Metro

Somali forces storm hotel held hostage by al-Shabaab militants, free 60

Published

2 years ago

November 29, 2022

Somali federal forces have stormed the Villa Rose Hotel in capital Mogadishu, where al-Shabaab militants had held hostage since Sunday, killing eight civilians and trapping dozens in the building, the police said in a statement on Tuesday.

The police spokesperson, Sadik Dodishe, said 60 hostages were rescued while all six extremists who held the people hostage were killed during the operation, with one member of the security forces killed in an exchange of fire.

“About 60 people who had been trapped in the hotel were freed and none of them were injured,” Dodishe said in the statement.

“Five of the attackers were killed by security forces, and one blew himself up,” the police spokesman added.

The al-Qaeda sponsored Islamist extremist group had on Sunday, claimed responsibility for the attack in a broadcast on its own radio frequency.

The broadcast said that its :fighters attacked the hotel which has a restaurant popular with government and security officials.”

The Villa Rose Hotel is not far from the presidential palace, Villa Somalia, in one of the most protected parts of central Mogadishu, and has a tradition of hosting top government officials.

The attack had forced the Somali parliament to postpone its session which was scheduled for Monday as there were fears the attacks were targeted at the parliamentarians.

Last month, not less than 500 people were killed in two car bombings that targeted the Somali ministry of education complex in Mogadishu, which also houses many government offices.

The al-Shabaab terrorists had also claimed responsibility for the attack as it continues its battle against the federal government in its quest to overthrow the government and enforce a strict version of the Sharia law.

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Metro

Following backlash, Nigerian govt withdraws treason charges against minors

Published

1 hour ago

November 5, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian government has officially withdrawn the treason charges it entered against some minors who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest that spread across the country from August 1 to the 10th.

The nation was thrown into shock on Friday when the Nigeria Police presented 76 protesters at the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on treason. Among the suspects were four minors who slumped before they could be arraigned before the court.

This caused serious uproar in the country with Nigerians condemning the government and calling for the unconditional release of the kids and the dismissal of the charges against them.

The decision to withdraw the charges against the underage accused came following a directive by President Bola Tinubu who ordered the immediate withdrawal of the charges and an in-depth investigation into what led to the arrest and detention of the minors.

Tinubu had also ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN) to officially take over the case file as well as review the cases following public outcry that came with the arraignment of the minors.

The charges were finally withdrawn on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja through an application for discontinuance filled by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar, on behalf of the AGF.

According to Abubakar, the discontinuance application was based on provisions of sections 174(1), (b) and (c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.

The DPPF also applied for further proceedings to be conducted without the presence of the minors in the courtroom, in line with provisions of Section 266(b) of the ACJA, 2015, and Section 1 of the Childs’ Rights Act.

In response, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Fanala (SAN), who stood in for the accused as well as other defence lawyers in the matter, did not oppose the applications which promoted the judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, to strike out the charges, while the four affected minors were also delisted from the charge sheet.

Metro

Zambia: President Hichilema urges traditional leaders to invoke rainmaking powers amid drought

Published

19 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, has called on traditional leaders to call upon their rainmaking powers by praying for rain as the nation continues to face the menace of drought.

Hichilema, who made the plea while speaking during the Shikaumpa traditional ceremony of the Ila people in Namwala on Sunday, expressed hope for divine intervention and sufficient rains.

“We pray that this year, God will give us rains, sufficient rains, so we can grow more food, so we can take care of the things, the assets that we keep,” the President stated.

He noted that he was informed of certain chiefs known for their rainmaking abilities, including Senior Chief Mwamba of Northern Province, Chief Sailunga of North-Western Province and Mwami Monze from the Southern Province and urged them to use their powers to invoke rain, adding that the chiefs should continue their prayers for rain, believing that “God will hear our cry.”

The President also encouraged not only the chiefs but also the churches and the entire nation to join in prayers for rain.

“All of us, the churches, everybody, we must pray for rains so that we can take care of God’s people properly,” he said.

The head of state further urged farmers to intensify efforts at planting crops and maximizing their harvest for national food security once the rain comes.

The drought in Zambia in recent
seasons have left 84 districts severely impacted, leading to food shortages and a worsening electricity deficit due to low water levels.