BOKO HARAM: PMB GETS ACCOLADES AT UK HOUSE OF LORDS, AS TROOPS NAB SECT LEADER

Presenting a speech at the House of Lords under the headship of Lord David Ramsbotham, President of Jose Foundation, Prince Martins Abhulimhen, who on the invitation of the Lords to brief the parliament on the role of non governmental organisation in helping the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and children in Nigeria, told the parliamentarian that the ability of the federal government to equip the Nigerian military with the right equipment has help in turning the heat on the insurgents.

Abhulimhen, while expressing gratitude to the British Parliament for the rare invitation, said the 10 months old government of President Muhammadu Buhari has been able to repeal the insurgents and create safe camps for internally displaced people, a majority of whom he said are children.

He informed the Lords that the save environment created by the federal government in recent days has provided the opportunity for nongovernmental organisations to move into the various IDP camps to provide the much needed humanitarian services.

He emphasised the need to critically look at the conditions of the people living in the various camps all over the northeast with the aim of rehabilitating them and prepare them for a new life after the crisis.

“We now can show our zeal as it is safe to work in such camps. The internally displaced people is part of what I have come here to sensitise your Lordships about. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, we have a discipline, corrupt free leadership under the impeccable person of President Muhammadu Buhari, which without any doubt will make our tasks a lot easier,” he said.

The Jose Foundation also frowned at the wave of abduction of young girls, forced into marriages and conversion of their religion by some Nigerians in recent times.

Abhulimhen cited the recent case of the abduction of Delta State born teenager Miss Ese Oruru from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to Kano State by one Yunusa Bala (Yellow) condemning the act and pledge his foundation’s commitment to rehabilitate the teenager.

He noted that the Jose Foundation is partnering with Save the Children Organisation UK, Nepal Child Rescue Foundation, the Wellbeing Foundation and other like-minded nongovernmental organisations to help the Nigerian government ease this burden and end “this crisis and humanitarian catastrophe”.

He reminded the parliamentarians that over 200 children from the Chibok village in Borno State are still missing, “though the government is also making tremendous efforts to bring back the girls. Many children need expert care and counselling to help them return to normal life”.

The Jose Foundation was established in 2003, inspired by the visit of her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh when she challenged the Government and People of Nigeria to address and eradicate the circumstances that led to the pitiful state of the displaced children in Nigeria vis-a-vis Africa.

Over the past decades however, the Jose Foundation has reached out to the less privileged and made progress through contributions and financial assistance in relevant sectors of the Nigerian polity through government institutions such as hospitals, motherless babies homes and institutions that protect the disabled.

However, in recent times, there have been insurgence and ethnic upheavals leading to high levels of violence and kidnappings in the Niger Delta areas and much more recently Islamic fundamentalism by the Boko Haram group in the North East of Nigeria unleashing violence on an unprecedented level using bombs, ambush, guerrilla warfare and military and para military suicide bombers including children especially young females that have been kidnapped and brain washed into suicide bombing.

Meanwhile, the Boko Haram sect has suffered another defeat, as troops yesterday accosted a gang of the insurgents at a border community in Borno state, Northeast Nigeria, arrested one of their leaders who has been on the list of ‘100-wanted terrorists’, army officials said.

A gang of Boko Haram were intercepted at a fishing community known as Daban-Masara in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno while trying to ferry over 200 litres of Petrol to an unknown destination.

The insurgents, led by their shot and later arrested leader, who was labelled Number “95” on the first published list of ‘100 Wanted Terrorists’ attempted to resist the Troops of 7 Multinational Joint Task Force Brigade’s Quick Response Group (QRG) stationed in Baga and 118 Task Force Battalion, but were effectively overwhelmed.

Spokesman of the Nigeria Army, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, who confirmed the development in a statement said the troops “sprang an ambush along Daban Masara axis usually used by Boko Haram terrorists’ elements to convey logistics on Thursday.

“At the encounter, one of the suspected wanted Boko Haram terrorists leaders who is serial number 95 on the first Nigerian Army wanted list of 100 Boko Haram terrorists leaders, was fatally wounded in the exchange of fire.

“He later gave up while receiving medical attention at the base, while other members of his team escaped with gunshot wounds. The troops recovered 7 Jerri cans of 30 litres containing 210 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), motorcycles and food stuff in addition to arms and ammunitions”.

It was gathered that the dead leader of the Boko Haram had been a major motivational sub-leader of the insurgents in that axis of Borno.