National Trail Newspaers

• Authorities Caught Napping As Sect Unleashes Terror, Kills 278 In Borno
• Sect’s Resurgence Embarrassing To Buhari’s Govt- Shehu
• We Are On Top Of The Situation, Boko Haram Weakened – Military

The Nigerian Military seems to have underestimated the residual strength of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, and may have been in a rush in announcing its achievements, as recent events indicate that, Boko Haram is not only still lethal, but has the capacity to Cause further mischief, as the sect fights back even in the face of obvious defeat.
nationalTRAIl reports that, barely a week after the military authorities took stock of its various conquests over Boko Haram, in which they attempted to convince Nigerians that the nine years old war is almost over, the insurgents struck in several places, as if announcing their seeming omnipresence.
In the last one week, the sect has been unleashing havoc on Borno and Adamawa states, with the latest sack of Dalori and other satellite towns, including chibok, Wanori, Ngomari and some settlements around the University of Maiduguri, pn Borno State, as well as Gombi, in Adamawa State, in which not less than 278 people have been reported to have perished.
There was general panic in Maiduguri last Saturday when news filtered in that the insurgents were mobilizing to overrun the city, even as people fled the campus out of fear that the university may the next target of attack given its proximity to the areas already being attacked.
Our correspondent further reports that, even with assurances from the Military, that the situation was under control and that the insurgents could not proceed beyond the five areas, fears were still palpable on the faces of Maiduguri residents, most of whom spent the night keeping vigil around their areas.
In a seeming defeatist tone, occasioned by the renewed activities of the Boko Haram sect in the North east generally, which he promised to wipe out in three months of his administration, President Muhammadu Buhari admitted that his government has been embarrassed by its inability to curb the insurgency eight months after taking over the mantle of leadership of the country.
Buhari who spoke against the backdrop of plethora of suicide bombings in Chibok market, Dolari Internally Displaced Person’s (IDP) camp and other locations in Borno State and the Gombi market bombing in Adamawa State recently, said that the insurgents had become more desperate explaining that the recent bombings were attempts to gain public
Boko Haram Fights Back In Defeat sympathy and attention having suffered terribly in the hands of Nigerian military.
However, despite these renewed killings, Buhari insists that the terrorists had been rendered weak, confused and homeless after repeated bombings and ravaging of their camps and hide outs by the military, forcing them to find their way back into the society to wreak havoc, like the case of the Dolari IDP’s camp.
According to the President, the materials for the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were locally sourced by the insurgents just as he urged Nigerians especially residents of the north-east region to be more vigilant and circumspect.
“Having lost the war, they are seeking ways and means to gradually find their way back into society. They are not returning to contribute but to cause more havoc. They are so desperate to embarrass the government and the people that they have no qualms attacking isolated communities and markets.
“I urge all citizens wherever they live to own the war against terror and to be part of the fight because it is the only way we can finish the remaining work that needs to be done to make our country safe again,” worried Buhari said.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu President Buhari “extended his condolences to all the people of Chibok, Gombi and Dolari who lost loved ones in the recent attacks and prayed that the Almighty God will comfort them and grant the injured persons quick recovery.”
Meanwhile , residents Dalori Village who came to claim their corpses at the State Specialist hospital in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital revealed how their village was attacked by the dreaded Islamic Sect on Saturday evening killing scores of people, before setting their houses on fire. According to them, the militants arrived the area at exactly 6:10 pm, just when people were preparing to say the maghrib prayers, and started shooting sporadically as they advanced.
A nurse at the State Specialist hospital confirmed that their facilities are being overstretched as the casualty figure has continued to rise with more corpses being recovered from the bush around the village, even as survivors have been trooping into Maiduguri to seek refuge and to identify their relations, whose corpses may have been brought to the hospital.
Umar Kachallah, a relation to one of the victims told Our Correspondent at the hospital on Sunday that, the insurgents killed some soldiers and members of the Civilian JTF at a road block close to their village before them moving into Dalori, stressing that the exact casualty figure may never be known as nobody can go to the area now.
Narrating how it happened, Kachallah said, “We all ran into our houses, mother came and started burning the house, if you come out they would shoot you but the fire would also burn you if you stay inside, so most of us dash out running. We escape but many of us were killed in the process. There was no security or military that came to our rescue because they were attacked first and did not get additional people until the Boko Haram left.”
He said, pointing to the corpses at the State Specialists hospital, “this is my brother Mallum Goni Kachallah, this is his wife Hussaina. They killed them. Come this is my wife and our child” He Sobs, “We did not do anything to this people, and they came and burnt my family and kill everybody”
Our correspondent also reports that people have lost count of the corpses being brought in from the scenes of the attack, with many of them taken to other health centres for lack of space at the state specialist hospital.
When Our Correspondent started taking photographs, of the Corpses hospital officials at the Morgue stopped him and asked him to go and obtain permission from the military who were stationed at the hospital gate and asked the hospital not to allow press access to photograph the corpses.
Speaking to one of the Soldiers at the hospital gate, he told Our Correspondent that, “We can only allow you to see but no pictures, that is the order given to us and you would not want us violating the orders for your sake. Keep your iPad in the car and go and see the corpses” the soldier said politely.
By then he had already two pictures, which he was allowed to go with a promise not to expose further. Getting back to the morgue our correspondent noticed that more people had arrived and were inspecting the corpses for possible identification and recovery of their own relations.
Ma’aji Bukar, one of the relations of three victims of the attack told Our Correspondent that the insurgents came with Six Toyota Hilux Vehicles and more than 25 motorcycles, moving from village to village, including, Wanori, Ngomari Karikari, Kofa and Dalori, killing randomly.
About 30 of the victims were killed in a Mosque at Ngomari Karikari, as they got set for the mahgrib prayers, over 50 killed at Kofa and over 50 also at Wanori villages. Some of the attacks were suicide bombers while that of Dalori is mostly gunshots as well as those killed in the flames. Our people at Kofa village told us that it was the Soldiers that prevented them from running away during the attack, he said.
A statement from the Operation Lafiya Dole confirmed the attacks, saying, “in their desperate efforts for reprisal attacks on strong, determined and committed members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and innocent citizen, yesterday 30 January 2016 BHT insurgent launched attacked Dalori through Yale from (rear of Dalori village)”.
The Military said the insurgents, according to an eye witnessed came in two Golf cars, motorcycles, and not Toyota Hilux vehicles as narrated by the villagers, and started opening fire and burning houses; their motive was to cause rancour and penetrate crowd with suicide bombers. This much was the case when people were running for their dear lives to Gomari Kerkeri village three female suicide bombers attempted to make their way into the crowd but were intercepted and subsequently got blown up.
“During the incident lives were lost while some people sustained injuries. The insurgents also attempted to penetrate Dalori IDP camp, but the attempt was resisted by the troop which resulted into detonation of IED by the suicide bombers”, the Military explained.
Theater commander Operation Lafiya Dole Major General Hassan Umaru had since paid condolence visit to the District Head of Dalori Alh Lawal Bashir and entire dwellers for the unfortunate incident, he was said to have obtained first hand details of the attack.
He assured the people of Theatre’s commitment in bring insurgency to an end soon, even as he commended the villagers for their resilience and urged them to be strong and committed in the fight against insurgency.
Earlier in Buma village, along the Maiduguri Damaturu road, at least four members of Civilian Joint Task Force and another Volunteer civilian were killed along while four others sustained injuries when a Toyota Hilux patrol vehicle rammed into landmines/ Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) suspected to have been planted by members of dreaded Boko Haram terrorists.
Buma village is 15 kilometres drive from troubled Ngamdu District of Kaga Local Government Area of Borno state. Benishiek headquarters of Kaga which is south west and about 85 kilometres drive from Maiduguri, the state capital, has remained a black spot for Boko Haram attacks in recent times.
Our Correspondent gathered from reliable source that the occupants of the ill fated vehicle were on patrol before stepping on the planted IEDs which exploded living 5 members of the Civilian JTF including a Volunteer dead, while four of the injured ones were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Our correspondent who passed the route reports that, already, the dead victims have been buried according to Islamic rite, while two of those who sustained severe injuries have been rushed to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, having lost too much blood.
All effort to get confirmation from the Police Public Relations Officer of the Borno state Command, Mr. Victor Isuku proved abortive as his phone lines were not accessible at press time.

Senators Uba, Omisore, Obanikoro,Ex-service Chiefs As Conspirators – PDP Scribe

It was a can of worms last Sunday, following damning revelations by the Secretary of the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Temitope Aluko who gave a blow to blow account of how the military was used to rig the 2014 Ekiti State governorship election, thus paving way for Ayodele Fayose’s victory.
Aluko, who also was the Chief Returning Officer and signed the results for the election disclosed how former President Goodluck Jonathan, gave Fayose $37 million cash to prosecute the governorship election.
Not bothered that he was part of the alleged irregularities and scheming, Aluko in Abuja, noted that he was making the revelations because Fayose betrayed him and derailed from the original plan they had for the development of the state.
Aluko had also testified in camera before the military panel that investigated the role of the military in the Ekiti election.
According to Aluko, who said he was part Fayose’s inner caucus during the election, alleged that Jonathan initially gave the incumbent Ekiti governor a first tranche of $2 million in March 2014 for the primary election.
He noted that this cash was collected at the NNPC headquarters in Abuja and was taken to Fayose’s private house, in Abuja before it was moved to Ekiti.
“Immediately after the primary election, we collected another $35 million from Jonathan on June 17, 2014. The money was brought to us by the former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.
“We all assembled at the front office of Spotless Hotel, Ado Ekiti, owned by Fayose. Thereafter, the cash was taken to a Bureau De Change in Onitsha where it was converted to N4.7 billion”, Aluko added.
Aluko, further alleged that Fayose received about N3 billion cash from Sen. Buruji Kashamu in 2013 to revive the PDP in Ekiti State.
Aluko who also gave account on how the military was used to win the election said “the former President agreed with Fayose and summoned a security meeting at the Presidential Villa for the purpose of the election.
“Those at the meeting were the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh; then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimmah; and former National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.
“Others included Fayose, Senator Iyiola Omisore, then Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan and Obanikoro.
“At that meeting, the former President made it clear to the ex Chief of Defence Staff that Fayose would stand for him (as Commander-In-Chief) in terms of providing security for the election”.
Aluko alleged that Fayose, relying on Jonathan’s directive, approached the former Commander of the Army Brigade in Akure, Brig. Gen. Dikko to take charge of the election for the PDP, who refused to cooperate and was replaced after a petition was filed against him.
“But Gen. Dikko did not give us audience. He stated bluntly that he would not be available for such operation. So, Fayose sponsored a petition against him which led to his replacement with Brig. Gen. Aliyu Momoh who was amenable to our plans”.
Aluko alleged that a total of 64 PDP stalwarts were picked, who had knowledge of their local governors were picked to help with information on opposition members.
“They gave detailed information regarding names and locations of opposition members in all the local governments, the various routes, areas of strength and weaknesses of the PDP in the 16 local governments.
“Today, most of these 64 hatchet men are members of the Senate, House of Representatives, state House of Assembly, commissioners, local government chairmen, special advisers and the rest”, Aluko said.
He continued, “We went into the election with 1040 recognised soldiers and another batch of 400 un-recognised soldiers brought from Enugu by Sen. Andy Uba.
“In addition, we raised 44 special strike teams brought in Toyota Hilux vehicles from Abuja and Onitsha. We made special stickers for the vehicles that conveyed members of the strike team and Black Hand bands for each of them.
“Each strike team was made up of 10 members headed by a soldier and comprising soldiers, policemen, DSS operatives and Civil Defence corps. They were detailed to attack and arrest prominent APC chieftains in all the local governments.
“We set up anchorage, mainly residential houses, in every local government where the strike team members collected their welfare and other allowances.
“To encourage the strike team members, we gave them orders to share money and other valuables they could lay their hands on in the houses of APC chieftains they raided.
“Then we set up detention camps, mainly in primary schools where most of the APC chieftains were detained. Others were detained in police stations where the DPOs were friendly with us. We let them off after the election was over.
“A day to the election, we used the military to block all routes in the local governments and prevented APC chieftains, including former Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi from coming into Ekiti.
“So we ensured that no APC chieftain was insight on election. We provided polling agents for the APC in most of the polling units so we had no problem getting them to sign election results in the units.
“All these local and foreign observers that described the election free and fair only witnessed the voting exercise on election day without knowing what transpired before the voting”.
Aluko aggrieved by what he termed a betrayal said “Before the election, Fayose, Femi Bamishile and I jointly swore with the Holy Bible on a sharing formula after we must have won the election. We agreed that Fayose would be governor, Bamishile his deputy and I Chief of Staff.”
He further lamented that Fayose reneged on the agreement even as he decried the derailment of the Ekiti project they had envisaged before.
In a swift reaction, Governor Ayodele Fayose has denied any wrong doing, describing the expelled former state Secretary of the PDP, Tope Aluko as a new distraction from the APC in the state.
The governor who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka said Aluko was already beclouded by his desperation to seek revenge against him because of his refusal to make him his Chief of Staff, such that he, Aluko, was not mindful offence of perjury.
He said “for Aluko to be taken seriously, he must first report himself to the Police to be tried for perjury and committed to prison for three years, since what he is now saying is different from what he said under oath at the election tribunal being the only witness called by the PDP and Governor Fayose.”

Saraki/Dogara Fires Back At Obasanjo, Refutes Allegations
Lawmakers Say NASS Under Former President Was More Corrupt

Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House Of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara may replied former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to them in which he accused lawmakers as being corrupt and insensitive to the economic realities of the country, but tempers are flaring up over the matter as lawmakers feel the replies were too weak for the man who took them to the cleaners.
The former President in his characteristic way communicated to the leaders of the National Assembly via a letter dated 13th January, 2016, in which he alleged that, the lawmakers have been circumventing the laws on their remunerations by fixing for themselves outrageous entitlements that negate the recommendations of the revenue mobilization allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC.
Olusegun Obasanjo was quoted as saying he wrote to the leaders of the two chambers of the national Assembly in his capacity as a statesman, who will not shy away from pointing out faults, even if doing so may hurt some people, but the lawmakers feel that Obasanjo’s action was far from being statesmanlike.
Both Saraki and Dogara made very wide consultation on how best to respond to Obasanjo’s letter without stirring controversies, heating up the polity or showing disrespect to the former President, who they hold with reverence, but their replies still failed to impress their colleagues, who are now accusing the former president of misplaced anger over his botched third term bid.
Senator Dino Melaye from Kogi state seems to have summed up the feelings of the lawmakers when he lampooned Obasanjo of embarking on a wild vendetta mission against the national assembly for shooting down his third term kite during the sixth Assembly.
Our correspondent learnt that, as much as The duo of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara were reluctant in joining issues with the former President, they have come under tremendous pressures from their colleagues; both senators and members of the House of Representatives, who are compelling them to respond to Obasanjo’s letter with the same venom that he accused the national Assembly members as being corrupt.
A Senator from the north west and another from the South /South who spoke on conditions of anonymity told our correspondent that former President Obasanjo seems to be taking privileges being accorded him as a leader rather too far, and there is the need to point out to him that he is not the saint he pretends to be.
According to them, the national Assembly under President Obasanjo was more corrupt, and earned twice what the present crop of lawmakers are taking home, making him the least morally qualified to accuse the senate or the house of representatives as being corrupt.
He said the lawmakers are prepared for the former President this time around, as he has been allowed to get away with similar such allegations in the past, saying if Saraki and Dogara are reluctant in confronting Obasanjo, members are prepared to vent their own venom in an uncomplimentary as the former president’s letter.
The lawmakers, our correspondent learnt were angry with the former President’s reported dismissal of their reactions, where he was quoted as saying that he did not write to the two leaders out of any mischief but rather from a patriotic and statesmanlike disposition, pointing out the rot under their collective watch and the need to make amends.
Sounding rather surprised that the contents of his letter had leaked to the press, the former President told our correspondent rather sarcastically that,” there was nothing secret about what I wrote, and I will not shirk my responsibilities as a statesman in saying my mind on the state of the nation”.
Both the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives have sent their separate replies to Obasanjo, in which they absolved the legislature from any blames, even as they promised to make details of the National Assembly budget available for public scrutiny. There are indications however that when the National Assembly resumes plenary Obasanjo’s letter may be reopened for further comments from lawmakers

How EFCC Visit Caused Scare In Borno

Members of the Borno state House of assembly may be under pressures to initiate moves for the impeachment of Governor Kashim Shettima, reminiscent of the late Diepriye Alamieyeseigha saga in Bayelsa state, to pave way for his investigation and prosecution over the alleged mismanagement of the state resources, and alleged hobnobbing with Boko Haram elements.
Sources revealed that, last week’s scare caused by the reported visit of EFCC officials to Borno state may not be unconnected with such moves being made to get the Borno lawmakers, who have been virtually pocketed by the governor, to sign an impeachment notice, as a way of getting the Governor out of the way.
We learnt that an alliance of top Borno stakeholders have concluded plans to facilitate Governor Shettima’s impeachment, as a way of removing the immunity under which he hides and bring him to book for the squander of over N600 Billion that accrued to the State Government and the 28 Local Government Areas.
Going by the online reactions to last week’s reported visit to Borno state by ati graft operatives, it is immaterial whether it happened exactly the way it was reported last week or not, but the fact remains that there is a general growing dissatisfaction with the manner the resources of the state are being plundered.
Governor Kashim Shettima’s hurried return to Abuja, barely after twelve hours of his return to the state after a three weeks sojourn in Abuja, may not be unconnected with the rumours making the rounds, that, the issues with the state House of Assembly may not be unconnected with the rumoured moves to remove him.
Our correspondent reports that there has been no love lost
between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governor following the failure of the Borno helmsman to give convincing account of the management of the finances of the state and his alleged involvement with boko Haram elements.
While Governor Shettima runs from pillar to pole trying to secure the support of fellow governors and the APC national leader, Bola Ahmed tinubu, reports reaching us indicate that there is palpable scare amongst top Borno state Government officials, including members of the Borno state House of Assembly, who in one way or the other may have soiled their hands in corrupt activity over the past four years.
Investigations reveal that, with all the denials last week that members of the Assembly did not flee from the complex following reports of the advent of EFCC operatives, our correspondent reports that most top Government officials have fled Maiduguri, with the governor leaving as hurriedly as he returned to Maiduguri the previous day, ostensibly to continue his search for a soft landing with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Sources told our correspondent that the Governor has remained highly rattled by reports Last week that EFCC officials were in the state to investigate allegations of financial impropriety, running to the tune of N6oo Billion, even as members of the Assembly behind whom he hides to commit some of the offences, were themselves reported to be on the run.
As it is, Government work is at a virtual standstill due to the absence of most top officials, and the general paucity of funds that have been affecting ministries. Reports indicate that ministries are being owed three years arrears of overhead cost, while all capital projects have been abandoned for lack of funds.
There were rumours in Maiduguri on Sunday that the Accountant general of the state, along with eight serving and former commissioners have again been summoned to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, in continuation of an ongoing investigation into alleged corrupt conducts, for which unless the governor is put out of the way, getting to the roots of the matter may prove difficult.
nationalTRAIL invites readers to go through the online reactions to the reported probe of Borno Government officials to be able to gauge the mood of people in the state.