metro
Former female Boko Haram members cry for husbands
Former female Boko Haram members cry for husbands
Arewa PUNCH investigations have revealed that as more Boko Haram insurgents who surrender their arms and ammunition to the government and renounce acts of terrorism and banditry continue to be reintegrated into the life of normalcy, there are big concerns that the females among them are increasingly finding it difficult to get male spouses.
More findings indicate that even as the repentant terrorists are settled into their various home communities, the females among them have complained that since their return, it has been difficult for them to marry as the law-abiding men in the society avoid them like a plague.
This fresh concern, Arewa PUNCH gathered, constitutes a matter for serious concern to the various community leaders.
Our correspondent reports that official records put the total number of surrendered insurgents and their families at 162,000, but no such records show the number of spinsters, divorcees, or widows among them.
Some of the leaders of the communities have complained to Arewa PUNCH that their men are scared of venturing into any form of romance with the surrendered female insurgents despite the fact that some of the ladies have been expressing their secret desire for suitors to marry or remarry them.
“These ladies desperately want to marry or remarry, but men seem scared of them, as no suitors approach them with such proposal,” a ward head at Old Maiduguri, Modu Grema Wakil, complained to Arewa PUNCH in Maiduguri, on Monday,
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“I have not compiled the number of such ladies, but they send messages to us as community leaders over the matter,” he said.
Wakil continued: “Our fear is that if these women and girls do not get the men to marry, they may be tempted to renege on their repentance vow from terror activities and return to the bush.
“But when they get suitors and marry or remarry in the law-abiding society, other girls and women still in the bush could be encouraged to surrender and come back home.”
Asked if the problem was a matter of societal stigma, the community leader assured: “No. I don’t think so because the societal stigma against them is waning.”
He stressed, “but we are severely pained by the fact that suitors are scared of marrying them, because most people still don’t believe they have genuinely repented, and, therefore, they may slaughter their husbands and flee back to the bush.”
Wakil called on the Borno State government to create a database of such repenting female insurgents with a view to persuading suitors to approach them and organising marriages for them.
Further expressing his fears, he maintained: “The inability to marry or remarry at home may tempt them to renege on their repentance.”
Responding, the Borno State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, told Arewa PUNCH that, “It is a welcome development that they are expressing their desire to marry or remarry, because it will help to stabilise them in the law-abiding society.”
She said the state government would work with the Maiduguri-based NGO, Allamin Foundation, to create the required database for that purpose.
“The Foundation has forwarded to us the Charter of Demands of the various victims of the insurgency, including such women and girls,” Gambo stated, pointing out further, “We are still expecting a report from the Foundation on such demands to enable us do the needful for every set of victims.”
Efforts by our correspondent to speak with some of the ladies did not yield fruit as it was difficult to get them to speak with Arewa PUNCH for fear of being further stigmatised especially in a setting as the north.
Moreover, many of them are said to have melted into the population, but preferring to raise their concerns to their various community leaders through the third party.
Former female Boko Haram members cry for husbands
PUNCH
metro
Army nabs six kidnappers, rejects N2m bribe in Taraba
Army nabs six kidnappers, rejects N2m bribe in Taraba
Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sub Sector 3 OPERATION WHIRL STROKE (OPWS), have arrested six kidnappers in Taraba State.
According to the army, they acted on a tip-off, after which troops from the 93 Battalion Sub-Sector 3B OPWS, stationed at Forward Operating Base Wukari, carried out a well-planned raid in Chinkai Village of Wukari Local Government Area.
This raid led to the apprehension of two individuals identified as Usman Gide Ali, aged 25 and Abdulrahaman Amadu, aged 28.
The suspects have been on wanted list of the security agencies for their involvement in multiple kidnappings in Wukari and its surroundings.
Upon their arrest, the suspects attempted to bribe the troops with 2 million Naira for their release. However, the soldiers staunchly refused the bribe, underscoring their dedication to justice and integrity.
The suspects were also overheard stating that if money failed to secure their freedom, their associates would resort to armed means to rescue them from custody.
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Ina different operation in Ibi Local Government Area, troops stationed at Sarikin Kudu acting on credible intelligence apprehended four more suspected kidnappers.
They have been identified as Jafaru Banyi, aged 28, Mohammad Ardo, aged 25, Amadu Lawal Shatta, aged 20 and Biyu Ardu, aged 25.
The suspects have been linked to numerous high-profile abductions in the region, targeting both locals and foreigners for ransom and have long been under the surveillance of security agencies.
The Commander 6 Brigade/ Sector 3 OPWS, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidebere Uwa, has since commended the troops for their courage and unwavering commitment to ethical standards.
He emphasized that the successful apprehension of these suspects is a testament to the diligent efforts and dedication of the soldiers, highlighting their refusal to accept bribes as a clear demonstration of their professionalism and integrity.
Army nabs six kidnappers, rejects N2m bribe in Taraba
metro
78 suspected internet fraudsters arrested in Enugu, Imo
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested no fewer than 78 suspected internet fraudsters in Enugu and Imo States.
This was announced in a statement published on the Commission’s official X page on Monday.
According to the Commission’s statement, 29 suspects were apprehended in Enugu State, while 49 were arrested in Imo State.
The statement reads, “Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested seventy-eight (78) suspected internet fraudsters in Enugu and Imo States, respectively.
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“While twenty-nine suspects were arrested on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Enugu State metropolis, the remaining forty-nine suspects were nabbed on Friday, May 17, 2024, in Imo State metropolis.
“The 78 suspects were arrested following actionable intelligence about their suspected involvement in online criminal activities.
“Items recovered from them include mobile phones, laptops, and 13 cars.
“They will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded.”
metro
Kano mosque attack: Principal suspect pleads guilty, remanded
Kano mosque attack: Principal suspect pleads guilty, remanded
An Upper Shariah Court sitting in Kano, yesterday, ordered the remand of the principal suspect, Shafi’u Abubakar in connection of an arson attack on mosque in Gadan village, Gezawa Local Government Area of the state.
Although, the suspect pleaded guilty as charged, but the case could not continue because of lack of legal representation.
The court presided over Halhalatu Zakariya directed the Attorney General to provide the suspect with legal representation.
The court ordered the remand of the suspect for one week and adjourned the case till May 31, 2024.
Kano mosque attack: Principal suspect pleads guilty, remanded
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