News & Announcements

In the least, 20 people have been reportedly killed in the latest attack by the Islamic State and security forces.

The attack occurred after the Islamic State, which later claimed responsibility to the Killings, tried raiding an Afghan jail on Monday, an official reportedly told the media.

Fighting was raging one day after gunmen stormed the prison in the eastern city of Jalalabad.

Nangarhar provincial hospital spokesman Zaher Adel told AFP that 20 people had been killed so far — including security personnel — while the governor’s spokesman put the toll at 21.

The toll was expected to rise, Adel warned, as many of the more than 40 wounded people were in serious condition.

The raid shattered the relative calm of a ceasefire between the Taliban and Afghan Government forces that started Friday to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

The three-day truce ended Sunday, with Kabul hoping it could be extended.

The IS news outlet, Amaq, announced that its fighters were behind the prison raid, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.

About 700 prisoners who escaped during the raid have been re-arrested, the Nangarhar governor’s spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told AFP. Fighting was ongoing as gunmen remained holed up inside and outside the prison, Khogyani said.

Several armored vehicles and scores of security personnel were deployed in the area, and gunfire and explosions could be heard.

At the time of Sunday’s attack, more than 1,700 prisoners were in the prison, most of the fighters of IS and the Taliban, a security source told AFP.

In a frightening twist in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, a popular hospital in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in southwest Nigeria, Jericho Specialist Hospital, has been shut down after virtually all the doctors and nurses returned positive in their Coronavirus tests

In accordance with the COVID-19 protocol, the affected doctors and nurses have been sent on isolation.
The Oyo State COVID-19 Incident Manager, Dr. Taiwo Ladipo, who made the disclosure, stated that the affected section was shut to prevent a spread to other sections of the hospital, which were also shut, albeit on a temporary basis.

Responding to either there is the probability of a spread to the other sections of the hospital, Ladipo said other patients were not in contact with the affected positive cases, stressing that the affected section would be disinfected.

According to him, “We had a case we are treating in a section of the hospital and the case came back positive. Some of those who were treating the patient that had contact with the patient tested positive.
“All of them have been kept in isolation and that is why that section of the hospital is shut down completely. Other patients are not in contact so the situation is under control.

“A section of the hospital that was affected by the spread of the virus is the one closed totally.
Also speaking on the development, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr. Adebisi Popoola said the affected section was billed to be disinfected.
“From my record, some of the health workers were infected with COVID-19. We have sent people to decontaminate the place.”

Legendary former captain of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, Stephen Tataw, is dead. he died late Friday at the age of 57 years, according to his family.

Tataw is noted for captaining the former Africa Champions to a quarter final of the Italia ’90 World Cup, where they defeated the then reigning Champions, Argentina, in their opening group game.

Family sources say, the former Olympique de Mvolye defender died this Friday in Cameroon’s capital city Yaoundé after illness.

The former Tonnerre of Yaoundé sweeper spent four seasons on the books of the great Cameroon Club, winning the Cup of Cameroon in 1989, 1991 and 1992 as captain of Olympique de Mvolye.

He won 63 senior caps with Indomitable Lions of Cameroon scoring three goals for the team.

He was part of Cameroon’s 1988 African Cup of Nations winning team in Morocco, playing in all five games of the competition.

Captain Tataw played all three games in Cameroon’s disappointing 1990 AFCON campaign where they were eliminated in the first round before leading them to their heroic quarterfinals exit in the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.

In total, Tataw led Cameroon to two FIFA World Cup tournaments, and featured in three African Cup of Nations tournaments, lifting the trophy in 1988.

He also enjoyed a stint abroad on the books of Futures Tosu after which he retired in 1997 and tried his hands in coaching.

Before his demise he served as the director of the different national selections of Cameroon.

He also enjoyed a stint abroad on the books of Futures Tosu after which he retired in 1997 and tried his hands in coaching.

Before his demise he served as the director of the different national selections of Cameroon.

He was a part of the Cameroon delegation at the 2019 AFCON tournament in Egypt.

His last public appearance was during the draw for the 2021 African nations championship in February this year.

Not less than 17 passengers, according to information, lost their lives when a ferry boat they were traveling with capsized in Apapa, a marine town in Nigerian business capital of Lagos on Friday.

The tragedy, we gathered, occurred as the passengers were coming to Apapa from Marina, the Central Business District (CBD) of Lagos.
Our source from the scene of the accident has it that the boat was conveying the passengers, who were mostly dressed well, showing that they probably we’re heading for the Muslim Sallah celebration when the accident occurred.

The source said only one passenger of the lot survived the mishap.
Meanwhile, a video of the accident on social media showed the man thanking God for having emerged the only survivor in the mishap.

However, another account from an online medium said the death toll could be up to 21 but all efforts to get the men of the red cross, who were at the scene to speak about it proved abortive.
As at the time of filing this report, rescuers, who comprise of local fishermen and state authorities we’re still busy searching for the victims.

According to an experienced defence correspondent of one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria, another set of mass resignation is expected soon in the Nigerian Army, as the soldiers are complaining of inadequate arms and ammunition to confront the Boko Haram insurgency and the Islamic State of West Africa currently killing the citizens in the North-East part of the country.

Recall that recently, about 365 soldiers resigned from the Nigerian Armed Forces citing such frivolous reasons as going to take the chieftaincy of their communities as the reason.
However, on several occasions in the North East, soldiers have had to confront their commanders over poor fighting equipment, saying it was hard for them to confront the well equipped Boko Haram insurgents with better arms.

For example, on June 22, 2020, Lance Corporal Martin’s Idakpeni, a video that went viral, condemned the Nigerian Chief of Army Staff another service chiefs for their lackadaisical attitude to the fight against the insurgency, which he said had less to the deaths of many Nigerians and soldiers. He is today being court-marshalled. 
There is obvious frustration in the formations fighting insurgency in Nigeria as a result of hunger and poor military hardware for the fight.

Speaking to our correspondent, the defence correspondent who has covered the army for more than fifteen years, said either mutiny or mass resignation is looming in the army because the soldiers, especially those fighting insurgency, are frustrated and angry.
“Before it was 365; I can tell you that more resignations are expected.
“Some of the soldiers are even planning mutiny because the conditions are bad over there.

“Some of them who can complain has been saying some of their colleagues die not from gunshots from Boko Haram but from hunger.
“Worse is that they said their allowances are hardly paid.
“Honestly base on my years of reporting defence, those guys are suffering there and we may just witness another resignation soon,” the defence reportage expert told our correspondent.

Thousands of people, among them many neo-Nazis, took to the streets in downtown Berlin to protest coronavirus restrictions amid an ongoing rise in the number of new COVID-19 cases.

According aa.com.tr, around d15000 protesters, refusing to wear face masks and not complying with the social distancing rules, called for an end to the COVID-19 restrictions.

Police had repeatedly urged the demonstrators to abide by the social distancing rules.

Organized by coronavirus deniers and neo-Nazi activists, the motto of the demonstration was “The End of the Pandemic – Freedom Day” based on the title of a propaganda film produced by Leni Riefenstahl about the Nazi party congress in 1935. 

People voiced opposition to protective measures with whistles and chants like “freedom” or “resistance”.

Slogans such as “The biggest conspiracy theory is the coronavirus pandemic” were also heard from within the crowd.

Many protesters also yelled at people, who were watching the demonstration, calling on them to take off their face and nose protection.

Police units blocked off the protest march and counter-demonstrations in several places as counter-protesters calling themselves “Grandmas against the right” shouted “Nazis out.”

Reacting to the protest march via Twitter, Saskia Esken, the co-chairwoman of the co-ruling Social Democratic party (SPD), lambasted the demonstrators calling them “Covid idiots for celebrating the second wave in Berlin” without observing the social distancing rules and wearing a face mask.

“They not only endanger our health, they endanger our successes against the pandemic and for the revitalization of the economy, education and society. Irresponsible!,” Esken added.

Economy Minister Peter Altmaier had recently called for tougher penalties for violations of coronavirus restrictions and demanded a decisive action in the event of “irresponsible misconduct.”

German health authorities reported 955 new infections in a day, up 75 people from the previous day, according to the German disease control agency Robert Koch Institute (RKI). 

German health officials are concerned that the steady increase in the number of new coronavirus cases could trigger a second wave resulting in a new lockdown as more people are becoming increasingly complacent when it comes to wearing mouth and nose protection and observing the social distancing rules 

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, at least 209,653 people in Germany have been infected, with 9,148 deaths, according to the RKI on Saturday.

Ahmad Ahmad, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, says he is undecided about running for a second term in office next year.

CAF’s next presidential elections are scheduled to take place in March 2021, four year after the Malagasy stunningly dethroned long-standing ruler Issa Hayatou.

Ahmad, the subject of an ongoing FIFA Ethics case, indicated that he is likely to decide late on and only after seeking guidance from colleagues.

“I still take advice from all the participating parties of African football,” the Fifa vice-president told BBC Sport Africa. “Once it’s done, I’ll be able to say whether or not I go for it.”

The former Madagascar FA head announced his 2017 candidacy four months before the elections, and just a week before their deadline, saying he decided to run after hearing some federation president’s call for change.

“I do not do this function out of personal ambition,” Ahmad ventured. “I do it far more out of collective motivation and currently, even if I think about it a little bit, I do not want to think about it too much.

“I’d rather put my energy into the obligations that CAF has to face these days, that are very urgent. Many things need to happen.”

Since coronavirus spread across the world, CAF- like many sporting organisations – has been facing a logistical nightmare working out when it can stage forcibly-postponed tournaments, such as the next Africa Cup of Nations.

It is also in arbitration with Lagardere Sports, whose billion-dollar TV and marketing deal was cancelled by CAF last October – a decision Ahmad blames on anti-competition regulations, but one which could cost his organisation tens of millions of dollars in compensation to the French company.

A Nigerian, Isaiah China, 31 years of age, has been sentenced to six months in prison with hard labour for trying to register as a voter in the ongoing voters’ registration in Ghana.
In the sentencing at the Kaneshie District Court, the 31 years old tailor from the Eastern part of Nigeria pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to register in the exercise, which is contrary to Section 24 (a) of CI. Election Regulation 1995 and was convicted on his plea.

Baba Jamal, his counsel, in pleading for mitigation, told the court, presided over by Madam Rosemond Dodoa Agyiri, that his client was deceived to go to the registration centre.

The counsel said Chima’s plea of guilty showed he was remorseful, adding that the court should temper justice with mercy.

Baba Jamal also prayed the court for mercy and clemency, Ghanaweb reports.

Police Sergeant Apaweh Achana told the court that Mr Kingsley Twum Agyapong, the complainant, is a businessman and a resident at Dansoman-Karikari. In contrast, Chima lived at Dansoman-Dominion, all suburbs of Accra.

He said on Monday, July 27, 2020, at about 0930 hours, Chima, together with Pascaline Nyadroh and Joshua Payin, went to the Swag Club House Dansoman Registration Centre to register in the ongoing voters’ registration exercise.

The prosecution said Pascaline and Payin filled the guarantor’s form to enable Chima to register, saying during the registration, Chima gave his name as Kofi Isaiah.

Sergeant Achana said in the course of answering questions, the registration officer became suspicious of Chima’s accent. When the guarantors were confronted, they rushed to their car and drove off, leaving Chima.

He was then arrested. After that, he admitted the offence in his caution statement in the presence of an independent witness.

Sergeant Achana said Chima told the police that he was from Abia State in Nigeria and that it was Pascaline and Payin that asked him to go and register.

Nigerian-Born USA-Based Medical Doctor Insists Chloroquine Is Cure For COVID-19, Accuses Colleagues, Pharma Firms Of Cover-up.

A United States of America based Nigerian-Born medical doctor, Dr. Stella Immanuel, has taking colleagues an pharmaceutical companies to the cleaners ‘for hiding the truth’ about the Coronavirus cure.
Dr Immanuel has therefore taken a prominent spot in social media trends following a news conference she featured in at Washington.

Dr Stella who insisted that antimalarial drug; hydroxychloroquine, zinc and antibacterial drug, Zithromax were effective in the treatment of Coronavirus, accused her colleagues and pharmaceutical companies of cover-up.

Sharing her experience of managing over 350 Coronavirus patients, the Nigerian-born doctor stated that no patient has died under her care, including those with underlying medical conditions like diabetes, asthma and others.

A group of political parties in Nigeria under the name of  ‘Coalition of United Political Parties’ (CUPP) has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari to court over the tenure elongation of service chiefs.

Also dragged to court with the President are, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas.
The group is seeking an order to stop President Buhari from extending the tenure of the service chiefs and also stop the service chiefs from continued stay in the office 
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the spokesman of CUPP, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, passed a vote of no confidence on the service chiefs, adding that their continued stay in the office undermine the national security, demoralizes the troops and also the cause of mass resignation of soldiers.

He pointed out that five years after President Buhari came to power, his three key promise of tackling security situation in the country, fighting corruption and ravamping the economy have not be met.
Ugochinyere said: “Five years down the line, Nigerians are not in doubt anymore that they have fallen victim to political yahoo yahoo, they are victims of one chance and this regime has picked the pocket of Nigerians. 
“Under the watch of this regime, Nigeria has been turned into a killing field. The colour of our rivers is now red with the blood of innocent citizens. 

“The regime has failed in its fulfillment of the primary purpose of government which is the protection of lives and properties of citizens. 
“We now have different nomenclature for different theatres of blood in the country. In the North East it is called insurgency.  In the North West it is called banditry. In the North Central it is called herders farmers clash while in the Southern states it is referred to as kidnapping.

“By the provision of the Constitution, the President has the unfettered powers to appoint in line with the law heads of all security agencies in the country. These appointments include those of the Service Chiefs which are the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Navy Staff and chief of Air Staff. 

“The only guides provided by the Constitution are contained in Sections 217, 218, 219 and 220 of the Constitution. 
“It therefore means that the failure of the security falls squarely on the table of the President and on the basis of the failure to provide basic security for Nigerians, we have passed a Vote of no confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari and on his appointed  Service Chiefs, as their continued stay undermines national security, demoralizes troops and a cause of mass resignation and public complaints by solders which cause more damage to our democracy.
“It is to forestall the impending danger that the Opposition Coalition CUPP has filed a law suit at the Federal High Court seeking among other things:

“1. A DECLARATION that the Service Chiefs have attained the mandatory retirement ages of 60 years or 35 years of service and therefore due for retirement.    “2.    A DECLARATION that the Service Chiefs having attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 years or 35 years of service in the Nigerian Armed Forces CANNOT lawfully have their services extended by the President or continue to perform any duty pertaining to their respective offices in the Armed Forces of the Federation.
“3.    A DECLARATION that upon the attainment of the mandatory retirement age of 60 years or 35 years of service in the Armed Forces of the Federation, the Service Chiefs CANNOT be deemed or taken to be serving members of the Armed Forces of the Federation and therefore cannot lawfully remain in service.
“4.    A DECLARATION that the Service Chiefs are due for statutory retirement upon their respective attainment of 60 years or 35 years of service in the Armed Forces of the Federation and ought to immediately proceed on one month pre-retirement leave and stop further performance of duty forthwith.
“5.    AN ORDER OF COURT directing and compelling the President to direct the Service Chiefs to immediately proceed on one month pre-retirement leave forthwith.”
Alternatively, the CUPP said that “AN ORDER OF COURT directing and compelling the Service Chiefs to forthwith stop performing any duties or exercising any powers of the offices of Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Naval Staff of the Armed Forces of the Federation respectively.
“6.    AN ORDER of Perpetual Injunction restraining the President from further re-appointing or in any other manner extending the services of the Service Chiefs in the Armed Forces of the Federation.
“The Nigerian opposition cannot continue to indulge this President and believe that he will change. This President still has close to three years left for his regime to constitutionally run out. We can no longer stand on the sidelines and watch him destroy our country irreversibly. 
“We must put all hands on deck to make this country work whether the President likes it or not. We believe that the Federal High Court will grant our prayers and invariably terminate the illegal extension of the tenures of the Service Chiefs, cause a legitimate chagnge of guard and revitalize the very low morale of troops at the various theatres.
“The president has an opportunity before the Court delivers its judgment to prove he is Commander in Chief and command with the right people that have the capacity. The President has not only failed by failing to exercise the right to hire and fire, but it is shameful in failing to respect the Constitution on tenure of the Service Chiefs and that is unacceptable and will be fought through the law.”