SUNDAY PRISON BREAK UPDATE:Boko haram Free 40 of Their Member in Damaturu Prison

Suspected members of the Jam’atul Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram, yesterday, staged a daring attack on the Damaturu prison on Gashua Road, and set free 40 of their members who were being detained. A fleeing inmate was said to have been k*lled while a prison warder was injured during the attack. 

Police spokesperson, Mr Frank Mba, who confirmed the incident, said unknown gunmen staged a jailbreak yesterday in Damaturu and freed about 40 inmates, adding that a prison warder was injured and that one fleeing inmate was k*lled in a gunfight. In another development, spokesman of the Boko Haram sect, Abu Qaqa, has said the sect was not responsible for bomb that was found in a mosque in Kano, on Friday. Qaqa in a statement, yesterday, said: “In respect of what we heard in the media yesterday (Friday) that some people attempted to detonate a bomb in a Juma’at mosque in Kano, this movement Jama’atu Ahlissunnah Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad hereby dissociates itself from this act.

 “We are fully aware of this kind of conspiracy by the SSS, following a similar pattern of their counterparts in other countries to tarnish the image and reputation of Islamic fighters, they will not succeed, God’s willing. “Everyone knows that we are waging Jihad to restore the supremacy of Islam, which is why we are labelled ‘Muslim fundamentalists’, how on earth can we then attempt to destroy a Muslim place of worship. This is, therefore, a conspiracy by those that are averse to the enthronement of an Islamic state, and they will not succeed by God’s grace.”

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BOKO HARAM SCARE;Churches record low turnout in Nigeria

SECURITY was on red alert on Sunday in Kaduna as the state government relaxed the curfew between 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. to enable Christians to attend church services across the state. Soldiers and armed policemen were stationed near churches to scare away trouble makers while helicopters on surveillance hovered in the sky as the worshippers were in churches. 

However, there was no report of any crisis in the state during church services, even as many were seen rushing back home to beat the 1.00 p.m. deadline. The Kaduna State governor, Mr Ibrahim Yakowa, had earlier admonished the Christians to maintain peace and orderliness similar to what their Muslim counterparts did on Friday. Yakowa held a meeting with all members of the National Assembly from Kaduna State and appealed to them to contribute to the search for sustainable peace in Kaduna. The state House of Assembly members were also in attendance, including commissioners. The governor asked them to ensure that a repeat of the current crisis was never witnessed again and urged them to go back to their respective constituencies and work with their people in the quest for peace. 

 The governor told them that government would continue to vigorously pursue the issue of job creation and skills acquisition programmes to ensure that the youth were fully engaged. The issue of securing major entry roads into Kaduna was also discussed. Senator Ahmed Makarfi spoke on behalf of the senators while Honourable Garba Datti CPC, (Sabon Gari) spoke for the House members. The speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly spoke for members of the state assembly. Later, the governor moved to the women’s multi-purpose hall where he met with leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Muslims’JNI from all the 23 local government areas in the state. 

They were urged to preach peace to their adherents and continue with the task of praying for the state and calming down their members. At the Government House, the governor met with all the 23 interim local government chairmen and urged them to ensure the sustenance of total peace in their domains. He also asked them to work closely with both religious and traditional leaders in their domains. He also met with members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly and told them that they will partner more strongly to ensure that the state witnesses more peace. The issue of engaging youths was discussed and the need for prompt prosecution of offenders to serve as a deterrent to others. He urged them to put political differences aside and work for the restoration of peace in Kaduna State. Meanwhile, churches in different parts of Plateau State, especially in Jos, the state capital recorded low turnouts of worshipers on Sunday as most people stayed indoors as a result of the threat by the dreaded Boko Haram sect to unleash mayhem on worshipers. 

 Prior to Sunday, rumour had been doing the rounds with text messages flying around that the Boko Haram sect planned to make the weekend miserable for the people of Jos and its environs, hence the heavy security build-up in and around Jos. Nigerian Tribune findings revealed that the poor turnout was also attributed to the insinuation that the state government and the security agencies ordered the citizens of the state to stay at home as part of the security measures to arrest the situation. Speaking with newsmen while going round churches within the state capital on Sunday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Dipo Emmanuel Ayeni, charged residents of the state to always be security conscious and vigilant. The police boss implored church authorities to put more security checks in place and impress it on their members to avoid clustering around the church premises after service. Plateau State Commissioner for Information, who was on the entourage of the Commissioner of Police, Pastor Yiljab Abraham, said state government was doing everything possible to ensure the safety of worshippers in the state, adding that the government was working on a bill on how to secure worship centres.

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Worshippers In Narrow Escape In Kano

A vigilant resident of Kano, on Friday, uncovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by terrorists to bomb worshippers at the Jum’mat prayers in Fagge Mosque in the ancient city. The suspected terrorist was immediately arrested by security operatives following a tip off by the people. The incident occurred at 2pm, even as the authorities beefed up security as a pre-emptive measure against possible breakdown of law and order in the city that had witnessed several bloodbaths in the hands of Boko Haram members.

 In a statement, the Joint Task Force (JTF) spokesman, Lt. Ikedichi Iweha said the foiled attempt to bomb the mosque was part of the latest desperate and despicable tactics employed by the terrorist sect cause public disorder and riots in the name of religion. He stated, ‘this afternoon, 22 June 2012, at about 1400hrs, the attention of the JTF was called by a careful, wonderful Nigerian to a suspicious package at a mosque in Fagge general area just before the Friday prayers.

 “Upon examination, the package turned out to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by terrorists to cause death and grievous harm to worshippers at the Jum’mat prayers, ’Lt Iweha said. He noted that the latest attempt was particularly disturbing in view of the grave havoc it would have had on the fragile peace in Kano and the disruption of economic activities it would have brought with it. He said the discovery was equally disturbing, in view of the recent events in parts of neighbouring Kaduna State.

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WE WILL CONTINUE K*LLING FOR GOD –Dying Boko Haram Bomber

A suicide bomber working for the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, who was mistakenly blown off by the same explosive device he wanted to use to k*ll Christians on Tuesday, boldly asserted on his deathbed that they are doing "God’s work and will continue". Newsmen gathered that the late suicide bomber had travelled by public transport for more than 393 km with the bomb from Yola, Adamawa State to Bauchi

 He was said to have concealed the bomb in his backpack. "On June 19, at about 5.05pm, an anonymous caller informed the Divisional Police Officer, Township, Bauchi, that there was an explosion opposite ANPP Secretariat along Gombe road, Bauchi. “The police went to the scene and on arrival, a young man was found at the scene seriously injured. Upon search by the police bomb experts, it was discovered that the unidentified man was hit by an improvised explosive device he was carrying. “We recovered one revolver pistol and five rounds of life ammunition on him... The bomber was rushed to the ATBUTH but died in the course of treatment. Before his d*ath, the suicide bomber confirmed that he was member of Boko Haram Islamic sect," the police said in a statement by the state PRO, Idris Abubakar

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We were told Boko Haram would attack on Sunday – Victims

Christian leaders in the ancient city of Zaria, Kaduna State, where suicide bombers attacked two churches on Sunday, said they had a premonition of the attack. Secretary of the Second ECWA Church, one of the churches that were bombed, Rev. Chris Dariya, told Governor Patrick Yakowa, who visited the affected churches on Tuesday that they got information that the Boko Haram sect had perfected plans on Friday to bomb the churches on Sunday. 

He said the leaders were surprised that on Saturday, the military personnel that were attached to the church were withdrawn. According to the cleric, not wanting to be confrontational with the soldiers, he had to let them be. “We were baffled why the soldiers that have been stationed here for quite some time were eventually pulled out only for the church to be hit the following day,” he said. While saying that as christians, they had forgiven the perpetrators of the heinous act, he noted that about 200 children at the Sunday School, when the explosion took place, escaped unhurt.

  He said, “We were cautioned on the fact that Boko Haram were already in Zaria. We heard vividly that there was a meeting on Friday and the Chairmen and secretaries of CAN Zone 1 were actually invited for a meeting. We were told that Boko Haram were already in Zaria and they were going to strike this Sunday. “There were soldiers that were actually patrolling and guarding the area. I saw them parking their things and I drove there and asked two of them what was happening and what we heard which I am sure they heard too. “I was told that the community was disturbing them and that was why they have to move.

 I told them that it was not the community that kept them here, but the government. But they told me they were ordered, but I don’t know where the order came from.” Yakowa noted that if the state was peaceful, the entire country would enjoy peace. According to him, whatever happens to the state will have negative impact on the nation. “If Kaduna state has peace, Nigeria would be at peace. We have been told time without number, anything that happens in Kaduna has repercussion throughout this country,” he said. Meanwhile, the Army authorities denied claims by the Second ECWA Church, Wusasa that they withdrew soldiers at a checkpoint in the church. 

 Commandant of the Depot Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Hussaini Salihu, said the claim was false as there was never a time a military post was stationed at a particular location around the church. Salihu, who said this in a telephone interview noted that the church in question never applied for soldiers to guard them, adding that as part of a routine check, soldiers from the Depot Command usually patrol the entire Zaria and its environs.

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Damaturu, Kaduna under 24-Hour Curfew

Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, and Kaduna State were shut down Tuesday following attacks by Boko Haram and reprisals by irate youths, respectively. The Yobe State Government imposed a 24-hour curfew on Damaturu where suspected members of Boko Haram engaged soldiers in a protracted gun duel on Monday night. Its Kaduna State counterpart was also forced to restore the 24-hour curfew it had relaxed on Monday to a dusk-to-dawn embargo on movement, following spiralling reprisals yesterday that trailed Sunday’s bombings of three churches in Kaduna and Zaria. 

 Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Press Affairs and Information, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, ordered residents of Damaturu to stay indoors all day in view of the security situation in the state. It was gathered that the terrorist group had attacked security agents on Monday night in a bid to free some of their leaders who were arrested during a recent clampdown on Boko Haram members. The police confirmed that three policemen were killed in coordinated attacks by the Boko Haram sect in Damaturu. Although the Police Commissioner in the state, Mr. Patrick Egbuniwe, said four other police officers had been wounded in more than five hours of attacks, he did not give any detail about casualties from the side of the Islamic fundamentalists or civilians.

 He told journalists that the police had not ascertained the number of civilian casualties and that his men had intensified their joint patrol with other security agencies to restore normalcy. Some residents who spoke to Our correspondent, however, said scores were k*lled in the attacks which lasted until the early hours of yesterday. One of the residents said he saw more than 10 bodies on the streets at 8am Tuesday. Another source confirmed that he saw many bodies being ferried to the General Hospital, Damaturu, and that many funeral services were held at the various burial grounds in the city between 10 am and 2 pm Tuesday.

 In response to the long-drawn attack on Damturu, Monday, the governor, according to the statement, directed all residents of the state capital to keep away from the streets to allow officers and men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and other security agencies continue with their efforts at restoring peace and protecting lives and property. “The 24-hour curfew directive is for Damaturu metropolis only. Restriction of movement for other parts of the state, except Potiskum town, remains from 10 pm to 6 am daily. Restriction of movement in Potiskum town remains from 6 pm to 6 am daily,” the government stated. The governor urged the residents to assist the JTF and other security agencies in their efforts at restoring normalcy in the state as he called for prayers for the state and Nigeria in this trying period. 

 In Kaduna, hopes by residents for some semblance of normalcy yesterday after the government had reduced the duration of the curfew in the state from dusk-to-dawn were dashed as the government restored the 24-hour restriction on movement that it had imposed on the state on Sunday. The state government, while announcing the re-imposition of the 24-hour curfew, said in a statement by Mr. Reuben Buhari, media aide to the governor, Ibrahim Yakowa, that the decision was based on emerging security challenges in the state. “In view of new security challenges that came up today (Tuesday), and based on the need to safeguard lives and property of citizens, the state government is hereby re-imposing a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the state. “Consequently, everybody is strongly advised to go back home while security agencies continue with the task of ensuring total peace in the state,” the statement said. 

 It was gathered that the government was forced to rethink its Monday decision following the pandemonium that broke out in some parts of the city as youths regrouped for reprisals. Police sources also revealed that Hausa youths in the Tudun Wada area of the capital city protested against the k*lling of their kindred last Sunday by youths in Sabon-Tasha and Gonin-Gora areas of the southern part of the metropolis. The youths, according to the sources, were insisting that they would avenge the k*llings resulting from the reprisals that followed Sunday’s bombing of three churches in Kaduna and Zaria. The protesting youths were said to have blocked the roads in the area and burnt tyres, a situation that caused panic among residents who started scampering to safety. More soldiers and policemen, however, were deployed in strategic places in Kaduna while patrol teams were seen moving about in the city. A police helicopter was also seen hovering over the city.

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Fresh K*llings Going On In Kaduna, Churches Burnt Again

The information reaching newsmen from Kaduna is very troubling. Sources on ground say Muslim youths have launched counter-reprisal attacks on Christians and Churches, k*lling and burning down churches. A source told Olufamous.com that corpses of innocent Nigerians now littere the Nnamdi Azikiwe Express Way as well as the Kawo area of the city. 

As at the time of posting, four churches have been attacked by the rampaging youths. They are ECWA Churches in Tudun Wada, Tudun Nufawa and Ungwan Mua'azu, as well as JAWOM Church all in Kaduna. The security agencies, now under the command of Vice President Nnamadi Sambo have deployed an helicopter to the Kaduna for air patrol. Kaduna State governor, Patrick Yakowa have also reintroduced a 24-hour curfew in the state.

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Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor Declares War On Boko Haram

Following the last Sunday multiple attacks on three churches in the north, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN's President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has charged Christians all over the nation to be watchful and be ready to defend themselves. The incessant k*lling of Boko Haram in the country has become so alarming to the extent that even the Federal government was told to celebrate the last Independence celebration in a low key, and it happened. 

 The recent explosions targeted at two catholic churches at Wusasa and Yoruba Roads in Kaduna State town, CKC catholic is reportedly hit by many casualties which many put at over hundred. It would be recalled that attacking churches has become a norm for the militant Boko Haram in recent time. Two weeks ago while the nation was greeted with a commercial plane crash in Lagos, church members in Maiduguri, Borno state were also busy counting their looses from d*adly Boko Haram attack. Since the boko Haram attack on churches began on Christmas day, number of d*ad has risen to thousands with many suffered all sort of deformities. President Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has however called on Christians to be vigilant and prepared to defend themselves.

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Christians Are Now Ready To Fight Boko Haram

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-East chapter, has announced that it is now ready to defend its members and retaliate the attacks if the bombing of churches and k*lling of Christians by the Boko Haram sect continues.

CAN Chairman in the zone and Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, while addressing newsmen in Enugu, condemned the latest attacks. “Though Christians have continued to appeal for peace, it seems that the security agencies cannot contain this carnage,” he said.

He disclosed that the leadership of CAN are now convinced that Boko Haram is out to deal with Christians in the North, adding that Christians would no longer remain silent. Chukwuma stated categorically that the ceaseless bombings of churches and killing of innocent Christians would no longer be tolerated.

“It was very unfortunate and embarrassing to hear about the bombing of a church in Plateau, and sadly, it has become a recurrence. We totally condemn the act, and we urge the Federal Government and Muslim leaders to do something about it,” he said.

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Two k*lled, several others injured as gunmen attack church in Borno

It was another black Sunday in Biu local government area of Borno state as gunmen suspected to be members of the Islamist sect Boko Haram attacked EYN Church in Tabra ward , k*lling two worshippers, with several others seriously injured. 

 Our correspondent gathered the incident occurred at exactly 9:00am when the gunmen opened fire on the congregation and immediatly fled the scene.

 A pastor of one of the churches in Biu, who did not want his name in print told our reporter in Maiduguri, that, “I am also a pastor in Biu and I called my colleagues who confirmed that, some gunmen attacked EYN Church during Sunday Service, this morning shooting sporadically, which led to the k*lling of two worshippers with many others injured.”

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