Boko Haram Kills 60 In Attack On Rann – Amnesty International.

Amnesty International has said at least 60 people were killed
following the devastating Boko Haram attack on Rann, a border town
in Borno state on Monday.

In a statement on Friday, the organisation also analysed
satellite imagery which showed hundreds of burned structures in the
town.

According to it, many of the destroyed structures only date back
to 2017, suggesting they were shelters for Internally Displaced
People (IDPs) who came to Rann seeking protection.

“We have now confirmed that this week’s attack on Rann was the
deadliest yet by Boko Haram, killing at least 60 people,” said Osai
Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.

“Using satellite imagery, we have also been able to confirm the
mass burning of structures as Boko Haram unleashed a massive
assault on Rann, most of which is now destroyed.”

Ojigho added, “This attack on civilians who have already been
displaced by the bloody conflict may amount to possible war crime,
and those responsible must be brought to justice.

“Disturbingly, witnesses told us that Nigerian soldiers
abandoned their posts the day before the attack, demonstrating the
authorities’ utter failure to protect civilians.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army confirmed that the town was
attacked, although it did not confirm the number of casualties.

It said troops “repelled” the attack while calm has been
restored in the town.

Inadequate Security?
Amnesty International disclosed further that alleged withdrawal of
troops triggered a massive exodus of civilians to Cameroon, as fear
spread that Boko Haram would take advantage and attack the
town.

It said a group of Boko Haram fighters arrived on motorcycles at
around 9am on 28 January and set houses ablaze while those left
behind were killed.

The group said the terrorists also chased after those who
attempted to escape and killed some people outside the town, noting
that 11 bodies were found within Rann while 49 others were found
outside.

According to the statement, it was informed that about 50 people
have not been accounted for and those who took part in the burial
explained what they saw.

“Ten of us [Civilian Joint Task Force] came from Cameroon to
Rann for the burial,” an eyewitness was quoted as saying. “When we
arrived, we found and buried 11 corpses within the town, but the
soldiers told us that they buried several others yesterday [30
January] who had decayed.”

“Outside the town, we recovered and buried 49 dead bodies all
with gunshot wounds,” the witness added

Aid agencies, according to Amnesty International, reported that
some 30,000 civilians have fled for the border with Cameroon in
recent days, joining a further 9,000 who fled previous Boko Haram
attack on Rann on 14 January.

Satellite Evidence
Amnesty International analysed satellite images from Wednesday,
showing hundreds of structures burned in the east, south and
southeast of Rann.

According to it, environmental sensors detected fires in the
area on Monday and Tuesday.

In the 14 January attack, Boko Haram burned well over 100
structures in other areas of Rann, the grouped revealed, stressing
that the two recent attacks have left most of the town heavily
damaged or destroyed.

Amnesty International, therefore, called on the Nigerian
authorities to investigate the alleged withdrawal of security
forces of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) from Rann,
which it said may have left tens of thousands of civilians exposed
to the latest deadly attack.

“Boko Haram has consistently and deliberately targeted civilians
in Rann, which makes the Nigerian authorities’ failure to protect
people all the more unacceptable,” said Ojigho.

She added, “The authorities on both sides of the border must
provide the supplies and safety that these people require.

“The Cameroonian authorities must also desist from forcing
people to return until conditions are safe and they choose to do so
voluntarily.”

Patience Jonathan Forfeits N1bn by Court
Order

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured
an interim forfeiture of the sum of N1,000,494,000 (One Billion,
Four Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand Naira) only lodged in three
deposits with Fidelity Bank Plc on 20th and 25th May, 2015.

The forfeiture order by Federal High Court sitting in Kano and
presided over by Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa is consequent upon a
motion ex parte filed by the Commission seeking for the interim
forfeiture of the money, which was found in the Bank account of
Magel Resort Limited, a company linked to the former First Lady of
Nigeria, Patience Jonathan.

The Commission had gotten an intel that a bank account domiciled
in Fidelity Bank, had a huge sum of money that was not being used
by anybody.

Upon receipt of the intelligence, the EFCC swung into action by
conducting preliminary investigation, which revealed that Patience
and some relatives of former president, Goodluck Jonathan were
directors of the Company. Others named as directors are Oba Oba
Tamunotonye, Goodluck Jonathan Aruera, Goodluck Jonathan Ariwabai
and Esther Fynface.

In trying to trace the origin of the money, it was discovered
that N500,000 was deposited on the 20th of May, 2015 by Fynface,
who is alleged to be in charge of the Company, while N1 billion
(One Billion Naira Only) was transferred in two tranches on the
25th May, 2015 from PAGMAT OIL AND GAS NIGERIA LIMITED a company
that was not incorporated with the Corporate Affairs
Commission.

Ruling on the motion, Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa held that: “An
interim forfeiture order is granted to the Federal Government in
the sum of N1,000,494,000 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety
Four Thousand Naira Only) in the Bank account of the 1st respondent
Magel Resort Limited 4011019546 which is maintained with 2nd
respondent Fidelity Bank Plc”.

The court further ordered that the forfeited sum be deposited in
the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government.

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity