Sunday 22 March 2015

Growing Insecurity In Nigeria: Gunmen Abduct Emir Of Bukuyum In Zamfara

Emir of Bukuyum - Mohammed Usman
Unknown gunmen have kidnapped the Emir of Bukuyum, Mohammed Usman, from his palace in Zamfara State, north-west Nigeria.

Nigerian Troops Foil Fresh Boko Haram Attack on Bama

Nigerian troops on Saturday quashed a fresh attempt by Boko Haram militants to recapture Bama, the defence headquarters said. Bama was retaken from Boko Haram last week.

Saturday 21 March 2015

Army Officer Shot Dead For Taking New Wife

A warrant officer with the Nigeria Army, 50-year-old Joseph Ekpenyong Okon has been shot dead by his elder brother. The suspect was said to have taken the action as a way of protesting against the deceased’s decision to marry a new wife.

Boko Haram: UN Officials Forecast Regional Humanitarian Crisis

Top United Nations officials yesterday said that the immense suffering in Nigeria as a result of persistent attacks from the Boko Haram sect could lead to a serious regional humanitarian crisis.

Friday 20 March 2015

United States Approves Amazon Drone Trial

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved Amazon's plans to begin testing drones for online deliveries. The FAA said it had granted Amazon a certificate for people with pilot's licenses to test the unmanned aircraft.

Horror In Bama As Military Discovers Bodies In Wells

Residents have witnessed what could pass for, “Bama wells of horror,” with the military discovering scores of bodies in wells after Boko Haram was flushed out of Bama in Borno State. Also, bodies were found on the bridge across Bama River.

Pentagon Loses Track of $500 Million in Weapons, Equipment Given to Yemen

The Pentagon is unable to account for more than $500 million in U.S. military aid given to Yemen, amid fears that the weaponry, aircraft and equipment is at risk of being seized by Iranian-backed rebels or al-Qaeda, according to U.S. officials.

Root Cause Must Be Understood First To Counter Violent Extremism

According to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, some 20,000 people have joined ISIL since last summer. They have traveled to Syria and Iraq from more than 100 countries all over the world for that purpose. To make a comparison, it took ten years for the number of foreign fighters against the Soviet Army in Afghanistan to reach 20,000.

Thursday 19 March 2015

Boko Haram: How Blackwater Founder Erik Prince Pitched Private Fighting Force To President Jonathan

Nigeria’s government is deploying South African mercenaries in its effort to battle the Islamist Boko Haram militia that’s wreaking havoc in the northern part of the country, the New York Times reported last week.

Gunmen Kidnap Younger Brother Of Diezani Allison–Madueke, Nigeria's Minister Of Petroleum

Police say unidentified gunmen, on Thursday, kidnapped Joseph Agama, the younger brother to Diezani Allison-Madueke, Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources.

U.S. And ISIS Drones Downed This Week

The United States lost a Predator drone that was operating over Syria this week. The American military's Central Command noted that the U.S. destroyed several ISIS targets, including a remotely piloted aircraft near Fallujah.

How The Dark Web Morphed Into A Virtual Battlefield For Terrorists, Spy Agencies

It's a technological arms race, pure and simple. That's how Jamie Bartlett, author of The Dark Net, sums up the constantly evolving battle in cyberspace between terrorists and the intelligence agencies trying to discover their hidden communications.

French Comedian Sentenced For ‘Condoning Terrorism’ In FaceBook post

Dieudonne M'bala M'bala (AFP Photo/Loic Venance)
Amid a crackdown on hate speech and “condoning terrorism” online, a French court has handed out a two-month suspended prison sentence to prominent comedian and political activist Dieudonne over a Facebook post in the wake of Charle Hebdo attack.

Wednesday 18 March 2015

Gunmen In Military Attire Kill 19 In Tunisia Museum Attack; 2 Gunmen Killed in Firefight

Gunmen in military uniforms attacked a museum in downtown Tunis around noon on Wednesday, killing 19 people, officials said. Security forces later advanced into the museum and killed two gunmen in a firefight, state television reported.

'I Have Clues To Abducted Chibok Girls’ Location' – Escapee

A woman abducted by Boko Haram insurgents along with her grand daughter has returned with tales of horror— and a possible clue to the location of the kidnapped Chibok girls.