2015-02-12 07:00
Washington - The US bombing campaign in Iraq and Syria has failed
to slow the pace of foreign fighters flocking to join the Islamic State
and other extremist groups, including at least 3 400 from Western
nations among 20 000 from around the world, US intelligence officials
say in an updated estimate of a top terrorism concern.
Intelligence
agencies now believe that as many as 150 Americans have tried and some
have succeeded in reaching the Syrian war zone, officials told the House
Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday. Some of those Americans were
arrested en route, some died in the area and a small number were still
fighting with extremists.
Nick Rasmussen, chief of the National
Counterterrorism Centre, said the rate of foreign fighter travel to
Syria is without precedent, far exceeding the rate of foreigners who
went to wage jihad in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Yemen or Somalia at
any other point in the past 20 years.
US officials fear that some
of the foreign fighters will return undetected to their homes in Europe
or the US to mount terrorist attacks. At least one of the men
responsible for the attack on a satirical magazine in Paris had spent
time with Islamic extremists in Yemen.
Officials
acknowledge it has been hard to track the Americans and Europeans who
have made it to Syria, where the Islamic State group is the dominant
force trying to overthrow the government of President Bashar Assad. The
US Embassy in Syria is closed, and the CIA has no permanent presence on
the ground.
"Once in Syria, it is very difficult to discern what
happens there," Michael Steinbach, the FBI's assistant director for
counterterrorism, told the committee. "This lack of clarity remains
troubling."
The estimate of 20 000 fighters, from 90 countries, is
up from 19 000, Rasmussen said. The number of Americans or US residents
who have gone or tried to go is up to 150 from 50 a year ago and 100 in
the fall.
Representative Michael McCaul, the Republican who
chairs the committee, said the Syrian war had created "the largest
convergence of Islamist terrorists in world history." Sustained bombing
by a US-led coalition has not stopped the inflow, he noted.
McCaul's
committee staff compiled from public sources a list of 18 US citizens
or residents who joined or attempted to join the Islamic State group,
and 18 others who tried to or succeeded in joining other violent Islamic
groups.
The
list includes three Chicago teens and three Denver teens who were
radicalised and recruited online and were arrested after attempting to
travel to Syria to join Islamic State fighters. It also includes Douglas
McAuthur McCain, 33, a Californian who died in August while fighting
with the Islamic State group near Aleppo.
US intelligence
officials do not make public their estimate of how many Americans
currently are fighting in Syria and Iraq. In September, FBI director
James Comey said it was "about a dozen".
Francis X Taylor, who
heads the Homeland Security Department's intelligence office, said
intelligence agencies are "unaware of any specific, credible, imminent
threat to the homeland".
However, he said, officials are concerned
that Americans who join violent extremist groups in Syria "could gain
combat skills, violent extremist connections and possibly become
persuaded to conduct organised or 'lone-wolf' style attacks that target
US and Western interests.
"We also have become increasingly aware
of the possibility that Syria could emerge as a base of operations for
al-Qaeda's international agenda, which could include attacks against the
homeland."
Thursday, 12 February 2015
10 000 US civilians needed to fight ebola
2015-02-12 10:04
New York - The UN Ebola chief says US troops being withdrawn from Liberia have done their job of building desperately needed treatment centres but that more than 10 000 American civilians working in West Africa are still essential to combating the deadly disease.
Dr David Nabarro warned in an interview on Wednesday with The Associated Press that the battle against Ebola is far from over, pointing to a disappointing rise in new cases last week in hardest-hit Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
He said civilians from the US, Britain, France and elsewhere are still needed to help with tracing Ebola victims' contacts, re-establishing health services and changing behaviour in communities.
The United States announced that only 100 US troops will remain in Liberia after 30 April, down from the 2 800 initially deployed.
New York - The UN Ebola chief says US troops being withdrawn from Liberia have done their job of building desperately needed treatment centres but that more than 10 000 American civilians working in West Africa are still essential to combating the deadly disease.
Dr David Nabarro warned in an interview on Wednesday with The Associated Press that the battle against Ebola is far from over, pointing to a disappointing rise in new cases last week in hardest-hit Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
He said civilians from the US, Britain, France and elsewhere are still needed to help with tracing Ebola victims' contacts, re-establishing health services and changing behaviour in communities.
The United States announced that only 100 US troops will remain in Liberia after 30 April, down from the 2 800 initially deployed.
Jonathan dismisses threats of war
Abuja - President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday in Abuja
dismissed threats of war from some quarters of the country over the
outcome of the 2015 general elections.
Jonathan, who fielded questions from newsmen at the presidential media chat, said that anarchy would not be condoned in Nigeria as the country was bigger than the interest of any individual.
According to him, journalists also have a duty in defusing tension in the polity through their reportage.
The president reacted to a question that the Niger-Delta ex-agitators had threatened that there would be war if he lost the 2015 polls.
“We cannot destroy this country and we cannot encourage anybody who wants to destroy this country.”
On the war against insurgency and securing the release of the kidnapped Chibok girls, he expressed optimism that the synergy with neighbouring countries would yield positive results.
He said that the Federal Government had acquired weapons from some countries which would help in the prosecution of the war against insurgents.
Jonathan, who fielded questions from newsmen at the presidential media chat, said that anarchy would not be condoned in Nigeria as the country was bigger than the interest of any individual.
According to him, journalists also have a duty in defusing tension in the polity through their reportage.
The president reacted to a question that the Niger-Delta ex-agitators had threatened that there would be war if he lost the 2015 polls.
“We cannot destroy this country and we cannot encourage anybody who wants to destroy this country.”
On the war against insurgency and securing the release of the kidnapped Chibok girls, he expressed optimism that the synergy with neighbouring countries would yield positive results.
He said that the Federal Government had acquired weapons from some countries which would help in the prosecution of the war against insurgents.
- NAN
Yobe residents discouraged from buying PVCs
Abuja - Yobe State Electoral Commissioner of Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) Habu Zarma, has called on
stakeholders to discourage people from buying Permanent Voter's Cards
(PVCs).
He made the call during a meeting with stakeholders in Damaturu, the state capital. The stakeholders were drawn from various political parties, NGOs and the media among others.
Zarma insisted such cards would be invalid as technology would disqualify any person who did not own of the card.
Meanwhile, he said the commission had recorded 88 percent level of distribution of PVCs in the state and they are intensifying efforts to get the remainder distributed.
Zarma said the success recorded so far across the state was a clear indication that people of the state were gearing up for the election.
He however expressed regrets that about 22 000 cards yet to be distributed are for voters from Damaturu.
He said 1,3 million people were initially registered in the state but some were disqualified for multiple registrations.
The resident electoral commissioner said the delay in the election will give more room for refresher training for the stakeholders, election officers among other to increase perfection ahead of the election.
He urged the stakeholders to desist from violence before, during and after the election and to work assiduously for the success of the exercise.
He made the call during a meeting with stakeholders in Damaturu, the state capital. The stakeholders were drawn from various political parties, NGOs and the media among others.
Zarma insisted such cards would be invalid as technology would disqualify any person who did not own of the card.
Meanwhile, he said the commission had recorded 88 percent level of distribution of PVCs in the state and they are intensifying efforts to get the remainder distributed.
Zarma said the success recorded so far across the state was a clear indication that people of the state were gearing up for the election.
He however expressed regrets that about 22 000 cards yet to be distributed are for voters from Damaturu.
He said 1,3 million people were initially registered in the state but some were disqualified for multiple registrations.
The resident electoral commissioner said the delay in the election will give more room for refresher training for the stakeholders, election officers among other to increase perfection ahead of the election.
He urged the stakeholders to desist from violence before, during and after the election and to work assiduously for the success of the exercise.
- CAJ News
Niger president urges country to stand up to Boko Haram
2015-02-12 07:00
Niamey - Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou on Wednesday urged the nation to stand up to Boko Haram Islamists from Nigeria who have launched repeated cross-border attacks in recent days.
"Our country will not go down in history as having been cowed by an enemy that wants to cover our country in darkness," Issoufou said in a speech broadcast on national radio, urging Nigeriens to support the country's security forces in their battle against the militants.
Niamey has imposed a state of emergency in the Diffa region along the border with Nigeria over the Boko Haram violence. It also plans to supply troops to a regional force to combat the militants.
Niamey - Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou on Wednesday urged the nation to stand up to Boko Haram Islamists from Nigeria who have launched repeated cross-border attacks in recent days.
"Our country will not go down in history as having been cowed by an enemy that wants to cover our country in darkness," Issoufou said in a speech broadcast on national radio, urging Nigeriens to support the country's security forces in their battle against the militants.
Niamey has imposed a state of emergency in the Diffa region along the border with Nigeria over the Boko Haram violence. It also plans to supply troops to a regional force to combat the militants.
7 killed as terrorists storm Borno market
By: Augustine Osayande
2015-02-12 08:01
Abuja - Gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram group have reportedly killed seven people after invading Gajiganna market in Magumeri local government area of Borno State.
Witnessed confirmed the attack to local journalists.
A driver, Muhammadu Isa, said the gunmen came to the market when people were arriving for the daily village market to trade.
Isa added that the terrorists opened fire sporadically on sellers and buyers, killing seven persons.
He said the terrorists carted away food stuffs such as beans, millet and other household material after killing the people.
According to him, one driver and six others were killed.
Meanwhile, Nigerian army and members of the youth vigilante group reported the arrest of 40 members of the Boko Haram terrorist group that disguised as herdsmen near Ngom village of Mafa local government area of Borno State.
2015-02-12 08:01
Abuja - Gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram group have reportedly killed seven people after invading Gajiganna market in Magumeri local government area of Borno State.
Witnessed confirmed the attack to local journalists.
A driver, Muhammadu Isa, said the gunmen came to the market when people were arriving for the daily village market to trade.
Isa added that the terrorists opened fire sporadically on sellers and buyers, killing seven persons.
He said the terrorists carted away food stuffs such as beans, millet and other household material after killing the people.
According to him, one driver and six others were killed.
Meanwhile, Nigerian army and members of the youth vigilante group reported the arrest of 40 members of the Boko Haram terrorist group that disguised as herdsmen near Ngom village of Mafa local government area of Borno State.
PDP accuses INEC of poor distribution of PVCs
Abuja - The PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, has
accused the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC), of poor
handling of distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to eligible
voters.
Femi Fani-Kayode, Director of Media and Publicity of the organisation, made the accusation at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
He alleged that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, may be working in consonant with some members of the opposition to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The matter is that INEC has failed in its responsibility to produce and distribute PVCs to about 34 per cent of registered voters who would require the cards to vote in the elections.”
“This brings us to the issue of statistics of PVC distribution and collection, which we believe Prof. Jega, as a person, acting in concert with some forces of retrogression, is playing games with.”
“We express our concerns today that Jega may have decided to aid the APC to rig the forthcoming elections through the manipulation of the production, distribution and collection of PVCs,” he said.
Also Read: Yobe residents discouraged from buying PVCs
According to Fani-Kayode, emerging trends had shown calculated attempts to deprive parts of the country that would vote for President Goodluck Jonathan, of their PVCs.
He said that parts of the country that would vote for the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, already have their PVCs.
Fanyi-Kayode described as unjustifiable, attacks on the PDP, on the postponement of the scheduled February 14 and 28 general elections to March 28 and April 11 by the INEC.
According to him, the INEC chairman hinged the postponement on the security advice given by the National Security Adviser with respect to the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.
He said Jega deliberately failed to tell Nigerians the whole truth that underpinned the postponement.
This, he added, provided the opposition APC a platform to accuse the PDP of complicity in the decision to postpone the elections.
He stressed that the decision to postpone the elections was INEC’s, since it was constitutionally saddled with that responsibility.
“The commission has done just that and it had hinted that it was having challenges with the distribution and collection of the PVCs.”
He stressed that the PDP had realised “how Jega dishonestly presented the reasons for the postponement of the elections.”
According to Fani-Kayode, the major reason that informed INEC’s decision “was the deliberate attempt by the commission to disenfranchise over 23 million eligible voters who are yet to collect their PVCs.”
He wondered why the collection rates of PVCs in the North Central, South-South, South West and South East regions assumed to be pro-Jonathan, were much lower with the highest being 57 per cent.
He noted that the North West zone which includes Katsina, the home state of Buhari, APC presidential candidate, had the highest collection rate of 80 per cent.
He also wondered how come the North-East also had 75 per cent collection rate when the three states in this zone, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, had been under the attack of Boko Haram insurgents.
This insurgency, Fani-Kayode noted, had led to the displacement of many residents in the zone.
“Pieces of information at our disposal have shown that Jega has had meetings with APC stalwarts in Dubai and other cities in the world to perfect this wanton conspiracy against 23 million eligible voters.”
“Besides, we have information that the PVCs that Nigerians are scrambling for are not in Nigeria and will not arrive before the elections.”
“These PVCs are still in China and Prof Jega has strategically delayed their arrival to suit his electioneering permutations,” he said.
He challenged Jega to show Nigerians proof that the Chinese company printing the PVCs had been paid in full by disclosing the total contract sum and the amount paid to date.
He also charged him to show proof of arrival or expected date of arrival of all PVCs for the elections and tell Nigerians how he could have distributed 23 million PVCs within five days to elections, if not postponed.
“We hereby challenge Jega to be honourable and transparent to publish accurate information on the state of PVCs and how he plans to distribute them before elections.”
“He should respond to allegations of partisanship and ineptitude, and live up to his responsibilities as an independent election umpire. If he refuses to do so, we may end up losing confidence in him,” Fani-Kayode said.
Femi Fani-Kayode, Director of Media and Publicity of the organisation, made the accusation at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
He alleged that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, may be working in consonant with some members of the opposition to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The matter is that INEC has failed in its responsibility to produce and distribute PVCs to about 34 per cent of registered voters who would require the cards to vote in the elections.”
“This brings us to the issue of statistics of PVC distribution and collection, which we believe Prof. Jega, as a person, acting in concert with some forces of retrogression, is playing games with.”
“We express our concerns today that Jega may have decided to aid the APC to rig the forthcoming elections through the manipulation of the production, distribution and collection of PVCs,” he said.
Also Read: Yobe residents discouraged from buying PVCs
According to Fani-Kayode, emerging trends had shown calculated attempts to deprive parts of the country that would vote for President Goodluck Jonathan, of their PVCs.
He said that parts of the country that would vote for the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, already have their PVCs.
Fanyi-Kayode described as unjustifiable, attacks on the PDP, on the postponement of the scheduled February 14 and 28 general elections to March 28 and April 11 by the INEC.
According to him, the INEC chairman hinged the postponement on the security advice given by the National Security Adviser with respect to the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.
He said Jega deliberately failed to tell Nigerians the whole truth that underpinned the postponement.
This, he added, provided the opposition APC a platform to accuse the PDP of complicity in the decision to postpone the elections.
He stressed that the decision to postpone the elections was INEC’s, since it was constitutionally saddled with that responsibility.
“The commission has done just that and it had hinted that it was having challenges with the distribution and collection of the PVCs.”
He stressed that the PDP had realised “how Jega dishonestly presented the reasons for the postponement of the elections.”
According to Fani-Kayode, the major reason that informed INEC’s decision “was the deliberate attempt by the commission to disenfranchise over 23 million eligible voters who are yet to collect their PVCs.”
He wondered why the collection rates of PVCs in the North Central, South-South, South West and South East regions assumed to be pro-Jonathan, were much lower with the highest being 57 per cent.
He noted that the North West zone which includes Katsina, the home state of Buhari, APC presidential candidate, had the highest collection rate of 80 per cent.
He also wondered how come the North-East also had 75 per cent collection rate when the three states in this zone, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, had been under the attack of Boko Haram insurgents.
This insurgency, Fani-Kayode noted, had led to the displacement of many residents in the zone.
“Pieces of information at our disposal have shown that Jega has had meetings with APC stalwarts in Dubai and other cities in the world to perfect this wanton conspiracy against 23 million eligible voters.”
“Besides, we have information that the PVCs that Nigerians are scrambling for are not in Nigeria and will not arrive before the elections.”
“These PVCs are still in China and Prof Jega has strategically delayed their arrival to suit his electioneering permutations,” he said.
He challenged Jega to show Nigerians proof that the Chinese company printing the PVCs had been paid in full by disclosing the total contract sum and the amount paid to date.
He also charged him to show proof of arrival or expected date of arrival of all PVCs for the elections and tell Nigerians how he could have distributed 23 million PVCs within five days to elections, if not postponed.
“We hereby challenge Jega to be honourable and transparent to publish accurate information on the state of PVCs and how he plans to distribute them before elections.”
“He should respond to allegations of partisanship and ineptitude, and live up to his responsibilities as an independent election umpire. If he refuses to do so, we may end up losing confidence in him,” Fani-Kayode said.
- NAN
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