Self-defence is jihad against Boko Haram —IBB

Magnitude of  recent attacks scary — Mark
FORMER president, General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), has called for self-defence and Jihad against Boko Haram sect members.
The former president said there was nothing wrong if people who were attacked prepared for self-defence, saying the act could be regarded as Jihad.
IBB condemned the killings in Kano and other parts of the country by the insurgents and commiserated with the government and people of Kano over the recent killings during Juma’at.
In an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa, on Monday night, IBB said itw as a good thing that the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi, had called for prayers and fasting for peace to reign.
The former president expressed confidence in the ability of the military to contain the crisis, saying as a soldier, he believed that the crisis would not be insurmountable.
Magnitude of Boko Haram’s recent attack scary —Mark •Adjourns plenary for 2 weeksBy Taiwo Adisa – Abuja
SENATE President, David Mark, on Tuesday, raised the alarm over the incursions of the Boko Haram insurgents in parts of the North-East, especially the attack on Yobe State Government House.
Mark made some comments while reacting to a motion moved by the chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North), who came under Order 43 of the Senate Standing Orders (2011, as amended) on activities of insurgents in Yobe State.
The Senate President noted that the sect had engaged in incessant attacks since it declared war on Nigeria, adding that Monday’s attempt to invade Yobe’s Government House was a matter of concern.
“Insurgents have been attacking left, right, front and back in North-East, but that of Monday was frightening, because they were able to get to the Government House, which gave it a new dimension...”
 According to Mark, the magnitude of recent attacks by the insurgents has raised concern, while asking the Senate to observe a one minute silence in respect of the dead.
“I allowed it because like I said, the dimension that it took yesterday (Monday) was really frightening. I was in touch with the governor for most of the time and we were all very worried.
“Also, because of the magnitude of what had happened in the last few days - bomb blasts in Kano, the attack in Borno and the incident that took place in Damaturu, it is only proper that we observe one minute silence in honour of those who lost their lives,” Mark stated.
Senator Lawan had told the Senate that activities of the insurgents left scores dead in the state.
“I will like to formally inform this Senate that Damaturu was attacked by the insurgents from about 5.00 a.m on Monday and the military or the armed forces battled the insurgents and controlled the situation.
“So many lives were lost but at this moment, we cannot determine the exact number of the dead and so many were also wounded and, of course, psychologically, hundreds of thousands of Yobe people and even Nigerians are traumatised by that incident.
“I spoke with you this morning on the need for me, on behalf of my colleagues from Yobe State, to make a personal explanation on what happened in Damaturu.
“Mr President, I want to say this; that a war is not won by the name of the operation; a war is won by the operators of the operation that operates in the theatre of war.
“Our soldiers were determined to fight the insurgents. They fought very gallantly and exhibited valour and they did that because they have motivation, not because there was any state of emergency existing,” he said.
At that point, Mark warned Lawan not to introduce any form of controversy over the state of emergency and activities of the military in the North-East.
The Senate has, however, adjourned  plenary for two weeks, to allow the senators to participate in the primaries of the main political parties taking place this weekend.