A general of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Barr AbdulQadir Abubakar Gumi (rtd), has suggested the direct debating engagement with Boko Haram on its ideology, beliefs and faith-based dogma as a means to ending the sect’s bloodshed in the country.

Gumi, who, until his recent controversial retirement, was the Army’s director of legal services, made this submission in an insightful paper made available to LEADERSHIP, yesterday.

He narrated the story of a certain senior university lecturer (name withheld) who was abducted by Boko Haram and later released after he engaged the sect on its warped and misguided interpretations of Islamic sources.

Gumi sees a proper Islamic engagement of the group’s doctrine through dialogue as the only way out.

According to him, it is important to continue to put pressure on the federal government to value the use of the likes of the university lecturer to academically engage the sect on their ideology and dogma for the common good.

“Conducive atmosphere or environment is required for the desired engagement as well as security cover for all participants to positively complement efforts made so far in the counter-insurgency operations.

‘Such a dialogue will automatically also suspend life and faith in their command structure, fighting spirit, morale and also save fresh recruitments of the vulnerable youths.

AbdulQadir, son of the famous late Islamic cleric and grand khadi of the northern region, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, and brother of Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Mahmud Gumi, lamented the inability of the armed forces to translate on home soil the expertise they had garnered in international peacekeeping campaigns in foreign countries.

‘If our armed forces can offer mediation services under rules of minimum and limited force to foreign countries, why can’t it bring home such expertise between the larger conformist Nigerian Muslim community ahead of a war that has proved less effective?” he wondered

The general called on Muslims to take serious exception when asked to step aside by secular structures in the fight against terrorist activities carried out in the name of Islam.

“Such stepping aside only marginalises the true teachings and sound character of a Muslim to oblivion. Islamic principles insist that converts and Muslims generally should be humble enough to respect the pattern of conveyance, practices and interpretations derived from earliest, inherited and established sources.

“Indications abound that innovative interpretations could also have been introduced by sinister sources outside the Islamic fold to have helped the Boko Haram firm up their compulsive propagation methods.

“Considering the age brackets of the youths involved, it could be revealing to also explore the uses, availability and sources of illicit drugs and intoxicants in and around the infested areas along with the sources of arms and ammunition supply to the sect.”



Explosion kills 37, injures 23 at Biu checkpoint attack

At least 37 persons have been confirmed dead and 23 others injured in an explosion at a military checkpoint at a road that leads to Biu town in southern Borno State.

Soldiers on duty had tried to stop a bus carrying armed men and improvised explosives, witnesses and security sources said. Among those killed in the explosion were travellers and children hawking wares.

An operative of the local youth vigilante, a.k.a. Civilian-JTF, said the bus that exploded was exactly the type that the suicide bomber used to kill seven traders and injure a score of others in the town’s market five days back.

At the eastern entrance to Biu, soldiers mounted a major checkpoint that causes motorists to form long queues, with passengers having to get off their vehicles and walk past for checking.

LEADERSHIP learnt that a Boko Haram member pretending to be a harmless traveller had a grenade in his hand as he joined other passengers to raise his hands when passing through the military checkpoint.

LEADERSHIP learnt that an eagle-eyed operative of the Civilian-JTF was quick to spot him – as he tried to pull out the safety pin of the grenade – and quickly took a shot with his double-barrel rifle and hit him in the head. But it was too late as the grenade had already been activated even as the man slumped, killing some of the passengers and the insurgent’s other gang members who had not alighted from their vehicles.

The blast from the grenade caused two more explosions from the car filled with armed Boko Haram terrorists, killing all of them.

A Civilian-JTF operative, Muhammed Miringa, who saw it all said: “It was at the checkpoint; a bus filled with explosives and about 10 passengers came to the checkpoint at the outskirts of Biu. The normal tradition is for passengers to come down, raise their hands and walk through the checkpoint with the soldiers watching.

“But when this particular bus arrived, a passenger came down from the front seat and raised his hands as others were doing when passing through the checkpoint, but a smart Civilian-JTF operative had spotted that the man had a grenade in his hand and was trying to pull out the safety pin. The Civilian-JTF who had a double-barrel rifle with him quickly shot him in the head. The Boko Haram man fell back towards the bus and the grenade went off and caused the car and other passengers inside to blow up. Some other explosives in the car, too, exploded as well.

“Some other members of the Boko Haram who were also in a vehicle behind began to shoot and the driver of that car managed to reverse and tried to escape with other terrorists, but the soldiers continued to engage them.

Another Civilian-JTF operative, Musa Madu, said he was lucky to be a little far from the vehicle when it exploded.

“Everything happened within seconds,” he said. “We had to flee because the atmosphere was too dangerous to stay close and bullets were flying everywhere; but I saw many bodies, especially of children hawking peanut cakes and oranges near the military checkpoint.”

He further narrated that while the operatives were busy attending to the injured, another group of the Boko Haram terrorists tried to attack from another part of the town but soldiers were able to repel them and kill many of them.

“That was why we have about 17 of them killed in the two attacks,” he said.

Muhammed Miringa, the Civilian-JTF operative, who had helped in evacuating victims, said those killed in the blast and brought to the hospital were 19 in total, comprising the children hawking wares and travellers, and a female member of the Civilian-JTF who had died in the blast.

“We have 23 injured ones. About 17 Boko Haram members were killed, some in the exploded bus, and their bodies were battered beyond recognition. Some others were killed in the shootout.

“In total, we have 37 dead casualties, comprising 20 innocent persons and 17 Boko Haram terrorists,” Miringa stated.

A top security officer in Maiduguri, who confirmed the incident to journalists but asked not to be mentioned in this report, said: “From what my officers there told me, about nine innocent person were killed in the blast, while most of the Boko Haram terrorists got killed in the blast.”



Bomber attacks restaurant, kills 3 in Potiskum

A suicide bomber blew himself up in a restaurant in Potiskum, Yobe State, killing three persons and wounding 12 others, a hospital source told Reuters news agency.

The town has frequently been attacked by Boko Haram militant group.

Earlier yesterday, witnesses reported that Boko Haram fighters stormed Askira Uba in Borno State and burned down houses to ashes.

Fleeing residents said militants first raided Askira Uba in Borno State on Sunday, torching the home of the city’s top official. Cameroon’s military yesterday confirmed that their soldiers were killed during a “series of clashes” with the militants on Monday.

Also yesterday, commander of U.S. Special Forces Operations in Africa, James Linder, told the Reuters news agency that the United States will provide communications equipment and intelligence to the fight against Boko Haram.



Thousands march in support of Niger army

Tens of thousands of Nigerien citizens marched through Niger’s capital, Niamey, to support the country’s military following a series of attacks along the border with Nigeria carried out by Boko Haram militants.

In raids that included suicide bombings, Boko Haram, which is seeking to carve an Islamist emirate in the northeast, repeatedly struck Diffa region in Niger Republic earlier this month, killing residents and forcing thousands to flee.

Organisers told Reuters news agency that up to 35,000 people took part in yesterday’s demonstration, which saw Prime Minister Brigi Rafini and other government officials lead a march that ended in a mass rally in front of the parliament building.

“Boko Haram attacked us and you don’t attack Niger with impunity. Today’s support for the armed forces must be permanent,” the country’s president, Mahamadou Issoufou told the crowds. “If Allah wills it, Niger will be Boko Haram’s tomb,” he said.

Marchers chanted, “All united against Boko Haram” and carried signs or wore t-shirts bearing slogans including “Our army, our pride.”



Niger police arrest 160 suspected Boko Haram militants

Authorities of Niger Republic has said that they arrested 160 suspected Boko Haram militants allegedly involved in deadly attacks near that country’s border with Nigeria.

The country’s police spokesman, Adil Doro told CNN in Niamey, Niger Republic, that the arrests happened over the last two days in Niger’s Diffa region, which borders Nigeria.

“The suspects taken into custody include Kaka Bunu, who was involved in the recruitment of (Boko Haram) members,” Doro said.

Members of the Nigerien police’s anti-terrorism unit are interrogating the suspects, all of them Niger citizens.



1,000 Boko Haram fighters in Cameroon jails

Meanwhile, Cameroon is holding hundreds of suspected Boko Haram militants in prisons in its Far North Region.

Commander of Cameroon’s special military operation targeting terrorists, Col. Joseph Nouma, said that more than 1,000 alleged terrorists are in custody in the central prison in Maroua town.

Nouma said his forces squared off with Boko Haram fighters and beat them decisively.

“The battle in Gnam-Gnam, which is 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) from the Nigerian border, began when Cameroonian soldiers on a reconnaissance mission “were ambushed by the terrorists,” Col. Nouma said.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/02/how-to-break-boko-haram-gen-gumi.html

http://leadership.ng/news/412320/how-to-break-boko-haram-gen-gumi

No Time for all this Crap.. We would crush those Bastards and send them to Hell

Having successfully destroying PDP. OBJ must be enjoying all the political affection and attention he is getting at the moment. I am just worried that OBJ and Tinubu who couldn't see eye to eye a few years ago are now best of pals singing the same song and somehow Atiku and OBJ, two sworn enemies are in the same camp endorsing a man they jointly defeated in the 2003 polls. I am confused about this kind of change where corrupt ex presidents and VP implicated in the Haliburton scam are also shouting corruption. The same Haliburton scandal that fetched a US congressman jail time. I can still stomach Buhari but the presence of these guys back in the presidency makes me jittery: Atiku, OBJ and Tinubu all in one group. Beware of this sophisticated pimps. I believe they joined the change train to protect their investments and interest. Nigerians shine your eyes, this isn't change, this is continuation. This is the reason we must be careful about politician, they become united when they smell power and money. Our participation is all they need not our contribution.
Buhari though disciplined to an extent cannot do it alone at that age. Nigeria is a lot more volatile and complex than what it used to be in the early 80s. These are the guys to advice him and place people into positions that matter. May we eventually get the change we actually wished for. Before you join them in heating up the polity ensure you get a guarantee from them that they, their children, wives, friends who have benefited from them would be the first line of defence while we follow from a distance. If they are so passionate about this democracy and want to show their full commitment then they must lead by example starting from the battle field. Since they love us so much then they must show it first by leading any protest that may occur as a result of any anomalies from the forthcoming election. Jonathan might join APC tomorrow and he would be welcomed with pomp and pageantry. Do not lose sleep or your life over them, they are only doing their jobs. Remember 3 million people died in the Civil war, there are no monuments to even recognise or appreciate the blood they sacrificed for Nigeria which unfortunately is still a country not a nation. The seams joining us are bursting at the hems due to the magnanimity and genourosity of our politician preaching division and hate. Please protect your life. Do not promote or encourage violence, Nigerians will suffer most.

dealslip:
[s]Having successfully destroying PDP. OBJ must be enjoying all the political affection and attention he is getting at the moment. I am just worried that OBJ and Tinubu who couldn't see eye to eye a few years ago are now best of pals singing the same song and somehow Atiku and OBJ, two sworn enemies are in the same camp endorsing a man they jointly defeated in the 2003 polls. I am confused about this kind of change where corrupt ex presidents and VP implicated in the Haliburton scam are also shouting corruption. The same Haliburton scandal that fetched a US congressman jail time. I can still stomach Buhari but the presence of these guys back in the presidency makes me jittery: Atiku, OBJ and Tinubu all in one group. Beware of this sophisticated pimps. I believe they joined the change train to protect their investments and interest. Nigerians shine your eyes, this isn't change, this is continuation. This is the reason we must be careful about politician, they become united when they smell power and money. Our participation is all they need not our contribution.
Buhari though disciplined to an extent cannot do it alone at that age. Nigeria is a lot more volatile and complex than what it used to be in the early 80s. These are the guys to advice him and place people into positions that matter. May we eventually get the change we actually wished for. Before you join them in heating up the polity ensure you get a guarantee from them that they, their children, wives, friends who have benefited from them would be the first line of defence while we follow from a distance. If they are so passionate about this democracy and want to show their full commitment then they must lead by example starting from the battle field. Since they love us so much then they must show it first by leading any protest that may occur as a result of any anomalies from the forthcoming election. Jonathan might join APC tomorrow and he would be welcomed with pomp and pageantry. Do not lose sleep or your life over them, they are only doing their jobs. Remember 3 million people died in the Civil war, there are no monuments to even recognise or appreciate the blood they sacrificed for Nigeria which unfortunately is still a country not a nation. The seams joining us are bursting at the hems due to the magnanimity and genourosity of our politician preaching division and hate. Please protect your life. Do not promote or encourage violence, Nigerians will suffer most.

[/s]

Pls read d topic b4 posting. Must u post dis trash on every topic on Nairaland?. U don't even read topics b4 pasting dis rubbish. smh