News & Announcements

Tunisian legend Hammafi Agrebi has passed on after a long battle with illness. He was aged 69 years.

Born on 20 March 1951 in Sfax, Agrebi donned the colours of CS Sfaxien for the entire 27 years of his playing career. He joined Sfaxien youth at the age of nine before signing his first professional contract in 1970.

Agrebi represented the Carthage Eagles in 35 caps scoring four goals, from 1972 to 1980. He was part of the Tunisia class of 1978 that took part in the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, where he excelled as a spectacular midfielder.

Agrebi spent his whole life in Sfax and refused to play for any other teams. In his honour, a statue of him was erected outside Taib Mhiri Stadium in Sfax in 2017. Also, CS Sfaxien has retired the number 8 shirt from its squad in honour for their late player.

After his death, CS Sfaxien renamed sporting complex to “Hammadi Agrebi Complex” in his honour.

The coup leaders in Mali that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita have said they are looking at appointing a traditional president who could be either a civilian or military.

Thus, they have revealed that they are in talks with the opposition parties to this effect.

They arrested Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta on Tuesday and forced him to resign, sparking global condemnation.

Meanwhile, West African leaders have called for him to be reinstated and the UN, the BBC reports, says all those detained should be freed.

Mali has several jihadi groups in its northern deserts and there are fears they could take advantage of the coup.

They did so following the previous military takeover in 2012.

The coup leaders have promised to respect international agreements on fighting jihadists. Thousands of French, African and UN troops are based in the country to tackle the militants.

The opposition coalition, which had been campaigning for Mr. Keïta to resign, has called for a rally on Friday to celebrate his departure.

On Thursday, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) said it would send envoys to ensure the return of constitutional order.

It also called for an “immediate build-up” of the Ecowas Standby Force, a multidisciplinary force of military, civilian, and police personnel, which has intervened in previous crises in the region but always in far smaller countries than Mali.

There is an increased military presence outside government ministries in the capital, Bamako, but shops and businesses have reopened.

Mr. Keïta won a second term in elections in 2018, but since June has faced huge street protests over corruption, mismanagement of the economy, and disputed legislative elections.

There has also been anger among troops about pay and the conflict with jihadists, which has seen scores of soldiers killed in the past year.

The coupists said: “We are going to set in place a transitional council, with a transitional president who is going to be either military or civilian,” junta spokesman Col Ismaël Wagué told TV channel France 24.

“We are in contact with civil society, opposition parties, the majority, everyone, to try to set the transition in place.”

The transition will happen “as quickly as possible”, he added.

The junta has previously promised elections in a “reasonable time”.

It also announced that Mali’s borders would reopen, from midnight on Friday.

Members of the Boko Haram terrorist group have burnt down a hospital recently refurbished by the Borno State Government in the troubled North East of Nigeria in a renewed attack on Monday.

In the attack on Monday, which also claimed the only functional telecommunication mast in Magumeri town, Borno, one person was killed when the Insurgents engaged the military in a few n duels.

According to Sahara reporters, residents of Magumeri fled their homes following the invasion of the town by the heavily-armed Boko Haram terrorists.
It was gathered that the insurgents razed down that only functional telecommunications mast, the hospital recently equipped by the Borno State Government, and other facilities in the town. 

One of the fleeing residents said the insurgents invaded the community at about 4 pm on Monday while the military airstrike engaged them, but to no avail.

It was learned that a woman died during the exchange of gunfire between the insurgents and the military, while others were seriously injured.

Magumeri is about a 40km drive from Maiduguri, the state capital, which has witnessed a series of Boko Haram attacks.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended any further Economic relations with Mali following the military mutiny in the country which ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keira.

ECOWAS on Wednesday decided to shut down all their land and air borders with Mali after its president announced his resignation following the military mutiny.

ECOWAS said in a statement that they will also halt trade relations with the country.

Underscoring the call for sanctions against those who attempted the coup and their partners, it said a high-level delegation will be sent to the country to establish constitutional order.

It added that the coup attempt would have a negative impact on peace and stability efforts in the country and the region.

Meanwhile, ECOWAS strongly condemned the toppling of the government and rejected the legitimacy of those attempting the coup.

It had also called on all stakeholders to resort to dialogue and talks to resolve the crisis in good faith and mutual trust with a view to sustaining peace and security.

Early Wednesday, Mali’s President, Keita, announced his resignation and the dissolving of parliament after he was arrested by mutinying soldiers.

On Tuesday, Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse were taken to the Kati military camp located 15 kilometers (9 miles) northwest of the capital Bamako at around 4.30 p.m. local time (1630 GMT), according to Le Journal du Mali.

Early Tuesday, it was reported that gunshots were heard at the camp, while military trucks were also spotted on the road heading toward the capital. The military reportedly blocked the road from the town of Kati to Bamako and businesses and offices were also closed.

Last month, the head of the African Union Commission urged calm, continued dialogue and negotiations for the diligent implementation of consensual solutions to preserve peace, stability, and social cohesion in Mali.

Recall that tension erupted in Mali in 2012 following a failed coup and a rebellion by Tuareg separatists that ultimately allowed al-Qaeda-linked militant groups to take over the northern half of the country.

Ibrahim Boubacar Keira, the president of Mali, has resigned after the military mutiny that led to his detention. This is according to the state television station.

In a televised address, the BBC reports, Mr Keïta said he was also dissolving the government and parliament.

“I want no blood to be spilled to keep me in power,” he added.

It comes hours after he and Prime Minister Boubou Cissé were taken to a military camp near the capital Bamako, drawing condemnation from regional powers and France.

“If today, certain elements of our armed forces want this to end through their intervention, do I really have a choice?” said Mr Keïta.

“I hold no hatred towards anyone, my love of my country does not allow me to,” he added. “May God save us.”

Earlier, the mutinying soldiers took control of the Kati camp.

There has been anger among troops about pay and over a continuing conflict with jihadists – as well as widespread discontent with the former president.

Mr Keïta won a second term in elections in 2018, but there has been anger over corruption, the mismanagement of the economy and the rise of communal violence in areas of the country.

It has prompted several large protests in recent months. A new opposition coalition led by the conservative Imam, Mahmoud Dicko, has called for reforms after rejecting concessions from Mr Keïta, including the formation of a unity government.

It was led by Col Malick Diaw – deputy head of the Kati camp – and another commander, Gen Sadio Camara, BBC Afrique’s Abdoul Ba in Bamako reports.

After taking over the camp, about 15km (nine miles) from Bamako, the mutineers marched on the capital, where they were cheered by crowds who had gathered to demand Mr Keïta’s resignation.

On Tuesday afternoon they stormed his residence and arrested the president and his prime minister – who were both there.

The president’s son, the speaker of the National Assembly, the foreign and finance ministers were reported to be among the other officials detained.

The number soldiers taking part in the mutiny is unclear.

Kati camp was also the focus of a mutiny in 2012 by soldiers angry at the inability of the senior commanders to stop jihadists and Tuareg rebels taking control of northern Mali.

Gunmen have killed three soldiers in the volatile northern part of the country.The attack happened in Yakila Village, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger, a North Central state of the country. The unknown gunmen, suspected to be some of the bandits terrorizing the area, also killed one member of a vigilante group.

The recent attack also led to the kidnap of a Chinese expatriate who was said to be with his drivers (also kidnapped) inspecting work on the construction site in Yakila. The attackers were said to have overrun the village in a convoy of motorcycles.
Eye witness account indicates that the Chinese expatriate whose name could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report was kidnapped alongside his driver by the gunmen numbering about thirty.
The source who pleaded anonymity said both the soldiers and vigilante members were at Yakila to rescue the Chinese expatriate and his driver but unknown to them that the bandits laid an ambush for them and they subsequently died while exchanging gunshot with the bandits.

Two motorcycles were seen inside the Hilux vehicle with one that was arrested whose face was tied with cloth, the source said, adding however that some corpses of the attackers suspected to be that of the bandits were also sighted in the bush but could not give the exact number.
The bandits, said to be heavily armed, were riding in a convoy of about fifteen motorcycles with some of them carrying their members, took the Chinese and his driver, and disappeared into the nearby bush.

Meanwhile, the unconfirmed report had it that the body of the Chinese expatriate has been recovered and deposited at the Minna General Hospital mortuary, Tuesday afternoon while his driver is still in the bandits’ captivity.
Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Niger State command, ASP Wasiu Abiodun, to confirm the attacks proved abortive as he refused to pick his calls at the time of filling in this report.

The fresh fact has emerged how a serial killer, Sunday Shodipe, who is responsible for the murder of so many persons in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital in southwest Nigeria, escaped from a Police cell.
Recall that several deaths were recorded in Akinyele Local Government Area in Ibadan, including the decapitation of an aged woman as well as the rape to death of a teenager undergraduate, and they were all allegedly carried out by Shodipe.

However, the prime suspect, who was on the wanted list of Oyo State Police Command, was finally apprehended and remanded in Mokola Divisional Police custody.
But surprisingly, Shodipe reportedly escaped from the police cell, with apprehension enveloped the entire environment as residents regretted the unfortunate escape.
However, Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, revealed how an off-duty police Inspector made the prime suspect in the serial killings in Akinyele Local Government Area of the State, Shodipe, escaped from police custody.

Enwonwu, who stated that an Inspector of Police, name withheld, who was not on duty, while the suspect escaped has been arrested, detained, and was facing orderly room trial, also vowed to properly investigate the circumstances surrounding the escape of the suspected serial killer.

The Police boss also promised to arrest all those involved in the escape of the suspect from the Police den with stern directives to his men to always be at alert with a view of dealing decisively with criminal elements in the state.
Enwonwu had told reporters that the said killer suspect, Sunday Shodipo, 19, escaped from police custody at Mokola Police division, Ibadan on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, at about 7 pm.

He also said that an Inspector of Police who was not on duty collected the keys to the cell and opened the cell to take the suspect to have his bath and from there, the said killer ran away.
Efforts, he stated, had commenced ever since then to re-arrest him by all stakeholders who are law-abiding police personnel, community leaders, youths, vigilantes, hunters, and the likes.
The CP however affirmed that there was a press release to the effect. He said, “We have even made a press release to that effect.”
He also stated that the Inspector of police concerned has been defaulted, detained, and presently facing an orderly room trial which will be concluded by today.

“In addition, whoever must have been involved in this sordid misconduct will not be spared,” the police chief said.
Enwonwu also added: “The measures we have taken to deal with criminals in the state has been to strategize crime control mechanisms of proactive policing which emphasizes community policing partnership with all the stakeholders, other security agencies, military, vigilante, hunters, traditional rulers.

“We collaborate, cooperate and it has been working positively. We also do visibility policing and patrols, raids of criminal hideouts on a regular basis.”
The police boss also said: “It paid off in Okeho Bank robbery where we recovered five assault rifles and arrested five suspects so far.”
Meanwhile, residents of Akinyele have confirmed the declaration of a manhunt for the fleeing prime suspect of the killings in their area.

Some residents who spoke on anonymously expressed their displeasure at the disclosure made by Oyo State Police Command that the prime suspect escaped from their custody, they said they were all on the alert and all-out for the suspected serial killer.
In his brief contribution to the development, one of the youth leaders in the local government, Mr. Taiwo Adejare, said, “We no longer see the suspect in our area as we did sometime last week. We have informed residents to begin a manhunt for the suspect. I don’t think the suspect can escape because people are all out for searching for him, and I pray God will make it easier for  us to get him.”

Another resident of the area, who is a leader of a religious congregation on the old Oyo Road, Mr. Akindele Kayode said, “When the Police said the suspect has escaped, we the residents once again have a duty to ensure the re-arrest of the suspect and prevent such previous occurrence.
He stated further that ” though we are displeased to hear that the suspect had escaped from the Police custody, however, our people have to be at alert and very security conscious.

“Most of us now find it difficult to trust the Police, most especially with what has just happened, but we are making our efforts as residents to see that the prime suspect is re-arrest.”

The Nigerian military said on Monday that its troops on offensives at the Lake Chad in Borno State, North-East Nigeria, as well as in Niger State, North Central Nigeria respectively, killed scores of Boko Haram fighters and bandits.
Major General John Enenche, Coordinator of Defence Media Operations (CDMO), who made the disclosure in separate operations update released to the media in Abuja, regretted that three soldiers were killed by the bandits and others wounded in Niger State.

General Enenche said the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE neutralized scores of terrorists and destroyed their hideouts and logistics structures at Tumbuma Baba and Boboshe in Borno State.
He said this was achieved in airstrikes executed on Sunday, 16 August 2020, on the first day of missions of a new subsidiary Operation codenamed “HAIL STORM,” which is an air interdiction operation aimed at taking out identified Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram Terrorists’ (BHTs’) targets in the Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest areas of Borno State.
“The attack at Tumbuma Baba, one of the Island settlements on the fringes of the Lake Chad, was carried out after Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports indicated that several ISWAP fighters and some of their leaders were harboured in some structures concealed under the thick vegetation of the area.

“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets dispatched by the ATF to attack the location scored devastating hits on the settlement, killing several of the terrorists and destroying their structures.
“Several terrorists were similarly neutralized and some of their dwellings destroyed at Boboshe, a village along the river line on the Eastern part of the Sambisa Forest, as the NAF jets took turns in engaging the location.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria, operating in concert with other security agencies and stakeholders, will sustain its efforts to rid the North East of all terrorists and other criminal elements”, the CDMO said.

In a related operation update, the Defence Operations spokesman said that in continuation of the aggressive clearance operation to rid criminal elements out of the North-Central region of the country, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE, recorded tremendous success against armed bandits.
“Following credible intelligence on the activities of armed bandits attack at Tashan Kere, in Niger State, troops swiftly mobilized to the scene and made contact with the bandits.

“The gallant troops engaged the armed bandits with superior firepower killing unspecified number while others fled in disarray into the bushes.
“Sadly own troops suffered 3 casualties while 2 others were wounded in action.
Exploitation is ongoing. Details to follow.
“The Military High Command congratulates the gallant troops for their professionalism and encourages them to intensify the onslaught against the enemies of our country.”

In their sustained fights against insurgency and banditry in Nigeria, particularly the northern parts of the country, the Nigerian troops have arrested three Nigeriens for illegally trading in arms and other dangerous weapons in the country.

Troops of the operation ‘Sahel Sanity’ in Faskari, Katsina State, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari smashed a notorious illegal arms smuggling syndicate who specializes in massive but illegal arms supply to bandits in the North West from across the international borders

Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, the acting Director, Defense Media Operations disclosed this to newsmen at a press briefing on the activities of the operation held at the Special Army Super Camp 4 in Faskari, Katsina State on Monday.

According to him, the gallant troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY deployed at forwarding Operation Base Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State on August 15, 2020, arrested the trio of Alhaji Adamu Alhassan, Salisu Adamu and Abdullahi Sani (all Nigeriens) at Dantudu in Mailailai District of Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State.

He said they were caught with 6 AK 47 rifles, 3 AK 47 rifle magazines and 2,415 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition deceptively concealed in various parts of their vehicle.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the dangerous the consignment was meant for some bandits in Isah LGA of Sokoto State which could have led to the loss of thousands of innocent lives,” he stated.

He said one of the arrested arms suppliers, Alhaji Adamu Alhassan, who is diabetic and hypertensive, experienced seizure and gave up the ghost while he was being rushed to the hospital.

The defense operations spokesman said the investigation of the other two accomplices continued in order to track and arrest all those in the chain of the heinous activity in collaboration with other intelligence and security agencies from our neighboring countries.

In a related development, Brigadier General Onyeuko said on 12 August 12, 2020, in a combined special clearance operation, troops destroyed twelve bandit camps at Yobe Baranda in Batsari LGA of Katsina State and in the process three bandits were neutralized, while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds.

Also on the same August 12, 2020, troops of forwarding Operation Base in Wanke arrested a suspected bandit one, Shehu Abdullahi while spying on traders activities in the market with the intent of organizing for their kidnap.

South African retail selling store, Shoprite, may not leave Nigeria after all following a court case involving it, which bothers on a whopping forty-seven million Naira (N47 million in debt. 

Thus, a Lagos Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, stopped the proposed move by the promoters of the outlets, Shoprite Checker (PYT), to quit the country or have its assets, both movable and immovable, dissipated over alleged N47 million naira debt.

The presiding judge, Justice Muhammed Liman’s ex-parte order on Shoprite Checker’s promoters is the sequel to the request by a limited liability company, A.I.C. Limited, in a suit, marked FHC/L/CS/881/2020, against the largest retailing store and three others.

Others listed in the ex-parte application alongside Shoprite Checker (PTY) Limited over alleged debt are Retail Supermarket Nigeria Limited, the Registrar of Trademarks and National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), listed as second to fourth respondents in the suit.

A.I.C. Limited, through its lawyer, Professor Taiwo Oshinpitan had approached Justice Liman’s court through an ex-parte application for an order of Mareva Injunction restraining Shoprite Checker (PTY), described as a Judgment Debtor, its privies, officers, nominees, successors-in-title, subsidiaries or anyone acting through it or by it from transferring, assigning, charging, disposing of its trademark, franchise and intellectual-property in a manner that will alter, dissipate, or remove these non-cash assets from the court’s jurisdiction.

The applicant, which described itself as a judgement creditor, also asked the court for an order of Mareva Injunction restraining Shoprite Checkers (PYT) its privies, officers, nominees, successors-in-title, subsidiaries or anyone acting through it or by it from transferring, assigning, charging, disposing of its other assets including but not limited to trade receivables, trade payables, payment for the purchase of merchandise within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.

It also asked the court for an order of Mareva Injunction restraining Shoprite Checker, its privies, officers, nominees, successors-in-title, subsidiaries or anyone acting through it or by it from transferring, assigning, charging, disposing of its other assets including but not limited to trade receivables, trade payables, payment for the purchase of merchandise within the jurisdiction of the Court.

The applicant also requested for an order restraining Retail Supermarket Nigeria Limited from making any financial payments whether by itself, privies. officers, nominees, successors-in-title, subsidiaries or anyone acting through it or by it to Shoprite Checker under the Administration and Technical Services Agreement between the Shoprite and it, in order not to render the Judgment of the Court of Appeal in Suit No: CA/L/288/2018 nugatory or the anticipated judgment from the Supreme Court in the appeal filed by it.

It further asked for an order of the court compelling and mandating the Retail Supermarket Nigeria Limited to disclose its Audited Financial Statements for the years ending 2018 and 2019 to enable it to determine the number of the Shoprite Checker’s funds in its custody to preserve same in satisfaction of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/L/288/2018, among pleas.

Justice Liman, after listening to the submissions of Professor Oshinpintan on the ex-parte application and affidavit in support, deposed to by one Joshua Oluwagbemiga Akinyemi, granted to all the reliefs sought by A.I.C. Limited against Shoprite Checker (PYT) Limited and other respondents.