France blocks websites accused of condoning terrorism

Source: Aljazeera

France has blocked five websites accused of condoning terrorism, in the first use of new government powers that came into force in February, the interior ministry said on Monday.

United States Special Forces Train Chadian Soldiers To Fight Boko Haram

Chadian troops, alongside soldiers from more than 20 other countries are undergoing training “in the deep desert,” in continuation of their ongoing war against Boko Haram militants in the North-Eastern Nigeria and a few neighbouring countries.

'Jihadi John' And CAGE's Untenable Narrative On Radicalization

Mohammed Emwazi aka Jihadi John

The Western public was graphically introduced to the brutality of the so-called Islamic State (IS) last summer when videos emerged of the beheadings of Westerners in Syria.

Bank Accounts, Donations To NGO's Frozen By Banks Over Terrorism Funding Fears

UK-registered charities in conflict zones losing finance and ability to fulfil humanitarian needs, warns Overseas Development Institute (ODI).

Why Terrorism Works: Mohammed Emwazi 'Jihadi John' And The Fear Premium

Mohammed Emwazi aka Jihadi John

It costs a lot to identify future threats

What’s it worth it to keep the world safe from “Jihadi John”? In theory, the vast economic resources and intelligence power of the West should make identifying, tracking and detaining a single, brutal terrorist worth the cost.

Terror Alert! Al Qaeda-Linked Al-Shabaab Calls For Attacks On ‘Jewish-Owned’ Shopping Malls in UK, Canada & USA

United States and British security services are assessing the credibility of new threats against western shopping centres issued by Somali-based Islamist terrorists.

U.S To Allow Widespread Export Of Armed Drones To Foreign Countries

The Obama administration will permit the widespread export of armed drones for the first time, a step toward providing allied nations with weapons that have become a cornerstone of U.S. counterterrorism strategy but whose remotely controlled power to kill is intensely controversial.

United States Set To Provide African Nations With Equipment and Intelligence to Fight Boko Haram in Nigeria

U.S. army to provide equipment, intelligence to fight Boko Haram

N’DJAMENA (Reuters) - The United States military will provide communications equipment and intelligence to help African nations in the fight against Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram, the commander of U.S. Special Forces operations in Africa said.

White House Prepares for Summit on Countering Violent Extremism

The summit comes in the wake of fresh attacks across the globe.

The White House will host a long-awaited summit on countering the behavior that leads marginalized groups and individuals to join terrorist groups starting Tuesday on the heels of another wave of violent attacks in Egypt and Denmark.

British Security Services Capable Of Bypassing Encryption, Draft Code Reveals

Britain’s security services have acknowledged they have the worldwide capability to bypass the growing use of encryption by internet companies by attacking the computers themselves.

United States Military Bases In Europe Step Up Security

(CNN) All U.S. military bases in Europe were ordered Tuesday to institute additional security measures in the wake of the attacks in Paris and arrests in Belgium and continuing intelligence that foreign fighters are returning to Europe.

French Security Forces Kill Charlie Hebdo Gunmen, End Terror Rampage

PARIS (AP) — With explosions and gunfire, security forces Friday ended three days of terror around Paris, killing the two al-Qaida-linked brothers who staged a murderous rampage at a satirical newspaper and an accomplice who seized hostages at a kosher supermarket to try to help the brothers escape.

Britain's Spy Chief Accuses United States Tech Firms Of Aiding Terrorism

GCHQ Director - Robert Hannigan

Technology giants such as Facebook and Twitter have become "the command and control networks of choice" for terrorists and criminals but are "in denial" about the scale of the problem, the new head of GCHQ has said.

United States Offers $45m Bounty For Information On 8 Terrorist Leaders

Washington – The United States has offered a reward of 45 million dollars for information on eight key leaders of
the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) terrorist organisation.

The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday in Washington that it’s Rewards for Justice Programme
was also offering rewards 10 million dollars for information leading to the location of Nasir al-Wahishi, AQAP’s top leader, and five million dollars each for the information on seven of the group’s leaders.

It said the Al-Wahishi was responsible for approving AQAP targets, recruiting new members, allocating resources, and directing the group’s operatives to conduct attacks.

It said AQAP had launched numerous high-profile terrorist attacks against the Yemeni government, U.S and other foreign interests.
It said the attack includes a May 2012 suicide bombing in Sanaa, that killed more than 100 people.

The State department said in 2013 more than 20 U.S embassies were temporarily closed in response to a threat associated with AQAP.

AQAP was formed in January 2009 by Yemeni and Saudi terrorists under the leadership of al-Wahishi, who had
headed AQAP’s predecessor group Al-Qaeda in Yemen.

On Jan. 19, 2010, the then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton designated the group as a Foreign Terrorist
Organization.

Source:
Vanguard

Mutiny Trial: 12 Soldiers Who Attacked GOC Sentenced To Death

A military court sitting in Abuja on Monday found 13 out of the 18 soldiers standing trial for mutiny and other offences guilty.

Twelve of the convicted soldiers were sentenced to death, five were discharged and acquitted while the remaining one was jailed for 28 days with hard labour.

Obasanjo’s Son, Other Soldiers Injured During Battle With Boko Haram in Mubi

Son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Lt-Col. Adeoye Obasanjo who is commanding a platoon in the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgent operations, was said to have  been shot in the battle for Mubi, Adamawa State alongside few other soldiers.

The younger Obasanjo,  an army engineer was reported to have been shot, sustaining   minor injuries during exchange of fire with Boko Haram terrorists while on their way to liberate Michika following sustained hours of aerial bombardment.

A highly placed military source confirmed the incident, saying "his injuries are not life threatening. He is currently receiving treatment".

"I can confirm the incident is true. He is a committed military officer on duty".

Several efforts were made to get confirmation from the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade  failed as his phone numbers were switched off.

However the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig-Gen. Olajide Lalaye said that while scores of terrorists were killed in the incident,   with few soldiers sustaining injury, he could not confirm if Obasanjo's son was affected.

  - ThisDay

United States Donates High Tech Bomb Disposal Robot, Equipments to Nigeria Police

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle, has donated a bomb disposal robot and other equipment to the Nigerian Police and assured that his country would continue to support it in the war against insurgency in the country.

Fight Against Terrorism & Insurgency: Nigerian Air Force Set To Deploy Locally Made Robot

The Nigerian Airforce (NAF) says it would soon finish the manufacturing of an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) capable of detonating high calibre improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and intelligence gathering in crisis-prone parts of the country.

The NAF, however, said lack of funds was delaying the speedy completion of the project.
Speaking at a news conference in preparation for the 42nd graduation ceremony of Nigerian Airforce Institute of Technology (NAFIT), Kaduna, its commandant, Toni Adokwe, said the new device would enhance the success of security agents in the fight against insurgency.

According to him, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) known as Gulma, developed by the institute and launched last year by President Goodluck Jonathan, had been deployed in defence headquarters for surveillance and intelligence gathering in crises-prone areas of the country.
“When the project is completed, the robot would go a long way in countering activities of terrorist groups, as detonation of bombs will not require the physical presence of a human being at the scene,” he said.

The UAV, he said, was the first on the African continent, adding that with proper funding, Nigeria was capable of attaining higher pedestal in military aviation and defence-related technology.

The institute, established in 1979, is mandated to conduct research and run postgraduate engineering programmes in various aerospace, aeronautical and allied disciplines, in addition to providing other training programmes as may be required by the Nigerian military.
So far, it has trained a total of 5,000 graduates.

Nigerian Tribune

Nigeria Police Issue Nationwide Red Alert For Sallah Celebration

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has put the force on red alert across the country to ensure adequate security as Nigerians prepare for the Sallah celebration.

The IGP directed all commissioners of police to personally supervise the special security deployment and ensure 24-hour surveillance of their respective area of operations.

Police Public Relations Officer Mr. Frank Mba said in a statement the commissioners are to ensure that
maximum attention is paid to critical public places and other points prone to enemy attack and to retool their
security infrastructures in line with their local security realities.

Courtesy:
SR

Fight Against Terrorism and Insurgency: Nigerian Govt. Orders 40 Attack Helicopters From US, Russia

The Federal Government in a determined effort to eliminate terrorism by routing insurgents from their hideouts in parts of the North East and North West once and for all, has placed purchase orders for 40 helicopters for attacks and transportation from the United States (US) and Russia.

Reliable security sources within the Presidency revealed this to some journalists  Friday that some of the aircraft will arrive in the country as early as next month while the remaining will be received certainly before the end of the year to boost the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

According to the source, the arrival of the weaponry before the end of the year, will be a game changer as it will help to ensure successful execution of the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, especially against Boko Haram Islamic Sect.

"Some military and other security forces are currently frustrated about their inability to storm the notorious Sambisa Forest where Boko Haram militants are keeping the abducted Chibok secondary school girls and also serving as operational headquarters of the group", the source said.

Details to follow

Courtesy:
ThisDay Newspaper