US begins airstrike in Afghanistan, kills IS planner – Newstrends
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US begins airstrike in Afghanistan, kills IS planner

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The US military says it has killed an Islamic State ‘planner’ in retaliation for Thursday’s deadly suicide bombing in Kabul airport.

Spokesman for US Central Command, Captain Bill Urban, said the military had conducted a drone strike against an IS member in Afghanistan’s Nangahar Province, which borders Pakistan.

He said, “The US military forces conducted an over-the-horizon counterterrorism operation today against an ISIS-K planner.

“Initial indications are that we killed the target. We know of no civilian casualties.”

The US has not named the ‘planner’ it killed.

It is not clear if the fighter was involved in the devastating blast at the airport, which the Islamic State’s Afghanistan branch, ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for.

The blast killed as many as 170 Afghans and 13 American service members.

This is a swift action based on President Joe Biden’s promise to retaliate the deadly suicide bombing carried out by the Taliban at Kabul airport on Thursday.

Associated Press reports that the strike came amid what the White House called indications that IS planned to strike again as the US-led evacuation from Kabul airport moved into its final days. Biden has set Tuesday as his deadline for completing the exit.

Biden authorised the drone strike and it was ordered by Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, a defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet publicly announced.

The airstrike was launched from beyond Afghanistan less than 48 hours after the devastating Kabul attack that killed 13 Americans and scores of Afghans with just days left in a final U.S. withdrawal after 20 years of war. U.S. Central Command provided few details; it said it believed its strike killed no civilians.

The speed with which the US military retaliated reflected its close monitoring of IS and years of experience in targeting extremists in remote parts of the world.

But it also shows the limits of U.S. power to eliminate extremist threats, which some believe will have more freedom of movement in Afghanistan now that the Taliban is in power.

Central Command said the drone strike was conducted in Nangarhar province against an IS member believed to be involved in planning attacks against the United States in Kabul. The strike killed one individual, spokesman Navy Capt. William Urban said.

The airstrike came after Biden declared Thursday that perpetrators of the attack would not be able to hide. “We will hunt you down and make you pay,” he said. Pentagon leaders told reporters on Friday that they were prepared for whatever retaliatory action the president ordered.

“We have options there right now,” said Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor of the Pentagon’s Joint Staff.

The President was warned Friday to expect another lethal attack in the closing days of a frantic US-led evacuation.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden’s national security team offered a grim outlook.

“They advised the President and Vice President that another terror attack in Kabul is likely, but that they are taking maximum force protection measures at the Kabul airport,” Psaki said, echoing what the Pentagon has been saying since the bombing Thursday at Kabul airport.

Late Friday, the State Department again urged Americans to stay away from airport gates, including “the New Ministry of Interior gate.”

Few new details about the airport attack emerged a day later, but the Pentagon corrected its initial report that there had been suicide bombings at two locations. It said there was just one — at or near the Abbey Gate — followed by gunfire. The initial report of a second bombing at the nearby Baron Hotel proved to be false, said Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor of the Pentagon’s Joint Staff; he attributed the mistake to initial confusion.

Based on a preliminary assessment, US officials believe the suicide vest used in the attack, which killed at least 169 Afghans in addition to the 13 Americans, carried about 25 pounds of explosives and was loaded with shrapnel, a US official said Friday.

A suicide bomb typically carries five to 10 pounds of explosives, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss preliminary assessments of the bombing.

Biden still faces the problem over the longer term of containing an array of potential extremist threats based in Afghanistan, which will be harder with fewer U.S. intelligence assets and no military presence in the nation.

Emily Harding, a former CIA analyst and deputy staff director for the Senate Intelligence Committee, said she doubted Biden’s assurances that the United States will be able to monitor and strike terror threats from beyond Afghanistan’s borders.

The Pentagon also insists this so-called “over the horizon” capability, which includes surveillance and strike aircraft based in the Persian Gulf area, will be effective.

In an Oval Office appearance Friday, Biden again expressed his condolences to victims of the attack.

The return home of US military members’ remains in coming days will provide painful and poignant reminders not just of the devastation at the Kabul airport but also of the costly way the war is ending.

More than 2,400 US service members died in the war and tens of thousands were injured over the past two decades.

The Marine Corps said 11 of the 13 Americans killed were Marines. One was a navy sailor and one an army soldier. Their names have not been released pending notification of their families, a sometimes-lengthy process that Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said involves “difficult conversations.”

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Commotion as hackers infiltrate server, disrupt Osun teachers’ recruitment exercise

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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke

Commotion as hackers infiltrate server, disrupt Osun teachers’ recruitment exercise

The ongoing teacher recruitment exercise in Osun State was disrupted on Wednesday when hackers apparently compromised the server hosting the Computer-Based Test (CBT).

The event trapped thousands of applicants at the state’s 13 scheduled examination centres.

The cyber-attack happened in the early hours of Wednesday and affected the server operated by Osun State University (Uniosun), which organised the recruiting test.

The breach led to system glitches and technical failures, frustrating applicants who had gathered at the centres to take the crucial examination.

One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the gravity of the situation to our correspondent.

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“All the systems were down after hackers breached our server overnight. It was a terrible experience at all the centres. But we later resolved some centres, while the examination has been rescheduled for others,” said the official.

Ademola Adesoji, the Public Relations Officer of the university, attributed the incident to unknown criminals.

“The damage inflicted on the server required time to resolve, resulting in an undue delay in the start of exams and necessitating the rescheduling of tests at two out of thirteen centers.

“Over the last eight or so hours, it has been a tough battle in our efforts to ensure the success of Osun State government. Examinations have concluded at 11 out of the 13 locations today. However, the two problematic centres, Osogbo and Ikire, will be rescheduled based on the Ministry’s decision,” said Adesoji.

Commotion as hackers infiltrate server, disrupt Osun teachers’ recruitment exercise

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Drama as INEC disowns Anambra Labour Party convention

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Drama as INEC disowns Anambra Labour Party convention

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected Wednesday’s Labour Party National Convention in Anambra State.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, stated this in Abuja on Thursday.

Oyekanmi said INEC did not oversee the convention’s conduct.

The LP on Tuesday shifted the convention from Umuahia in Abia State to Nnewi, Anambra State.

But speaking on the change in venue, the LP National Legal Adviser, Kehinde Edun, told journalists that the party had duly informed INEC about the change in venue and date.

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“In fact, Umuahia was not even the first venue we chose. Benin City was the first choice before we changed to Umuahia and now Nnewi.

“So, we are at liberty to pick any venue of our choice. We only need to inform INEC about the change in venue and the time,” Edun said.

Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 states that political parties shall give INEC at least 21 days notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting.

This includes the convention or meeting convened for the purpose of “merger” and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates.

Drama as INEC disowns Anambra Labour Party convention

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Suspended Ningi demands reinstatement, threatens to drag Akpabio before NBA

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Senator Ahmed Ningi and Senate President Godswill Akpabio

Suspended Ningi demands reinstatement, threatens to drag Akpabio before NBA

Senator representing Bauchi Central, Ahmed Ningi, has spent a message to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, requesting the removal of the current suspension imposed on him.

Ningi, who communicated with Akpabio through his legal representative, Femi Falana (SAN), said if his suspension was not revoked within the next week, he would take the matter to the Federal High Court.

On March 12, the Senate decided to suspend Ningi for a period of three months due to his statement alleging that the 2024 budget had been inflated by N3.7tn.

In the letter, Falana wrote: “On March 9, 2024, our client granted an interview to the BBC Hausa Service on the 2024 Appropriation Act.

“He expressed his views on the budget of the Federal Government in the exercise of his fundamental right to freedom of speech guaranteed by Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“Dissatisfied with the interview, you caused our client to be put on trial before the Senate on March 14, 2024 contrary to the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2018.”

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Falana, in the letter, said the Senate President acted as the accuser, prosecutor and judge in the case, saying this was in utter violation of the provisions of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.”

Falana argued that apart from violating Ningi’s fundamental right to a fair hearing, the Senate also violated the right of the people of the Bauchi Central Senatorial District to representation in the Senate for three months.

“This is a breach of Section 111 of the Constitution and Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act,” the SAN said.

“As you are no doubt aware, the Federal High Court had struck down the suspension of some members of the Senate and the House of Representatives who had accused the leadership of both houses of budget padding, corruption or abuse of office.

“Specifically, the court declared the suspension of the affected legislators illegal and unconstitutional.

“As a senior lawyer, you (Akpabio) ought to have drawn the attention of the members of the Senate to these decisions and several others where the high courts of some states and the Court of Appeal have held that no parliament in Nigeria has the power to suspend or expel a legislator and confiscate his salaries and allowances.

“In view of the foregoing, you will agree with us that the suspension of Senator Ningi and the denial of his entitlements are illegal and unconstitutional in every material particular.

“We are compelled to request you to ensure that the said suspension is lifted forthwith.

“However, if you fail to accede to our request within seven days upon receipt of this letter, we shall not hesitate to pray the Federal High Court for the reinstatement of our client.

“We shall equally report you to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for treating the judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal with disdain.”

Suspended Ningi demands reinstatement, threatens to drag Akpabio before NBA

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