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.

Nigerian Troops Arrest Three Suspected Female Terrorists in Adamawa

Soldiers have arrested three suspected female terrorists who have been secretly recruiting ladies into the female wing of the terrorists group, Boko Haram, the Defence Headquarters said in a statement. 

The statement, issued in Abuja on Friday, was signed by Col. Onyema Nwachukwu for the Director of Defence Information.

It said their arrest was an aftermath of a failed suicide bombing attempt on a military facility by a female terrorist, who blew herself up in Gombe recently.

It said the suspects, Hafsat  Bako, Zainab Idris and Aisha Abubakar, were intercepted  while traveling to Madagali  in Adamawa from where “they were to transit to the forest to reunite with their cohorts.

“Investigations revealed that the suspects, led by Hafsat, have the mission to recruit members into the female wing of the terrorist group as well as conduct espionage for the group.

“Hafsat’s link with the terrorists group had been a subject of investigation since 2012 when security agents on a man-hunt for one Usman Bako, her husband, who was identified as a terrorist, stormed their residence in Jimeta,” it said.

The statement said that the man-hunt resulted in the discovery of an AK- 47 rifle and two loaded magazines

It added that Bako later died in an encounter with troops in Sokoto where he had relocated to continue his terrorist activities.

The statement said that Hafsat continued with the terror group, specialising in surreptitious recruitment of members into their fold.

“The three female suspects were luring ladies, especially widows and young girls, by enticing them with male suitors who are mainly members of their terror group for marriage.

“Before their arrest, they were on a mission to take additional briefing from the leadership of the terror group.

“The trio have been operating together as members of the intelligence team of the group and their arrest has yielded information still being verified by security agencies,” the statement said.

Courtesy:
Punch Newspaper

Obama Calls on Congress To Support New $5 Billion Fund To Fight Terrorism Globally

President Barack Obama Wednesday called on Congress to approve a $5 billion fund to fight terrorism around the world.
Speaking at the U.S. Military Academy's commencement, Obama said the $5 billion Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund would respond to terrorist threats internationally. The fund would also cover the expansion of Defense Department efforts, including intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and Special Operations activities, according to a White House statement.

Obama said the withdrawal of troops in Afghanistan has given the U.S. the ability to refocus its resources and to work with allies to address new, evolving terrorist threats.
"For the foreseeable future, the most direct threat to America and home and abroad remains terrorism," Obama said, adding that today's principle threat no longer comes from a central al-Qaeda hub, but is decentralized and has expanded to include affiliates that operate in countries across the world.
Obama said the fund would be used to train and build capacity with countries dealing with terrorism. He said the U.S. would support training efforts and peacekeeping forces in such nations as Yemen, Somalia, Libya and Mali.
The class of 2014 is the first class "to graduate since 9/11 who may not be sent into combat in Iraq or Afghanistan," Obama said.

Source:
International Business Times

Nigerian Immigration Officer Confesses To Being High Profile Boko Haram Member, Names Other Security Personnel

An officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Ahmed Grema Mohammed, has confessed to being a high profile member of the Islamist extremist group, Boko Haram.

In his confession, Mohammed named some security personnel whom he said are members of the sect.

He was arrested by the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital in August 2012 while on his way to kill a former special adviser to the immediate past governor of the state.
Before his apprehension, Mohammed, was attached to the Nangere office of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Yobe State, he was involved in many terrorists attacks including hits on primary schools in Damaturu.

A statement by the JTF signed by its spokesman, Lt. Col Sagir Musa, gave the news of Mohammed’s arrest:
“Mohammed confessed to be actively involved in the killings of some senior civil servants, security agents, and politicians in Damaturu who spoke against the activities of Boko Haram, particularly the former chairman of Damboa Council, Alhaji Lawal Kawu.

“He also took part in the attack on the old Police Headquarters in Damaturu, where some policemen were killed and large quantity of arms and ammunition carted away.
“In addition, he was among the terrorists that attacked Damaturu Prison, burnt some primary schools, the State CID office and the Police Safety Vehicle, among others.

Source:
metronaija.com