Islamic Suicide Bomber Trainer Accidentally Blows Up His Entire Class

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a class="magnificPopup" href="http://cdn.jewsnews.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/bomb-class.gif" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="bomb-class" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-422209" height="342" src="http://cdn.jewsnews.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/bomb-class.gif" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;" width="659" /></a><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In Baghdad, a terrorist who was in the middle of conducting a training for future militants, accidentally blew up an entire class, killing 21 of his students, and himself. The group was part of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the terror group that has been participating in a string of attacks in the United States.</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The report stated that the incident may be viewed as a metaphor for the many lives lost in the wake of foreign and domestic terrorists’ relentless attempts to convert the nation into an extreme-religious state. In this turn of events, it appears that many innocent lives may have actually been spared. In fact, in one recent attack alone, 7 innocent people were killed.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Click like if you are against terrorists</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to recent reports, it was rumored that the instructor was in the process of showing his students how to use a suicide belt. As he was teaching, the live suicide belt actually detonated, resulting in mass fatalities.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Watch Video</span></div> <div class="fluid-width-video-wrapper" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 525px 0px 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 934px;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" id="fitvid529201" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9nM4bkaLZgI?feature=player_embedded" style="border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; height: 525px; left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 934px;"></iframe></div> <br /> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> </div>

Islamic Suicide Bomber Trainer Accidentally Blows Up His Entire Class

In Baghdad, a terrorist who was in the middle of conducting a training for future militants, accidentally blew up an entire class, killing...

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Adamawa on fire: Boko Haram sacks police station, prison

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h1 class="entry-title" style="background: url(http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/themes/punch/images/dots-horizontal.gif) 0% 100% repeat-x scroll rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-color: rgb(255, 1, 1); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 1.17em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 9px 4px;"> <span class="date published time" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.5px; text-transform: uppercase;" title="2014-10-30T00:02:33+00:00">OCTOBER 30, 2014</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.5px; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.5px; text-transform: uppercase;">BY JOHN ALECHENU, FIDELIS SORIWEI, JUDE OWUAMANAM AND KAYODE IDOWU</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.5px; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span></h1> <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;" /> <div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="story-featured-image" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); float: left; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 15px; min-width: 378px !important; width: 368px;"> <img alt="Mr. Bala Ngilari" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" src="http://punch.cdn.ng/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Mr.-Bala-Ngilari-360x225.jpg" style="background-color: whitesmoke; border: none; float: left; margin-right: 10px; padding: 4px;" width="360" /></div> <div style="float: left; padding: 10px 18px 5px 0px; width: 370px;"> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7167863529667065" data-ad-slot="6184555097" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="display: inline-block; height: 140px; width: 370px;"><ins id="aswift_0_expand" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: inline-table; height: 140px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 370px;"><ins id="aswift_0_anchor" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: block; height: 140px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 370px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="140" hspace="0" id="aswift_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="aswift_0" scrolling="no" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;" vspace="0" width="370"></iframe></ins></ins></ins></div> <div id="nrelate_flyout_placeholder"> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Fighting between Nigerian troops and Boko Haram insurgents escalated in Mubi, Mararaba Mubi and Uba in Adamawa State on Wednesday.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Casualty figures could not be obtained as of 8pm but the development forced the state government to impose 24-hour curfew on the affected communities.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Our correspondents gathered that   Mubi, the second largest town in the state and host of two high institutions, was the worst hit.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> A parent, Ahmad Sajoh, whose   daughter is studying at the Adamawa State University, said that as of 2pm on Wednesday, the police barracks in the Government Reservation Area was overrun by the insurgents while the prison in the town was blown open.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> He added that   fighting which was ongoing at the army barracks caused confusion at the IDP camp in the Lamorde area of the town.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> However, an online newspaper, <em>SaharaReporters</em> reported that Boko Haram insurgents took over the headquarters of the 234 battalion in the town.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Our correspondents gathered that the development made banks to move their cash to Yola, the state capital.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Sources told <em>The PUNCH</em> that insurgents   launched an attack on Uba   in the Michika-Madagali area of the state in response to sustained aerial bombardment of their hideouts by security forces.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Residents said they saw a large number of insurgents at Mararaba, a town about seven kilometres from Mubi.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Sajoh told one of our correspondents that his daughter called to inform him about the development in Mubi.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> He said, “This morning, I got a call from my daughter who is a 200-level student. She was hysterical. I was in Abuja for a meeting, but her information forced me to head back to Yola immediately.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> “I ordered her to leave the hostel and join her cousins to escape the town. I called my father who confirmed the story. By the time I arrived at Yola airport, the town had fallen to the insurgents.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> “My parents are trapped while my daughter and her cousins are missing. We have lost contact for   six hours.”</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Sajoh, who is the director of Press and Public Affairs to the former Governor Murtala Nyako, added, “Mallam Iliyasu of the Bursary Department of the state university, who is trapped in the town said by 2pm, the Police Barracks in the GRA was overrun by the insurgents, the prison was blown open while fighting was going on at the army barracks. The IDP camp at Lamorde area was thrown into confusion.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> “The new rulers of the town had issued a decree banning   entry and exit to the town. Students who trooped to the motor park were stranded with most taking refuge in any house that could welcome them.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> “The barracks are the least safe locations in the town. So far, there are no reported cases of killings or abductions. But fear and apprehension have taken over.”</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Another source said that Mubi was currently deserted by residents after the incident, the second in three months.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> The   higher institutions in the   town were forced to close down again.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> There are fears of   humanitarian crisis should the town fall into the hands of the insurgents.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> A fleeing resident, Joshua Gajere, said   several people might have been killed during the shootings that lasted for almost two hours in Uba and other villages.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> He said, ‘‘We are in serious trouble as these boys (Boko Haram) have taken over our towns, splitting into groups and advancing towards Mararaba, Mubi and Vintim, the home town of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh. They made the   Nigerian troops to retreat to Mubi’’.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Gajere added, “As I am talking to you now, residents are scampering for safety.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> ‘‘Mubi has now become a ghost of itself as people in their hundreds are fleeing for their lives.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> ‘‘Even here in Maiha, we saw military vehicles zooming off towards Yola, the state capital.’’</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> However, a resident from Michika, Mr. Siva Zira, told one of our correspondents that the   military was having an upper   hand as they were able to dislodge the insurgents in Michika and Uba.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Meanwhile,   Governor James Ngillari has asked the people of the state, particularly those in the affected areas to remain calm as security agents were on the top of the situation.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> His Director of Press and Public Affairs,   P.P. Elisha, said   the governor met with security heads in the state to assess the situation.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> He said, “It’s unfortunate with this development, His Excellency, has met with security chiefs in the state on Wednesday to assess the situation.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> “People should remain calm, security agents are on the top of situation.’’</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> It was further gathered banks in Mubi have taken the pre-emptive steps to move out large volume of cash to the Central Bank of Nigeria in Yola.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Our correspondents could not get the Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, to comment on the   hostilities as the calls to his mobile telephone line did not connect.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> The government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Mubi, Mararaba Mubi and Uba.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Andrew Weyle, who announced this, advised the people to stay away from the roads and other public places.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> He said,“Following the escalation of violence by the insurgents, his Excellency the Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Bala James Ngillari, has approved the imposition of 24 hours curfew on Mubi, Mararaba Mubi and Uba, with immediate effect.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> “People are advised to stay off the roads and public places except those on essential services.”</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> It was further gathered that the insurgents   killed the son of a prominent traditional ruler in the area.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> A resident, who identified himself as Kwahir Sani, said, “We fled to a village called Wuro Gude near Mubi when the violence erupted and I have lost contact with some of my children.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> “As I am talking to you now, we are hearing gunshots by military in Mubi.”</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> It was gathered that the insurgents also attacked Askira Uba and Kukawa in Borno State for over six hours.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> A fleeing resident said the terrorists killed many people, burnt many houses and carted away food stuffs.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Agence France Presse<em> reported that the heavily armed terrorists, on arrival in Kukawa, opened fire on a police station and market, sending many fleeing</em></div> </div> </div> </div>

Adamawa on fire: Boko Haram sacks police station, prison

OCTOBER 30, 2014   BY JOHN ALECHENU, FIDELIS SORIWEI, JUDE OWUAMANAM AND KAYODE IDOWU   Fighting between Nigerian troops and Boko...

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Boko Haram: 27 police officers still missing in Gwoza — DCP Ojukwu

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h1 class="entry-title posttitle" itemprop="name headline" style="border: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 2049px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">P</span><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">olice</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">authorities, yesterday, disclosed that 27 police officers are still missing, almost one week after Boko Haram insurgents attacked Police Academy in Gwoza, abducting 35 of them.</span></h1> <div id="entryContainer" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="entry entry-content" itemprop="articleBody" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 6px 0px 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_122952" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 430px;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/police0.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: background-color, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Nigerian Police" class=" wp-image-122952" height="230" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/police0-300x202.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.247059) 1px 1px 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="420" /></span></a></div> <div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nigerian Police</span></div> <div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In a statement by the Force Public Relations officer, DCP Emmanuel Ojukwu, the Police Command confirmed that eight of the officers have so far been rescued and returned to safe Police locations.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ojukwu noted that “27 are still missing. We are looking forward to more returning in the next few days. Search and rescue efforts are continuing. Police will reclaim her facilities.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It will be recalled that the Defence Headquarters had earlier declared that military operations to secure Gwoza town seized by the insurgents earlier this month were on-going.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This came as Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau proclaimed Islamic caliphate in the town, which he said, was now firmly in the grip of the sect.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Responding to the claim by the sect leader that Gwoza town seized by the insurgents earlier this month has been placed under an Islamic caliphate, the military authorities said, “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nigerian state is still intact.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Boko Haram leader had in a new video claimed that he has created an Islamic caliphate in Gwoza.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has described as an unprecedented national embarrassment the increasing seizure of Nigerian towns by the terrorist group, Boko Haram and the reported fleeing of 480 Nigerian soldiers to Cameroon during an attack on a military base in Gamboru-Ngala on Monday.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In a statement issued in Lagos, Tuesday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party called on President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently address Nigerians on the worsening security situation in the northern part of the country that has allowed Boko Haram to proclaim its rule over a part of the nation’s territory.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It said in the face of the biggest threat to Nigeria’s unity and territorial integrity since the country’s civil war, President Jonathan must also put partisanship aside and rally the nation against Boko Haram, which by all indications seems to be getting bolder and stronger, to such an extent that the group is now hoisting its flag over parts of the nation’s territory.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">APC also restated its call for an urgent national stakeholders’ conference on security that will cut across party lines to help fashion a solution to what has now become a clear and present danger to the survival of Nigeria, while pledging its unalloyed support for any sincere effort by the Federal Government to end the insurgency as quickly as possible.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As an immediate first step, the party calls on President Jonathan to immediately halt the illegal electioneering campaign by his Ministers, other appointees and supporters, saying Nigeria must survive as a nation before any party or individual can rule over it.</span></div> <div class="OUTBRAIN" data-browser="safari" data-dynload="" data-ob-mark="true" data-os="ipad" data-src="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/boko-haram-27-police-officers-still-missing-gwoza-dcp-ojukwu/" id="outbrain_widget_0" obdone="true" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="ob_strip_container NA" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px;"> <span class="ob_empty" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><wbr style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></wbr></span><span class="ob_org_header" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <br /></div>

Boko Haram: 27 police officers still missing in Gwoza — DCP Ojukwu

P olice   authorities, yesterday, disclosed that 27 police officers are still missing, almost one week after Boko Haram insurgents attacke...

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Military uncovers terrorists’ new tricks

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h1 class="entry-title posttitle" itemprop="name headline" style="border: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 2307px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As Obanikoro says caliphate declaration is ‘madness’</span></h1> <div id="entryContainer" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="entry entry-content" itemprop="articleBody" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 6px 0px 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">By Evelyn Usman</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Fresh indication has emerged that terrorists are currently employing new tricks to beat security checks. Among such moves is the recruitment of physically-challenged people to carry out their dastardly acts in some parts of the country.</span></div> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_389448" style="border: 0px; float: right; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 422px;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Military1.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: background-color, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="DEPLOYED— File pictures of military patrol and checkpoint in Maiduguri, Borno State. An estimated 3,000 troops have been deployed to embattled states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, following the proclamation of State of Emergency in the states on Tuesday. Photos: AFP." class="wp-image-389448 size-full" height="250" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Military1.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.247059) 1px 1px 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="412" /></span></a></div> <div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">DEPLOYED— File pictures of military patrol and checkpoint in Maiduguri, Borno State. An estimated 3,000 troops have been deployed to embattled states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, following the proclamation of State of Emergency in the states . Photos: AFP.</span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The recruitment of these set of persons, as gathered, was to allow easy access into states like Lagos.</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This came as the Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obaniko, yesterday in Lagos, described Boko Haram sect’s declaration of Gwoza town in Borno state as an Islamic caliphate, as a ‘temporary madness’ that would soon disappear, saying there would never be another republic within Nigeria.</span></div> <br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Military sources hinted that following intelligence report on the use of people with disabilities by the Boko haram sect, screening of physically challenged persons, particular those using tricycles had begun.</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The disclosure as gathered, followed the confessional statement of the physically challenged man arrested recently at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos, with combustive substance.</span></div> <br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity however assured that the Military was on top of the situation.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There will never be another republic within a republic — Obanikoro</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Meanwhile, addressing journalists at the end of a two-day familiarisation tour of the Western Naval Command’s area of responsibility, Obanikoro assured Nigerians that the federal government had all that was needed to address the current security situation in the country and was taking adequate steps to address it.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Part of the steps taken according to him, included the injection of adequate fund into the military with a view to acquiring equipment that would raise its performance.</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to him, “the madness we are witnessing today is something that is temporary. And be rest assured that we have all it takes to make it as temporary as it takes. There can never be a republic within a republic. The national Conference which just ended had all responsible and reasonable Nigerians saying that we are going to stay together, live together in peace and develop our country.</span></div> <br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure this has started. We are having massive injection of funds into acquisition of equipment that will raise the performance level of our military across the board; Navy, AirForce, Army and even the Police, to meet the challenges of the future.</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">At the Western Naval Command, which was his first port of call on Monday, Obanikoro said the Federal Government was not treating the threat of sea robbers in the country’s maritime domain with kids gloves, insisting that a lot was being done in terms of capacity building and acquisition of platforms for the Nigerian Navy to perform optimally..</span></div> <br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He also expressed satisfaction at what he described as a job well done by the command in ensuring that the traffic gridlock hitherto witnessed along the Oshodi/Apapa expressway, had become a thing of the past.</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Though he noted that traffic control was not part of the Navy’s constitutional responsibility, he said the command was compelled to intervene owing to the security situation of the country, saying “One negative incident of explosion like that in Apapa, would have consumed the entire area as there are lots of tank farms there. This would have resulted in wanton destruction of human lives and property”</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Also visited, was the Naval base.</span></div> </div> </div> </div>

Military uncovers terrorists’ new tricks

As Obanikoro says caliphate declaration is ‘madness’ By Evelyn Usman Fresh indication has emerged that terrorists are currently empl...

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US brands Foley beheading a ‘terrorist attack’

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <header class="post-header cf" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="featured" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/james-foley-cnn.jpg" itemprop="image" rel="prettyPhoto" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="US brands Foley beheading a ‘terrorist attack’"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Journalist beheaded" class="attachment-main-slider wp-post-image no-display appear" height="336" src="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/james-foley-cnn-702x336.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 0.8; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;" title="US brands Foley beheading a ‘terrorist attack’" width="702" /></span></a></div> <h1 class="post-title" itemprop="name" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 35px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 18px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">US brands Foley beheading a ‘terrorist attack’</span></span></h1> </header><div class="post-container cf" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-content-right" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-content description" itemprop="articleBody" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px -1.857em; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(WASHINGTON DC, U.S)</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Washington has declared the beheading of an American journalist a “terrorist attack”, upping the stakes in its confrontation with the Islamic State (IS) group, as militiamen gunned down 70 people at an Iraqi mosque.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The apparent revenge attack at the mosque in Diyala province Friday will increase already significant anger among Iraq´s Sunni Arab minority with the Shiite-led government, undermining an anti-militant drive that requires Sunni cooperation to succeed.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It came as the US, which is carrying out airstrikes against IS, ramped up its rhetoric over the grisly killing of journalist James Foley, which was carried out by the terrorist group and shown in a video posted online.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In Washington, Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said the beheading of Foley “represents a terrorist attack against our country”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Rhodes also said that paying ransoms to free hostages is “not the right policy”, confirming Washington´s long-standing position amid claims from IS that other countries had paid to have their nationals freed.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In an unanimous statement Friday, the UN Security Council strongly condemned Foley´s murder as “heinous and cowardly”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Army and police officers said the attack on the Musab bin Omair Mosque in Diyala Friday came after Shiite militiamen were killed in clashes, while other sources said it followed a roadside bomb near one of their patrols.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Doctors and the officers put the toll from the attack, in which worshippers were sprayed with machine gun fire, at 70 dead and 20 wounded.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Two officers had earlier blamed IS for the attack, but the preponderance of accounts point to militiamen.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The government turned to militiamen to bolster its flagging forces during the IS offensive, sparking a resurgence of groups involved in brutal sectarian killings in past years that will be difficult to dislodge.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ibrahim Aziz Ali, whose 25-year-old nephew was among those killed, told he and other residents heard gunfire and rushed to the mosque, where they were fired on by snipers.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We found a massacre” at the mosque, he said.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Five vehicles with images of revered Imam Hussein were parked at the mosque, Ali said, adding that residents clashed with the militiamen who withdrew when the Iraqi army arrived.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Iraqi premier designate Haidar al-Abadi issued a statement calling for unity and condemning the killings, which may complicate the already-contentious process of forming the country´s next government.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">US Vice President Joe Biden said Friday that Washington would back a federal system in Iraq.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Writing in a Washington Post opinion piece, Biden pointed to “functioning federalism” as an approach to breach the divisions in the country. Biden is a longtime supporter of the plan under which Iraq would be divided into three semi-autonomous regions for Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds, respectively.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">AFP</em>)</span></div> <div id="adscontainer" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.857em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

US brands Foley beheading a ‘terrorist attack’

US brands Foley beheading a ‘terrorist attack’ (WASHINGTON DC, U.S) Washington has declared the beheading of an American journali...

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U.S donates high tech bomb disposal robots/equipment to Nigerian police

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h2 class="date-header" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; bottom: auto; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px -15px 1px; min-height: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; right: 15px;"> <span style="border-left-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; display: block; padding: 0.5em 15px;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2evYdvmXBCpopZEt0Lpq_tfvqUStET-Y0C7HYY4ATXqPSbGtbZQSbt0SC2ZmazlyrNot7Aw-qOdnx1xRhX1qS18OMEqro_Bv5m8NPsHU47f0kbpCYDsx9Lu8bEHFCG_IJkTfOWT_pCr0/s1600/2.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px;" width="288" /><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qjuPyTRJqWE8Mckom_ozRcHUGYcay-EofKf8DJ7pGIcZ69A8418WuSB_EwbeAnN2JhEm-uSOro-i-fE1UMxLY_SJo0olwv9TZOhszUqJ7zuSkyCdU_yg3VxvgP9dE9gfQoRvoX8A2zM/s1600/1.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px;" width="261" /></span></h2> <div class="date-posts" style="border-top-color: transparent; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: both; margin: 0px -15px; padding: 8px 15px 0px;"> <div class="post-outer" style="border-top-style: none; margin: 0px -15px; padding: 0px 15px 10px;"> <div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4955831633761887957" itemprop="description articleBody" style="position: relative; width: 616px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Below is a press release from the Nigerian Police...</span><blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Suleiman Abba NPM, mni, today, August 20, 2014 at Force Headquarters, Abuja, received the US Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, James F. Entwistle.</span></blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The US Ambassador congratulated the Ag. IGP on his new appointment as the Police Boss and thanked the Nigeria Police Force for its high level of co-operation and huge partnership with the US Embassy in Nigeria.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="" name="more"></a></span></blockquote> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJSNB39pgKsirgCZ8wox7KhQy_PjLulayv9cfeQmnIyKoOVwxk40yxCbT8uqRf1A5hQpm-I86hsr6pmI7e_9d0u0sheopidYt9CK60Ctr2WWnhL_qmdLJE-6GiD_vAZ77CoXzrNAOwOg/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJSNB39pgKsirgCZ8wox7KhQy_PjLulayv9cfeQmnIyKoOVwxk40yxCbT8uqRf1A5hQpm-I86hsr6pmI7e_9d0u0sheopidYt9CK60Ctr2WWnhL_qmdLJE-6GiD_vAZ77CoXzrNAOwOg/s1600/3.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Ambassador thereafter presented High tech Bomb disposal robots/equipment to the Nigeria Police Force. He also reassured the Ag. IGP that his country will continue to render relevant supports to the Force in the areas of training and security cooperation.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The IGP, while responding, appreciated the Ambassador’s courtesy visit and thanked the US government for assisting the Nigeria Police Force in areas of investigation, management of scene of crime as well as position of equipment.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TMVKV7ePqOR1mc-SoEgXyW4QUcyneH1Fj3zsdMNB0qzAdm8UirNLyRTT1ppA_jilj30UipATYpFyvdFHPvuNaCy4nI5EY2eXDWoOZ6YgGHt62C9VvKvo7fH8N2lIxTwoVeHgBWhjh0E/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TMVKV7ePqOR1mc-SoEgXyW4QUcyneH1Fj3zsdMNB0qzAdm8UirNLyRTT1ppA_jilj30UipATYpFyvdFHPvuNaCy4nI5EY2eXDWoOZ6YgGHt62C9VvKvo7fH8N2lIxTwoVeHgBWhjh0E/s1600/4.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Describing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) executed by the Nigeria Police Force and the US government recently as a huge partnership that will improve and modernize Police training in Nigeria, the IGP restated his commitment to continue to drive reforms and transformation of the Force in order to reposition the Force for better service delivery and promised that the newly donated equipment would be put to effective use.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left;"> <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ACP FRANK MBA</b></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,</span></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">FORCE HEADQUARTERS, Abuja</span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

U.S donates high tech bomb disposal robots/equipment to Nigerian police

Below is a press release from the Nigerian Police... The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Suleiman Abba NPM, mni, today, August ...

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I am satisfied with Jonathan’s efforts to rescue Chibok girls— IBB

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /> <a class="thumbLink" href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/satisfy-jonathans-efforts-rescue-chibok-girls-ibb/" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;" title="I am satisfied with Jonathan’s efforts to rescue Chibok girls— IBB"><img alt="Babangida400" class="attachment-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" height="224" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Babangida400.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="224" /></a><br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, was 73 years old yesterday. In this interview to mark the occasion, Babangida, fondly called IBB, speaks on some critical issues in the country,   including the continuous detention of the Chibok girls by the Islamist group, Boko Haram, the power situation in the country, the 2015 general elections, among others.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It has been over 100 days since the kidnapping of the Chibok school girls. Despite the assurances by the international community,   the girls have not been found. What is the way forward? When do you think we can get these girls back home to their parents?<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Perhaps the way forward is what government is doing now. I know there are complications. It is no longer an issue that you could ask the military to move into Sambisa forest and rescue the girls. I think Nigerians want the girls rescued and brought back home alive not dead; that is a very daring thing to do. From my experience as a professional soldier,  a lot of planning, a lot of cooperation,  a lot of study has to be done to achieve this objective. 217 or whatever the number is, is a lot of population to lose just like that. So I think government is trying from what we got during our last briefing; I am quite satisfied that efforts are really being made to get the girls out. You see, the objective is to get them out of that place alive, the operative word is alive, you can order a full scale military operation and you could get them all killed which would defeat the objective.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> </div>

I am satisfied with Jonathan’s efforts to rescue Chibok girls— IBB

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, was 73 years old yesterday. In this interview to mark the occasion, Baba...

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A BRITISH STUDENT IS ON TRIAL AFTER ALLEGEDLY SMUGGLING £16K TO JIHADISTS

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="" class="hero-image" height="349" src="http://mediastorage-lls.bauermedia.co.uk/29/01a75/25cb0/04541/2d89e/658e0/ae626/rexfeatures_3907171c_620x349.jpg?1404919916" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 619px;" width="620" /></span><br /> <h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 300; margin: -30px 0px 10px -2px; position: relative;"> <span style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgb(222, 106, 167) 8px 0px 0px 0px, rgb(222, 106, 167) -8px 0px 0px 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-shadow: rgb(222, 106, 167) 8px 0px 0px 0px, rgb(222, 106, 167) -8px 0px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h1> <h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 300; margin: -30px 0px 10px -2px; position: relative;"> <span style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgb(222, 106, 167) 8px 0px 0px 0px, rgb(222, 106, 167) -8px 0px 0px 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-shadow: rgb(222, 106, 167) 8px 0px 0px 0px, rgb(222, 106, 167) -8px 0px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h1> <h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 300; margin: -30px 0px 10px -2px; position: relative;"> <span style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgb(222, 106, 167) 8px 0px 0px 0px, rgb(222, 106, 167) -8px 0px 0px 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-shadow: rgb(222, 106, 167) 8px 0px 0px 0px, rgb(222, 106, 167) -8px 0px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h1> <h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 300; margin: -30px 0px 10px -2px; position: relative;"> <span style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgb(222, 106, 167) 8px 0px 0px 0px, rgb(222, 106, 167) -8px 0px 0px 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-shadow: rgb(222, 106, 167) 8px 0px 0px 0px, rgb(222, 106, 167) -8px 0px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h1> <h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 300; margin: -30px 0px 10px -2px; position: relative;"> <span style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgb(222, 106, 167) 8px 0px 0px 0px, rgb(222, 106, 167) -8px 0px 0px 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-shadow: rgb(222, 106, 167) 8px 0px 0px 0px, rgb(222, 106, 167) -8px 0px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h1> <h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 300; margin: -30px 0px 10px -2px; position: relative;"> <span style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgb(222, 106, 167) 8px 0px 0px 0px, rgb(222, 106, 167) -8px 0px 0px 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-shadow: rgb(222, 106, 167) 8px 0px 0px 0px, rgb(222, 106, 167) -8px 0px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: small;">                                         </span></span></h1> <h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 300; margin: -30px 0px 10px -2px; position: relative;"> <span style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgb(222, 106, 167) 8px 0px 0px 0px, rgb(222, 106, 167) -8px 0px 0px 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); box-shadow: rgb(222, 106, 167) 8px 0px 0px 0px, rgb(222, 106, 167) -8px 0px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: small;">                                                                                                                                                                     A BRITISH STUDENT IS ON TRIAL AFTER ALLEGEDLY SMUGGLING £16K TO JIHADISTS</span></span></h1> <div class="in-brief" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(222, 106, 167); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(222, 106, 167); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 6px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: -10px; padding: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal;">THE DEBRIEF:</strong> NAWAL MSAAD HAD BEEN PERSUADED TO TAKE THE MONEY TO SYRIA BY FRIENDS, A COURT HEARD YESTERDAY…</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: 65px; margin-right: 65px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Student Nawal Msaad, 27, is on trial facing charges of funding terrorism after being found with €20,000 (£16,000) in her knickers at Heathrow airport. In January this year, she was stopped by police at a departure gate and asked why she was visiting Turkey, she said it was for a ‘short break’ and that she had a bit of money ‘about me’ and would be spending it on gold for her mum.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: 65px; margin-right: 65px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">She was then led to a private room where she produced the money. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The money was being smuggled by Msaad, the prosecution claims, on behalf of her friend Amal El-Wahabi’s husband Aine Davis, who converted to Islam six or seven years ago and has since joined rebel fighters in</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><a href="http://www.thedebrief.co.uk/tags/syria" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Syria</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">, where President Assad’s regime is being fought in a bloody civil war.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: 65px; margin-right: 65px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It is also believed that the money was intended to end up in the hands of terrorists, the trial at the Old Bailey heard.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: 65px; margin-right: 65px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">‘The money had been raised in this country and had been destined to support the jihadist cause, which Davis was now pursuing with like-minded supporters,’ said Mark Dennis for the prosecution,<a href="http://metro.co.uk/2014/05/20/student-found-with-16000-stuffed-down-her-underwear-denies-terrorism-charge-4734285/" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">according to <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Metro</em></a>.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: 65px; margin-right: 65px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">El-Wahabi and Msaad, who is a student at London Metropolitan University, exchanged texts and WhatsApp messages about their plans, with Msaad being offered €1000 (£800) in return for taking the notes. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Both women deny charges of funding terrorism but, if it's true, it's a scary insight into the grooming of British girls by those in jihadist movements.</span></div> <div> <br /></div> </div>

A BRITISH STUDENT IS ON TRIAL AFTER ALLEGEDLY SMUGGLING £16K TO JIHADISTS

                                                                                                                             ...

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Nigerian troops flee Gwoza as Boko haram takes over

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="margin: 0px 0px 25px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;"> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6717142524837469242" itemprop="description articleBody" style="position: relative; width: 670px;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fkjNjFUPSOHcc9vUgDMjLCfsSsKaoqGDLZquBs_s_6J2LZYkctai6KXbLizzz06gMNkf9CrF4Cy8WyQsB0O26B99IazS1meBqmMsCjHG42Hda4LLP4XnE9MBlt3r_4GiNtEV-6EVYgxY/s1600/_65582764_65582763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fkjNjFUPSOHcc9vUgDMjLCfsSsKaoqGDLZquBs_s_6J2LZYkctai6KXbLizzz06gMNkf9CrF4Cy8WyQsB0O26B99IazS1meBqmMsCjHG42Hda4LLP4XnE9MBlt3r_4GiNtEV-6EVYgxY/s1600/_65582764_65582763.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></span></a></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6717142524837469242" itemprop="description articleBody" style="position: relative; width: 670px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> Unconfirmed report has it that Nigerian troops are nowhere to be found in Gwoza, Borno state as Boko haram insurgents have successfully taken control of the community.<br /><br />Sahara reporters reveal that Nigerian soldiers were defeated by the terror group three days after they first invaded the town, killing over 100 civilians and several soldiers.<br /><br />Some units of the Nigerian Army 213 battalion, Operation Task Force Mike and 234 battalion, which attempted to retake Gwoza Township from Islamist militant Boko Haram, beat a hasty retreat on Thursday night as the militants showed superior firepower.<br /><br />The soldiers were reported to have been led into the battle by Lieutenant BMG Martins and Lt. Colonel Agu of the 234 Battalion, formerly Special Operations Battalion (SOB), but they were given the surprise of their lives when they ran into stiff resistance from the militants as they advanced on Gwoza from the Madagali axis.<br /><br />The soldiers retreated but the militants set off in hot pursuit, chased them and snatched one of their tanks as well as the driver of the tank. They then called the soldier’s wife and informed her that her husband was in captivity.<br /><br />Col. Agu has himself not been since then.<br /><br />SaharaReporters sources said that following the encounter, some 30 Hilux pick up vans were used to bring back to Mubi in Adamawa State several wounded and dead soldiers.<br /><br />The defeat of Nigerian soldiers in Gwoza puts the strategic town firmly in the hands of Boko Haram militants three days after they first invaded the town, killing over 100 civilians and several soldiers.<br /><br />It is the second time in 24 hours that Nigerians soldiers were defeated by Boko Haram in an attempt to retake Gwoza. The army had recently retaken Damoboa, over two weeks after Boko Haram overran the town and planted its flag.<br /><br />Nigerian army sources in Abuja said that following the attack, they have yet to find Lt. Col Agu. They further confirmed that about three military alpha jets have been deployed to the area to assist in the rescue of soldiers who might be trapped in mountains surrounding Gwoza.<br /><br />Military sources blame the Brigade commander for asking the contingent to withdraw from Gwoza after they made contact with the terrorists, adding that the hasty retreat emboldened Boko Haram militants to chase and kill the soldiers during the unusual retreat.</span><div style="clear: both;"> </div> </div> <div class="post-footer" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px;"> <div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="post-author vcard" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1em;">Posted by <span class="fn" itemprop="author" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><a class="g-profile" data-gapiattached="true" data-gapiscan="true" data-onload="true" href="https://plus.google.com/104542530973138887446" rel="author" style="text-decoration: none;" title="author profile"><span itemprop="name">Esito Ekpo</span> </a></span></span><span class="post-timestamp" style="margin-left: -1em; 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Nigerian troops flee Gwoza as Boko haram takes over

Unconfirmed report has it that Nigerian troops are nowhere to be found in Gwoza, Borno state as Boko haram insurgents have successful...

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Terrorism: We will not forgo an inch of Nigerian territory – Jonathan

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Against the backdrop of concerns being expressed over the alleged capturing of territories in the North East by the Boko Haram terrorists group and the hoisting of their flags in many ‘conquered’ communities, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday vowed that the country will not compromise its sovereignty forgo any inch of its land in the face of  current security challenges.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Speaking at the graduation ceremony of Course 22 Participants of the National Defence College (NDC) in Abuja, the President said government had taken a deep look into the fledging position and environment of terrorism in Nigeria and its extremely destructive and social economic impact, and consequently, government had initiated a number of programmes and dedicated platforms to alleviate the suffering of the people towards recovery.</span></div> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_457638" style="border: 0px; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 422px;"> <a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/jonathan-lacks-political-will-fight-terror-atiku/jonathan1-13/" rel="attachment wp-att-457638" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="President Jonathan " class="size-full wp-image-457638" height="250" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/JONATHAN1.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.247059) 1px 1px 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="412" /></span></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">President Jonathan</span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Represented by Defence Minister, Lt. General Aliyu Gusau, he said, “We have made some gains against the adversary. We face an unspeakable evil and we must confront it with all our national endowment. And as a government, we will not compromise our sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Nigeria”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Continuing he said, “We will not allow the authority of Nigerian state to be challenged. Education is a human right which is invaluable transformational value and is the bases of our development progress. We shall not give up that right for some faceless, misguided, self-styled terrorists, using it as a means of terror.`</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Emphasizing that the government was involving a broad based national security strategy anchored on the holistic well being of the Nigerian people, President Jonathan said, “We will actively promote and hold on to societal goal and security that optimize our collective national strength”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">While calling all Nigerians across partisan, ethnic, religious and cultural device to close rank with government to put a stop to this evil as there is no challenge that can divide the collective will of the Nigerian, he said, “May I also use this opportunity to assure all Nigerians that we are committed to bringing back the Chibok girls back alive”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Regarding Intelligence gathering, he said, “The role of the Armed Forces intelligence and security agencies in the expanded security approach are crucial and urged them to take proactive measures. As a go9vernment, we are committed to improve institutional capacity, platform and equipment, human and resources endowment of our security agencies to meet these challenges”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Let me use this opportunity to salute the gallantry of men and women of the armed forces, the police, intelligence and the security agencies and emergency services for their loyal and patriotic service to the nation, My heart goes to all the service men that had paid the supreme sacrifice, so that other Nigerians may continue to live in peace and security”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I wish to convey my personal sympathy to Nigerians, who had in one way or the other suffered human and material loss on account of terrorism, Let me use this opportunity to congratulate the commandant, members of faculty for successfully for successfully conducting and concluding the NDC Course 22.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Recall that Boko Haram terrorists during the week launched attacks on Gwoza and other communities in Borno and later hoisted their flags. How ever, special forces on the Nigerian military on Wednesday and Thursday launched a counter attack and successfully flushed the terrorists out of the communities.</span></div> <div class="OUTBRAIN" data-browser="safari" data-dynload="" data-ob-mark="true" data-os="ipad" data-src="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/terrorism-will-forgo-inch-nigerian-territory-jonathan/" id="outbrain_widget_0" obdone="true" style="border: 0px; clear: both; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="ob_brnBox_cont NA" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span class="ob_empty" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><wbr style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></wbr></span><span class="ob_org_header" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div> </div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/terrorism-will-forgo-inch-nigerian-territory-jonathan/#sthash.MRHwQixo.dpuf</span></div>

Terrorism: We will not forgo an inch of Nigerian territory – Jonathan

Against the backdrop of concerns being expressed over the alleged capturing of territories in the North East by the Boko Haram terrorists ...

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B’Haram: We’re changing tactics, says Chief of Air Staff

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="story-featured-image" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); color: #333333; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 15px; width: 368px;"> <img alt="Boko Haram militants" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" src="http://www.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Boko-Haram-sophisticated-weapons_nigerianeye-360x225.jpg" style="background-color: whitesmoke; border: none; float: left; margin-right: 10px; padding: 4px;" width="360" /><div class="featured-image-caption" style="clear: both; color: #dd0000; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 5px; padding: 5px 10px 0px;"> Boko Haram militants</div> </div> <div id="nrelate_flyout_placeholder" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adeshola Amosun, said in Kaduna on Wednesday that the Nigerian Air Force is changing and updating its tactics in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> According to him, it will be through a review of operations and -re-training of its personnel.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> While assuring Nigerians that in no distance time the military would dislodged the insurgents, Amosun said the military ha d made a significant progress in the war against the Boko Haram sect.       He said this shortly after the 43rd graduation ceremony of students from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> He said Nigerian Armed Force, especially the NAF was doing everything possible, including updating and changing its tactics as well as training its personnel.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> The CAS noted with satisfaction the level of achievements of the Nigerian Air Force so far in tackling security challenges in the country.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Stressing the need for the training of its personnel, Amosun said any institution that is unable to train its manpower is doomed. He added that efforts were also being intensified to completely eradicate all forms of insurgency in the country.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> He said with the graduation of 260 aerospace engineers, the new institute was part of the NAF contribution that would help address the national security challenges.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> “What we are asking for now is the AFIT Bill before the National Assembly. When passed, it will help us to develop more technologies that will further help in the fight against insurgency in the country,” he said.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> Earlier, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, who was guest of honour at the event, commended the giant strides of the AFIT. He said he was aware that the institute was willing and able to surpass its current achievements, given the necessary resources and legal backings.</div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"> The Senate President said, “I wish to assure you that the issues of resources and legal backing under the pending AFIT Bill at the National Assembly, is being given an utmost attention.”</div> </div> </div>

B’Haram: We’re changing tactics, says Chief of Air Staff

Boko Haram militants The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adeshola Amosun, said in Kaduna on Wednesday that the Nigerian Air Force is ...

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Nigerian women & children take refuge in Chad Desert Island

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /><div class="post-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"> <div class="post-header-line-1"> </div> </div> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4264826132719843867" itemprop="description articleBody" style="position: relative; width: 616px;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFder4Ai3QJp6CZmWhHQ0TxQqo_BF5Z4RuvyYahyhuMq6X6Bedvm5vf34rl0TMnvRS77xY5ZXxm_D5NGcD1X9MQ3LaZq38iRNFCJhBxdssbiNIRk1CiOldFVrKfXDCZ6eS0VSW2aTzz4/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFder4Ai3QJp6CZmWhHQ0TxQqo_BF5Z4RuvyYahyhuMq6X6Bedvm5vf34rl0TMnvRS77xY5ZXxm_D5NGcD1X9MQ3LaZq38iRNFCJhBxdssbiNIRk1CiOldFVrKfXDCZ6eS0VSW2aTzz4/s1600/11.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></span></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFxkbiFvWG18-LqVzy08vTq9RuzBaFQSvxbwE45BO1eBKc2VRBq_KWrkcuEJhASZL56fjJLFB6sdG-5aERT3qRHCTamiVxT4q8kw5ja8N099zSR5pUgFP_b6xizjJhFEQl4vuhByuV1s/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFxkbiFvWG18-LqVzy08vTq9RuzBaFQSvxbwE45BO1eBKc2VRBq_KWrkcuEJhASZL56fjJLFB6sdG-5aERT3qRHCTamiVxT4q8kw5ja8N099zSR5pUgFP_b6xizjJhFEQl4vuhByuV1s/s1600/Untitled.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></span></a></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Photo above shows Nigerian women and children currently taking refuge in the Chadian Island of Choua, a desert land that is in no way habitable. The women and children ran to the Chad island after numerous attacks on their village, Kolikolia in Borno State by the Boko Haram sect. </span><div> </div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Ariane Rummery, the Chad Government has signified interest in moving the women and children to a habitable village where they can settle and get minimal comfort.</span></div> </div> </div>

Nigerian women & children take refuge in Chad Desert Island

Photo above shows Nigerian women and children currently taking refuge in the Chadian Island of Choua, a desert land that is in no ...

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Before you criticize our armed forces: Remember those who died obeying the last order

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="_2d10" style="position: relative;"> <div class="timelineUnitContainer" data-gt="{"action_type":"1","aggregation_id":"822969891059901","aggregation_time":"1407278434","actor":"170250019665228","creator":"170250019665228","pagestimeline":"1","payload_type":"7","eventtime":"1407315374","viewerid":"1027073717","profileownerid":"170250019665228","unitimpressionid":"4d329e47","contentid":"-4967239660173362475","timeline_unit_type":"AddSinglePhotoUnit","timewindowsize":"3","query_type":"36","contextwindowstart":"0","contextwindowend":"1409554799","queryid":"7661837583258365714"}" data-time="1407278434" id="u_ps_0_0_3" style="border-left-color: rgb(211, 214, 219); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(211, 214, 219); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 12px; position: relative; width: 486px;"> <div class=""> <div role="article"> <div class="aboveUnitContent" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;"> <div class="userContentWrapper"> <div class="_wk"> <span class="userContent" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Corporal Duke Ebosele with his sons (aged 7, 4 and 3). He was killed Sunday August 3rd, 2014 in Maiduguri while defending Nigeria from terrorists. Before you criticize our armed forces, please rember the sacrifice of people like Duke Ebosele who sacrifice their lives to keep us safe.</span></div> </div> </div> <a ajaxify="https://www.facebook.com/buildupnigeria/photos/a.815103358513221.1073741825.170250019665228/822969891059901/?type=1&relevant_count=1&src=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-xfp1%2Fv%2Ft1.0-9%2F10559863_822969891059901_8658463991861233542_n.jpg%3Foh%3Da1782205d19a4e5f18f8fc9e3afaba76%26oe%3D5453934E&size=320%2C240&fbid=822969891059901&source=9&player_origin=unknown" class="photo photoWidth1 _4dsy" data-ft="{"tn":"E"}" data-gt="{"fbid":"822969891059901"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/buildupnigeria/photos/a.815103358513221.1073741825.170250019665228/822969891059901/?type=1&relevant_count=1" rel="theater" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px -9px; text-decoration: none;"><div class="letterboxedImage photoWrap" style="height: 240px; position: relative; width: 504px;"> <div class="uiScaledImageContainer scaledImage" style="height: 240px; margin: 0px auto; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 320px;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="Photo: Corporal Duke Ebosele with his sons (aged 7, 4 and 3). He was killed Sunday August 3rd, 2014 in Maiduguri while defending Nigeria from terrorists. Before you criticize our armed forces, please rember the sacrifice of people like Duke Ebosele who sacrifice their lives to keep us safe." class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="240" src="https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10559863_822969891059901_8658463991861233542_n.jpg?oh=a1782205d19a4e5f18f8fc9e3afaba76&oe=5453934E" style="border: 0px; height: auto; min-height: 100%; position: relative; width: 320px;" width="320" /></span></span></div> </div> </a></div> <div class="_5ce" style="position: absolute; right: 8px; top: 0px;"> <div class="_6a uiPopover _5d68 _5v-0" id="u_ps_0_0_4" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); display: inline-block; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 10px;"> <a aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" aria-label="Options for this story" class="_dxs _p" href="https://www.facebook.com/buildupnigeria#" id="u_ps_0_0_5" rel="toggle" role="button" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yj/r/tmg0ynEv-Hn.png); background-position: -190px -19px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 852px 122px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 20px; opacity: 0; text-decoration: none; width: 16px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Corporal Duke  with how a widow). He was killed Sunday in Maiduguri defending us against terrorists. Before you criticize our armed forces, please rember the sacrifice of people like Duke Ebosele who sacrifice their lives to keep us safe.</span></a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="_5t6j" id="u_ps_0_0_6" style="display: inline-block;"> <div class="_1k4h _5ay5" style="margin-bottom: 0px;"> <div class="_5sem"> <div class="_2d10" style="position: relative;"> <div class="timelineUnitContainer" data-gt="{"action_type":"1","aggregation_id":"822969374393286","aggregation_time":"1407278246","actor":"170250019665228","creator":"170250019665228","pagestimeline":"1","payload_type":"7","eventtime":"1407315388","viewerid":"1027073717","profileownerid":"170250019665228","unitimpressionid":"886897ae","contentid":"-7859782966842558223","timeline_unit_type":"AddSinglePhotoUnit","timewindowsize":"3","query_type":"36","contextwindowstart":"0","contextwindowend":"1409554799","queryid":"7661837583258365714"}" data-time="1407278246" id="u_5_0" style="border-left-color: rgb(211, 214, 219); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(211, 214, 219); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 12px; position: relative; width: 486px;"> <div class=""> <div role="article"> <a ajaxify="https://www.facebook.com/buildupnigeria/photos/a.815103358513221.1073741825.170250019665228/822969374393286/?type=1&relevant_count=1&src=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-xpa1%2Fv%2Ft1.0-9%2F10517572_822969374393286_5088018507359621322_n.jpg%3Foh%3Db34dc43087ca8b3eb3d248903894ca61%26oe%3D5452350C&size=240%2C320&fbid=822969374393286&source=9&player_origin=pagelet" class="photo photoWidth1 _4dsy" data-ft="{"tn":"E"}" data-gt="{"fbid":"822969374393286"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/buildupnigeria/photos/a.815103358513221.1073741825.170250019665228/822969374393286/?type=1&relevant_count=1" rel="theater" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px -9px; text-decoration: none;"><div class="letterboxedImage photoWrap" style="height: 320px; position: relative; width: 504px;"> <div> <span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); display: inline; outline: none; width: auto;" tabindex="0"><span style="color: black;">Corporal Duke Ebosele with his wife Mary (now a widow). He was killed Sunday in Maiduguri defending us against terrorists. Before you criticize our armed forces, please rember the sacrifice of people like Duke Ebosele who sacrifice their lives to keep us safe.</span></span><div class="fbPhotoPagesTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftPagesTagList"> </div> <div class="pts fbPhotoLegacyTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftLegacyTagList" style="padding-top: 5px;"> <div> </div> </div> <div class="mvm fbPhotosPhotoOwnerButtons stat_elem" id="fbPhotoSnowliftOwnerButtons" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;"> </div> </div> <div class="fbPhotosSnowliftFeedback" id="fbPhotoSnowliftFeedback" style="margin-top: 8px;"> <div id="fbPhotoUndoSpamReport"> </div> <span class="UIActionLinks UIActionLinks_bottom" data-ft="{"tn":"=","type":20}"><span style="color: black;"><span data-reactid=".12" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></span></span></div> <div class="uiScaledImageContainer scaledImage" style="height: 320px; margin: 0px auto; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 240px;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="Photo: Corporal Duke Ebosele with his wife Mary (now a widow). He was killed Sunday in Maiduguri defending us against terrorists. Before you criticize our armed forces, please rember the sacrifice of people like Duke Ebosele who sacrifice their lives to keep us safe." class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="320" src="https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10517572_822969374393286_5088018507359621322_n.jpg?oh=b34dc43087ca8b3eb3d248903894ca61&oe=5452350C" style="border: 0px; height: auto; min-height: 100%; position: relative; width: 240px;" width="240" /></span></span></div> </div> </a></div> <div class="fbTimelineUFI uiCommentContainer" style="margin-bottom: -12px; margin-left: -12px; padding-top: 3px; position: relative; width: 510px;"> <form action="https://www.facebook.com/ajax/ufi/modify.php" class="commentable_item autoexpand_mode" data-ft="{"tn":"]"}" id="u_5_q" method="post" rel="async" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="fbTimelineFeedbackHeader"> <div class="clearfix fbTimelineFeedbackActions" style="background-color: #fafbfb; border-top-color: rgb(233, 234, 237); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding: 8px 12px 9px; zoom: 1;"> <div class="clearfix" style="zoom: 1;"> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Before you criticize our armed forces: Remember those who died obeying the last order

Corporal Duke Ebosele with his sons (aged 7, 4 and 3). He was killed Sunday August 3rd, 2014 in Maiduguri while defending Nigeria fr...

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Nigeria military reacts to Amnesty Int'l video of Human Rights abuse by Nigerian soldiers

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"> <br /></h3> <div class="post-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"> <div class="post-header-line-1"> </div> </div> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2785626312175767377" itemprop="description articleBody" style="position: relative; width: 616px;"> <div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh145ZDOqRBL2kWpsR6xMKiyZHyoci2BNE1r7ur9p_VqlsjlMnsGzyJcR1NNVeebFiITqAHFrqvcoC7JwrpgSn3AHze98EYXdXILhknxYu8_LFZaKNahMNauJLVbEhcibwtZvoYyntsMGo/s1600/unnamed.png" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh145ZDOqRBL2kWpsR6xMKiyZHyoci2BNE1r7ur9p_VqlsjlMnsGzyJcR1NNVeebFiITqAHFrqvcoC7JwrpgSn3AHze98EYXdXILhknxYu8_LFZaKNahMNauJLVbEhcibwtZvoYyntsMGo/s1600/unnamed.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A few hours ago, Amnesty International released a gruesome <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA7SIbvEO64&list=UUREPamP892LJnJfJNWYKfPQ" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">video</a> on its YouTube channel claiming Nigerian soldiers are involved in war crimes. Amnesty International wrote alongside the video;</span></div> <div> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Gruesome video footage gathered by Amnesty International provide fresh evidence of war crimes, including extrajudicial executions, and other serious human rights violations being carried out in northern Nigeria as the fight by the military against Boko Haram and other armed groups intensifies.</span></blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The footage, obtained from numerous sources during a recent trip to Borno state, reveals graphic evidence of multiple war crimes being carried out in Nigeria.</span></blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It includes horrific images of detainees having their throats slit one by one and dumped in mass graves by men who appear to be members of the Nigerian military and the “Civilian Joint Task Force” (CJTF), state-sponsored militias. It also shows the aftermath of a Boko Haram raid on a village in which the armed group killed nearly 100 people and destroyed or badly damaged scores of homes and other buildings.</span></blockquote> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Nigerian military has reacted to the video via its Defence Information Director, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade. The military say they plan to investigate the video. Find the statement after the cut...</span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="" name="more"></a></span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />INVESTIGATING AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL VIDEO ALLEGATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE BY NIGERIAN MILITARY<br /><br />Gentlemen of the Press,<br /><br />Welcome to this press briefing which was compelled by the urgent need to clarify some developments arising from our counter-terrorism operations in the country.<br /><br />The Nigerian military welcomes the interest being shown by international bodies and civil society groups on the observance of Human Rights in all aspects of ongoing counter terrorism campaign in Nigeria.  Despite the highly challenging and peculiar nature of the variables in the operations, the importance of accountability for all actions has remained paramount.  The Armed Forces of Nigeria is conscious of the nation’s obligation to observe all rules, regulations and commitments in all activities, and wishes to reassure the international community, bodies and citizens that it will not encourage or condone any form of violation.<br /><br />It is expedient to particularly address the recent allegation of gross Human Rights abuses leveled against the military by the Amnesty International and those circulating video footage purportedly showing Nigerian military carrying out extra-judicial killing of suspected terrorists.<br /><br />For the records, we must unequivocally state that the Nigerian military takes the issue of Human Rights seriously and will never condone any proven case of abuse by its personnel. Military authorities are deeply concerned about the set of video footage being circulated and which unfortunately has also become reference data for Amnesty International in its report. Much as the scenes depicted in these videos are alien to our operations and doctrines, it has to be investigated to ensure that such practices have not crept, surreptitiously into the system all to the detriment of expectations, in line with best practices to which the nation’s military has committed itself.<br /><br />The Defence Headquarters considers these allegations too grievous to be associated with Nigerian troops, considering the doctrinal and operational contents of the training imparted to personnel on a continuous basis; emphasizing the importance of respect for Human Rights and dignity of human person as well as observance of humanitarian laws.  Rather, the scenes in that video clip clearly depict a pattern consistent with the atrocious operations of the terrorists.<br /><br />Notwithstanding the cases of impersonations that have pervaded the counter terrorism operations in Nigeria and many other related issues which cast doubts on the claims made in the video, the Defence Headquarters views those grave allegations very seriously, more so as it borders on the integrity of the ongoing counter-terrorism operation, which must be sustained in the interest of our national survival.<br /><br />Consequently, the Defence Headquarters in addition to the already existing Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has constituted a team of senior officers and legal cum forensic experts to study the video footage and the resultant allegations of infractions in order to ascertain the veracity of the claims with a view to identifying those behind such acts.  This will further determine and stimulate necessary legal action against any personnel or anyone found culpable in accordance with the provisions of the law.<br /><br /><br />You will recall that a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was earlier constituted based on previous allegations of human rights abuse.  The JIT is still in place and have regularly conducted visits to detention facilities.  It is currently on tour of some of such facilities across the country.  The JIT has also regularly forwarded names of those suspects who are culpable to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution.  An additional list is currently being compiled to facilitate the decongestion of detention facilities.<br /><br />These attempts at protecting the rights of detained terror suspects categorically point to the fact that as a professional institution with thorough-bred officers and men, the Nigerian military cannot be party to such degree of savagery, as portrayed in the video footage available to Amnesty International. The Nigerian military has over the years demonstrated a pedigree devoid of such acts in several operational theatres in and out of the country.  There is no reason why this should change at this stage of our national life.<br /><br />Without mincing words, the Nigerian Armed Forces cannot condone any action or inaction that tramples on the right to life of any Nigerian. The ultimate objective of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism operation is the complete cessation of the heinous and barbaric activities of the terrorists and to stamp out every vestige of terrorism in our country with the application of international best practices in such operations. It will, therefore, be absurd for the Nigerian Armed Forces as an institution to perpetrate such unprofessional acts in the manner and level depicted in that video as alleged by Amnesty International. Respect for the sanctity of life is  always boldly emphasized in our doctrinal trainings. Indeed, that level of barbarism and impunity has no place in the Nigerian military. It must thus be reiterated that the Nigerian military is a very well organized professional body of troops whose conducts in war and peace times are guided comprehensively by law.<br /><br />We assure Nigerians and indeed the international community that the Nigerian Armed Forces recognizes the concern of Amnesty International as well as other similar bodies and therefore remains committed to the observance of the rules of engagement and human rights in its counter-terrorism operations.<br /><br />CHRIS OLUKOLADE<br />Major General<br /><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1065832282" tabindex="0">5 August 2014</span>                        </span><div class="a3s" id=":2q3"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><wbr></wbr>Director Defence Information</span></div> </div> </div>

Nigeria military reacts to Amnesty Int'l video of Human Rights abuse by Nigerian soldiers

A few hours ago, Amnesty International released a gruesome  video  on its YouTube channel claiming Nigerian soldiers are involved...

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