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Latest News: Training and recruitment is ongoing - Wednesday, 02 March 2011 22:54

week 20

PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Kidnappers of Dutch Nationals Demand N500m Ransom

The kidnappers of three Dutch nationals along the waterways of the Niger Delta have demanded N500 million as ransom for the release of the three non-governmental organisation officials who were kidnapped last Sunday. The kidnappers also insisted that the ransom must be paid, preferably in euros or dollars. This is coming as the Bayelsa State Police Command and the state government began a manhunt and rescue operation to secure the release of the victims. The three Dutch nationals were abducted along the creeks of the delta in Letugbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state. The state police boss, Mr. Hilary Opara, disclosed that a special security team of Ijaw youths, policemen and other security operatives have been deployed to fish out the kidnappers. Opara, while stating that intelligence reports showed that the victims might still be within the area where they were abducted, warned foreign nationals against movement in the creeks without the necessary security protection. He said neither the police nor any other security agency in Delta State, from where the men travelled, and Bayelsa where the kidnapping took place, were aware of the foreign nationals’ movement in the creeks. The abducted Dutch nationals have been identified as Mr. Erhard Leffers, Mrs. Marianne Vos and Mr. Jan Andre Groenendijk.

Varsity Don Shot in Office

Gunmen suspected to be students, Tuesday, shot a lecturer in the University of Calabar, Dr Godwin Iwatt, in his office mortally wounding him. The lecturer who was shot in the stomach was rushed to the General Hospital Calabar, where he was still in coma at the emergency unit of the hospital with doctors battling to save his life. An eyewitness said the lecturer was in his office at the Department of Microbiology at about 3 pm when two persons suspected to be students went into his office and opened fire on him.

Senator Charges Space Centre to Devise Scientific Means to Check Insurgency

Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has charged university of Nigeria, Nsukka centre for basic space science and other scientists in country to proffer solution to the worsening insecurity in the country. Speaking at the permanent site of the space science in Nsukka, Senator Ekweremadu challenged scientists to develop devices that could be used to track insurgents. Ekweremadu, who was at the Centre for Basic Space Science on a one-day official visit, earlier paid courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He expressed condolences to victims of bomb blast in Nyanya Abuja, and hoped for quick release of over 200 secondary school students abducted by the Boko Haram sect in Chibok, Borno State. He said, “I believe science can proffer solutions to security challenges in this country. While announcing the donation of a transformer to Ebulumiri host community to UNN centre for basic space science, he stated that every part of Nigeria was his constituency.

Gunmen Demand Ransom for Release of Kidnapped Expatriates

One of the kidnappers of the three Dutch nationals, weekend, in Lutugbene, Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State, has allegedly been shot dead by suspected pirates just as the kidnappers have reportedly demanded N20m ransom to free the victims. A source disclosed that the kidnappers ran into the sea pirates, who attacked them, as they were escaping with the Dutch nationals to their den in the creek. The Coalition of Swamp/Coastal Oil Producing Communities of Bayelsa and Delta States, however, last night, gave the kidnappers a 24-hour ultimatum to release the victims or Ijaw gods would go after them. The chairman the coalition, Chief Lambert Odudu, condemned the kidnapping and ordered the release of the three Dutch nationals kidnapped in Lutugbene within 24 hours. The death of one, Paul Esebulu, from Amatu II, one of the Dodo River communities during the Sunday attack on the boats conveying the Dutch nationals and their entourage is said to have heightened tension in the area. The deceased is believed to have been killed by the propeller of the boat in which he was traveling alongside others when it capsized following the attack by the gunmen.

JTF Vows to Halt Oil Theft

The Joint Task Force, JTF, has vowed to reduce oil theft in the Niger Delta region. Commander of the task force in the region, Major Gen Emmanuel Atewe, who gave the assurance in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while on tour of formations under his command, said that he had devised strategy to win the war against oil theft. The JTF boss also expressed hope that the nation will overcome its current security challenge, urging Nigerians to volunteer useful information to JTF to succeed in the war against oil theft.
General Atewe called for a special court to try economic crime, stressing that it will help in the crusade against oil theft. He said: “The current wave of security challenges facing the nation will soon phase out due to renewed commitment and strategy put in place by security agencies.”

Police Parade Medical Doctor for Child Trafficking

A medical doctor and owner of Nkemefuna Hospital, Umunachi in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, Dr. Daniel Ikebuilo, was paraded Tuesday, by the state police command over alleged sale of babies and sponsoring young girls for purposes of buying up their babies after delivery in his clinic. The command also paraded six others for alleged involvement in kidnapping, gun-running, others across the state. State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, who paraded the suspects at the headquarters of the State Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Awkuzu, said it was the second time Dr. Ikebuilo was being arrested for the same offence.

Gunmen Free Two Hostages in Bayelsa

The Niger Delta gunmen have released two Nigerians they kidnapped two days ago, but kept three Dutch nationals who were abducted at the same time, one of those freed tweeted on Tuesday. Environmental activist Sunny Ofehe tweeted that he and another kidnap victim had been released while 3 others were yet to be freed. In a statement released later in Nigeria, the Amsterdam-based Nigerian activist Ofehe said the group was seized after armed men in a dinghy approached their boat, shooting “sporadically into the air.” Ofehe said three Dutch nationals, two men and a woman, were kidnapped in Nigeria‘s oil producing region while returning from inspecting a hospital built by US oil giant Chevron. Dutch and Nigerian authorities confirmed the kidnapping. Ofehe said he and another Netherlands-based Nigerian were also abducted. They were blindfolded and eventually taken to an unknown location where they were later abandoned.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Police Arrest 6, Declare 4 Wanted over Murder of Delta Vigilante Chiefs

Police in Delta State have arrested six persons in connection with the killing of the chairmen of Udu Central Vigilante Red Bar Security, Prosper Erhinyojare and Godwin Migaga in Udu LGA of the state. Erhinyojare and Migaga were allegedly killed by assassins in April. Delta State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, in a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, gave the name of those arrested as David, Rege, Festus and Ojekom, while others are at large. Items recovered from them include two AK 47 rifles, 90 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and two locally made cut to size single barrelled shot-guns. The arrested suspects, some of whom had made confessional statements highlighting their functions and degree of involvement in the dastardly act, at the completion of investigation, would be charged to court. The police command vowed not to relent until all the culprits identified were brought to book. The command, however, implore the people of Delta State not to be deterred as the Police still required their support to contain the criminal elements.

NLC Threatens Strike over Alleged Assault by Soldiers

Delta State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has, in Asaba, threatened to declare full strike of all industrial unions affiliated to it over alleged continuous assault and harassment of members by armed soldiers and policemen in the fight with the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, labour accused of extortionist tariff without power to Nigerians, among others. Other grievances of labour include de-unionisation of workers by the management of BEDC and victimisation of labour leaders. Chairman of the state NLC, Mr. Williams Akperoha, implored the Chief of Army Staff, Inspector General of Police and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the state to call the soldiers and policemen to order before the situation degenerates. He lamented that armed soldiers and policemen had been assaulting and harassing members in Asaba, Warri and Ughelli locations of BEDC, and warned that should the assault continue, organised labour in the state would resort to full industrial action among other measures to protect the interest of members.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Police Arraign Three over Attack on Suspected Kidnapper

The Ogun State Police Command has arraigned three persons before an Abeokuta Magistrate’s Court sitting in Isabo, for allegedly attacking one Yusuf Sulaimon after tagging him a suspected kidnapper. The three, Ayegbeso Odumosu, 45, Sulaimon Isiaq, 44 and Adebayo Segun, 50, were accused of attempting to kill Sulaimon, last Monday, at Soyoye area of Abeokuta. The prosecutor, Banji Sangotokun, told the court that the accused conspired to kill the complainant by hitting him with sticks, stones, cutlass and other offensive weapons on his head and other parts of his body which caused him injuries.
The prosecutor also said the accused persons had exposed the complainant to ridicule by raising a false alarm that he was a kidnapper with intent to injure his reputation. Counsel to the accused persons prayed the court to grant bail to the accused persons in most liberal terms. The prosecutor, however, objected to the bail application, saying the offence is punishable with life imprisonment. The presiding chief magistrate, Anthony Araba, however, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties in like sum. The magistrate adjourned the case till June 23, 2014.

Trader Arrested With 9.375kg Cannabis at Airport

A 38-year-old trader has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly being in possession of 9.375kg of compressed cannabis hidden inside foodstuffs, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The suspect, identified as Izuchukwu Jude Ekwosimba, was apprehended while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to China where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment. The operatives reportedly detected the drugs which were concealed inside dried fish, dried bitter leaf, crayfish, melon and other local food spices, when the suspect came to check in his luggage. During investigation, the father of one told operatives that he was tempted to go into the illicit business in order to pay his house rent. Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, dismissed the suspect’s claim of financial difficulty as cause for indulging in the illicit business, and expressed joy over the suspect’s apprehension, explaining that it prevented him from possible death sentence in China.

GENERAL

Countries Unite to Rescue Abducted Chibok Girls

The build-up of an international coalition ready to assist Nigeria in locating and rescuing the more than 200 schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists three weeks ago got a boost, last week, as France and China and Canada joined the United States and the United Kingdom in the search and rescue operation. Both the US and the UK had earlier given their word to President Goodluck Jonathan to assist Nigeria. The abduction of the girls had triggered series of protests across Nigeria and in some other countries with protesters demanding that world leaders should take drastic actions to rescue the girls. France offered to send security service agents to Nigeria to help recover the abducted girls. With more than 4,000 troops operating between Mali to the west and Central African Republic to the east, Paris has a major interest in preventing Nigeria’s security situation from deteriorating, having previously voiced concerns that Boko Haram could spread further north into the Sahel. The Peoples’ Republic of China has also offered to assist in the effort to rescue the abducted girls.

Police Offer N50m Reward for Information on Abducted Girls

The Nigeria Police Force has announced a mouth-watering cash reward of N50 million to anyone who volunteered credible information that could lead to the rescue of the over 200 girls of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, abducted recently by Boko Haram insurgents. It assured all citizens that any information given would be treated anonymously and with utmost confidentiality. The Force urged all patriotic citizens with such useful information to contact the following numbers: The Defence Headquarters has also assured protesters from different parts of the country that it was treating the issue of the abduction of the girls as a special test case, pointing out that the military was committed to bringing back the girls. Director, Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, made the disclosure after a closed door meeting between selected leaders of a protest group that stormed DHQ and top officers of Defence headquarters.

Sultan Urges All to Unite against Terrorism

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on Nigerians to unite and fight the common enemies of the nation, saying it did not include shedding of human blood. Sultan Abubakar stated this at the first Inter-Faith Health Summit, organised by the Nigerian Inter-Faith Action Association in Abuja. He said though leaders of faith in the country were determined to make their contributions towards improved health of the nation’s population, especially the children, such a dream would only be achieved in a peaceful atmosphere. In his remarks, President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, reiterated the commitment of leaders of faith in the country to help improve the health of the citizenry, particularly children.

EFCC Traces N200m to Prisons Accountant

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the head of Capital Accounts at the Nigerian Prisons Service, NPS, Abuja, for alleged corruption, money laundering and abuse of public office. Imaobong Akon Esu-Nte was picked up by the operatives of the EFCC on Tuesday and grilled for several hours over the huge amount of money found in companies’ accounts all traced to her. Operatives of the agency reportedly swooped on Esu-Nte following intelligence reports that she had been using her office to transact business as a private contractor in violation of extant public service regulation, which forbids civil servants from doing so. Investigators said that the lifestyle of the suspect, who is on a monthly salary of N121, 460 was at variance with the level of opulence being displayed by her. Apart from tracing the sum of N200 million to companies owned by her and her children, the EFCC said the woman had also been remitting money amounting to N60 million into the account of an Abuja-based Pentecostal church. She is also said to be in possession of several exotic cars and property in various parts of Abuja. Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the arrest of the woman, but warned public officers engaged in corrupt practices to desist or risk the wrath of the law.

2 Policemen, 3 Others Killed as Gunmen Invade Police Station

About five persons, two policemen and three civilians, were killed at Fadan Karshi, in Sanga Local Government of Kaduna State by gunmen who raided a police station in the area, Tuesday night. Sources said that the attackers, riding on motorcycles, invaded the police station by shooting indiscriminately. Chairman of the local government council, Mr. Emmanuel Adamu, who confirmed the incident described it as a sad development after the peace treaty recently signed by Fulani herdsmen and the Southern Kaduna People’s Union, SOKAPU, in the state. Adamu said that those injured during the “unprovoked attack” were receiving treatment at a nearby hospital in the area. Also, spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Aminu Lawan, confirmed the incident, saying investigation had already started to unravel the circumstances that led to the attack. Governor Mukhtar Yero also condemned the attack, describing it as a provocative attempt by hoodlums to throw the state into confusion. A statement signed by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Mallam Ahmed Mayaki, while consoling families of those who died in the attack said it was condemnable.

Boko Haram Abducts 11 More Girls in Borno

As the Federal Government intensifies efforts to locate and rescue the more than 200 school girls abducted three weeks ago in Borno State, Boko Haram terrorists struck again, Monday night, abducting 11 teenage girls between the ages of 12 and 15 in Warabe village of Gwoza LGA of the state. The gunmen also carted away foodstuffs and livestock belonging to the villagers before fleeing into the bush. Gwoza is about 160 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital. A resident of Warabe village, Mallam Bello Umar, confirmed the incident, pointing out that he was in the village when the terrorists struck before he ran to Gwoza.  He explained that the gunmen numbering over 20 armed with AK-47 rifles did not kill anybody, but scared everybody and the parents by abducting the teenage girls in the presence of their parents, before fleeing towards the hilly border areas between Gwoza and Cameroon Republic.

No School Child Abducted in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has clarified that no school child was abducted at Nyanya, a suburb of the nation’s capital or any other part of the FCT on Tuesday contrary to reports in a section of the social media. What happened was that at about 7am on Tuesday, some armed men snatched one of the school buses of Divine International Academy, Nyanya. However, all the children had disembarked and were safely in the school premises when the incident occurred. The snatched bus was recovered later in the afternoon of the same day at Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital. Two men found in the bus were promptly arrested by security agencies. It should be recalled that panic was created on Tuesday morning in Nyanya and its environs as rumours made the rounds especially via the social media about an alleged abduction of school children in Nyanya. FCT Secretary of Education, Mallam Kabir Usman said that relevant security agencies were immediately contacted and the school premises were secured. Security already in place in other school premises were similarly enhanced as security agencies launched investigation into the incident.

Top Egyptian Muslim Body Demands Release of Abducted Girls

Egypt’s prestigious Islamic institute, Al-Azhar, has urged the Boko Haram group to free more than 200 schoolgirls it kidnapped and threatened to sell into slavery. Al-Azhar, which runs the main Sunni Islamic university in the region, said harming the girls “completely contradicts the teachings of Islam and its tolerant principles.” It called for the immediate release of the girls, abducted on April 14 in Borno state. Abubakar Shekau, who leads the Boko Haram group that has killed thousands in a five-year uprising, claimed responsibility for the kidnappings. Shekau said the group was holding the girls as “slaves” and would “sell (them) in the market. A total of 276 girls were reportedly kidnapped when Boko Haram stormed their school under the cover of darkness and loaded them onto trucks. Some managed to escape, but more than 220 girls are still being held, according to police. Global outrage, initially slow to emerge, has been building.

World Leaders Launch Global Coalition against Boko Haram

Three days after the leader of Boko Haram, Abubkar Shekau in a video threatened to sell at the market the abducted fe­male students of Govern­ment Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno state, world leaders have risen to the challenge of assisting Nigeria to rescue the girls. France, Britain, China and the United States vowed to deploy military logistics to Nigeria to locate and rescue the girls. Brit­ain is reportedly sending a small team of experts to Nigeria to help respond to the kidnapping of the girls. The team will concentrate on planning, coordination and advice to local authorities rather than operations on the ground to look for the girls, who were seized by the Islamist mili­tant group Boko Haram on April 14. The announcement was made shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan accepted the offer of British help. The experts would be drawn from government departments including the defence, in­ternational development and foreign affairs ministries and may include military of­ficers. It was not explained how large the team would be. Speaking in parliament earlier, British Prime Minister, David Cameron, condemned the kidnapping as “pure evil”.

WEF: Jonathan Lauds World Leaders for Defying Terror Threat

President Goodluck Jonathan has commended world leaders and about 1, 000 participants for defying terror threats to attend the World Economic Forum for Africa which opened in Abuja yesterday. Last month, Boko Haram insurgents struck twice at Nyanya, a suburb town close to Abuja, the federal capital and the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. President Jonathan, who spoke during the closing plenary of Grow Africa, lauded the participants for not succumbing to the threat of terror and accepting to attend the Forum and for the WEF team for not canceling the event. Speaking on the importance of agriculture as a business, President Jonathan, who was among the panelists which include his counterparts, Jakaya Kiweta of Tanzania, Paul Kigame of Rwanda, Boni Yayi, Benin Republic and Prime Minister of Cote d Ivoire, Daniel Duncan, said Nigeria is committed to self-sufficiency in rice production by 2015-2016 for domestic and export. This, he said, would help reduce poverty and hunger. He assured that his administration will move agriculture from rural development to real business and wealth-creation.

Troops Recover Arms Cache in Three Northern States

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has said troops operating in the North Central and North Western parts of the country have recovered caches of arms and ammunition in those areas. This was disclosed yesterday in a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade. Giving details of where the arms were recovered, Olukolade said during a cordon and search operation at Anyibe, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, troops seized a cache of arms run by a young member of an armed gang. According to him, two rifles, three locally fabricated pistols and 61 rounds of special ammunition were recovered during the operation and the arrested gang member is currently being interrogated. Also in Plateau State, the defence spokesman said the cordon and search operation in two chiefdoms of the state led to the recovery of five guns, three locally fabricated pistols and two revolvers from the hideouts of armed gangs at Hukke and Reweinko. In Kaduna State, Olukolade noted that the troops encountered armed gangs at Kwandaga during which, some casualties were recorded and lots of arms and ammunition recovered. He emphasised that the operation to rid the North-central and North-west parts of the federation of armed gangs is tagged: 'Operation Restore Peace' and is still in progress in various locations.

US, Nigeria Work out Modalities on Rescue of Abducted Schoolgirls

Nigeria and United States have commenced talks aimed at ironing out modalities of what is expected to be an inter-agency collaboration to rescue the over 200 schoolgirls who were kidnapped from their school in Chibok, Borno State, over three weeks ago. The meeting between the countries came on the back of more offers of assistance from China and France to the Nigerian government in its efforts to rescue the students. To complement the international support, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has also offered a cash reward of N50 million for credible information that could lead to finding and rescuing the girls. However, despite the global outcry over the kidnapping and attempts to reunite the girls with their families, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) played the blame game, when it accused the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, of conspiracy and colluding with his state Commissioner for Education and the Chibok school authorities to set the country on the path of deception. However, the collaboration between Nigeria and the US may have to take into consideration other countries, which have offered to assist with the efforts to find and rescue the schoolgirls.

Gunmen Kill 5 in Kaduna Raid

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen were said to have attacked a police station in Fadan Karshi, Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing five people, including two  police officers. The incident was said to have occurred at about 8:30p.m on Tuesday when about 10 armed men stormed the police station on motorbikes and started shooting sporadically. Three women, a police inspector and a police corporal were killed instantly while several other people were said to have sustained injuries from gunshots and were rushed to a nearby hospital. It was learnt that two of the attackers were killed by the youths in the area that mobilised to repel the attackers. Confirming the incident, the chairman of Sanga Local Government, Emmanuel Adamu, said residents of the area were shocked by the attack because the community had never witnessed such incident in the past. Three women and two policemen, an inspector and a corporal were killed during the incident. The spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Aminu Lawal, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said he was yet to receive reports about the incident. The Kaduna State Government has however condemned the attack, saying it was an attempt by hoodlums to cause confusion in the state.

Nigeria, China Agree to Cooperate on Defence, Security, Counter Terrorism

Nigeria and China Wednesday agreed to cooperate on defence and security, as well as strengthen cooperation in counter terrorism, anti-piracy and combating organised crimes. Also, China promised to assist Nigeria in its fight against terror, especially its commitment and efforts to rescue the girls that were abducted by Islamist terror group, Boko Haram at Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State. President Goodluck Jonathan dropped the hint while briefing the press at the end of bilateral talks with Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Li Keqiang. The premier is paying an Official Visit to Nigeria from 6th to 8th of May. Keqiang according to Jonathan, was in the country in a dual capacity, on official bilateral visit, and also participating at the World Economic Forum

Soldiers Seize Arms, Ammunition in Benue, Plateau, Kaduna

Men of the Nigerian Army have uncovered and seized some arms and ammunition from militants in Benue, Plateau and Kaduna states. The Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen Chris Olukolade, said in a statement on Wednesday that the troops recovered some of the arms and ammunition from a young member of an armed gang in Benue State. According to him, two rifles, three locally fabricated pistols and 61 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the militant. He said the soldiers were currently interrogating the arrested militant. It was further stated that the troops recovered five guns, three locally fabricated pistols and two revolvers from two hideouts of armed gangs at Hukke and Reweinko in Plateau State. Olukolade also listed some materials for making Improvised Explosive Devices, 45 live cartridges, various calibres of ammunition, bows and arrows, cutlasses, axes and daggers among the items recovered in the state. The Defence spokesman added that some of the militants were killed in a gun battle with troops at Kwandaga, Kaduna State.

Eight Killed in Abuja-Lokoja Road Accident

Eight persons, including a male child, were feared dead while three others were reportedly seriously injured following an auto accident along Abuja- Lokoja Road at Ohono village near Koton Karfe on Wednesday. Our correspondent gathered that the victims were on their way to Okene, Kogi State to buy goods when their vehicle, a white Toyota passenger bus collided with a truck at about 6a.m. According to the Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Godwin Omiko, the truck was coming at high speed and collided with the passenger bus. He added that the eight people including the driver and seven other occupants, died on the spot. He blamed human error for the accident. He added that the remains of the dead victims had been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja while the injured victims were taken to the same hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, the Corps Marshall and Chief Executive, FRSC. Mr Osita Chidoka, on Wednesday admonished retiring FRSC officials to be enthusiastic and determined to   lead a successful and happy life in retirement.

INTERNATIONAL

French Soldier Killed in Mali Bomb Attack

The French Government on Thursday said a member of the French Foreign Legion has been killed in a bomb attack in northern Mali. The Minister of Defence, Jean-Yves Le Drian told newsmen that the soldier, who was taking part in an anti-terrorist operation, was killed by a crude bomb that had been planted by Islamist insurgents. He was the eighth French soldier to be killed since France launched an intervention against Islamist rebels in northern Mali in January 2013. In a statement, President Francois Hollande expressed respect for the soldier’s sacrifice and sent his condolences to his family. Le Drian said that the phase of frontal war in Mali was “drawing to a close”. French and Malian forces in 2013 carried out a lightning offensive against al-Qaeda affiliated insurgents, who took advantage of a coup to seize control of the northern half of the country. Within a month, the rebels had been chased out of most towns but they continued to mount sporadic attacks from their rear bases in the desert. Around 1,600 French soldiers have stayed behind to lead anti-terrorist operations until Mali’s army – which is being trained by a European Union mission – has the capacity to fight the threat alone.

China Detains Journalist over Protests

Prominent journalist Gao Yu has been “criminally detained”, China has announced, as the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests nears. State news agency Xinhua said the 70-year-old had leaked a confidential document to a foreign website. Ms Gao had been reported missing since 24 April by family and friends. Authorities confirmed they had detained her on this date. She joins several other government critics rounded up in recent days. Ms Gao had illegally obtained the document and sent it to the website last year, said Xinhua. The document was later widely reposted abroad, it said. State television network CCTV aired a video of a woman said to be Ms Gao confessing on Thursday morning. The woman, whose face was blurred, said: “I admit that what I’ve done touched on legal issues and threatened national interests.”

UN Urges Support for Chad over Food Insecurity

The UN under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos, has appealed for urgent aid to Chad to stem chronic food shortages and malnutrition. She made the call on Thursday in Gaoui, Chad during her first visit to the African country. Amos said this has become imperative as the humanitarian response for the country was severely underfunded. “The humanitarian response plan managed by the UN in Chad is currently only five per cent funded,” she said. Amos said it was unfortunate that Chad has been plagued by food insecurity and malnutrition, which affected about 2 million people. She said the country was also coping with the spillover impact of the crisis in neighbouring Central African Republic. Amos said since the beginning of the year, the government of Chad and the humanitarian community have evacuated over 70,000 people from the CAR and facilitated the return of over 28,950 Chadian migrants to their areas of origin. She added that humanitarian partners are also assisting more than 61,000 people in transit sites. Amos noted that in 2013, 45,000 children died of malnutrition in the country. Amos on Tuesday visited a transit site for refugees in Gaoui, near the Chadian capital.

Ukraine Crisis: Separatists Debate Referendum Call

Pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine are due to consider a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to delay referendums on autonomy. Separatist leaders in Donetsk and Luhansk say they will put the matter before “people’s councils”. The referendums are due to take place on Sunday and millions of ballot papers have been prepared. Mr Putin has said putting off the vote could help create the conditions necessary for dialogue. In what appeared to be a shift in Russian policy, Mr Putin also said this month’s presidential elections in Ukraine were a move “in the right direction”. His remarks came days after his spokesman said holding such an election would be absurd. Moscow has vowed to protect the rights of the largely Russian-speaking people in the south and east against what it calls an undemocratic government in Kiev. Ukraine’s interim authorities have rejected pro-Russian activists’ demands for greater autonomy and sent in troops to seize back official buildings occupied by rebels. “We respect Putin’s stance,” said Denis Pushilin, a pro-Russian leader in the eastern city of Donetsk. “He is a balanced politician. Therefore we will submit his proposal to the people’s council.”

Syria: Rebels Evacuated from Homs

Hundreds of rebels have been evacuated from their last stronghold in the central Syrian city of Homs. Two convoys of buses have so far left the Old City under a deal brokered by Iran and facilitated by the UN. The withdrawal is part of a deal that will also see rebels release dozens of captives and ease two sieges. It marks the end of three years of resistance in the central city, once dubbed the “capital of the revolution” against President Bashar al-Assad. Much of Homs fell to the opposition in 2011, but over the past two years government forces have gradually regained control by subjecting areas once home to tens of thousands to continuous siege and bombardment. In February, the government allowed about 1,400 people to be evacuated from the Old City. The BBC’s Paul Wood in Beirut says the rebel fighters and their families were sad and bitter as they said goodbye to a place they swore they would never leave. They buckled finally, our correspondent adds, after the government’s forces employed the tactic of what some Syrian army officers called “surrender or starve”. “The rest of the world failed us,” one activist told the BBC as he prepared to leave. A video posted online by activists on Wednesday morning showed the first group of fighters, some with their faces covered, walking in a line towards green buses. They were watched by around a dozen men in uniform and flak jackets marked “police”. In front of the buses was a white vehicle with the markings of the UN. Each fighter was allowed to take one bag and a rifle, and one rocket-propelled-grenade launcher was permitted per bus.