He said whatever demands be­ing made by the terrorists can only be decided on by politicians as the military was going ahead with its operations against the insurgents.

“That is a political decision to be taken. The military decision is that we are going ahead with our operations. The operation is being conducted appropriately,” he stated.

He also denied reports that one of the three persons declared wanted over the video, reported to army authorities in Maiduguri and was asked to go home and return the following day, stating that “no­body reported to my men and was turned back”.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Moham­med, said even before the Boko Haram video surfaced, the Feder­al Government had been negotiat­ing with the terrorists.

He said: “The government’s position is clear – that we are in touch with them. We are just be­ing careful and cautious to ensure that we are talking to the right peo­ple, especially with the news that there is a split in the leadership. But what is important is the safety and security of these girls.”

On the demand for swap of the girls with detained terrorists, Mo­hammed said: “Until you are able to ascertain the authenticity of those you are talking to, you don’t go into details.”

Commenting on the plan by the campaign group, BringBack­OurGirls, to stage a protest march to put pressure on the Presiden­cy over the release of the girls, he said government appreciated their commitment but would not bring to public all that is being done to free the girls.

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali, who also attended the meeting, said it was more like a workshop on response to emergencies.

The chiefs of staff for the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as the National Security Adviser, Baba­gana Monguno, were also at the meeting.

Meanwhile, Aisha Wakil, a Nigerian lawyer declared wanted by the military on Sunday, has re­ported at the Defence Headquar­ters (DHQ) in Abuja.

Wakil, Ahmed Salkida (jour­nalist) and Ahmed Balori were declared wanted by the Nigerian Army on Sunday for alleged link to Boko Haram.

Wakil, in a twitter post, said that she had arrived at the De­fence Headquarters and was not immediately quizzed by security operatives.

According to an online news medium, Wakil added that the front desk officers at DHQ asked her what she wanted and she told them she was declared wanted. But the officers said they were not aware of such and she asked them to read the newspapers online.

“They told me they will go and read and get back to me,” Wak­il said.

From the Defence Headquar­ters, she has been directed to the Directorate of Military Intelligence.

In a twitter post, @HQNigeri­an Army on Monday, Wakil said that she had several meetings with the Chief of Army Staff on the way forward but they refused to heed to her advice on the Boko Haram saga.

She said: “I understand that the Military has declared me, Ahmed Salkida and Ahmed Bolori want­ed for having links with Boko Har­am. It’s interesting. Now they be­lieve me?

“I know the Boko Haram boys. I have been in the front fighting for peace long before Chibok girls were kidnapped. Nigerian securi­ty operatives know me too well; I am not hiding. Why declare me wanted?

“I have had meetings with the Chief of Army Staff and his peo­ple. I told them the way forward, to allow me come with some Com­manders of Boko Haram and dis­cuss with them, present the re­lease of CBGs but they chose to do things their ways only and never gave considerations to any of my suggestions.”

In a swift reaction, the Army Spokesman, Col. Sani Usman,said  “these people have relevant information but refused to divulge them to gov­ernment, instead, they were de­manding outrageous gratifications. They have been feeding fat at the expense of the Chibok schoolgirls and other Nigerians.”

Also yesterday, Salkida indicat­ed his readiness to surrender to the military authorities as soon as he gets a flight ticket to Nigeria.

Salkida, who is at present on self-exile in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said that he is ready to surrender himself if cer­tain conditions are met.

In a statement he issued on Monday, Salkida disclosed his willingness to travel to Nigeria and clear his name on the allegations levelled against him by the Nige­rian Army which he described as “baseless and unjustifiable.”

There were also indications yesterday that Bolori, who turned himself in on Sunday evening but was asked to go back home with­out questioning, has returned to the Army Barracks in Maiduguri.

At about 10am, Bolori post­ed a picture on his Facebook page that showed him signing a securi­ty post visitor’s book with a com­ment that reads: “I have signed the visitors register since and I am still waiting to be taken in. Although the Army guard doesn’t have air­time to contact his heads.”