The Brussels Attacks and the New Normal of Terrorism in Western Europe

As emergency services are still digging through the rubble of Zaventem Airport and Maelbeek Metro Station in Brussels, it is clear that the full scale of the devastation will take days if not weeks to assess. At this point there are already 28 reported dead and 151 injured. While no organization has claimed responsibility yet, the terrorist attacks seem most likely related to the recent arrest of Salah Abdeslam, the mastermind behind the Paris attacks of last year.

#CBNGate: Let's Arrest The Culture of ‘Na mu ne’, ‘Rankadede’ in Nigeria! (2)

Security Agents, The Media MUST Be Dispassionate, Non-partisan

Akin to the coveted virtues of the judiciary, a remarkable characteristic of government security agents or agencies in saner climes is that they are dispassionate, non-partisan or neutral. The contrary seem to be the case in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the fixated drumbeating allegation that dogged the Department of State Security (DSS) during the tenure of President Jonathan prevails now. Please you guys need to draw a redline. Your allegiance and primary loyalty is to the country, not to the individual that recruited or appointed you. You don’t hear the FBI, CIA, MI5, MI6, MOSSAD amongst others getting involved in trivial issues or been used as ‘attack dogs’.

#CBNGate: Let's Arrest The Culture of ‘Na mu ne’, ‘Rankadede’ in Nigeria! (1)

Quote:  Entrenched poor leadership, impunity, corruption and nepotism are more dangerous in the long run than terrorism – Don Okereke

Preamble: Before doing justice to this essay, a caveat, and clarification suffices. Granted he is a politically conscious ‘change agent’, a devoted advocate of security and social equality, writer has zero political or parish-pump affiliation, at least for now. Don’t dissipate your energy trying to figure out where he belongs; whether or not he is anti or pro status quo. Born across the River Niger, writer relates with our brothers on the other side of the Niger. As someone that has ‘served with the Colours’, traversed the country with a stint across the Atlantic, he is unapologetically eclectic, broadminded, abhors injustice and bootlicking. This essay is not about individuals; it stems from unflinching passion, a bent to speak truth to power, hold leadership responsible and to proffer solutions to societal malaise inherent in our clime. Superior argument and tolerance are the hallmarks of civilized societies. We all don’t have to see things the same way, if you disagree with the writer, do a rejoinder with sophisticated arguments rather than troll or take to stereotyping. By the way, to the uninitiated, ‘na mu ne’ is Hausa for ‘our own’, nepotism if you want to be blunt while rankadede, more appropriately put, ranka ya dade is also Hausa expression which reads ‘may you live long’, sort of sycophancy meted out to eulogize more often than not, affluent folks.

Cybercriminals Hit Uganda Central Bank Accounts, Try To Steal $24 Million

Ugandan government officials and cybercriminals have since last July attempted four times to siphon $24 million (Ush81 billion) through the Uganda Central Bank.

US And UK Intelligence Knew The Location of 80 Abducted Chibok School Girls But No One Tried To Rescue Them

The United States and British governments knew where at least 80 of the Chibok school girls kidnapped by Boko Haram were but failed to launch a rescue mission, it has been revealed.

Fulani Herdsmen Kill 2, Sack 25 Benue Villages in Fresh Attack

Vanguard newspaper reports that notwithstanding the recent outcry that trailed the killings and sacking of Agatu communities by suspected Fulani militia, the marauders have, again, laid siege to Logo Local Government Area of the state, killing two and sacking over 25 villages.

BREAKING! Updated: How Two Female Suicide Bombers Disguised As Men Killed 22 People in Maduguri Mosque, NE Nigeria

Two female suicide bombers disguised as men kill 22 in Maiduguri Mosque On March 16, 201612:00 pmIn NewsComments At least 22 people were killed on Wednesday when two women disguised as men blew themselves up during morning prayers at a mosque in Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria, rescue officials said.

Strategies To Counter Terrorist Narratives, Radicalization Are More Confused Than Ever

It’s been a busy year for counter terrorist narrative watchers. Since we last checked in, the State Department launched a peer-to-peer program challenging extremism, Facebook is working with civil society organizations to push back on hate, the Senate approved three bills fighting online terrorist recruitment, Secretary Kerry met with Hollywood executives to discuss countering terrorist narratives, and the Department of Justice hosted a meeting with tech executives, entertainment industry leaders, other government agencies, and the media on the topic. Even the FBI got in on the action, shrewdly finding a way to combine play-time with work-time. Countering terrorist narratives is the new black. Given the self-proclaimed Islamic State’s robust presence online, the desire to do something is understandable. But the majority of these efforts are premised on false assumptions and targeted at the wrong audience.

Gunmen Kill 16 'Including Four Europeans' in Grand Bassam Beach Resort, Ivory Coast

The Etoile du Sud hotel was targeted

Gunmen wearing balaclavas stormed three popular hotels at a beach resort in Ivory Coast on Sunday, killing as many as 16 people including four Europeans.

Unsung Kidnap Incidents in Nigeria: A Case of Slow Police Reaction?

On the heels of the recent polices heroics in rescuing the abducted Ikorodu school girls, Gboyega Alaka probes what looks like the force’s slow reaction, especially when the kidnap cases don’t receive huge media and public outcry.

United States Intelligence Programs Don't Help Fighting Terrorism At All - Edward Snowden

Edward Snowden, a former employee of the US National Security Agency, said in an interview that American intelligence knowingly spied on people that had no ties to terrorism.

United Kingdom Database Hold DNA Profiles of 7,800 Terrorism Suspects

A United Kingdom police counter-terrorism database contains the DNA profiles and fingerprints of more than 7,800 identified individuals, an official government watchdog has revealed.

Nigeria Drug Agency Uncovers Methamphetamine Producing Laboratory in Delta State, Arrest Mexican, Nigerian Masterminds

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Saturday said it discovered a super laboratory for the illicit production of methamphetamine located at Asaba, Delta.

Massive Explosion Kill Scores At Central Bank of Nigeria Premises, Calabar

Vanguard newspaper reports that about eighteen people were on Friday morning roasted while others sustained third degree burns in an inferno at the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, following a suspected gas explosion at the premises of the Bank located at Calabar Road by the Millennium Park .

Innovative Technologies: Biometrics Is On The Rise, Along With Serious Security Concerns

You want to buy a pair of jeans pair. You approach the cashier to make payment but instead of reaching for your wallet or phone, you pull back your hair. The cashier holds a camera up to your ear. The camera confirms a match to a photo in a database, all of which is linked to your bank. Transaction complete.