Body of Frenchman slain by jihadists flown home from Algeria

2015-01-26 15:26
Algiers -The body of a French tourist who was kidnapped and beheaded by jihadists in Algeria last September was put on a plane to Paris after a brief ceremony in Algiers on Monday.

Herve Gourdel's headless corpse was found in a booby-trapped grave in the mountainous Kabylie region, east of the capital, on January 15 after a months-long search involving some 3,000 Algerian troops.

The 55-year-old mountain guide's backpack was laid on his coffin in tribute to the passion for hiking that had brought him to Algeria.

He was abducted in the heart of the Djurdjura National Park, whose dense forests, deep gorges and picturesque lakes were once a major attraction for tourists but which has since become a sanctuary for militants.

French ambassador Bernard Emie said it was "Kabylie's magnificent scenery" that had brought Gourdel to the North African nation.

He paid tribute the Algerian army for recovering his body.

Gourdel was kidnapped by jihadists of the Jund al-Khilafa (Soldiers of the Caliphate) group who demanded that France halt its air strikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq.

He was beheaded days later in a video posted online after France rejected the demand.

- AFP

Egypt revolt anniversary death toll rises to 20: officials

2015-01-26 14:25
Cairo -The death toll from clashes between protesters and police as Egypt marked the fourth anniversary of its 2011 uprising has risen to 20, most of them Islamist demonstrators, officials said Monday.

The clashes on Sunday in Cairo and the coastal city of Alexandria came after Islamists called for demonstrations against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's government.

At least 19 protesters, mostly Islamist supporters of Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected president who was ousted by then army chief Sisi in July 2013, and a policeman were killed, a health ministry official said.

The Cairo violence accounted for all but one death, that of a demonstrator in Alexandria.
Late Sunday, officials had put the death toll at 15, including the policeman who was shot dead during clashes in a northern Cairo district.

Tensions had surged ahead of the anniversary, and a female demonstrator was killed in clashes with police during a rare leftwing protest in Cairo on Saturday.

Shaima al-Sabbagh died of birdshot wounds when police fired to disperse a march, fellow protesters said.
An 18-year-old female protester was also killed on Friday in clashes in Alexandria.

Egypt has been gripped by political turmoil since the 2011 uprising that overthrew ex-strongman Hosni Mubarak, and by violent unrest since his successor Morsi was ousted.

Sisi has since led a crackdown on Morsi's supporters that has left hundreds dead.

- AFP

Jonathan meets Christian leaders in Abuja

Abuja - President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to meet with selected Christian leaders on Monday in Abuja, reports Sahara Reporters.

The meeting, which will be held at the National Ecumenical Centre, might not be unconnected with the re-election bid of President Jonathan.

The President decided to call the meeting following reports that most of the Christian leaders are turning their backs on his campaign.

He is expected to use the occasion to ask them what he can do differently to earn their support.

The meeting is being convened under the auspices Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which is headed by President Jonathan’s friend, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

Read more at Sahara Reporters.

Buhari’s wife denies being a foreigner

Kaduna - The wife of the presidential candidate of the All progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha Buhari, has denied reports making the rounds that she is a foreigner, reports Punch.

She noted that the false report that she is not a Nigerian is part of the orchestrated plot to disqualify her husband from the presidential race.

Speaking through Deborah Iliya, a chieftain of APC in Kaduna State, Aisha Buhari said the issue of where one comes from should not be part of the campaign issues.

She stated that Nigeria is bedeviled with a lot of problems that needed to be addressed urgently.

Read more at Punch.

APC blasts Bishop Oyedepo for supporting Jonathan

Lagos - The All Progressives Congress (APC) has come down hard on the General Overseer of Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel),  Bishop David Oyedepo over his alleged comment supporting President Goodluck Jonathan's re-election bid, reports Vanguard.

Oyedepo during the visit of President Jonathan to the church on Sunday was reported to have said that he will open the gate of hell on those opposing the President.

Writing on his Twitter handle, the APC castigated Oyedepo, noting that all its supporters will enter the gate and use their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to change the padlock and lock Oyedepo inside.

The party also re-tweeted some of the comments of its followers, especially from some of its influencers which lambasted the man of God.

Read more at Vanguard.

Kwara governorship candidates sign peace pact

Ilorin - Governorship candidates in Kwara State have also signed a peace pact to maintain peace before, during and after the election.

 The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kwara State faciliated the meeting, which was attended by chairmen and governorship candidates of the 16 political parties in the state.

Among the candidates who committed themselves to a peaceful election include the incumbent Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his arch-rival, Senator Simeon Sule Ajibola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among others.

The two main candidates were accompanied by their chairmen, Hon. Ishola Balogun Fulani and Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo who all embraced one another, committing themselves to sustaining the peace in the state before, during and after the election.


The anti-violence pact tagged “Ilorin Accord” urged the candidates to run issues-based campaign, refraining from whipping religious or ethnic sentiment, making inciting statements.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo who conducted the symbolic event, noted that election is like a football game, saying every participant should engage their players to emerge victorious.

-  NAN

Borno governor expresses sadness over terrorist attacks

2015-01-26 15:26
Maiduguri - Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno on Monday expressed sadness over Sunday's attempted attack on Maiduguri by suspected insurgents.

Shettima said in a statement in Maiduguri that the residents of the state should remain calm and reassured them that security forces were making frantic efforts to safeguard lives and property.

The statement commended the gallantry of the military in repelling the attempted attack on the state capital.

It, however, regretted the attack on Monguno, headquarters of Monguno Local Government Area in the northern part of the state.

It said that as result of that, properties were destroyed, lives were lost and many people were now taking refuge in different parts of the state with some sustaining gun injuries.


The statement said government was screening and taking records of surviving victims from Monguno with a view to accommodating and offering them immediate palliatives as internally displaced persons.

It called on them to regard what happened as ordained by God and prayed for God’s intervention to bring an end to the security challenges.

The statement said the administration was providing necessary support to armed forces involved in counter insurgency operations across the state.

It promised to continue to do everything humanly possible until territories seized by insurgents were reclaimed and sustainable peace and stability achieved.

- NAN