₦airaland Forum

CraigB: Only problem's my reasoning's fact-based.

Yours? Not so much.

Not so long ago, you happily denied you have a media freedom problem. You're used to the stench. You can't smell the rot.

I can smell it alright, coming from your direction.

CraigB: You can read. No need to repeat them.

You have yourself to blame for writing many words of nothing. No numbers to back them up.

Oh well, never mind, some other time maybe.

CraigB: All you've done is help me post more stuff. Facts. You have offered nothing.

Sorry, come again, what facts?

CraigB: Exactly. No journalistic freedom because.... (irrelevant why!).

Fact of the matter is you lot come from a society that murders its journalists, which is why you always have problems with the links and articles that we post. That's the point.

You've recognised that you are listed as "less than satisfactory" (doesn't matter why) and therefore, your behaviour, as well as that of your fellow Naai-gerians can be understood in this context.

Err, I think you ought to be looking at your own behaviour and reasoning, which leaves a lot to be desired. I am really glad I was educated in naija.

NaijaPikinGidi: Your patience strong o!

Na wah for the guy. I just dey play am for e own game

CraigB: The numbers posted say the article is a contextual opinion.

The chart says South Africa is satisfactory. Naai-geria isn't.

It's simple.

Look at the countries that are listed below satisfactory and you will find they are battling rebels, are in civil wars or battling insurgencies. If that doesn't tell you anything, then nothing I can do for you.

CraigB: It says clearly: "Opinion" at the top. You posted it, so you should have seen that.

Now, I am giving you numbers below. They say South Africa is "satisfactory"

"Naai-geria" is not.

You murder your journalists, I repeat.

The article quotes genuine people so not just one person's opinion. You think it is ok for SA just to be satisfactory considering it isn't fighting an insurgency?

I dread to think what would happen should the country descend into chaos.

CraigB: Yeah, yeah, yeah. An argument of "outliers". An opinion by arisai Nyamweda, I believe?

Waste of time!

Now, hard numbers say we are satisfactory and you are not. "Difficult situation", it says, about Naai-geria.

Oh! I see, when it is SA, it is someone's opinion, but when it is a Nigerian situation, it is fact.

Press freedom in South Africa

Posted on: October 7, 2013

Nic Dawes [@NicDawes] (until last month editor of South Africa’s Mail and Guardian newspaper) has a formidable reputation as an investigative journalist and campaigner for press freedom. His last 2 years at the Mail and Guardian have been marked by tough struggles between leading South African journalists and the South African government,

As he prepared for a new challenge at the Hindustan Times in India, he talked to Rachael Jolley, Editor of Index on Censorship magazine about the importance of social media, which he said ‘outsources part of the editing function to the wider community’, the moves by the ANC to put in place a Media Appeal Tribunal with political appointees, a secrecy bill that would have made it almost impossible for the public or the media to uncover evidence about corruption or to protect whistleblowers, and the way the Marikana Mine massacre eventually hit the headlines, though the Mail and Guardian had covered the appalling conditions at the mine a year earlier.

Despite his concerns, he says that the threats to press freedom in South Africa must be seen in an international context of growing use and abuse of secrecy legislation including in those established democracies like the US, and UK and Canada – this is emphatically not just a South Africal problem.
- See more at: http://podacademy.org/2013/humanities-and-social-sciences/press-freedom-in-south-africa/#sthash.5JxDn1Uk.dpuf

http://podacademy.org/2013/humanities-and-social-sciences/press-freedom-in-south-africa/

So much for a free press in SA. I thought you guys are the beacon of press freedom for all.

Gender Links (Johannesburg)

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South Africa: Can We Celebrate Media Freedom?
By Tarisai Nyamweda, 25 October 2013

opinion


Johannesburg — After returning from the Media Freedom Day seminar held at Parliament in Cape Town last week, I opened three of today's newspapers, and found hardly any women on the front or back sports pages. I had to ask, as we count down to twenty years of democracy, how free is the media when women are so glaringly absent?

We commemorate National Media Freedom Day to remember 19 October 1977 or Black Wednesday, when the apartheid government unleashed a vicious clamp down on press freedom. Since the end of the apartheid regime, South African media has welcomed transformation to ensure media freedom, diversity and to foster a well-informed society.

This year's seminar brought together various media practitioners, government and civil society to celebrate 19 years of media freedom & 10 Years of media development and diversity.

Speaking at the seminar, Executive Director of the National Association of Broadcasters, Nadia Bulbulia, noted that the media cannot be transformed if the oppressed and exploited are prevented from any meaningful role. It is true then that this transformation will only be meaningful if we employ gender balance as a key indicator of diversity and media freedom.

Media freedom and gender equality are inextricably linked and we cannot have one without the other. Furthermore, the media remains a powerful agent of change for achieving gender equality and broader social transformation.

The SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, which South Africa has ratified, calls for 50% women at all levels of decision-making in the media, as well as in media content, by 2015.

William Bird, Director of Media Monitoring Africa said,”52% of the population are women but only 21% of their voices are in the media. This is not in touch with reality.” Eric Kholwane, chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communication agreed saying that women still lack a voice in the media sector.

According to the 2013 SADC Gender Protocol Barometer published by Gender Links and the SADC Gender Protocol Alliance, out of all Southern African countries South Africa has the highest proportion of women sources at 28%. However, this is still far below the 50% target. The regional average is at a poor 22%, with Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo with the lowest in SADC at 17%.

According the 2013 Report on the Transformation of Print and Digital Media in South Africa, which was presented at the seminar, senior posts in boardrooms and newsrooms remain the domain of men. “Women hardly set foot in boardrooms and have virtually no presence in ownership and management,” reads the report.

Similarly, the 2009 Gender Links Glass Ceilings Study shows that women in Southern Africa constitute 41% of those working in the media and only 28% of those in management. In South Africa, there are an equal number of women and men employees, but women make up 38% of directors; 35% of senior management and only 25% of top management. These figures are some of the highest in the SADC region, but still fall short of a gender balance.

Although the degree of media freedom is far better than it was during apartheid, and this country has made strides in mainstreaming gender in the media, we need greater transformation before South Africa can truly celebrate media freedom and diversity. Moreover, when we reflect on the Protection of State Information Bill which government recently signed into law, as well as the influence corporates have on private media, we cannot deny that censorship is still a reality.

The media also continues to exclude the voices of many citizens, notably women; people with disabilities; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) and people from poor communities. These citizens are denied the right to be heard, rendering them invisible from our headlines and unable to participate and benefit from our democracy.

If the media helped defeat a racist regime and contributed to racial equality, it can help defeat patriarchy and drive gender equality. Until we break the glass ceiling, media freedom does not truly exist.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201310251490.html?viewall=1

Deadliest Countries in 2013

1.Syria: 20
2.Egypt: 6
3.Pakistan: 5
4.Somalia: 3
5.Brazil: 3
6.Russia: 2
7.Iraq: 2
8.Mali: 2
9.Turkey: 1
10.Bangladesh: 1
11.Colombia: 1
12.Philippines: 1
13.India: 1

http://www.cpj.org/killed/2013/

I can't see Nigeria listed above.

CraigB: As argued by me, where?

I must be an amazing troll seeing as I bring facts and you bring, wait for it....nothing..! Fact-based "desperation" is music and your hapless desperation is embarrassing.

I repeat: worst place for journalists = Naai-geria.

And the point remains relevant because you useless lot clearly hate your journalists. The murderers of these journalists come from you lot. That's why you now want to run their work down and tell us about London-based writers.

"Who fails to bring the culprits to justice?

Ah! The precious state! cry".

You said the above, how is it different from saying the state is colluding?

The horrific daily murders and s*xual offences in SA come from you lot.

CraigB: To quote myself: "Naai-geria is one of the worst countries to be a journalist in the whole wide world. Dangerous. Low pay and so forth. You can't deny that. I repeat: typical of Naai-gerians to deny the obvious. You don't even know what press freedom is because you've lived in the dumpster for so long, you don't smell the rot."


Now, back to the meat of the thing:


http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/nigeria-brazil-dangerous-for-journalists/story-fn3dxix6-1226634320627


THE Committee to Protect Journalists has highlighted Nigeria and Brazil as among the worst offenders for violence against reporters - and failure to bring culprits to justice.


_____

Who fails to bring the culprits to justice?

Ah! The precious state!

Anyway, you Naai-ralanders' behaviour - telltale signs of a society that murders its journalists.

Twisting things to suit your angle I see. Because some journalists that have been murdered (excluding by BH) haven't been brought to justice is proof of collusion by the state?

Gosh! you are desperate. I suppose this is what trolls are renowned for world over.

CraigB: The red - as stated by me - where exactly?

SA/UK/USA are not on the list of dangerous countries for journalists. Naai-geria is.

You might as well have, you said I quote " That these journalist come out against the state machinery, notwithstanding, says a lot!"

Need I say more?

I see you left SA out.

CraigB: You pull the other one.

Your argument is in trouble.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/nigeria-joins-journalist-danger-list-on-world-press-freedom-day-8601601.html


"Nigeria today joined the list of countries where journalists are routinely murdered and assaulted without any convictions for their attackers."

I thought the "argument" was about state control of the press, now you are talking about BH and some people with political motives murdering journalists.

Don't journalists get murdered in SA, UK, USA, Russia and across the world?

CraigB: Naai-geria is one of the worst country to be a journalist in the whole wide world. You can't deny that. I repeat: typical of Naai-gerians to deny the obvious. You don't even know what press freedom is because you've life's in the dumpster for so long, you don't smell the rot.

That these journalist come out against the state machinery, notwithstanding, says a lot!

Now, you don't need to be an expert to go to a site, interview witnesses and report on what you saw.

It's very simple. "I sew charred bodies". "I see burnt trucks". It's not rocket science.

And if the military industry in Naai-geria was up to scratch, there would be experts. This is a telling revelation , that works against the naai-gerian claims to being respectable.

Try another argument.

There is no state machinery stopping journalists otherwise they would all be rounded up and be in prison. There is freedom of the press.
You are talking about a largely illiterate section of the community telling journalists they have seen APCs apparently stolen from the army (were they there when it was stolen?) and that they saw bodies in uniform (BH were dressed in Air Force Camo) which automatically translates to army soldiers?

Pull the other one.

Henry120: My only problem with this NA exercise is, no photos would be released. If it were the navy, we would be sure to see pictures. I just hope the NA guy on facebook gets images of this exercise.

One can only hope so, but I won't hold my breath.

CraigB: List the things I could be jealous of.


You won't find any!

Now, go back and read. The issue is "equipment that could not be evacuated due to funding constraints" (read uselessness and hapless disorganisation.)

Nowhere have you shown that the report is false in that regard.

I repeat: the useless Naai-gerian military left behind its equipment in Mali. It could not evacuate it.

And you obviously failed to read the follow-up article which says not to believe the reports and clearly stated what had been done. Not all equipment needed to be removed, that is why I say reporters don't know what they are writing a lot of the time. What had to be transported back had almost been completed, nothing to do with funds.

CraigB: Glad you realise that. So stop coming up with futile, round-in-circles denials. If you have no conclusive proof against - my articles stay.

And by the way, it's possible to be filed with hatred and still be write.

Because I'm write, my status as a hater or lover is irrelevant.

How many articles do you read before you find one that suits your agenda. Very sad.

CraigB: So, let's see: showing that Boko haram escapes into Cameroon proves that Naai-geria know what they are doing?

This is yet another variable that you need to strategise against, but which you can't.

Your military intelligence isn't worth the paper the word is written on.

Your "escape into Cameroon" should not be considered hearsay because? You have witnessed this phenomenon with your eyes?

Typical of Naai-gerians to try and deny the obvious by attacking the integrity of writers. That's why there's no journalistic freedom in your country. You oppress the press - and that rhymes too.

Pull the other one. And make the stories shorter. Not longer. Stick to the point.

You obviously have no idea there are very few journalists in Nigeria with military knowledge nor do they understand military strategies or set ups.

Isn't it in SA Mr Zuma tried to suppress the press regarding the amount of government money spent on his private home? This the President.

When it comes to press freedom, Nigeria is right up there, that is why they write a lot of rubbish.

CraigB: Rubbish!

You don't get to pick and choose articles that are acceptable and those that aren't.

Why should we prefer someone writing from London over Naai-gerian reporters on the ground? You love lying to yourselves and being lied to.

You want to side with writers that seem "balanced" but are in fact, thin?

For each of these articles, I could produce at least 5 advancing an opposite, but fact based view. The bodies are piling up. The witnesses are talking. You are not covering yourselves in glory.

A case of the pot calling the kettle black.

NaijaPikinGidi:
What else does a pig do best? [/quote]

Nigeria: Army Holds Counter Terror Exercise in Kaduna
By Ronald Mutum, 6 December 2013

The Nigerian army yesterday said the head quarters garrison will commence a field training exercise "Black Tiger," in the area of Sabon Wuse along Abuja-Jere Kaduna expressway from Monday 9th to Thursday 12th December 2013.

A statement issued by the Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Col. Aliyu Yusuf, said: "The general public is advised not to panic when firing is heard in the exercise area or see troop's movement in the area."

The exercise will be rounded up with range classification in Kachia and Keffi on Thursday 12 December 2013, he said.

He explained that the training exercise will mark the end of a three month rigorous cadre training for troops of Army Headquarters Garrison that started in September 2013.

The exercise is designed to teach soldiers skills and techniques required to deal with contemporary security challenges in a counter terrorism setting such as raids on terrorist camps, fighting in build up areas, identification and handling of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and techniques of internal security operations, the statement said.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201312061057.html

Now for a balanced article from Jane's Defence Weekly, which also backs what we have been saying regarding the NAF's onslaught on BH which triggered the attack. Note also that it says the aircrafts were damaged, not destroyed.

Nigerian Air Force targeted by militants

Jeremy Binnie, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

04 December 2013

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been targeted by militants in apparent retaliation for the increasingly important role it is playing in counter-insurgency operations in the northeast of the country.

The NAF base at Maiduguri Airport was one of several security facilities that were targeted on 2 December by a large number of militants presumed to be affiliated to the radical Islamist group Boko Haram.

The military said two helicopters and three decommissioned aircraft were damaged in the attack. A local who lives nearby told AFP that he saw two helicopters burnt and that few buildings were still standing at the base.

The NAF generally has two Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters based at Maiduguri and three decommissioned Mikoyan MiG-21 fighters have been there for over a decade.

Although the NAF's deployment at Maiduguri appears to have remained unchanged, the Nigerian media reported that it moved Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets, Mi-24s, and maritime surveillance aircraft to Yola in August.

Since then, the Nigerian Army's new Maiduguri-based 7 Division has credited the NAF with playing a major role in supporting counter-insurgency operations. Most recently, 7 Division spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Dole released a statement on 28 November saying that more than 50 militants may have been killed in an air strike near the Cameroonian border.

Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh has even suggested that the NAF is Nigeria's most instrumental counter-insurgency tool. "Militancy was brought to an end [in the Niger Delta] mainly because the air force responded with full force," the Leadership newspaper quoted him as saying during a visit to the NAF facility at Ilorin airport earlier in November.

http://www.janes.com/article/31239/nigerian-air-force-targeted-by-militants

CraigB: Analysis: Resilient Boko Haram an increasing threat
By ZACHARY ELKAIMDecember 4, 2013


Boko Haram's latest attack in Maiduguri has been described as its most audacious yet. In the early hours of Monday morning hundreds of Boko Haram militants stormed the city of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, in an assault that left scores of people dead. The estimated number of fighters ranged from 300 to 500, and according to one Nigerian intelligence officer, they entered Maiduguri "from the bush, chanting 'Allahu Akbar.'" Once they arrived in the city, the fighters attacked the Maiduguri Airport, a Nigerian Air Force Base, and various locations around the base. The use of both explosives and RPGs has been confirmed.

The attack has caused a political storm in Nigeria. A new political coalition, now one of Nigeria's largest opposition parties, has called for a probe into intelligence failures before the attack, and questioned how several hundred militants could strike a military facility in a large city without prior warning. President Goodluck Jonathan is said to be furious over the incident, and there are allegations in the Nigerian press that "heads may roll" if assertions of sabotage and negligence of duty are proved true. With new accusations that the military's offensive against Boko Haram has been a failure, things are likely to get worse even while discussions take place as to how to make things better.

The government had recently extended emergency rule in Borno as well as in the nearby states of Adamawa and Yobe, in an effort to crush the Boko Haram insurgency. Despite the fact that there are over 8,000 troops now deployed in these states, they have obviously not been successful and the International Criminal Court has officially designated Nigeria as embroiled in a civil war. The situation was so bad last month that President Jonathan was asked to cancel the visit of Bill Gates for fear it may trigger Boko Haram attacks on polio workers.

The ability of Boko Haram fighters to escape into other countries has also greatly frustrated Nigeria. A Borno state official recently accused Cameroonian authorities of habitually refusing to arrest or chase Boko Haram militants fleeing across the border after carrying out attacks in Nigeria. Although a regional strategy would be ideal for Nigeria, Cameroon has shown little interest in the problem, while Niger and Chad do not have adequate resources to help. A member of Boko Haram captured by the military in Maiduguri claimed that the group has members from each of these countries actively taking part in the insurgency. Furthermore, United Nations officials have stated that they think Boko Haram is now active on the ground in Central African Republic.

But of more immediate concern for Nigerian officials is that Christmas is fast approaching - a period during which, since 2010, Boko Haram has been particularly active. On Christmas Eve of that year, Boko Haram targeted Christians in a campaign of improvised explosive device (IED) attacks that left 80 dead. On Christmas Day 2011, at least 37 people were killed during morning Mass at the Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla near Abuja, and at least three died in four other bomb attacks that day. Last year, Boko Haram declared its intention to "eradicate Christians from certain parts of the country," and is believed to be behind two separate Christmas Eve attacks; one that killed at least six Christians and burned down a church Yobe, and another that killed six in Maiduguri.

If the recent attack in Maiduguri is any indication, Boko Haram has shifted its tactics and grown more sophisticated. The group is now prepared to directly attack military installations, and in large numbers. This is particularly striking since the attack took place just one week after the Nigerian military claimed it had cleared the terror group from bases in the Sambisa forest and that more than 100 Boko Haram fighters had been killed during the assault.


Additionally, there are now reports of both suspected insider collaboration and that the attack took place as Nigerian Special Forces were planning one of their biggest offensives against the group. According to one source, Boko Haram successfully planted IEDs before the attack, and the authorities strongly believe "that this incident was made possible by insiders' collaboration in terms of giving them information." This means that Boko Haram may well have a better intelligence network than the Nigerian military.

With Boko Haram escalating its activities, this year's Christmas season could be one of the most telling periods for a Nigerian government desperate to prove that it is capable of putting down the insurrection


Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/12/analysis_resilient_b.php#ixzz2mgipDNv2

You are so mired in muck that you seem to have ignored the rest of the article which backs what we have been saying on this forum that BH usually escape over the border to Cameroon and their lackadaisical attitude to dealing with them in Cameroun and also having members from bordering countries in BH.

Also, the article mentioned insider info, which has been already stated and enabled BH to carry out the attack on the base just as SFs were planning a huge offensive (which will still happen).

In case you haven't comprehended, it is one persons opinion. Also, with regard to the APC, as a lawyer, haven't you ever heard of 'hearsay' evidence not being admissible in a court of law?

CraigB: Where does it say ALL the equipment in Mali was returned?

That's what you are trying to argue.

So, put your amazing reading skills to work and show me where it says that. Failing that, the point remains:

1. Naai-geria left their military hardware behind in Mali, as stated above.

You are so filled with hatred (jealousy maybe) you can't even reason properly. The soldiers slated to be brought back have been brought back with their equipment. There are still engineering, medical and of course several hundred other troops still in place that need the remaining equipment.

Nigeria never said they were withdrawing all troops.

CraigB: Nowhere does this long story say ALL the hardware was returned.

You'll need something else. This is "tame" and "blunt" on the biting and cutting sides.

My goodness, can't you read? What about "We have flown 27 missions, and 684 troops have been brought back in those missions, including their equipment, field kitchen, medicals and others." Olodo.

Anyway, RIP Mandela.

CraigB: Making things up, am I?

The height of uselessness and disorganisation below:

Yes, making things up. This is the same reporter once he had been given the facts.

684 soldiers have returned from Mali –NAF

November 19, 2013 by Fidelis Soriwei



Nigerian Troops deployed


The Federal Government has brought back 684 personnel of the Nigerian Army who were deployed as part of the soldiers in the United Nations Multi-Dimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali.

The 684 were part of the 1,200 Nigerian soldiers deployed in the sub-continent’s efforts to dislodge Islamic militants from the northern part of Mali in January.

Director, Air Force Information, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, said in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Monday that apart from the 684 personnel of the Army, the Nigerian Air Force had also flown back 93 tonnes of equipment that were sent to Mali alongside the military personnel.

Anas was reacting to insinuations that issues bordering on funding had made the Nigerian military to leave behind some of the support equipment deployed for the Mali operation in the Francophone country in spite of the decision by Nigeria to pull out in July, 2013

The Air Force Director of Information said that issues relating to the release of funds for capital projects had no effect on the operational effectiveness of the service, stressing that it was not correct to say that the country had only one operational C-130 military cargo air craft.

It was learnt that the British Air Force had assisted Nigeria to fly the support equipment for the Mali operations to the francophone country as the country had only one operational C-130 cargo aircraft.

He said, “We have flown so many of their equipment back from mission areas. Capital project is not about operational readiness; it is not directly affecting operational readiness, we have two C-130 in operation. We have flown 27 missions, and 684 troops have been brought back in those missions, including their equipment, field kitchen, medicals and others.

“In these missions, we have also brought back 93 tonnes, 14 vehicles and we need only one more mission to complete the process of getting them back to the country.”

He said that the total number of the C-130 military cargo aircraft would increase to three by the first quarter of 2014 as one of the aircraft undergoing depot maintenance in the United Kingdom would be ready for operations then.

http://www.punchng.com/news/684-soldiers-have-returned-from-mali-naf/

CraigB: Oh, I'm sure some journalists drive Hiluxes. So, they believe that they are driving APCs? Pull the other one!

Fact is, apart from the obvious question of why the military equipment got taken by the enemy in the first place (the answer being uselessness), now it's become clear that the naai-gerian military is too disorganised to look after its equipment. That boko haram used your own equipment to attack you is ironic. Lesser military nations would die of embarrassment.


Hardware was also left behind in Mali - and this was not even a quick exit.

Disorganised - this lot. Useless in most areas.


In which area is the naai-gerian military competent again? Zero areas.

Carry on making things u. You never know, it may even turn out to be true, no be so?

CraigB: Oh, I'm sure some journalists drive Hiluxes. So, they believe that they are driving APCs? Pull the other one!

Fact is, apart from the obvious question of why the military equipment got taken by the enemy in the first place (the answer being uselessness), now it's become clear that the naai-gerian military is too disorganised to look after its equipment. That boko haram used your own equipment to attack you is ironic. Lesser military nations would die of embarrassment.


Hardware was also left behind in Mali - and this was not even a quick exit.

Disorganised - this lot. Useless in most areas.

In which area is the naai-gerian military competent again? Zero areas.

Why don't you say something new for a change? Don't tell me, the Nigerian Army are useless, abi?

http://odili.net/news/source/2013/dec/4/525.html

We're at war, fighting tough enemy -FG: Moves to identify terror group's sponsors * Dispatches military chiefs to Borno

Wednesday, December 4, 2013



We're at war, fighting tough enemy -FG

From ADETUTU FOLASADE-KOYI AND MOLLY KILETE, Abuja


The Federal Government yesterday admitted that the country is in a state of war following Monday's attack of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital by members of the Boko Haram.This is coming at a time when the Defence Headquarters has dispatched top military officers, including the chiefs of army staff, air staff and naval staff to the North-East state to personally assess situation.Members of Boko Haram had invaded Maidu-guri at about 2.30a.m on Monday night and attacked army barracks, Air Force base, police stations and destroyed military aircraft and other things.


They also set ablaze petrol tankers, trailers, vehicles and houses in the down attack. Revealing the dispatch of top military of.cers to Borno, supervising minister for Defence, Mr. Labaran Maku, said yesterday that Nigeria was facing a very stubborn enemy that is bent on destabilising the peace of the country. He however, said the Federal Government was moving closely to identify the bases of the terrorists, their international operations and the network they were deploying against our country. Maku, while describing the incident as painful, said: "


The point must be made that Nigeria is facing an international enemy that has a long line of supply and that we are not taking lightly. Insurgencies of this type are not easy to over-come."He gave assurance that the Nigerian armed forces was capable of defending and protecting the territo-rial integrity of the nation from any external invasion.He urged the military not to be deterred in confront-ing the terrorists group, saying: "Insurgency is a guerrilla warfare with for-eign collaborators, which the Federal Government is trying to identify." He commended the mili-tary for their gallantry and bravery during the attack by the terrorists because, according to him, "reports from situation received yesterday morning from the theatre of attack say most of those insurgents that came for the attack did not go back."Maku, who described the incident as sad, said: "Yesterday (Monday) as you have seen in the news this morning, we had a very painful incident, where the insurgents that we have been battling for some time managed to attack Air Force base in Maiduguri. "As we speak to you, the armed forces headquarters are in Maiduguri with their strong team to give us a full report of what happened. The point must be made that Nigeria is facing an


international enemy that has a long line of supply and that, we are not taking ligh-ly. Insurgencies of this type are not easy to overcome. "But I must say con.dently that our Armed Forces are doing everything possible not only to ensure we deal decisively with this inci-dent, but indeed to be sure that the larger war, which is to secure the North-East of Nigeria and to secure our boundaries, is on. "I can assure Nigeri-ans that occasionally, you may have things like this because we are in a state of war and we are dealing with an enemy that does not wear uniform. "We are dealing with an enemy that will occasion-ally strike by surprise. It is guerrilla warfare and in this type of urban guerrilla warfare, we will have occasional incidents. But what is most important to us is that we are combing this entire region." Maku said Nigeria enjoys robust co-operation from neighbour-ing West African countries in the counter-insurgency campaign, stressing that the sole objective of the Boko Haram was to destroy and nothing more.


He gave the assurance that the nation's security forces would not relent in smoking out the terrorists wherever they may be hid-ing, adding that the govern-ment has learnt enough les-sons from the latest attack.He said: "We are mov-ing closely to identifying the bases of these elements and looking at their inter-national operations and the network they are deploying against our country."We are con.dent not only of the resistance put up by the Armed Forces units that were attacked because most of those who came on that operation (terrorists) didn't go back. In-deed, it's a plus to the gallantry of our soldiers. "We will assure this na-tion that this is a develop-ment that we are studying closely. Let me again call on our Armed Forces not to be bitter about this incident. They will occur, in-surgency all over the world is a very dif.cult operation. It is a painful incident but it has alerted us of what we need to do more to make sure that we secure that part of the country."Meanwhile, the Senate has shifted to Thursday the meeting with service chiefs, who were invited to brief senators on the se-curity situation in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, where emergency rule is in place. Making this known yesterday, Senate Leader Ndoma-Egba, who moved a motion to reschedule the brie.ng, noted:


"Because of the massive security breach that occurred in Borno State yesterday (Monday)" the Service Chiefs needed to be on top of the situation and have therefore trav-eled to make on-the-spot assessment of the attack in Borno. He stated that apart from the effect of the ongo-ing emergency rule in the three North eastern states, "the Senate will demand a comprehensive account of the massive bombings in Borno State yesterday (Monday)" from the ser-vice chiefs.Ndoma-Egba described the incident as "most unfortunate.

Henry120: Andrewza is definitely drunk. His posts are simply bewildering.

He will have a clearer head once he has woken up.