Politics

8 arrested over 2014 kidnap of 276 school girls in Nigeria. Why it matters

Police authorities in Nigeria say that they have arrested eight persons who allegedly were involved in the kidnap of some 276 secondary school girls in the town of Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria

Published

6 years ago

July 18, 2018

Africa News Watch

Police authorities in Nigeria say that they have arrested eight persons who allegedly were involved in the kidnap of some 276 secondary school girls in the town of Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria.

The kidnap incident took place in 2014 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The suspects are believed to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect which has mastermind terrorist attacks in Northeast Nigeria.

The police claim the suspects were arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team in Adamawa and Borno States.

The Chibok girls saga remains fully unresolved as over a hundred of them are still in captivity after the Nigerian government, through international collaborations, secured the release of 112 girls.

Media reports say that about €3 million were paid as ransom to secure release of the girls. The Buhari-led administration continues to deny, however, that it paid any ransom.

While many are still in search of the truth, the country was to witness another mass abduction of 110 schools girls in Dapchi town, Yobe State, Northeast Nigeria. Another round of negotiations saw the release of all but one of the girls, Leah Sharibu, who is believed to be kept in captivity because of her belief in the Christian faith.

Analysts view the police claims of recent arrests as welcome and hope that it would provide important leads to resolving the many terrorist attacks in the troubled region which have claimed thousands of lives.

There are, however, concerns also that the recent parade of the 8 suspects may be a deliberate public show to shore up waning image of the Buhari administration which has struggled with unresolved killing of hundreds of Nigerians by herdsmen suspected to be of the Fulani stock, and recent siege on military formations by Boko Haram terrorists.

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

4 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.