Friday 1 September 2017

Militants Ambush, Kill 4 Soldiers in Nigeria's Niger Delta, Military Invades Community

Gunmen suspected to be Niger Delta Militants ambushed and killed four soldiers and a civilian in Bayelsa State, Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region, local sources said Wednesday. This incident has broken months of uneasy calm after unrest over the distribution of the country’s oil revenues and forcing a military retaliation.

Armed men ambushed the military contingent in the Ekeremor waterways area of Bayelsa State as they returned from an assignment in the Letugbene community on Monday.

The gunmen, who outnumbered the soldiers, forced the servicemen to surrender, marched them to a creek, executed them and stole their weapons and military gear.

A civilian boat driver with the military detachment attempted to escape but was also shot and killed by the attackers.

Nigeria’s oil-rich south and southeast had been ravaged by violence orchestrated by groups seeking to force the government to more evenly share petroleum revenues with local residents.

But violence had fallen away sharply in recent months after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo led negotiations with armed groups that reduced the frequency of attacks on oil production facilities that had cut output and hammered earnings in 2016.

Tare Porri, a local youth leader, confirmed the killings.

“(The attack) was bizarre and unprovoked,” said Porri, chairman of the Central Zone of Ijaw Youths Council.

“Four military officers were killed in cold blood alongside a civilian. Military officers went to Letugbene community and on their way back, some persons accosted them and killed all of them,” he told AFP.

“Only one of them escaped. The military, yesterday morning, retaliated, invaded the communities and burnt down houses. The operations are still ongoing and it is spreading to other communities,” Porri added.

A senior security official confirmed the incident and denounced the increased level of violence against security forces.

“Security operatives are now endangered species. It is unacceptable the way security officials deployed to Niger Delta are killed without provocation by people they dedicated their lives to protect,” said the source, who declined to be identified.

“In Bayelsa, policemen, civil defenders and soldiers are constantly killed. It is barbaric.”

There was no immediate response from the military joint task force responsible for security in the region.

Culled from: Punch Newspaper

http://punchng.com/military-invade-bayelsa-community-over-militants-killing-of-four-soldiers-civilian/

Wednesday 30 August 2017

Boko Haram Kidnaps Nine in Maiduguri, NE Nigeria

Boko Haram jihadists have reportedly kidnapped nine people in two separate attacks in which one person was killed and two injured in Nigeria's volatile northeast, vigilantes said Tuesday.

Tuesday 29 August 2017

Gunmen Commandeer Commercial Bus, Kidnap Passengers in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria

Daredevil gunmen terrorizing Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State axis of East West road have reportedly hijacked a commercial bus with over sixteen passengers on board, including the driver.

World Food Program Suspends Food Aide To IDPs in Borno, NE Nigeria Over Security Breach 

The World Food Programme (WFP) on Monday said it had suspended food distribution at Gubio Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Maiduguri, Borno State, Northeast Nigeria following violent attack on humanitarian workers by the displaced persons.

Monday 28 August 2017

Extortion: Nigeria Immigration Service Bans Cash Payments At Passport Offices‎

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has banned cash payments for passport processing as part of efforts to eliminate corruption at all passport offices nationwide.‎

Niger Delta Militants Reiterates October 1st 'Quit Notice' To Northerners, Yoruba

A coalition of of Niger Delta Agitators has said that despite the volte-face by the Arewa youths on the quit notice to the Igbo in the North, it will stand on its position that the northerners and the Yoruba in the oil-rich region must leave before October 1, 2017.

Wednesday 23 August 2017

Nigerian Military Now Monitors Social Media For Anti-Government And Anti-Military Information – Defense Spokesman

Major General John Enenche
The activities of Nigerians on the social media are now being monitored for hate speech, anti-government and anti-security information by the military.

Nigeria Ranks 3rd in Global Cybercrime Behind UK, U.S.

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, says Nigeria currently ranks third globally in cybercrimes behind the UK and the U.S.

Tuesday 22 August 2017

Over 80 Children Used as 'Human Bombs' in NE Nigeria - UNICEF

The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF says 'it is extremely concerned about an appalling increase in the cruel and calculated use of children, especially girls'.

Saturday 19 August 2017

IPOB Denies Reports It Withdrew Call For Anambra Gubernatorial Election Boycott

Mr. Darlington Chukwubuikem Okolie, the media aide to the Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the separatist Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), has denied claims that Mr. Kanu had withdrawn his threats to stop the governorship election scheduled to hold in Anambra State in November.

Police Declares Biafra Security Service Illegal

The Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, CP Adeleye Oyebade has declared Biafra Security Service, BSS, purportedly formed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as illegal.

Thursday 17 August 2017

National Security: Nigeria ‘Considering Setting Up National Guard’ — Minister of Interior

The Federal Government of Nigeria is considering the establishment of a National Guard to address emerging security threats and emergencies in the country. The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja‎ when the Adjutant General of the California National Guard, U.S, paid him a courtesy visit.

Wednesday 16 August 2017

Suicide Bombers Kill 16, Injure 82 in Multiple Attacks in Borno, NE Nigeria - Police

The Borno state Command of the Nigeria Police on Wednesday confirmed that 16 persons were killed and 82 others wounded in a suicide bomb attack on a market in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno state, northeast Nigeria.

Building Collapse Kill 272 People In Nigeria in 17 Months

No fewer than 272 people have been killed in 43 incidents of building collapse across the country in the last 17 months, Daily Trust findings reveal.

Thursday 10 August 2017

Boko Haram Attacks: Death Toll Hit 279 Across Northeast Nigeria in July

Islamist Boko Haram insurgent group which has reportedly split into three factions under Shiekh Abubakar Shekau, Shiekh Mamman Nur and Khalifa Abu Musaf Albarnawi, with each leader controlling a portion of the Sambisa forest, has continued to prove more deadly in attacks and suicide missions in Borno State and across the northeast region of Nigeria.