Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2012
German engineer killed in Nigeria (BBC)
Source : BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18278740
Edgar Fritz Raupach was seized in the city of Kano.
In March, a British and an Italian hostage were also killed during a similar attempt to free them by British and Nigerian forces.
The latest developments came as the authorities said an Italian engineer had been kidnapped western Nigeria.
Kidnappings are uncommon in the western state of Kwara. But oil workers are often targeted for ransom in the south, and Islamist militants are active in northern Nigeria.
BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross says that worryingly the Nigerian security forces do not seem able to prevent the abductions and have once again shown the danger of trying to intervene to rescue the hostages.
Gunfire heard Details about the circumstances of Thursday's raid are still sketchy - police in Kano are due to brief the media later.
A security source told the BBC that soldiers killed five of the kidnappers in a gun battle.
A woman also died - it is not clear if she was in the house or was killed in crossfire.
"The German abducted in January has been killed by his abductors early this morning," a military official told the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity.
"Following intelligence reports, men of [a military task force] raided a hideout where he was being held by his abductors."
Residents in the west of the city say they heard gunfire during the morning.
A medical doctor has said he has seen the body, our correspondent reports.
A crisis team set up by Germany's foreign ministry is trying to find out further information, German news website Die Welt reports.
It is not clear who was behind Mr Raupach's abduction or if he was ever moved out of the country, but in March a video purported to be from al-Qaeda's North African wing demanded that Germany free a woman jailed on terror charges in return for his release.
It was obtained by a private Mauritanian news agency, ANI, which frequently publishes statements by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, which has previously kidnapped Europeans elsewhere in West Africa.
Family informed The Italian man abducted in Kwara reportedly works for Borini Prono, an Italian building and civil engineering firm that focuses mainly on roads.
A government spokesman in Kwara state confirmed to the BBC that the kidnapping had occurred and said the engineer was at a work site when he was seized on Monday.
An Italian foreign ministry spokeswoman said Italian officials were in contact with the Nigerian authorities and the man's family.
"We can confirm an Italian engineer has been kidnapped. We don't yet know why or by whom," she told AFP.
A year ago, British national Chris McManus and Italian Franco Lamolinara were seized by gunmen in the north-western town of Birnin Kebbi.
Ten months later they were killed in a failed rescue attempt in the northern city of Sokoto, where officials said a splinter group of the Boko Haram Islamists were holding them.
Boko Haram denied any involvement.
Diplomats believe there is a link between Boko Haram and al-Qaeda's North Africa wing, but analysts say there is no clear evidence to support this.
Analysts also say there are divisions within Boko Haram about the way it operates, but it has not split into factions.
Edgar Fritz Raupach was seized in the city of Kano.
In March, a British and an Italian hostage were also killed during a similar attempt to free them by British and Nigerian forces.
The latest developments came as the authorities said an Italian engineer had been kidnapped western Nigeria.
Kidnappings are uncommon in the western state of Kwara. But oil workers are often targeted for ransom in the south, and Islamist militants are active in northern Nigeria.
BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross says that worryingly the Nigerian security forces do not seem able to prevent the abductions and have once again shown the danger of trying to intervene to rescue the hostages.
Gunfire heard Details about the circumstances of Thursday's raid are still sketchy - police in Kano are due to brief the media later.
A security source told the BBC that soldiers killed five of the kidnappers in a gun battle.
A woman also died - it is not clear if she was in the house or was killed in crossfire.
"The German abducted in January has been killed by his abductors early this morning," a military official told the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity.
"Following intelligence reports, men of [a military task force] raided a hideout where he was being held by his abductors."
Residents in the west of the city say they heard gunfire during the morning.
A medical doctor has said he has seen the body, our correspondent reports.
A crisis team set up by Germany's foreign ministry is trying to find out further information, German news website Die Welt reports.
It is not clear who was behind Mr Raupach's abduction or if he was ever moved out of the country, but in March a video purported to be from al-Qaeda's North African wing demanded that Germany free a woman jailed on terror charges in return for his release.
It was obtained by a private Mauritanian news agency, ANI, which frequently publishes statements by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, which has previously kidnapped Europeans elsewhere in West Africa.
Family informed The Italian man abducted in Kwara reportedly works for Borini Prono, an Italian building and civil engineering firm that focuses mainly on roads.
A government spokesman in Kwara state confirmed to the BBC that the kidnapping had occurred and said the engineer was at a work site when he was seized on Monday.
An Italian foreign ministry spokeswoman said Italian officials were in contact with the Nigerian authorities and the man's family.
"We can confirm an Italian engineer has been kidnapped. We don't yet know why or by whom," she told AFP.
A year ago, British national Chris McManus and Italian Franco Lamolinara were seized by gunmen in the north-western town of Birnin Kebbi.
Ten months later they were killed in a failed rescue attempt in the northern city of Sokoto, where officials said a splinter group of the Boko Haram Islamists were holding them.
Boko Haram denied any involvement.
Diplomats believe there is a link between Boko Haram and al-Qaeda's North Africa wing, but analysts say there is no clear evidence to support this.
Analysts also say there are divisions within Boko Haram about the way it operates, but it has not split into factions.
Mittwoch, 30. Mai 2012
Protest in Lagos , Nigeria over change of University name
Surce: BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18271406
Hundreds of them blocked a major bridge and other main roads, causing chaos. The renaming of the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University was made without warning on Tuesday.
Abiola, a politician who died in custody during military rule, is seen by many as a hero, but the students say they should have been consulted first.
He won elections in 1993 which were then annulled by the military and he died in prison five years later.
'Pride in name' President Goodluck Jonathan said he had decided to rename the university - popularly known as Unilag - to mark Nigeria's 13th year since its return to democracy and Abiola's "martyrdom".
More than a thousand people took part in the protests, some climbing atop buses After the president's announcement on state television on Tuesday, students immediately began to protest.
The BBC's Fidelis Mbah in Lagos says by Wednesday they were causing mayhem for commuters as they climbed atop buses and blocked traffic on roads into the city centre.
The University of Lagos is a well-respected institution with undergraduates from across Nigeria and West Africa, our reporter says.
The students feel that the change of name will affect a reputation built up over five decades - and they see the move as an attempt by the president to score cheap political points, he says.
"The name is our pride," one of the protesters told the BBC.
The students also point to the fact that although Abiola had major business interests in Lagos, he was in fact from neighbouring Ogun state.
Following the protests, the institution's administration - which says it too was not told about the change of name - has suspended academic activities for two weeks.
Dienstag, 29. Mai 2012
Marissa Alexander case (stand your ground law)
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Samstag, 26. Mai 2012
LOW LOW - Sossi (ONLINE PREMIERE)
LOW LOW - Sossi (ONLINE PREMIERE)
Real Names Trey BabaTunde Agboluaje popularly known as Sossi,is an icon to watch out when it comes to pop music in NIGERIA.A student of UNILAG with so much musical TALENT as a result of positive influences from the likes of the late micheal jackson ,chris brown,trey songz and indigenously from the likes of 2face,asa,BankyW,Dbanj,Saucekid.WizKid e.t.c
However SOSSi flaunts his versatility in music hereby dropping this JAM for the guyz and gurls who loves to party,it is indeed music that fits your SPEAKERS.The SONG is titled LOW LOW and it is Produced by DIMZZY ( @Dimzzybeatz on twitter),written and composed by SOSSI.
He is Been managed by JUST MEDIA AND MANAGEMENT GROUP(JMMG) tho not SIGNED to any record label yet,his passion for music has successfully gotten him to be one of the fast rising act to watch out for,understandable from his efforts on previous songs and collaborations.
Freitag, 25. Mai 2012
Donnerstag, 24. Mai 2012
Rayce - Figure 8
Rayce responsible for tracks like Tested OK and Roll is back with a brand new single
called Figure 8. A sure club banger and track to watch out for. Enjoy
Dienstag, 22. Mai 2012
Please visit and show some love "SHOW of TALENTS by the DISABLED an ROI Initiative, Abeokuta, Ogun, Nigeria"
"Dear All...You are invited to support/sponsor/donate towards the 2nd Edition of SHOW of TALENTS by the DISABLED, an initiative of Reach-Out Integrated (ROI),Scheduled for Friday May 25 2012 at NOTICE! NOTICE ! NOTICE!!!...In view of the reconstruction works going on at the June 12 Cultural Centre by the Ogun State Government.the venue for the SHOW of TALENT by the DISABLED has been moved to NUT HALL,opposite MKO Abiola Stadium ,Kuto ,Abeokuta.Please note. Date May 25 and Time 10.00am still remains the same. We look forward to seeing you there.State.For enquiries pls call 08087343631 or email cedaroi@yahoo.com. THANK YOU AS YOU JOIN US IN ENCOURAGING THE ABILITIES OF THE DISABLED. Come and support as they display their God given talents and abilities. See you there!
Song in slide - A STAR by NOSA"
Montag, 21. Mai 2012
Nigerian police claim arrest of Boko Haram Islamist
Source : Yahoo News
http://news.yahoo.com/nigerian-police-claim-arrest-boko-haram-islamist-184912666.html
A Nigerian man said Monday that he helped carry out deadly attacks on April 29 at a university church service and admitted belonging to Islamist group Boko Haram in his confession to police.
Police in the northern state of Kano presented Augustine Effiong to journalists Monday following his arrest on Friday for attempted murder.
According to a police statement, the 25-year-old, also known as Abubakar Garba, said he was converted to Islam by former Boko Haram chief Mohammed Yusuf, who was killed by security forces in 2009. "He confessed to have participated in a series of attacks, killing of policemen and military personnel in the state (Kano), including the recent attack and killings in Bayero University Kano (BUK)," police said. Attackers with bombs and guns opened fire at church services at BUK last month and killed around 20 people as worshippers tried to flee.
"I was involved in the attack at BUK," he told reporters in Hausa, the dominant language of northern Nigeria. He further confessed to being part of a "20-man killer squad" charged with targeting the security services around Kano, Nigeria's second largest city and the key hub in the mainly Muslim north. Boko Haram has repeatedly targeted the security services in Kano and has claimed attacks that have killed more than 1,000 people since mid-2009.
"I killed many people, including five soldiers at checkpoints," in Kano, Effiong said. Rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly accused Nigerian security forces of massive rights violations, including while interrogating suspects.
In February, Nigeria's police chief Mohammed Abubakar, acknowleged that the force had previously tortured suspects, in some of the frankest ever admissions by a top police leader.
According to a police statement, the 25-year-old, also known as Abubakar Garba, said he was converted to Islam by former Boko Haram chief Mohammed Yusuf, who was killed by security forces in 2009. "He confessed to have participated in a series of attacks, killing of policemen and military personnel in the state (Kano), including the recent attack and killings in Bayero University Kano (BUK)," police said. Attackers with bombs and guns opened fire at church services at BUK last month and killed around 20 people as worshippers tried to flee.
"I was involved in the attack at BUK," he told reporters in Hausa, the dominant language of northern Nigeria. He further confessed to being part of a "20-man killer squad" charged with targeting the security services around Kano, Nigeria's second largest city and the key hub in the mainly Muslim north. Boko Haram has repeatedly targeted the security services in Kano and has claimed attacks that have killed more than 1,000 people since mid-2009.
"I killed many people, including five soldiers at checkpoints," in Kano, Effiong said. Rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly accused Nigerian security forces of massive rights violations, including while interrogating suspects.
In February, Nigeria's police chief Mohammed Abubakar, acknowleged that the force had previously tortured suspects, in some of the frankest ever admissions by a top police leader.
Samstag, 19. Mai 2012
Freitag, 18. Mai 2012
Boko Haram threatens to bomb government buildings in 19 northern states, Abuja
Source : Premium Times
Link : http://premiumtimesng.com/news/national/5161-boko_haram_threatens_to_bomb_government_buildings_in_19_northern.html
The extremist Boko Haram sect says it is set to resume its deadly attacks with sights now aimed at bombing government-owned properties, offices and residential quarters, in the 19 northern states and Abuja. In what appears to be a defensive response to growing public anger and a tactical shift in operational approach, the spokesperson for the sect, Abul Qaqa, told PREMIUM TIMES, Thursday afternoon, that the facilities being targeted are in retaliation for the destruction of properties belonging to its members and those it characterized as "innocent landlords" in some parts of Kano and Borno States.
In a prompt response, the police asked Nigerians to disregard such a threat and go about their normal businesses, adding that it is battle ready to repel any attack by "any criminal group". It is not clear whether the State Security Service is aware of the fresh threat by the group. The spokesperson for the agency, Marilyn Ogar, declined comments, saying she would not respond to telephone enquiries. In a move indicating that the group is battling for its share of the minds of the public, Mr Qaqa also said his sect is giving a notice in advance of the attacks because, "we don't want innocent people to be caught in the attacks. We are not happy that innocent people are dying in our war with the government. And that is why we have reduced our attacks in the past few days to enable us to strategize."
He accused the Joint Task Forces, the inter-agency outfits in charge of security in Kano and Borno states, of harassing and arresting members of the sect in the two states. "Most of these people live in rented apartments," Mr. Qaqa claimed. "But to our utmost surprise, after arresting them, some with their wives and family members, the JTF will bring out their properties. Both the apartments and the properties are then destroyed. "This has become the new trend and it is becoming difficult for people to rent out accommodation to people, and a lot of people, including our people are homeless. "Because of this trend, we have decided that in the coming days, every Nigerian, especially in the North, including Abuja, should vacate any government quarters or buildings - residential, office, classroom or anything owned by government. "Every government building, whether occupied or empty will be blown up. Whoever is caught up in the attacks has his or herself to blame. We have done our best by issuing this warning," Mr. Qaqa said coldly. We are ready for them
But the spokesperson of the police, Frank Mba, who refused to disclose whether or not his force is aware of the threat, said the security consciousness and readiness of the police is at its peak. "For us, security is 24 hours," Mr. Mba said.
"Whether there are threats or no threats from criminal groups, we will continue to provide the best level of security. "We want to urge Nigerians to disregard whatever threats there are. We also want to reassure Nigerians of our commitments to providing the citizens and other inhabitants of utmost security." The police spokesperson said the new leadership of the force had put in place an elaborate and effective counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency strategies. History of killings
The Boko Haram sect, founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2002, set out seeking to impose a stricter form of Sharia or Islamic law in northern Nigeria and end corruption. The group gradually became violent after the five days of clashes in July 2009 between the group and members of the security forces in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, and Kano states that left more than 800 people dead, including at least 30 police officers. During that unrest, the police captured and allegedly killed the Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, along with several dozen of his followers in Maiduguri. Since the July 2009 clash with the authorities, the group has executed series of attacks on Nigeria. Suspected members of the group carried out hundreds of attacks on cities in northern Nigeria, targeting government security officers, politicians, traditional leaders, opposing clerics, Muslims, Christians, students and journalists. Last year, the group claimed responsibility for the November bombings in Damaturu, Yobe State, that left at least 100 people dead, and a suicide bomb attack in August on the United Nations building in Abuja that killed 24 people and injured more than 100 others.
Link : http://premiumtimesng.com/news/national/5161-boko_haram_threatens_to_bomb_government_buildings_in_19_northern.html
The extremist Boko Haram sect says it is set to resume its deadly attacks with sights now aimed at bombing government-owned properties, offices and residential quarters, in the 19 northern states and Abuja. In what appears to be a defensive response to growing public anger and a tactical shift in operational approach, the spokesperson for the sect, Abul Qaqa, told PREMIUM TIMES, Thursday afternoon, that the facilities being targeted are in retaliation for the destruction of properties belonging to its members and those it characterized as "innocent landlords" in some parts of Kano and Borno States.
In a prompt response, the police asked Nigerians to disregard such a threat and go about their normal businesses, adding that it is battle ready to repel any attack by "any criminal group". It is not clear whether the State Security Service is aware of the fresh threat by the group. The spokesperson for the agency, Marilyn Ogar, declined comments, saying she would not respond to telephone enquiries. In a move indicating that the group is battling for its share of the minds of the public, Mr Qaqa also said his sect is giving a notice in advance of the attacks because, "we don't want innocent people to be caught in the attacks. We are not happy that innocent people are dying in our war with the government. And that is why we have reduced our attacks in the past few days to enable us to strategize."
He accused the Joint Task Forces, the inter-agency outfits in charge of security in Kano and Borno states, of harassing and arresting members of the sect in the two states. "Most of these people live in rented apartments," Mr. Qaqa claimed. "But to our utmost surprise, after arresting them, some with their wives and family members, the JTF will bring out their properties. Both the apartments and the properties are then destroyed. "This has become the new trend and it is becoming difficult for people to rent out accommodation to people, and a lot of people, including our people are homeless. "Because of this trend, we have decided that in the coming days, every Nigerian, especially in the North, including Abuja, should vacate any government quarters or buildings - residential, office, classroom or anything owned by government. "Every government building, whether occupied or empty will be blown up. Whoever is caught up in the attacks has his or herself to blame. We have done our best by issuing this warning," Mr. Qaqa said coldly. We are ready for them
But the spokesperson of the police, Frank Mba, who refused to disclose whether or not his force is aware of the threat, said the security consciousness and readiness of the police is at its peak. "For us, security is 24 hours," Mr. Mba said.
"Whether there are threats or no threats from criminal groups, we will continue to provide the best level of security. "We want to urge Nigerians to disregard whatever threats there are. We also want to reassure Nigerians of our commitments to providing the citizens and other inhabitants of utmost security." The police spokesperson said the new leadership of the force had put in place an elaborate and effective counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency strategies. History of killings
The Boko Haram sect, founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2002, set out seeking to impose a stricter form of Sharia or Islamic law in northern Nigeria and end corruption. The group gradually became violent after the five days of clashes in July 2009 between the group and members of the security forces in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, and Kano states that left more than 800 people dead, including at least 30 police officers. During that unrest, the police captured and allegedly killed the Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, along with several dozen of his followers in Maiduguri. Since the July 2009 clash with the authorities, the group has executed series of attacks on Nigeria. Suspected members of the group carried out hundreds of attacks on cities in northern Nigeria, targeting government security officers, politicians, traditional leaders, opposing clerics, Muslims, Christians, students and journalists. Last year, the group claimed responsibility for the November bombings in Damaturu, Yobe State, that left at least 100 people dead, and a suicide bomb attack in August on the United Nations building in Abuja that killed 24 people and injured more than 100 others.
Donnerstag, 17. Mai 2012
"Port Harcourt blast: Nigerian 'robbers' killed" BBC
Port Harcourt blast: Nigerian 'robbers' killed
At least two suspected armed robbers have been killed after an explosive device they were carrying went off in Nigeria's oil capital, Port Harcourt, police say.
A BBC reporter at the scene says the passenger minibus they were travelling in has been completely destroyed.
Two more people are in hospital in a critical condition.
He stressed that there was no reason to suspect the blast was linked to Islamist militant group Boko Haram.
BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18105998
Mittwoch, 16. Mai 2012
Dienstag, 15. Mai 2012
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