REPORTS - Boko Haram attacks Maiduguri mosque, kills 11

Eleven persons have been confirmed dead after suspected members of the Boko Haram sect attacked a mosque in Kushari village in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, today Saturday, February 16th.

The commissioner of police in the state, Damian Chukwu, who confirmed the incident, said two suicide bombers accompanied by a gunman infiltrated the mosque.
Although the sect has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of writing this, Nigerians on social media have bemoaned the ever stinging presence of the dangerous sect in the North-Eastern State.

Via Yabaleftonline

Army holds private burial ceremony for dozens of soldiers killed by Boko Haram

The number of slain soldiers to be buried during the private ceremony on Friday is unknown.

Soldiers who were killed by terrorist group, Boko Haram, in the troubled northeast region will be buried by the Nigerian Army in a private ceremony scheduled to be held in Maiduguri, Borno State on Friday, December 14, 2018.
According to a report by The Punch, the soldiers were those killed during a terrorist attack on the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele » in Guzamala local government area of Borno on November 18.
Even though many reports indicated that over 100 soldiers were killed in the attack, with many others missing, the Army disclosed in a statement that 23 soldiers were killed » with 31 others injured.

However, according to one of the widows of the officers who spoke to The Punch, the number of soldiers to be buried during the private ceremony is unknown.
"I was invited for the burial of my husband with a few others this Friday in Maiduguri. Sincerely, we don't even know how many will be buried and the army is not giving us any information," she said.
A colonel who spoke to The Punch reported that the ceremony has been made private to conceal the real figure of casualties from the attack.
He said, "General Buratai said only 23 soldiers were killed in the attack. He also put the number of troops wounded in action at 31. However, we all know that is not true. Over 100 were killed and a private burial is now being organised in order not to expose their lies."
Around the time of the Metele attack, terrorists also staged a series of attacks on Nigerian Army troops » between November 2 and November 17 with 16 soldiers killed and 12 injured.
The attacks took place in Kukawa , Ngoshe , Kareto and
Gajiram, all in Borno, but were 'successfully repelled' by troops who killed 'several members' of the terrorist group.

Many of the attacks were credited to Boko Haram faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) , who has renewed assaults on military bases in 2018.
The attacks have given rise to public outcry over
President Muhammadu Buhari 's handling of the terrorist group after his administration had made several claims that the group was 'technically defeated'.
When he recently spoke at the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference in Maiduguri, the president urged the Army to remain committed to defeating Boko Haram.

Via Pulse.ng

Exclusive Report - Nigeria's 12 Tucano jets to fight Boko Haram won't be ready until 2024

The Nigerian government won't receive the 12 A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets it paid the United States government the sum of $469.4 million for until 2024.

2020 had been set as the initial delivery date of the jets but that has now been extended by four years.

President Muhammadu Buhari had controversially withdrawn the sum in question from the excess crude account, without the initial approval of the National Assembly, for the procurement of the jets which the government hopes will improve national security and help in its fight against terrorist group, Boko Haram.

Even though the delivery date was reported to be set for 2020, the United States Department of Defence has revealed that the fighter jets won't be ready for delivery till 2024.

The Defence Department announced on Wednessday, November 28 that the contract for the jets has been awarded to Sierra Nevada Corporation. The contract, worth $329 million, includes Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) systems installed in six of the aircrafts.
The contract also provides for ground training equipment, mission planning systems, mission debrief systems, spares, ground support equipment and support services for personnel of the Nigeria Air Force.

The manufacturing of the fighter jets will take place in Jacksonville, Florida, according to the Department of Defence.
The late delivery date of the jets had previously nearly stalled the deal and the new date is expected to create further friction, especially with a resurgence in Boko Haram's activities in the northeast region.
Boko Haram's troubling resurgence
12 days ago, terrorists belonging to Boko Haram faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) , overran the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele » village in Guzamala local government area of Borno during an attack on November 18.

Even though many reports indicated that over 100 soldiers were killed in the attack with many others missing, the Army disclosed in a statement on Wednesday, November 28, that 23 soldiers were killed » with 31 others injured.
The statement also revealed that terrorists staged a series of attacks on Nigerian troops » between November 2 and November 17. The attacks took place in Kukawa, Ngoshe , Kareto and Gajiram, all in Borno, but were 'successfully repelled' by troops who killed 'several members' of the terrorist group. However, 16 soldiers were killed in the attacks while 12 were injured.
The Army also noted that despite systematically degrading Boko Haram in the past three years, the terrorists are staging a resurgence with daring moves that include the increased use of drones against troops' defensive positions and infusion of foreign fighters in their ranks.
Eliminate Boko Haram 'from face of the earth'
President Buhari was in Maiduguri, Borno State on Wednesday to declare open the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference » as the guest of honour.
While delivering his speech, the president charged the military's leadership to ensure that their plans and programmes meet the nation's security challenges. He also urged the Army to remain committed to defeating Boko Haram.
"I want to encourage our troops not to be distracted by whatever speculations but remain focused and committed to the task of eliminating

Via Pulse.ng
Boko Haram from the face of the earth," he said.
He said security remains one of the cardinal objectives of his administration and promised that no effort will be spared to support troops, including reviewing their welfare package.
"I want to assure you that, as your commander in chief, I will do everything within my powers to continue empowering you by providing all the necessary equipment for you to prevail on the field.
"I also want you to be aware that I'm currently looking into measures to improve your entitlements and welfare generally," he said.

Boko Haram Uses Drones, Mercenaries – Chief of Army Staff, Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has given an account of military losses in recent weeks to Boko Haram terrorists and at the same time made a chilling revelation that the insurgents have gone hi-tech in fighting Nigerian soldiers.

He revealed that the Boko Haram insurgents now use drones and mercenaries to attack troops’ formations in the northeast.
A statement signed by Brig. Gen. Sani Kukasheka, on behalf of Buratai and issued on Wednesday said the trend pose threats which require review of military operations against the insurgents.

“Since 2015; the Nigerian Army in conjunction with sister services and other security agencies have systematically degraded the capabilities and capacity of Boko Haram terrorists and many successes were achieved.
“However, in the last two to three months, we have noticed daring moves by the terrorists, increased use of drones against our defensive positions and infusion of foreign fighters in their ranks. These potent threats require us to continually review our operations”.
Buratai disclosed that 39 soldiers were killed and 43 others wounded in multiple attacks coordinated by Boko Haram insurgents on various military locations in the past few weeks.
He disclosed that insurgents attacked Kukawa, Ngoshe, Kareto, Gajiram and Metele military locations between Nov. 2 and 18, adding that they were successfully repelled by the gallant troops and several insurgents killed.
“In recent weeks, Nigerian troops deployed in the North East of Nigeria under Operation LAFIYA DOLE have come under series of attacks by large numbers of Boko Haram Terrorists.
“Specifically; the Nigerian Army troops deployed at Kukawa, Ngoshe, Kareto and Gajiram came under attack at different times within a two-week period between November 2 and 17, 2018. Each of these incidents was successfully repelled and several members of the terrorists killed.

“However, a total of 16 personnel were killed in the course of these attacks while 12 soldiers wounded in action and are receiving treatment at our military medical facilities.
“As you are all aware, Nigeria is contributing troops to the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) which has its headquarters in N’djamena, Chad. One of the Nigerian battalions; 157 Task Force Battalion, deployed under the auspices of the MNJTF was attacked at their base on the outskirts of a town called METELE on November 18, 2018.

“During the attack, the troops were forced to withdraw and several casualties were recorded. As at date 23 personnel were killed in action and 31 personnel wounded and have been evacuated to several medical hospitals within Borno State,” Buratai said.

[Marcus Hicks] Boko Haram is the most lethal terror group in the world - US General

Maj. Gen. Marcus Hicks , the Commander of the United States’ Special Operations Command Africa has described Boko Haram as the most lethal terror organisation in the world despite claims by the federal government that the extremist group had been significantly degraded and technically defeated.

The issue of Boko Haram’s power came up at a press briefing held in the US during the week on anti-terror efforts of the US government and made available to Thisday by the US embassy.

The military commander spoke on US efforts to reinforce development, diplomacy, and defence, including the Flintlock, an annual exercise in Africa, and noted that the US had shifted its focus of training from tactical proficiency of small units to command and control of joint forces.

“Likewise, we have participants from the Multinational Joint Headquarters in N’Djamena that address the threats of ISIS West Africa, which is really in North-eastern Nigeria, and Boko Haram, its predecessor….which is the most lethal terrorist organisation in the world, in Lake Chad,” General Hicks remarked.
When asked why Nigeria and other African nations are so important to the US, the American Ambassador to Niger, Eric Whitaker, at the conference said: “I think Africa is important to US’ national security for a variety of reasons. We have a long, historic relationship with the African continent and its 54 countries, keeping in mind that no less than 13 per cent of our US population derives from the mother continent.

Africa, a continent of over 1 billion residents, is a continent with which we have important relationships, whether it’s in diplomacy, development, or defence for several decades now.

“We wish to expand trade with these countries, including through the AGOA, the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, to help countries develop their economies through trade. We also have humanitarian assistance to help countries who have food insecurity situations, for example.” Hicks added that the training focused on members of the G5 Sahel and the Multinational Joint Task Force, around Lake Chad with eye on Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa.

Speaking further, he said: “We hope and plan to exercise command and control over tactical units at the joint multinational headquarters, which will be located in Agadez, and this will be the first year that Flintlock’s training audience will actually exercise command and control over tactical units in a scenario.

The scenarios will be based on real-world threats of the violent extremist organisations currently threatening our partner nations in the greater Sahel…. We also believe in the D3 approach, and as we bring a defence aspect to enable diplomacy and development, we also bring in training our African partners in military information support operations in order to counter the extremist messaging and to promote defection from extremist organisations.”