Govt reiterates commitment to rebuild recovered N’East territories

• Calls for vigilance as Boko Haram recruits into camps

• Insurgents kill nine, torch huts, shops in Borno

• Terrorist blows self up, another kills six in markets

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated his commitment and determination to rebuild all destroyed houses and businesses in areas recently recovered from insurgents in the North-East region of the country, pledging to make an end of the menace of insurgency soon.

  Speaking while delivering a goodwill message at the 2015 Convention of the Lutheran Church of Christ (LCCN) in Nigeria at Demsa, Adamawa State, the President who was represented by the Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Boni Haruna, said that it is the demonstration of the commitment that led to the setting up of the Presidential Victims Support Fund (PVSF) and the Presidential Initiative for the North-East (PINE).

  In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Jonathan, who empathised with the people and condemned insinuations that he was sponsoring the insurgency for political reasons, said that it would be wicked of him to contemplate such an action because the people of these areas voted for him massively at the last presidential election in 2011, saying that those making such insinuations have been put to shame by the successful military operations leading to the liberation of Gombi, Hong, Maiha, Mubi, Michika and very soon Madagali.

  He, therefore, implored the people to ignore such views as he promised to provide all necessary assistance to them as they return and fully settle down to normal life.

  Earlier, the Archbishop of the Lutheran Church in Nigeria, Most Rev. Dr. Nemuel Abubakar Babba, on behalf of members of the church expressed immense gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan for honouring the invitation of the church.

  Also, the Federal Government yesterday said available intelligence report indicated that recruits of Boko Haram sect were moving into training camps in Borno.

  The Co-ordinator, National Information Centre (NIC), Mr. Mike Omeri, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the security situation in the country, stressed the need for Nigerians to be vigilant.

  According to him, the recruits were moving from “such locations as Geidam, Mairi and Dupcha (all in Borno) to training camps within the general area.’’

   He said that the sect had referred to the movement recently and boasted that it had between 30,000 and 50,000 strong force to disrupt the forthcoming elections in Maiduguri.

  In another development, over two dozens suspected members of Boko Haram gunmen in a convoy of motorcycles attacked Mbuta village in Mafa Local Council of Borno State, and killed nine people and also torched several houses and shops at about 7.25 a.m. yesterday.

  The village head, Malam Zakari, in a telephone interview yesterday in Maiduguri, said: “The insurgents on motorcycles attacked Alkideow village near our village, Mbuta, as early as 4.30 a.m. but failed in taking away their cows after killing nine people. They proceeded to Mbuta village by 7.20 a.m. and torched several houses and shops.

  “When the gunmen burst into my village, they started shooting sporadically at any person on sight. Our houses and shops were not spared, as they killed 11 of my people, including burning to death of two old women who were in their huts.”

  The Borno State Police Command yesterday also confirmed that there were attacks on the outskirts of Maiduguri with some villagers feared killed in the early hours of yesterday. 

  Besides, an unidentified suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber on Wednesday at Potiskum Old Market in Damaturu ran into an uncompleted building near the venue of a Quran recitation competition and blew up himself after detonating an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) strapped to his back by 5:00 p.m.

  An eyewitness, Nuhu Ibrahim, in a telephone interview yesterday said: “Residents around the old market and Quran recitation competition venue scampered for their lives as the sound of the blast frightened many people before the soldiers and policemen rushed to the uncompleted building by 5.35 p.m.

  Also, a female suicide bomber, who disguised as “roadside hawker” yesterday detonated an IED at Biu Central Market, killing six traders and passersby and injuring 15 others at about 11.45 a.m.

  According to a vigilante youth, Abdu Alhaji Abdu, the female suspect initially targets the central market that holds every Thursday to kill as many people trooping into the market, but the explosives hid in a flowing veil exploded with a deafening sound that rocked the town over a distance of 15 kilometres.

  “We were shocked and horrified when the hidden IED exploded with a loud bang for seconds, and people started running into various directions from the market. The devastation of the blast on lives and property could have been higher if the female bomber had had access to the central market, but the people were lucky when the bomb exploded near the market entrance,” said Abdu in a telephone interview yesterday in Maiduguri.