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Regional News
Sudan’s prosecution has accused former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok of “inciting war against the state” and other charges that could carry the death penalty, according to state television.
The prosecutor’s office is loyal to military chief Abdel Fattah al Burhan, whose regular armed forces have been at war since April 2023 with paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
Fifteen other people, including journalists and politicians who like Hamdok live abroad, face similar charges such as “violating the constitution.”
Hamdok, Sudan’s most prominent civilian politician, was the country’s first premier in a fragile transition following an uprising after decades under Omar al Bashir’s rule.
Hamdok was placed under house arrest after an October 2021 coup by former allies Dagalo and Burhan.
After a brief reinstatement, Hamdok resigned in January 2022 and fled to Abu Dhabi. He has since re-emerged as part of a new coalition known as Taqadum.
Sudan’s war has claimed thousands of lives and displaced more than 8.5 million people, according to the UN.
https://www.france24.com/en/video/20240330-niger-clamps-down-on-illegal-mining
More than a ton of gold was seized at the Addis Abeba airport last January. The gold originated from Niger and was bound for the United Arab Emirates. Since then, Niger authorities suspended many gold mining operations permits in the country. But in the Agadez region, gold mining is a major source of income for young people
Smuggled Starlink dishes bring internet lifeline in war-torn Sudan. Starlink has become a lifeline for some in a country where the internet has gone down regularly since war erupted last April between Sudan’s army and paramilitary force RSF.
Ambazonian separatists have declared Monday as a ghost town in the North West and South West regions since the Anglophone crisis began in 2017. Attempts to ignore this have often resulted in deaths and schools, homes and shops burned down. And last Monday, three motorbike taxi drivers ended up getting killed. This led to a rally by their fellow colleagues.
The motorcycle taxi drivers revealed that their colleagues were shot dead last Monday, April 01, 2024, shortly after obtaining the weekly permit. They believe that the municipal and administrative authorities of the Meme division are using them as a shi eld against separatist fighters and to combat the “Monday ghost town” through the introduction of the weekly permit.
https://yen.ng/yen2/2024/03/why-we-released-313-boko-haram-suspects-to-borno-government-dhq
The Defence Headquarters says the release of 313 terrorism suspects to Borno Government was on the orders of the Federal High Court sitting in Maiduguri.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, who made the clarification on Thursday in Abuja, said the suspects were detained on suspicion, but no evidence was found against them at the conclusion of investigation.
According to him, the cases were prosecuted by the Federal Ministry of Justice, wherein the court ordered for their release.
“Accordingly they were handed over to the Borno State Government for further action,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, troops of Operation Hadin Kai have recorded massive successes against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, killing scores and arresting their collaborators during the week.
Mr Buba said that terrorists’ commanders and combatants also surrendered to troops in Jere, Chibok, Monguno, Gwoza and Bama Local Government Areas of Borno, and in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa.
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“Overall, troops neutralised 52 terrorists, arrested 137 and rescued 78 kidnapped hostages in the Northeast during the week under review.
“Troops recovered three M56 rifles, 40 AK47 rifles, three PKT guns, 13 fabricated rifles, two hand grenades, one locally made explosive, 889 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 310 rounds of 7.62mm NATO.
“Others are 60 rounds of 7.62 x 25mm ammo, 99 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, six AK47 rifles magazines, two M56 rifle magazines, two magazine carriers, one motorcycle, six mobile phones, one HH radio, three bicycles and the sum of N340,500.00 amongst others,’’ he said.
Parties and NGOs demand elections in Mali
In tonight’s edition: Dozens of political, civilian and human rights groups call on Mali’s ruling military junta to arrange democratic elections as soon as possible. Also, Tunisians are one of the biggest groups of migrants risking the dangerous sea journey to Italy to try to escape the country’s economic troubles. But those who try to relocate to Europe using legal channels also face potentially devastating risks. Finally, we head to Kenya, where young people in some poorer areas are turning to fencing.
https://yen.ng/yen2/2024/03/troops-kill-212-terrorists-apprehend-252-in-1-week-dhq
The Defence Headquarters says troops neutralised 121 terrorists, apprehended 253 and rescued 244 kidnapped hostages in different operations nationwide in one week.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj -Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while giving an update on military operations on Thursday in Abuja.
Mr Buba said the troops also recovered 223 assorted weapons and 2,756 ammunition comprising three M56 rifles, 115 AK47 rifles, three PKT gun, 24 locally fabricated gun, and 36 dane guns.
He added that seven locally fabricated pistols, 1,716 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 494 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, and 60 rounds of 7.62 x 25mm ammo amongst other items.
In the North East, Mr Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 52 terrorists, arrested 137 and rescued 78 kidnapped hostages during the week under review.
https://yen.ng/yen2/2024/04/breaking-unimaid-lecturer-dr-kamal-reporter-killed-in-office
A lecturer of the Department of Physical and Health Education at the University of Maiduguri has been killed by unidentified criminals.
The lecturer, identified as Dr. Kamal Abdulkadir, was gruesomely murdered in his office at the university on Sunday.
According to one of his students, the assailants also took away his vehicle after killing him.
At the time of filing this report, authorities from the university did not make any comment.
However, ASP Nahum Daso Kenneth, the spokesman of the police in the state said the police is aware of the incident.
He also said investigation is ongoing, after which details will be made available.
https://yen.ng/yen2/2024/04/unimaid-speaks-on-lecturers-murder-Yen
The management of the University of Maiduguri has confirmed the killing of Dr. Kamar Abdulkadir who was senior lecturer at the school’s Department of Physical and Health Education.
Dr. Kamal was gruesomely murdered by (an) unknown person(s) in his office at the university on Sunday.
Prof. Danjuma Gambo, spokesperson of the university in a press release confirmed the incident.
‘The attention of Management of the University of Maiduguri has been drawn to numerous reports, rumours and misrepresentations surrounding his death.
‘We wish to clarify that on Monday, 1″ April, 2024, Management received a report that his lifeless body was sighted in his office, following an alarm raised by members of his family.
‘The police and other security agencies have already launched an investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death.
https://yen.ng/yen2/2024/04/breaking-8-arrested-in-murder-of-unimaid-lecturer
‘In view of the gravity of the matter, Management advises all staff and students to remain calm and go about their normal, legitimate businesses, as the University works closely with relevant security agencies to get to the root of the matter.
‘Management also wishes to assure parents, guardians and other stakeholders that the University campus remains safe and secure for teaching, learning and community service.
‘Management appreciates the numerous messages of sympathy and support from all it’s stakeholders in this moment of grief,’ the statement said.
Police has since arrested eight suspects in relation to the incident.
ASP Kenneth Daso, police spokesman, said investigation is still ongoing to unravel what happened and assured that the perpetrators will be brought to justice soon
https://yen.ng/yen2/2024/04/breaking-8-arrested-in-murder-of-unimaid-lecturer-yen
Police in Maiduguri has said that its men have arrested eight suspects in connection to Dr. Abdulkadir Kamal’s killing.
Dr. Kamal, a lecturer of the Department of Physical and Health Education, was gruesomely murdered by unknown person(s) in his office at the university on Sunday.
This paper has reported earlier that varsity lecturer was found dead in office, with knife stabs in parts of his body.
While the motives of his killers were not known, our reporter learned that his car and other valuables were stolen. Neither his family or movement issued any statement yet.
But police has confirmed the incident, where ASP Daso Kenneth, said eight suspects have already been arrested.
He said upon receiving the details of the incident, their men swung into action and immediately cornered eight suspects in connection with the murder.
‘The command has received a distress call on the murder of Dr. Kamal, it was confirmed that he was murdered in his office and his car got stolen by the killers.
‘Eight people were so far arrested and they are under investigations to unravel those behind the act.’
The PPRO also called for calm as the situation is under control.
https://yen.ng/yen2/2024/03/kuriga-children-played-significant-role-in-our-rescue-efforts-dhq YEN
The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, says the level of distress created by the abducted Kuriga school children provided sufficient grounds for the troops to exploit and rescue them.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja on the operations of the armed forces across the country.
Mr Buba said pressure of military operations also created significant level of distress for the terrorists, making it more convenient for troops to rescue the 137 school children on March 24.
”The armed force is bent on sustaining the winning ways of our operational engagements as demonstrated with the recent rescue of 16 and 137 hostages in Sokoto and Kaduna States, respectively.
“The success demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the armed forces to secure and protect the citizens against harm and acts of terror.
“The level of distressed created by the children was sufficient enough for troops to exploit in their rescue,” he added.
An explosion has rocked Ikeja Military Cantonment in Lagos State.
This was confirmed in a statement on Monday issued by Maj. Gen Onyeama Nwachukwu.
According to him, the incident occurred on a farmland near the Mammy Market within the cantonment.
He described the explosion as a minor incident and urged residents to remain calm.
‘The explosion is suspected to have been triggered by the burning of refuse and other inflammable debris by a farmer who cultivated the farmland,’ he said.
Maj. Gen Nwachukwu added that no casualty was recorded in the incident.
‘Given that the cantonment was recently cleared and certified free of unexploded ordnances, we understand that there could be concerns among the general public as a result of the historical antecedent of explosion within the cantonment.
‘The NA therefore wishes to assure the public that the situation is under control as the NA Engineers Explosive Ordnance Disposal team has cordoned off the area of the farmland to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion.
‘We urge residents in the general area not to panic and assure them of their safety,’ he explained.
https://yen.ng/yen2/2024/04/worshippers-abducted-by-bandits-during-night-prayers
Muslim worshipers were reportedly abducted on Tuesday morning in Zamfara State.
According to reports, the attack was carried out while Muslim faithfuls were observing the famous congregational prayer, Tahajjud in a Mosque at Gusau, capital of the state.
Reports said that the number of people abducted is yet to be confirmed.
Tahajjud is special prayer observed by Muslims in the last ten days of Ramadan.
However, ASP Yazid Abubakar, the police spokesman in Zamfara said the bandits had a target in the attack.
Peace and Security
Hanadi’s story: Forced to flee war in Sudan, a family finds refuge in Egypt
Hanadi Ali, along with four of her daughters and five other family members, fled home in Khartoum for Egypt as a bloody power struggle between two generals continues to rage even after one year.
https://yen.ng/yen2/2024/04/bandits-reportedly-abduct-30-children-while-fetching-firewood
Suspected bandits have kidnapped about 30 children in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The incident took place in the early hours of Monday at Kasai Village in the local government area.
A residents of the area confirmed the incident to Channels TV via a telephone call.
He told the paper that the children were intercepted and kidnapped by the hoodlums behind the village area while in search of firewood for cooking.
‘Yes, the attack occurred yesterday Monday in the morning hours. It all began when the children numbering up to thirty went behind the Kasai village to secure firewood which, their parents would use to cook food for them.
The Borno State Police Command says it has arrested four suspects for alleged illegal mining in the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Nahun Daso, stated this in a statement on Thursday in Maiduguri, the state capital.
He said the suspects were arrested for being in possession of 70 bags of assorted solid minerals suspected to be monoxide.
Mr Daso said that the suspects were arrested on 24 March with one diesel tanker truck.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, said contrary to criticisms by lawyers and activists,the military’s declaration was not illegal.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that suspected residents of Okuama Community in Delta State, on 14 March, ambushed and murdered the Commanding Officer of 181 Army Amphibious Battalion, two majors, one captain and 13 soldiers.
The troops were attacked while responding to a distress call arising from a clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in the southern Nigerian state, the military said
In response, the Defence Headquarters, on Thursday, declared eight suspects wanted over the murder of the army personnel.
https://yen.ng/yen2/2024/04/court-allows-sss-to-detain-osase-suspected-nigerian-isis-member
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, granted an interim order sought by the State Security Service, SSS, to detain Emmanuel Osase, a Nigerian suspected to be a member of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, ISIS, for 60 days.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order after counsel for the DSS, A.A. Ugee, moved the ex-parte motion to the effect.
When the matter was called, Ugee informed the court of the application.
He said the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/409/2024 was brought pursuant to Section 66(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
He prayed the court for an order enabling the security outfit to detain Osase for 60 days pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Justice Ekwo, who granted the application, adjourned until June 3 for report
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osase, who was arrested on March 11, was accused of propagating the messages of the terrorist group, opposing democratic system of government in Nigeria and calling for terrorists attacks on Nigeria and it symbols of sovereignty.
In affidavit dated March 27 and deposed to by Ahmad Abubakar, a DSS operative, attached to the Legal Service Department, National Headquarters, Abuja, he averred that the release of the suspect could jeopardise investigation.
He said that Osase was arrested by a team of DSS “for alleged membership and propagation of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist messages, including opposition to Democratic System of Government and the call for staging terrorists attacks against Nigeria State and its symbols of sovereignty;”
https://yen.ng/yen2/2024/04/breaking-fire-guts-gomboru-market-in-maiduguri
A fire has razed down parts of the popular Gomboru Market in Maiduguri.
The fire broke out at Yan Katako, a part of the market where woods and carpentry materials are sold.
Our reporter who was there said the damage cannot be immediately ascertained but the situation is put under control.
He said the fire erupted at 9:50 pm or slightly earlier, leaving many shops gutted by the time fire service operatives arrived few minutes into it.
The swift response helped to put the fire, but not after a yet to be assessed damage.
The market had a similar disaster last year.
As at the time of filing this report, this paper cannot ascertain the cause of the outbreak.
https://yen.ng/yen2/2024/04/ive-no-criminal-record-detained-miyetti-allah-president-tells-court
The detained President, Miyetti-Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, has told a Federal High Court, Abuja that he had no criminal record.
Mr Bodejo, who was arrested on the alleged raising up an armed militia in detriment of the nation’s unity, told Justice Inyang Ekwo in a motion for bail filed by his lawyer, Ahmed Raji, SAN.
In the motion with charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/141/2024 date and filed March 28, he sought an order admitting him to bail on liberal terms pending the hearing and determination of the case against him.
https://yen.ng/yen2/2024/03/tinubu-approves-immediate-take-off-of-fce-in-gwoza-gov-zulum
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who met President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday has said that the establishment of Federal College of Education, Gwoza has been approved.
Zulum said the approval is for an immediate take-off of the college.
‘I’m pleased to notify you that the president has approved the immediate takeoff of the Federal College of Education Gwoza,’ Zulum said.
The government has already provided a temporary site for the college last year.
The governor said the Gwoza Government Secondary School in Vile is to temporarily host the college, before a permanent site is in place.
Zulum also discussed the repatriation of displaced persons that are indigenes of Borno State from the Republic of Chad, Niger and Cameroon which has been suspended.
He said President Tinubu has given his commitment that it will resume.
‘We started repatriating them during the last administration. But because of the election period and rainy season, we stopped the repatriation exercise. Again, Mr. President has given me his commitment that the government of Nigeria will resume the repatriation exercise very soon,’ Zulum said.
https://dailytrust.com/palliative-is-necessary-because-people-are-hungry-nasarawa-gov
In an interview on Channels Television, Governor Sule emphasized the importance of addressing the immediate hunger while also focusing on sustainable solutions for self-reliance. He mentioned providing skill training and working capital to graduates and farmers to start their businesses. He also noted plans to collaborate with institutions like the Bank of Industry to offer more opportunities to youths.
Humanitarian
https://dailytrust.com/4-killed-in-taraba-nasarawa-as-windstorm-destroys-hundreds-of-houses
Three residents of Takum town in Taraba State have lost their lives following a severe windstorm that struck the area twice in two days.
The first incident, according to a resident, Mallam Maiwada Takum, occurred on Tuesday evening, causing extensive damage to residential, commercial, school and office buildings.
https://dailytrust.com/banditry-289375-persons-displaced-in-kaduna-official
The Kaduna State Government has said 551 communities across 12 local government areas have been affected by banditry, resulting in 289,375 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state.
Dr Usman Hayatu Mazadu, the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA), revealed these figures during the flag-off of palliative distribution in Maraban Kajuru.
https://dailytrust.com/bandits-raid-8-kaduna-villages-kill-2-people-rustle-cows
Bandits have raided eight rural communities, killed two people and rustled several cows in Kachia LGA of Kaduna State.
City & Crime gathered that the communities raided are Anguwar-Doka, Kurutu, Mai-Ido, Hayin-Dam, Awom, Arikon, Gidan-Makeri and Rijana.
A resident of Gidan-Makeri, Alhaji Ado Yakubu, told our reporter through telephone on Sunday that the bandits attacked the villages last Thursday between 4pm and 6pm and shot dead two herders in Kurutu village.
He explained that, “In fact, in Kurutu village alone, the bandits rustled 128 cows after they shot two herders.”
The police in Enugu State, South-east Nigeria, say they have rescued some kidnap victims in the state.
The police spokesperson in the state, Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement on Wednesday, said the victims were kidnapped on Sunday at about 4:55 p.m. along Eke-Ebe Road in Udi Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Ndukwe, a deputy superintendent of police, said the victims were rescued by operatives serving in Ezinze Police Division in collaboration with a Neighbourhood Watch Group.
The Federal University, Wukari (FUW), Taraba State, on Tuesday, said two of its students have been abducted.
The Chief Security Officer of the institution, Sule Gani, said the students were abducted Monday evening in a restaurant on the school premises.
He said the kidnapped students were on the campus to rewrite some of their examinations.
Mr Gani said the school authorities were working with the police and other security agencies to rescue the students unhurt.
