Edichaj's Blog

The Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative has just revealed that the nation lost about $9bn to the violent activities of the militants terrorizing Nigeria, the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. According to the committee, a strategic framework would soon be set up by President Muhammadu Buhari in line with his determination to rebuild the North-East. The Vice-Chairman of the PCNI, Alhaji Tijani Tumsah, made this statement on Thursday in Abuja, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of its inaugural meeting. According to Tumsah, "the focus of the meeting was to discuss the mandate given to the PCNI to fashion out a way that would be most direct, in terms of the delivery of that mandate, analyse the enormity of the task and fulfil the presidential mandate to give succour to the people of the North-East." He said, “We are not investigating anybody; there are people who are investigating such diversions. I’m glad you mentioned the Senate, ...

The Islamic State-allied faction of Boko Haram has reportedly expressed its willingness to negotiate the release of 83 more Chibok girls after freeing 21 of the more than 200 abductees last week. According to SABC, Presidential Spokesperson Garba Shehu disclosed the development, adding that the Nigerian government was willing to broker a deal with the group. The Islamist sect was alleged to have split into two factions after Abu Musab al-Barnawi was named leader of the sect by the Islamist State, sparking a backlash from long-time leader Abubakar Shekau. "The faction said it is ready to negotiate if the government is willing to sit down with them," Shehu was quoted as saying. The ISIS-allied splinter group said the rest of the kidnapped Chibok girls were with the part of Boko Haram under the control of Shekau, according to the report.

President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that his administration would not relent until it has completely neutralise Boko Haram. Buhari said this on Wednesday, in a message on his twitter handle, @MBuhari, in reaction to the bomb blast recorded in Maiduguri earlier in the day. While sending his condolences to the families of the victims, the President said he was disheartened by the news of the blast. His tweet: “I am disheartened by the news of the bomb blast in Maiduguri. My condolences to the families of the victims, and the Borno State Government,”. “Unable to hold territory, the severely degraded terrorist group now occasionally resorts to cowardly attacks on soft targets. “I commend our military for their unflagging efforts. This attack has further strengthened our resolve to completely neutralize Boko Haram.” Meanwhile, the President will embark on an official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany on Thursday and he will return on Saturday. According to a statem...

The Nigerian Army on Saturday confirmed the killing of 10 suspected Boko Haram fighters after a clearance operation in Gamboru-Ngala, Borno. Col. Sani Usman, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, said this in a statement in Maiduguri. Usman said that two other suspects were captured alive by the troops during the operation. He said based on information received that the terrorists earlier dislodged at Chukungudu and Hausari villages were migrating towards Muska village in Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area, troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Task Force Brigade, conducted operations in the area. ``During the encounter, the troops killed 10 Boko Haram terrorists, captured two alive and rescued a woman with her baby held hostage by the terrorists,'' Usman said. He said that the troops also recovered arms and ammunition during the exercise. The army spokesman said items recovered included six AK-47 rifle magazines and 56 rounds of 7.62m (special) rounds of ...