Militants ‘dare’ Mali junta, Russian Wagner fighters, kill 15 soldiers, 49 others – Newstrends
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Militants ‘dare’ Mali junta, Russian Wagner fighters, kill 15 soldiers, 49 others

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Militants ‘dare’ Mali junta, Russian Wagner fighters, kill 15 soldiers, 49 others

Islamist militants have attacked a river boat in north-eastern Mali, killing at least 49 civilians, the interim government says.

They also reportedly attacked an army camp, killing 15 soldiers, while around 50 militants are said to have died.

The government has declared three days of national mourning.

The Islamist threat has been growing despite claims by the military that Russian Wagner Group mercenaries are turning the tide of their campaign.

The northern city of Timbuktu has been under blockade since the end of last month and there have been several other recent attacks on transport.

The BBC could not independently verify the government’s latest report, which was read out on national TV.

Militants reportedly attacked the boat as it was traveling on the River Niger from the town of Gao to Mopti. The river is a key transport link in a region where there are few quality roads and no railways.

Militants also attacked an army camp in the Bourem Circle in the Gao region.

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The Malian army said on social media that the boat had been attacked around 1100 GMT by “armed terrorist groups”.

The boat operator, Comanav, told AFP news agency the vessel had been targeted by at least three rockets aimed at its engines,

The vessel was immobilised on the river and the army went in to evacuate passengers, said a Comanav official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Mali has been ruled by a military junta since 2020.

There was huge popular support for the junta when it seized power after mass protests against then-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. People had been angered by economic uncertainty, a disputed election and chronic insecurity.

Since then, data suggests Mali’s military government has made little progress in its fightback against Islamists who control parts of the country.

Mali’s military authorities have ordered French troops and UN peacekeepers out of the country and invited Russian contractors to replace them.

An insurgency with links to al-Qaeda and Islamic State took root in the north of Mali in 2012. Islamist militants have since gained ground, spreading across the Sahel region, especially to Burkina Faso and Niger.

Militants ‘dare’ Mali junta, Russian Wagner fighters, kill 15 soldiers, 49 others

(BBC)

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Court strikes out Bobrisky’s fundamental rights suit against EFCC

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10 hours ago

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November 29, 2024

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Popular Nigerian cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky

Court strikes out Bobrisky’s fundamental rights suit against EFCC

Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has dismissed a fundamental rights suit instituted against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju (a.k.a Bobrisky) alleging breach of his rights by the Commission and seeking  N200million damages.

 In a judgment delivered on Thursday, November 28, 2024, Justice Owoeye held that Bobrisky’s claims of encroachment of his rights lacked merit with no credible evidence to justify the reliefs he sought from the court.

One of the reliefs sought was an “ an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents” from harassing, declaring him wanted,  arresting or detaining him “whether by themselves, their officers, servants, agents…”.

In another relief, Bobrisky prayed the court to award the sum of N200million against the EFCC as damages he allegedly suffered from the activities of the Commission regarding his arrest and trial.

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After evaluating all the reliefs he sought,   Justice Owoeye ruled that   “having evaluated the evidence placed before this Court by the Applicant, it is evident that the Applicant has failed to provide credible evidence to justify the award of the declaratory and injunctive reliefs sought by him”.

The judge further stated that,  “in the final analysis,  I hold the claims of violation of fundamental rights against the 1st and 2nd Respondents were not made out of the affidavit evidence placed before this Court.  The claim of the Applicant against the 1st to the 2nd Respondents hereby lacks merit and is liable to be dismissed. It is accordingly dismissed”.  The judge also refused to award any damage against the EFCC.

Bobrisky had dragged both the EFCC and the National Assembly before the court and all the reliefs he sought were thrown out.  He was originally arrested by the EFCC on April 4, 2024 by the Commission for Naira abuse. His arrest eventually led to his six months  conviction  by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on April 12, 2024.

 

Court strikes out Bobrisky’s fundamental rights suit against EFCC

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Police arrest 5 suspected trans-border arms dealers, recover 5 Israeli rifles, others

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10 hours ago

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November 29, 2024

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Police arrest 5 suspected trans-border arms dealers, recover 5 Israeli rifles, others

Operatives of the Nigerian Police have arrested 5 suspected trans-border arms dealers during a major operation in Zamfara State.

A statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the suspects were arrested on 18th November, 2024, with several arms recovered from them.

The statement reads : “The Nigeria Police Force in its unyielding resolution and unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens, continues to work tirelessly to prevent and combat all forms of crime and criminality.

These relentless efforts are paying off, as the Force has successfully made the arrest of five (5) suspects involved in trans-border gun running. The suspects identified as Adamu Noma ‘m’, Matthew Audu ‘m’, Andrew Poyi ‘m’, Aminu Sani ‘m’, and Aminu Talha ‘m’ were apprehended by the operatives of the FID-IRT on the 18th of November, 2024 in Zamfara State.

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Upon arrest and conducted search, 10 locally fabricated Ak-47 rifles, 5 Isreali Ak-47 rifles, 1 revolver pistol, 1 pump action rifle, 20 rounds of Ak-47 ammunition, and 1 welding machine for fabrication of rifles were recovered from the suspect.

These feats, and several more recorded by police operatives across the country are indications of the steadfastness and commitment of the current police leadership to decimate and subdue criminal activities and insecurity in general in the country.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD., NPM., has re-echoed his directive to operatives of the Force, particularly, tactical units, to mop up every illegal arms and ammunition, and see to the total dismantling of local manufacturers of illicit arms and ammunition and dangerous weapons by all means. ”

 

Police arrest 5 suspected trans-border arms dealers, recover 5 Israeli rifles, others

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Army releases investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo

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10 hours ago

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November 29, 2024

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Fisayo Soyombo

Army releases investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo

The Nigerian Army has released investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo.

According to the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), this development followed an intense media campaign advocating for his release.

In a social media post on Friday, FIJ revealed that the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, had detained its founder, Fisayo Soyombo, for three days.

“The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt has been detaining our founder, Fisayo Soyombo, for three days. Journalism is not a crime,” FIJ wrote.

In its response, the Nigerian Army, through the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma, stated that Soyombo was arrested at an illegal bunkering site.

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Confirming Soyombo’s release on Friday evening, FIJ in a post via X said: “We can confirm that our founder @fisayosoyombo has now been released by @HQNigerianArmy, following the intense media campaign you all mounted.

“FIJ acknowledges the Nigerian Army’s deliberate mischaracterisation to suggest an involvement in “illegal oil bunkering”. FIJ will also address this statement appropriately.

“Our immediate concern is regarding the safety of ‘Fisayo Soyombo in view of extensive information sharing with the Army on his fieldwork during the period of his detention. We are assessing the situation and hoping that his safety will not be jeopardised after release.”

 

Army releases investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo

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