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The Federal Government on Thursday admitted that members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect and ISWAP have changed tactics .
It said they had decided to be targeting Christians and Christian communities .
The Minister of Information and Culture , Alhaji Lai Mohammed , said this at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday .
It said the insurgents ’ latest strategy was meant to trigger a religious war and throw the nation into chaos.
The minister ’s position contradicted the President Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s ( retd. ) assertion in an op -ed article published three weeks ago in a United States -based magazine, Christianity Today .
In the op -ed which was a tribute to the Michika Local Government Area Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Adamawa State , Pastor Lawan Andimi , who was abducted and killed by insurgents , Buhari had said that it was not true that Christians were the primary targets of Boko Haram insurgents .
He stated, “ Christianity in Nigeria is not – as some seem intent on believing – contracting under pressure , but expanding and growing in numbers approaching half of our population today. Nor is it the case that Boko Haram is primarily targeting Christians : not all of the Chibok schoolgirls were Christians ; some were Muslims , and were so at the point at which they were taken by the terrorists .”
The Christian Association of Nigeria’ s Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Kwamkur Samuel, had faulted the President .
Samuel said Boko Haram from the outset did not hide their mission . “ The sole purpose of Boko Haram is the killing of Christians and Islamisation of Nigeria, ” he added.
The CAN director stated that Boko Haram had wiped away all Christian communities in most local governments of Borno , Adamawa and Yobe .
Samuel also cited the killing of Andimi and a University of Maiduguri student, Ropvil Daciya Dalep, to back his claim that the insurgents were targeting Christians .
But on Thursday , the Federal Government seemed to have changed its position as it said the insurgents had altered their strategy because of “ a renewed onslaught by our tireless military .”
The Minister of Information and Culture , Mohammed, said Boko Haram insurgents were not used to discriminating between Christians and Muslims when they carried out their attacks in the past .
According to him , churches and mosques , Christians and Muslims were attacked without discrimination in the past .
He said, “ Recall that Boko Haram insurgents didn’t use to discriminate between Christians and Muslims when they carried out their attacks in the past . Churches and mosques , Christians and Muslims were attacked without discrimination.
“ When they targeted motor parks, the religion , gender, ethnicity or political leaning of the victims didn’t matter, as long as they inflicted the maximum damage to lives and property .
“ But in the wake of a renewed onslaught by our tireless military against Boko Haram and their ISWAP allies in recent times, the insurgents have apparently changed their strategy .
“ They have started targeting Christians and Christian villages for a specific reason, which is to trigger a religious war and throw the nation into chaos.
“ Apparently, they have realised how emotive and divisive religion can be , when exploited by unscrupulous persons. ”
The minister added , “ Lest I am misunderstood , let me repeat : the insurgents , who delude themselves as Muslims whereas they are nothing more than blood -thirsty , rapacious killers who subscribe to no religion , have recently started targeting Christians with a view to sowing the seed of confusion between the two great religions.
“ This did not in any way signify that they have stopped attacking Muslims . But they seem to now have a deliberate policy of attacking Christians . ”
He said the killing of Andimi , Dalep and 11 Christians on Christmas Eve , among others fit into the new strategy .
Notwithstanding, Mohammed said it was absurd and unfair to those who are daily battling the insurgents to insinuate a systematic campaign to persecute Christians in Nigeria .
“ The truth is that , having run out of options in their battle against Nigeria , the insurgents are desperate to stay relevant , to stay in the news , hence their cowardly and senseless strategy targeting Christians , as part of their increasing resort to the use of guerilla tactics , ” he said.
He , therefore , appealed to religious leaders , both Christians and Muslims , not to fall for the desperate move by the insurgents to divide the nation and weaken the resolve to deal the insurgents the mortal blow .
He claimed that contrary to the belief in certain quarters, the insurgents were getting weaker daily due to the gallantry of the nation ’ s military men .
The minister continued , “ The renewed vigour by the military in their war against the insurgents is paying off handsomely, judging by the victories they have recorded in recent times . These include the killing of top ISWAP leaders at two separate meeting venues at Marte Local Government in Borno State a few days ago .
A similarly successful attack against the leadership of Boko Haram was recorded in Alafa Yagayaga in Borno earlier this month . There was also the killing of Boko Haram Chief Judge in Lake Chad .
“ The in -fighting in the leadership cadre of Boko Haram is fallout of the pressure on the insurgents by the military . The continued foiling by the military of many attacks by Boko Haram is also another success story . ”
Apart from fighting insurgents , the minister said the military had continued to carry out development programmes in the North -East as part of efforts to win the hearts and minds of the populace .
“ In conclusion, we want to once again appeal to our leaders , especially religious leaders , not to fall for the antics of Boko Haram and ISWAP, who are trying to divide us along religious lines by targeting Christians for attacks .
“ This is the last desperate move by a decimated and disillusioned band of killers and psychopaths to stay relevant amid constant decimation by our gallant troops . We have what it takes to come together and foil this divisive and satanic strategy .
“ We appeal to Nigerians to support the military as it moves to decapitate the insurgents . Second -guessing the military at this time is like playing into the hands of Boko Haram, ” he said.
FG has not helped the matter – CAN
The Special Assistant to the CAN president , Adebayo Oladeji , in an interview with The PUNCH, said the terrorists had never hidden their Islamisation agenda .
He stated, “ If they attack fellow Muslims , they ’re not their primary targets. They only kill Muslims who attack them , those they kill by accident . The Federal Government has not helped the matter with the perceived discrimination against Christians as manifested in the composition of the National Security Council and the lopsided appointments since President Muhammadu Buhari came on board .”
Boko Haram not a ploy to eliminate Christians , NSCIA insists
The Head of Media and Communications of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Aselemi Ibrahim , told The PUNCH that the position of the organisation had not changed from what it said at a press conference two weeks ago .
NSCIA at the press conference , said that it was wicked “ to suggest that Boko Haram is a ploy to eliminate Christians , a dummy being promoted by some dealers camouflaging as religious leaders to their followers and the outside world .”
The Igbo apex sociocultural organisation , Ohanaeze Ndigbo , said that the success or failure of the military against the Boko Haram war lay with the Presidency .
Ohanaeze’ s National Publicity Secretary , Prince Uche Achi -Okpaga , who spoke to one of our correspondents in Enugu, said that there were discordant tones in the Presidency .

The polity was wrapped in outrage, yesterday, as the identities and details of how a baby, a female Mass Communication student of the University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID, and scores of others were massacred by Boko Haram insurgents, who ambushed motorists and passengers at Auno village, near Maiduguri, Borno State, on Sunday night, emerged.
The dead included a baby and its mother, a female student of University of Maiduguri, simply identified as Fatima. Some of the victims were burnt beyond recognition by the attackers. A woman was raped and her new born baby’s head was crushed to death, before they were burnt in the ensuing inferno.
The village was deserted, yesterday, when Vanguard visited. Some stakeholders have blamed the military for the carnage and urged them to compensate the victims just as former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, called for a second look at possible ways to end Nigeria’s war against the Boko Haram insurgency.
With Nigerian Army Commander, General Abdul Kalifa Ibrahim, attributing the mayhem to guerilla tactics adopted by the insurgents, Organised Labour urged the military to change its strategy and win the war.
Death toll now over 40
Initial accounts said 30 people died in the Auno attack. However, a vigilante, Yusuf Isa Kazalma, told Vanguard that the attack left no fewer than 40 people dead, including six insurgents and four civilians whose corpses were recovered in the bush during clearance operations on Monday. The motorists and passengers who were denied entry into Maiduguri for failing to meet the 5pm stipulated time set by security operatives, elected to pass the night at Auno village.
Unfortunately, they were attacked by terrorists suspected to have came from Alagarno axis of Sambisa Forest.
Kazalma said the massacre started at about 9:50pm. Located along Maiduguri-Damaturu highway, Auno is seven kilometres away from Maiduguri city centre and five kilometers from the newly established Borno State University campus.
This is even as another Boko Haram attack took place on Monday night in Tungushe village located along Maiduguri-Monguno road. Fortunately, this time, sources said, troops were able to repel the attack with the terrorists having casualties
Governor Babagana Zulum, who visited the scene on Monday morning, was shocked to have discovered that no fewer than 30 people lost their lives with 18 vehicles, shops and residential houses set ablaze, lamenting that the disaster could have been averted, if the military did the needful
The Theatre Commander, Major Gen Olusegun Adenyi disputed the figure and put the death toll to 10 at Press briefing on Monday.
Said Zulum: “We have to be brutal in telling the truth. I am pushed to the wall to say the truth. Since I was inaugurated as governor of Borno State, Boko Haram has attacked Auno six times. Another thing is that the military has been withdrawn from Auno town.
“I am not undermining the capacity of the military but we have made repeated appeals for the military to establish their unit in Auno. They are here but as soon as it is 5 pm, they close the gate and lock the people and go back to Maiduguri.”
Military must compensate families of Borno carnage – Kaka Bolori
Bemoaning the attack, former chairman of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, MMC, Kaka Bolori, said military authorities must compensate families of those killed by terrorists at Auno village.
“There was no justification for the military to block the Damaturu-Maiduguri road, deny commuters passage, leaving them vulnerable to attack at night without any help from anywhere.
“It is unthinkable for the soldiers to ask hundreds of people to lay over at Auno when everyone knows the place is not safe. “More widows and orphans were created on that day. This sad event has further increased the humanitarian challenges our people are facing.
“The commanders that gave the directive for the travelers to be held hostage must be brought to book. In addition, the military must compensate families of the victims killed, must shoulder the bills of those injured and those who lost their valuables must also be fully compensated. There is no wisdom in blocking highways and subjecting commuters to all kinds of dangers,” Bolori said.
Outrage
Also, Abba Masta, a strong advocate for peace and good governance, also said: “So long as failures are not visited fully with ‘dire’ consequences, we will sadly, but truly continue to wallow in many more of the avoidable incidents such as Auno’s (God forbid).
“It is very unfortunate that five years into the change government that Nigerians overwhelmingly supported, the issue of Boko Haram still lingers.’’
Former Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Adamu Shettima Yuguda Dibal, described the incident as callous, heinous, uncalled-for and against humanity.
“I commiserate with the victims’ families, Borno State government under the leadership of Professor Babagana Umar Zulum, and, indeed, the good people of Borno over the avoidable incident. I urge the good of people Borno
and indeed the nation to be dedicated in prayers for the total end to inhumane activities of any form from individuals or groups. I also pray for our gallant military and other security agencies in their efforts in winning the war against terrorism in our dear state, Borno, and indeed across the country.’’
A university teacher, Dr Musa Usman, attributed what happened in Auno and other places to total negligence.
“It pains every Nigerian that a government that promised to secure the nation has failed to do so. There are so many questions begging for answers as regards this insurgency. The Maiduguri-Damaturu highway is not a meandering slop with sharp turns. It is a straight road with open space.
“At this time of the year, the area lacks any iota of vegetation. The road is not on the path of a thick forest. And the road, if I am not wrong, is less than two hours’ drive.
“If the Federal Government cannot secure this little stretch of road, then we are in a big quagmire. It is sad that security forces cannot comb the areas around the road for the insurgents. Despite huge resources, the military cannot develop a mechanism to check the antics of the insurgents. What pains us the most is the fact that nobody is going to be held responsible.
“No empathy from the Federal Government. And the situation is the same across the country, killings everywhere! If there is a conspiracy to thwart the gains of the Buhari government, as some diehards will say, what is the government doing to unravel the conspiracy?
“The buck stops on the table of the government. We deeply regret returning this government to power. As it stands now, as it has always been, we will lick our wounds, tend to our injured and bury our dead. But God is watching! All those with hands in this calamity will pay for their sins. All those whose irresponsibility keeps this cycle of violence going will equally answer for their inactions,” he said on his Fcaebook page.
Insurgents attack in 6 gun trucks
Sources said the terrorists came in six gun trucks for the first attack, contrary to claims by the Theatre Commander that the insurgents came on motorcycles, dropped their members near the surrounding bushes before launching the deadly attacks.
Later on sources said “18 trucks loaded with armed insurgents joined the first team as reinforcement and wreaked havoc.
A veteran journalist (name withheld) in Maiduguri said “It’s indeed a black and obnoxious Monday for us in Borno and the entire North-East. One cannot estimate the kind of pains families of the victims are passing through. May souls of the departed rest in peace. My heart is still bleeding because heads will not roll, nobody will take responsibility for this grave failure and national embarrassment”.
Army commander blames carnage on guerilla tactics of insurgents
A Nigerian Army Commander, General Abdul Kalifa Ibrahim has assured that the military has intensified efforts to apprehend the dreaded Boko Haram leader, Shekau, saying, “by the grace of Allah,we will be victorious.”
General Ibrahim spoke in an interview on the Voice of America, VOA, Hausa Service monitored by journalists in Kaduna, yesterday.
Speaking on the latest carnage along the Damaturu-Maiduguri road, the Army Commander said: “The truth is that people had moved freely without any problem but as I have told you, these insurgents engage in guerilla warfare. But still, there are methods adopted by security agencies on that and by the grace of Allah, we will deal with that problem.”
He explained that a battalion had been stationed in that contentious axis near Mainok,while a headquarters is at Jakana to enable the military operatives in that location patrol the area and prevent the insurgents from committing their atrocities.
“It’s not that we lack working tools, we have but we need more,” he said.
Asked the possibility of apprehending Abubakar Shekau, he said, “we are working on that and by the grace of Allah, we will be victorious.’’
He debunked the idea that the Nigerian military only engaged in defensive techniques instead of a hot chase on the insurgents, saying “the truth is that we are doing our best. We do chase them, we traverse different camps searching for Boko Haram. Just last week I assigned my soldiers from 21 Brigade to Bama. Although the guerrillas ran away, we found and destroyed their camp. We also rescued women and children from there,” he said.
We must explore all options to stop this scourge – Atiku
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also said the Auno killings call for a second look at possible ways to end Nigeria’s war against the Boko Haram insurgency. He said Nigeria can’t afford to stay divided in the face of its common enemy.
He also sympathized with the bereaved families, noting that the incidents should make the nation explore all possible options to put a stop to the carnage.
Atiku made these remarks on Sunday via his verified Twitter handle.
Adopt new approach to fighting terrorism, insurgency — NLC
Organised Labour, yesterday commiserated with Governor Zulum, and indigenes of Borno State over Auno attack and asked military authorities to devise a new approach to fight terrorism and insurgency in the country.
The commiseration letter to Zulum by President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Ayuba Wabba, read in part: “This attack is aimed at undermining the good efforts that your administration and our security forces are making to bring the current wave of terrorism and insurgency in the North East to an end and to restore the peace.
“At this rate, we have to urge the government and our security services not to be discouraged. It is also important for the government and our security forces to seriously consider adopting an entirely new approach to the fight against terrorism and insurgency especially in a manner that would break the spinal cord of those bent on unleashing mayhem on our people, their livelihoods and our collective sanity. It has now become unacceptable to allow blood-sucking marauders to operate for an uninterrupted period of up to four hours without repulsion by our security forces. We must now draw the line!
“The adoption of a new security strategy to the anti-terrorism fight has become acutely necessary given the grave danger that a much more prolonged insurgency portends for the socio-economic survival of our people. There are already fears that the recent upscale in violence along the Maiduguri-Damaturu corridor could be geared at cutting off this critical transportation artery and thus isolating Maiduguri from the rest of the country. The humanitarian impact in terms of the supply of food and other basic life-supporting amenities can only be imagined.’’
Go fight Boko Haram, leave Kanu’s home – INC tells Army
Also, the Igbo National Council, INC, yesterday advised the Nigeria security men at the home of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, ahead of his parents burial to leave.
INC President, Chilos Godsent, in a statement said in Owerri that Nigerians expected the Army in Afaraukwu to go and fight Boko Haram insurgents undermining the country’s sovereignty.

A high court in Maiduguri , Borno State capital, on Monday , remanded Hajiya Aisha Wakil , popularly called Mama Boko Haram , in a custodial centre.
Mama Boko Haram was standing trial alongside Tahir Saidu and Lawal Shoyade on an amended five counts bordering on conspiracy , obtaining money by false pretence and cheating to the tune of N 111 . 7m .
Aisha Kumalia , the presiding judge , gave the order to remand the accused after the Economic and Financial Crimes ( EFCC) had arraigned them .
One of the counts read, “ That you , Aisha Alkali Wakil , Tahiru Saidu Daura , and Prince Shoyade, while being chief executive officer , programme manager and country director respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation ( a non -governmental organisation ) and Saidu Muktar ( now at large ) sometime in October, 2018 in Maiduguri , Borno State , within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud induced one Mohammed Umar Mohammed of Nyeuro International Limited to deliver to you 3 ,000 bags of 50 kg white beans worth N 65 m under the guise of executing a purported contract of supply of the said beans which you knew to be false , thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 320 ( a ) and punishable under Section 322 of the Borno State Penal Code .”
They all pleaded not guilty to all the charges according to Yadda Ake
Mr Benjamin Manji , the prosecution counsel , applied for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendants in a Nigerian Correctional Centre pending the determination of the case.
The judge subsequently ordered the defendants to be remanded at a custodial centre and adjourned the case till February 10 , 2020 , for commencement of trial. read this exclusive Afriadverts review