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Designate group al-Qaeda – Jonathan urges African nations
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African leaders declare war on sect
Members of the Boko Haram sect have threatened to abduct students of Government College Makurdi, in Benue State, with a population of over 700.
The principal of the college, Ugudu Godfrey, who spoke to newsmen at the school premises, yesterday, said the threat was contained in a letter smuggled into his office and one of the institution’s staff rooms.
Godfrey, who said he could not initially comprehend the contents of the write-up, which he said was done in Pidgin English, however said that the terrorist group said it would storm the school tomorrow.
The insurgents said they could come in through any routes, including the sea, adding that female students would be forced to marry them.
He also disclosed that the threat was also extended to the neighbouring Mount Saint Gabriel’s Secondary School.
Godfrey said he reported the matter to the police and the state Commissioner for Education, Elizabeth Ugoh, who, in turn, briefed the state governor, after which security was mobilised to the school.
Asked whether he would shut down the school to prevent anything untoward, Godfrey declined, insisting that the existing security presence was enough to curtail any external threat.
Nigerian Pilot Sunday saw a number of heavily armed security men and their vehicles parading the school under the supervision of the divisional police officer, Zone D, Mr. Samuel Attah, who referred newsmen to the state command police public relations officer, PPRO, SP Daniel Ezeala.
When contacted on phone, Ezeala confirmed the deployment of policemen to the institution and said the police were on top of the situation.
Meanwhile, African leaders meeting in Paris, France capital, yesterday, to wage war on Boko Haram Islamic militants.
President Hollande of France, who hosted the summit, said the leaders had pledged to share intelligence and co-ordinate action against the group.
President Goodluck Jonathan attended the Paris summit with President Francois Hollande of France and their counterparts from Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
Hollande said participants had agreed on a “global and regional action plan”.
He said they agreed to be “co-coordinating intelligence, sharing information… border surveillance, a military presence notably around Lake Chad and the capacity to intervene in case of danger”.
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya said, “We are here to declare war on Boko Haram”. Idriss Deby of Chad said it would be “total war”.
While speaking, President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria requested the leaders to designate the Boko Haram group as al-Qaeda in West Africa, followed by necessary sanctions.
He also disclosed that the deadly sect had killed about 12,000 persons in Nigeria since its insurgency started in 2009.
He said this at the Regional Security Summit convened in Paris by President Francois Hollande of France, to strategize on how to end the Boko Haram violent campaign.
He said, “Since 2009, we have had to contend with many attacks and killings, which have now developed into a full-scale war targeting the stability and integrity of our Nation. Boko Haram has launched a vicious guerrilla-style campaign against the government and the people of Nigeria.
“It has attacked schools, slaughtered students in their dormitories, destroyed villages, communities and government infrastructure and has wreaked havoc on the economic and social life of our people.
“This unconventional war has so far claimed over twelve thousand lives, with more than 8, 000 persons injured or maimed, not to mention the displacement of thousands of innocent Nigerians.
“We have developed intelligence, which indicates clearly that global terrorist networks are deeply involved in the recent activities of Boko Haram, which has now turned into an integral part of the al Qaeda network as the West African Branch.
“More tellingly, the group runs an international network of training and incubation centres in such places as Gao and Kidal areas of Mali, the Diffa, Maradi and Maina Soro areas of Niger Republic, Maroua and Garoua areas of Republic of Cameroun, the Zango and Ridina quarters in Ndjamena, Chad, the Ranky-Kotsy area of Sudan, and also some cells in the Central African Republic,” the President said.
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