The Federal Government will support the
investigation of Boko Haram — the Islamic
fundamentalist sect whose insurgency has
claimed many lives—by the International
Criminal Court (ICC), it was learnt yesterday.
The ICC at the weekend said the insurgents
were committing crimes against humanity for
which their leaders will stand trial.
Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, in a report issued
on Monday, said: “Information available
provides a reasonable basis to believe that
since July 2009, Boko Haram has launched
widespread and systematic attack that has
resulted in the killing of more than 1,200
Christians and Muslim civilians in different
locations throughout Nigeria.”
If the ICC’s plans succed, Boko Haram leaders
will face trial before the court, which sits at
The Hague.
Among those tried and convicted for war
crimes by the court is former Liberia President
Charles Taylor.
A source in the Presidency said: “The Federal
Government will support any plan by ICC to
check the activities of Boko Haram. The ICC is
a global court and we subscribe to it as a
nation. This is not the first time that leaders
involved in genocide or violent crimes would
be tried by the court.
“Our backing for ICC is without prejudice to
the ongoing dialogue with the sect.”
Responding to a question, the source added:
“If necessary, we will make relevant records or
reports available to the court.”
Also yesterday, it was learnt that the Special
Forces clashed with Boko Haram to prevent
members of the sect from regrouping to
launch attacks on Borno State.
The Defence Headquarters has relaxed the 24-
hour curfew in Potiskum.
According to highly-placed sources, who spoke
in confidence, the clashes with Boko Haram,
which led to the death of more than 35
people, became inevitable as a result of
intelligence reports.
The source said: “The Special Forces had to
engage Boko Haram in direct confrontation
because in the course of trailing members of
the sect, the straying ones tried to settle in
some places and plan to launch deadly attacks
on troops.
“They even attempted to overrun a police
station and Army posts. We have no choice
than to repel them and assert the control of
the Special Forces in the emergency areas.
“The troops have tried as much as possible to
abide by the rules of engagement but the
fleeing insurgents are still bent on reprisals.
This is why we need to rout them out.
“They have been regrouping to attack some
areas in Borno and Yobe states especially
during the Sallah festival.”
The troops are said to have been reinforced to
curtail these insurgents in Borno and Yobe.
“We still have some challenges in Gomiri, Yobe
State, but we are addressing these,” a source
said.
The relaxation of the curfew in Potiskum
followed the completion of house to house
search in the town.
The restriction of movement in the town will
now be between 10pm and 6am, which is the
same time with other parts of the state.
“We imposed the curfew based on intelligence
report that Boko Haram members wanted to
do massive bombing in various quarters in
Potiskum.
“We resorted to house to house search in the
town which has just been concluded,” another
source said.
When contacted, the Director of Defence
Information, Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said:
“It is true that the curfew in Potiskum has
been relaxed because the purpose of the
house-to-house search has been achieved.”
The police and the Borno State government
said seven policemen were killed in last
weekend’s Bama Mobile Police Base station
attacks. Three other policemen were reported
missing after the Boko Haram gunmen
launched attacks at the station at 6.45am on
Sunday.
Borno State Deputy Governor Zanna Mustapha
and Commissioner of Police Lawal Tanko
visited the injured at the University of
Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH),
yesterday.
Police Chief Tanko said contrary to the Joint
Task Force (JTF) statement that one policeman
and two soldiers were killed in the attacks,
seven policemen were killed, three missing and
five injured. Three soldiers were also injured.
Tanko said: “Your Excellency, these are the five
policemen admitted into this hospital as a
result of the injuries they sustained in the
Bama Boko Haram attacks on our station last
Sunday. We confirm that seven were killed
while repelling the gunmen from torching our
Bama Moile Police Base on Bama-Gwoza Road
at about 6am.”
He said the police authorities and family
members of the missing policemen were yet to
find their whereabouts and safety.
While sympathising with the wounded and
injured policemen and soldiers, Mustapha
donated a cash of N2.65 million to the eight
patients.
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