Gunmen Kill Anti Narcotics Officer, Injure Three Others in Kano State

An operative of Nigeria's anti narcotics squad, the  National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has been killed in Kano State, North West Nigeria.

Gunmen Kidnap Judge in Niger State, North Central Nigeria, Demand N20m Ransom

Armed men on Thursday evening kidnapped a Sharia Court Judge, Abubakar Mohammed, near Jerimiya village in Rafi local government area of Niger State, North Central Nigeria.

Boko Haram Lists Local, Foreign Media Establishments, Journalists Marked for Attack

Nigeria's Boko Haram insurgent group has threatened to attack some local and foreign media establishments and journalists.

This is contained in a new video released on Wednesday.

The media organisations that are not in the good books of Boko Haram include, Punch, Daily Sun, Vanguard, Guardian, Nation, Tribune, and National Accord, Radio France International, Voice of America.

The reason for their planned attack according to the clip include, misinforming the public about their operation, lies, dishonouring their prophet, ‘Mohammad’, among others.

Here's a full transcription of the video:

“This is a message from the public awareness department of the Jamatu Ahlis sunnah lil daawati wal jihad, a group engaged in jihad in Nigeria.

“We wish to explain about the attack we carried out on Thisday Newspapers. Some of the reasons why we decided to attack some Media Houses, especially Thisday, were because the paper was used in dishonouring our prophet, Mohammad (SAW) during a beauty pageant in Kaduna in November 2002.

“At that time, some people who called themselves leaders of Muslims came out to say they have forgiven those who committed the offence.

“But based on our knowledge, we know that no one has the power to forgive anyone for an offence that God himself has given judgement, especially on an offence that has to do with dishonouring Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

“No one has the power to forgive this type of offence, and the judgement is for such persons to be killed.

“This lady that committed this crime, the judgement on her is to be killed at any opportunity; and the media house is also supposed to be driven out of existence whenever there is a chance to do so.

“We are just getting the opportunity to attack the media house, and we are hoping to continue these attacks until we drive them out of existence.

“It is our hope that Allah (SWT) will help his religion.

“We know that any genuine Muslim must have been deeply touched by the Thisday incident.

“Thisday newspaper is also leading in helping the government in fighting us, alongside other media houses that we will mention soon.

“Some of the offences of Thisday and other media outlets include: firstly, during the botched attempt to rescue some kidnapped foreign nationals in Sokoto; these media houses asked us if we have anything to do with the kidnap and we said we have nothing to do with it, yet these media houses reported that we were responsible for the incident, that was a lie against us.

“Secondly, when we sent a video of our leader, Abubakar Shekau, the media houses reported things that our leader did not say, such as that in response to the president’s threat to finish us in three months, we have also threatened to finish the government in three months. But the truth is, nowhere in the video did our leader said what they attributed to him.

“Thirdly, on the purported arrest of Abu Qaqa by the SSS, we have come out to tell them that the person arrested was not Abu Qaqa,yet the media continue to potray us as liars, and even said that our leader had ordered for Abu Qaqa II to be executed, and we are now searching for Abu Qaqa III.

“Recently too, they came out with another lie that one Mohammed Awwal Kontagora was the Abu Qaqa II that was executed, and that even his parents confirmed it, that was just a big lie to convince the world.

“The media also said that we have killed the father of Abu Darda, so as to pass a message to him, because he had leaked our secrets after his arrest by security agencies, and they wanted him to know that he is one of our targets.

“These are all lies, and they are many.

“These media houses have committed a lot of offences that is detrimental to Islam, and we don’t have the power to forgive them. We will take revenge on them by God’s grace, some of these media houses have been categorized into three groups.

“The first group is the likes of Thisday whose offences are big.

“The second group we will also attack soon are Punch, Daily Sun, Vanguard, Guardian, Nation, Tribune, and National Accord, which are all newspaper houses.

“There is also VOA Hausa radio. All these media houses we will attack them including their staff and offices, by God’s grace.

“VOA Hausa for instance have recently started campaigning for people to support the government against us by exposing us.

“The next group that are on the verge of joining this list who if they are not careful we will attack very soon include, Leadership, Daily Trust, People’s Daily and RFI (Radio France international)

“There is an online medium known as Saharareporters who have their office in New York, and who have made their site as a platform for attack against Islam. So we are warning them to stop making their site an avenue for attacking Islam, otherwise we will find a way of attacking them too.

“We resorted to using this medium to send our message instead of the normal tele-conference because of the fear by journalists; which made them refuse to conduct the conference.

“We are grateful to God for the success recorded on the attack on Thisday, and we hope to continue such attacks.

“Finally, the government has now resorted to arresting our wives and children and also demolishing our houses, like they did in Biu recently, that is why we have also resolved to start attacking government schools, especially, tertiary ones.

“We promise to demolish 500 buildings for any one of our houses that the government destroys.

“We have already started with Gombe and Kano.”

Culled from: Daily Post Newspaper

President Buhari Signs Mandatory Treatment of Gun Shot Victims’ Bill into Law

Image Credit: Premium Times

Now that President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Bill, 2017, victims of gunshot and car accidents in Nigeria can now receive immediate treatment in the hospital.

Boko Haram Attacks Military Base in Yobe, 5 Soldiers Reportedly Killed, 30 Missing

Guardian Newspaper reports that an attack by Boko Haram on a military base in Yobe State Saturday night reportedly killed five soldiers and left about 30 others missing.

700 Boko Haram Captives Have Escaped - Nigerian Army

The Nigerian army says more than 700 people held by Boko Haram militants in the north-east of the country have escaped captivity.

Cybersecurity: Use Fake Answers to Online Security Questions

The sign up processes for online banking accounts, new email addresses, or health insurance apps all involve a few extra security measures to protect the precious data inside those accounts. Unfortunately, the security questions they make you answer aren’t exactly secure. Your mother’s maiden name just won’t cut it anymore and, according to the New York Times, might cost you your credit score if someone gains access to your personal information. It’s time to strengthen your security questions to keep the bad guys out of your accounts.

Southern Cameroon Crises: Cameroon Military Launches Operation to Free Hostages

Cameroon's military freed 17 of its citizens held hostage by armed groups from the Central African Republic. One person was killed and four were wounded in a confrontation between the military and the kidnappers. The country say hundreds of its citizens are still in captivity.

UNICEF Deplores Large Scale Attacks on Children in Conflict Zones in Nigeria, South Sudan, Yemen, Others

The United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has said in a report that children in Nigeria, South Sudan, Yemen, and around the world are becoming more endangered species as they are often exposed to the risk of death and severe injuries in conflict zones.

Maritime Security: Nigeria Waters Experience Persistent Pirates Attack

Persistent pirate attack on Nigerian waters seems not to be abating, with about 10 crew members of a bulk carrier reported missing after an attack that took place around 32 nautical miles south of Brass, Nigeria.

Appraising the Lagos State security Trust Fund Model

A few days ago, the Lagos State Government held the 11th Town Hall Meeting on Security which coincided with the 10th anniversary of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).

Militancy, Political Uncertainty Seen as Key Risks for Nigeria, Others

Sequel Nigeria’s exit from recession in 2017, investor sentiment across West Africa is likely to experience uplift in 2018, a report has stated. The report, however, pointed out that political uncertainty ahead of Nigeria’s 2019 presidential elections and on-going security concerns were among the key risks for businesses operating in the region.

Imperativeness Of Fixing Nigeria’s Comatose Health System

I shoot straight. The essay submits that ‘’Operation Quality Healthcare’’ for Nigerians is as imperative as ‘’Operation Python Dance’’ or ‘’Operation Crocodile Smile’’. It is trite to say that the healthcare system in Nigeria is to say the least, comatose and not fit for purpose. Scores of Nigerians die incessantly from preventable, curable diseases while political leaders and affluent Nigerians embark on ‘’medical tourism’’ to treat mundane health challenges that can be treated in Nigeria.

66% of Nigerian Prisons Inmates Are Awaiting Trial – Prison Authorities

The Nigerian Prison Service, NPS, has confirmed that majority (66 per cent) of inmates in Nigerian prisons are awaiting trial as at December 15, 2017.

Four Dead As Suspected Boko Haram Insurgents Ambush World Food Programme Convoy in NE Nigeria

BAUCHI, Nigeria (Reuters) - Four people were killed when a United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) aid convoy was ambushed in northeast Nigeria, a WFP spokeswoman said on Sunday, in the latest attack in the region as the conflict with Boko Haram nears its ninth year.

Attacks on aid workers are relatively rare in the conflict with the Islamist insurgency, compared with assaults on the military and civilians in Nigeria’s northeast.