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Monday 29 August 2016

Scores killed in suicide bombing claimed by IS group in Yemen



A suicide car bombing claimed by the Islamic State group killed at least 60 people Monday at an army recruitment centre in Aden, in the latest jihadist attack to hit the Yemeni city.

Aden is the temporary base of Yemen's internationally recognised government, which has been battling Iran-backed rebels as well as jihadists across the country for more than a year.
Security officials told AFP that the attacker drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a gathering of army recruits at a school in northern Aden early Monday.

Scores killed in suicide bombing claimed by IS group in Yemen

© AFP archive
Text by NEWS WIRES
Latest update : 2016-08-29

A suicide car bombing claimed by the Islamic State group killed at least 60 people Monday at an army recruitment centre in Aden, in the latest jihadist attack to hit the Yemeni city.

Aden is the temporary base of Yemen's internationally recognised government, which has been battling Iran-backed rebels as well as jihadists across the country for more than a year.
Security officials told AFP that the attacker drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a gathering of army recruits at a school in northern Aden early Monday.
Although the school was locked as recruits registered inside, the attacker drove in when the gate was opened for a delivery vehicle, officials said.
Witnesses said some recruits were buried when a roof collapsed over them following the blast, which also damaged buildings close to the centre.
The assault killed at least 60 people and wounded 29 others, medical sources from the three hospitals where the victims were taken told AFP.
They could not immediately verify if all those killed were recruits.
Aden has seen a wave of bombings and shootings targeting officials and security forces.
Attacks in the port city are often claimed by jihadists from either Al-Qaeda or IS, who have both taken advantage of the chaos in Yemen to make gains in southern and southeastern regions.
IS claimed Monday's bombing on its official propaganda outlet, Amaq, saying the blast had killed around 60 people.
Yemeni authorities have trained hundreds of soldiers in Aden over the past two months as part of operations to retake neighbouring southern provinces from jihadists.
Earlier this month, Yemeni government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition entered Abyan's provincial capital Zinjibar.
Troops retook other towns across Abyan but have been met by fierce resistance in the key Al-Qaeda stronghold of Al-Mahfid, security sources said.
The militants are still present in areas surrounding the recaptured towns and control large parts of the neighbouring Shabwa province, the sources say.
The Arab coalition battling Iran-backed rebels in Yemen has also been providing troops with air cover throughout their war against the jihadists.
The coalition intervened in Yemen in March last year and helped government troops push the rebels out of Aden and four other southern provinces.
More than 6,600 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Yemen since March 2015 and more than 80 percent of the population has been left in need of humanitarian aid, according to the UN.
(AFP

Photographer TY Bello returns to music, releases new single

After a brief hiatus, Singer and Photographer Toyin Sokefun-Bello, better known as TY Bello, is making a return back to music. She's released a new single titled Land Of Promise (It is well). A comforting song with a sound that resonates across humanity itself. In her own words, she writes.


"I finished writing this song on my travel to the destroyed parts of Northern Nigeria. I saw first hand what it means to lose hope and how powerful and necessary hope is in moving forward. This song put hope on my lips and I hope it fires up the same in the heart of everyone that listens".

Riot at Kuje Prison, Abuja


There is a riot currently ongoing at Kuje Prison in Abuja. The prison inmates who tried to escape have been teargassed while bullets have been fired into some of the prison cells. The new Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Ja'afaru Ahmed, has arrived the prison premises. Mobile police officers have been drafted to the environment.

Meet Shafa'atu Yahaya Yusuf, the first female to attend post-secondary school education in Iyatawa, Katsina State

Shafa’atu Yahaya Yusuf is a beneficiary of the UNICEF/United Kingdom Department for International Development Female Teacher Trainee Scholarship Scheme.

She obtained her National Certificate of Education (NCE) in 2014 in Science with Mathematics as her major course. As the best student in her class she got automatic employment to teach at the school she attended in Iyatawa community, Rimi Local Government of Katsina State.


"I was the first daughter of my community to attend post-secondary education at the NCE level." She proudly said.
She teach mathematics and provides voluntary support in teaching Chemistry, Biology and Physics to the 5 girls she influenced from her community who are pursuing their studies at higher level.

Source: UNICEF Nigeria

Airport worker dies after sex with girlfriend




A clearing agent, Mr. Sikiru Olanrewaju, has lost his life after leaving his wife and children at home to have fun with his girlfriend in the Abule Egba area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that 37-year-old Olanrewaju died shortly after having rounds of sex with his lover on Surulere Street.
The lover was said to have raised the alarm which drew the attention of residents, including the landlady, who reported at the Oke-Odo Police Division.

The victim’s corpse was deposited in a morgue pending the conclusion of investigations.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the deceased worked with an aviation company at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
He said, “The man was married, but he had a girlfriend who lived in Abule Egba. On August 23, he had finished from work when he called her on the telephone that he would be sleeping at her place.
“The girlfriend said she told him not to come because he was married, but he insisted on passing the night at her house.
“The lady said when he got to her place, they ate the same food and drank the same water. They had sex, after which they slept.
“She said around 5am, she woke up to go to work and discovered he was stiff. She said she tried hard to wake him up, but he didn’t respond. She said she was too confused to know what to do and waited for about three hours before raising the alarm, which drew the attention of people, including the landlady.”
The resident said the landlady reported at the station, and was followed by some operatives to the apartment where the incident happened.
PUNCH Metro was told that there was no mark of violence on the victim.
A  source said Olanrewaju’s family were immediately contacted and the police broke the news to them.
She said, “The family said they don’t want the police to investigate anything. They said they had received the news in good faith and that the corpse should be released for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.  I am not sure his wife has been informed because she did not follow them to the station. But obviously, she will not receive the news well.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that investigations were ongoing.
She said, “The man was allegedly found dead in a room in the Abule Egba area after spending the night with his girlfriend.  A team of police detectives from the Oke-Odo Police Division visited, examined, and photographed the scene. We discovered that there was no trace of violence on the body. The corpse has been deposited in a morgue.”

Australian man 'put acid in sex club lubricant'

Revellers partying behind a gay pride flag 

 It is not yet known why a man poured hydrochloric acid into a vat of lubricant at a sex club in western Sydney


A 62-year-old man was arrested after allegedly filling a lubricant dispenser with hydrochloric acid at a sex club in Australia.
No serious injuries were reported in the incident at "gay and bi social club" Aarows in northwest Sydney.
Items in the room had been fitted with anti-tampering alarms after they had been interfered with in the past.
The suspect was charged with offences including administering a poison with intent to injure or cause pain.
A police spokesman told Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper that detectives had not established a motive but there was "no indication of hate motivation to date".
The suspect was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in court on 20 September.
Aarows openly markets itself as "Sydney's premier health, recreation and social centre, where safe sex is permitted regardless of gender".
One club-goer, who chose not to be identified, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. it was a "sick" thing to do.
"Hydrochloric acid is not the best sort of thing to be playing with," he said.
When asked what may have motivated the suspect, the man said: "It could be anything really. People are perverted."

Brazil's Dilma Rousseff to testify at impeachment trial

Brazilian suspended President Dilma Rousseff speaks during a Workers" Party rally in Brasilia on August 24, 2016.
 Dilma Rousseff is expected to deliver an impassionate defence later on Monday


The impeachment trial of Brazil's Dilma Rousseff will reach a dramatic point on Monday, with the suspended president set to defend herself in the Senate.
Ms Rousseff is accused of illegally manipulating the budget to hide a growing deficit.
She denies the allegations and says the impeachment proceedings amount to a coup d'etat.
Senators are due to vote this week on whether to remove her from office for good or whether to reinstate her.
 For her to be removed from the presidency permanently, 54 of the 81 senators would have to vote for her impeachment










Brazilian daily Folha de Sao Paulo says it has spoken to all the senators ahead of the vote and that 52 have so far declared themselves in favour of the impeachment.
Eighteen told the newspaper they were opposed to the impeachment and 11 either did not say which way they would vote or were undecided.
If Ms Rousseff, 68, is impeached, acting President Michel Temer will serve out her term, which ends in December 2018.
Mr Temer, who was Ms Rousseff's vice-president, assumed the role of acting president in May when Ms Rousseff was suspended from office pending the impeachment trial.

'Political ploy'

Ms Rousseff will be given 30 minutes to speak and is expected to give a passionate defence of her time in office.
Image copyright AP Flowchart showing the steps of the impeachment

Boko Haram: Despite Chibok girls, Nigerian soldiers deserve commendation – Spokesperson

FILE PHOTO: Nigerian Army troops clearing Boko Haram enclaves along Bitta to Tokumbere, Sambisa Forest, Borno state

FILE PHOTO: Nigerian Army troops clearing Boko Haram enclaves along Bitta to Tokumbere, 
Sambisa Forest, Borno state
 
 The Nigerian military has said despite its inability to free the Chibok girls, troops fighting Boko Haram terrorists deserve commendation and encouragement, having recorded major gains including “daily rescue of human beings.”
In a telephone chat with PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, Defense spokesperson, Rabe Abubakar, said “our efforts and major gains” should not be overshadowed by the grim situation of still having Chibok girls in the terrorists’ captivity.
“Boko Haram abduction has reduced by 99 percent, except in very remote villages where they harass citizens while looking for food,” Mr. Abubakar, a Brigadier-General, said.
“Every day we rescue human beings. There’s no day we don’t kill terrorists. We launched operation crackdown on Sambisa. On Thursday, we rescued over 300 human beings.
“From day one we moved to Maiduguri to establish command and control centre there, we have been rescuing human beings on daily basis. Many things have been done. We are giving our best commitment.
“Troops should he supported and encouraged, not otherwise because of these (Chibok) girls still in captivity.”
On April 14, 2014, 276 school girls -with 58 rescued – were abducted in Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram. The abduction sparked blaze of global outrage, and birthed BringBackOurGirls movement, campaigning for the rescue of the girls.
Police officers last week blocked the campaigners who were marching to the State House to demand President Muhammadu Buhari ensure freedom for the Chibok girls.
 “The military share the pains of the Chibok parents and every Nigerian,” he said, adding that, “security matter should separated from politics and sentiments.”



But the Defense spokesperson urged the movement to be “holistic” and “not to focus on Chibok girls alone.”
He urged them to appreciate the success of freeing other Nigerians “with one life and parents as well”.
“Holistic in the sense that we should not just concentrate on Chibok girls. There are others we have rescued. Those are like any other human beings, they have parents as well, and they have one life.”
Mr. Abubakar said one of the victims rescued recently had been with the Boko Haram for four years.
On the Chibok girls, he said “Boko Haram may be using them as human shield but we are equal to the task. Nobody is more committed to solving this problem than the armed forces.”
The spokesperson said he could not give a definite period of success of rescue operations. He said with ongoing operations, hope of rescuing all “Boko Haram captives, not just Chibok girls” should be kept alive.
“The operation is still going on. Our soldiers are there and we are on daily basis rescuing human beings. On daily basis we destroy IEDS they planted on the road, on daily basis we kill terrorists.”
The general expressed disdain for “some people somewhere in Abuja or Lagos in air condition, talking as if they were not part and parcel of this country.”
“That’s the most annoying thing,” he said.
“Even if the constitution gives everybody the right to talk, there must he high level of decorum especially when some people are showing greatest commitment towards the rescue of these girls and every other persons.
He said the military had been “extremely careful” not put lives of the Chibok girls in jeopardy.
“We must take necessary caution. We must be very careful so as not to jeopardise the lives of these girls. We are doing what we are doing with maximum caution. We don’t want to put their lives in jeopardy, but some people ignore all these things. How many years did it take US to get Osama Laden, just one person, with all their resources?”
The size of the Sambisa forest, believed to be the base of the Boko Haram and location of the Chibok girls, is a disadvantage in the war, Mr. Abubakar said.
“Sambisa is 67,000 sq kilometre. Even if you deploy one million troops there, it’s not enough.”

World class’ nickel discovered in Nigeria, govt. to sign exploration deal with Australian firm

Dr. Kayode Fayemi
 Dr. Kayode Fayemi



A private mining syndicate has made a potentially “world class and highly unusual” Nickel discovery in Nigeria, The Australian, an Australian national newspaper is reporting.
The private mining syndicate is reportedly headed by Hugh Morgan, a mining industry veteran.
“The discovery is unusual because the nickel is found in small balls up to 3mm in diameter of a high purity in shallow soils in what could be the surface expression of a much bigger hard-rock nickel field,” the newspaper said.
“The nickel balls, rumoured to grade better than 90 per cent nickel and thought to be a world first given their widespread distribution, offer the potential for early cashflow from a simple and low-cost screening operation to fund a full assessment of the find that has exploration circles buzzing.”
Details of the discovery are sketchy, according to the newspaper, but it was rumoured to be close to Dangoma, a small farming town about 160km northeast of the Nigerian capital of Abuja.
Checks by PREMIUM TIMES showed that Dangoma is located in the North-West state of Kaduna.
When asked to comment last week, Mr Morgan reportedly said it was for the Nigerian government to make an announcement.
Kayode Fayemi, the Minister for Solid Minerals, will be among the speakers at a three-day Africa Down Under mining conference at Perth’s Pan Pacific Hotel, Australia, in September.

Mr. Fayemi is to speak first on Wednesday, September 7, and Mr Morgan will follow along with consulting geologist Louisa Lawrance. Mr Morgan is listed as speaking as a director of the private company Comet Minerals.
Olayinka Oyebode, Mr. Fayemi’s Chief Press Secretary, said he had no details of the discovery, but confirmed his principal is scheduled to be in Australia next week.
“I know there is a mining conference coming up in Australia where the Honourable Minister is supposed to make a presentation,” Mr. Oyebode told PREMIUM TIMES via phone on Monday.
“But I don’t have an advance knowledge of what he’s going to talk about but, generally speaking, he’s going to market Nigeria.”
Mr. Oyebode asked this newspaper to give him till Monday evening for Mr. Fayemi’s reaction on the nickel discovery in Kaduna.
But an official of the ministry, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said Mr. Fayemi’s delegation would most likely sign an exploration deal with the Australian syndicate at the conference.
Nickel is primarily sold for first use as refined metal. About 65 percent of it consumed in the West is used to produce stainless steel.
The world’s largest producers of Nickel include The Philippines, Indonesia, Russia, Canada, and Australia, according to the US Geological Survey.
In August, Mr. Fayemi told Bloomberg that one of the Nigeria government’s priorities is to meet its annual steel demand of 6.8 metric tons, from a current output of less than 2.5 metric tons, produced mainly from scrap iron.
“In two to five years, we want to have started production of iron ore, lead, zinc, bitumen, nickel, coal and gold at a serious scale,” Mr. Fayemi had said.

Nigeria willing to swap detained Boko Haram members for Chibok girls- Buhari

IMG_20160828_100206



Faced with intense criticism of his government’s inability to free scores of teenage girls held captive by the Boko Haram, President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his government’s willingness to negotiate with the terrorists to free the girls.
Speaking a few days after the families of the over 200 girls, kidnapped from their school in Chibok, Borno State in 2014, asked him to resign if he could not secure their release, the president also indicated that he was willing to do a prisoner swap with the Boko Haram.
The terror group recently released a video showing some of the kidnapped girls. A masked Boko Haram member in the video asked that the group’s members held in various prisons by the Nigerian government be released before the girls could be freed.
In an interview with journalists in Nairobi, Kenya at the weekend, Mr. Buhari said the Nigerian government is ready to dialogue with bonafide leaders of the terror group who know the whereabouts of the girls.
‘‘If they do not want to talk to us directly, let them pick an internationally recognised Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), convince them that they are holding the girls and that they want Nigeria to release a number of Boko Haram leaders in detention, which they are supposed to know,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by his spokesperson Garba Shehu.

Read the full statement below.

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the preparedness of the Federal Government to discuss the release of the Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram terror group since 2014,
In an interview with journalists in Nairobi, Kenya at the weekend, President Buhari said the Nigerian government is ready to dialogue with bonafide leaders of the terror group who know the whereabouts of the girls.
‘‘I have made a couple of comments on the Chibok girls and it seems to me that much of it has been politicised.


‘‘What we said is that the government which I preside over is prepared to talk to bonafide leaders of Boko Haram.
‘‘If they do not want to talk to us directly, let them pick an internationally recognised Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), convince them that they are holding the girls and that they want Nigeria to release a number of Boko Haram leaders in detention, which they are supposed to know.
‘‘If they do it through the ‘modified leadership’ of Boko Haram and they talk with an internationally recognised NGO then Nigeria will be prepared to discuss for their release,’’ he said.
President Buhari, who spoke to the media on the margins of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), warned that the Federal Government will not waste time and resources with “doubtful sources’’ claiming to know the whereabouts of the girls.
‘‘We want those girls out and safe. The faster we can recover them and hand them over to their parents, the better for us.’’
The President maintained that the terror group, which pledged allegiance to ISIS, has been largely decimated by the gallant Nigerian military with the support of immediate neighbours from Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin.
‘‘Some of the information about the division in Boko Haram is already in the press and I have read in the papers about the conflict in their leadership.
‘‘The person known in Nigeria as their leader, we understand was edged out and the Nigerian members of Boko Haram started turning themselves to the Nigerian military.
‘‘We learnt that in an air strike by the Nigeria Air Force he was wounded. Indeed their top hierarchy and lower cadre have a problem and we know this because when we came into power, they were holding 14 out of the 774 local governments in Nigeria. But now they are not holding any territory and they have split to small groups attacking soft targets.
On the militancy in the Niger Delta region, the President said the Federal Government is also open to dialogue to resolve all contending issues in the area.
‘‘We do not believe that they (the militants) have announced ceasefire. We are trying to understand them more. Who are their leaders and which areas do they operate and other relevant issues,’’ he said.