Boko Haram used children for Borno bombings – UNICEF
UNICEF, on Monday,
condemned the use of children as suicide bombers in Nigeria.
The UN body said
this in reaction to suspected Boko Haram suicide bombings in Mandarari
community in Borno.
“According to
several reports, three children – two girls and a boy (ages unknown) – were
used to detonate explosives that killed
30 people and injured 40 others at a community football viewing centre in
Konduga, Borno today.
‘UNICEF sends its
condolences to all those who have been killed or injured in this horrific
incident. It is unacceptable that children should be used in this way”, a
statement by UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins, said.
“UNICEF appeals to
all those involved in this terrible conflict to protect children at all times
and to keep them out of harm’s way.
“This incident
brings the number of children who have been reported as having been used as
human bombs to five, since January 2019. In 2018, 48 children – including 38
girls – were used in suicide attacks.
“We again call on
all parties to the conflict in north-east Nigeria to immediately cease all
attacks against civilians, to stop using children in this conflict, and to
abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law.”
Killings in Nigeria: Fulani group asks Buhari to listen to Obasanjo’s
advice
The Gan Allah Fulani
Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) has called on President Muhammadu
Buhari to as a matter of urgency listen to the advice of former President
Olusegun Obasanjo on how to move the nation forward and halt the numerous
crises bedeviling the country.
Speaking with
newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State capital, the National Chairman of the group,
Alhaji Sale Bayari, said the present administration ought to listen to other
eminent Nigerians too in solving the nation’s problems, but that from the signs
he is getting, things are not in order.
He said considering
the tribal, ethnic, religious and sectional agitations from the South, East,
North and West, things must be done urgently to address and avert national
crises. According to him, there was no part of the country that agitation is
currently not going on.
He stressed that
even the crises that is already happening in the Northern states like Zamfara,
Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Benue, Nassarawa and so on, are not good for the
country, including that of the other regions like Niger-Delta militants, IPOB,
Afenifere and the rest.
“In moving the
nation forward, the government must listen to some elder statesmen irrespective
of whatever their political views or affiliation is. Former President Olusegun
Obasanjo is one of them. I have found out that if any government in Africa is
to tap one-third of what is in the brain of Obasanjo and use it, Africa will be
better. Similarly, West Africa and Nigeria will be better for it.
“Obasanjo knows our
problem; and then whenever he talks and explodes sometimes, I have found out
that it is because he has made efforts to be listened to without success. He
will then feel that posterity will judge him harshly if he does not come out to
tell Nigerians and the world the truth of things”, he explained.
“Undoubtedly,
Obasanjo is an embodiment of knowledge, experience and he knows very well the
problem of our country, Nigeria. There is nobody dead or alive today that
thinks the way Obasanjo does or knows what Obasanjo knows.
“He knows Nigeria,
Africa and the entire world like the back of his hand. That is why I am
advising this government to tap the brains of people like Obasanjo.
“He is a person
that can lead the government into looking critically at the problem bedeviling
the nation and finding a way forward.
According to him,
“We know that government can do and undo, but any government desiring to move
forward will require the support of statesmen and nationalists like Obasanjo.
“There are other
statesmen the government should listen to; people like Yakubu Gowon, Ango
Abdullahi, Sultan of Sokoto, Oni of Ife, Eze of Onitsha, and others. These are
people that have this nation at heart and would not want it to disintegrate.
Bayeri maintained
that, “If they put their machinery in place, I bet you that peace and progress
will be achieved.
“But unfortunately,
nobody is mobilizing them or seeking their input in solving the national
crises. These people know what to do or the right people to call, among other
things in solving the problems,” he said.
Bayeri said his
fear is that if the government does not carefully handle these looming crises
and they degenerate, the nation does not have the well-withal in terms of
security to tackle it.
He said if the
nation has been unable to tackle Boko Haram since 2009, then it is a greater
danger if crises burst out in other states or regions in the nation.
“Recently, the
Secretary to the Government of the Federal, Boss Mustapha said if the armed
banditry is not carefully handled, it will be worse than the Boko Haram
insurgency. I totally agree with him entirely because if you look at the way
the thing is building up now, then you will understand what I am talking about.
“Very soon, some
religious and insurgent groups may capitalize on it to recruit people for other
nefarious acts. We should not allow this to happen, and we should do everything
possible to halt it,” he warned.
Boko Haram: Amnesty international reacts to Borno multiple suicide
attack
Amnesty
International has condemned the suicide bomb attack at Mandareri-Sambisa ward of
Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
Osai Ojigho,
Director Amnesty International Nigeria in a statement described the attack as a
type of Boko Haram’s disdain on the sanctity of life and campaign targeting
civilians.
The statement read:
“These horrific suicide bomb attacks that killed at least 30 people and injured
over 40 more bear all the hallmarks of Boko Haram and its vicious, unrelenting
campaign targeting civilians.
“These unlawful
attacks are typical of Boko Haram’s despicable disdain for the sanctity of
human life. We are calling on Boko Haram and other armed groups to immediately
stop targeting civilians.
“All those
responsible must face justice for all the atrocities it has committed,
including the use of children for suicide missions.
“The Nigerian
authorities must do more to protect civilians, especially in areas like Konduga
that have frequently been targeted by Boko Haram.”
Meanwhile, Borno
State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) while confirming the attack on Monday,
said
30 persons lost their lives, while 42 others were injured when three
suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers detonated Improvised Explosive Device
(IED) in Mandarari community of Konduga local government area.
Usman Kachala,
SEMA’s Director of Search, Rescue and Operations, who disclosed this to newsmen
when he visited the scene of the attack on Monday, said the incident occurred
around 8pm on Sunday.
Kachala said that
the three suicide bombers, comprising two females and a male, detonated the
IEDs in a local tea joint and film centre in the community.
Boko Haram: Borno SEMA gives update on suicide attack, confirms dozens
dead
The Borno State
Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on Monday said 30 persons lost their lives
while 42 others were injured when three suspected Boko Haram suicide
bombers detonated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Mandarari community of
Konduga local government area.
Usman Kachala,
SEMA’s Director of Search, Rescue and Operations, who disclosed this to newsmen
when he visited the scene of the attack on Monday, said the incident occurred
around 8pm on Sunday.
Kachala said that
the three suicide bombers, comprising two females and a male, detonated the
IEDs in a local tea joint and film centre in the community.
He said that about
17 persons died instantly, adding that the death toll increased to 30 on Monday
as a result of lack of immediate medical attention.
The SEMA Director
said that his staff could not reach the spot of the incident as the military
had closed the road to traffic and the hospital in Konduga did not have enough
facilities to handle the situation.
“When I and my team
arrived Konduga early this morning, the military prevented us from gaining
access to the community to assist the victims.
“They told us they
were given order from above not to open the road until 9am,” he lamented.
NAN reporter, who
later visited the scene of the attacks along with SEMA team, reports that
dozens of the wounded victims were seen being conveyed in pick-up vans by
relations to hospitals in Maiduguri, the state capital, a distance of about 80
km from their town.
