Boko Haram Always Knew Movement Of Soldiers – Survivor

One of the survivors of Boko Haram insurgency, Zahra Umoru says the terrorists were receiving the information of the movements of the military.

Zahra Umoru

 

The girl was abducted in November and rescued recently with other women and children from Sambisa forest.

The teenager was speaking with the journalists of TheCable at Malkohi, one of the camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Yola, Adamawa state.

 She said Boko Haram terrorists kept moving hostages from one place to the other.

Umoru narrates: “When they captured us, we were taken to a house in Gwoza.

 “When they heard soldiers were in Madagali, they took us to Peta where we lived under trees.

“We don’t know how Boko Haram gets its information, but they always know when the soldiers are coming. If there’s something like that, they just tell us to pack our things and run.

“The night we left Gwoza, we just finished cooking, but we were not allowed to eat the food; we were just packed and left.”

 Several other Boko Haram victims also corroborated this information. They said they were relocated from one village to another, one bush to the other, town to town, based on the itinerary of the Nigerian army.

Meanwhile, it is uncertain if the insurgents received its information from news reports and comments released by the Defence Headquarters or they have some insiders in the army.

Earlier in April, when the military was commencing the operation in Sambisa forest, Mike Omeri, coordinator of the national information centre, informed the journalists.

He said that the government was dedicated to liberating the girls.

About two weeks later, the army said in another comment that its soldiers were still present in Sambisa to rescue the girls.

 Borno senator Ali Ndume has said that Nigerian army rescued about 1000 women and children in the North East.

After the postponement of the general elections for six weeks troops achieved success in the war against insurgency and most of the captured areas were liberated.

The mass kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls who were writing science exams at a boarding school in the town of Chibok, over a year ago, brought Boko Haram to the attention of the world and caused international outrage.

The terrorists kidnapped hundreds more in their campaign across northeastern Nigeria.

2015 general elections: I hope my wife will not divorce me - GEJ

 

 

Speaking at the thanksgiving and farewell service organized for him today, President Jonathan said he hopes his wife will not divorce him just as the former South African leader, F.W de Klerk's wife left him when he chose to abolish minority rule in South Africa, a decision he took for the greater good of South Africa. Pres. Jonathan was speaking against the backdrop of his decision to concede defeat after the presidential elections. He said such decisions come with its consequences. He sympathized with his Minister and aides for the persecution they will face as they also leave office come May 29th.

'I believe there are reasons for everything. Some hard decisions have their own cost. That I have ran the government this way that stabilized certain things,  the electoral process and other things that brought stability into this country. They were very costly decisions which I must be ready to pay for. Some people come to me and say this or that person is he not your friend that benefited? Is it not your government that this person benefited from? But this is what the person is saying. But I used to say worse statements will come. If you take certain decisions, you should know that those close to you will even abandon you at some point. And I tell them that more of my so-called friends will disappear. When F.W de Klerk took the decision to abolish minority rule in RSA, even his wife divorced him. I hope my wife will not divorce me. But that is the only decision that has made RSA to still remain a global player time. If we still had that minority rule there, by this time, nobody will be talking about RSA. If you take certain decisions, it might be good for the generality of the people but it might affect people differently. So for ministers and aides who served with me, I sympathize with them, they will be persecuted. And they must be ready for that persecution” he said

He appreciated God for being with him and his family.

"Very few of those in my age brackets have been that lucky. All through my education were on government scholarships. I have not suffered lack not because I’m hard-working but by God’s grace. When I look at the whole picture of my life up to when I became the president of this country. And I say that if  soldiers and police officers that have not received 0. 5 per cent of the benefits that I have received  from the state can lay their lives for  this country, I should  do anything in the interest of Nigeria including paying the supreme price. As long as live, I will continue to do my best for the state because the state has helped me as a person. I have to thank Nigerians especially my state for giving me  the opportunity to serve as deputy governor and the whole country gave me the opportunity to serve as Vice President and then president, first was to complete the tenure of the late president and later serve as president from which I am exiting now as a very happy and fulfilled man”.

Friends and associates have abandoned me since I lost the election - GEJ

Before? Unfortunately, that's how some people are. They are only around you for what they can get, but as soon you are no longer in the position to be of help to them, they are gone. President Jonathan, during his Thanksgiving farewell service yesterday told his audience that he's been abandoned by people who he once considered friends.

He said despite this, he is a fulfilled man and will continue to give his best to Nigeria.

"As long as I live, I will continue to do my best for the state because it has helped me as a person. I have to thank Nigerians especially my state for giving me the opportunity to serve as deputy governor, governor and the whole country gave me the opportunity to serve as Vice President and then President, first was to complete the tenure of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and later serve as Presi­dent from which I am exiting now as a very happy and fulfilled man”.

"When I look at the whole picture of my life up to when I became the President of this country, and I say that if soldiers and police officers that have not received 0. 5 per cent of the benefits that I have received from the state can lay their lives for this country, I should do anything in the interest of Nigeria including paying the supreme price."

Jonathan said he wasn't surprised that friends and associates have abandoned him, since losing the election and he expects worst things to happen in future. He said those that benefited most from his government were same people crucifying him today but he wasn't phased by it.

He thanked his ministers for having served him well and wished them the best in future endeavours.

“To my ministers, I wish you what I wish myself. They will have hard times, we will all have hard times. Our ways will be rough.”

But we are happy the ordinary people appreciate what we did and that is the most important. It’s not what the elite or the privileged few talk or say about you but what the majority of the Nigerian public think about your actions and inac­tions that matter.

“Like the Primate said, we came to Abuja peacefully and we are returning peace­fully. “I thank the church and Nigerians because they stood by us at our most dif­ficult times.