Hostage gives birth as troops kill 15 insurgents, rescue 275 captives

Troops of the Nigerian Army on clearance operations of on Sunday killed fifteen Boko Haram terrorists and rescued 275 persons held hostage by the terrorist group.

Substantial IED materials, weapons and foodstuff were also recovered in the operations.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Kukasheka Usman said :

"Troops of 152 Task Force Battalion in conjunction with troops of Sector 1 of Multinational Joint Task Force yesterday, Sunday 3rd April 2016 carried out clearance operation in suspected hideouts of Boko Haram terrorists around Madawaya general area, cleared an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) making factory, killed 15 terrorists and captured some weapons.

"The troops cleared terrorists in Madawaya, Jere, Kardile, Koujili, Ngenere and Maksamari, as well as Douse, Bembem, Zombulum and Taraji villages. In addition, they recovered several vehicles and motorcycles.

"They also discovered and destroyed the Boko Haram terrorists’ IED making factory at Bula Umara and killed 15 terrorists in the same area. In addition, the troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, 4 fully loaded magazines with 7.62mm ammunitions, 2 power generating sets, welding machines, assorted batteries and solar panels.

Other items recovered include drums of beans and other grains as well as Bandolier. The gallant soldiers also rescued 275 persons held hostage by the Boko Haram terrorists. One interesting thing is that, one of the rescued persons gave birth to a baby boy shortly after their liberation. Both mother and the child are doing fine.

"The troops have continued with their clearance operations to other suspected hideouts of the Boko Haram terrorists in their areas of operations."

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Islamic Movement denies alliance with Boko Haram

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN has denied a report circulating among security agencies that it is planning terrorist attacks in collaboration with insurgent group, Boko Haram.

In a statement issued by its Head of Media, Ibrahim Musa, the IMN described the report as the handiwork of desperate security agencies.

The IMN said that it could not be collaborating with Boko Haram having been victims of the insurgents' attacks themselves.

"We at this moment state categorically that there are no connections or any links whatsoever between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and Boko Haram.

"IMN in the first place is not the creation of any foreign security agencies, which is common with all the various terrorist groups globally.

" It was borne out of the desire of Muslims to live according to the teachings of Islam.

"IMN has been around at least in Nigeria for almost four decades now, with its various educational programmes now commonly known in many Nigerian villages, towns, and cities and with all its activities peacefully and transparently conducted.

"It is the same so-called Boko Haram that bombed our brothers and sisters during an Ashura procession in Potiskum, Yobe state in 2014, and also sent suicide bombers to the Arba’een trek along Kano –Zaria highway killing many innocent people, including women and children. It beats any sane imagination that IMN will now turn to the same group in what the intelligence agents term "strategic alliance."

The IMN went further to reject attempts to link it with terrorism and militant activities.

"Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, our revered leader, has said it many times without number that: 'Our weapon is positive reasoning, truth and good conduct. Guns are for the reckless and foolhardy only. We have been conducting our affairs peacefully, calling people to the truth for the last 36 years. So you cannot come overnight and attribute violence to us that we now resort to killing people. This is impossible. We save lives not kill them,” the statement said.

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Buhari meets 13 year-old Nigerian film maker in America

Photos: President Buhari meets with 13-year-old Nigerian filmmaker and girl-education advocate, Zuriel Oduwole. http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2016/04/photos-president-buhari-meets-with-13.html

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Freeze's open letter to El-Rufai

Freeze writes open letter to El Rufai http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2016/04/freeze-writes-open-letter-to-el-rufai.html

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Army denies story of unruly behavior by troops in Alagarno forest

The Nigerian Army has denied a story published by an online news medium to the effect that the troops that captured Alagarno forest from Boko Haram seized their General Officer Commanding, GOC, Brig Gen V O Ezugwu over shortage of food and water.

In a rejoinder signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman, the Army said that the troops never behaved in the manner described by the publication.

Read the rejoinder below.

HQ Nigerian Army
RE: ANGRY SOLDIERS BLOCK, RELEASE GOC OVER FOOD, WATER SHORTAGE

The attention of the Nigerian Army was drawn to a news story on the online page of Daily Trust newspaper titled “Angry Soldiers Block, Release GOC Over Food, Water Shortage” written by Shehu Abubakar. While acknowledging that indeed troops that captured the strategic forest of Alagarno, experienced some logistics problem that include water shortage, due to some unforeseen circumstances which is normal in war situation, it is not true that the troops behaved in the manner he stated. If Alagarno is truly inaccessible, how did the gallant troops rout out the Boko Haram terrorists in the forest? The concoction of this story and the release of yet another video by some remnants of Boko Haram terrorists could be more than mere coincidence. Therefore, one begin to wonderwhat is the motive behind such false story by the reporter.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, Brigadier General VO Ezugwu indeed visited the troops and also supplied water to them. The GOC did not leave the troops as insinuated. Rather, the troops hailed the GOC for his passion and empathic disposition towards the soldiers. As a matterof fact, he actively participated in clearance operations along Bulablin - Alargano axis with the troops and was with them in their defensive location throughout.

Consequently, the Nigerian Army wishes to request the retraction of this story by the paper and also enjoin reporters to always cross check their facts before filing their stories. They should also understand that misinformation by Boko Haram terrorists and their sympathizers greatly assist their evil activities.

The public is urged to disregard the story and continue to support the Nigerian Army in the fight to end terrorism and insurgency in our beloved country.

You are kindly requested to disseminate this rejoinder to the public through your medium. Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman Acting Director, Army Public Relations

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Social media gossip won't make me sack Pinnick - Minister

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung told newsmen in Abuja that he will not be compelled to sack the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and his board members based on social media gossip.

Dalung said that he would only take a decision after his meeting with the football federation's officials on Tuesday.

“I implement laws based on facts on ground. I cannot use social media gossips as a basis. It is unfortunate not to qualify for AFCON 2017, but I believe we have learnt from our mistakes and hope that such would not repeat itself again. It is true that we need to review some of the country`s football structure. We have to measure up to expectation.

"We are meeting with the leadership of the NFF on Tuesday, to receive a comprehensive report and review the authentic technical reports they would present," he said.

Since the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the AFCON 2017 championship, there have been calls for Amaju Pinnick and his board members to resign from office.

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Club owner gets 10 match ban for slapping goalkeeper

Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, the proprietor of FC Ifeanyi Ubah has been banned from Nigerian Professional Football League, NPFL match venues for ten matches.

Ubah who according to video evidence slapped Heartland FC goalkeeper, Ebele Obi was also ordered to pay a fine of N2.5m.

The League Management Company, LMC in a statement signed by its Head of Special Projects, Harry Iwuala demanded a letter of apology from Ubah in addition to a letter of undertaking to be a good ambassador of Nigerian football.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that the LMC arrived at the decision following its review of video evidence of the incident which occurred immediately after the Match Day 8 fixture at Nnewi between FC IfeanyiUbah and Heartland Football Club of Owerri.

“LMC is now issuing fresh charges against Ubah and is now handing him a fine of N2.5 million, in addition to a 10-match ban from all NPFL venues in a Summary Jurisdiction notice issued Thursday afternoon.

“Relying on the Match Commissioner’s report which did not capture the incident, the LMC had earlier charged Ubah for encroachment on the field of play only.

“But, having received additional evidence that supported a case of assault on goalkeeper Ebele Obi, fresh charges have been drafted.

“Ubah was charged for breach of Rule C1 of the NPFL Rules and Framework for an offence of misconduct, in that immediately after the match he encroached on the field of play and assaulted Obi while his personal security aides further assaulted the player.

“For this, the LMC ruled in an exercise of summary jurisdiction to suspend Ubah from all NPFL match venues for the next 10 matches,’’ the statement said.

NAN also reports that the last four of the 10-match ban have been suspended for a probationary period expiring at the end of the 2015/16 season.

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