Titbits
Gen Buratai’s Exploits Ignite Leadership Dispute Change Of Guards Within ISWAP
Analysis by Abdul Kareem
A recent analysis of the situation in the Lake Chad frontlines indicates that ISWAP, a breakaway arm of the Boko Haram are enmeshed in bloody leadership tussle which had led to the change of guard in the group’s commandership.
EONS Intelligence, a Nigerian online news media, gave a cursory anatomisation of the situation around the Lake Chad and Sambisa axis which provided insights to why the Nigerian troops may have suffered series of deadly assaults in the hands of the relentless terrorists.,
Interestingly, many have observed that the twin terror group have been reacting to the recent mass killings of their members and top commanders during the days that Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff ,Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, took the lead in the ‘fight to finish’ with the Boko Haram and ISWAP groupings.
The army chief of Staff had informed Nigerians that not less than a thousand terrorists had been killed when he joined the troops in the jungles of Sambisa and the Tumbuls of the Lake Chad.
It is being said that disgruntled ISWAP members who suffered most of the casualty in the attacks by Nigerian troops have blamed the mass loss of their commanders and key fighters on the incapabilities of their erstwhile leader, Amir Abba Gana.
The EONS Intelligence’s analysis said the Shura Council of ISWAP accused Amir Abba Gana of weakness and “failure to command and control” their operations. As such, he was deposed and detained.
A new Amir, considered to be more vicious, Amir Ba’ Lawan came in as the replacement of Mr Abba Gana.
Amir Ba’ Lawan, who hails from one of the riparian communities of the Lake Chad was the former Deputy Commander to Abba Gana.
The former deposed ISWAP leader, Abu Musab Albarnawi, who was also the first Amir of ISWAP when the group split in March 2015, is said to have been favoured by this latest leadership crisis and the subsequent Shura Council backed coup that elevated Amir Ba’ Lawan to the overall commandership of the deadly group.
The Humanitarian Times gathered that with the approval of Ba’ Lawan, the Shura Council “restored” Abu Musab Albarnawi into the cabal circle to function as “strategy/ operational adviser.”
His new rank gives him the latitude to wield enormous influence as “one of the most powerful commanders to ISWAP alongside Ba Lawan.”
EONS Intelligence assumed that Abu Musab was brought into the mainstream with the motive of sustaining recognition and support “from ISIS core leadership and the AZWAJ sponsors linked to Regional jihadist in Mali and Libya. Habib is said to have a special relationship with Ba Lawan.”
Besides that assumption, Abu Musab, being the son of the founder and spiritual leader of the movement that eventually transmutes to the present-day JAS and ISWAP, is still respected by those that worked closely with his father, Sheik Muhammed Yusuf died in July 2009. He is also adjudged to be knowledgeable in the Quran and has fluency in Arabic.
Many opinions believe that Albarnawi may have masterminded the recent bloody operations that led to the mass killing of Nigerian soldiers, including the twin attacks of Damboa.
During the Buratai-led two months of attacks on critical hideouts of ISWAP and Boko Haram, the two terror groups suffered a massive loss of their fighters.
As such, to shore up the ranks of their fighters, and to match with the fighting forces of the Nigerian troops, EONs Intelligence said the new ISWAP leadership under the strategic advise of Albarnawi embarked on conscription and training of child soldiers, “some as young as 13 years”, in the Tumbus of Lake Chad.
Albarnawi had, through the diehard young fighters, been able to replenish the decimated force of the ISWAP.
The Humanitarian Times has also gathered from impeccable sources who have been spying on the operations of the terrorists that Albarnawi was the brain behind the collaborative attack that ISWAP seemed to be having with the Libya-based AZWAJ.
According to EONS Intelligence, sources say “there is a higher possibility of continuous operational collaboration between the new ISWAP leadership of Ba’ Lawan with the Abubakar Shekau’s main faction of Boko Haram Shekau. A battlefield synergy reported in the double Boko Haram ISWAP attack on Damboa road.
The trio- Albarnawi- Shekau and Ba Lawan have similar leadership and ideology although Shekau believes in localisation of Boko Haram.”
With the rains setting in and the possibility of hunger hitting the increasing number of the ISWAP young fighter, Albarnawi is being credited for coming up with the strategy of attacking villages and looting food items including livestock.
EONS Intelligence had in its analysis referenced sources who said ISWAP fighters “are directly responsible for stealing over 20000 cows within the past 21 days” around the northern parts of Borno. The report claims that “Some of the stolen cattle are currently hidden in a location given as Tunbum Allura.”
It is the take of The Humanitarian Times that though the Chief of Army Staff and his gallant troops may have unsettled the ranks of the terrorists during his recent exploits, the Nigerian forces must not let down their guards and watch Albarnawi, ISWAP’s chief advisor, to seal a peace deal with his former colleagues in the Abubakar Shekau led factions of the Boko Haram.
A divided force of Boko Haram is to the greater advantage of government forces than a united enemy.
The military must, must find a way to wriggle itself out of its present labyrinths of its challenges to leverage on the present confusion in the ranks of the ISWAP and Boko Haram leadership to consolidate on the gains they had achieved, before the recent unfortunate setbacks.
Likewise the Nigerian government must provide all the necessary tools and welfare enablements to motivate the troops. For according to Napoleon Bonaparte, God is on the side of the best artillery.
So the Nigerian government must understand that it is at war with terrorists, and it must wage the war with severity; because that is the only way to make it shorter and consequently less human.
The Boko Haram insurgency is currently into its eleventh year since it began in June 2009 when a group of clubs, machete and hunting rifles-wielding Islamic extremist under the command of Muhammed Yusuf started a movement to replace constitutional democracy with Islamic Sharia rule.
The terror groups have killed more than 36,000 people and displaced over 2 million people with over 7 million others – mostly women and children in need of life-saving need.
Kellysbookstore, an online bookstore has opened its online store for avid readers all over the world and the CEO of the company ,Miss Opemipo Fabiyi has opened up on why she joined other firms selling books online.
Kellysbookstore, an online bookstore based in Lagos has now officially opened its store and the firm promises to change the way online bookstore operates in Nigeria and other parts of the world. The bookstore according to its President and CEO, Miss Opemipo Fabiyi stocks books from different genres viz; Children, icton,business,religous,non-fiction,biography,classics and so on.
Opemipo whilst speaking to CityNews Newspaper states that Kellysbookstore ”is out to become the number one marketplace for books in Nigeria. Our customers and would-be customers alike can search for a book by title or author using their web browser, add it to their shopping cart, and then purchase it using a debit or credit card transaction. According to Opemeipo ‘we deliver a unique experience to our customers as we have put in place structures that support book lovers who wish to patronise us.We are out to do things differently in our sub-sector”.
Customers can reach on using our different social media handles.
Labake is a mentally challenged teenager. Two years ago someone took advantage of her condition, impregnated and abandoned her. She was begging for food and money to survive.
The first time l saw her was in October 2020 when she strayed into my event. She was being dragged out by security men when she caught the attention of Kafayat Oyetola, Osun state , First Lady,who was my guest.
The First Lady took Labake to Oshogbo,rehabilited, took care of her till she delivered. Then she brought Labake back to Apomu,headquarters of Isokan local government area of Osun state.
This year again,2022, an unknown man whose name according to Labake is “Operator” impregnated her and disappeared.
On Thursday November 3, l was told Labake was at the Palace gate.I thought it was her usual visit for support. I asked my staff to take some things to her.He came back with a paper and said Labake was crying profusely.
The paper was the Scan result which showed among other things that she had been due since October 24 and the baby’s breech position in her womb posed great danger to her life.The baby’s head was up instead of down.The ideal position for birth is head down.
I asked the security to let her in. When l saw her, l didn’t need to be told that she was in great pain.l called Julius Edet and Moses Bello (both members of the Medical team l set up for my project “Initiative To Stop Teenage Pregnancy,) to come to the Palace .
They took her to the Health Center. After payment was made for registration and tests, the officials said there was no doctor to attend to her.
She was taken to another Health centre.The Matron spoke to me.She said Labake’s condition was beyond them.She advised that Labake be taken to a private hospital or General hospital Oluyoro in Ibadan because the only way she could give birth was through operation.
For me Ibadan was not an option at all because of distance and gridlock.Labake may not have have survived the stress in the condition that she was.
I decided to call Goke Odetunde, Chairman of our local government .He responded immediately.l told him the situation on ground.He said Labake should to be taken to a private hospital in a neighbouring community.
He also paid the bill.
To the glory of Almighty God,the operation was successful.She delivered a baby boy.Mother and child are alive.
But the journey to save Labake has not ended.I would like to rehabilitate and provide a secured shelter for her.She can then acquire a skill or start a trade.
I want to thank the Chairman for the rapid response and kind gesture.Julius and Moses for devoting their time and attention to be with Labake throughout her agonising hours.
I want to appeal to the men who keep talking advantage of Labake’s mental condition to sexually harrass/ abuse/ impregnate her, to desist. If she were your sister or daughter l do not think you will be happy if someone does that to her.
Most likely, you would describe such action as man’s inhumanity to a vulnerable teenager girl.
Olori Janet Afolabi is a CNN Award Winning Journalist, Author and Queen of Apomu Land.
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving monarch in British history recently died at the age of 96, according to a statement by Buckingham Palace.
Following the demise of the queen, she is expected to be succeeded by Prince Charles, the eldest of her four children with her late husband, Prince Philip.
Prince Charles III also known as Charles Philip Arthur George was born on 14 November 1948 and was heir and Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay from 1952. As the oldest and the longest-serving heir apparent in British history, he has since held the title from July 1958.
Early life
As the first grandchild of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, he was born in Buckingham Palace and attended Cheam and Gordonstoun schools, just like his father, Prince Phillip before furthering at the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar School in Victoria, Australia.
He became the Prince of Wales in 1969, among other royal titles, after he had spent a term at the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth, where he learned to speak Welsh. Two years later, Charles took his seat in the House of Lords, the upper house of the parliament of the United Kingdom.
Upon earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Cambridge, Charles served in the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy from 1971 to 1976.
Family and personal life
In 1981, Charles married Lady Diana Spencer, who became the Princess of Wales and together, they had two sons, William and Harry, who are second and sixth in line to the throne.
In 1992, the couple agreed to separate in late 1992, and their marriage was dissolved about four years later.
In 2005, Charles married Camilla, who became known as the Duchess of Cornwall and the couple lived together in Clarence House, a British royal residence on The Mall in London. However, they are expected to move into Buckingham Palace now that he is king.
Charles has five grandchildren from both of his sons.
Special interests
With a particular focus on global sustainability, he has spearheaded a number of initiatives and charitable work over the years.
In 2007, he started an initiative called Mosaic, which offers mentoring programs to young people growing up in deprived communities.
In 2010, he also launched the Campaign for Wool to promote awareness of the environmental benefits of wool and expand the market for British sheep farmers who are struggling to make ends meet.
Charles and Camilla, 75, are also expected to be coronated side-by-side, per Elizabeth’s request that Camilla becomes queen consort – the title given to the wife of a reigning king.
Boko Haram Demands $300,000 Ransom For Abducted Borno Ex-LG Chair, Another Victim
How Rivers Women Spread Wrappers For Wike’s Motorcade During Port Harcourt Visit
Impeachment Proceedings Against Fubara, Deputy Still Active – Rivers Assembly
Your Second Coming Was A Chance To Avoid These Political Mistakes – Fayose To Fubara
Corruption Battle: Dangote Drags Ex-NMDPRA Boss To EFCC After ICPC Withdrawal
Rivers Crisis: Full List Of 8 Misconduct Allegations Against Governor Fubara
Panic In Ibadan As Rising Kidnap, Robbery Threats Trigger Official Red Alert
Wizkid Becomes First African Artist To Enter Spotify’s 10 Billion Streams Elite
Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Becomes West Africa’s All-Time Box Office King
