Commission: Reports Nigerian troops kill,torture &rape civilians

Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission says today(Sunday) that it has credible reports security forces are killing, torturing, illegally detaining and raping civilians in a fight to halt an Islamic uprising in northeast Nigeria that has killed nearly 2,000 people since 2010.

A report by the commission said troops retaliating against civilians have torched homes and tried to hide evidence of gross violations by disposing of bodies.

In the most egregious case, where troops went on a rampage in several villages after a soldier was killed in mid-April in the fishing village of Baga, it quoted police as saying soldiers "started shooting indiscriminately at anybody in sight including domestic animals. This reaction resulted to loss of lives and massive destruction of properties."

The military said 36 people were killed, most of them extremist fighters. Witnesses told the AP at the time that some 187 civilians were killed.

The commission said the killings also came after militants had ransacked an armory, with subsequent reports indicating the extremists enjoyed an increase in the caliber and quantity of weapons and "had become both more organized and emboldened by their apparent successes despite the enhanced security presence."

That contradicted military reports that they have taken control of the region in a military emergency covering thee states and one-sixth of the sprawling country. Instead, they appear to have pushed the fighters into rocky mountains with caves where it is more difficult to flush them out. The extremists regularly attack towns and villages.

The commission, a government body, issued an interim report saying it would finalize it when its investigators are able to visit the area where soldiers have cut mobile phone and Internet connections. A state of emergency was declared May 14 when the government said extremists from the Boko Haram terrorist group had taken control of some towns and villages.

The insurgency poses the biggest threat in years to security in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation of 160 million and the continent's biggest oil producer.

Communities trapped between the Islamic militants and the security forces "reportedly live in desperate fear and destitution," the commission said.

It warned of an imminent public health emergency and food shortages because farmers have been forced from their fields.

Food prices have nearly trebled, the commission said, with a 50-kilogram (110-pound) sack of rice selling for up to 18,000 naira ($112.50) from 7,000 naira ($44).

Some medical experts from the region have reported a notable upsurge in sudden deaths, heart attacks and aneurysms, it said.

Northeast Nigeria already presents "the worst statistics of human development in Nigeria generally," it said.

Maternal mortality rates were three times the national average of 545 deaths for every 100,000 live births, and reports reaching the commission suggest the emergency has even more mothers dying in childbirth.

Northeast Nigeria is the poorest region in the country, with government statistics indicating 75 percent of the population lives from hand to mouth on less than $1 a day.

The commission's interim findings corroborated AP reports from the region. Militants who began by targeting government personnel and health workers — they preach that Western religion and medicine are forbidden — are increasingly targeting civilians in attacks on schools and vaccination campaigns.

"The Commission equally received several credibly attested allegations of gross violations by officials of the JTF (joint task force of police and military), including allegations of summary executions, torture, arbitrary detention amounting to internment and outrages against the dignity of civilians, as well as rape," the rights commission said.

"In particular, we have received persistent and credibly attested allegations of indiscriminate disposal of dead human remains by personnel of both the JTF and the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency."

The military and presidential spokesmen did not respond to requests for comment.

AON SURVIVAL-BEFORE THE SUN SET

By Ayodele A.Harrison

The Airline Operators of Nigeria(AON), the umbrella body of all Nigeria registered airlines has no doubt come a long way since coming into being almost 17 years ago.
It is heart warming that the body will be holding a general meeting on Friday,28,June,2013 at which crucial issues and decisions are likely to be taken concerning the present and the future of the association.
However, before the Friday crucial meeting, there is a need to look at some "clinical" matters that needed to be analysed and possibly subjected to surgical operations if the association want to continue to enjoy the support and attract more airlines and upcoming ones into its fold.
For example, the founding fathers of AON had an objective of making the Association a meaningful organization that will promote the Aviation Industry, foster greater co-operation and fair competition amongst members, as well as collectively act as a representative of members in a manner that would assist the aviation industry to make good progress for our great country, Nigeria.
It is noteworthy that the AON is neither a Trade-union nor a Political party and its corporate behavior should not be such.
Good as such objectives were, what do we experience today : These goals have been eroded by leadership ineffectiveness, and hijack of the association for satisfaction for personal gains.
The noble Association has been reduced to the realm of irrelevance apart from its nuisance value appearing to render the Aviation Industry ungovernable.
It is bad enough that AON has degenerated to such low levels, but it is worse if stakeholders in the Aviation Industry continue to fold their arms and watch the Association being singularly hijacked and derailed into further disrepute.
This was displayed in the recent caustic open letter to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation on the new National Civil Aviation Policy which was unilaterally written and submitted on behalf of AON members to the National Assembly without any consultation whatsoever with members of the Association and stakeholders of the Aviation Industry. Sadly that letter is not a true reflection of the opinions of airline operators.
Having painstakingly reviewed the Constitution of the AON, it is glaring that the root cause of the problem of the Association is the failure to adhere to its Constitution and Rules and Regulations governing the Body for the past twelve years or more.
A search on the records of the Association at the Corporate Affairs Commission reveals the following:
- The General Meeting of the Association which ought to have been convened annually as prescribed by the Constitution has not been convened for over a decade, which is in breach of Article 9.1 of the Constitution of the Association.
- Contrary to the provisions of Article 8.6 of the Constitution, the incumbent Trustees of our Association are representatives of Airlines in Nigeria which are no longer a going concern.
- No general election has been conducted since 2002.
- The incumbent office holders have retained their positions for over a decade as against a cumulative period of four(4) years as prescribed by Article 13.1 of the Constitution
- Decisions on matters which ought ordinarily to have been taken unanimously by the National Executive Council are now being unilaterally taken and imposed on the Association by a single office holder.
- Inability to identify the current Officers/members of the National Executive Council such as the Vice Chairman, Publicity Secretary, Financial Controllers etc., as there is no record of the names of these office holders at the Corporate Affairs Commission.
- Absence of a neutral secretariat where members would have equal rights and equal access to documentation and information
- No financial accountability in collection of dues, levies and other income generated by the Association leaving its members without clarity on how to deal with financial issues of the Association
- Lack of visible rules that allow new airlines to join and benefit from AON
- Requirement for an updated Constitution that will enable the Association serve the members and Nation better as well protect the Association from future abuse by any officer
• It is very clear that the AON is in imminent danger of implosion and requires urgent reformation. Therefore, immediate steps should be taken by AON Members must at the Friday general meeting strive to redress these concerns, by redirecting the focus of the Association to its core objectives and values.
• It is imperative that the AON holds an emergency General Meeting on Friday, June 28, 2013, with a view to electing new Trustees and Officers that would steer the Association positively and provide meaningful leadership of the Association.
It is hoped this would be the re-birth of a purposeful AON that will enjoy the respect of Government and all stakeholders and would join in national discuss on matters that affect the aviation industry and the nation as a whole.
A research into the past of AON revealed that the Board of Trustees at the time of incorporation on 29th November,1996 comprised the following:
1. Chief. E. A. Omokhodion
2. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu
3. Chief Arthur Eze
4. Capt. Augustine Okon
5. Flt. Lt. M. U. Salisu (Rtd)
6. Alhaji Rabiu I. Rabiu
7. Mr. Kayode Odukoya
8. Capt. I. Wada
9. Capt. Bill Ruffin
10. Mr. K. Olubadewo
11. Capt. Mohammed Joji.
The Board of Trustees as at April 26,2002 when the last general meeting was held were made up of the following:
1. Dr. Steve Mahonwu
2. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu
3. Mr. Oscar Ikuemesi
4. Capt. Augustine Okon
5. Garba Shittu
6. Savannah Airlines
7. Mr. Kayode Odukoya
8. Capt. Idris Inuwa Wada
9. Capt. Shirish Raval
10. Engr. Mike Onwuka
11. Capt. Mohammed Joji
In another development, published in the daily Times of Friday,6,June, the following personalities were also as members of the Board of Trustees:
1. Chief Elisha Abumere Omokhodion
2. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu
3. Chief Arthur Eze
4. Flt. Lt. M. U. Salisu (Rtd)
5. Capt. Bill Ruffin
6. Mr. Sunday Kayode Olubadewo
It very clear from the List of the Board of Trustees of AON as filed and obtained from the Corporate Affairs Commission, that majority of the good fellows listed as Trustees of the Association, with due respect no longer have Aviation and Airline business as their primary areas of interest.
Most respectfully said, these gentlemen due to no fault of theirs cannot represent the best interest of the airline industry despite their good intentions. They are completely absolved of blame. Rather, if any office is to be indicted, it should be that of the Executive Secretary now turned the Secretary General of the AON, for failure of its core responsibility to effectively oversee the day to day running of the association business.
Based on the foregoing facts and in the overall interest of AON, Aviation safety and progress of the Aviation Industry and the Nation as a whole, you will agree that the current Board of the Association must be dissolved urgently so that we can have a re-birth.

President Obama arrives Dakar,Senegal in the first leg of his African tour

President Barack Obama opened a weeklong trip to Africa on Wednesday, a three-country visit aimed at overcoming disappointment on the continent over the first black U.S. president's lack of personal engagement during his first term.

However, the highly anticipated trip threatens to be overshadowed by the deteriorating health of beloved former South African President Nelson Mandela.

Air Force One touched down in the Senegalese capital of Dakar on Wednesday evening. The president, who is traveling with first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha, is also scheduled to visit South Africa and Tanzania.

The president is expected to be greeted warmly during his trip, despite the underlying sense of disappointment. American flags dotted the roadways as Obama's motorcade sped through this coastal city, and signs welcoming Obama and bearing his picture hung on homes and businesses.

Obama's father was born in Kenya and several of his relatives still live there. But despite his family ties to the continent, Obama spent just one day in Africa during his first four years in office and has focused instead on strengthening U.S. ties with Asia and Latin America.

"Africans were very excited when President Obama was elected and they expected deeper engagement than in the past, both in regard to policy and also in terms of actual visits to the continent, given the president's African heritage," said Mwangi Kimenyi, an Africa analyst at the Washington-based Brookings Institution. "Africans have been gradually disappointed, especially when they look at the focus on Africa by previous presidents, in particular President Clinton and President George W. Bush, who did quite a bit there."

Why amnesty programme will end in 2015 - Kuku

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Hon Kingsley Kuku, has said there was no going back on the 2015 terminal date of the amnesty programme for former agitators in the Niger Delta.

He emphasized that failure to draw the curtain on the programme could bring about instability in the region and that it is currently grappling with exit strategy challenges that were not envisaged when the Presidential Amnesty Proclamation was made in 2009.

Kuku, who stated this yesterday while speaking as a guest lecturer at the 7th Business Law Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association Section on Business Law in Lagos, also implored governors in the Niger Delta  states to initiate youth engagement programmes that will create opportunity for empowerment for the ex-agitators in their respective states.

He noted that inability to secure jobs for the ex-agitators that have been trained in many technical areas related to oil and gas portends more danger for the region, as the youths may be tempted to eke out a living from activities that are not authorised.

Kuku noted that the gains of the programme could be eroded if government fails to close the programme by 2015 because of fresh agitations for enlistment by youths of the region, who now see militancy as a way of accessing public funds.

He said it would better to train people who seek empowerment rather than just distributing money to youths who do not add value to economic activities.

Kuku equally canvassed equity in the stipends paid to ex-agitators in training in various tertiary institutions, as opposed to those who collect monthly stipend that are awaiting to be sent for training.

He canvassed a reduction of the N65,000 paid to beneficiaries in training to the statutory N18,000 pegged as minimum wage, such that those who are undergoing training do not earn far more than those awaiting training, who earn N65,000 as monthly stipend.

"It will be in the best interest of Nigeria for government to terminate the presidential amnesty programme by 2015. If it is not closed by 2015, it will lose its taste. This is because it will become an alternative government in the Niger Delta region.

"We are currently battling exit strategy challenges. If we reduce the monthly stipend to those in training to the prescribed  minimum wage for the country, which is N18,000, it would discourage more people to take to militancy.

"We should have stopped paying N65,000 after pulling the agitators from the creeks and fixing it at the minimum wage could have been ideal," he canvassed.

The PAP chairman explained that the programme had key challenges bordering on post-training expectations, which are becoming very critical.

"To avoid  further crisis, the programme should end in 2015. We must be ready to exit the programme.

It is for this reason that governors of the region must support alternative programmes for youth engagement."

He said the monies to be saved from reduction in the payment of allowances could be deployed into infrastructure development programmes that would generate more jobs for youths of the region.

NIMET WARNS AGAINST LIKELY FLOOD.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has again warned Nigerians to take precaution during the raining season in order to avoid another flood disaster in the country.

Evaluating the update on the 2013 rainfall pattern in the country from January to May 2013, the Director General NIMET, Dr Anthony Anuforom called on Nigerians to ensure that gutters and drainage systems were cleared of debris for easy flow of water to ensure that there will be no barriers in the water channels.

Dr Anuforom explained that from January to May in the last 30 years, reports have shown that there were slightly higher rains than normal adding that more rains has been recorded this year than last year in some areas like Abeokuta, Calabar, Ijebu Ode Lokoja among others.

The NIMET boss announced that in Ogun and Calabar that the soil moisture was becoming saturated affirming that there was no cause for alarm as the agency was close monitoring water deficit as on set dates for rains varies in the different areas.

“Most of the areas, we have slightly higher rains than normal, higher than what happened last year. Of course in other areas like Ilorin and Jos, the amount of rainfall is lower from what we had last year. We are saying that heavier rains have been recorded in Calabar, Abeokuta, Lagos, Ijebu Ode, Akure Ibadan etc, than the same period last year”   

According to Dr Anuforom, heavy rains do not mean that it will be flooded each time it rained but precaution must be taking.

Dr Anuforom explained that all the information was obtained from the agency’s observations and not from the internet adding that the information can only be obtained from NIMET  office forecast centre only.

The NIMET boss assured Nigerians that the agency will continue to provide accurate weather information with the caliber of professionals and equipment on ground at the agency’s weather forecast centre.

Dr Anuforom explained that NIMET cannot give any misinformation regarding weather forecast from the agency as they were highly level and respected professionals in the agency but stated that if there was any mistake that it will be human error.  

Iran to resolve Nuclear stand-off with the West, says President-elect,Rohani

Iranian President-elect Hassan Rohani said that with his election his country had entered an era of cooperation and would take concrete steps to resolve its nuclear standoff with the West—promises that would require a shift by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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European Pressphoto Agency

Iranian President-Elect Hassan Rohani, in white turban, prays on Sunday at the shrine of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Mr. Rohani, in first news conference since his landslide victory in Friday's election, called for Iranian relations with the U.S., which he referred to as an "old wound," to be healed.

The U.S. and allied European and Arab governments responded cautiously to Mr. Rohani's election and statements, saying it was too early to tell whether he could chart an independent policy from the hard-line approach championed by Mr. Khamenei over the past decade.

Although Mr. Rohani isn't a radical reformer, Iranian voters saw him as a break from eight years of conservatism and defiance by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Foreign policy and the economy, linked because of international sanctions over Iran's nuclear program, were top campaign issues.

President Barack Obama, after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Northern Ireland, said Monday that "we both expressed cautious optimism that with a new election there we may be able to move forward on a dialogue that allows us to resolve the problems with Iran's nuclear program."

The Islamic Republic's overarching policies on matters such as its nuclear program, relations with the U.S. and its support of Syria's regime are decided above the president's level. Mr. Khamenei and his close circle of advisers typically decide the direction of these policies, and the president executes them.

Mr. Khamenei has said over the past year that Iran would gain nothing by normalizing relations with the U.S.

Mr. Rohani, a 64-year-old cleric and lawyer, is viewed as a pragmatic and moderate politician who is trusted by Mr. Khamenei and his conservative circles as well as by Iran's reformist factions.

After serving on Mr. Khamenei's policy team for over two decades, Mr. Rohani has some influence with the supreme leader and is likely to have a freer hand than his predecessors to shape Iran's policies, many Iranian analysts said.

Conservative and hard-line factions that fought and blocked changes by President Mohamad Khatami, Iran's last reformist president, will likely be more accommodating to Mr. Rohani because of his close relationship to the supreme leader.

"Mr. Khamenei fully trusts him and once even said to him that he mentions him by name in his nightly prayers," said Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a former member of Iran's nuclear negotiating team who served as Mr. Rohani's spokesman when he served as Iran's chief nuclear negotiator in 2003-05.

But Mr. Rohani's close relationship to Mr. Khamenei could prevent him from pursuing the overhauls that Iran's opposition seeks, and make him less likely to challenge the supreme leader.

During the campaign, Mr. Rohani said the U.S. was like the world's "village elder," to whom Iran should be talking; on Monday, in the live, televised news conference, he said "Iran is not seeking to increase or expand tensions with the U.S."

11 killed in Boko Haram attack on school

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) – Seven students, two teachers and two insurgents were killed when suspected members of Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram attacked a school in the north-eastern town of Damaturu, the military said.

Groups like Boko Haram and the al Qaeda-linked Ansaru have become the biggest risk to stability in Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer and second-largest economy.

Sunday’s attack will raise fears that, as with past surges, a month-long offensive by government troops has merely pushed militants into hiding or across borders to Niger, Chad and Cameroon, where they can regroup and prepare new attacks.

“Two teachers and two insurgents were killed when Boko Haram terrorists attacked the Government Secondary School … Also seven innocent students lost their lives,” Eli Lazarus, military spokesman in Yobe state, said in a statement.

Boko Haram, which roughly translates as “Western education is sinful”, has attacked several schools in the past. It was not clear how two of the attackers were killed.

Vigilante groups armed with machetes and sticks have joined the effort to oust Islamist insurgents in the northeast, prompting concerns by some residents that this will lead to a breakdown in law and order.

The military has cautiously welcomed the support, while warning it must not lead to witch-hunts or the settling of scores.

Lazarus said three soldiers were critically wounded during a separate attack by Boko Haram targeting the military in Damaturu, and three insurgents had been arrested.

Nigerian forces say their offensive has enabled them to wrest back control of the country’s remote northeast from Boko Haram. They say they have destroyed key bases and arrested more than 150 suspected insurgents in the states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa — all covered by a state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan last month.

Some Nigerians saw the push as long overdue. But rights groups and aid agencies fear the longer it goes on, the more the region’s vulnerable local population, which includes some of the poorest people on earth, will suffer.

The offensive has forced more than 6,000 refugees – mostly women, children and the elderly – to flee to neighbouring Niger, the U.N. refugee agency said last week.

CONFED CUP: Tahiti bows to Nigeria 1-6

 

Nigeria rolled to a 6-1 victory at Confederations Cup on Monday over Tahaiti, which was making its debut at a major FIFA tournament.

Nnamdi Oduamadi scored a hat trick for the African champions, while Elderson Echiejile added two more goals.

Still, the team from the South Pacific may have had the game’s best moment.

Jonathan Tehau headed the ball into the net early in the second half, cutting the deficit to 3-1. The Tahitians then celebrated by pretending to row a boat together.

The goal generated the biggest cheers of the match at the Mineirao Stadium, where the local Brazilians adopted Tahiti as their team while jeering the Nigerians.

Tahiti, 138th in the FIFA rankings, is used to playing in front of a few hundred players. But thousands were watching in Belo Horizonte and millions more on television.

‘‘We've shown the world there’s some real quality in Tahiti,’’ said Marama Vahirua, the only professional on Tahiti’s team. ‘‘Just our presence here is a victory and it was fantastic to be adopted by the Brazilian public.’’

Tehau’s elation was short-lived, however. Shortly after scoring, he netted an own-goal.

‘‘The last 15 minutes were really difficult for us physically because we've never experienced such a tough game before,’’ Tahiti coach Eddy Etaeta said. ‘‘I'd like to pay tribute to my players, they were fantastic.’’

The Tahitians impressed Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi.

‘‘They came out to fight like lions and it was a little bit difficult to up our game when you know you are playing against them,’’ he coach said. ‘‘You think everything is easy, but they showed us they can play football and ... I was worried because we had clear chances, 100 percent chances and you need to bury the goals.’’

Source:AP

US offers over N1billion ransom for the capture of Boko Haram terrorists leader

The highest reward   has been offered by the United States of America(USA) whoever is able to give information that can lead to the capture of Nieria's Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau

The US is offering rewards for the first time for information on Islamist militants in North and West Africa.

The highest reward of up to $7m (£4.6m) is for information leading to the location of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, the state department said.

Smaller rewards are offered for leading figures in Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao).

A reward of up to $5m was on offer for veteran militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar.

His Signed in Blood Battalion was held responsible for an attack on a gas plant in south-east Algeria in January in which at least 37 hostages, including three US citizens, were killed.

A $5m reward is also offered for Yahya Abu el Hammam, a senior commander of AQIM, whom the state department said had planned attacks and kidnappings in North and West Africa.

The state department said up to $3m was available for information leading to the location of Malik Abou Abdelkarim of AQIM and Mujao spokesman Oumar Ould Hamaha.

It said Oumar Ould Hamaha had taken part in the kidnapping of foreigners for ransom, including taking a Canadian diplomat captive in Niger in 2008.

Boko Haram has carried out a series of deadly attacks across northern Nigeria, leading to the deaths of an estimated 2,000 people since 2009.

There has been growing concern of links between Boko Haram and militant groups in other countries, including AQIM.

source:BBC