Attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes, UN warns

The UN Security Council has warned that it may tag attacks on peacekeepers as war crime. The 15-Member council gave the warning in a statement in New York while reacting to the attack against a convoy of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic . The peacekeepers were said to be travelling from Damara to Ngerengou (Ombella-Mpoko prefecture), when they were attacked. The UN says one peacekeeper from Burundi was killed and another was injured. Council reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law. They called on the Central African Republic authorities to investigate the MINUSCA attack and bring the perpetrators to justice. Council condoles with the families of the killed and injured peacekeepers and to the Burundi Government as well as the Transitional Authorities and the people of the Central African Republic. They stressed that those responsible for the attack shall be held accountable. Members reiterated their full support for MINUSCA to assist the Central African Republic Transitional Authorities in protecting people as enshrined in the 2015 Security Council Resolution

Buhari’s meeting with N’Assembly leadership signals good relationship – Saraki

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, described the closed-door meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly held on Wednesday night as a welcome development. Saraki, according to a post on his social media page on Thursday, explained that the meeting signifies a good working relationship between executive and legislative arms of the country. He described such interactions as “a necessity for National development. Additionally, the meeting demonstrates that the nation is working.” Buhari met with the leadership of the National Assembly, which included, Saraki; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; and other principal officers of both chambers. Also in attendance was, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. The meeting lasted for about two hours.

Screening: Senate in closed session on meeting with Buhari

The Senate resumed plenary around 11:15 am on Thursday and went into closed session to discuss critical issues relating to the screening of the 21 ministerial nominees sent to it for confirmation and approval by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, had told our correspondent last week that the upper chamber would discuss the procedure for the screening after the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had read out the names contained in the sealed envelope sent to him by Buhari. A senator, who craved anonymity told our correspondent shortly before the closed session this morning that the meeting would discuss the details of the closed session Buhari had with the leadership of the National Assembly last night. He also said the petition presented to the senate by the three senators from Rivers State against the nomination of Former Governor would also be discussed. Meanwhile some ministerial nominees were sighted at the Senate wing of the National Assembly on Thursday, obviously to familiarise themselves with the senators and to submit their Curriculum Vitae for necessary scrutiny by the senior federal lawmakers. Some of those sighted as of 11:30am were Former Governor Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Udo Udoma and a former Chairman of the Peoles Democratic Party, Audu Ogbeh.

Enyeama retires from Super Eagles

Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, on his Instagram page, says he is no longer available for international duties after 13 years of national service. Details later. . .

Suspected poachers kill 14 elephants in Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe National Wildlife Agency on Wednesday said that suspected poachers used cyanide to kill 14 elephants in Zimbabwe’s western Hwange National park. Hwange, home of Zimbabwe’s most famous lion, Cecil, who was killed by an American dentist in July, holds 53,000 elephants, twice the park’s carrying capacity, the park’s agency says. The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokeswoman, Caroline Washaya-Moyo, said six elephants were killed on Sept. 26 inside Hwange Park and their tusks were removed. Similarly, on Oct. 2, rangers discovered the carcasses of another five elephants which had been killed after poachers mixed cyanide with coarse salt and maize cobs as bait for the animals, she said. Washaya-Moyo added that three other elephants were poisoned by oranges laced with cyanide in a game park in Kariba, north of Zimbabwe, bringing to 14 the number of elephants killed. Cyanide is widely used in Zimbabwe’s mining industry and is relatively easy to obtain. “No arrests have been made in all the cases and investigations are still in progress,” Washaya- Moyo said. Over the years, poachers have used rifles and other traps to poach Zimbabwe’s elephants, but started using cyanide in 2013.

Five countries declare interest in Nigeria’s mining sector

Alhaji Sani Shehu, the President, Miners Association of Nigeria, on Wednesday said five countries had declared interest to invest in Nigeria’s mining sector. Shehu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the countries were Thailand, South Africa, Dubai, Canada and Australia. He said they had declared interest to come to Nigeria with their equipment and start mining very soon. He said their investment in the sector would boost Nigeria’s economy and create job opportunities for the youth. While encouraging the investors, the president said the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, and its Regulations 2011, were in line with international standard and guaranteed security of tenure. He also said Nigeria had a favourable geology and readily available geosciences data for prospective investors. According to him, Nigeria is richly endowed with various minerals that manifested in multiple occurrences all over the country. “There are 44 minerals occurring in no fewer than 500 locations in Nigeria; the notable minerals are Metallic, Tin, Tantalite, Columbite, Iron ore, Nickel, Lead, Zinc, Zircon, Silver, and Copper. “Among them are industrial minerals, Barytes, Talc, Limestone, Clays, Marble, Graphite, Asbestos, Feldspars, Glass sand, Gypsum, Talc, Mica, Precious minerals, Gold, Silver, Gemstones Coal, Bitumen, Lignite and Uranium.” The president said currently, mining contributed only 0.3 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Products.

EU anti-trafficking mission launched in Mediterranean

Six European Union warships have started military operation, patrolling international waters in the Mediterranean Sea to catch human traffickers who bring refugees to Europe. The mission off the coast of Libya – the departure point for many of the refugees – launching on Wednesday includes an Italian aircraft carrier, a French frigate and one British, one Spanish and two German ships. On board the Werra, one of the German ships taking part, the 100-person strong crew has already carried out several exercises, including a simulation of an attack carried out by traffickers, to which they responded by opening fire. For this mission, the team includes sailors trained in boarding ships on the high seas, the Werra’s captain Stefan Klatt told AFP news agency. The EU gave the go-ahead for the operation in international waters in September, but its ships are not, for now, allowed to pursue traffickers into Libyan waters. “We follow the traffickers and want to arrest them and seize their ships,” the captain said, adding that he’ll get as close to Libyan waters as he can. At least three other vessels supplied by the Belgian, British and Slovenian navies are expected to arrive in the area at the end of October to complete the force, which also include four aircraft and 1,318 personnel. The planning of the mission – EUNAVFOR MED – started in June with the first phase focusing on compiling and analysing information on the trafficker networks.

Somali militants vow to attack British peacekeepers

Somalia’s militant Islamist group, al Shabaab, has pledged to greet British troops “with fire” when they arrive to provide support to a peacekeeping force in the conflict-ravaged country. Prime Minister David Cameron, last week announced plans to deploy up to 70 troops and experts to provide logistical, medical and engineering support to the AU led peacekeeping force in Somalia, which is struggling to emerge from two decades of chaos and is also battling the Islamist insurgency of the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab. Like other Western powers, Britain has long avoided the Horn of Africa country, which until recently was widely viewed as a failed state, but it has made some progress in restoring order and setting up a functioning government. “We hope we shall see the beheaded bodies of whites,” Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, al Shabaab’s spokesman, said in a report. The statement branded Britain “an enemy to Muslims” and accused the country of trying to colonise Somalia. “We shall welcome British forces with fire and you will see their dead bodies displayed on the web pages,” Mohamud said. A spokesperson for the British High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya, declined to comment. African peacekeeping forces drove al Shabaab out of the Somali capital Mogadishu in 2011, but the group has waged a series of gun and grenade attacks to try to overthrow the government and impose its strict version of sharia law. AMISOM, the African Union’s force in Somalia, has been battling al Shabaab alongside the Somali army, pushing the rebels into increasingly smaller pockets of territory.

Mourinho’s sacking will cost $30m – Chelsea

Chelsea Football Club have revealed that Jose Mourinho will be owed £30 million in compensation should Chelsea choose to sack him following a poor start to the season.

Soldiers kill 100 terrorists in Yobe

The Nigerian Army said on Wednesday that troops of the Army 120 Task Force Battalion in Yobe, have killed more than 100 fleeing terrorists at Goniri area of the state. The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja. The statement said seven soldiers died while nine others were wounded when the terrorists attempted to invade the military base at Goniri, early on Wednesday. “The fleeing Boko Haram terrorists in a desperation to create an impression that they remain relevant, early today made a futile attempt on 120 Task Force Battalion troops at Goniri, Yobe State. “During the encounter, our gallant troops successfully repelled the attack and inflicted heavy casualty on the invaders, as all of them were killed. “More than 100 terrorists died but unfortunately however, seven of our gallant soldiers paid the supreme price while defending our father land, one officer and eight soldiers were also wounded.” According to the statement, the troops recovered arms, ammunitions and other equipment from the terrorists. The arms and ammunition recovered include, one general purpose machine gun; two rocket propelled grenades, nine AK-47 rifles and belted rounds of 7.62 (NATO) ammunitions. It said that various wires used for Improvised Explosive Devices, 7 Primed IEDs, different types of spanners and a torch light were also recovered. It said the troops had consolidated on the encounter and would continue blocking any fleeing terrorist using the Nigerian Air Force aerial bombardment and other troops artillery fire. The statement read that troops of 21 Brigade on fighting patrol from Bama to Ngurosoye, had destroyed Boko Haram terrorists camps along that axis. It stated that soldiers on patrol came across some of the terrorists’ hideouts that also served as fabricating area for IEDs and the terrorists’ training area along Bama-Kawuri axis. The statement said the Nigeria Army with the support of the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies would not relent in the determined effort of defeating Boko Haram insurgents.