Terrorism : Boko Haram kidnaps another set of girls

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen kidnapped 15 girls overnight in a village near Toumour, southeastern Niger, the local mayor said on Saturday.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Boukar Mani Orthe, the mayor of the town in Niger’s Diffa region near the border with Nigeria, said about 50 unidentified armed men seized the girls in a village about nine kilometres from the town centre.

On Thursday suspected Boko Haram fighters killed eight people working at French drilling company, Foraco’s water well site in Toumour.

Boko Haram has been waging an insurrection since 2009 aimed at establishing an Islamic state in northeast Nigeria. It has launched repeated attacks into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

The violence has killed thousands of civilians and forced millions to flee their homes in the large Lake Chad basin region.

Kidnapping of schoolgirls has been a Boko Haram horror mark, since its fighters in 2014 kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, in Nigeria.

It also staged this year, another major kidnap of schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe state.

In Mali, French forces said they “put out of action” some 30 Islamist militants, possibly including veteran Malian jihadist leader Amadou Koufa, during a raid in the central Mali region of Mopti.

The French army, which has about 4,500 troops in West Africa battling Islamist militants, did not specify whether the jihadists had all been killed or taken prisoner. The operation took place with air support on Thursday night, it said.

“At this stage of the evaluation of the operation, it appears that about 30 terrorists were put out of action,” the army said in its statement on Friday, adding that Koufa and other prominent militants were probably among them.

Koufa, a radical preacher, inspired the Massina Liberation Front (MLF), a group blamed for a wave of attacks that has shifted Mali’s six-year-old Islamist insurgency from the remote desert north ever closer to its populous south.

- Daily Post

155 ex-Boko Haram fighters set for release into society – OSC

No fewer than 154 ex-Boko Haram terrorists that have been rehabilitated under the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme are now set to be reintegrated into the society.

Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Shafa, Coordinator Operations Safe Corridor (OSC) disclosed this at the end of a rehabilitation programme for the repentant boko haram members in Gombe on Saturday.

He said this was the second batch of the programme.

“The first batch of 95 clients who were discharged in February, have been successfully reintegrated .

“By the grace of God, a total of 155 clients will also be discharged and handed over to their state authorities for reintegration and resettlement,” he said.

He said, prior to the event, a stakeholders’ meeting was held on Oct. 4, at the instance of the Chief of Defence Staff to work out modalities for the reintegration.

“As part of the decisions reached at the meeting, visits were conducted in Partnership with the Presidential Committee on North East Initiative and the Centre for Democracy and Development to Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states to sensitize the state authorities, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other relevant stakeholders on the need to reconcile, resettle and reintegrate the clients back into their communities.

“I wish to state that, the reception of the various stakeholders in the Tree states were warm, encouraging and assuring that these repentant youths would be accepted wholeheartedly on return”, he said.

Also speaking, Col. Beyidi Martins, the Camp Commandant also said they were working closely with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

He said the organisation has supported the DRR Programme using funding from the U.S. Government and other European Countries.

According to him, outgoing client had been fully trained on various skills during the rehabilitation.

Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State comment President Muhammad Buhari for initiating the programme and appreciated the effort of camp officials.

Dankwambo who was represented by his agriculture commissioner, Alhaji Abba Buba-Biri, promised to support all programmes toward attaining lasting peace in the North East and Nigeria at large.

In his remarks, the Emir of Fika, Dr Muhammad Abali, commended the Nigerian Army for its contribution towards finding lasting peace in the North-East.

- PM News

Nigeria signs new country programme with UNIDO

Nigeria has signed a new country programme with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

The programme, which is worth $60 million is targeted at inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Nigeria for 2018- 2022.

The programme is to guide UNIDO’s programme/projects interventions in Nigeria during the period and build on the achievements of past country programme.

Okechukwu Enelamah, minister for industry, trade and investment, signed on behalf of the federal government, while Li Yong, UNIDO’s director general, signed for his organisation.

The new country programme, the second in the series of UNIDO’s support to Nigeria covers industrial governance, research and statistics; micro, small and medium enterprise development; special economic zones, industrial parks & private sector development; innovation science and technology management.

Other key areas covered are agro-industry and agribusiness development; minerals and metals development; trade capacity building; renewable energy development; and environmental management programme.

Enelamah listed some of the achievements of the first programme, which ended in June 2018, as:

• support for the development of an industrial policy for Nigeria and for states including Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Oyo, Lagos, Abia, and Edo;
• agribusiness and agro-industry development, including value chains development with the installation of modern rice milling equipment in Ebonyi State and Benue State, and installation of palm oil processing mill in Akwa Ibom State;
• renewable energy development with the identification of over 200 potential small hydropower (SHP) sites in Nigeria; installation of SHP plants in Enugu, Bauchi and Taraba; technical support to five megawatts rice husk (biomass) to energy in Ebonyi; techno-economic feasibility studies and business plans on sawdust (biomass) to energy in nine local government areas in Ogun and Ondo. The SHP plant in Taraba State is the source of power for the Highland Tea Factory which has transformed from bankruptcy to profit;
• development of textile and garments common facility centres in Abia (for leather and garment), Kano (for leather and leather goods) and Delta (for leather);

The minister promised effective collaboration with UNIDO for the success of the programme, which will enhance the implementation of the ERGP.

In his remarks, Yong said the signing of the agreement is important for Nigeria as the country strives toward achievement of the sustainable development goal (SDG) 9 which focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation.

- TheCable

Nigerian media unite to fight fake news ahead of 2019 elections

Ahead of the 2019 elections, a coalition of news organisations in Nigeria is collaborating to combat misinformation, fake news and other factors that might have a negative impact on the polls. 

The verification project will allow several newsrooms in Nigeria to work together to investigate claims and rumour circulating on social media and debunk them before they go viral. 

The reporting will be powered by a group of at least 15 newsrooms drawn from print, electronic and online media.

The verification project is a collaboration between Nigerian media organisations, First Draft and the Information Disorder Project at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Centre.

First Draft, an international organisation working towards combatting misinformation across the globe, has developed a reliable technology to verify information, to nearly 100 per cent accuracy.

The technology has already been deployed in France and Brazil. 

The media houses involved in the collaborative effort in Nigeria are The Guardian, Punch, Daily Trust, The Sun, Tribune and The Nation

Others are Channels Television, Premium Times, TheCable, Sahara reporters, The ICIR and  NAN.

The coalition also includes Africa check, AFP and West Africa Service.

The Mass Communication Department of the University of Lagos, is joining as a research partner in the collective effort and will help test interventions and conduct computational research for the project.

Dayo Aiyetan, executive director of International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), an independent, non-profit news agency, whose organisation will coordinate the project, expressed concern about how politicians weaponise information either to deceive the public or injure the reputation of opponents. 

He said as recent local elections have shown in the country, “the social media, including Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, have become avenues for politician to spread  misinformation, rumour, falsehood and fake news, adding that the media bears responsibility to verify information being churned out on social media to ensure that they are true.

“Journalists need to learn the skills to verify and fact check such misinformation and debunk them before they mislead people or cause harm.”

Aiyetan said no newsroom in Nigeria can singlehandedly confront the daily circulation of fake news with significant effect, which made the collaboration among several media houses necessary.

Insert:WHAT OTHER MEDIA CHIEFS SAY

In addition, a number of select bloggers will be invited to join the traditional newsrooms as re-publishing partners. Participants in the coalition will benefit from continuous training and the opportunity to share knowledge, tips and expertise with each other across newsrooms. 

Not less than 50 Nigerian journalists and researchers will be trained for the verification project. 

“We really want this project to be driven and owned by Nigerian journalists as you know your audiences and political context far better,” Phoebe Arnold, the International Projects Co-ordinator at First Draft, said in a statement. 

- TheCable

Tottenham stop Chelsea’s season unbeaten run

Tottenham outplayed Chelsea to inflict the Blues’ first Premier League defeat of the season which shows they are capable of “big things”, says Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Pochettino’s men displayed a terrific performance to move above their opponents in the table to third, five points behind unbeaten leaders Manchester City, while Chelsea drop down to fourth.

BBC reports that Spurs deservedly scored two goals in the first 16 minutes through midfielder Dele Alli’s flicked header from Christian Eriksen’s cross, and Harry Kane firing in a drive from long range.

“There’s no need for me to talk too much. I am so happy, so pleased,” Pochettino told Match of the Day. “I don’t need to analyse too much. All credit to the players because they were fantastic.

“The staff are so happy managing this group of players. We need to be humble and recognise playing like this, we can do big things.

“Our challenge is to keep going and be consistent. That’s our challenge for the rest of the season.”

Son Heung-min had struck straight at goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga when through on goal, and saw a volley pushed away before scoring a brilliant goal in the second half.

The South Korean forward picked the ball up on the halfway line, outpaced Jorginho and darted past David Luiz before rolling a cool finish into the net.

Son told Match of the Day: “It’s amazing. Our performance was very good and we deserved to win. It’s an unbelievable night.

“We said it before – the first five minutes are so important. We played direct and scored an early goal. Afterwards we created a lot of chances. I need to be more clinical.”

Chelsea did manage to pull a goal back with five minutes remaining through substitute Olivier Giroud’s powerful header low into the corner.

- PM News

Foreign news agency reports that about 100 Nigerian soldiers were killed in Metele

Militants killed around 100 Nigerian soldiers in an attack on an army base on Sunday, security sources said on Thursday, blaming Islamic State West Africa.

The toll is among the highest since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in 2015 and it could raise pressure on him ahead of an election in February, not least because he has claimed victory over the nine-year insurgency.

The insurgents attacked the base in the village of Metele in northeastern Borno state, the epicentre of a revolt by Boko Haram and its Islamic State splinter group.

“The insurgents took us unawares,” said an officer who requested anonymity. “The base was burned with arms and we lost about 100 soldiers. It is a huge loss.”

Many troops are missing, the sources said. One soldier said more troops were killed on Tuesday when an attempt to recover bodies from the initial attack was ambushed.

“We all flew because we didn’t know where the bullets were coming from,” he said. “They killed some of us who went to evacuate the bodies of the killed soldiers.”

“We left our amour, tanks and weapons. They were all there. The village is still under their control.”

Four security sources said around 100 died in Metele and the death toll was not final. The fifth said 96 died in the northeast in recent days, mostly in Metele.

The senate, which is controlled by the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday suspended its session in honour of what it said were 44 dead soldiers after the Metele attack.

Opposition presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, who is Buhari’s main rival, called on the government to support the families of dead soldiers.

A presidency spokesman said the military would issue a statement. Military spokesmen did not respond to requests for comment. The government and military often decline to acknowledge the scale of losses in the northeast.

Militants have killed hundreds of soldiers in the region in recent months.

- PM News

Buhari shocked over killing of hundreds of Nigerian soldiers

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep shock over the killing of military men in Metele village of Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists.

He also gave an assurance that immediate measures are being taken to ensure that the loopholes which led to the fatalities are blocked once and for all.

In a reaction to the tragic incident on 18 November, the President said that his administration remains ever committed and focused on the security of military personnel and other citizens.

“No responsible Commander-in-Chief”, Buhari said “would rest on his oars or fold his hands to allow terrorists to endanger the lives of its military personnel and other citizens. Our loyal forces have proved their strength over the terrorists and we are ready to give them all the needed support in terms of equipment and manpower to succeed in ending the renewed threat.

“In the coming days, I am engaging the Military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking.”

The President noted that fighting terrorism has taken a global dimension, which necessitates international collaboration among states facing similar security challenges.

President Buhari reassured Nigerians of his continued commitment to their security and of his efforts to sustain the momentum in the previous significant successes recorded against the terrorists.

He advised Nigerians against making a political capital out of national tragedy, stressing that members of the armed forces are one family who are commonly committed to the security and safety of all Nigerians.

- PM News

SERAP reacts to video of Tuface mocking Nigerian leaders

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has reacted to a video by legendary Musician,Tuface Idibia blasting Nigerian leaders over the state of the nation.

DAILY POST reports that Tuface in a viral video on social media slammed Nigerian leaders over the state of the nation as he landed in Accra, Ghana for a visit.

In the video at Kotoka airport, Tuface impressed by the outlook of the airport was quoted saying, “You dey see levels for here, shame no dey catch some people for our side?”

SERAP, reacting to the video, said corruption was to blame for the state of airports in Nigeria.

The group while identifying said Nigeria needed great leaders who had the interest of the people in order to make improvements in the country.

SERAP stated this in a post on its official Twitter page.

The tweet read: “The problem is many large-scale airport projects in Nigeria since the return of democracy in 1999 have been seriously tainted by corruption.

“We have the resources to do it but we need leaders that can create a state that serves its people’s interests.”

- Daily Post

Osinbajo reveals Nigeria’s major problem

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has maintained that Nigeria’s problem was finding upright men in positions of authority.

Osinbajo stated this while dismissing the popular belief that the problem with Nigeria was ethnicity and tribalism.

Speaking on Friday in Enugu during a book presentation by former governor of the State, Mr Sullivan Chime, Osinbajo stressed that the belief that Nigeria’s problem was ethnic and religious base was wrong and misplaced.

He said, “The problem of our country is finding forthright men in positions of authority.”

Osinbanjo described Chime as a man with strong values who made the desired change in the state during his time as governor.

The Vice President urged political office holders to discharge their responsibilities with good conscience and responsibility.

He stated that Nigeria would be a better place if politicians think of what the future would hold for their people rather than how to win their next election.

“At the end of the day, integrity pays and I congratulate Chime for the successes he recorded during his time as governor,” Osinbanjo said.

- Daily Post

I am the CEO of APC – Oshiomhole fires at party’s legal adviser, Ogala

Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says every member of the party’s national working committee (NWC) must take directive from him.

The National Legal Adviser of the party, Babatunde Ogala, had accused Oshiomhole of usurping his office.

In an internal memo addressed to the chairman, Ogala said the National Chairman was fond of sidelining the party’s legal department.

He alleged that Oshiomhole had refused to consult him over issues his office should handle.

But in an interview with Daily Trust, Oshiomhole said the constitution of the party provides that he is the chief executive officer (CEO) of the APC.

He said: “We have a constitution. It’s very clear that nobody is an island to himself or herself. Yes, we have 21 elected members of the NWC. We constitute an organ. It is not 21 NWCs, it’s one, and the duties and responsibilities of the chairman are well-stated. Among others, it provides that the chairman is the chief executive officer (CEO) of the party. He is also the chief accounting officer.

“The word CEO has the same meaning everywhere in the world. The fact that you are the head of a department or a division, or a unit, does not isolate you from taking a directive from the CEO. So, if there is anyone, including a legal adviser, who thinks that he is running a different system that is not accountable to the internal structures and power and control within the party, the challenge may be his.

“But again, those are all part of the distractions. What happens in government and some organisations is that if you don’t pay attention to some minute areas, they become the entry point for opponents to infiltrate and create maximum damage. What are the issues? The right to nominate who represents us, the right to be consulted.

“If I am taken to court as national chairman, and my name is mentioned, or they just write national chairman and write All Progressives Congress, common sense should ask, should I have the right to be informed and to approve who represents the party in a lawsuit? Why would anybody want to monopolise that? For me it’s straightforward. I have seen ridiculous situations in which people who took our party to court come to me to say, ‘Allow me to nominate the person who’ll represent the APC’ so that they are guaranteed of the outcome of the case.

“I cannot oblige such a request, and if insisting that the right thing is done leads to internal memos that some choose to publish, my eye is on the ball, to protect the corporate interest of the APC.”

- Daily post