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Showing posts from September, 2015

Terrorism can be tackled through military action---- Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in New York urged the  United Nations and the International Community to take military action, effective border security and intelligence collection to tackle violent extremism. Addressing a Global Leaders' Summit on Countering ISIL and Violent Extremism, called by President Barack Obama, Buhari said the international community will also be required to work together to deter and disrupt illicit financial flows from nations with weak anti–theft structures to other parts of the world. He said where such funds were identified the victim State should be assisted to recover them expeditiously. "These alone may not suffice, but they can certainly stem the tide and reverse the process of recruitment. In order to put in place the critical components of an effective approach to countering ISIL and eventually defeating it, he said world leaders must address the threat from the source. "We must find a way to prevent young people from turnin

Nigerian Senate to investigate Saudi stampede

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(Nigeria) The Senate on Tuesday resolved to set up a committee to investigate the causes of the Hajj stampede which claimed the lives of no fewer than 50 Nigerians and over 700 others in Saudi Arabia. The Red Chamber, which took the decision at its resumption of plenary after a long recess, said it would hold public hearing to forestall recurrence of the incident. The lawmakers urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON , to coordinate with Saudi authorities to determine the actual number of affected Nigerians and to ensure adequate compensation. Sen. Gbenga Ashafa (APC-Lagos East), who just returned from the Hajj, said that the Nigerian casualty figure would have been more but for the effort of the medical teams of the Nigerian contingencies to the pilgrimage. He insisted that the Saudi authorities should be blamed for the stampede as they did not do enough to avert it. According to Ashafa, only one exit gate out of 10 that were provided was opened, and this forced th

NDIC pays N6.8bn to 528,277 depositors of closed banks

(Nigeria) The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, has said that  it has paid out a cumulative N6.831 billion insured deposits to 528,277 depositors of 49 closed Deposit Money Banks (DMB) as at Dec. 31, 2014. The Managing Director of NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, announced this at the NDIC special day at the on-going Abuja International Trade Fair on Tuesday in Abuja. Ibrahim said the payment, which was in line with the act establishing NDIC, was also to ensure that un-insured depositors of closed DMB recovered their money. According to him, NDIC has paid a cumulative liquidation dividend of N94.737 billion to 250,592 to un-insured depositors of same 49 closed DMB as at December 2014. He said that NDIC had declared in full, a final liquidation dividend of 100 per cent of total payments in 14 of the failed banks out of the 49 closed DMBs. He explained that payments were on-going for the depositors of Micro Finance Banks (MFBs) and Primary Mortgage Banks(PMBs). He said that t

Military to Boko Haram, surrender or face more assaults

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(Nigeria)The Defence Headquarters, Ministry of Defence, has said that the Boko Haram insurgents would face increased military assaults if they refused to surrender their arms and embrace peace. In a statemen by Col. Rabe Abubakar, acting Director, Defence Information in Abuja on Tuesday, it said that the Nigerian Armed Forces were committed to continue the ongoing coordinated joint assaults on the insurgents in the North-East. ``The military is committed to continue the coordinated assaults on Boko Haram members in the North-East until the operation of guerrillas is totally impaired and collapsed. ``The operation of the security forces in the contested area is designed to dismantle technical preeminence and capabilities of the terrorist groups. ``For optimum success in the counter offensive, 7 Brigade of the Multinational Joint Task Force(MNJTF), in the Lake Chad Basin will ensure a total blockade of terrorists escape route," he said. Abubakar added that the efforts would for

Britain to dispatch military instructors to Ukraine

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Britain will dispatch military instructors to Ukraine and will grant precisely targets assistance to the Ukrainian military, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Sunday at a meeting with President Pyotr Poroshenko in New York. "David Cameron gave assurances of Britain’s further willingness to support Ukraine in the defense of its territorial integrity both politically and practically by way of sending military instructors and granting precisely targeted aid to the Armed Forces," the press service said, reports Tass . Cameron and Poroshenko claimed at the meeting the elections in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics on October 18 and November would be unacceptable and undermine the Minsk accords. Poroshenko is making a working visit to the U.S. where he is taking part in the event and meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session underway in New York.

Obama, Putin to meet on Syria, Ukraine crises

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Face-to-face for the first time in nearly a year, President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday will confront rising tensions over Moscow's military engagement in Syria, as well as the stubborn crisis in Ukraine. Underscoring their deep differences, the U.S. and Russia couldn't even agree on the purpose of the meeting, which will occur on the sidelines of an annual United Nations summit, reports AP. The White House said it would focus on Ukraine and getting Moscow to live up to a fragile peace plan. The Kremlin said Ukraine would be discussed only if time allowed, with Syria and the fight against the Islamic State dominating the discussions. Despite little sign of a breakthrough on either front, U.S. officials insisted it was still worthwhile for the leaders to meet — something that has happened rarely since Obama vowed to isolate Putin in retaliation for Russia's provocations in Ukraine. "The president believed it would be irresponsible to

Catalonia's separatists win parliamentary majority

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(Nigeria) A coalition of separatists who promised independence for the Spanish region of Catalonia emerged as victors in parliamentary elections Sunday. With 99 per cent of the votes counted, the separatist alliance led by Catalan leader Artur Mas captured 72 seats of the 135 seats up for grabs in Catalonia's parliament, reports dpa. Of those seats, Mas' Together for Yes coalition took 62, while its alliance partners Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) party won 10. "We have won," Mas said once results were tallied. But while the alliance won an absolute majority in parliament, it did not win the majority of votes cast, taking 47.8 per cent. "The separatists have lost the plebiscite," Socialist opposition leader Pedro Sanchez said in reaction to the separatists' failure to win the majority of votes. Voters in Spain's wealthy, north-eastern region cast their ballots in what was billed by Mas as a referendum on whether the region should secede from Spa

Putin describes US support for Syrian rebels as illegal

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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday condemned the United States' support for rebel groups in Syria while defending his backing of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the country's multi-sided war. "Military aid for illegitimate structures does not conform to the principles of modern international law and the rules of the United Nations," Putin said in an interview excerpt released by the Kremlin, to be aired Sunday by US broadcasters CBS and PBS, reports dpa. Putin went on to defend his support for al-Assad, characterizing his regime as the legitimate government of Syria. Russian support came at Syria's request, Putin said, which meant the support was legal. Russian aid to Damascus - which according to Putin "currently includes the delivery of wepoans, training of personnel and humanitarian aid" - has been condemned by the West. Putin added that Russia had informed the United States in advance of plans to create a centre combat the terrorist m

54 Nigerians confirmed killed in Saudi stampede

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(Nigeria) Fifty-four Nigerians have been confirmed to have died during Thursday's stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia . The confirmation was given by Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar, Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Monday at a news conference in Makkah. No fewer than 717 pilgrims died and 805 others injured in the stampede when the pilgrims trooped to perform the ritual of the symbolic stoning of the devil. Mukhtar said 61 other Nigerian pilgrims were injured during the incident. He said 42 of the deceased pilgrims were transported to Saudi Arabia by state Pilgrims’ Welfare Agencies, while 12 came through Private Tour Operators He said the deceased were from Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Cross Rivers, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Sokoto, Yobe, Taraba, and Zamfara. The chairman also said that out of the injured 61 pilgrims, 16 were transported by Private Tour Operators and the remaining 45 by state Pilgrims’ Welfare Agencies. He said the commissi

Boko Haram kills 9 in Borno village attack

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(Nigeria) Boko Haram insurgents on Sunday, killed nine persons in an attack on Mailari village in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State. The state police Command confirmed the killings. Mr Aderemi Opadoku, the Commissioner of Police, who addressed newsmen in Maiduguri, said "Today September 27, 22015 at about a.m. suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Mailari village in Konduga council. ``Nine persons were reported killed while 10 were injured. The injured victims are now being treated at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital,'' he said. Opadokun added: ``security has already been beefed up to forestall a recurrence while investigation is in progress.''

Blatter, Platini under probe by FIFA ethics committee

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FIFA president Joseph Blatter and European supremo Michel Platini are under investigation by the ruling body's ethics committee over a payment from 2011 revealed in a Swiss criminal investigation, it was learnt on Sunday. The committee is looking into a ``disloyal payment’’ of 2 million Swiss francs (dollars) Platini received from FIFA in 2011 for work done between 1999 and 2002, reports dpa. The issue was revealed in a statement from Switzerland's Attorney General on Friday in which the start of a criminal investigation against Blatter was announced. Apart apart from the payment the probe involves a contract, likely on TV rights, with the Caribbean football union from 2005. Blatter was interrogated by Swiss police and the UEFA boss Platini heard as a witness. Platini said there was nothing wrong about the payment. Blatter's lawyer did not refer to the Platini payment but said the TV deal, which investigators believe was too low and thus denied FIFA higher income, was

Stop your false allegations against Wike, Rivers govt tells APC

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(Nigeria) The Rivers State Government has called on the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state to ends its campaign of calumny and false allegations  against Governor Nyesom Wike of the state. Mr Simeon  Nwakaudu, Special Assistant ( Media ) to the Rivers State Governor in a statement in Port Harcourt on Sunday, said "Our attention  has been  drawn to  yet another  ill-mannered statement  from the  office  of  the Rivers  State  APC Chairman,  Mr Davies Ikanya  wherein  he made the usual outlandish  and spurious  allegations  of the  party against  the  person  of Governor Wike. It is high time Mr Ikanya  stopped this show of shame.  "His deliberate attempt  to distract the administration  through the use of fabricated tales and indecent commentaries that show total disrespect  to the Government  and people  of Rivers  State  is unfortunate.  "This recycled  statement  today by Mr Ikanya is further prove that he is the mouthpiece  of a desperate  clan that vicio

Spain threatened as Catalonia heads to the polls

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Voters in Spain's north-eastern region of Catalonia were set to go to the polls Sunday, in elections billed by the region's leader as a referendum on its independence from Spain. Artur Mas, the head of Catalonia's government, formed a separatist alliance ahead of the region's parliamentary elections and, should he win, plans to declare sovereignty within 18 months for the wealthy region's 7.6 million people, reports dpa . "It is the most important election since Spain's return to democracy," the Madrid newspaper El Mundo declared on Saturday. Mas' liberal ruling party, the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC), is aligned with long-time rivals in the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and the independence coalition Together for Yes. The separatists' plan for independence is said to be the greatest challenge for the Spanish state in the country's recent history, with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy saying his government would under no c

France carries out 215 airstrikes against IS positions

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France has carried out its first airstrikes in Syria, expanding its military operations against Islamic State extremists, President Francois Hollande's office announced Sunday. The strikes make good on a promise to go after the group that the president has said is planning attacks against several countries, including France, reports AP. Hollande's office said that "France has hit Syria" based on information from French reconnaissance flights sent earlier this month. It did not provide further details. "Our nation will strike each time our national security is at stake," the presidential statement said. France has carried out 215 airstrikes against IS extremists in Iraq as part of the U.S.-led coalition since last year, the Defense Ministry said earlier this month. But it previously held back on engaging in Syria, citing concern of playing into Assad's hand and the need for such action to be covered by international law. Following a change in strategy

Iraq to share intelligence on IS with Russia, Iran, Syria

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Iraq will begin sharing "security and intelligence" information with Russia, Syria and Iran to help combat the advances of the Islamic State group, the Iraqi military announced Sunday. A statement issued by the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said the countries will "help and cooperate in collecting information about the terrorist Daesh group," using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group, reports AP. Iraq has long had close ties with neighboring Iran and has coordinated with Tehran in fighting the advance of IS — which controls about a third of Iraq and Syria in a self-declared caliphate. Iranian commanders have helped lead Iraqi Shiite militiamen in combat. A U.S.-led coalition has been conducting aerial bombing campaigns against IS positions in Iraq and Syria, but U.S. officials insist they have no coordination with Tehran on the matter. The agreement with Russia comes at a time when Moscow is ramping up its involvement in Syria in defense of its ally

Chief Imam in Sokoto killed in Saudi stampede

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(Nigeria) The Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has said that Sheikh Liman Dan-Ata, the Chief Imam of the Sultan Abubakar III Jumaa'at Mosque, Sokoto, is among those killed in the stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia. The Media Assistant to the agency, Alhaji Farouk Umar, made this known in an interview on Sunday. The state government had in a statement on Saturday by Imam Imam, spokesman to Governor Aminu Tambuwal, confirmed the killing of nine other pilgrims from the state in the Mina stampede. The agency has also confirmed the killing of the immediate Caretaker Chairman of Illela Local Government Area of the state, Alhaji Bello Gidan-Hamma, his mother, step-mother and two wives in the stampede. At press time, several pilgrims from the state had been declared missing.

6 killed in boat accident in Sokoto

(Nigeria) Six persons have been confirmed dead in a boat accident that occurred on Saturday in a river in Bengaji District of Yabo Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Confirming the deaths in a statement in Sokoto on Sunday, Alhaji Mika'ilu Sabo-Yabo, the Assistant Information Officer of the local government, said that the six persons died after the boat they were travelling capsized. According to the statement, four other passengers of the ill-fated boat survived with minor injuries. The statement further explained that the boat broke into two while in motion before it capsized killing six of the passengers, who were from Kissa, Gadara and Kalangu villages. ``Nobody can tell me what really happened as at now, but further investigations would reveal the real cause of the mishap. The deceased have since been buried according to Islamic rites, while the injured persons are responding to treatment at the hospital,`` the statement said. The statement further said that the Overs

APC hopeful military will end Boko Haram in 3-months

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(Nigeria) The All Progressives Congress, APC, has  hailed the Nigerian military for its string of successes in the battle against Boko Haram, saying that the impressive performance has shown that the terror group can indeed be defeated within the time stipulated by President Muhammadu Buhari. APC in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that the continued push to dislodge the terrorists from their fortress in Sambisa Forest and elsewhere, the dismantling of their major fuel depot and other logistics and the rescue of many innocent people from the clutches of the terrorists are clear indications that the military has gained the upper hand against Boko Haram. It said the mere fact that the terrorists are now surrendering in droves to the gallant troops of the Nigerian military is the clearest indication yet that the bandits are feeling the tremendous heat which has been turned on them. APC urged the troops to continue wit

Rivers guber poll was credible,  free ---Mark, former NBA scribe

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(Nigeria) Former National General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Ibrahim Mark has declared that the April 11 Rivers State governorship  rlection was free and credible, noting that the people of the state stood their ground despite the antics of the All Progressives Congress, APC. He explained that the issue of accreditation as recognised by the Electoral Act rotates round the manual accreditation of voters using the voters registers while INEC simply introduced the card reader electronic system to identify fake permanent voters cards. Mark, a  member of the Body of Benchers,  Nigeria's Highest Legal Body who voted in Ikwerre Local Government Area,  same with former Governor Rotimi Amaechi said that the April 11/12 Rivers State governorship elction was the best in the recent history of the state.  In an interview at the weekend,  Mark, a member of the Council of Legal Education stated that happenings at the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal

Peterside descries killing at Oyorokoto fishing settlement

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the April general election in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside has condemned, the recent attacks and killings at Oyorokoto fishing settlement in Andoni Local Government Area of the state by gunmen. In a statement on Saturday, Dr. Peterside, decried the spate of repeated attacks on Oyorokoto, the largest fishing settlement in the entire West Coast of Africa while calling on the authorities to ensure that the Joint Task Force [JTF] Unit established sometime in the past in the area, is stationed at the fishing settlement being a strategic and most viable economic centre in the Federal Constituency. “The spate of attacks and killings of innocent inhabitants of Oyorokoto must be brought to an immediate halt so that the settlement will continue to provide livelihood to the numerous fishermen and their family members who live and work so hard for a livelihood at the settlement.” Peterside stressed the need for governmen

Assad has a role in ending Syrian civil war----Austria

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Australia's foreign minister said Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has to be part of a solution for Syria's civil war, it was reported Saturday. In an interview with The Weekend Australian newspaper, Julie Bishop said there is an "emerging consensus" that the Assad regime would be pivotal in any attempt to hold up the Syrian state and prevent further gains by the Islamic State, reports dpa. "It is evident there must be a political as well as a military solution to the conflict in Syria," she said. "There is an emerging view in some quarters that the only conceivable option would be a national unity government involving President Assad." Her statement reverses Australia's position under previous prime minister Tony Abbott that Assad would have to step aside as any part of a durable peace settlement in Syria. It comes after Islamic State insurgents made significant gains on the ground inside Syria, and Russian forces began moving into S

Taraba Amirul Hajj, two wives dead in Saudi stampede

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The Taraba State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, has confirmed the death of the state’s Amirul Hajj for the 2015 pilgrimage, Alhaji Abbas Ibrahim, the First Class ruler of Zing. The chairman of the board, Alhaji Hamman-Adama Tukur, confirmed the incident from Saudi Arabia. Tukur explained that the emir died on Thursday during a stampede that claimed the lives of more than 700 pilgrims. The victims, among others, were at the site of the Jamrat, where they were to fulfill one of the Hajj rites of a symbolic stoning of the devil. Tukur said that the body of the late traditional ruler had been recovered and buried in Makkah on Friday. He disclosed that many indigenes of Taraba were still missing, while a few others, whose names he did not mention, but who sustained injuries, were receiving treatment in some Saudi hospitals. Alhaji Hassan Mijinyawa, Chief Press Secretary to Taraba Governor, also confirmed the death of the monarch. He however said that consultation was still ongoing be

Hajj: Gombe declares 5 pilgrims missing

Five pilgrims from Gombe State have been declared missing in Saudi Arabia. The Executive Secretary, Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Usman Gurama, told newsmen in Mina, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday that the pilgrims could not be located since Thursday. He said that members of the medical team had been checking hospitals and mortuaries with a view to locating them or their remains. He, however, said that for now, it had not been confirmed as to whether they were among those who died as a result of Thursday’s incident at the Jamrat (stone throwing venue) where over 700 pilgrims died. Gurama confirmed that seven pilgrims from the state were injured at the scene of the incident and were responding to treatment. Meanwhile, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State on Saturday gave the state pilgrims 585,300 riyals (about N32.7 million) as Sallah gift. Each pilgrim received 300 riyals (N16,800) Addressing the pilgrims shortly after presenting the gift, Dankwambo urged th

Policeman killed in gunmen attack on Kogi DSS office

(Nigeria) Some gunmen on Friday night attacked the headquarters office of the Department of State Security, DSS, in Lokoja, Kogi State. Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, the Commissioner of Police in the state, confirmed the death of a policeman when a team of security forces from the Police, the Nigerian Army and DSS later engaged the gunmen. ``I cannot confirm whether they are Boko Haram members or not. All I know is that they are criminal elements and the law will take its course. ``We are investigating to know the circumstances that led to that attack, their motive and others’’, he said. He assured the public that the police were always on alert and would always work in collaboration with other security agencies to tackle security challenges in the state. ``Our mandate is to keep the environment and Kogi free and safe for Nigerians to go about their lawful businesses.’’ he said. He urged the public to partner with the police in the fight against crime, saying ``we should have an understand

Amaechi suit over corruption allegation will expose him-----PDP

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(Nigeria) Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the threat by former Governor Rotimi Amaechi to sue over allegation of corruption against him as diversionary, adding the suit will expose the former governor. PDP in a statement on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, said its attention had been drawn to media report over threat by Amaechi to have sued the party, its state Chairman, Felix Obuah and two others to court over allegations of corruption against him. The State PDP described the litigation threat as diversionary in the light of shocking revelations, testimonies and discoveries of acts of lawlessness, fraudulent and injudicious spending of state resources by him while in office being witnessed before the Commission of Inquiry into the sale of valued assets of the ztate by his administration for which he was invited but he refused to appear to defend himself. The party said "Not wishing to join issues with Amaechi until he makes real his boost by serving the pr

You're a liar, Sylva tells Oshiomhole

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(Nigeria) Former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva has described as a deliberate "act of mischief" and "lies" the claims by GovernorAdams Oshiomhole of Edo State that he truncated the electoral process during the disputed governorship primaries of the All Progressive Congress APC  in the state. Sylva said though Oshiomhole was the Chairman of the Election Committee and had left the venue of the primaries, the election which led to his emergence as the flag bearer of the party was free, fair and without violence as claimed by Oshiomhole. In a statement by his Media Adviser, Doifie Bukoribo on Wednesday, Sylva said "It is unfortunate that people like Adams Oshiomhole, the governor of Edo State and former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, who pretend to be incorruptible, would conduct himself in the manner in which he did in relation to the Bayelsa State governorship primary. It was clear that Oshiomhole never wanted to conduct the primary as schedul

Boko Haram kingpin, 42 others arrested in Banki axis

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(Nigeria) The Nigeria Army said on Wednesday that troops advancing toward Banki axis have arrested 43 more suspected Boko Haram terrorists, including its kingpin in the area, Bulama Modu. The Army said in a statement by its acting spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, that the troops also rescued 241 women and children in the operation. It said arms and ammunitions, bows and arrows and a horse were recovered from the terrorists’ kingpin. The statement said one of the arrested terrorists led troops to where he buried his AK-47 rifle at Jangurori village. Usman said in the statement that the recoveries in the latest operations confirmed the Army’s earlier claim that the terrorists were abandoning their commanders and burying weapons. ``Please recall that yesterday advancing troops along Banki axis were making tremendous progress in which they cleared two Boko Haram terrorists camps at Jangurori and Bulatori villages. ``In addition to that, the troops have also arrested 43 suspected Boko Hara

APC reschedules Bayelsa governorship primaries

(Nigeria) Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Wednesday said the party’s primary for the Dec. 5 governorship election in Bayelsa had been rescheduled. Odigie-Oyegun in a telephone interview in Abuja, said that the primary earlier scheduled on Tuesday was cancelled due to security challenges. ‘’The primary has been rescheduled; it had to be called off due to security challenges,’’ he said, adding that leadership of the party would meet to choose a new date for the exercise. The attempt by the party to conduct the primary at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, on Tuesday was frustrated by fracas involving supporters of most of the 19 aspirants. The situation led to the walk-out of 14 aspirants, including Chief Timi Alaibe, from the venue after Chairman of the Primaries Committee, Adams Oshiomhole, was reportedly whisked out of the place to avoid being attacked. Confirming the postponement of the primaries, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of t

Bayelsa APC primary: Oshiomhole accuses police of compromise

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(Nigeria) Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, has accused the Bayelsa State Police command of compromise in Tuesday's botched All Progressives Congress, APC, primary in the state. Oshiomhole, who is the Chairman, APC Bayelsa State governorship primary, made the accusation on Wednesday in Benin while briefing newsmen. He alleged that from the action of the police, it was evident that officers and men of the command compromised the electoral process. He said in spite of the heavy presence of security personnel dispatched to the Samson Siasia Stadium, venue of the election, thugs still found their way into the stadium effortlessly and disrupted the exercise. He explained that while some of the thugs were apprehended and handed over to the police, the state police authority saw nothing wrong in their action as they were immediately released. Oshiomhole said that the election did not hold on Tuesday as thugs took over the electoral process and the police were helpless, adding t

Donbas hold elections Feb 21

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The self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR respectively) have chosen February 21 as the date for holding local elections in line with Ukraine’s legislation, LPR leader Igor Plotnitsky said on Wednesday. "The date for holding elections has been determined by the Minsk-2 deal," Plotnitsky said, reports Tass. "If Ukraine stops sabotage and imitation and immediately goes ahead with the Minsk-2 implementation, it will approximately be this date. The package of measures should be implemented step by step: a special status, amnesty, and a reform of the Constitution and a law on elections negotiated by the sides." "We have considered all the procedural timeframes required by Ukraine’s laws — the procedure of amendments in the constitution, Rada’s regulations and timeframes for announcing and then preparing elections. So the date fell on February 21," he said. Plotnitsky said Donbas "treated laws and regulations of Ukraine with

Donetsk to withdraw from peace deal if Kiev joins NATO

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The self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic will pull out from the Minsk accords and start liberating Donbass if Kiev attempts to join North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO, DPR’s leader Alexander Zakharchenko said. The statements of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Kiev’s negotiator Leonid Kuchma on the need for Ukraine to join the alliance are aimed at undermining the Minsk peace deal, Zakharchenko said, reports Tass . "If Ukraine begins preparing a referendum on joining NATO or other procedures, then the DPR will immediately withdraw from the Minsk agreements and start clearing the whole territory of Donbas from Kiev’s occupation," Zakharchenko was quoted by the Donetsk news agency as saying. "I’m sure that many other Ukrainian regions in this case will leave it," he stressed. Poroshenko said at a joint news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday that Ukraine needs to prepare for accession to NATO. He said the reforms t

Obama, Putin to meet during Russian leader's visit to UN

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A meeting of United State and Russian Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin will take place during the Russian leader’s visit to the United Nations next week, an informed source said on Wednesday. Putin will address the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, September 28, reports Tass . He is also scheduled to meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. White House does not confirm Obama-Putin meeting at UN General Assembly so far  The White House has not yet confirmed that Russian and US presidents will meet each other on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. I cannot confirm [Obama’s] plans regarding meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The presidential schedule is still in the making," a US administration source said.

Egypt to buy 50 Russian Alligator helicopters

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Russia and Egypt have signed an agreement on supplies of 50 helicopters of the Ka-52 Alligator family and Moscow does not rule out delivery of the deck-based version of these helicopters that were designed for the defaulted Mistral project, a well-connected source in the sphere of defense technologies said. "An agreement on the supplies of fifty Ka-52 helicopters has been signed," he said, reports Tass. "If the Egyptian side finds it necessary, the sea-based version of the helicopters will be supplied." Officials at the state weaponry trading company Rosoboronexport refrained from commenting on the information. Elysees Palace said earlier on Wednesday the French government had reached an agreement on the sales to Egypt of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers that were originally built for the Russian Navy. Sources in the Russian Navy’s Main Headquarters said in August that the Navy expects to receive the first Kamov Ka-52K (Katran) ship-borne helicopters in 20

Burkina Faso president retakes power after coup

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Michel Kafando was reconfirmed as interim president of Burkina Faso at an official ceremony Wednesday, a week after he was ousted by the presidential guard, plunging the West African country into crisis. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by representatives of political parties, civil society and the army, but coup leader Gilbert Diendere was absent, radio station Omega FM reported, according to dpa . The transitional government that was put in place after the ouster of president Blaise Compaore nearly a year ago "is back and resumes the exercise of the power of state at this very minute," Kafando said earlier on national television. The 1,200-strong presidential guard took Kafando, interim Prime Minister Isaac Zida and two ministers captive. Kafando and the two ministers were released a few days later and Zida on Monday. Diendere was seen by dpa welcoming the presidents of Ghana, Niger and Benin as they arrived in Ouagadougou to mediate in the crisis. Kafando was due

Egypt's leader pardons Al Jazeera journalists for Eid

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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi on Wednesday pardoned two Al Jazeera journalists, jailed for three years last month in a case that drew worldwide condemnation, as well as a number of imprisoned democracy activists. The pardon, marking the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, is the first to include prominent figures caught up in Egypt's crackdown on dissent since al-Sissi, then head of the armed forces, ousted Islamist president Mohammed Morsi two years ago. Canadian-Egyptian Al Jazeera journalist Mohammed Fahmy and the network's Egyptian producer Baher Mohammed were among 100 prisoners covered by the pardon, according to a presidential statement, reports dpa . The presidency said that the move came "in the framework of the president's initiative to release groups of young people, which he launched in December last year." Thousands of people, mainly suspected Islamists but also including young democracy activists, have been jailed since al-Sissi deposed Mo